Martha Stewart on Wendy Williams, Why Girls Need Engagement Rings & What’s Wrong with Weddings Today

Martha Stewart with her new book, Martha Stewart Weddings. Photo: Getty Images

Many brides aspire to have a “Martha Stewart wedding” filled with personal touches and details that scream the style of the bride and groom. And thanks to the doyenne of domesticity herself, there are thousands and thousands of ideas that couples can choose from. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Martha Stewart Weddings, Stewart has published a new tome dedicated to making nuptials look picture perfect. Martha Stewart Weddings: Ideas and Inspiration is a 272-page book filled with hundreds of ideas and wedding planning tips to get you down the aisle in style.

Yahoo Style spoke with Stewart about her thoughts on weddings today, why she thinks every girl should get an engagement ring, and how she made Wendy Williams nervous while a guest on her show.

Yahoo Style: Your first wedding book was in the ‘80s, is there a big difference between weddings then and now?

Martha Stewart: Not really. I think weddings are pretty much a gradual evolution to what they are today from what they were 20 years, 30 years, and 50 years ago. A wedding is always an expression of a bride’s and groom’s desire for a very special day. And some are more successful than others depending on the planning, on the ingenuity, the creativity and the experts that are called in to help.

When I got married my weddings was beautiful even though there were less than 15 guests. The food was utterly delicious, and it was personal and that’s really what I think every bride aspires to: A personal expression of personal style.

Any specific element that has changed over the years?

Nowadays more people rely on party planners then when I was catering weddings in the ‘80s. I think the party planner has become a more important part of a wedding, and I think it’s a good idea because very little is left to chance. They are compelled to make sure that every detail is taken care of.

Is there anything about today’s weddings that you don’t like?

I think weddings are too long. To spend 6 or 7 hours at a wedding is too long. And you shouldn’t feel bad if some guests like to leave after the ceremony and the dinner. To drag it out for 6 or 7 hours and then have an after party, and then have a breakfast, and then have a lunch. You know your friends, you know what they can do, and you judge it that way, plan it that way. But again, weddings are personal, and it’s what the bride wants and the bride should have her say.

Some people have argued that traditional elements like an engagement ring and wedding dress are outdated and should be tossed, what do you think?

I think any girl who says, ‘I don’t want an engagement ring’ is wrong because guess what, that diamond might get you through a hard time. If you get a divorce, it might be an investment and it should be an investment. It also should be an expression that you really are engaged and it should be part of the rite of passage. Why not? Give it to your daughter, give it to your son.

Any other traditions you think are important to keep?

People say to throw out the white dress. Most girls look so beautiful on their wedding day, they should keep it even if it’s a blush or pale blue or gray, you can wear a beautiful gown. My daughter wore a gray flannel suit, which made me sad because there I am the creator of Martha Stewart Weddings and I didn’t have a beautiful wedding to go to or to plan. But hopefully my granddaughter will have that kind of wedding. Maybe in 20 years we‘ll have a spectacular, traditional wedding.

Do you have a favorite wedding moment?

My favorite moment, always, is when the bride and groom kiss at the end of the ceremony. I just love that moment and I like the vows. I like it when the bride and groom write their own vows. I think it’s charming, heartfelt and very personal and there’s no reason not to have that.

Any part you don’t like?

I do not like when the minister or pastor or rabbi carries on about the couple for too long. Often times they just met a little bit before the wedding, and they’ll carry on with stories and things like that. I don’t think that has any place in church.

If you could have created a wedding hashtag for your wedding, what would it be?

#MarthaAndAndy

You were on Wendy Williams Show recently to talk about weddings, any thoughts on some of the questions she asked?

It was a funny segment. I think that as often happens, as Wendy was a little nervous. I don’t know why, she’s a daily TV host, and she acted a little bit nervous and she was trying to move the segment along, but it was a charming segment, people loved it and I had fun. It was very nice and people really got a sense of what this book is all about.

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