Erika Howsare

On a Sunday last September, Betsy Bilharz and Dan Savage were dropping off the welcome bags for their wedding guests at a hotel in Charlottesville when her parents called to say that the weather report was looking pretty bad. The couple’s wedding day was supposed to be the following Saturday, September 15, and a hurricane […]

Big weddings are great, but for some of us, less is more. As in, less expense, less stress, less planning. And there’s something thrilling about getting married without a net. Okay, we’ll just say it: Why not elope? Taking your vows with only a handful of witnesses means that you really can forego nearly all […]

Among the many ways to show the love to your wedding guests: Help them figure out where to stay when they travel from out of town. Some folks may appreciate a group rate at a big hotel; others might look to you to recommend a unique rental property. Depending on where your wedding is happening, […]

Is the standard wedding format a bit too—well, standard for you? “A lot of who we are is somewhat unconventional,” says Christie Jones of herself and her wife Mary Klavin. As they researched options for their April 2018 wedding, they realized that many venues were not only expensive, but “formulaic, and just not us,” she […]

Nothing says “instant keepsake” like a hand-lettered invitation, and plenty of local calligraphers are up to the challenge. Michelle Streeter of Ma Belle Calligraphy (above) works in a modern style and offers invitation suites along with fun extras, like a handwritten version of your vows, to display at the wedding and, later, in your home. mabellecalligraphy.com […]