 Stockbyte I get approximately 4 million texts a week—especially now that the warm-weather season is (kinda) upon us—asking me what in the heck the text sender is supposed to wear to whatever upcoming wedding(s) they’ve got on their docket. Whether they are inquiring because the dress-code announcement on the invitation has confused them or because there was no dress-code announcement on the invitation seems to make no matter; both equally seem to boggle the mind of many a wedding guest.
And I get it. When it comes to things of this nature in the world of weddings that don’t exactly have any hard-and-fast etiquette rules—and where people are basically left to do their own interpretations—it can be tricky. That’s why I thought this breakdown of the various wedding dress codes was so great—from white tie to the reminder that, no, you still shouldn’t wear white to a wedding, it covers it all.
My own little addendum for brides: Please don’t do ‘black tie preferred or requested.’ Just do ‘black tie’ or ‘black tie optional.’ Because really, what you’re saying with preferred is that sure, doing the black-tie thing at our wedding is technically optional, ladies and gentlemen, but that we’re not really into you taking us up on that option. Either decree it or truly give your people the option.
My own little addendum for guests: I disagree about the note that says you should steer clear of pink and beige as well as white, since some brides are opting for that. (Well, I mean, unless you know for sure the bride is wearing one of those shades—then it’s just common courtesy and decency to steer clear of them.) Otherwise, let’s not just keep expanding the range of not-allowed shades for wedding guests just because more and more brides are opting away from white. It’s fine. Weddings are tricky enough as is.
Are you and your groom going to declare a dress code for your wedding, or will you just let your guests go by the season, venue and time of day when deciding on their party ensembles?
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 Laura Novak and Beka Rendell of PhotoPOP. Beka Rendell, one half of Philly’s Styled Creative (you’ve seen their photo-propping work in our pages before!) and Laura Novak, former wedding photographer and current owner of Little Nest Portraits in Wayne and Glen Mills, have recently teamed up to form a new business that we’re pretty pumped about: PhotoPOP!
PhotoPOP is an event photo booth service that basically takes care of the pictures and the background and props all in one easy little package. Oh, though it’s not actually a booth: Book them, and you’ll get an actual photographer who will come and set up a little area at your wedding reception complete with a backdrop—one that you either choose from PhotoPOP’s inventory (they currently have six different designs in stock and will continue to add more), or one that they’ll custom source or design for you—and oodles of fun props for your guests to play with. Here are the options:
- Book a Level One PhotoPOP and you’ll get a photog for three hours, an in-stock backdrop and props, and a gallery of images that you can share and post. (You’ll get an email with various choices in it, plus a list of suggestions from the ladies as to what combos they think look best!) This option is $950.
- Book a Level Two PhotoPOP and you’ll get a photog for four hours, the gallery of images to share and post, and a personal consultation during which you can design your ultimate little mini-set for your wedding’s photo “booth.” This option is $1,300.
All of the photographers are part of Laura’s staff, and when it’s all said and done, no matter what level you choose, you’ll receive a disc full of your hi-res images. Prices start a $25 for a la carte prints.
So fun! Are you considering some sort of photo booth station at your wedding?
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 iStockphoto Do you have a song that, every time you hear it, takes you back to a moment you’ve nearly forgotten about? You catch yourself in the grocery store daydreaming while staring at a can of beans or while waiting at a stoplight, and you’re suddenly snapped into reality when the person behind you honks their horn during the chorus. Well, the song that Eric and I have chosen for our first dance, and the song my dad and I will dance to, have done that to me for years. And it’s so exciting to know that for the rest of my life when I hear them after the wedding, I’ll immediately be thrown back into that moment.
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I mean, at least that’s what local realtors are saying about the tent under which Michael Jordan and his girlfriend Yvette Prieto tied the knot this past weekend in Palm Beach. Who knows if it’s official. Though I’d certainly believe it.
That’s because the tent in question was 40,000 square feet, which is 5,000 square feet larger than the couple’s gigantic home, and also, in case you were wondering, insane. More than 2,000 people were there, which is also insane. Do you even know 2,000 people? Must have been quite the party.
Are you having a tented wedding this spring or summer season? Next time a mom or a dad or a groom mumbles anything about anything to do with your nuptials being out of control, just show them these photos, and you should be good. (Oh, and for pics of her dress and ring, go here.)
