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Wedding Weight-Loss: New Year, New Goals

I hope everyone had a very happy new year and is looking forward to a fantastic 2014! I know I am — as I told my fiancé Rene last Tuesday night when the ball dropped, this is our year!

rene and jen on new years eve

As did most people with the start of a new year, I made some resolutions I plan on keeping.

1. Lose another 40 pounds.
2. Get healthier.
3. Save money.
4. Take more time to enjoy life.
5. Smile more.

I've made these resolutions before, but I've never kept them, which is what happens to most of us. The difference this year is that I’m already half way there, and once you see results and have your heart set on the end prize, there is no turning back. My success so far in the past seven months helps me trust that I will meet my goals and resolutions — and you can, too. If you put your mind to it, and you don’t let anything or anyone get in your way, it can happen. I hope this helps motivate you to achieve your resolutions this year, because it really is possible, no matter what the resolution is.

While on the treadmill last week, I decided I was going to increase my workouts for the month of January. This morning, I woke up at 4:30 instead of 5 (crazy, I know), and did 30 minutes on the treadmill before my 30 minute spin class, burning tons of calories before I even started my day!

The New Rules: When You Should (and Shouldn't) Use Email or Social Media

In The Emily Post Institute's latest book, Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette: 6th Edition, Emily's great-great-granddaughters Anna and Lizzie Post tackle modern-day wedding questions that the original etiquette expert never could've dreamed about, from how to use (wisely) use technology, the rules for same-sex weddings, and much more. Here, the fourth generation of Posts tackle the big question of when you should (and shouldn't) take advantage of email and social media.

bridesmaids with iphones taking picture of the bride
Photo Credit: CINEMATICbyDavidM

Meet Neda, Our New Real Bride Blogger

My fiancé Chris and I met through one of my best friends, Amanda. He was a security guard at the nightclub where she worked as a bartender. He would always talk to her about the challenges of dating in his '30s, given the unpredictable and odd hours that he worked (he's a police officer by day). Meanwhile, I would talk to her all the time about the difficulty of being a fitness competitor and TV news reporter, trying to find time to date someone with common interests.

After she learned our inner workings for over two years, it dawned on Amanda that Chris and I would be perfect together. Originally, I was hesitant about dating a bouncer (I told her that "It's not like I'm trying to get into da club!") but I quickly learned that there was so much more to Chris.

He is a compassionate, patient, honest, hardworking and hilarious man with a love (I prefer to use the word "obsession") for Giants baseball. Being a bouncer at "da club" was how he made extra money to buy Giants game tickets. Amanda's hunch led to a love that we had both only ever dreamed of — we quickly realized that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

giants game

Fast-forward one year: Chris was secretly planning to re-enact our first date by taking me to Auburn, California's Hidden Falls, where he was going to propose. However, a week before his big plan, I was scheduled to run in the Triple Tahoe — three marathons in three days at the age of 33 years old. It was my lifelong dream to be proposed to at the finish line of a race but I never told Chris because I would have been happy with any proposal.

"American Horror Story" Wedding on the Way!

American Horror Story: Coven fans, here's one plot twist we didn't see coming — co-stars Emma Roberts and Evan Peters are engaged to be married in real life!

The 22-year-old actress met Peters, 26, while filming the dark comedy Adult World, and they began dating in the spring of 2012. Extra reports that the onscreen-offscreen lovers put a ring on it — a pink gold diamond sparkler, to be exact — during the holidays in London. (We think Madison Montgomery would approve, no? Franken-Kyle couldn't be reached for comment.)

emma roberts engaged to evan peters
Photo Credit: Emma Roberts / Instagram

In an interview with Nylon magazine, Roberts reveals that she and Peters "didn't get along at first," but their platonic relationship heated up a few months later ("which worked out for the best").

Like her famous aunt, Julia Roberts, she believes in true love: "I come from the school of getting married once. Every relationship should be important. Everyone kind of rolls their eyes at me, but I still believe in the romantic movie outcome."

Congratulations to the happy couple!

—Stefania Sainato

Keep Your New Year's Resolutions!

bonne marcusGuest 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.

woman exercising
Photo Credit: iStock/Maridav

"This year, I resolve to..." How many of us recite these words as the ball starts to drop, only to feel less-than-motivated by February? Don't despair — lack of motivation strikes even the most disciplined exercisers. Try to remember how good you felt about yourself after completing your workout, and be proud that you've started a program at all. Then, follow these handy tips to keep yourself going.

"Hangover" Star Gets Hitched!

