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Kiss May Lead to Marriage in Shocking New Art Exhibit

Can you recognize true love from just one kiss? At a new exhibit in the National Art Museum of Ukraine, five "sleeping beauties" have signed over their future to bet just that. In a modern reenactment of the classic fairytale, each woman takes turns sleeping on display (a total of two hours per day), allowing potential suitors to brush their lips against theirs.

But this isn’t just a peck-and-run — if a beauty opens her eyes during the smooch and awakens from her slumber, she must marry that person. Both parties sign a contract in advance, and contrary to other media reports, the kisser can be either male or female, as long as they’re single and over 18 years old. Visitors who are married or don’t wish to participate are permitted to observe, as long as they sign an agreement promising not to kiss.

UPDATE: "My inspiration for the exhibit was this idea of true love— the magic people feel between themselves, which sometimes ends up in making babies, which are the continuation of life. And if you really think about it, what else is more important than the continuity of life? I mean, everything else pales in comparison. The viewers take from it what they take," said the creator, Taras Polataiko, an Ukranian-Canadian artist.

DSW Releases Cinderella-Inspired Shoes

Cinderella's glass slipper is easily the most iconinc Disney shoe of all time, and it's certainly having its moment in the spotlight right now in anticipation of the Cinderella Diamond Edition, which hits stores on October 2 and marks the first time the classic movie is being released on Blu-ray. 

Earlier this summer, designer Christian Loubouton unveiled a "Cinderella" shoe, and now, DSW has revealed their more budget-friendly Glass Slipper Collection inspired by Cinderella.dsw cinderella glass slipper collection

These limited-edition shoes will be available in DSW stores and on dsw.com starting on October 1 and will cost between $59.95 and $89.95. Each shoe features an embossed carriage logo and a signature blue jewel on the sole.

“The inspiration for the line came from the vision of Disney artist Mary Blair’s original art for the film,” said Debbie Ferrée, Vice Chairman and Chief Merchandising Officer for DSW, in a release. “We took a close look at the film’s aesthetic details—the rich textures and fabric, the beautiful blue in Cinderella’s dress—even the French rococo-inspired scenery. Every little whimsical touch featured in the footwear collection came right out of the film.”

Find out more about the shoes in this behind-the-scenes video!

5 Most Popular Honeymoon Destinations

With so many luxe resorts, romantic islands, and beautiful cities across the globe, narrowing down the endless options to find the perfect location for your honeymoon can be a real challenge. Get some inspiration with these popular honeymoon destinations, according to research conducted by  SmugMug, a photo-sharing and storing site. Whether you're dreaming about relaxing on a pristine beach or exploring an enchanting city, there's something for everyone. Take a look!  

10 Songs That Belong on Your "Do Not Play" List

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 Jon Blak, whose client list includes Beyonce, Jay Z, Jermaine Dupri and Ryan Leslie. He describes his style as "retro/future”, a seamless blend of old and new that translates well to wedding guests of all ages. "I love the challenge of crossing genres and generations and playing a diverse mix that's totally seamless. At the end a wedding, I'd like the bride and the groom to be exhausted from dancing!" Jon is known infusing any event with energy and cool, while always keeping the client's musical preferences front and center in his music selection.

bride and groom
Photo Credit: Jayd Gardina Photography

Weddings are a time to revel in the celebration of newly sealed nuptials. No couple wants this mood interrupted by a cheesy wedding song. These songs can disrupt the flow of the dance floor or, even worse, completely empty it.

BG Cheat Sheet: What's Hot This Week

This week was filled with adventurous couples, from an incredible couple who rock-climbed 900 feet for a mountaintop ceremony to a daring pair who who rode jet packs into their beach wedding. We also were shocked by Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger's surprise engagement, and we couldn't help but follow Taylor Swift's wedding crashing debacle.   

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

Wondering which flowers are in season during your wedding month? Maximize your floral budget by choosing one of these blooms:

TLC's 'I Found The Gown' is Reality TV Worth Watching

Finally, a show that hits all the marks — real brides, real drama and a real budget!

TLC’s 'I Found The Gown' comes complete with all of the oohs, ahhs and tears we now expect from America’s brides-to-be. But what sets it apart from predecessor 'Say Yes to The Dress' is how it caters to brides whose wallets aren't quite Kleinfeld-ready.

i found the gown

Photo courtesy of TLC

The action takes place at VOWS, a Boston bridal outlet owned by Rick and Leslie DeAngelo. The duo keeps the store's racks stocked with about 800 designer wedding gowns — including Reem Acras and Vera Wangs — at seriously discounted prices between ($199 to $4,500). Top-notch consultants help the brides sift through the treasure pile to find the perfect dress at a perfect pricepoint. No ordering necessary: if their size is in, it's their's to take home that very day.

The catch? Sizes are limited, and the good ones can get snatched up faster than you can say “I do.”

rick and leslie

Leslie and Rick; Photos courtesy of TLC

Trend We Love: Candy Buffets

blue candy buffetDone right, a candy buffet becomes more than just a delicious favor for your guests; it becomes an eye-catching part of your wedding reception décor. 

But creating one isn't as simple as just buying a few bags of candy. To find out how to create the perfect color-coordinated buffet with the right amount of candy for your guests, we checked in with Nicole Carter from acandystore.com, an online bulk candy store organized by color, theme, brand, and flavor. Check out her advice below!

BG: How much candy do I need to buy?
Nicole Carter: Determining how much to buy is the biggest challenge. We've found people tend to overestimate the weight of candy. If I asked you what five pounds of M&M's looks like, what would be your guess? We have some helpful videos on our product pages to help show you what volumes of different candies equate to.

candy buffet
Photo Credit: Ace Photography

Hottest Nail Trends for Fall

Not a fan of the classic French manicure? Here, nail expert and Custom Nail Solutions president Katie Saxton shares the hottest trends for the fall season. Which would you try for your wedding?

Double Reverse French Manicure
A modern twist on the French manicure, this elegant look features a dark color on the tips with the rest of the nail covered with a soft shimmer or a clear polish.   

double reverse french manicure

Burgundy
This elegant shade is the go-to color for fall. Jazz it up with a thin line of sparkly polish.

burgundy nail polish

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color
Give your nails a 3-D look with this fun polish! After applying two coats, hold a magnet (included) over each nail for 10 seconds before the polish dries, which creates a raised effect. Then apply a top coat to lock in the shiny, multidimensional look.  

sally hansen magnetic nail color

Couple Rock-Climbs 900 Feet for a Mountaintop Wedding Ceremony

With its awe-inspiring views and intimate, serene vibe, the South Peak of Seneca Rocks in West Virginia is a stunning place to tie the knot—if you're daring enough to climb up to the 900-foot summit. Avid rock climbers Bob and Antonie Ewing did just that earlier this month. 

"Seneca Rocks is our absolute favorite place in the whole world," said Bob. "It's the perfect place to spend the weekend: breathtaking views, good-hearted people, fantastic climbing, and no cell phone reception." 

rock climbing wedding
Photo Credit: John Ewing

Back in March, Bob proposed to Antonie at the top of their favorite route on Seneca Rocks, called Ecstacy. After Antonie happily said yes, they continued up to the South Peak summit just before sunset. Antonie remarked that she wanted to get married on that summit in her mom's wedding gown. "I thought that sounded perfect.," said Bob. "Her mom even joined us for the mountaintop ceremony."

Their fun save-the-date video also featured Seneca Rocks:

Avril Lavigne is Engaged to Chad Kroeger!

avril lavigne engaged to chad kroegerPop-punk singer Avril Lavigne’s love life might have been complicated, but she’s finally found her counterpoint in Chad Kroeger, the frontman of rock band Nickelback!

People magazine reports that Kroeger, 37, proposed to Lavigne, 27, on August 8th with what appears to be a 14-carat pear-shaped engagement ring. The Canadian singers first met back in February, when they co-wrote some songs for Lavigne’s upcoming album, her fifth, which will be released by the end of 2012.

"I knew I was falling for her," Kroeger has said of working with Lavigne. "It was incredibly powerful and something I'll never forget."

"We usually go to the studio together [but this time] he had gone before me," Lavigne recalls of the proposal. "I had been making this scapbook of my time in the studio with a polaroid camera... [so] I walked into the studio and he was putting a picture in the book and I was like 'what's he doin'? All of a sudden I walk over and [see that] he had taken a photo of himself holding the ring box and put the polaroid in my scrapbook... [and because] I had stickers everywhere, he put in 'will you marry me?' It was really romantic." 

Their collaboration-turned-romance became a hot topic on Twitter yesterday, where fans (and haters) expressed their disbelief and messages of congratulations. Maroon 5 singer and “The Voice” judge, Adam Levine, even joined in on the hilarity by posting, “Just to clear up the confusion, I am NOT engaged to Chad Kroeger of Nickleback (sic).”

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