Blogs

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:

Photo Credit: CINEMATICbyDavidM

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

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:

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. 

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.

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 & Bullock’s 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!

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.  

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’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

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

‘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!

The master himself:

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?

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

I love Pinterest just as much as the next bride — I currently have 9,255 pins (and counting) to prove it! This borderline obsession of mine isn't going anywhere anytime soon. According to Splendid Insights, a wedding lifestyle market research firm, 78% of U.S. couples that got married in 2012 used Pinterest to help plan their wedding.

Here's how to use Pinterest throughout the course of your wedding planning:

Photo Credit: Jose Villa

1. After you first get engaged, pin anything (and everything) you like with no limitations.

When you first start planning your wedding, Pinterest can open your eyes to a ton of inspiration you might not have seen otherwise. It exposes you to different wedding styles, color palettes, and ideas, and hopefully, it'll help you gravitate towards a specific vision. As a wedding planner, I’ve found that it can be an extremely valuable tool when planning.  

2. Look for similarities in your inspirational wedding images.