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Love and Marriage in Times Square

On February 14th, couples from around the world gathered to celebrate their love at a public vow renewal  service in Times Square. Over 250 couples participated, from newlyweds to a couple married for 50 years— all kissing for cameras and thousands of onlookers. Aruba Tourism did a fabulous job transforming a typically-frigid February night into a quasi-tropical paradise. Everywhere you looked, couples were strolling hand in hand, taking photos of each other and with each other.  

couple in times square
Photo Credit: Steven Freeman Photography

The ceremony was beautiful. Captain Arnold, the only captain and ordained chaplain in New York, eloquently expressed his expert views on love. Having been married for a whopping 56 years himself, he is more than qualified to speak on matters of the heart. Over the past 35 years, Captain Arnold has preformed thousands of weddings and vow renewals, and on this gorgeous February night, it showed. 

vow renewal

How to Plan a Blended Family Wedding

I would have been happy just to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, Claudia, but I've come to realize that the bond we share has become even stronger by blending our two families together as one. It was obvious from the beginning that something special was happening. Like many other couples, we spent those first few months laughing until it hurt and getting to know each other. We talked about our dreams, friends, goals, and families—especially our children.

I found it very meaningful that we each have two children, a boy and a girl, from previous relationships: Analicia (16), Carter (14), Juan (10) and Riley (10). Every couple who chooses to get married must learn how to create their own family unit, but the process becomes even more complicated when there are kids involved. We made the decision early on in our engagement that this wedding would be a celebration of the union of our family, not just the two of us. Here's a look back at how the kids have impacted our journey towards becoming husband and wife.

blended family
Photo Credit: Stephen Martin Photography

What to Wear Under Your Gown

One of the most puzzling aspects of the wedding attire puzzle can be what undergarment to wear with your gorgeous gown. You want something comfortable but pretty, hidden but flattering. There are a dozens of options for bridal lingerie — the trick is finding a great bra that will complement your dress and your body type. Here, we've come up with a few wonderful, affordable options.

For a Backless Dress

bra for open back dress
Dress by Sophia Tolli

A strapless, backless adhesive bra is a must. We love the Intimates Nu Bra ($50). Because these bras are completely backless, they are not ideal for large-chested women, given their lack of support. But, when comparing all the backless, strapless bras out there, the Nu Bra is our favorite.

For a Slinky Sheath

bra for a slinky sheath
Dress by Mark Zunino

Eco-Friendly DIY Ideas for Your Wedding

Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote 
the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.

Many brides take a hands-on approach to their wedding details, but it's easy to become overwhelmed in the process. If you decide to DIY, make sure that you pick and choose your projects wisely, keeping your skill set in mind, and focus on details that take center stage in a small but memorable way — without breaking the bank. In keeping with the old less-is-more maxim, here are five stress-free (and eco-friendly!) DIY projects for your green wedding.

1. Chalk it Up to Creativity

Fresh Start: New Registry Ideas

Spring is just around the corner, so it’s a great time to start thinking about giving your home a lift with new bath and bedding options. And if you’re looking for some fantastic registry ideas, take a look at the following collections that are perfect for the two of you; the colors are neither too feminine or too masculine.

I love the serene colors of this DKNY Urban Space bedding collection:

dkny urban space bedding collection

For those who prefer a more neutral palette, the Donna Karan Essentials Urban Oasis bedding in Ocean is ideal:

donna karen essentials urban oasis in ocean

This Kate Spade New York Spring collection in fresh cream (shown with the Charles Street coverlet) is equally chic and can be easily accessorized with a mix of pale and vibrant colors:

kate spade new york spring street collection in fresh cream

Or, go a bit more muted with the sophisticated DKNY City Rhythm in cobalt:

dkny cityrhythm in cobalt

How to Tie the Knot: A Groom's Guide

Let's face it — these days, most men don't wear a tie every day and probably haven't put on a bow tie since prom (and that was likely a mock bow tie anyway). To help out your groom, we asked custom suit tailor and fashion expert J. Toor for step-by-step instructions for the various tie options, from a classic Windsor knot to a unique Eldredge knot to an unexpectedly casual ascot. 

