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10 Best Song Requests for Your Reception

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 PC3, a music aficionado and musician who draws on both of these talents to create a musical environment that inspires each and every crowd he spins for. With unmatched versatility, DJ PC3 spins the hottest clubs and parties, opens for artists including Erykah Badu, and wows corporate clients including Nike, Nordstrom, Red Bull and Samsung. When spinning a wedding, PC3 takes the time to create a set that will be memorable for couples and their guests. "At weddings, it's really about picking the right song for the right moment.” ring bearer dancing
Photo Credit: Hoffer Photography 

BG Cheat Sheet: What's Hot This Week

Earlier this week, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with a look back at our favorite Jewish weddings. And we're so ready for the start of fall tomorrow. Are you having an autumn wedding? Be sure to check out 100 fun and festive ideas here. 

Shoutout to Facebook follower Brenda Deweese, who's celebrating the first day of fall in our favorite way possible — getting married, of course! Congratulations, Brenda!

If you've also had a busy week, catch up now on our hottest features:

We've all seen those incredibly beautiful, awe-inspiring centerpieces while searching for floral inspiration. But the hidden price tags can put you in a budget-induced coma ($900 per centerpiece? Really??). That's why we asked A Touch of Elegance Floral & Event Design to reinvent their most exquisite designs into gorgeous budget-friendly alternatives, saving as much as 60%! 

wedding centerpieces

Old Hollywood-Inspired Silk Gowns

old hollywood silk gowns

Take a style cue from the stars of yesteryear and choose a slinky silk gown with a bias-cut hem. This figure-hugging style is sure to turn heads and have you feel like you are walking down the white carpet. Consider pairing this look with Art-Deco inspired jewels and a starlet-worthy hairstyle: think Veronica Lake waves or a chic updo secured with a crystal hairpin.

Naima DiFranco

5 Ways to Repurpose Household Items as Wedding Décor

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.

Costs add up so quickly when you're planning a wedding. The good news, though, is that you don't have to purchase brand new items for every single aspect of your big day. If you take a look around your home, local thrift stores and flea markets, you'll be surprised at what you can repurpose into wedding décor with a little creativity.

And, of course, aside from saving costs, adding repurposed décor has another great benefit: you will help the environment by reducing the amount of waste generated by your wedding. You'll also create a unique aesthetic that will be all the talk of your wedding!

Here are my top five favorite repurposed wedding décor ideas.

1. DIY Cupcake Stands Made from Old Plates and Vases 
There’s a certain charm to mismatched vintage plates and vases. Shop for a variety of plate and vase designs that you love.

How the Obamas Will Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary

president barack obama michelle obama wedding


Photo via Michelle Obama on Pinterest

On October 3, Michelle and President Barack Obama will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. But this election season's first Presidential debate has thrown a major wrench in any celebratory plans — it'll take place that very night in Denver, CO.

"I learned yesterday — just yesterday [of the date]. I was like really, really? The first presidential debate is on my 20th anniversary?" the First Lady told Access Hollywood. But she's taking it in stride: "All I said was, 'At least we'll be together.'"

The couple, currently campaigning separately, will meet up in Denver for the debate and celebrate in their own way.

"I'll see him right before and I'll watch him on stage," she said. "I'll give him a kiss after the debates and [say], 'Happy Anniversary.'

"I'm going to make him write it on his hand. 'Love you, honey' so that when he waves, it makes 'I love you honey,'" she added. 

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

15 Fun Ways to Light Up Your Wedding

My husband and I are throwing our wedding reception at the Soledad Club, a former women’s club perched high above Pacific Beach, with incredible views. We're having an evening celebration and we want to light up the interior in a special way. I’ve listed fifteen ideas here that will serve as inspiration.

1. Cluster candles into groups. After the sun sets, we’d love to have the tables glow, too. These centerpieces are compromised almost entirely out of candlelight.

A Long-Distance Love Story Separated by Two Continents, Two Cultures, and Two Languages

In a quest to learn English, Jessica, 18, of Brazil, joined a language-learning website called SharedTalk. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with someone who lives nearly 5,600 miles away. After Kenny, 23, of Belgium contacted Jessica to help her learn the language, the two quickly became friends, spending hours "laughing and talking about everything and nothing." 

long distance relationship

"It all started so natural," wrote Jessica on her website. "We had so much in common. He liked me the way I am, and I had the same feeling for him."

Soon, the couple found themselves talking for 12 hours straight and sleeping with the webcam on to spend more time together. After about a year of dating long-distance, Kenny proposed in a sweet video. Jessica, appropriately, responded with a video of her own, below. And on October 31, Kenny will fly to Brazil to meet Jessica and her family for the first time. 

"Two countries, two cultures, two languages, many obstacles and only one heart."

Tell us: Would you agree to marry someone you've never met in person?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

A Surprise Wedding Gift From President Obama

One couple received a truly memorable gift from our Commander-in-Chief after he nearly became an unintentional wedding crasher at their September 1 nuptials.

President Obama planned a last-minute rally at the Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa on September 1, attracting about 10,000 supporters — but he and his team made sure to wrap it up an hour before the couple's wedding ceremony was scheduled to start so that the two events wouldn't conflict.

"The staff and Secret Service were very gracious about it, and when it was over, they received this gift and note," a friend of the couple posted on Reddit

wedding gift from obama
Photo Credit: Loren Paul

What a great keepsake from their big day! 

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Romantic Lace Wedding Gowns

We love the look of champagne, nude and ivory laces fashioned in a sheath silhouette. The look is ultra-romantic with a relaxed easy allure. This look would be perfect on the beach or at a vineyard, and we love how this style can either look bohemian or vintage lovely.

Here, a few of our favorites by Claire PettiboneElizabeth Fillmore, and Jim Hjelm Blush.

A great bridesmaids match to these gowns: Deeper champagne long whispy dresses in a lightweight, breezy chiffon. 

—Naima DiFranco

Inside the New Issue

Our new issue, November/December 2012, is on the newsstands, and it’s filled with so many fantastic stories that I don’t know which one to talk about first!

bridal guide november december issue

But let’s start with fashion, since I know many of you are on the hunt for that perfect gown, and there are lots of beautiful — and affordable — dresses featured. You’re sure to love the gorgeous gowns that were photographed on the fabulous Disney cruise ship, the Disney Magic. Here’s our model with Captain Mickey himself:

This state-of-the art cruise ship was the perfect venue for showcasing dreamy dresses that exude grace, style and elegance:

You’ll also find more have-to-have looks in our “All An Illusion” story, showcasing romantic dresses with sheer necklines, backs and cover-ups:

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