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In our new "Friday Favorites" column, we'll share our top five inspirations of the week culled from real wedding submissions, industry events, what's trending in the weddings world and more!

1. Cinderella-meets-Captain America wedding. This has to be one of the most stunning bridal portraits we've seen! The Utah bride says that "Pepper [her photographer] indulged my fairy tale fantasy in taking pictures of me running down the stairs at the state Capitol building with one shoe behind me. I loved every second I spent in that dress [she wore Cotin Sposa], and I wouldn’t have felt anywhere near as incredible in anything else!"

Check out more photos and read the couple's love story on The Bridal Detective.

Photo Credit: Pepper Nix Photography via The Bridal Detective

2. Get a headstart on those holiday cards. Minted, one of our favorite budget-friendly resources for wedding invites, save-the-dates, and more, has launched a "Newly Married" holiday collection. It features 43 different customizeable designs — I've featured a few of my favorites below. Aren't they lovely? I'll be adding this to my to-do list once I get all of those wedding thank-yous mailed out.

I'm blushing ... over these ultra-romantic pieces — perfect for a dream wedding! Petal soft accessories and confectionery pinks are sure to make your wedding sweet. Here a few of my favorite pieces, sure to charm the girly-girl in you.

Credits left to right: 1. Silk floral headband by Alannah Hill 2. 18k rose gold heart earrings by Tiffany & Co.  3.  Light pink minaudiere by Marchesa. 4. Chantilly lace corset gown with full fishtail tulle skirt by Marchesa. 5. Tulle, lace and organza one shoulder ballgown by Vera Wang. 6. Gianvito Rossi Rhinestone Peep Toe Sandal. 7. Ursula Satin Strappy Platform Sandals by Charlotte Olympia. 8. Alexander McQueen pink flower box clutch. 9. Double bridal comb set with flowers and crystals by Erica Elizabeth Design.

—Naima DiFranco

As if Kelly Clarkson's gorgeous Temperley London wedding gown and heart-tugging wedding video trailer weren't amazing enough, now photos have surfaced of her bachelorette party, and it's just as crush-worthy. A 1920s-inspired adult "tea party" was thrown in her honor by The Marvelous Vintage Tea Party Co. in Austin, complete with costumes from that decade.

Although the owner, Sophie Parrott, was sworn to secrecy, she did tell E! News that "These tea parties are usually for adults, so there are usually liquor-infused tea cocktails. There is always champagne involved and hot teas, as well as cakes, treats, and savories. They are quite indulgent. It is a lot of treats and nibbles and cakes."

Although a tea party might sound tame, the now-Mrs. Blackstock appeared to have a rollicking good time with her besties — one friend posted a photo of some of the more racier gift items that she received. After all, no bachelorette party is complete without some gag gifts and good-natured ribbing.

2013 weddings were full of amazing trends, from metallic details to family-style tables to Gatsby glamour. We're getting excited to see what the next year will hold, so we asked wedding professionals from all around the country to predict which ideas will be even more popular in 2014. Check out the growing requests that they're receiving from brides!

1. Camp-style weddings: Lindsey Norton of L. Brook Events says that "weddings at summer camps are popping up more and more because there is ample space to accommodate overnight guests but also multiple venues (all conveniently located on one property) to host different pre- and post-wedding celebrations." Rider Strong of Boy Meets World fame recently got hitched in a camp-style wedding, and so did Matthew McConaughey.

Photography by Emily Delamater // Event planning by L. Brook Events

2. The English garden look: Michelle Hoffner of Paper Antler photography is seeing a switch to more "locally grown wildflower bouquets" than traditional florist bouquets. Some brides are even including bouquet-making as a wedding weekend event!

Guest blogger: Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of over 35 wedding books, including The Bride’s Guide to Freebies. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

Kate Middleton has a knack for creating new wedding trends; first, she brought back lace for wedding gowns, and now she’s done something very sentimental with the top tier of her wedding cake.

Girl power! This weekend was all about the ladies. On Sunday, I trained with Bonne Marcus and had an awesome workout. I trained alone because Rene didn’t want to miss football Sunday for the third week in a row (insert eye roll here). I was upset I had to go alone, but it ended up being amazing — Bonne taught me special workouts to focus on my lady parts (exercises she would not give to Rene) and the parts that are going to show while I'm wearing my wedding dress.

We started with what Bonne calls "The Wedding March" — aka walking lunges — where you start with your feet together, step with one foot into a lunge, step up, and then lunge with the other foot. These were not easy. We also did side kicks, where you rest one arm on the top of a chair, balance on one leg, and kick the other leg out to the side in slow motion, so you really feel it in both legs.

Left: The Wedding March. Right: Side Kicks

I truly want everyone to look their best on their wedding day and get the most out of their wedding photos. While I am unable to be at every wedding (the laws of physics being what they are), I am happy to share some of my knowledge and experience with you. Todaym I am going to focus on what you can do to actually look your best. I am not telling you to do anything that makes you feel unnatural or uncomfortable. These are just pointers. And this is not just for the bride or groom; everyone who might have their picture taken on the day of the wedding should take note — so listen up bridesmaids and groomsmen!

1. Stand Up Straight

Yes, I probably sound like your mother, but people underestimate the power of good posture. Many of us spend so much time hunched over at our desks all day that we have developed a sloped shoulder look that is far from elegant. You do not have to be a ballerina to take some tips from them and imagine a string pulling at the top of your head — your body elongates, your shoulders naturally start to fall back, and you look ten times better in a matter of a few seconds.

2. Chin Up

Double chins can plague even the slimmest among us if their chin is nearly touching their chest. So keep your chin up! It elongates your neck. But remember, everything in moderation — you don’t want to look like a giraffe. If it feels awkward, you have gone too far.

3. Lay Off the Booze!

In our new "Friday Favorites" column, we'll share our top five inspirations of the week culled from real wedding submissions, industry events, what's trending in the weddings world and more!

1. Bridal Fashion Week is over, and the BG editors are still reeling from the parade of beautiful new dresses we saw in every imaginable style and price point. This season's trends include pink-hued gowns, gold embellishments and cap sleeves. 

One great tip I got was from designer Pnina Tornai, who told me that she finds inspiration in the fine line between fantasy and reality. Search for a wedding dress that makes you feel like you're living in a dream every time that you put it on — this is your moment to try something really spectacular. Stay tuned for a recap on the most buzzed-about 2014 styles from each major designer.

2. Ramani and David's engagement photos make me want to bite the bullet and schedule a wedding anniversary shoot! They feature a wide variety of backdrops, including a rustic cabin, a ferris wheel, the changing fall leaves, and — my personal favorite — a boat filled with biodegradable confetti.

We're excited to announce the launch of our first EVER Fashion Issue, available for iPad. This exclusive digital magazine is filled with BG editors' favorite wedding gowns, bridal party fashion, jewelry, accessories and more. A definite necessity for fashionable brides-to-be! The style guide also features gorgeous new dresses and tuxedos from our special edition sponsor, Allure Bridals. You can easily download the issue by searching for Bridal Guide Magazine in the iTunes App Store. Once you have downloaded our free App, search our store for The Fashion Issue and tap to buy! The best part? It's only 99¢!

Here are 5 reasons to download The Fashion Issue: