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The 10 Most Viral Wedding Stories of 2013

While classic weddings will always have a special place in our hearts, we couldn't stop buzzing about so-weird-they're-awesome nuptials in 2013 (bring on the celeb wedding crashers and Photoshop memes!). Check out the most unusual headlines that crossed our desks this past year.

10. Husband creates corn maze of wedding photo for wife on 50th anniversary
Some couples commemorate their golden anniversary by exchanging gifts, taking a romantic getaway or hosting a party with their family members and friends. Paul Derthick took a more unconventional approach — he constructed a maze through 17 acres of golden corn that resembled his 1963 wedding portrait!

"He did it with the kids. They kept it a secret," his wife Marie told Good Morning America. "It was at the end of June that I finally did find out. I thought they were nuts, but it's actually turned out very well." corn maze wedding anniversary gift
Photo courtesy of Derthick's Corn Maze

The Results are In: See 2013's Wedding Photo of the Year

Earlier this week, we asked our Facebook followers to take a look back at some of the amazing pictures we've featured as our Photo of the Day over the past year and cast their votes for 2013's Photo of the Year. Here, see the top 25 photos!

25. Because one photo of that first moment in your gown just isn’t enough:

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

24. Sunlight peeking through the trees adds such a magical element:

bride and groom with sunlight through the trees
Photo Credit: Lightedpixels

23. Looking for a creative guest book idea? Set up a photo area, and provide a chalkboard and chalk for guests to leave you photographed messages:

Wedding Weight-Loss: Planning for 2014

I hope everyone who celebrates had a Merry Christmas! Not to sound like the Grinch, but I am so happy the holidays are almost over. I had a great beginning of the month in December, but I'm ending on a not-so-great note. Unfortunately, I'm not going to reach my 10-pound weight-loss goal this month. But I am down four more pounds. It was much harder than I expected to make time for my workouts and eat healthy during this month. 

jen and rene on christmas eve

I did not work out every day like I was doing last month (though I certainly would've liked to), but I made sure to get workouts in at least three times a week. Rene and I spent time at the gym together when we could and did workouts at home when our schedules got in the way.

Highlights from the past two weeks:

1. Mini-vacation to Atlantic City
Two weeks ago, Rene and I went to Atlantic City for the night with another couple who are good friends of ours. We made sure to do a lot of cardio the night before we left so that we could enjoy the food and drinks there. I knew I was going to eat a big dinner at Carmine's (it was so good!), so during the day, I opted for chicken and brown rice at lunch. And even though I really wanted frozen margaritas, I stuck with margaritas on the rocks and vodka. I know the little smart choices I made helped, but I still ate fattening foods that I wouldn’t have eaten at home.

Gabrielle Union is Engaged — See Her Ring!

gabrielle union and dwyane wade

Actress Gabrielle Union is engaged to Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade! The couple, who have been together since 2009, shared the happy news on Instagram.

"Sooooo this happened... #Yessss @dwyanewade," Union wrote, along with a picture of her stunning ring. Wade also posted, "She said YES!!!"

gabrielle union engagement ring

Friends and family of the couple may have seen the engagement coming; the pair recently sent out Christmas cards from the "Wade-Union Family."

This will be the second marriage for each. "We both kind of rushed into marriage [the first time around] and neither one of us was successful at that, so we're both kind of like, let's take our time. If the goal is forever, what are we rushing for?" Union has said about their relationship.

"She makes my eyes sparkle," Wade told Oprah Winfrey last summer on Oprah's Next Chapter. "The biggest time she makes my eyes sparkle is when [my son] Zaire comes home and homework is a little hard that day, so he's stressing, and she goes to the table with him and she sits down until he gets it. And at that time, my heart is smiling a little bigger that day because I know her love is deeper than just me." 

What to Know Before Getting a Custom Wedding Dress

I found "The One" — my wedding gown that is (I found my fiancé six years ago!).

In my last post, I described falling in love with three completely different dresses. I left the bridal salon empty-handed that day because I couldn’t decide between something elegant and traditional or modern and trendy. Recently, I found the perfect style that embodies all of those elements at Birnbaum & Bullocks flagship store in NYC (stay tuned to see a photo of "her").

