Perhaps no other flower is as synonymous with weddings as the rose. The red rose symbolizes passionate love, the white rose purity and new beginnings, the yellow rose joy, friendship and caring, the pink rose admiration and gratitude, the orange rose passion, energy and excitement, and the lavender rose adoration and enchantment. So no matter what shade you choose, the meaning will always be wedding-perfect!

I especially love the lush, bountiful roses created by David Austin Roses. This British-based company is now introducing their premium-cut roses to the United States (lucky us!), and their experts have shared some of their top wedding flower trends exclusively with Bridal Guide. Here, the trends and gorgeous inspiration from the pros at David Austin Roses:

1. Naturally Chic
A rising trend is that of bridal bouquet arrangements with an unassuming, free-flowing look. This type of arrangement can include one standout flower as the focal point, such as the pale pink and cream Keira variety, combined with English ivy and other greenery. The result: an elegant yet relaxed centerpiece and a chic and timeless bouquet rife with texture and color.

Hot off his recent Grammy win for best pop vocal album, Bruno Mars will take the field in New Jersey on Sunday to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. Though he's still a relatively new artist — his debut album came out in 2010 — he's topped the charts with five number-one singles in that time, including some tunes that have become wedding must-haves. In honor of his upcoming Super Bowl show, Star Talent put together a list of the best Bruno Mars songs to play at your wedding. Enjoy!

For Your Processional: "Marry You" (Instrumental)
This softer version of the popular tune is perfect for your walk down the aisle. Or, play the original version for a fun bridal party entrance. 

For Your Reception Entrance: "Treasure"
With lyrics like “I know you can make my wish come true if you let me treasure you,” this song is ideal for your first post-ceremony appearance together. It sets the tone for a fun-filled reception while also serving representing the love you have for one another.

For Your First Dance: "Rest of My Life"
This lesser-known ballad has such swoon-worthy lyrics, like "It took us a lifetime to find each other / It was worth the wait cause I finally found the one / Never in my dreams did I think that this would happen to me."

Last weekend, I visited San Diego with my fiancé Chris to check out some potential wedding locations. We saw six venues in two days, which made for a whirlwind experience. It was so much fun! In fact, I could get used to all of this shopping around, but we need to book our date soon so that guests have nine months to plan for our out-of-state destination wedding.

The trip had extra-special significance to me because we also attended a remembrance ceremony in honor of my late grandmother who passed away one year ago. She lived in La Jolla since 1979 and I would visit her every chance I got. Visiting wedding venues there brought back great memories of walking along the shoreline with her and having gelato. I always told her how much I wanted her to be at my wedding. In true granny style, she would throw up her hands and laugh. "I took too long!" she'd say. Granny, you'll still be there in spirit, looking over us from your ocean-view room.

The author pictured at left with her late grandmother

Check out our venue photo diary, along with some tips we learned along the way!

Venue Option #1: Tom Ham's Lighthouse

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse was GORGEOUS! A good friend of mine in Sacramento told me to check it out because she knew we wanted an ocean view. And at that place, we sure got one. With huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown San Diego, Chris and I almost felt as if we were on a boat.

Starting your wedding registry soon? Karin Sun, co-founder of Crane & Canopy, shares the most common mistakes couples make when choosing their bedding. 

Mistake #1: Choosing bedding with the highest thread count.
Most people think the higher the tread count, the better the sheets. But Sun warns that thread count doesn't give you the entire picture. "There are only three things I look for in my bedding choice to get that optimum soft, silky, and smooth feel — the fabrics are between 300 and 450 thread count, made from extra-long staple single-ply cotton, and in a sateen weave," she said. 

Mistake #2: Thinking you need to choose "grown-up" colors. 
"Don’t shop for bedding like you would your formal china," recommended Sun. "The look of luxury does not mean your linens need to be white." Instead, add some personality to your bedroom with pops of colors and patterns. 

Photo Credit: Erin Johnson on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly

Israel-born actress Natalie Portman and French choreographer Benjamin Millepied tied the knot in a private Jewish ceremony back in 2012. Now, the parents to two-year-old Aleph are living in Israel while Portman works on her directorial debut, an adaptation of A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz. After "falling in love with the country," Millepied has reportedly decided to convert to Judaism. 

When I met Jake, I never would have guessed that we'd eventually become husband and wife. In 2011, we both made the terrifying decision to move to Los Angeles to work for a motivational media company, which required us to speak to hundreds of students every day. When I picked him up at the airport, I was greeted with a half-awake, rather cranky individual.

Later that same day, I heard someone playing my favorite Coldplay song ("The Scientist") on the piano by the girls dorm, and I looked over at my bunkmate and said, "I'm going to marry whoever is playing that!" I was being sarcastic but lo and behold, I found out the musician was that same crabby traveler I had just met. I giggled and didn't think much of it...until I married him two years later on September 21st, 2013 in a very glittery, purple, rustic outdoor wedding.

I come from a family that isn’t what you would call close. We all keep to ourselves and only meet up about once a year for the holidays. I'm also an only child. So, when I found out that my boyfriend had a tight-knit family and multiple siblings, I was beyond excited and couldn't wait to join a family who invested in each other.

Soon after meeting the man I knew I was going to marry, I flew to his parents' house for Thanksgiving. I never thought anything could go wrong but I still had this weird, nervous feeling in my gut. I rationalized that I was getting frazzled because of the fact that these people would be my future in-laws — forever. My boyfriend at the time was also a bit nervous because I was the first woman he had ever dated and brought home to meet his parents.

Photo by: Serendipity Corner Photography on Polka-Dot Bride via Lover.ly