Blogs

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.

Worried about the chance of rain on your big day? British newlyweds Katy Lomas and Richard Owen not only went through with their wedding despite a series of horrific weather setbacks but they also did it with their enthusiasm intact.

As the wedding party made their way down the aisle of the conservatory at Wentworth Castle, it began to downpour. The couple's vows were inaudible over the sound of torrential rain as the storm raged outside. The glass roof cracked and water began pouring in — soaking the 100 guests in attendance. "We just stood laughing about the rain and then we saw the roof was leaking. Soon, our guests were drenched. We could not believe it," the groom told the Daily Mail.

Once the ceremony ended, the newlyweds discovered that their outdoor teepee reception was completely flooded. Miraculously, the staff — along with the help of friends and family — worked together to move the entire party back into the conservatory so that the event could go on as planned.

When Katy's father went up to the makeshift bar to grab the first pint of beer, everyone cheered. Just when it seemed like the rest of the wedding would run smoothly, the power went out, cutting off the DJ. Instead of letting this ruin the party, Katy, Richard and their photographer, Jon Dennis of S6 Photography, decided to take some more shots in the rain.

Hopeful grooms-to-be, if public proposals aren't your thing, take heart: Getting engaged somewhere private (even at home!) can be just as special and romantic. Take it from Donnie McGilvray, who popped the question to his beautiful girlfriend Eloise last week using just their refrigerator, personalized Coca-Cola bottles and a bouquet of roses.

He posted the photo to the beverage titan's Facebook account, writing that "I asked my girlfriend, Eloise to put the milk away in the fridge and this is what she saw. The "ice" was in the glass. Thanks Coca-Cola for all the help...she said yes!!!"

Eloise wasn't the only one who was incredibly touched — as of publication, the pic has over 1.1 million "likes" and it's been shared over 50,000 times! A day later, Coke issued a special congratulatory message for the couple:

The past few weeks have been difficult for me both physically and mentally. There are only 100 days until my wedding and I am still finding it hard to lose the last 20-30 pounds needed to reach my goal weight. I also have many important wedding plans to finalize, including ordering my invitations and booking transportation. I know feeling overwhelmed is normal while planning a wedding (especially for brides trying to lose weight), but I would prefer to not be so stressed. Working out has been my stress reliever these past few weeks and I thank God for it.

I didn't realize how stressed I was until I was arguing with my mother about the dress she would wear to my wedding. Fortunately, I was on my way to my trainer Bonne’s house for a kickboxing class. She was there to listen to my problems, and the kickboxing class was the answer to my prayers! I was able to sweat, kick and punch out all of my frustration and I felt a million times better once finished. That morning, I learned that trainers not only push you to be strong physically, but they will listen to you and offer emotional support as well. 

I’ve also increased my workouts, to help take more weight off and to keep my stress level down. I’ve been seeing Bonne at least once a week and she has been giving me routines to do on my own — which really helps me stay on track. We have been trying to "heavy up" on certain body parts in order to maximize the results in specific problem areas. Here’s an example of a routine Bonne gave me that concentrates on triceps and shoulders that you could try at home: 

One of the best things about being engaged is all the wonderful parties and festivities in the months leading up to your wedding day. In between the formal affairs, you and your fiancé will be celebrating with a slew of co-workers, friends and family members. So, lots of eating and drinking, right? All while you’re trying to stay in shape or get fit so you’ll look your absolute best on the wedding day. Which is why you must try a fantastic new wine I recently came across — Bon Affair.

This amazing wine spritzer boasts purified sparkling water, electrolytes, zero sugar and grape seed extract and is half the calories of regular wine. It’s available in both a Sauvignon Blanc and a Syrah. I’ve tried both and love the refreshing taste.

I also love the back story of founder Jayla Sicilian who, in her former life, traveled the globe for business where happy hour (and lots of toasting) was essential. Her drink of choice was a wine spritzer to avoid any dreaded morning-after hangovers. But bar-made wine spritzers didn’t quite pass the taste test for Jayla so she decided to improve upon them and voilà, Bon Affair was born. Some of you may have seen Jayla on ABC’s Shark Tank where Mark Cuban liked her pitch and decided to invest in the company.

So, beautiful brides-to-be treat yourselves and your friends to Bon Affair and I guarantee you will not only love its sparkling flavor but also appreciate the lower caloric intake (and no hangovers!). Visit their website to order or check with a retailer near you. Cheers!

Neon
The '80s and early '90s were a time when eye-popping designs and fluorescent neon shades reigned supreme. Electrify your special day by adding a few pops of color to your wedding décor — the brighter the better! From vibrant invitations to multicolor floral arrangements and even a Lisa Frank-inspired wedding dress, these ideas pack a punch. 

Attention! This unique military proposal will make you laugh. Retired officer Thomas Walker helped his daughter Courtney's boyfriend propose drill sergeant-style and the video has gone viral.

Normally, yelling demands at the bride-to-be wouldn't be considered a romantic way to pop the question, but it's clear that this dad only wants the best for his little girl. He makes his future son-in-law promise him that he will love, honor, protect and support his daughter. After he responds with a "yes sir," he commands Courtney to stand front and center. Just when you think "G.I. Dad" is going to ask the couple to drop and give him 20, he allows the groom-to-be to finally utter those four little words.

Check out the proposal here:

Walker posted the video on the video-sharing site Rumble with the following caption, "This amazing young airman proposed to my daughter, Courtney immediately after his graduation ceremony for Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB on May 23rd, 2014. To say she was surprised would be an understatement. It was a fantastic moment! This was a special time for me since I also officially retired from 24 years in the armed services 3 days later on Memorial Day. What a blessed time for both families!"

It is clear that this military dad can't wait to march down the aisle with his daughter. Best wishes to the happy couple!

— Mary Gillen

According to a recent Bridal Guide online survey, about 92 percent of you plan to register for gifts. And with good reason: Whether you’ve been living on your own, with your parents or with your fiancé, now is the perfect time to think about updating what you have and taking stock of what you don’t have — but could definitely use. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

I’m a huge fan of the cordless stick vacuum. It’s lightweight, stores easily and does a terrific job on both rugs and hardwood floors. One of my favorites is the Electrolux Ultrapower Studio. It comes equipped with an illuminating headlight and Brush Roll Clean Technology that helps keep the brush roll free from hair and fibers. It has three power settings, one of which significantly reduces the noise factor (nice!) and it operates anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes on a full battery charge. The Ultrapower Studio is not only perfect for apartments but also for larger homes, if you already have a full-size vacuum, keep the Electrolux on another floor to help make clean ups faster and easier.

For little messes (spilled those coffee grinds again!) and quick clean-ups try the Electrolux Rapido Handheld Vacuum. Its lightweight, sleek design makes it easy to maneuver and it has an attachable dusting brush and extended crevice tool for those hard-to-reach places.