Emily Giffin's Blog, page 4
April 29, 2011
Wedding Fever!
My Favorite Royal Wedding Moments
Just as I got up at the crack of dawn with my mother and sister to watch Di and Charles wed, I set my alarm for four this morning, donned my fanciest hat (purchased for Royal Ascot during my years in London), and gathered with my mother and own satisfyingly brainwashed-to-care children to watch this generation's version of the royal wedding. As we sipped Earl Grey and munched on iced royal-nuptial sugar cookies, I tweeted the action, entranced by every detail of Kate and Will's magical day. Thirty years from now, here is what I will remember most:
1. A "people's wedding" with pomp and circumstance. Just as the guest list included celebrities, royals, and dignataries, as well as the butcher, grocer and postman of Kate's Berkshire village, the ceremony managed to be both formal and intimate at once, a tricky balancing act. Even the avenue of English field maple trees placed along the aisle (Kate's idea, natch) brightened the somber, thousand-year-old abbey doubling as a final resting place of 17 monarchs. Right out of the gate, Kate proves that she can respect tradition — yet do things her way — with warmth and style.
2. The dress, the dress! Kate looked positively stunning in her Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen ivory, hand-laced gown. While Diana's dress conjured an overdone child's drawing (no surprise, since she herself was a teenager!), Kate's gown was elegant and sophisticated, wonderfully reminiscent of Grace Kelly. A real, grown-up princess. (And, of course, I'd be remiss not to mention Kate's "something borrowed" — a 1936 Cartier tiara, on loan from the Queen herself, per royal wedding tradition. Beautiful.)
3. Picture-perfect Pippa and hot Harry. In contrast to the hideously comical, Dr. Seuss-esque selections of the Princesses of York, Eugenie and Beatrice. Oh, no they didn't.
4. Prince William's one-liner to his soon-to-be father-in-law . . . "just a small family affair!" I love that he loves her family — another good sign.
5. The Archbishop of Canterbury kept his word that the ceremony would be "very special" to the bride and groom. His address was wise and foreshadowed happiness and stability for not only the couple, but the future of the monarchy.
6. The Queen herself, wearing a yellow Angela Kelly-designed single crepe wool primrose dress, was a burst of sunshine — a contrast to her always-stoic, sometimes stodgy expression. I especially loved her stiff upper lip during the emotional chorus of God Save the Queen. My three-year-old daughter: "Why is she not singing? Does she not know the words?"
7. The pealing bells and majestic trumpets. They gave me goosebumps. Heck, they gave my seven-year-old twin sons goosebumps.
8. The true affection radiating from the faces of William and Kate. From their stolen glances in the church to their chatter in a horse-drawn carriage (remember how Di and Charles barely spoke to one another?), it was clear that Will and Kate never lost sight of what the day was really about. At one point, on their way to Buckingham Palace, Will asked Kate how she felt. Her reply? "I'm so happy." It doesn't get better than that — on any one's wedding day.
9. A million cynical Brits taking to the streets of central London. They couldn't help themselves — nor could several male friends who emailed me during the five o'clock hour, pretending that they just happened to catch some of the action as they flipped channels during Sportscenter. Please. Be man enough to watch a wedding. And read a pink book while you're at it.
10. William and Kate driving away in an Aston Martin, sans security officers, with the license plate JU5T WED. May they live happily ever after — and give us lots to talk and tweet about!
April 28, 2011
April 26, 2011
April 22, 2011
Movie time!
My 10 Favorite Wedding Movies
Spring is here, and I am officially in wedding mode! For one, my first novel Something Borrowed is being released to the big screen on May 6th (plan your girls' night out now!). For another, my assistant Kate was married last weekend in a beautiful ceremony in Atlanta and kindly included my three children in the festivities. (My twins sons, one of whom declared it the "most romantic day ever," were program attendants and my three-year old daughter was the flower girl). And finally, only fifteen more days until the ROYAL WEDDING!
Although some might think there has been media overkill, I, for one, am obsessed with every detail, from the flowers to the horse drawn carriages to the guests (how I wish I were one!). I can vividly remember waking up before sunrise with my mother and sister to watch Lady Diana and Prince Charles wed — and can't wait to do it again with my own daughter. Let's just hope that Kate improves upon Di's gown!
So in honor of both Kates in my life, and in the spirit of springtime "I dos" everywhere, here are my favorite wedding movies of all time. Because who doesn't love a little Something Borrowed, Something Blue?
April 14, 2011
April 8, 2011
Chick Lit Luncheon - Dallas
Had a great time ladies!