The Full Windsorhw to tie windsor knot

The full Windsor knot is one of the most common knots in the tie world. While most men perform a half Windsor, simply adding an additional knot creates a fuller, wider knot. Pro tip: When tying a tie, never flip up your collar — flipping the collar can damage the perfect crease. Instead, slip your tie through the collar and slide it up.

how to tie windsor knot

Tried & Tested: Designer Wedding Shoes

designer wedding shoes

When it comes to shoes, I’ve been that girl at the party. I'm the one in the sexy red-soled stilettos who has to take breaks from dancing after only two songs, grinning through gritted teeth, just one step away from face planting (my fiancé’s always there to catch me). At only five-foot-two-inches tall, I’ve come to accept that beauty involves a little sacrifice.

But after one too many nights limping home, I swore that my wedding would be different. I want to float down the aisle, dance my heart out, and kiss guests goodbye with sure-footedness. True to my promise, I took the newest shoe styles for a whirl around the BG office to see which ones could stand up to the big day. I wore each one for a full workday from eight-fifteen to five o’clock. (As you can imagine, I was quite the sight with my business-casual attire and twinkle toes!)

It was worth the sheepishness: The 10 pairs below passed the test of a full day’s wear, including jumping, dancing and sitting. (Important note: Nothing will ever be as comfy as these flats, so I went into this with the realistic expectation that my knees would be a little sore by the end of this experiment.)

Thank you to my lovely colleague Kristen O'Gorman Klein for shooting all of the photos below!

How to Modernize Your Mom's Wedding Gown

Have you checked out TLC's latest wedding series, "Something Borrowed, Something New"? Each episode follows one bride as she's forced to choose between two wedding gown options: a family heirloom (like her mom's gown) that stylist Kelly Nishimoto re-works into a modern-day dress, or a brand new gown that stylist Sam Saboura shops for with the bride's preferences in mind. Last week, Sam gave us the inside scoop on how he chooses the "something new" gown. Now, Kelly reveals her secrets to modernizing mom's gown!

something borrowed something new
Lauren in her mom's dress, pre-alterations!

How do you find the right balance between keeping the integrity of the mother's dress and modernizing it?
I essentially keep the best elements of the dress — the ones that make it special — and get rid of any elements that make it dated and frumpy. Generally, I'll find myself getting rid of tacky sparkles and eliminating extra fabric. Brides today want to be more sleek, and older gowns tend to overwhelm their bodies.

Photo Diary: One Mom's Dress Shopping Experience

The last time that I wore an elegant floor-length gown was in 1985, at my wedding. Every girl dreams of her wedding dress, and I loved mine with its long cathedral train. Fast-forward 28 years, and I will be walking down the aisle again for my daughter Stefania's wedding (in the same exact church where I was married). Shopping this time around was very different.

My friends told me that the second most looked-at person after the bride is her mom. Co-workers and family members bombarded me with questions: "What color are you getting?" "Why haven't you picked a dress yet?" "Are you wearing strapless?" It all made me a little nervous. Several of my friends who had gone through the same process for their child's wedding told me that the most important thing is to feel both comfortable and beautiful in a dress.

Armed with good advice, a new strapless bra, and the best pair of Spanx I could buy, we went to the first store on the list. Nervously, I touched each gown on the rack, slowly flipping through them as if they were pages in a magazine, not pulling any of them out. Luckily, my daughter was there with me! Together with the sales associate, she sized me up and pulled gown after gown. I tried on several ball gowns, but learned that it wasn't flattering on my body type. Several children (and multiple surgeries) later, I was determined to find a style that accentuated my figure, not one that made me feel heavy, dowdy, or older than I am.

Trend We Love: Mini Desserts

Guest Blogger: Nathaniel Neubauer, owner of Contemporary Catering
Nathaniel’s mom says it best: “When Nathaniel was turning three, I asked him what he wanted for his third birthday. He said, ‘Quiche.’” Ever since, Nathaniel’s love for food has never been far from reach. With his presence, Contemporary Catering quickly became a major contender in the Los Angeles catering industry. From overseeing production to designing a nine-course tasting menu with five-star service, Nathaniel’s dedication to his clients and his company is unparalleled.
 

While it’s a tradition to have that jaw-dropping wedding cake, times have changed! Sometimes we even wonder, “Who needs a wedding cake anymore?!” Lucky, for couples who don’t want to go through the cake selection process, serving an assortment of mini desserts is definitely trending.

The best part is that you can really personalize your offerings. We suggest taking family recipes from both sides and making miniature desserts in larger quantities. Recently, we had a bride who really loved pie, so we handmade a three-tiered “wedding pie” by using 20”, 18”, and 16” pies! 

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