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On the day of our wedding, I wasn't nervous at all. I painted my nails, shaved my legs and hung out around the house with my soon-to-be husband, Michael. When I was ready, I walked down the stairs and saw him waiting at the bottom, wearing a black suit that looked too big around the ankles and a nervous smile. The entire thing lasted eight minutes. All I remember is swaying back and forth nervously, crying a little (cautious not to smear my mascara), clicks and flashes going off from our moms' cameras behind us. We kissed and danced in the living room to Zac Brown Band's "Whatever It Is," like it was the most natural thing to do. As we toasted to our marriage, I don't ever remember being happier than I was in that moment. We couldn't believe that we pulled it off.

However, making the decision to get married after five weeks of being engaged wasn't simple.

When Michael got word of his impending deployment to Afghanistan, we knew we wanted to make it official. In September 2011, he proposed to me in a hotel room over Vietnamese food, during one of my visits to Fort Lewis, WA. I knew all along that we were going to get married right away, but I didn't tell anyone else because I was afraid they'd think we were crazy. The last thing I wanted to do was defend myself or my actions. 

Tomorrow we celebrate democracy, America’s independence from Britain and a day off from work. But more importantly, we celebrate the UK’s fabulous contribution to our country. Beautiful brits Victoria and David Beckham’s 13th wedding anniversary tomorrow reminds brides everywhere to never fear the other woman. If Mrs. Becks managed to hold on to her man despite his endless underwear ads, soccer championships and rock-hard abs, then so can we. 

Irv, my husband of two and a half years, is my David Beckham. I knew him since my teenage years as the lead singer of a rock band from a nearby high school, The Perfect Mistake. I listened to their songs on my discman, watched them perform on Fuse TV and stared at him from across the local ice cream shop with friends in the summertime. So when he finally noticed me at a party years later, I pretended to have no idea who he was. (“Oh, The Perfect Mistake? No, doesn’t ring a bell.”)  

Music Monday with Scratch Weddings is back! Each week, we feature music recommendations from the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week, enjoy eight songs that'll get everyone out of their seats!

For your wedding day, we wouldn’t dream of letting you play those tired, overplayed songs that lesser DJs play because they’re easy. Good wedding music should be unique, personalized and 100% fun, yet also keep the crowd enthralled on the dance floor. We’ve compiled a list of surprise crowd-pleasers that will keep your guests quite literally on their toes.

Photo Credit: JoPhoto

► "Bust a Move" — Young MC
Don’t let your guests stand on the wall like Poindexter. Bring everyone to the middle of the dance floor by playing this can’t-miss track.

► "Get Down on It" — Kool & The Gang
This song almost requires you to get down; your guests won’t be able to say no to this one.

► "She’s a Bad Mama Jama" — Carl Carlton
There’s nothing bad about this jam. Guests go crazy for its funky, fun appeal.

Alec Baldwin married Hilaria Thomas in New York over the weekend. But the standard glitz and glamour — trumpet Amsale gown with a crystal-embellished back, celebrity guests (including Tina Fey, Woodey Allen and Mariska Hargitay), romantic ceremony at Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral — wasn't what piqued our interest.

Here's what did: The "30 Rock" star and his yogi wife held their wedding reception on the top floor of NYU's Kimmel Center. The Rosenthal Pavilion room has picturesque views of Washington Square Park and can hold up to 300 guests. Best of all, NYU alumni (like Baldwin and his second wife) can rent the room at a discounted rate: It costs just $615 for four hours! Granted, their total bill probably rang up to more, especially when you consider that the reception ended at around 3 a.m., but this is still shockingly refreshing for an actor of Baldwin's stature (and nature: his diva-like temper tantrums are legendary).

Here are some photos of their venue:

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new 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 shows her favorite dramatic dress backs.

Your moment has arrived  — the doors swing open, and your guests and your groom get their first glimpse of you as a bride. They "ooh" and "ahh" over your dress, the bouquet and the beaming smile on your face. But the real surprise comes when you walk down the aisle and reveal the gorgeous, dramatic back of your gown — and oh, what a sight it is!

Photo Credit (left to right): Claire Pettibone; Summit Entertainment

On your wedding day, it's practically inevitable that something messy will get on your beautiful, pristine wedding dress, from a smudge of lipstick to a splash of red wine. At my wedding, it was chocolate — a young cousin really loved the chocolate fountain and decided to show her appreciation by giving me a hug, with her hands and face still covered in chocolate (find yourself in a similar situation? Scrape off any excess with a butter knife, then blot/rub with baby wipes until the stain has disappeared. Still visible? Cover it with white toothpaste!).

Luckily, the experts at the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science have you covered. Pack these items for your big day, and print out this handy guide to removing any kind of stain! 

Must-have items for your emergency kit:

• Dry shampoo
• Paper towels
• Club soda
• White toothpaste
• Baby powder
• Baby wipes
• Vodka
• Spray bottle
• Lemon

Share your best stain-removing tricks and tips!

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein
 

Recently, the bridalguide.com team was invited to a special preview of Kathy Ireland for Mon Cheri’s Spring 2013 bridal collection. The dresses were stunning — inspired by the simplistic and elegant styles of a 1950s Grace Kelly era with a modern twist — and we were thrilled to be getting a sneak peek from Kathy and her team!

Within the first few minutes of meeting the supermodel-turned-business-mogul, I could hear the passion in her voice as she spoke about her latest designs and her excitement about the upcoming collection became contagious. What struck me most about Kathy’s gowns was that she really understands what a bride needs from her dress on her wedding day. Kathy focuses on tailoring each gown in a way that allows all brides to feel beautiful and confident.

As the first gown was presented, there was a collective round of “oohhs and ahhs,” thanks to a romantic strapless mermaid dress with elegant lace detailing. To add some sparkle, Kathy decided to place an eye-catching crystal embellishment onto the ultra-feminine gown, which made it one of my personal favorites.

Letter from the Editor: Our blogger Crista is enjoying those last few days before The Big One, so today, we'd like to share some iPhone photos and well wishes on her behalf. For those of you who are new to this blog, we've been following all of her wedding-planning ups and downs since last July. This Sunday, she's finally marrying Michael, the love of her life! After being there through it all, we have no doubt that her nuptials will be incredible. It's been such a pleasure to share her story with you all—thanks for the encouragement and advice you gave her along the way. Stay tuned for her complete wedding and honeymoon recap. Readers, show her some love and leave a comment with your congratulation wishes below!

Crista's wedding countdown clock, a gift she received after getting engaged. P.S. How gorgeous is her ring?!

Her final dress fitting at Amsale and a behind-the-scenes look at her beauty prep.

Let's take a look back at her journey down the aisle...