Blogs

Marriage vows don't have an expiration date but don't tell that to Lauren and David Blair. Throughout 30 years of marriage, the Hendersonville, Tennessee couple has continually renewed their "I dos"; 109 times, to be exact! Their most recent ceremony took place on August 15, and they've extended their Guinness World Record for "Most Marriage Vow Renewals by the Same Couple," a title they've held since their 66th vow renewal in 2001.

Photo Credit: Josh Cross, The Tennessean

The 63-year-old eternal bride explains on the Guinness World Records site that "We were both in long term relationships in the past that didn't work out. We knew we were meant for each other and wanted to continually share that vow experience. I love to look into David's eyes as he is repeating his vows. I know that this man will love me until the day I die. Of course, David will tell you that he does it for the honeymoons!" 

Stressed out about getting married? Do you wonder how you'll get along with someone else for the rest of your life? How will you agree on finances when you still can't compromise on cleanliness? What if the alleged blissful engagement has turned into a harsh reality that you two are completely different? These were all issues that my fiancé Chris and I grappled with, and I'm thrilled to report that we were able to resolve them through premarital counseling.

As you may recall, I live in San Diego and my fiancé Chris resides in Sacramento. We had scheduled an appointment with Jennifer Young at the Pacific Trauma Center in Folsom on her day off before I had to fly back to San Diego. During our first session, she observed us hash out the reason we were there. Then she asked a few questions about how we met and what we love about each other. That helped lighten the mood. It was nice to share a moment reminiscing about the good times.

Then, she explained to us why it seems like we've been butting heads so much. She said that I'm a hummingbird and Chris is a rock. That broke the ice and made me laugh. How in the world did a rock and hummingbird fall in love and how would they go through life together?!

It's official — funnyman Kevin Hart is engaged to his girlfriend of five years, Eniko Parrish! The happy couple shared their excitement with fans by posting a video and photos of this special moment on their respective Instagram accounts.

The Ride Along 2 actor proposed to his longtime love while the pair were out celebrating Parrish's 30th birthday. Before the festivities began, he posted a throwback photo on Instagram, gushing, "Happy Birthday to the most amazing woman in the world. Today is your day babe and we are going to party like it's 1999....I love you so much. I'm a better man because of you..."

A party-goer captured the adorable proposal on video; check it out below:

The typically silly comedian shows off his sensitive side in the photo pictured below — but don't let him fool you! The next day, he joked, "Priceless....I hit her with the sexy nervous lip bite move at the end of my proposal."

You might not be surprised to hear that "How do I save money on an engagement ring?" is a question we get all the time. It's true — an engagement ring is a huge investment not only for your relationship, but for your finances as well. Our best advice is to plan a budget and STICK TO IT.

Online jewelry store Trumpet and Horn helps you get a little more bang for your buck with the following tips:

Photo Credit: Natalie Franke Photography

​1. Compromise on the 4 C’s. 

Which Disney princess was always secretly your favorite? Hopeless romantic (and jokester) Blaine Gibson loves them all; so much so, in fact, that he decided to pop the question to every storybook princess he encountered during a recent trip to Disney World with friends!

The 24-year-old Texan's final tally included Cinderella, Ariel, Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Jasmine...and one very confused-looking Gaston, who briefly broke out of character:

Guest Blogger: Kristin Alexander
Kristin Alexander is the founder of Los Angeles-based event planning studio Esoteric Events. By combining her passion for design and celebrations, years of experience planning and executing events, and desire to turn her clients’ dreams into reality, Kristin has an innate ability to produce discerning personal events that enchant, surprise and delight.

Your summer wedding should echo the romance, vibrancy and elegance of the season. Enchant your guests and leave a lasting impression by incorporating these five trends into your special day. 

1. Welcome Boxes

Shower your guests with appreciation by giving them one-of-a-kind welcome boxes. This fresh take on a traditional gesture is sure to make an impact. Choose a personalized box or basket over a conventional bag; they are easier to fill, arrange and deliver. Fill your box with flowers, wine, snacks, sentimental notes and wedding weekend information for your guests to enjoy. 

Photo Credit: Carmen Santorelli Studios

Finding a dress for your flower girl has now become a lot more fun and creative thanks to the "Pegeen Dress Dreamer!" This virtual dressing room from the Pegeen Flower Girl Dress Company allows you and your flower girl to "dress up" an online model with a range of different bodices, skirts, sashes and details.

It reminds me of how much I loved playing with paper dolls growing up! Just choose your size and start selecting styles in each category to place onto the onsceen model. See how a tank-style bodice looks, or maybe one with short sleeves. Try a sash with pleats or ruffles. Layer the skirt in tulle or organza and add a rose or two. 

You can select from a multitude of different colors to find a shade that matches your wedding colors. Or you can mix and match the bodice, skirt and sash in a variety of hues. The result: an adorable, affordable customized style that you and your flower girl "designed" together. 

Go to pegeen.com/icloset and enjoy creating a dress that you and your littlest attendant will love. 

And for inspiration here are some awww-some flower girls wearing gorgeous Pegeen dresses: 

I have a confession to make: I am a chronic list maker. I keep running lists for to-dos, restaurants that I want to try with my fiancé Justin and birthday/Christmas/Mother's Day/Father's Day gift ideas so that when special occasions roll around, I am prepared. I even painted a chalkboard wall in our apartment so that I have a giant, colorful space for my many lists. (Don't judge me!)

Naturally, when Justin and I started planning our wedding, I immediately created lists for our guest count, wedding party, budget, wishes, preferred vendors, etc. I am just trying to find the best way to make our Hackettstown, New Jersey nuptials on September 26th not just fun and personal but also seamless. 

But even with all of my meticulous planning, I still get asked about things that I totally forgot to account for in my checklist. Whether you're celebrating your big day with five guests or 500 guests, there is a lot going on and making all of those decisions can be totally overwhelming!

In an effort to assist my fellow brides, I'm sharing a few "How could I forget this?" moments that I've been experiencing recently:

Photo Credit: Lisa Agiewich

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

The removal of the garter is one of those wedding traditions that you either love or hate. Many brides are opting out of the garter toss these days, while others think it's funny. If you're on the fence about the garter tradition, here are four ways to make it a little less awkward.

1. Tone it way down.
Opt for a simple garter that isn't overtly sexy, place it much lower on your leg, and pick a fun (innocent!) love song. You don't have to flash a ton of skin if you don't want to.