Real Bride Essays

Why Weddings Are Inherently Political—And Why That’s a Good Thing

Think weddings are just about love and lace? Think again. Explore how every wedding is a political act—and...

Marriage and Money

Saying “I Do” to Debt.

More couples than ever are turning to loans to pay for their weddings, but what might seem like...

Mental Health

My Wedding Dress Didn’t Fit! A Last-Minute Alterations Saga

Avoid last-minute wedding dress stress! Learn from a bride's experience and our handy tips on scheduling fittings and...

Wedding Budget Diary: Suki + Anthony

This wedding has EVERYTHING. Dinosaur bridesmaids, lightsabers, Harry Potter wreath bouquets, Game of Thrones table numbers and a...

How I Moved Up My Wedding and Saved $17,000

Simplicity and focusing on what matters can save you big bucks on your wedding. Learn how one couple...

An elegant New York City wedding on a $40k budget

Personal finance expert, Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez shares her wedding budget breakdown, and how she prioritized planning a personal...

What I Want to Remember on Our Wedding Day

With all the hustle and bustle related to wedding planning, I think some of us can tend to...

Small Wedding Confession: It Wasn’t All Because of the Budget

“If you don’t like it, then you/they pay for our wedding….” I love him to death but my...