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Most of our wedding-planning tasks have been exciting and fun; however, one area we've struggled with is our guest list. Both Rigo and I come from huge families and have a close group of friends. We both work at the same hospital, so we have many co-workers that we consider to be pals, too. (They've indicated that they're "expecting" an invitation to the wedding—some have mentioned this subtly, while others were quite forward.) Our large circle of loved ones became even bigger when we factored in all of their children.

These contributing factors raised the following questions: How many people should we invite total? Can we invite some-coworkers and not others? How do we ensure that the reception doesn't turn into a daycare center? Can we prevent invited guests from bringing "extra" guests with them? With some planning, research, and creativity, here's how we dealt with all of these challenges.

Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Philips

Do the Math to Come Up with a Reasonable Limit

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Kraff, a Brooklyn native who rocks dancefloors with his impressive skill and charms guests with his infectious smile. Kraff learned at a very young age the timeless value of great music, drawing inspiration from his father's extensive collection of raggae vinyl. "I find it fun to play for a wide variety guests at a wedding. The best is when you look out in the crowd and see people in their 80s dancing with people in their teens."

Photo Credit: Shawna Yarbrough & Damion Hamilton

The post-wedding brunch is usually the last event of the wedding festivities (sniff). With close friends and family surrounding the newly married couple, it’s a moment to rehash, relive and reflect on all those wonderful moments from the wedding itself. Please and soothe all age groups with a playlist built around love and togetherness. Music is the perfect cure for the figurative (and for many guests, literal) wedding hangover!

It's incredible how the most amazing day of my life went by in the blink of an eye. On July 1st, Michael and I exchanged vows at our Staten Island parish church, Our Lady Queen of Peace. Afterwards, we held a reception with 120 guests at the Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers, Manhattan. Our wedding was steeped in tradition, yet it also reflected our personal style: modern romance. Watch a trailer from our wedding video here!

After another overwhelming (but fun!) round of gown shopping, I am one step closer to making a final decision on what I'll wear on my wedding day. (Catch up on my first salon visit here!) Being surrounded by thousands of gowns can either be a bride's dream or a bit of a nightmare. My best advice is to have some idea of what you like before you shop. Browsing our gown gallery and the pages of Bridal Guide helped narrow my focus. Moral support is also essential! Here, my fellow BG fashionistas report on our experience at RK Bridal in New York City.

The search continues…since BG fashion experts advise visiting more than one bridal salon, we headed to NYC landmark RK Bridal. RK is known for their huge selection of designers (they carry over 12,000 gowns) at a variety of price points—including Casablanca, Mori Lee, Justin Alexander, and Enzoani.

RK Bridal had lots of knowledgeable consultants on hand to help the influx of brides on that busy Friday afternoon. Amy navigated through racks and racks of gorgeous gowns and cherry-picked a few contenders. From her previous shopping experience, Amy knew she wanted to explore different necklines, new colors, and other fabrics.

Here were some of our top picks:

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.

Dessert is a time to spoil yourself — not to spoil an otherwise green wedding. Check out these five fun, easy and eco-friendly treats. Each idea can help reduce costs and excess waste that become a big burden after your wedding. Encourage guests to take home leftovers, and provide them with plenty of recycled paper bags or boxes for easy on-the-go bites.

Tower of Treats
Create a cake-shaped tower of treats. These can be anything from gourmet powdered truffles to kitschy Ho-Hos. You can also display cupcakes on tiered trays for a similar effect. Towers of treats are a bit more interesting than a regular cake: Choose your favorite items, and it’s even more fun to take home the extras.

Guest blogger: Lindsey Buchholz, a member of H&R Block’s Tax Institute. H&R Block is the world's leading tax service provider and is home to the best tax professionals in the industry, who are available to do whatever it takes to meet your needs—whether you file in the office or do your own taxes. For more financial advice and tips, visit their blog, Block Talk.

Filing tax returns was probably one thing you never gave much thought to when you got married. But, guess what: marriage can make taxes more complicated. Instead of making decisions just for yourself, you now have to consider your spouse’s income and potential deductions and credits too, so you can make smart financial decisions that won’t have you overpaying taxes. Here, some facts to keep in mind.

Photo Credit: iStock

Pick any filing status—as long as it’s married. When you get married, you are no longer able to file as a single individual. Instead, you will file either as married filing jointly or married filing separately. The IRS determines your filing status as of the last day of the year. So even if you got married at 11:59 pm on December 31st, for tax purposes you are married for the whole year. 

Want to see some knockout gowns? Get expert planning advice? And find the perfect spot for your honeymoon? Look no further than our March/April 2013 issue, on the newsstands now.

You’ll find dresses to suit your style, whether you fancy a romantic ballgown:

A sexy mermaid:

Or something short ‘n chic:

We also showcase the hottest trends fresh from the runway:

And must-have accessories for the big day:

Deciding on the perfect venue is a challenge. Do you have your reception at a hotel, a catering hall, an estate or perhaps under a tent in a gorgeous garden setting? The decision, of course, depends upon the time of year, the number of guests, your budget, etc.

But there’s another great option to consider, for all you fashion-forward foodies who crave a chic, intimate environment along with a fantastic meal: the restaurant venue. Think about it — you’ll enjoy a cozy atmosphere, amazing food and the cost will undoubtedly be considerably less than having your reception at a much larger venue. Many restaurants have private rooms to accommodate small receptions, and some restaurants, such as Sepia — one of Chicago’s top eateries — have a separate venue just for special occasions. Sepia’s venue, called Private Dining by Sepia, is located right next door to the restaurant.

Photo Credit: Paul Strabbing Photography

Inside, the shimmering metallic walls and distinctive bold lighting create an elegant atmosphere. I love the unique lighting fixtures and the warm golden hue they cast.

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.

Here, Rosanna shares her favorite DIY and customization websites.

We’re lucky enough to live in a world where we can customize and create pretty much anything with the quick click of a button. And what better place to put your own personal stamp on things than your wedding? So for those of you creative and crafty brides who are looking for ways to personalize your wedding, we’ve rounded up of the best sites and apps for all create your own custom projects!

Craftgawker

It’s a photo gallery of handmade crafts and DIY projects. Get inspired, search for something specific, and be taken to that specific blog or site for the how tos. Plus, there’s a free app for craftiness on-the-go!

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Revuleo, a master at mixing a huge variety of musical genres into one seamless set. Where other DJs might shy away, he shines at mixing creative sets as diverse as the personalities of his clients. He understands the magic of a couple's wedding day and commits to creating the perfect vibe. "It's the one moment where everyone you care about is in one room, for you. The music and people together create memories that you will have forever.” 

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Kaye, Elizabeth in Love

Your engagement party: It's the party before the party, a time to celebrate with your closest friends and family. It’s an exciting event filled with love and anticipation, and a perfectly-crafted playlist will set the right tone for all the festivities to come. Mix it up with up-tempo jams to keep energy high, plus a good balance of mellow songs to allow guests to mingle. A word to the wise: save your most special, intimate songs for the big day. You don't want to steal your own musical thunder.