You’re engaged, you shop for and buy the dress of your dreams! You have your beautiful Big Day and the next day, a photo shoot with a professional photographer capturing moments of you rolling around in the mud/sand/water/whatever destroying your wedding dress.

Yes, “Trash the Dress”, “Rock the Frock” or whatever you wanna call it is apparently a huge growing trend. Forgive me for saying this but, am I the only one who just doesn’t get it?

Why, under any circumstances, would I want to don the Most Beautiful Dress and probably most expensive dress I will wear in my life for what’s likely to be one of the Best Moments in my life ever and then have someone take pictures of me destroying it. I mean, really?

The idea is to wear your dress “one last time” and do something that shows off your personality. That and to get magazine-like editorial photos of you in a stunning dress and an odd locale. Maybe I’m the odd one out, but I have a few issues with this.

1. It feels a little narcissistic

Look, I’m probably as narcissitic, vain and self-involved as they come. I’m an only child. I have a blog. Really, the list could go on. But even I can recognize that when I actually sit down to think about it, what the heck am I going to do with a bunch of pictures of myself in a pool with a wedding dress on? It isn’t the kind of thing you can really frame 10 photos of and put around your house. You’ll have your actual wedding photos, for one, and eventually family photos which will far supercede these and most any wedding pictures anyway.

2. It feels kinda greedy

O.K. The odds of you wearing the dress again are nill. And the odds that your daughter or other family member will want to wear it are pretty slim also. That’s fair. Who would want a dress sitting around collecting dust? But ya know, there are other things you could do with it. Really, if you have thousands to drop on a wedding dress and another thousand or so to spare to have a day-after photo shoot, wouldn’t it be a much better deed to donate the dress to someone in need who isn’t as fortunate to be able to have these things? Just something to think about…

3. It feels kinda disrespectful

Call me old fashioned, but I feel like at least some things should be sacred. Again, you don’t have to box the dress and hide it, but finding a better use for it than tearing it apart may be an idea worth exploring. And speaking of better use…

4. It feels like you could use it for something else

Like say, your first child’s christening gown. Maybe somehow incorporated into your future daughter’s wedding dress or Prom dress. Even selling the dress on sites like eBay or RecycledBride.com seem like a much better option.

Images: 1/2/3/4/Barcroft Photography

What do you think? Are you feeling the Trash the Dress/Rock the Frock photography trend?

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too.

To say January was a busy month is a total understatement!

There was an engagement party.

A BabyQ.

And my friend Sandra’s Bridal Shower.

We gathered together on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to shower her with gifts. And indulge in the cupcake cakes, of course! Here are a few of my favorite pics to inspire you and any bridal showers you may be having or throwing.

Tea lights, stones and a patterned table runner set the tone

A beautiful message on every plate

Before Sandra becomes a Mrs.,

Let’s shower her with love and good wishes.

Their love started with a kiss,

and now it’s come to this.

Love, joy and beautiful things,

are all the things a marriage brings.

We’re all grown up

but still giggling with glee

as we gather to honor the beautiful bride-to-be

Congrats and Best Wishes

for the soon-to-be-Mrs!

The bride and some of her bridesmaids

The theme was purple with black and white accents, just like her wedding will be this March in sunny Puerto Rico. We used purple as the base linen with a black-and-white print table runner and coordinating elements.

Of course, there was a candy station too! Cute martini glasses decorated the space and we wrapped an elegant box so people could leave their love advice.

Of course we had a candy station

The bride with her mother and sister

Are you throwing or having a bridal shower anytime soon? What kinds of ideas do you have to share?

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While I’m a huge advocate of veering away from trendy when it comes to your wedding dress (you wouldn’t want to be looking back at puff sleeves circa 1980 20 years from now, would you?) one wedding dress trend I am totally obsessed with is all the open backs, especially when there’s lace or other detailing involved. Take a peek.

Credits: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, Image 6

If I were wearing my hair up on my wedding day, I would be all about this.

What do you think? Are you loving these wedding dresses with open backs as much as I am?

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too!

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Is there anything more sweet or more charming than a tot sporting a “Here Comes the Bride” sign? I’m totally obsessed.

Images, images, images.

Adorable. Dont you think?

For more bridal bliss, check out my Behind the Veil bridal video series and Wedding Wednesdays. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, too!