It's the day before Thanksgiving, and I'm feeling particularly thankful this year--for my loving family, incredible friends--both old and new--my health, my fabulous new job and for every day I wake up to the beauty of fall. But today, I'm taking this opportunity to write a Thanksgiving love letter to my husband, who will never know how very much I love him, because there aren't words to express it.

Though we'd known each other for about seven months, we really only dated three days before we decided to get married. Our wedding was very small--just the two of us and a blind judge in his chambers in Savannah, GA. No wedding gown, no wedding favors, no toasts or first dance--only a walk on the beach afterward. It was all we wanted and needed. We have a milestone anniversary coming up, and I'm toying with the idea of renewing our vows with family, friends and a big party, but I digress.

Over the years, we've been the typical married couple. We've had our share of "spirited discussions", and of course, we're now aware of each and every tiny, annoying--and sometimes, disgusting--flaw in one another. But it doesn't matter, because we're best friends, we love each other, we know one another's likes and dislikes and we know what really matters.

I count on him to point out the downside of my ideas so I don't make gigantic (and sometimes, costly) mistakes. He supports me in my endeavors, even though from time to time he thinks I'm crazy for putting forth the effort. We've been around the world together. He does his own laundry. He loves me just as I am--whatever size I might be that day. He makes me laugh. He takes care of our finances, because I couldn't balance a checkbook if my life depended on it, and he's preparing for our future. He's deprived himself of things I know he'd like to have so I can have some of the things I want. He's always willing to communicate, and I trust him implicitly. He makes me feel safe. He takes care of me, and I take care of him.

We used to admire certain friends--couples who appeared to have a solid, happy marriage. One by one, their marriages ended. One day we realized that we had become the role models. Thank you, W, for giving me the one thing in the world that matters most--unconditional love. Happy Thanksgiving! I love you more than you'll ever know.

I'm not talking about how much money she and the groom get in gifts, like the big prize in a horse race. I'm talking about a frou-frou white purse to go with her wedding gown for the big day. First, let me say that I--a 100% heterosexual, married woman--haven't carried a purse in more than a couple of decades. When I did, it was as much a portable garbage can as a convenient way to transport my stuff. I simply carry a wallet and my cell phone in a pocket. Yes, I make sure all my clothes have a pocket somewhere. I don't carry a checkbook--it has saved me thousands over the years. I put on my make-up and fix my hair in the morning, and that's it for the day. But I digress. Actually, even if I were still into handbags, I'd still be curious as to why a bride needs to carry a purse. Let's think about this...

What, exactly, would she carry in this purse on her wedding day? A wallet? Why? Is she heading to a vending machine for a bag of chips after the ceremony? Any chance she'll get bored at the reception and head to the hotel gift shop for a magazine? I seriously doubt it. Assuming that her father or her brand-new husband is paying--or has already paid--for the wedding, we can safely assume she doesn't need to carry a checkbook around all night. Even if she forgot to order the wedding favors and she sees something that might work in the gift shop where she found the magazines, it's really too late. Aah! She never goes anywhere without her cell phone. "Brittany, do you promise to love, honor and cherish?" Rrriiiinnnnggg-tone! "Hello. This is Brittany. No. I can't right now. I think I'm getting married. I'll call you in a few minutes." Click. "I'm sorry. You were saying?" Face it. If even her wedding day can't tear her apart from her cell phone for a few hours, the new mister is in for an interesting life. OK. What else?

The only logical things I can think a bride would need on her wedding day are lipstick and tissues. As many times as she's going to be kissing people throughout the event, it would be an exercise in futility to maintain lipstick-laden lips. As for the tissues, she can always borrow one of Mom's or her new mother-in-law's--who may or may not be crying hysterically for any number of reasons.

Bridal purses are usually much smaller than their everyday counterparts, so they aren't going to hold a lot, or anything much bigger than the typical purse accouterments mentioned above. So I ask again--why bother with the expense of a bridal purse? Just get a wedding gown with a pocket...

