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Photo Credit: Victor Wang Studios

Gold medal-winning U.S. Women's Olympic soccer player Alex Morgan is set to marry longtime boyfriend Servando Carrasco, a professional soccer player for the Houston Dynamo of the MLS, this winter. Last December, Morgan took to Instagram to announce their engagement with a picture of them together showing off her her new sparkling ring, with the hashtag #instabling. 

Photo courtesy of Alex Morgan via Instagram

Not only is Morgan America's soccer darling, but she's also known for her classic beauty; she was featured in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue with her winning looks! Bridal Guide sat down with the athlete to learn more about her beauty routine and upcoming nuptials.

Q: You don't get a whole lot of down time between your club play, the national team, press work, and writing children's book. How have you fit in wedding planning?

You know how you're not supposed to put registry information on your wedding invitation? Well, it's also probably not a good idea to ask guests for the "honor of your presents" instead of the "honor of your presence":

Photo via Imgur

Before ordering your invitations, always ask a few other people to look over the wording carefully; when you've spent so much time designing and wording your invitations, it's far too easy to overlook a similar word that has a completely different meaning.

Tip: When proofreading, read backwards (so start with "follow" on this invite). Often, your brain will automatically correct an error that you read in a sentence based on the context, but if you read it backwards, you're forced to think more carefully.

—Kristen Klein

Photo Credit: Evermore Photography

We've all been there — you have a wedding to attend, but you waited too long to buy a gift, and now all that's left on the registry is the $500 vacuum or the $10 toilet brush. Although cold, hard cash is always a welcome gift, writing a check can feel impersonal or uncomfortable, especially if your gift budget doesn't quite reach the triple-digit range. To find the best last-minute gift ideas that won't break the bank, we chatted with Jess Levin, founder of Carats & Cake. Here, her smart picks:

1. "Of The Month" Clubs
"Monthly clubs, like wine-of-the-month clubs, are literally gifts that keep on giving for the entire year. Think about choosing something that reflects the couple’s personal interests or tastes, as there are services for everything from beer clubs to pizza clubs. One of my personal favorites is Love with Food; it’s not only the perfect gift for your foodie friends, but it also donates a portion of each sale to feed a hungry child in the US."

While you've been sipping on your first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, NYFW for Spring 2015 has gotten underway, and Pantone has released their top color picks for the spring season. Their theme is "En Plein Air" ("in the open air"), and the soft, water hues are oh-so-refreshing! Get ready to see these colors everywhere in a few months.

Aquamarine

Pantone says: "Cool and calming, ethereal Aquamarine is a shade with a wet and watery feel. Open and expansive, this restful blue also acts as a stress reducer."

Make it work for your wedding: Choose aquamarine for your "something blue," or pair it with peach and green for a charming look.

Photo Credit: Abby Jiu on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

Scuba Blue

19 Kids and Counting star Jessa Duggar and fiancé Ben Seewald are planning a November wedding, and if their registries at Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon are any indication, it's going to be just as huge as sister Jill's recent wedding — there are nearly 1,000 items on the registry!

After courting for nearly a year, the couple announced their engagement last month. The fifth-oldest Duggar child showed off her engagement ring on Instagram over the weekend:

Here are some of our favorite ideas from their registry:

1. Go Bold With Colors
You don't need to pick a color theme for your kitchen; mix 'n match makes it much more fun! 

BG sat down with "Bachelorette" Desiree Hartsock at The Couture Show in Los Angeles and got the inside scoop on her new bridal line and her upcoming wedding. The bride-to-be designed a boho-chic collection for Maggie Sottero, and we got a sneak peek!

Q: What made you decide to design a bridal line after The Bachelorette?
A: I worked in bridal salons in 8 years — most recently at Penache in Beverly Hills. I've always loved working with brides.

Q: How would you describe your new collection for Maggie Sottero?
A: It's bohemian, easy to wear, and can look perfect in a church or in a meadow. It's vintage, deco, and versatile. 

Q: We notice there are no ballgowns in the collection. Why?
A: I think of these gowns as the "new" princess dresses. A dress doesn't have to be a ballgown to be a princess dress. 

Q: Will you be wearing any of these dresses for your upcoming wedding?
A: I will be wearing two! One that's formal and romantic for the ceremony, and another that's more comfortable to dance in for the reception. 

Q: And what about your accessories?
A: Well, Chris (fiancé & Bachelor alum Chris Siegfried) is 6'4'', so I will be wearing high heels. My shoes will likely be a pair of Badgley Mischka's I found on sale! I am also designing a jewlery line that's coming out in October. I will probably wear jewelry from my line and give some to my bridesmaids for their bridesmaids gifts, as well. 

Photo Credit: Dominique Bader on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly

Q: We found a venue we like, but I want to ask the chef to revamp almost the entire menu. Will this be insulting? Is it OK to ask for a lot of changes?

A: Requesting minor changes to a reception menu is standard and most caterers will happily oblige. They’ll also prepare kosher, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

However, if your request involves completely revamping the menu, then this might pose a problem for the caterer. His staff is trained to prepare certain types of dishes, and a special order of different foods or ingredients that are not readily available in his kitchen could prove costly. On the other hand, depending on what your menu wishes are, he might be able to work with you.

I would advise speaking with the caterer about your menu requests before booking the venue. If he is unable to meet your needs then you may need to compromise if your heart is truly set on the venue. Ask if he can prepare just one or two of your culinary requests and then agree to the rest of the already established menu. But if the menu and the types of dishes served are more important to you, then you’ll need to choose another site that’s better equipped to meet your expectations.

—Diane Forden

Photo Credit: Nikki Cole Photography