Birnbaum & Bullock has four different lines — my wedding dress is from the Couture collection. The brand's in-house designers, Steven Birnbaum and Robert Bullock, custom-design all of the styles from this collection, and the process has been so interesting that I wanted to share it with you all.

After taking my measurements, the designers told me to come back in a month for my "muslin fitting." I had no clue what to expect, so when I arrived on the day of my appointment, I was shocked to find a gorgeous little cotton dress waiting for me. When I put it on, it fit like a glove — the boning in the corset felt amazing. My mom joked that the dress was so pretty, I should wear it to my rehearsal dinner!

muslin fitting

Steven made a few alterations. The sweetheart neckline was sitting a little high on me, so he lowered it, and nipped and tucked the corset so it fit a little tighter.  

Comfortable (and Fashionable!) Shoes for Your Big Day

Comfort and fashion don’t often mix, especially when it comes to being the bride. We all want to look fashionable in our heels, yet wearing our favorite shoes sometimes means taking a hit to our feet. If you're on the quest to find the perfect shoe, here's a run-down of fab shoes for the big day!

Scoop by Something Bleu

scoop by something bleu wedding shoe

Scoop’s beautiful ¾-inch heel is high enough to feel like you’re not walking around barefoot. The shoe may seem simple, but it's customizable — so you can feel free to decorate it any way you want ($165, myglassslipper.com).

Valentina Mirror Metallic D’Orsay Pump by J.Crew

valentina mirror metallic dorsay pump by jcrew

This wear-all-day heel is great if you’re looking to be chic yet comfortable under your dress. Bonus: You can also rewear this simple shoe on your honeymoon and beyond, since it'll go with almost everything in your closet! The low heel makes it easy to walk around in, so you’ll skip that nagging foot pain ($248, jcrew.com).

Jada by Benjamin Adams

Deck the Halls: Holiday Décor from Preston Bailey

‘Tis the season for fun, parties, love and laughter, and for those of you who may be planning a winter wedding next year or a gathering of all your loved ones this year, you’re sure to be inspired by these amazing ideas from celebrity event designer Preston Bailey. Preston is known for his fabulous flair and jaw-dropping décor. He’s designed the weddings for Sean Parker, LeBron James and George Soros. And his clients include the Trumps (both father and daughter, Ivanka) Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and Joan Rivers. It’s no wonder these top celebs call upon Preston to work his magic! 

Winter Wonderland

Here, Preston created a snowy-white forest accented with sparkling silver. It’s every snow queen’s fantasy!

preston bailey winter wonderland holiday party decor

The master himself:

preston bailey winter wonderland holiday party decor

Ornaments of shimmering silver and frosted white grace a white floral tree and nestle amidst a bevy of blooms on a silver table. Can’t you just picture a glistening snowfall?

Top 10 Most-Searched Celebrity Weddings of 2013

2013 was filled with celebrity weddings, from super-secret elopements to elaborate, star-studded Hollywood events. Google just revealed the top 10 weddings that blew up their search engine this year. Take a look back at what made these weddings memorable!

10. Shenae Grimes and Josh Beech

The former 90210 star made a splash when she walked down the aisle (to house music!) in a black Vera Wang gown back in May. She and her model/musician husband exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony outside of London. 

shenae grimes josh beech wedding
Photo courtesy of Shenae Grimes via Twitter

9. Sean Parker and Alexandra Lenas

The Facebook/Napster billionaire spared no expense on his lavish Lord of the Rings-inspired wedding to singer/songwriter Alexandra Lenos in June. The bride worn a stunning gown by Elie Saab, while the groom called upon Lord of the Rings costume designer Ngila Dickson to outfit himself, the couple's infant daughter, and their 300+ guests, which included Emma Watson, Olivia Munn, Sting, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Sean Lennon, Allison Williams, Twitter inventor Jack Dorsey, MTV founder Bob Pittman, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, and Facebook co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes (Mark Zuckerberg was invited but sent his regrets).

How Justin Timberlake Helped One Fan Propose

After performing "That Girl" at his concert on Sunday in Louisville, KY, Justin Timberlake paused the show to invite two lucky fans, Josh and Kim, on stage.

Unbeknownst to Kim, Josh contacted the singer's management team last month asking if he could propose on stage at the concert, and Timberlake happily agreed. Watch the sweet video:

Timberlake could barely contain his excitement for the newly-engaged couple:

—Kristen Klein

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