Blogs

As the days pass on the remote Hawaiian island hosting Wedding Wars, the couples have been increasingly scheming and looking for a guaranteed way to win their $100,000 dream wedding, including a $25,000 cash prize. On last night's episode, the couples first had to fight tooth and nail—literally—for a chance to win a wedding flower package (worth $5,000). Although Frankie and Sofia (pictured at left) didn't win the blooms, Sofia was "able to get her aggressions out." The couples then participated in a tradition-themed immunity challenge to win their coveted cake topper. The task: For the groom to hold his bride-to-be up (on a shaking platform!) for as long as possible. But despite making valiant efforts in both challenges, Long Island natives Frankie and Sophia were eliminated and asked to leave the wedding chapel immediately. We checked in with the duo to hear their side of the story, get the dish on any wedding plans and share the lessons they learned about each other while filming.

Do you have the heart of a DIY-er? Now you can put it to cost-conscious, hands-on use when it comes to your wedding blooms — always a big chunk of the bridal budget. Organic Bouquet, an online provider of eco-friendly, organic flowers, is trying to help you prune costs by making its wholesale division available to everyone. So go ahead and browse blooms like organic lilies, roses, hydrangeas, tulips and more, available at wholesale prices in single units or boxes, and then get creative with your friends and family: The result will be one-of-a-kind bouquets and table arrangements made all the more sweet by the savings to your wallet. You can even order 5-foot roses! Visit  ecoflowers.com for more information.

—Susan Schneider

After the wedding is over and the guests have left, you and your new husband can have the chance to walk into a brand new house…that's already all yours! Forgo the traditional demitasse spoon and blender by reigstering with Home for the Honeymoon, an international online registry which allows couples to collect "gifts" for a down payment on a home. The process is simple: Just link your PayPal account to Home for the Honeymoon (or create one if you don't have one yet!), and your guests will be able to contribute money to the purchase of your dream home. But Home for the Honeymoon has stepped up their game and moved into the charity arena at just the right time. The online registry is helping with the rebuilding efforts in Japan by pledging half of its profits from the next 20 couples that sign up to be donated to the Red Cross. After the first 20 couples have signed on, Home for the Honeymoon will continuously donate a portion of the profits to the relief efforts for the next three months. A new house and charity? Sign us up!

—Malvina Shishmanian

Oprah slept here! So did John Travolta, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (although those last two not at the same time for all you Titanic fans). This room is the Presidential Suite at the Westcliff Hotel in the outskirts of Johannesburg. From the room’s enormous terrace you can view at elephants grazing in the open zoo just below and take in the gloriousness of the purple jacaranda bushes. The bathroom is as big as an entire studio apartment in New York City, although I bet an apt doesn’t have towel warmers. And the main room has a wet bar and oversized dining table. Of course, I’ve got to point out the champagne and sweet treats that welcomed us to our first of many honeymoon suites across Africa.

—Jenna Mahoney

First up, please meet your jewelry guru, Urvi Prunier!
The designer, who launched Tejani Jewelry in 2004, aimed to create a happy medium between super-pricey and low-end jewels.“High couture jewelry and accessories were out of reach of most brides, yet the more affordable pieces proved unattractive and of poor quality,” says the designer. The Tejani collection is stunning—so is Prunier(!)—and we're thrilled to bring her on board. Today's gown that needs styling:


 

This strapless, stretch-silk gown (from red-carpet favorite Nicole Miller) really screams “accessorize me!" I absolutely LOVE the simplicity and elegance; it lends itself to a variety of styling options. Plus, the asymmetrical ruffle gives this gown a very contemporary feeling. The bride really has so many different choices since there are no embellishments holding her back. per se. Because the gown gives the wearer so much freedom and flexibility, I'm offering up two different styling suggestions, because how you wear your dress is totally dependent on your personal style.

I am so excited about our May/June issue! It’s not only packed with lots of gorgeous gowns, but it’s also filled with tons of ideas you can use for your big day from pretty cakes to dreamy honeymoons.

This is truly a star-studded issue as top celebrity pros share their best tips starting with the host  of My Fair Wedding, David Tutera. You’ll go behind the scenes of the “Mini-Truck Bride” episode that first aired on February 13 (catch the reruns on WEtv). Our Fashion Editor, Naima, and I flew out to Los Angeles to photograph one of David’s lucky brides, self-professed tomboy Michelle Smith, who tried on several dazzling gowns for her makeover. I was amazed at how natural she was in front of the camera, which made photographing her a breeze. Michelle was every bit the beautiful bride—we loved our day on the set working with David, Michelle and all the crew. And don’t forget to check out David’s column, “Ask David”, in which he helps you determine your bridal style whether it’s classic and traditional, modern and sophisticated, or even a bit eclectic.

Last night, tons of brides-to-be tuned in to watch VH1's latest reality show, Wedding Wars, which airs on Monday nights at 9 PM. The competition-meets-elimination show features 12 engaged couples, including Johnny and Celestria (left), who arrived at the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii only to later find out they'll be staying in lean-tos on a remote island. With only rice and beans (and of course, some red and white wine) as sustenance, the fiancees duke it out each week for a gift—like last night's bridal party outfitting by Mori Lee. But the fun ends when the couples next compete in a security challenge for immunity and the chance to spend one more week on the island . The ultimate prize?  A $100,000 dream destination wedding and honeymoon. Now we'd even fight tooth-and-nail for that. Bridal Guide checked in with last night's eliminated couple (as we will every week), Johnny and Celestria, to get the inside scoop on their short stay.

From left: Notte by Marchesa, BCBG Bridal, Catherine Deane.

Shopbop.com, a veritable online department store of the most fashionable kind, has opened their brand-new Wedding Boutique. The shop, with prices ranging from $195 to $5,000, will not only feature big-name labels the site already carries like Halston Heritage, Alicia & Olivia and Calvin Klein, but also gowns from small, young New York-based designers who can create one-of-a-kind confections. The boutique will also carry lingerie and gift sets, as well as accessories from Giuseppe Zanotti, Lauren Merkin and Loeffler Randall to compliment each and every gown. If you're a one-stop-shop kind of girl, you're in luck: You can find all of your honeymoon essentials here too. String bikini, anyone?

—Emily Gardner
 

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