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Trying to lose weight amid all of the celebrations that come along with getting married is no easy task. From your wedding shower to your bachelorette party there are so many temptations that can throw a healthy diet off track. 

I recently celebrated round one of my two planned bachelorette parties and it was one of the best weekends of my life. The only downfall of my getaway was the extra weight I packed on during it. 

Here's how I spent my weekend and what I did to regain control of my weight-loss: 

My girlfriends rented a house in Narraganset, a small town right outside of Newport, Rode Island and it was so cute and perfect for the seven of us. A great advantange of renting a house is you can cook for yourself, alowing you to save money on dining out and you can prepare heathier meals than you would get at a restaurant!

Tip: If you’re looking for bachelorette party ideas I would highly recommend looking into renting a house in a cool beach town like Newport. You can look for house rentals on websites such as VRBO.com or Airbnb.com.

When you are traveling with a large group of people, renting a house can be cheaper and has less restrictions than staying in individual hotel rooms. My bridesmaids decorated the entire house and made personalized shirts and wine glasses. 

The emotional pinnacle of any wedding is the bride's walk down the aisle and the parent spotlight dances are a close second. Many of us take these special moments with our parents for granted, but for 25-year-old bride Lindsay Nieto, performing them at her nuptials on July 5 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California was nothing short of a miracle. 

Lindsay's 56-year-old father, Augie, has battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease), for the past decade. This progressive neurodegenerative disease affects nerve cells to the brain and spinal cord, which may lead to total paralysis in later stages. Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year.

Augie lost the use of his arms and legs, and he also underwent a trachetomy that rendered him unable to speak. After seeing her dad suffer for so long, the bride opened up to BG that she had given up hope that he would be able to participate in escorting her down the aisle. It was an incredible testament to his hard work and dedication to train throughout the past year. 

"It was the most important walk I had ever taken with my dad by my side and my husband Chris waiting at the end of the aisle. I felt overwhelmed by the love shared by our joined families as they supported Chris and I. We all laughed and cried together," she says.

In a role reversal, this father was determined to make his youngest child proud: "She made me feel loved and that no matter what I did, it would be okay and I was a success! What a wonderful way to take the pressure off," he tells us. Augie was able to mouth "I love you, and I'm so proud of you" to Lindsay during the ceremony.

Check out the first photos of Jessica Simpson's wedding gown, courtesy of People! This issue hits newsstands this Friday. Pick up a copy for all of the full details about her unique Great Expectations-themed nuptials on July 5 with Eric Johnson.

After waiting four years to get married — and having two kids together — Simpson yearned for a wedding that was anything but traditional, and her dress was no exception. The fashion-mogul bride wore a custom couture Carolina Herrera champagne gown with delicate gold embroidery, describing her wedding-day look as "romantic, ethereal and chic."

Scan from the July 21, 2014 issue of People

Guest blogger: Joanne Barken
Joanne Barken is the CEO of The Bach, the first online platform for planning bachelorette parties. Joanne, who lives in New York City — one of the country's top choices for a special night out with the girls — has helped plan over a dozen bachelorette parties before launching The Bach.

If you’re planning a destination bachelorette party weekend and not sure where to head to celebrate with the girls, we picked out five of our favorite bachelorette party destinations for the summer. From southern charm to wine country bliss, here are the best locales. 
Photo Credit: Pat Moyer Weddings 

Would you agree to legally marry a stranger who is your scientifically compatible soul mate? Believe it or not, this isn't some insane marketing scheme for Match.com or a "would you rather?" question you'd ask your single friends after having one too many margaritas at happy hour — it's the premise of a new reality show, Married at First Sight.

Six singles from the New York tri-state area have not only committed to arranged marriages in the hopes of finding their true love, but they've also allowed camera crews to document the four weeks following the wedding, where they'll have to decide whether they want to stay together or get a divorce. 

So how in the world did they determine whether or not they would be attracted to one another and share the same values, let alone say "I do?" First, the contestants had to fill out personality tests and attend counseling sessions. Then four experts — a sexologist, a spirtualist, a psychologist and a sociologist — narrowed down 625 possible matches to what they deem are three ideologically perfect couples.

A man from Rochester got the thrill of a lifetime when he popped the question to his long-time girlfriend on-stage at a Paul McCartney concert.

During his performance at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY on July 5th, Sir Paul McCartney spotted John Dann and Claudia Rogers in the audience with two neon signs. "He won't marry me 'til he meets you," Rogers' sign read. Her soon-to-be fiancé Dann, held up a poster saying, "I have the ring and I'm 64."

McCartney stopped the show and invited the couple onto the stage. Once they joined him, McCartney asked, "Are you really going to go through with the proposal?" Dann jokingly responded, "I've come too far to back out now."

Watch the adorable proposal here: 

Then, in front of over 13,000 people, Dann grabbed the mic and sang his rendition of "When I'm 64" while McCartney strummed along on his guitar. 

After finishing the song, the groom-to-be got on one knee and said "Sweetheart will you marry me?" Rogers, beaming with happiness, excitedly said 'yes!'

Congratulations to the lovebirds!

— Mary Gillen

Over the weekend, a courageous couple from Canada decided to pose for their wedding photos in front of a tornado!

Photographer Colleen Niska captured these stunning images of the happy couple embracing while a twister swirled a few miles down the road. Their portraits went viral after Niska posted the pictures on her Facebook account. So far, the photo album has over 24,000 "likes" and 17,000 "shares." "Could NOT wait to post these! Pretty sure this will only happen once in my lifetime!" she wrote.

When they started taking the photos, the funnel hadn't touched down yet, but once it did, they decided to move closer to get these awe-inspiring shots. Despite the scary weather, the bride and groom were remarkably calm. 

A wedding ceremony is symbolic of two individuals coming together to live their lives jointly, make decisions together, and act as one unit. Therefore, when a couple gets married, family dynamics inevitably shift — this can be uncomfortable and sometimes even scary because of the perceived feeling of loss. Depending on the family’s roles, the perception of loss is just that: a perception.

I have experienced this phenomenon firsthand, not only as a bride but also as a practicing Marriage and Family Therapy intern. My fiancé Jordan and I have a lot in common, chief being that we work in the same field and we both truly value our family relationships. Our understanding of family psychology has helped us plan and prioritize our wedding in San Diego this August. Our two-year courtship has been truly magical and we are beyond excited to be getting married!

My parents have been an integral part of the planning process. My mom is very talented at event planning and coordination so she's helped us stay on track with time-sensitive tasks. That being said, despite my work background, I was still surprised to find that my relatives had 100 preconceived notions of what this day is “supposed to be about.”

Every couple wants to have the perfect honeymoon full of romance, adventure and good times that cement their marriage. To ensure that you achieve that amazing trip, check out these seven tips. They’re guaranteed to steer you in the direction of newlywed bliss.

Photo Credit: iStock

1. Give Yourself Time
While wedding planning is paramount before your big day, don’t leave honeymoon planning to the last minute! Start thinking about where and when you’d like to honeymoon as soon as you set your wedding date. This will allow you ample time to do research, ensure you can book your perfect place and possibly take advantage of specials or early booking deals.

2. Prioritize
Decide what the most important aspects of the honeymoon are for both of you. Do you want swank accommodations or is an amazing secluded beach more important? Are you willing to fly a few extra hours to achieve both or do you want to prioritize a direct flight? Knowing what you’re both looking for and what you’re willing to compromise on will make selecting your ideal location easier.