He may have played an anxious groom who had the most hell-raising bachelor party in history, but offscreen, Justin Bartha's wedding was picture-perfect!

The Hangover actor, 35, got hitched to his longtime girlfriend, Lia Smith, at Kualoa Ranch in O'ahu, Hawaii over the weekend. The ceremony took place at the venue's historic fishing pond, followed by a reception in the same valley where scenes from The Hunger Games were filmed.

kualoa ranch
kualoa ranch
Photo Credits: Kualoa Ranch

Their intimate yet star-studded guest list included Reese Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth (Bartha's agent), The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg and Bartha's Hangover co-star Ken Jeong. (No word yet on whether anyone from "The Wolf Pack" attended.)

An eyewitness tells Us Weekly that "They were sweet together and looked very in love. He was holding her bouquet for her and walked with his arm around her after the vows. She had a big smile on her face and nuzzled her face up to his neck. Their family and friends seemed so happy for them and had an incredible time hanging out in Hawaii leading up to the wedding."

This is What Happens When You Marry a Wrestling Fan

By Taryn Hillin for Huffington Post Weddings

Are you ready rummmmmble? How about forever and ever 'till death do you part?

That's what Leah Goblirsch and Patrick Mahan pledged to do when they got married in November. Photos of their wrestling-themed wedding made the rounds Wednesday after the groom posted them on Reddit.

wrestling wedding 2
Photo credit: Bamber Photography

The bride tells the Huffington Post that the theme came about because her now-husband is a "huge" wrestling fan. Not only were the save the dates titled "Wedding Mania", the bride tells us that the DJ acted as the "ring announcer," the groom and his groomsmen rocked championship belts, and the new couple even entered the reception with their own themed music playing in the background — just like a couple of WWE pros.

Check out all the amazing photos below.

wrestling wedding

Beyond Invitations: 10 Stationery Pieces You Can’t Forget

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 >>

As you start planning your wedding stationery, your invitations are likely your first thought. Invitations are ours, too! However, there are so many other pieces of stationery you'll need to have on hand before, during, and after your wedding day. Think about save-the-dates and shower invites before, programs and menus during, and thank you cards once your gorgeous wedding day has come and gone. There are a number of other stationery pieces we don’t want you to miss, so make sure to read about our top 10 below!

1. First, start building your wedding party. An invitation accompanied with a handwritten note will do the trick:

Kaley Cuoco Tied the Knot!

Kaley Cuoco rang in 2014 as a Mrs. — bazinga!

The Big Bang Theory star, 28, married 26-year-old tennis player Ryan Sweeting at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, Calif. last night. They had around 150 guests in attendance, including Cuoco's Big Bang co-star Johnny Galecki and Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky. The blushing bride shared a sweet "just married" snapshot with her fans on Instagram confirming the news. The caption read: "Yep :) #thesweetings"

kaley cuoco wedding
Photo Credit: Norman Cook / Instagram

Cuoco wore a custom-designed petal pink strapless tulle ball gown by Vera Wang. With its sweetheart neckline, detailed bodice, and hand appliquéd Chantilly lace accents, it's a romantic yet fashion-forward choice for the starlet, in contrast with her television persona, Penny. She accessorized it with a nude tulle veil with pink floating appliqués. People and Us Weekly report that she also wore a short red dress - we can't wait to see more photos!

The couple made headlines when they got engaged after just three months of dating. "You know by day two I was like, 'Oh, my god.' It was so unbelievable," she revealed during an appearance on Ellen. "I said, 'This is it, this is it.'"

Cuoco told Craig Ferguson that her dreams for the big day included having a cake in the shape of her dogs' heads ("I'm obsessed with my dogs") and riding in on one of her horses ("I secretly kinda want to do that").

Stay tuned for more details on her fire-and-ice-themed bash! Congratulations to the happy couple.

The Most Touching Wedding Stories of the Year

This past year, we profiled extraordinary couples who triumphed and overcame all odds to get married, as well as those who opened their hearts and helped those in need. Their kindness, resilience and unwavering courage serves as a reminder of what's truly important on the wedding day.

Related: Download Bridal Guide's Latest Issue on Your iPad!

12. Sailor marries high school sweetheart in Reno Airport
After being stationed overseas in Syria, Navy sailor Dylan Ruffer couldn't stand to waste another moment being apart from Madison Meinhardt — they wanted to get married right away. When he landed at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Nov. 19th, he was shocked to realize that his wish had been granted.

His fiancée planned a surprise wedding with the help of airport employees, who were so touched by the couple's story that they even decorated the reception area for them (which was held at the baggage claim), complete with catering, a cake and a DJ.

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