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It’s time to celebrate! Our January/February 2013 issue is on the newsstands, and it marks the start of Bridal Guide’s 25th anniversary year. Yep…25 years of giving brides like you the very best advice and latest news in fashion, wedding planning and honeymoons. And, to note our special anniversary, we’re giving you a chance to win this stunning cover gown by Melissa Sweet for David’s Bridal:

But wait, there’s more! You also have an opportunity to win a dream-come-true safari honeymoon in Africa worth $14,000.

Plus, if you’re thinking of having a wedding away, you’ll get “Your Complete Destination Wedding Guide” free with this issue.

With Wreck-It Ralph making us feel a little nostalgic for video games — and a little sympathetic toward the most hated villains — we've compiled some of our favorite gaming-themed weddings, from Super Mario Bros. to Rock Band to Halo. 

Nintendo

There are so many fun ways to incorporate Nintendo elements in your wedding, starting with the proposal: Hide the engagement ring inside of this classic question mark box! 

Photo Credit: Emmadreamstar/Etsy

Nintendo superfans Esther and Ryan enlisted friend Larry Quach to custom-design invitations, favor boxes, and more for their Super Mario Bros. theme wedding:

Join us every Friday for our Q&A column, where editor-in-chief Diane Forden answers one reader's biggest etiquette question.

Photo Credit: William Innes Photography

Q. Our wedding party consists of four bridesmaids and seven groomsmen. What’s the best way to pair them up for the ceremony? Do all of the groomsmen have to walk down the aisle during the processional?

A. Wedding parties like yours, with an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, are quite common. The good news is you have several options to consider for both the processional and recessional. For the processional, your groomsmen could enter the ceremony first and walk down the aisle in single file, followed by your bridesmaids. Or, the groomsmen could already be in the room, either at their seats or standing in front of the guests with the groom, before your bridesmaids start their processional. For the recessional, pair the first bridesmaid with one groomsman and the next three bridesmaids with two groomsmen each, one on either side.

—Diane Forden

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.

Crafting a cocktail that matches your wedding color palette — and tastes incredible — is easier than you might think! We start with fresh herbs and fruit before asking the bride for her inspiration boards and wedding colors. After narrowing down a list of the bride and groom’s favorite spirits, we begin the creation process.

At Contemporary Catering, mixing and matching colors and flavors is one of our specialties. We have found a way to match virtually any color and flavor that anyone could dream up! 

Finding your perfect drink definitely takes a little mixing and matching, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The only way to come up with a memorable cocktail that your guests won’t forget is to be creative (the sampling part doesn’t hurt, either!).

Here, we've come up with five great drinks that are sure to tickle your taste buds:

When groom-to-be Joe began shopping for Emily's engagement ring, he knew that a run-of-the-mill diamond ring just wouldn't cut it. The couple, who met while working together in a tattoo shop, bonded over their "nerdiness," and Joe set out on a quest to find someone to create a R2-D2-themed engagement ring to match his "fanatical Star Wars enthusiasm."

He soon discovered Paul Michael Designs through CustomMade, an online marketplace that connects shoppers with artisans who can turn their dreams into reality. 

After months of planning, sketching, and designing, the incredible final product arrived a day before Halloween. Joe decided to propose the following day at work, while they'd be decked out in their Peanuts-themed Halloween costumes — Joe as Charlie Brown and Emily as Lucy.

"I know it would have been better in Star Wars gear," said Joe. "[But] Charlie Brown proposing to Lucy is still kind of a fun thing, too." We agree! Watch their proposal:

Jennifer Doncsecz, an expert on planning destination weddings, has been President and Owner of VIP Vacations Inc. since 1992 and has over 25 years of travel agent experience. She regularly appears as a travel expert on Fox Philadelphia's "Good Day" and on PBS Tempo, and she has also appeared on The Travel Channel, CNN, and RCN. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for using a travel agent and has been a speaker at many national travel conventions, including The New York Times Travel Show, and Travel Weekly's conferences. 

Photo Credit: Meg Courtney Photography 

Ever hear the expression, "There are two kinds of luggage....carry-on and lost"? Unfortunately, putting your wedding dress in your checked suitcase and hoping for the best is like playing Russian Roulette. The smarter option is to carry it on with you in a garment bag (either use the one it came in or purchase a heavy-duty bag).

Once you get on the plane, gently fold your garment bag in half and place it in the overhead bin. Some people may tell you to hang it in the first class closet, but that's rarely done. Besides, the closet is only four feet high, so you'd have to stuff it in.

Confession: I hate being late. If I know I won't make it somewhere on time, I feel like the world will crumble. That usually doesn't happen, but with wedding plans, there could be some serious consequences if you don't stay on schedule.

Join us every Friday for our Q&A column, where editor-in-chief Diane Forden answers one reader's biggest etiquette question.

Q. Are there any particular guidelines for tipping wedding professionals? I am not sure whom to tip or how much I will need to give them.

A: Tipping depends somewhat on where you live and, in some cases, is included in your overall fee (especially when dealing with caterers or banquet halls). You should clarify this when you sign your contract. An additional tip of 15 to 20% is generally expected for your maitre d' or banquet manager. Limo drivers also expect to receive a 15% tip, as do many wedding consultants. It is not necessary to tip musicians, florists, bakers or photographers, however, unless they perform an extra-special service. Clergy members are generally given a small "gift" (ask what's typical for your congregation), while civil officiants charge only a flat fee. Other possible people you will need to tip: ceremony assistants (altar boys or girls), organists, powder and coat room attendants and parking valets. Again, many of these gratuities will be included in your overall fee, so be sure to ask.

—Diane Forden

Photo Credit: Susan Baker Photography

One groom discovered a way to watch his wedding day unfold from his bride's point of view!

San Diego photographer Ben Horne petitioned his now-wife Lyubov to hide a GoPro HD Hero 2 video camera (often used by skydivers to record footage) in her bridal bouquet for their June wedding.

It captured unscripted moments, both big and small. Watch the heartwarming video above to see guests react to the bride as she walks down the aisle and the couple taking in their reception space for the first time.

"It really is a very unique viewpoint and something we're going to enjoy looking back on 20 or 30 years from now," said Horne.

Horne's video only had about 18,800 views at the time of publication, but we have a feeling this could be one of the hottest new tech trends for brides.

Interested in giving your own bouquet cam a shot? Horne says he made his bride's bouquet about two weeks before the wedding using "Real Touch Flowers," which are artificial. His wife picked out orchids, roses and greenery.

They took the camera out of its housing and wrapped it in white gaffer tape so that it would be protected. Then, they super-glued a stick onto the back of it. He also glued on petals to disguise the power and record buttons, as well as the camera display.  Check out this video tutorial for more info!