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 Below, find ideas for a gorgeous garden party wedding in the Philadelphia area. Not that we think you should put your wedding in a box, of course. But chances are you at least have a feeling when it comes to your Big Day: Will it be a swanky formal affair in a candlelit room with a marble rotunda? An airy soiree where your guests sip cool drinks from mason jars with fields of wildflower-dotted wheat in the background and cotton-candy clouds overhead? Whatever your vision for your wedding day, we’re here to help you plan it. In the following pages, you’ll find ideas for five different types of weddings—not just for gorgeous venues in the Philadelphia area, but for your flowers, gown, cake and bridesmaids’ dresses, all from local vendors and shops. Just find the one that feels like you, and you’re on your way.
{This article originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Philadelphia Wedding.}
Click here for PART ONE: City Ballroom.
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 Justin Timberlake Oh, these two crazy kids.
You, more likely than not, very much enjoy, as many of us do, the bromance between Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon. (And if you do not know of which I speak, please take the time out of your day right now to watch the History of Rap, Parts 1-4. You’ll be glad you did.)
It’s no surprise that Fallon was at Timberlake’s wedding to Jessica Biel this past fall—but what’s only recently come out via Mr. Timberlake is that Mr. Fallon actually busted into the speech the groom was making to his brand new wife right in the middle of the wedding reception. Apparently, Timberlake had just paused for a second to gather his thoughts, when Fallon yelled something out, and right there in the middle of professing his love for his new wife, these two goofballs went back and forth for several minutes.
Luckily, their bromance is charming and funny enough that it was a hit with the crowd—and, it seems, the new Mrs. Timberlake—though in general, unless you are a wildly beloved and successful comedian, probably not advisable to heckle the groom in this way.
Read the whole story here.
RELATED: Jessica Biel Wore a Pink Giambattista Valli Gown to Marry Justin Timberlake
RELATED: Jessica Biel Loooves Calling Justin Timberlake Her “Husband”
Image: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
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 Altrendo Images I think of myself as a creative person, but it’s very hard for me to envision the execution of an idea without something tangible.
My mom, my wedding planner Kathy and I had researched and debated all kinds of décor possibilities for the Four Seasons ballroom, yet I was left feeling utterly confused about what might work best within the room. It wasn’t until we got into the ballroom a few weeks ago that the ideas came to life, and I was able to come to some decisions.
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Kudos to the bridesmaid this past weekend who found out that Conan O’Brien was staying at the same hotel—the Four Seasons in Atlanta—where her friends were getting married, and Tweet-invited him to the festivities … because it worked!
Yep, Coco showed up, chatted with the bride and groom (reportedly flipping through family photos while the bride sat on his lap), posed for photos with guests—and of course, taught the groom how to do his signature “string dance.”
Check out the vid below for the full report and to see photos of Mr. O’Brien with the bride and groom! What celeb would you most like to crash your wedding?
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Here's what we think.
 Thinkstock Images I saw an article this week in which a bride was inquiring about the idea of seating her guests at smaller tables—as in, tables of four or six—at her wedding reception, and, if I’m being honest, was pretty surprised by the responding wedding planner’s thoughts on the matter. Namely, that I think this sounds like crazytown, and the planner thought it was a very lovely and cozy idea.
She did point out that things could get a little expensive that way, since you would need more tables, obviously, to accommodate your guests, and therefore more centerpieces, and possibly waitstaff, and all that jazz—and while that’s a great point, it actually didn’t even come into my head when I had my initial reaction. My first vision was of a bride ripping her hair out as she tried to break down and match up 200-some people into happy little gatherings of four or six. No. Thank. You. Seems to me there’s not enough wine in the world to help make managing that seating chart anything other than cruel and unusual torture.
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 Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux. This is the word on the street, anyway.
Y’all know how Jen is like this chill, laid-back, California-dreaming kinda girl, and how Justin is this born-and-raised-in-New-York East Coast boy? Well, apparently, they are going to solve this conundrum as it applies to their wedding celebration by just going ahead and having two separate weddings.
Reports say that the first wedding will be the relaxed, classic Cali one—and that after that, they’ll head to NYC for Round Two, planned by Justin in the city where most of his family and friends still reside.
This is all well and good, we say, as long as we are privy to both dresses. Also, she seems like a summer bride to us. So that’s when we’ll be paying extra attention.
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Image: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
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