Photo of the Day
A glittering chandelier, twinkling lights, and ethereal smoke make for a memorable first dance!
A glittering chandelier, twinkling lights, and ethereal smoke make for a memorable first dance!
Being engaged has its stressful moments... but it also allows you some special privileges you'll likely never experience again. Read on for 10 weird pre-wedding things you won't be able to get away with forever.
1. Proudly give your STD to everyone you know.
(That's a "save the date," if you're new at this.)
2. Send people a list of $5,000 worth of gifts that you'd like to receive.
3. Invite a bunch of people to a party and tell them they better not wear jeans or one specific color.
4. Get people to plan expensive parties in your honor and shower you with gifts.
Photo Credits: Jennifer Van Elk Photography on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly
Tip of the Day: "Food should be 50% of your total wedding budget. The cost of food includes the actual meal cost, bar, 20% service fee and local sales tax (which is usually 5-8%, depending on where you live)," says Kathy Piech-Lukas of Your Dream Day. The more people you have, the more money you'll need to spend to feed them.
Plus, check out 50 Ways to Cut Wedding Catering Costs.
Capture your loved ones' reactions when they see you in your gown for the first time on your wedding day!
Photo Credit: Jose Villa via Easton Events
Tip of the Day: Don’t forget about lighting! The pros at Easton Events tell us that "Investing in beautiful flowers is great, but before doing so, make sure you appropriately light your wedding setting. Lighting and ambiance set the overall mood and feeling, and you want to ensure that your tabletop details are thoroughly enjoyed!"
Plus, check out 15 Fun Ways to Light Up Your Wedding.
Prepare to feel a little bit guilty about using your morning commute to sleep (or play Candy Crush): Redditor alkikat took advantage of that idle time to make herself this gorgeous wedding gown:
Over the course of about five months, she spent her daily bus rides crocheting the lace gown, using a pattern she designed with standard pineapple stitch.
She writes, "My commute time couldn't be used for anything else anyway. The dress is also machine washable (I've washed it several times), doesn't wrinkle or need any special care, and I plan on wearing it again with linings of different colors and with the train bustled up in different ways."
Here's a stop-motion video of her progress:
—Kristen Klein
Think you've seen it all when it comes to the Ice Bucket Challenge? This couple did it on their wedding day!
Photo Credit: David Wolfe Photography
Tip of the Day: "If you're planning a destination wedding (an event taking place at least 120 miles from the couple's current place of residence or roughly a three-hour drive), the easiest way to relieve the stress of wedding planning is to hire a planner that is local to the area where the wedding is taking place," says Stefany Allongo from The Majestic Vision: Wedding and Event Planning Services.
"Not only will they be able to help you find the right vendors and deals, but they will also know when there are local events that could interfere with your wedding (i.e. marathons, big conventions, music festivals) and how to best entertain your guests for the entire weekend," she explains. Whether it's booking a block of seats for a minor league baseball game, chartering a fishing boat for the day or securing the best spa to unwind and relax, a planner will organize fun local events.
Plus, check out Your Guide to Planning an Unforgettable Wedding Weekend.
Take your escort cards to new heights with this idea! See more from this wedding ►
Netis Negron recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of dressing up as a beautiful bride. The 36-year-old mom from Avondale, Arizona, feared this day would never come; not only because her cancer had spread to her bones, but also because she didn't have a groom. Her family members, friends and community rallied together to throw a wedding shoot in her honor. It served as a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, love is capable of performing extraordinary things.
"I don’t want people to see this as a fake wedding," Netis explained to Good Morning America. "It was a celebration of life. It was an amazing experience, a symbol for hope and faith. I was with family, friends and complete strangers that I now call friends, and I wouldn’t change that for the world."
The idea came to light in February, when she asked close friend (and photographer) Laura Gordillo if she could take photos of her trying on wedding dresses at a local bridal shop. "Once I found out the cancer was back [Netis was first diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago], I wanted to give her something more than that! I wanted her to feel like a queen for a day. I envisioned a beautiful setting and Netis in a gorgeous gown with her hair and makeup done, posing for photos with her three sons, mom and sister. We never imagined her little idea would become something way more than that!" Laura told BG.
See the sweet photos here: