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Photo Credit: Josh Lynn Photography

By now you may have noticed that we have a penchant for creative photo ideas around these parts, so for my personal engagement photos, the pressure was definitely on. After researching these amazing save-the-dates, I knew I wanted to find a way to incorporate my wedding date into the photo itself, rather than just slapping on some text. BG brides, meet my first DIY project.

Unlike a handheld sign, this stand-alone bad boy can be placed anywhere. It will only set you back around $15-$20 depending on the materials you use, compared to $100+ if you buy it premade on Etsy. Best of all, it's versatile and can easily be customized for bridal showers and weddings, too.

I couldn't have done it without the help of my dad, a contractor, and my photographer Josh, who was sweet enough to lug it around at the beach and set up the most incredible shot. My fiancé Jason and I got some ribbing from family, friends, and even strangers about it (one guy at the beach screamed, "I'll be there!" when he saw it), but I think the end result speaks for itself.

Rumor has it, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are planning to tie the knot this weekend at their home in France.

Guests are already arriving under the pretense of a 50th anniversary bash for Pitt's parents, Jane and Bill. But Brangelina certainly wouldn't be the first couple to surprise their guests with a wedding — earlier this year, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan invited friends and family over to celebrate Dr. Chan's med school graduation but shocked them all by throwing an intimate backyard wedding instead.

Recently, Pitt gave Jolie a $400,000 "pre-wedding gift," generating buzz that the wedding isn't far away. 

We know rumors are always swirling about these two, but what's intriguing is that the couple reportedly flew in the jeweler who made Jolie's stunning engagement ring, and Pitt's BFF George Clooney is current at his home in Lake Como, just an hour's flight away. 

What do you think; will they tie the knot this weekend? 

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Photo Credit: GYI NSEA/iStockphoto

This week, flower girl Claire Miller became an Internet sensation when a camera phone video was posted of her taking a catnap at the altar. In honor of the we-won’t-take-it trend started by Grace van Cutsem—the cutie who achieved worldwide fame when she covered her ears at Wills and Kates’ wedding—here are our favorite videos featuring feisty flower girls.

1. Flower Girl Gets Tired of Wedding and Snoozes Off

By “in good times and in bad,” she decided she had heard enough and toppled over in slow motion. (Let’s be honest—what wedding guest hasn’t fantasized about doing this at one point or another?)

2. Funny Flower Girls at Fall Wedding

This adorable chubby-cheeked tot doesn’t grasp the purpose of flower petals.

3. Bossy Flower Girl

A three-year-old shushes everyone from the photographer to the pastor.

Worried that the tiniest members of your bridal party will make this list? Prep in advance by doing a couple of practice runs before the big day, letting them try on their outfit in advance and packing their favorite toy or activity to keep them occupied before their debut. Consider letting them walk down the aisle without giving them a “job” to do, which could help eliminate some of the hysterics.

Anita Chakra Burtty had a premonition that something extraordinary was about to happen: She was about to meet her future husband. So the Sydney astrologist decided to go all in and pay for an April wedding—more than enough time to fall in love with her would-be groom, who she expects to bump into around October or November. “It’s not going to be a huge issue if I don’t get married on that day, but I know that I will,” she told Channel Nine’s A Current Affair.

Her conviction is so strong, she’s already made major planning decisions, including buying her dress, meeting with wedding vendors and creating a beachside barbecue theme (hope her hubby likes wings). Most surprisingly, her loved ones fully support her decision. They’re going to make the trek from England to Australia to attend, and her best friend, Jeremy, even changed his wedding date (note: to a bride he’s already found) so that it wouldn’t coincide with hers. “I wouldn’t be a good friend to Anita unless I believed in her and supported her,” he said.

Food is the number-one priority at my wedding: I believe that meals should be an experience, not just a mindless string of bites. Your wedding menu helps set the tone for the reception. The main focus for my husband Michael and I is to create a fun atmosphere, so we decided to build our party around Mexican cuisine. It encompasses all the flavors that Californians love—fresh, spicy, and full of flavor. You're sure to find disagreements about who does it best, but most San Diegans can agree that we capture that south-of-the-border essence pretty darn well.

Although I may not be Mexican myself, I've enjoyed eating Mexican food ever since I was a little girl. I have fond memories of Mom making quesadilla dinners for my brother and I, Dad taking us to a local taco shop every other Wednesday night, and even crossing the border into Tijuana to get authentic street tacos. Here's how I'm incorporating all of my Mexican favorites into the wedding menu.

1. Start the party with a kick. While Michael and I are busy taking photos, I thought it might be fun to serve plates of chips and guacamole to guests. We'll get the party started with margaritas (both blended and on the rocks), and micheladas for the folks who want to start slow. A michelada is beer mixed with either lime or tomato juice and a ton of spices.

Photo Credit: espimraim via Flickr

This season, the top knot hairstyle was a fave on the bridal runways. Needless to say, when I tried it at home, it did not feel polished and "white carpet ready." But last week, I received this fun DIY updo kit by stylist Theodore Leaf. With his kit, I created a gorgeous updo. While filming NBC's hit show Fashion Star with Suave Professionals, Theodore Leaf created a lovely top knot. "We did a knot, and everyone wanted to try it" said Leaf.

After researching and developing, the "Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit" was created! In three easy steps, you can have a classic yet sleek look to last all day. And the best part — no straighteners, irons, or styling skills needed.

"I created the 'Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit' so that girls could have everything they need to create perfect top knot every time," said Leaf. The kit is available in three colors: Blonde, Brunette and Black, for $20 at boredwithyourhair.com.

Here, the video, complement to this easy kit. Check it out for yourself....

—Naima DiFranco

Weddings offer an amazing opportunity to make a difference. In addition to saving energy, conserving resources, and decreasing pollution, imagine what a boost green brides and grooms can give to sustainable businesses. Other than a house, a wedding is generally the most expensive thing a young couple will ever “buy”. Brides feel a lot of pressure to make everyone happy and are willing to spend whatever it takes — the average cost is around $27,000 these days — to make their wedding “perfect.” Many couples even go into debt to pay for their weddings. Part of having a green wedding is conserving resources — including money.

These days, you don’t need to sacrifice style or beauty to have an eco-friendly wedding. As celebrities like Natalie Portman have shown us, the only difference between a green bride and a bride who doesn’t know about eco-chic alternatives is that creating her fabulous wedding has less impact on human health and the environment.

In an effort to save money and use those creative juices, my mom and I planned to DIY all the flowers for the wedding — bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces. Simple enough, we thought, to determine which flowers we liked and arrange them in a beautiful away. We were wrong.

My mom purchased about 40 stems of various flowers, mostly roses and spider mums. She discovered a variety of spray roses she purchased were covered in thorns and were pretty much unable to be worked with for a bouquet at all. Then, she realized that making that pretty, round shape a bouquet has was nearly impossible. As the stress and worry mounted, we got in contact with Becky from Lily Lane florist. 

With our budget in mind, she’s working to take the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets and all the boutonnieres off our plate (although we still plan to arrange the centerpieces ourselves with the help of a crafty family friend). Here's why we’ve decided to leave the bouquets and the bouts to the professional. 

Photo Credit: Infiniti Foto

1. Shades can vary. When you order a “purple” rose, what you actually get could vary from a light lavender to a deep eggplant. When ordering flowers, it’s tough to know what color you’ll actually get. Buying in person can alleviate that worry, but then it’s one other errand close to your wedding day.

How would you describe your latest collection? What was your inspiration behind these designs?
A new sense of contemporary luxury embodies my 2013 collection. I have been inspired by lighter textures and fabrics, along with an array of luscious embellishments. Lace, beading and dimensional details merge to create a modern feel perfect for confident and stylish brides.

Why did you opt to collaborate with Mon Cheri?
I felt that the Mon Cheri label was a quiet achiever with integrity. That is very important to me, and can be hard to find in this business. They are a well-established company and Steve Lang—the CEO of Mon Cheri—and I got along from the start with regards to our vision and philosophies.