Admit it. When we think of graffiti, we think of profound or off-color comments scribbled or spray painted on the inside of bathroom stalls, on freeway overpasses, on the sides on buildings and concrete barriers and on school desks. The very idea of a graffiti-covered wall at a wedding reception is, well, inconceivable, right?

Not anymore! An online company called Wonderful Graffiti has a line of stock "wedding graffiti" as well as customized wedding graffiti with words and images you can choose yourself. The graffiti is very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look "printed" when applied to most smooth surfaces. Your graffiti design arrives on a sheet of transfer paper. You just tape the transfer paper on the wall or surface of your choice, burnish it down and peel it away, leaving only the letters and graphic elements. It's easily removed, and it doesn't harm the surface.

For example, say you're planning a fairy tale-theme wedding. Imagine a large wall in your wedding reception venue covered with the "graffiti" in the image at the right. It not only becomes a spectacular focal point that lets your guests know that you're living your dream, it also brings together the other elements of your wedding day--your gown, the horse-drawn carriage, your cake, your table centerpieces and your wedding favors.

Fairy-tale weddings are naturally elegant weddings, with a fantasy-like ambience created by your decor. This lovely graffiti would work perfectly in a room filled with whimsically romantic candles on every table.

You might want to include wedding bells ringing out the news of your marriage as part of your graffiti. While the wedding bells on the reception wall would be silent, your guests would be delighted to help spread the news when you place a silvery bell wedding favor at their fingertips.

Of course, you could always provide a can of spray paint or a magic marker at their fingertips and let them write their own graffiti. An interesting idea, but I think the folks at Wonderful Graffiti have a better way. They also have graffiti for other occasions and for use in your homes, offices or wherever you want to get creative. You can get creative with your wedding favors, too, at myweddingfavors.com. It's the "write" place to find favors that go great with your graffiti!

You're going to be a dazzling December bride and, whether you've planned an elegant wedding costing tens of thousands or a more reasonable $20K, you want everything to go smoothly. The big day arrives, and you wake up that morning to the blizzard of the century. Streets are impassable, airports are closed, and according to weather reports, the snow won't stop for days.

WWWAAAAHHHH!

"I didn't get wedding insurance!"

Big mistake. For two- or three-hundred dollars, she could have had one less thing to cry about--the money she and/or her parents are out thanks to Mother Nature. If you haven't heard of it, ask. Wedding insurance has been protecting wedding expenses in the US for about the last decade and, no matter how much you're spending on your wedding, it's a good idea. This is truly one time you'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it--especially when you consider all the things that can go wrong besides the weather.

The limos don't show. Your gown catches fire from Uncle Ozwald's smelly cigar. Your caterer's facility floods, and she can't feed your guests. The groom has a skiing accident two days before and is stuck in traction for a month. Your bridesmaids get into a fight trying to catch the bouquet, and they fall on the DJ's equipment, demolishing it. Your wedding favors get lost in the mail. Face it. Anything can happen. When you think about it--a blizzard may not be so bad.

Now that wedding insurance is in your future, begin by checking to see how well your vendors are covered so you don't duplicate coverage. Ask for a copy of their policy to see where you aren't fully insured. So what's covered by wedding insurance? Problems with the site, weather, vendors, key people, sickness or injury are top concerns and can be protected. Even a soldier groom can be covered if he gets shipped out two days before the wedding and you have to postpone. You can also get supplemental policies that cover damages incurred by other wedding-related items like photography and video if they fail to show or the images get destroyed. Gifts that are stolen or lost in the mail can be covered, as well as wedding attire, bodily injury (your maid of honor trips on a step and falls into the lit unity candles), and of course, your honeymoon--hurricane in the Bahamas? On the flip side, wedding insurance won't protect against a change of heart, and jewelry--including engagement and wedding rings may not be covered.

The fact is, many venues won't host your event without liability coverage. Experts suggest you start looking into wedding insurance as soon as you start planning your wedding. Chances are, your big day will come off without a hitch. OK, bad choice of words--but wedding insurance is still a good thing for you to have!

