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I had a very successful week last week! I'm down another two pounds, and I also got to cross a bunch of things off my wedding-planning checklist.

Throughout the work week, I continued my no-starch challenge. For breakfast, I enjoyed coffee and hard-boiled eggs or egg whites. I had the Boca veggie burgers for lunch, and they were quite delicious! I think I like the Morning Star veggie burgers better, but these have fewer calories, so I would definitely try them again. Each day, I made a different vegetable to have with them, with such as steamed sugar snap peas, sautéed eggplant and zucchini, or a side salad.

For dinners, Rene and I ate protein and vegetables — no carbs! Now that I haven't been eating carbs as often, I realize I don't crave them as much. Instead of chicken with rice, I look forward to chicken and vegetables — definitely a good thing! For example, last night, Rene made one of my favorite meals from Skinnytaste.com — homemade turkey burgers with a broccoli slaw and blue cheese, with steamed asparagus on the side. We had them without buns and a little bit of fat-free cheddar cheese on top, and they were excellent! I recommend you try them for dinner this week — and the recipe makes enough so you have leftovers for lunch the next day. 

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 >>

Sure, you could go the simple route and print your guests’ names on folded paper escort cards, but why not have a little more fun? Escort cards present a great opportunity to show off your wedding style and share something special with your guests. Whether you personalize each card with a memory or turn it into a DIY keepsake, there are plenty of ways to up your escort card game. Take a look at some of the most creative cards we’ve ever seen!

1. Include a sweet treat with your escort cards — we guarantee your guests will thank you.

Our March/April '14 issue is now available on newsstands! Get a sneak peek at our cover shoot here:

Love the Val Stefani gown (style D8053) on our latest cover? We chatted with the sister design team behind the dress, Valerie and Stephanie Chin, to get the inside scoop on their inspiration, what it's like working together, their best style tips for brides, and more.

Valerie and Stephanie Chin

Q. What was your inspiration for this collection?

Valerie: We were inspired by the 2000 sculpture featured in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art this season. It's this 200-foot white geometric installation, and even though it's all precisely-placed blocks, as you're walking by, everything looks so different. It changes while you move, and that's what we were inspired by for this season.

They're both (potentially) once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. They're also both incredibly expensive and, in this case, equally important to both the bride and the groom. 

Marni Vincent and Josh Armijo are die-hard Denver Broncos fans — they got engaged at a Broncos game in December, and they're even planning on getting Broncos tattoos together to commemorate this year's Super Bowl appearance. They were beyond thrilled when their favorite team won the AFC Championship, but now they're faced with a dilemma: "We always said if the Broncos go to the Super Bowl, we'd go," Armijo told HLN. But going to the Super Bowl will cost the couple at least $10,000 — the same as their wedding budget.

The bride-to-be added, "Sometimes I wish we weren’t so crazy about the Broncos, because then it wouldn’t be such a big deal to us. If we weren’t about to get married, it would be totally different. They’re two things that we both want."

The couple considered having a quick wedding the Saturday before the game, then flying out to New Jersey for the Super Bowl and making it their honeymoon, but too many of their friends and family members can't make it on that date. 

"It would be awesome for the journey that we’ve gone through," Vincent said. "[Going to the game] would be a little extra story to put on there. But, we don’t want to go into debt, and we don’t want to start a future with stress."

It may be a cold January, but our March/April 2014 issue — filled with the year’s most beautiful bridal gowns, along with planning advice and inspiring reception ideas — will have you thinking spring in no time!

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our cover shoot: 

Let’s start with all of the fabulous fashion: Many of you are probably on the hunt for the perfect gown, and in this issue, you’ll discover some of the hottest trends from the latest runway shows that are sure to suit your style.

We also have fabulous accessories to pair with your dress...

and dazzling ballgowns to wow the crowd:

If we could eat any food every day for the rest of our lives, it would be pizza. But even we were shocked to read about newlyweds Kieran and Natasha Morris' wacky wedding request: They asked Domino's to recreate their faces on pizzas!

"We order Domino's pizza all the time — so it felt right to incorporate them into the most special day of our lives," the groom tells The Daily Mail. (Mr. and Mrs. Morris aren't the only newlyweds to ask their favorite brand for a wedding favor — check out the amazing surprise that Honda gave to this couple.) 

The company was happy to oblige, commissioning celebrity portrait artist Nathan Wyburn to do the honors.  It took him three hours to create two 13-inch pies in their likeness using a variety of toppings (including tomato puree, sweetcorn and ham). Wedding guests were more than happy to dig into the masterpieces at the wedding reception, which was held in Lancashire, England. 

Photo Credit: The Daily Mail

Guest blogger: Bonne Marcus
A fitness industry expert for 27 years, Marcus holds numerous certifications from the Aerobic Fitness Association of America (AFAA), including Step, Spin, Bosu™, Pre/Post Natal, Youth Fitness, Aqua, and Personal Training. She has taught for New York City’s top health clubs, including Crunch, New York Health and Racquet, and Reebok Sports Club. A recognized name on Long Island, Bonne has taught at Dany Holdstein’s Two Worlds, North Shore Health Club, LA Fitness, Sport time, Equinox and currently teaches at the Sid Jacobsen JCC in Roslyn. Learn more at getfitwithbonne.com.

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto

I pride myself in not just training brides, but educating them in a way that ensures good health and fitness for a lifetime. It's important to me that I give you everything you need to be successful — with a little help from me, you will encounter a relationship with exercise as rewarding as with the love of your life. Here, learn the most common fitness mistakes that can easily be avoided. 

Not only did 25-year-old Morgan Welge win nearly $36,000 worth of prizes in her Showcase Showdown — including a Jeep Patriot SUV and a trip to Bora Bora — but she also gained a fiancé! After spinning the wheel to earn her place in the showcase, her groom-to-be, Nick Parker, rushed up to the stage and popped the question:

That trip to Bora Bora will certainly come in handy for the honeymoon!

—Kristen Klein