Weddings

Retailers who specialize in bridesmaid dresses can make almost anything sound exotic. Burnished garnet means dark red. Blushing hyacinth is just pale purple. And though it seems fun, South Beach citron might be your worst nightmare.

By Alia Hoyt

"It should've been me" is a popular sentiment right now, leaving the lips of girls everywhere and being printed on commemorative plates. How did Kate snag the world's most eligible prince?

By Chris Obenschain

A dusty, dried bouquet and photo album make up most personal wedding memorabilia collections. But the royals get far cooler mementos of their special occasions. From beer mugs to thimbles, here's what's wacky in wedding memorabilia.

By Gallagher Flinn

The best part of royal watching is the royal wedding dresses of course. HowStuffWorks remember 9 old and new favorites — and the brides who wore them.

By Jessica Willis

Americans are pretty excited about the big royal wedding coming up in May. But across the pond, some Brits are grumbling about the price tag. Are they responsible for footing the bill? And how much can they expect to pay?

By Alia Hoyt & Chris Obenschain

A $30,000 wedding with a guest list of 150 means you're paying $200 per person. That's $40 per hour for a 5-hour party. But if your guests are bored to tears, they leave after dinner ... and you've blown $120. Our tips will make sure that doesn't happen.

By Alia Hoyt

Registering for wedding gifts can be a time-consuming and tedious process. Wouldn't you rather do it in your comfiest pair of pajamas? Many modern brides opt to create their registries online, and a Web wish list might be just the thing for you.

By Chris Obenschain

No rest for the weary bride! Even after you've booked the photographer, DJ and cake baker, you've got to put all the pieces of the puzzle together into a fabulous reception. A solid time line will help you pull off the party -- we've got one you'll love.

By Chris Obenschain

You asked her to be your maid of honor because she's your best friend -- but you also assumed she'd do a good job. When passive-aggressive e-mails and snide remarks about the shower aren't working, here's how to cope with a dud MOH.

By Alia Hoyt

You wouldn't dream of asking anyone else to be your maid of honor, but you (secretly) wish that she didn't live three time zones away. Can you work the bride/maid of honor relationship if your best girl is a phone call and a flight away?

By Chris Obenschain

Whether you love or loathe public speaking, it's intimidating to give a speech about your very best friend. You want it to be sweet, sincere, funny -- maybe even tear-jerking. Here are five ways to craft a memorable maid of honor speech.

By Jessica Willis

It's a privilege to be someone's maid of honor, right? But what if you barely know the bride -- or don't really like her? What excuses will get you out of being the bride's right-hand woman, and when do you just have to accept the position?

By Chris Obenschain

For every two couples that send save-the-dates, there are two more who skip them. When the budget is tight already, do you really need to send an extra piece of paper that has to be addressed and stamped? We demystify the ultra-modern save-the-date card.

By Natalie Kilgore

When you have a full figure, finding the right pair of jeans can be stressful. And shopping for a wedding gown? Ladies, you don't need nerves of steel -- you just need tips from an expert. That's where Sarah Velasquez comes in!

By Candace Keener

A-line gowns look great on curvy women, but this silhouette isn't the final word in fashion for plus-size brides. We've picked five popular styles and recommended figure-flattering fabrics, too.

By Gallagher Flinn

You want to be the picture of health on your wedding day. That means glowing skin, plenty of energy and a slim figure. Deprivation diets aren't the way to achieve that. Start eating healthfully now, and you'll feel as fabulous as you look!

By Alia Hoyt

Thanks to Facebook, you can change your relationship status and instantly notify the world that you're getting married. So why would you want to print an announcement in the newspaper?

By Jessica Willis

The bride is the focal point of the ceremony, but when the reception rolls around, everyone's going to be looking at the cake. Whether it's five tiers or two, the same basic rule applies: The cake has to taste as good as it looks!

By Candace Keener

It's the most special day of your life, and that's why you hired a wedding planner to coordinate every last details. But she's not going to see you down the aisle without keeping a few secrets. These are the things she'd rather you not know.

By Alia Hoyt

Shopping for a wedding dress should be fun, not confusing. But let's be honest, there's an entire lexicon of terms for specialty fabrics, gown shapes and embellishments. Never fear, we have a handy reference guide for all your gown-related queries.

By Sara Elliott

You've been envisioning an elegant bridal updo, but that's assuming you have any hair left when the big day is finally here. Every bride needs to have a little fun and make the most of her engagement. Here are 10 ideas for blowing off some steam.

By Natalie Kilgore

No one likes a long, drawn-out wedding toast. Guests want to clink glasses and get on with the night! Keep your speech short and sweet with one of these quotes and a few words of your own. Our favorite quotes work for the bride, groom, their parents and their attendants.

By Bambi Turner

Kids bring a little levity and welcome whimsy to weddings. But the under-12 crowd won't be too excited about your prime rib carving station and string quartet. Here's what will make them (and their parents) happy.

By Alia Hoyt

Your bridesmaids are the special people who'll be standing by you, both literally and figuratively. So, how do you ensure they won't upstage you or look laughable on the big day? We'll help you navigate the tricky waters of choosing bridesmaid dresses.

By Sara Elliott

No way will anything but Vera Wang do! For brides who demand the best, it's a designer gown or nothing at all. But to rationalize spending tens of thousands of dollars, you'll have to convince yourself the dress is worth it ... and is it?

By Bambi Turner