This isn't as tacky as it sounds. In fact, forget sounds. Your bouquet won't say things aloud like, "Ready or not, here I come!" or "I can't wait until later tonight!" No, I'm referring to the language of flowers here--what flowers and their different colors represent. There's even a name for it. It's called "floriography", and it was the "in" thing during the Victorian era, when lovers used flowers to send messages to one another. I think this would be a lovely custom to revive, not only for wedding bouquets but for wedding decor, wedding favors and wedding shower favors as well.

Some of the flowers already popular in bouquets have significant meanings for weddings. The lily has always been a favorite with brides. While the white lily indicates purity and means "it's heavenly to be with you," the yellow lily means "I'm walking on air". The calla lily is an incredibly elegant flower, and it simply symbolizes beauty.

Roses are, and always will be, a popular flower for weddings, but did you know that the color of each rose has special significance?

Red is love, beauty, romantic love, I love you, courage and passion. Yellow means joy, happiness, friendship, a new beginning and remember me. White stands for purity, innocence, humility, youthfulness, sincerity and unity. Pink symbolizes elegance, gracefulness, appreciation and thank you. Peach means desire, anticipation, optimism for the future, and let's get together. Lavender is love at first sight.

The daisy has also become an often-used bouquet and decor flower, because they symbolize innocence, loyal love, purity and gentleness. White daisies go well with almost any decor, and Gerbera daisies make beautiful bouquets because of their vivid colors.

Symbolizing love, beauty and refinement, the orchid is also the symbol for "many children" in China. It's another bouquet favorite because it's so very beautiful and delicate.

There is one flower that speaks specifically to brides and grooms. It is the dainty stephanotis, and it very simply means "marital bliss." Because it's a smaller flower, many brides and florists include it among other flowers in the bouquet or wedding flowers.

You can learn more about flowers and what they mean on a number of Web sites. Almost every flower you can imagine does have a meaning, and they are not all sweetness and love. Some are actually pretty harsh. You might want to read up a little before you go flower picking...

OK. I left out a word in the title. Make that "Time is Running Out On Bride's Dream House!" The Conde' Nast NYC Bride's Dream Townhouse will be open only 16 more days. If the fabulous furniture, appliances, accessories and Kate Aspen wedding favors don't get you there, maybe the scheduled guests will intrigue you enough to stop by. With your wedding not far away, you're probably interested in shaping up for that gown. Fitness expert Sue Fleming, a featured guest, is the creator of the Buff Fitness work-out regimen made famous on TV's Buff Brides. Won't it be wonderful to joyfully anticipate looking at those wedding photos with you figured prominently in almost every one? Fleming can make it happen.

Julie Sabatino is the founder and president of The Stylish Bride. She's an expert in balancing a bride's big day look and the overwhelming planning process, and she writes a fashion blog, "Style Down the Aisle" for iVillage. If you want to make the most of "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue", she's your go-to person.

Want fabulous table settings in your home? Kim Havrilla is bridal director for the Noritake Co. Kim brings with her 23 years of tabletop experience. She understands the relationship between the manufacturer, the retailer, and most importantly, the consumer. Like Kate Aspen, Kim knows the impact
that the perfect table decor can have on any event--from a wedding reception to a small dinner party. Kate Aspen created Personality Boxes for presenting her unique wedding favors so the bride can bring her own style and flair to the tables. Finding Kate Aspen's favors in Personality Boxes is easy at myweddingfavors.com.

When the big day arrives, you want everything perfect, especially your make-up. That's where Kimara Ahnert can help. Kimara opened her Madison Avenue studio in 1997 to teach her clients how to create the looks attained in her salon on their own. She's worked with some famous faces, including Catherine Zeta Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow and Brook Shields. You might want to make this part of your bridesmaids'gifts and take them along to hear Kimara. They'll be wearing make-up that day, too!

So grab your BFFs and have some fun at the Brides Dream House! Here's a calendar with the guests, along with dates and times of their appearances. Hope to see you there!