July 3rd

Photo Credit: Badgley Mischka

Tip of the Day: When you're gown shopping, pay special attention to how your dress looks from the back. This is how guests will see you as you're walking down the aisle, reciting your vows and dancing during your reception. Try on gowns with open backs, lace, crystal- or pearl-studded designs, and beautiful button-down effects to find one that looks stunning from all angles.

Plus, check out more dress styles with gorgeous backs!

8 Surprising Crowd-Pleasers

scratch weddings Music Monday with Scratch Weddings is back! Each week, we feature music recommendations from the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week, enjoy eight songs that'll get everyone out of their seats!

For your wedding day, we wouldn’t dream of letting you play those tired, overplayed songs that lesser DJs play because they’re easy. Good wedding music should be unique, personalized and 100% fun, yet also keep the crowd enthralled on the dance floor. We’ve compiled a list of surprise crowd-pleasers that will keep your guests quite literally on their toes.

wedding guests dancing
Photo Credit: JoPhoto

► "Bust a Move" — Young MC
Don’t let your guests stand on the wall like Poindexter. Bring everyone to the middle of the dance floor by playing this can’t-miss track.

► "Get Down on It" — Kool & The Gang
This song almost requires you to get down; your guests won’t be able to say no to this one.

► "She’s a Bad Mama Jama" — Carl Carlton
There’s nothing bad about this jam. Guests go crazy for its funky, fun appeal.

Alec Baldwin's Surprising Wedding Venue

Alec Baldwin married Hilaria Thomas in New York over the weekend. But the standard glitz and glamour — trumpet Amsale gown with a crystal-embellished back, celebrity guests (including Tina Fey, Woodey Allen and Mariska Hargitay), romantic ceremony at Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral — wasn't what piqued our interest.

Here's what did: The "30 Rock" star and his yogi wife held their wedding reception on the top floor of NYU's Kimmel Center. The Rosenthal Pavilion room has picturesque views of Washington Square Park and can hold up to 300 guests. Best of all, NYU alumni (like Baldwin and his second wife) can rent the room at a discounted rate: It costs just $615 for four hours! Granted, their total bill probably rang up to more, especially when you consider that the reception ended at around 3 a.m., but this is still shockingly refreshing for an actor of Baldwin's stature (and nature: his diva-like temper tantrums are legendary).

Here are some photos of their venue:

rosenthal pavilion nyu

rosenthal pavilion nyu

rosenthal pavilion nyu

"Did You See the Back of That Dress?"

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.

Here, Rosanna shows her favorite dramatic dress backs.

Your moment has arrived  — the doors swing open, and your guests and your groom get their first glimpse of you as a bride. They "ooh" and "ahh" over your dress, the bouquet and the beaming smile on your face. But the real surprise comes when you walk down the aisle and reveal the gorgeous, dramatic back of your gown — and oh, what a sight it is!

priscilla chan wedding dress bella twilight breaking dawn wedding dress
Photo Credit (left to right): Claire Pettibone; Summit Entertainment

June 29th

Photo Credit: Longs Photography.

Tip of the Day: If you’ll DIY any strung crystals, beads or faux pearls, take the extra step of tying little knots in between each piece. This way, if a string breaks, you won’t have a giant spill of crystals all over the place. The string will just break and keep all but one bead in place.

Plus, check out pretty, pearl jewelry for brides.

Your Wedding-Day Stain Survival Guide

On your wedding day, it's practically inevitable that something messy will get on your beautiful, pristine wedding dress, from a smudge of lipstick to a splash of red wine. At my wedding, it was chocolate — a young cousin really loved the chocolate fountain and decided to show her appreciation by giving me a hug, with her hands and face still covered in chocolate (find yourself in a similar situation? Scrape off any excess with a butter knife, then blot/rub with baby wipes until the stain has disappeared. Still visible? Cover it with white toothpaste!).

Luckily, the experts at the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science have you covered. Pack these items for your big day, and print out this handy guide to removing any kind of stain! 

wedding stain survival kit

Must-have items for your emergency kit:

  • Dry shampoo
  • Paper towels
  • Club soda
  • White toothpaste
  • Baby powder
  • Baby wipes
  • Vodka
  • Spray bottle
  • Lemon

Share your best stain-removing tricks and tips!

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein
 

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