Blogs

We hope you have something fun planned for your last weekend of summer! Today, our site's VP/General Manager Jen is attending the city hall wedding of her daughter's first au pair. The happy couple is blending two different cultures — Thai and Jewish — and will be throwing a second wedding later on back in Thailand.

And I have to give a quick shoutout to our web producer Stefania — tomorrow marks one year until her big day! 

If you've also had a busy week, catch up now on our hottest features this week.

Every bride wants to look like a million bucks for her big day, because those photos last forever. For me, exercising is important not only to feel confident on my wedding day, but also to combat stress. If I put in the work now for the body that I want, I won't have to worry about sucking it in while I traipse around in a bikini on my honeymoon! Here's how I got into better shape just one month before my dress fitting.

1. Make your fitness routine a priority—not just a hobby.
Before my internship at Fitness Magazine this summer, all I cared about was fitting into my clothes and relieving some anxiety from grad school. Next thing I knew, I was testing different workouts in fancy gyms (that's me pictured on the right, with a professional Zumba instructor!) and doing exercise DVDs at home. It felt great to get my blood flowing after sitting at a computer all day; it also put me on a regular sleep schedule and distracted me from missing my husband, Michael (he's deployed overseas). As soon as I noticed the positive changes in my body and attitude, it gave me the encouragement I needed to maintain my ramped-up routine.

2. Use exercise as a way to get together with the girls.
Instead of bonding over margaritas and chips at happy hour, suggest going on a run or bike ride with your girls before addressing all those envelopes. It’s a good way to keep each other accountable. Plus, you ladies won’t feel guilty about that extra glass of wine afterwards!

Yum alert: Just take a look at the sweet treats that have landed on our desks in recent days, each a masterpiece of color, design and creativity. (Oh, and they taste amazing, too.) Prepare to drool.

Crème Delicious “edible artistry” cookies with henna-inspired design, by Sandy Patangay, creme-delicious.com.

One Tough Cookie ”bridal bouquet” butter cookies by Gail Dosik, onetoughcookienyc.com.

Bedazzle My Bonbons glitter-dusted “dessert and décor” truffles by Sasha Vincent, bedazzlemybonbons.com.

—Mary Clarke

Photo Credit: Mary Clarke

Can you recognize true love from just one kiss? At a new exhibit in the National Art Museum of Ukraine, five "sleeping beauties" have signed over their future to bet just that. In a modern reenactment of the classic fairytale, each woman takes turns sleeping on display (a total of two hours per day), allowing potential suitors to brush their lips against theirs.

But this isn’t just a peck-and-run — if a beauty opens her eyes during the smooch and awakens from her slumber, she must marry that person. Both parties sign a contract in advance, and contrary to other media reports, the kisser can be either male or female, as long as they’re single and over 18 years old. Visitors who are married or don’t wish to participate are permitted to observe, as long as they sign an agreement promising not to kiss.

UPDATE: "My inspiration for the exhibit was this idea of true love— the magic people feel between themselves, which sometimes ends up in making babies, which are the continuation of life. And if you really think about it, what else is more important than the continuity of life? I mean, everything else pales in comparison. The viewers take from it what they take," said the creator, Taras Polataiko, an Ukranian-Canadian artist.

Cinderella's glass slipper is easily the most iconinc Disney shoe of all time, and it's certainly having its moment in the spotlight right now in anticipation of the Cinderella Diamond Edition, which hits stores on October 2 and marks the first time the classic movie is being released on Blu-ray. 

Earlier this summer, designer Christian Loubouton unveiled a "Cinderella" shoe, and now, DSW has revealed their more budget-friendly Glass Slipper Collection inspired by Cinderella.

These limited-edition shoes will be available in DSW stores and on dsw.com starting on October 1 and will cost between $59.95 and $89.95. Each shoe features an embossed carriage logo and a signature blue jewel on the sole.

“The inspiration for the line came from the vision of Disney artist Mary Blair’s original art for the film,” said Debbie Ferrée, Vice Chairman and Chief Merchandising Officer for DSW, in a release. “We took a close look at the film’s aesthetic details—the rich textures and fabric, the beautiful blue in Cinderella’s dress—even the French rococo-inspired scenery. Every little whimsical touch featured in the footwear collection came right out of the film.”

Find out more about the shoes in this behind-the-scenes video!

With so many luxe resorts, romantic islands, and beautiful cities across the globe, narrowing down the endless options to find the perfect location for your honeymoon can be a real challenge. Get some inspiration with these popular honeymoon destinations, according to research conducted by  SmugMug, a photo-sharing and storing site. Whether you're dreaming about relaxing on a pristine beach or exploring an enchanting city, there's something for everyone. Take a look!  

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Jon Blak, whose client list includes Beyonce, Jay Z, Jermaine Dupri and Ryan Leslie. He describes his style as "retro/future”, a seamless blend of old and new that translates well to wedding guests of all ages. "I love the challenge of crossing genres and generations and playing a diverse mix that's totally seamless. At the end a wedding, I'd like the bride and the groom to be exhausted from dancing!" Jon is known infusing any event with energy and cool, while always keeping the client's musical preferences front and center in his music selection.

Photo Credit: Jayd Gardina Photography

Weddings are a time to revel in the celebration of newly sealed nuptials. No couple wants this mood interrupted by a cheesy wedding song. These songs can disrupt the flow of the dance floor or, even worse, completely empty it.

This week was filled with adventurous couples, from an incredible couple who rock-climbed 900 feet for a mountaintop ceremony to a daring pair who who rode jet packs into their beach wedding. We also were shocked by Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger's surprise engagement, and we couldn't help but follow Taylor Swift's wedding crashing debacle.   

If you've also had a busy week, catch up now on our hottest features this week!

Wondering which flowers are in season during your wedding month? Maximize your floral budget by choosing one of these blooms:

Finally, a show that hits all the marks — real brides, real drama and a real budget!

TLC’s 'I Found The Gown' comes complete with all of the oohs, ahhs and tears we now expect from America’s brides-to-be. But what sets it apart from predecessor 'Say Yes to The Dress' is how it caters to brides whose wallets aren't quite Kleinfeld-ready.

Photo courtesy of TLC

The action takes place at VOWS, a Boston bridal outlet owned by Rick and Leslie DeAngelo. The duo keeps the store's racks stocked with about 800 designer wedding gowns — including Reem Acras and Vera Wangs — at seriously discounted prices between ($199 to $4,500). Top-notch consultants help the brides sift through the treasure pile to find the perfect dress at a perfect pricepoint. No ordering necessary: if their size is in, it's their's to take home that very day.

The catch? Sizes are limited, and the good ones can get snatched up faster than you can say “I do.”

Leslie and Rick; Photos courtesy of TLC

Done right, a candy buffet becomes more than just a delicious favor for your guests; it becomes an eye-catching part of your wedding reception décor. 

But creating one isn't as simple as just buying a few bags of candy. To find out how to create the perfect color-coordinated buffet with the right amount of candy for your guests, we checked in with Nicole Carter from acandystore.com, an online bulk candy store organized by color, theme, brand, and flavor. Check out her advice below!

BG: How much candy do I need to buy?
Nicole Carter: Determining how much to buy is the biggest challenge. We've found people tend to overestimate the weight of candy. If I asked you what five pounds of M&M's looks like, what would be your guess? We have some helpful videos on our product pages to help show you what volumes of different candies equate to.

Photo Credit: Ace Photography