April 3, 2011
TresSugar guest blog #2
THE ART OF GIVING
At this point in my (very) late thirties, I don't necessarily relish the anniversary of my birth, but I do confess to loving a beautifully wrapped, satisfying gem of a gift. My dearest friends certainly delivered last week, cushioning the cruel blow of thirty-nine.
As I opened one particularly thoughtful gift — a pair of fine cotton, drawstring pajama pants and a lovely-scented travel candle from two gal pals who know how much time I spend in hotels — I thought of what makes the perfect gift: an indulgence that you are thrilled to receive but probably wouldn't buy for yourself.
Here are five specific gifting tips:
Buy in advance — or at least take notes. How many times have we found the perfect card months before our cousin's birthday? Or heard our best friend muse in a department store that she really "needs" to spice up her underwear drawer? Seize these moments and either buy in advance, allocating a drawer or shelf in your home for the collection, or record the idea in a "gift" notebook. An extreme example: I recently bought a darling Sweet Sixteen card for my Goddaughter who is only seven — but I know I will be grateful to have it in 2020!
Gifts aren't just for birthdays. I have two friends who always gift me upon the publication of my novels. An engraved bookmark, a bouquet of fresh flowers, or a sweet token that coordinates with my book jacket art, e.g. a tiny bootie for Baby Proof with a 2006 penny inside (the year that book was released). I cherish these gifts and love the generous spirit in which they are given. So go ahead and celebrate your friend's new home, job, or car (or help ease the blow of a bad break-up). She will never forget the gesture.
Try to avoid the generic candle or bath product and choose something that reflects your friend's personal style. Having a gift monogrammed or personalized will show you thought of her way in advance of her day. And if you simply can't resist the candle-bath product route — be sure to pick the perfect scent or color.
Get the rest below!
On a tight budget? Think homemade. I received two CD mixes this year — and absolutely love both. After all, few things can capture the essence of a relationship like a collection of handpicked tunes. If you want a homemade twist but aren't creative yourself, check out etsy.com. Who wouldn't love a one-of-a-kind picture frame with the perfect photograph, capturing a favorite memory, inside?
Presentation matters. Make it extra special with beautiful wrapping paper and coordinating raffia (PaperSource is my favorite), complete with a special handwritten note in a fun color (I heart teal or violet LePens and lime green extra fine Sharpies).
March 19, 2011
March 17, 2011
TresSugar guest blog
Hey everyone - be sure to check out my guest blog at www.tressugar.com!
SPREAD THE LOVE: TAKEN FRIENDS CAN MAKE GREAT MATCHMAKERS
Last Fall, I was in a coffee shop, trying to write, when I struck up a lively conversation with a charmingly suave, but not too suave, guy on an adjacent fireside couch. He had nice hair, warm eyes, and was wearing satisfyingly distressed Levi's paired with manly boots — part cowboy, part John-Varvatos cool.
Through our chat, I learned that he was single and looking for, in his words, "a kind girl." I swooned in a married-girl sort of way, and then, on a whim, snapped his photo with my phone. Later that afternoon, I posted it on my Facebook fan page, sure that there would be some takers in the 404. Within an hour, there were over two-hundred comments from girls in Atlanta and all over the country. Parker Estep became an instant cult figure on my page, and my moonlighting matchmaking career was born.
A week later, I went to a speaking event in Sacramento, and during a local television interview, met the very eligible weatherman. I snapped, posted, fielded comments. A short time after that, while in LA for a screening of Something Borrowed, I cut my foot on a glass at the Beverly Wilshire. While at the ER getting stitches, I didn't forget my sworn allegiance to my Facebook girls — and snapped a photo of my smokin' hot X-ray technician. And so on and so on . . . until the idea culminated in a big party, this Friday at Pranna in NYC, to which I'm bringing my six favorite bachelor buddies, all of whom I've unveiled on Facebook to the giddy delight of my 50k mostly-female followers. Eric the surgeon from Boston, Jamal the actor from LA, Doug the entrepreneur from Philly, Joe the professor from New York, Zach the chiropractor from St. Louis, and of course, sweet Parker from the coffee shop.
I recently read that one in eight married couples in the US met through some form of social media — so I'm just hoping to do my part to spread the love. Ladies — if you can't be lucky enough to be seated next to Parker while drinking your latte, keep your eyes peeled on Facebook and take advantage of your entire social network, especially your taken girlfriends. They're bound to know some eligible bachelors, as well as something about your taste in men. And guys — if dating websites aren't working for you, you might want to try a couple of chick-lit fan pages (hint: it helps to read the book first!). Just don't forget to invite me to the wedding.
