Lisa Marie with bridesmaids Ali, Dez, and Liz.

No matter how many attendants you decide to have stand by you during the most important day of your life, you’re inevitably going to hurt someone’s feelings by not including them. My fiancé, Andrew, is handling the awkwardness by not making any decision on his groomsmen until 2009. And if I know my Andrew, he’ll probably wait until about two weeks before the wedding to make a final decision. But I wanted to include my bridesmaids in the early planning process, such as checking out venues, sampling caterers, and of course, trying on as many dresses as possible.

I wanted my bridal party to represent not only the different stages of my life but the different stages of my relationship with Andrew. We’ve been together five years now, so there’s plenty of people who’ve seen us through the first kiss, the first apartment, the first pet, and all the rest of the firsts we’ve experienced together. The choice for maid of honor came pretty easily—I’ve been friends with Stefanie since I was 18 months old. Her mother was my daycare provider, and we spent our entire lives growing up together. Even though she was in New York City for most of Andrew’s and my relationship, she’s probably the one person not related to me who has truly been involved in every important life stage I’ve experienced.

Note to self: Don't leave wedding ring in the glove compartment.

Perfect gift for the groomsmen. [via Bridalwave]

Managing the Ex Factor. [via Always a Blogsmaid] 

To submit a bridal event, email lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

A roundup of the best bridal books.

Skipped over for the bridal party.

Want to go creative with your cake? Think Mario and Mac. [via DC Nearlyweds]

Playing politics when it comes to the family portrait? Take a few tips from a pro.

To submit a bridal event, email lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

Since Ron Burgundy and I have been engaged for six months, we decided it was time for us to live in the same city. I was sad to leave Washington, but excited to finally be with Ron in Philadelphia (and also to watch him on the news, which makes me giggle). I can’t stay away from DC for too long, though—I’ve already been back twice in two weeks. And I’ll be back many more times before the wedding for food tastings, dress fittings, the bridal shower, etc. So even though I’ve moved, it won’t really feel like I’m gone.

Ron and I drove down to DC last weekend for the wedding of our very good friends, Jessica and Matt. Jessica and I have been friends for 13 years—half our lives! We met in middle school and then went to Madeira together for high school. I was thrilled to be her maid of honor.

Venue lowdown: the Newseum. [via DC Nearlyweds]

One real-life wedding budget. [via Weddingbee]

Can the mom of the bride offer to help pay for the shower? Yes, please! [via Always a Blogsmaid]

Say goodbye to last-minute catastrophes with this wedding day survival kit.

To submit a bridal event, email lshallcross@washingtonian.com.

One hot summer weekend in 2005, Justin Garrison drove from Blacksburg, Virginia, to Bethesda to visit his best friend, Ryan, a fraternity brother from Virginia Tech. Ryan introduced Justin to his roommate, Stephanie Arnold, a friend of Ryan’s from high school. It didn’t take long for Justin and Stephanie to hit it off. After a fun night out in Adams Morgan, both of them felt as though something clicked. But when they got back to the house, Stephanie disappeared for the rest of the night. Justin took that to mean she wasn’t as interested in him as he thought. “The next morning we talked a little bit,” says Justin, 26. “But I felt like the opportunity wasn’t there, so I didn’t think that she was interested enough for me to ask her for her phone number.”

Big mistake. “The next morning after we all woke up and were hanging out, I just didn’t get that ‘he’s interested’ vibe,” says Stephanie, 26. “I mean, he was friendly, but then he didn’t ask for my phone number. Bummer.” So Justin headed back to Blacksburg, ready to start a master’s program in the fall at Virginia Tech. He came back a few times throughout the year to visit Ryan, but the romantic timing was never right for Stephanie and Justin. On one visit, Justin says, a friend of Stephanie’s was fixing her up with someone else.

Fast-forward a year and a half to December 31, 2006. Justin came up to ring in the new year, and neither he nor Stephanie was dating anyone. Justin had a plan: This time, he would let Stephanie clearly know that he was into her. “The night before, I made sure that I talked to her as much as possible and made it known that I was interested in her,” says Justin, an analyst with the Department of Homeland Security.

Have a honeymoon with a view.

Move over cupcakes, the flowers have arrived. [via Bridalwave]

Skip the strapless but pick up multiple dresses?

Want $10,000? First agree to ditch the alcohol and skip the sack.

To submit a bridal event, email lshallcross@washingtonian.com.