Blogs

With less than five and a half months to go, Michael and I visited our jeweler last week to design our wedding bands. He opted for a solid platinum band, while I selected a platinum diamond eternity band with the same hand-carved leaf detailing featured on my engagement ring. I love that my ring has a classic design yet enough accents to make it entirely my own. Display your eternal commitment with a ring that is just as unique as the love you share for one another.

1. Think Pink

Love how bridal designers are infusing color into their gowns, but not sure if you could pull off pink on your wedding day? Embrace the trend by selecting a delicate pink gold wedding band, instead, like this 18k Cartier band set with a diamond. Priced at $800.

Gossip Girl's own royal wedding will air on Monday, January 30, marking the 100th episode. Check out this sneak peek at Blair Waldorf's walk down the aisle!

We already know that both Blair and maid of honor Serena van der Woodsen are wearing Vera Wang gowns, and the bridesmaids are wearing White by Vera Wang. What we don't know: Will Blair go through with the wedding, or will she become a runaway bride?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Last week, a favorite radio show of mine got together with Jad Mouawad, airline correspondent for The New York Times, to discuss airport security. Is it better in a post 9/11 world? Is it worse? Is it consistent? The segment was part of a larger series that looked at travel in today’s day in age (Interesting stuff; I suggest you take a listen!). As is fitting with the radio show, there were call-ins from listeners talking about their experiences with security. One thing that became totally apparent to me, your intrepid travel editor, is that there are a few things that no one really talks about when it comes to dealing with security. Without further ado, I present some of my totally important (and personal) observations about dealing with security.

We're excited about the launch of BrideBox, a new creation service devoted entirely to DIY couples who want the look and feel of a high-end wedding album, without the hefty price tag. Skeptical? The BG editors were, too; that is, until we reviewed a gorgeous sample firsthand. We were unable to differentiate the thick, glossy paper and sturdy binding from professional (much more costly) albums that we've seen.

The average price for a traditional, flush-mount album (with one image glued to each page) is $764, while pros charge an average of $400 for a magazine-style photo book (with images on both sides of the page). BrideBox offers four different albums to choose from, which range from $369.99 for a flush-mount to as low as $89.99 for a photo book, and can be customized to your cover and page preferences.

Finalizing your album with a photographer could take months—but with Bridebox you have the option to make one in less time than the actual reception, from start to finish. They offer dozens of free, easy-to-use templates (similar to the ones photogs use), so that you can drag and drop in all of your favorite snapshots. Once you've designed your album, a photo editing professional color corrects each photo, ensuring that the final product looks perfect before it's shipped off to production. 

If you've already signed on the dotted line for a pro album, consider gifting a parent album, instead!

Photo Credit: Dianna Hart Photography

One of our favorite celeb couples is reportedly getting divorced.

According to TMZ, Klum will file divorce papers early next week citing "irreconcilable differences."

Klum and Seal, known to renew their vows every year on their anniversary, married in 2005 and have three children together. Seal is also the adoptive father of Klum's oldest daughter from a previous relationship.

The couple is also known for their lavish Halloween parties and incredibly elaborate costumes. We'll certainly miss seeing what they come up with every year!

The U.S. Postal Service just released the new 65-cent version of their popular wedding cake stamp to reflect this year's postage increases. The stamp, designed for invitations 2 ounces and under, was first introduced in 2009 as part of the weddings series.

The pretty three-tiered cake pictured was created by pastry chef Peter Brett of Washington, DC. 

Before you run out to your Post Office, though, here's some must-know advice:

Baby's breath is no longer relegated to "filler flower" status; it's been popping up everywhere lately, from bouquets to centerpieces to ceremony décor. And it's no surprise why: this extremely budget-friendly bloom is readily-available year-round, it's versatile, and it can make an impact at any kind of wedding, from a rustic backyard to a formal ballroom. Here, some of our favorite ideas.

Bridal Party

Photo Credit: Dina Chmut Photography (left); Jonathan Ivy Photo (right) 

Photo Credit: Shannen Norman Photography

Once you've sent out your wedding invitations, it's time to sit back and relax (yeah, right!) as the responses come rolling (more like trickling) in. However, as any real bride knows, the process is rarely ever that simple. RSVP cards may return to you with an illegible name, they could be damaged from the mail, or—even worse—blank. 

Here's how to prevent yourself from going postal:

When Michael and I began the process of choosing our honeymoon destination, we both decided to write down the top two things we wanted most from the vacation. I was looking for an oceanfront suite, where I could spend our days on the beach and listen to the ocean waves crash on the shore in the evenings. Michael's main goal was to relax and unwind, but he also wanted to visit a spot that we were unlikely to return to in the near future (an eleven-hour flight is not something we want to repeat very often!).

Once we chose Hawaii, we started to research the islands to see which suited our needs. We opted for Oahu and Kauai. Oahu was our first choice due to the rich history (it's home to Pearl Harbor) and the new addition of the Aulani Villas, a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort. Since we're already DVC members, Michael and I were able to save on our accommodations for the five nights we were spending in Oahu, while still getting the Disney hospitality that we are accustomed to. This great savings allowed us to splurge on our resort for Kauai, opting for Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort. Kauai was a no-brainer because we desperately wanted a secluded location with plenty of outdoor activities.