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I'm pictured on the right, my friend Chrissy is on the left. We're delirious and makeup-free, but endorphin-happy from our workout. The sacrifices we do for journalism...

Whenever I tell someone that I am taking a boxing class to get more toned for my wedding, their reaction is always the same: "I want to try kickboxing, too!" After I explain that I meant "boxing" as in punching bags, gloves, and a ring where the point is to knock someone else out, I'm met with shocked expressions. "But why?" they'll ask.

I've been duitfully practicing yoga and working on cardio three to four times a week since last February. I decided that since I'm in my 20's, it was now or never (before having a husband, children, and other heavy-duty responsibilities) to establish some kind of fitness routine. Once I reached my goal and difficult sun salutations started to seem as effortless as scratching my back, it was time to intensify my workout routine, and boxing was the ultimate challenge.

                     Photo Credit: Punchstock

Dear BG.com readers: Can you believe I'm getting married this week?! Stay tuned for a full recap and tons of photos from our wedding day.

As I looked through all of my plans for Vegas, I realized that I had left out a few things accidentally. I was surprised by the fact that I subconsciously trusted myself not to forget these things! 

Here is what I'm saving for last:

1. List of must-take photos. I am constantly changing my mind and adding on to this list , so I reckon it's best to wait until a few days before to finalize it.

2. Bridal jewelry. This one may come as a surprise, but I held off on this one until I got to my pre-wedding moon in NYC, so that I could search for a meaningful treasure there.

3. Wedding night lingerie. Okay, okay, I'm not going into any details. But can you say Victoria's Secret?

4. Marriage license. In the state of Nevada, it only takes an hour to get our license, so we didn't have to worry about looking into it from back home in Australia.

5. Wedding attire neatness. With all the traveling we're doing, I'm assuming that down the road somewhere after NYC and before the wedding, our clothing will need steaming. I am also assuming that with Vegas being such a typical wedding destination, it won't be hard finding someone to steam our gear.

Ladies, don't forget to think of your guests!

I know when you are trying on your dream dress, you will be fine-tuning the look of the front of your dress; however, remember your guests will spend a considerable amount of time looking at the back of your dress. Give them some eye-candy!

This season, designers kept the guests in mind, showcasing unique and lovely backs. Accents of sheer fabric and lace added a fashion-forward look to this often-neglected side.

—Naima DiFranco

Every November, the hair elves at Bumble and Bumble come out with a limited-edition collection of beauty stocking-stuffers: Everything from curated shampoo and styling sets to our favorites, the House of Bumble’s witty, whimsical clips, bands and pins. This year’s iteration—the Pin Tin, $15—arrives in awesomely appropriate wedding white.

The kit comes with an illustrated guide that explains how to use the pins to take your look from ladylike to edgy and back again.

—Mary Clarke

Here’s a confession: I hate to pack. I always leave it to the last possible second, and then I always feel like I either took too much or too little. Of course, given that I’m on the road a bunch, I sort of have a system. There are dresses that I always place in my suitcase that, with a shift of a scarf and a change of the shoe, can go from “I’m shopping around a souk in Marakesh” to “I’m dining with an investor of the world’s glammest hotel” in an instant. This video from Diane von Fürstenberg (arguably one of the people that the term “Jet Set” was coined) talks about how as a traveler one should “be ready for anything.” I hope you enjoy her cute video as much as I did.

And for my absolute must-know packing tips, go here.

P.S. Don’t you love the music? It is so Grey’s. 

Let’s face it—despite the endless decisions to be made and constant stress, wedding planning is FUN. That being said, sometimes paying for it all can weigh down a future bride and make the process less pleasurable. No matter what kind of budget you’re working with, big or small, there will likely always be something outside of your reach. The key is to know how much money you have to spend, and work with what you've got.

Here are some tips I try to keep in mind when my budget stress boils up:

1. Accept that you can’t have it all, but you’ll still get it all. Sound confusing? Here’s what I mean: No matter what your budget is, there will likely be some things you simply cannot afford (unless your last name is Kardashian). For example, I know that to stay within budget, we can only host an open bar for beer and wine, not hard alcohol. We also will likely forgo an engagement shoot in order to spend more money on a great photographer for the big day. Despite the lack of booze at our wedding and not having any engagement photos to post on Facebook, we still get it all.  Why? Because we’re getting married and spending the rest of our lives together! I can’t imagine that as we head back to the hotel after our dream wedding, either of us will be saying, “You know, I wish I could have had some scotch…”

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 Chris Mix, Chicago's hometown DJ sensation spinning a wide variety of events and clubs in Chicago, New York, and Las Vegas. Mix's musical skills don't end on the turntables: He's also a pianist, a jazz drummer, plays clarinet and saxophone, and has an encyclopedic musical knowledge. Chris loves to play weddings because it allows him to create the perfect set-list based on the couple's musical taste. "I love being able to play the music that will make your wedding memorable!”

       Photo Credit: Hailey Erickson Photography

NEWS UPDATE: Good Morning America investigates Chinese-run wedding gown websites that sell knock-offs of famous dresses. Watch the video clip here.

Dress designer Mori Lee has issued a warning against buying gowns online from non-authorized retailers.

We've heard about many brides who try on a gown in a salon, then search the designer and style number online to find the dress at a lower price. What you may not realize, though, is that most websites claiming to sell designer dresses for less are actually selling counterfeit gowns.

What this means for you is that the look and quality will not be anything near what you just tried on in the salon. And even more importantly, these online stores tend not to stand behind their products, meaning that if you have a problem with the gown, they're not going to solve it. And since the dress is not from an authorized retailer, the designer is also not likely to correct the mistake.

Yesterday, thousands of runners participated in the New York City Marathon. One couple, Mary and Raymond Donaldson, didn't just run the race together—they got married in the midst of it!

At mile 22, with an officiant running along with them, the couple exchanged vows and rings. Then, they finished the race together.

The couple met while running, so Mary says it only felt right to get married while running. Their families were even able to watch from the sidelines as they exchanged vows.

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Earlier this week, a video of Texas bride Ashley Richmond's wedding dance with her dad, David Sparks, went viral and was quickly hailed as the greatest father daughter wedding dance ever.

Their four-and-a-half minute routine started with a classic father-daughter song, "My Girl" by the Temptations. But before long, the pair launched into a hilarious—and impressive!—choreographed routine that cycled through 10 different songs, from Motown classics to Beyoncé.

We love how Dad looked a little nervous in the beginning, but then he really got into it!