Wait...Mom can't hold the shower?

It's been a long time etiquette rule that's been followed closely. Mom can't host the bridal shower. It must be the bridesmaids. However, in recent years this rule has shifted. Bridesmaids are so busy planning the bachelorette, buying dresses and paying for other expenses of being in the bridal party that also hosting another party can seem like a lot.

That's why it's ok for Mom to host the shower. Also many times, moms don't feel included enough. They just want something to do that will help benefit everyone. Mom hosting the shower can actually be one of the best decisions a bridal mom and the bridesmaids can make. It takes the pressure off the bridesmaids and also gives Mom a way to contribute that helps everyone. Hey, who doesn't love throwing a party?

The difference of talking about the future and demanding the future

When you're in a relationship, you're told to talk about things. You're encouraged to have open communication and to address the future whether it be kids or a home on the beach or getting married. However, some people miss the point and don't understand what the difference is between a timeline and an ultimatum.

There's a very fine line between discussing approximately when your significant other and you feel ready for marriage and demanding marriage of your significant other. You may agree "Well, let's wait until we're financially stable enough to afford the wedding by ourselves" or you may say "let's wait until x amount of years until we feel ready to take on a marriage." Those kinds of discussions are very different than demanding that "we need to get married in a year or I'm through!"

Relationships, and marriages, are partnerships. You have to work together to determine the best for both of you. Sometimes one person isn't ready at the same time as the other to take on such a huge step like marriage. If you force such a big decision, you'll be more likely to divorce because you did just that, force it. People know when, or if, they want to get married. It's not something you can simply demand of someone because all your friends are getting married or an ex is engaged or you just can't stand waiting anymore.

Think about how you've thought about it whether it be in your head or a discussion with a significant other. Are you a timeline or an ultimatum person? Determine that and then figure out how you want to move forward to work within your relationship, not pushing against your significant other.

I may not be plus sized, but...

This is simply not acceptable. In no way should a woman have to go through what she did. That bridal salon humiliated her! The even thought that putting a dress up to a woman and then wrapping her in an elastic band so it was held up is okay to do is so wrong.

When a woman goes shopping for her wedding dress, it should be a wonderful experience, not a s*** show that makes you feel horrible about yourself. That's exactly what they managed to do. I'm so glad that she was able to overcome what they did and not let it bother her too much. Kudos to you girl!

Introduction

I've always been a bit of a bridal nerd. The day TLC's Say Yes to the Dress came out, it was pure joy as girl after girl chose her pretty white dress for her big day. However, I was little. The show's first episode aired in 2007, making me only a teen. Not many people took my love of bridal very seriously. To them, I was too young or they claimed I would get bored of wedding things before my own big day.

I'm proud to say I've proven them wrong.

Since I started watching Say Yes to the Dress, my wedding bug evolved. It turned into Four Weddings and Bridezillas. It was fed by bridal magazines, including Brides and The Connecticut Bride. Pinterest and Tumblr fueled the fire along the The Knot. Okay, maybe The Knot was responsible for a lot because let's face it, it's one amazing site filled with tons of wedding things.

Then in September 2012, my older sister got engaged. She looked to me for some help since I knew my way around parts of the bridal industry. I could browse the Knot's Lookbook app more effectively than most people know Twitter. As her sister, it made sense that I would become a bridesmaid.

The only downfall was the fact that we were states apart. It's difficult to plan an event so big with a person hours away. However I've looked up to her as she's about to walk down the aisle in Manhattan at the end of this month.

While being her bridesmaid and having my wedding bug, I really hope that I'm ready when it comes time for my own wedding. I am so grateful that I have an amazing boyfriend who understands the bug.