This January, we celebrated my friend Lexy’s bachelorette weekend at the Snowshoe ski resort in West Virginia. We rented an adorable cabin in the Treetops section of the resort. The cabin was absolutely perfect, with rustic ski decor, cute bunk rooms, and a cozy fireplace. Our first night there, we made dinner together, had a lingerie shower, and played a ton of bachelorette games created by my talented friend Jae. She delivered the most impressive game ever, based on an episode of FRIENDS (one of Lexy’s favorite shows). In the episode (The One with the Embryos), the girls and guys play a Jeop ..read more

One way to know you’ve found your perfect match? You are both totally down with being photographed in onesies! Bride Kulsoom chose to have a laid-back Netflix and Chill bridal shower and showed up in the most perfect purple unicorn onesie. Her friends were totally onboard as well, arriving as dragons, superheroes and more. One of the highlights? Kulsoom’s finance Mehdi arriving in his own matching shark onesie! From a popcorn bar to personalized Netflix and Chill signs to a cute photo booth with a metallic WIFEY balloon wall, these bridesmaids went all out to make Kulsoom feel special and cele ..read more

The thing that they don’t tell you about getting married is that aside from the obvious benefit of uniting you with your soulmate for eternity, it also brings you closer to the women in your life. From texts and emails about the wedding to the special events dedicated to celebrating with your girlfriends, the process of getting married can be a celebration of female friendships as well as romantic love, with fun events like bridal showers and bachelorette parties helping you stay in touch with your girlfriends on a deeper level. Like a lot of modern women, many of my closest girlfriends do no ..read more

For bride Morgan’s bachelorette party, her friends decked out a house by the sea in beachy peach and turquoise shades. The star of the party was the custom donut wall, decorated with peonies, greenery, balloons and, of course, donuts, each topped with a diamond cutout to look like an engagement ring. Mini bottles of champagne added to the festive atmosphere, along with seaside accents like pineapple drink stirrers and starfish decor. Sidney Leigh Photography was there to capture this gorgeous DIY bachelorette party ..read more

For bride Alyssa’s bohemian bridal shower, her friends transformed a shady backyard into an idyllic retreat, complete with a teepee hideaway. Guests picnicked on the lawn, enjoying fresh summer salads and a naked cake bursting with berries and cream. The simple photo booth DIY came together by draping neutral ribbons from a clothesline—add a handy Fujifilm Instax camera and you’re set! As an extra-special touch, all of the guests dressed in neutral shades ranging from white and taupe to soft pinks and greens, which resulted in some stunning group pictures that make thi ..read more

This summer I took a quick getaway to the Hudson Valley with my mom for a girls weekend. There’s a tranquility about escaping New York City for the quiet, leafy beauty of upstate New York, especially in the summer, and I’ve shared my tips for camping in the Hudson Valley before. This was the first time that I visited the Hudson Valley without roughing it—instead of hiking and canoeing, we enjoyed an artistic weekend that included shopping in local boutiques, visiting a sculpture art center and taking in some al fresco theater. We stayed in Beacon, New York, at the newly opened I ..read more

Olivia’s beautiful, simple summer picnic bridal shower was held on the back patio of a local restaurant, where guests enjoyed al fresco dining in a secluded back garden decorated with roses, hydrangeas, hand-lettered signs and cream and navy linens. Keeping with the sweet and simple picnic theme, each guest received a jar of homemade jam as a party favor, and cobblers made by the groom’s mother were served in adorable mini-mason jars. Olivia exuded sweetness the whole day long as her guests showered her with love and attention and some unique bridal shower gifts, like an um ..read more

For this unique painting party bridal shower, bride Jordynne and her guests started the day off with a painting class at Olive’s Mud Puddle, a sip and paint shop in South Carolina, where they each created a personal “Tree of Love” paintings. When Jordynne got home, she found a secret shower set up for her—Victoria’s Secret, that is! The house was decorated in pink and black everything, including plenty of bags filled with lingerie and a stunning custom cake topped with a stiletto. Phylicia of Posh Moments Photography was there to capture every special moment of the day ..read more

The theme for this rustic bridal shower was antiques and ivory, incorporating lots of vintage pieces like typewriters and hat boxes with ivory letters, flowers and a stunning white cake. Bride Ali’s bridesmaids went above and beyond with their DIY decorations—her bridesmaid Nicole created all of the calligraphy chalkboard signs for the party, including a welcome board and a sign on the succulent favor table. My favorite special touch is the white roses Ali’s fiancé sent her, each with a tag on it sharing one thing he loves about Ali! Avonne Photography was there to capture this stunning rustic ..read more

A travel bridal shower is one of my favorite themes—it was even the theme of one of my showers. It’s a unique way to celebrate an interest of the couple, and can supply lots of great gift ideas, from honeymoon essentials to travel accessories to experience gifts like concert tickets or a weekend getaway. Start with your tagline…you’ll find three great themes below: Traveling from Miss to Mrs, Adventure Awaits and You’re My Greatest Adventure. Highlight important places for the couple, like where each was born, where they had their first date, where they took their first trip together and other ..read more