Blogs

At the 85th annual Academy Awards, accessories took center stage (Quvenzhané Wallis' puppy purse! Hathaway's uh, perkiness! Dapper fiancés!). Here, the love it-or-leave-it looks that everyone couldn't stop buzzing about; which one would you like to see at a wedding?

1. The Back-lace

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture. Belle of the ball! The Silver Linings Playbook star was the epitome of bridal elegance in this dramatic fit-and-flare gown. When she turned the corner and we caught a glimpse of that showstopping Chopard necklace, she won our "Best Dressed" vote. Fun fact: She told Ryan Seacrest that she felt like "Steve Martin in Father of the Bride" while getting ready with her family that morning.

Photo Credits (from left to right): E! Online and Hutcher's Crown on Twitter

Nick Carter popped the question to his girlfriend of four years, fitness expert/actress Lauren Kitt, earlier this week while taking a boat ride to a secluded island on the Florida Keys. "I had the ring in my pocket for two weeks," Carter told People. "I was like, 'I don't want it anymore!' It was driving me insane. I just wanted to get it out of my hands and onto hers."

Photo via Instagram

I may have been slightly obsessed with the Backstreet Boys in middle school. So, in honor of my second favorite Backstreet Boy's engagement news, here's a list of classic songs from the group for your wedding:

First Dance Songs

►"I'll Never Break Your Heart" (Backstreet Boys)
"I'll never break your heart / I'll never make you cry / I'd rather die than live without you / I'll give you all of me / Honey, that's no lie."

► "As Long as You Love Me" (Backstreet Boys/Backstreet's Back)
"I don't care who you are / Where you're from / What you did / As long as you love me."

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.

Photo Credit: Stephen Martin Photography

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

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

Dress by Mark Zunino

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

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:

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

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:

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

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 Windsor

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.

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!