My Favorite B-Words: Brides, Baskets, Bridesmaids, Bling (not necessarily in that order.)

Being a bridesmaid is a big freakin' deal.
For those of you who've never taken on that responsibility, you don't know what I'm talkin' about. So I'll start out, by toasting to bridesmaids everywhere.

Your day will come, my sisters in the struggle.

Until that day, it's all about your friend. Yeah, her. The bride.

There's a reason why brides turn all 'Bridezilla' status, and go apeshit over ridiculous things like little napkins with their names on them, and what color of chocolate covered almonds to throw in tiny little paper boxes that nobody really opens (unless they're truly bored to tears, or the food sucks.) (Face it, the only bitch who notices the shit on the table is your pesky Aunt Imogene who has not had a date since 1972.) But try and convince a bride of that, and you'll be gettin' dirty looks for weeks.

Still, we all admit that planning a wedding? It can be a real bitch.
(That's the b-word that nobody wants to use.)

I attended the Phoenix Suns game this weekend, and also, happened to make it to the 'Brides and Baskets' festival that was celebrated at US Airways Center. My friend, Rebecca, needed moral support and a friend to accompany her, so she could check out more wedding vendors, and so I joined her.

Even though I'm not getting married right now, I had the best time, and got to visit with vendors from L'Auberge Sedona Resort and Hotel/Spa, Maggiano's Restaurant, Sandals Resorts, and all the local venues that host weddings. The Wedding Chronicle was also one of the sponsors, and I got to express my unbridled love for the magazine, and explain to the publisher exactly why I run to AJ's every time a new issue is released on the newsstands. The Wedding Chronicle is to LC, what Playboy is to Tiger Woods.

Now, if only Robin Lopez would ask me to marry him at a Phoenix Suns game. That would make it all worthwhile.

Robin, I did cheer for you, honey. Good game. By the way, I'm available, and I already have wedding vendors alllll picked out. All I need is the ring. That's the only finger without any bling, and frankly, it's feeling a little neglected, Lopez.

If you're getting married, or, always a bridesmaid, never a bride, check out The Wedding Chronicle for the creme de la creme on valley weddings and wedding vendors. It is a fabulous little magazine, and basically, my version of porn.

27 Dresses...& Then Some.

I have been in a number of weddings. I've been known to be referred to affectionately as "always the bridesmaid, never the bride," or my favorite, "You're like the girl from 27 Dresses!" I feel like saying, "Yeah, thanks asshole, as a matter of fact, it was 28 dresses, not 27."

In all seriousness, I don't know that I will ever be the one to get married. In my family, there are plenty of girls, and all of them have tied the knot or are planning on tying the knot soon, and I'm known as the free spirit, the independent, the one who doesn't commit to anything except maybe a designer handbag, and even that can seriously only last for a few seasons.

But since I've been the bridesmaid or maid of honor in quite a few weddings, one thing I can tell you brings to mind the expression "love-hate relationship" very quickly is shopping for bridesmaid dresses. The bridesmaids dress can be a tool of torture, or one of sheer delight. Either your bridesmaids look stunningly sexy in their dresses, or they shudder at the thought of wearing a pastel colored monstrosity.

The boutique Twirl, which I found in Scottsdale, Arizona (there are Twirl boutiques in various locations, and also, you can hit up their online store) features gorgeous bridesmaids and wedding party dresses in a variety of cuts, colors, fabrics, and styles that are sure to satisfy every member of your bridal party, even those with the most discerning taste.




After all, just because it's your big day doesn't mean that the people you've chosen to help celebrate your nuptials should have to sacrifice personal style. You can look gorgeous in your Vera Wang, but for heaven's sake, don't make anyone feel like Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses...trust me, I've seen plenty a taffeta nightmare hanging in my closet, and it's nothing nice.

To shop at Twirl near you, find a store at: www.twirlboutique.com