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Guest blogger: Nicole Lapin, Editor-in-Chief of Recessionista.com. She is the founder and CEO of Nothing But Gold Productions, a multimedia production company focused on creating accessible financial content across television, print and digital platforms. Lapin is the former anchor of CNBC’s "Worldwide Exchange," the only global show on the network. Lapin was also a contributor on MSNBC and served as a personal finance expert on NBC’s "Today Show." Prior to CNBC, Lapin was the youngest anchor ever on CNN.

According to the Marriage and Homebuying Study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate, nearly a quarter of millennial couples aren’t just shacking up before getting married — they’re buying their first homes together. Now don’t get us wrong: nesting is a beautiful thing. But this is a big/huge/GIGANTIC investment, and you don’t want to get burned by it down the road. Read on to cover all your bases…

Here is an exclusive book excerpt from 13 Things They Won't Tell You. Every month, Reader’s Digest Magazine asks selected experts from a different profession to spill their secrets. Readers walk a mile in their shoes and see things that are enlightening, horrifying, and give them a whole new perspective on the people they trust with their food, health, family, money, and home. They walk away with the keys to awesome backdoor deals, insider knowledge that saves them tons of money, and invaluable advice for getting better service anywhere they go.

Now, for the first time ever, this wisdom has been collected into one comprehensive volume, complete with updates, all new interviews, and tons of additional secrets that have never appeared before.

Wedding planners and pros from across the country reveal the messy side of making your wedding day unforgettable. Here's what they wish brides knew.

They say it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day...but we know that's little consolation to the bride who always dreamed of having an outdoor wedding and has to move it inside at the last minute. On the plus side, though, there's something so beautiful about a photo in the rain. As we gear up for yet another rainy weekend here on the East Coast, we asked two of our favorite photographers to share how they work with the rain to achieve stunning wedding pictures.

Don't Be Afraid to Get a Little Wet

Photo Credit: Hoffer Photography

"If you're trying to take photos in the rain while keeping your dress dry, you might as well forget it," said Tony Hoffer of Hoffer Photography. "The reality is that if you're going to get cool photos in the rain, you're going to get a bit wet. That's the fun part! Get out and act like you're on the poster for The Notebook. It looks way more interesting that way anyway!"

Photo by: Leo Evidente Photographers on Leo Evidente Photographers via Lover.ly

Q. My fiancé and I live on the West Coast, as does my entire family. However, his relatives live on the East Coast. We both want to marry near our families and can't agree on the location. What should we do? 

A. Unfortunately, there's no easy solution. I do understand your fiancé wanting to have his members in attendance and undoubtedly, traveling across country would be difficult for many of them. However, weddings are traditionally held in the bride's hometown, and since you — and most of your relatives — live on the West Coast, this would seem to be the logical choice. Also, if your parents are helping to pay for part of the wedding, you need to take that into consideration.

Lena Dunham of Girls fame shared a revealing childhood sketch with her Twitter followers detailing what her dream wedding would consist of someday. I don't watch the acclaimed HBO series so I don't know too much about her, but anyone who wants a pasta bar at their reception is a girl after my own heart! The White Stripes were slated to make a live performance so she must have had an inkling that her comedy-drama TV pilot would eventually get picked up by a major network. 

Photo Credit: Lena Dunham's official Twitter account

This glimpse into the actress' private life poses a fascinating question: When you were a child, what did you think getting married would be like? If I were to unearth the drawings from my elementary school keepsake box, I'd be hard-pressed to find a poufy white dress and handsome Prince Charming anywhere. The one thing I remember thinking as a little girl was that I absolutely had to arrive to my wedding in a horse-drawn carriage, just like my cousin did on her big day in the '90s. Other than that, I was too busy doodling my future apartment, where I'd go to Harvard, drive a red Mustang and own an adorable cocker spaniel just like the one in Lady & the Tramp. None of those things came to pass (sorry, past self!). 

A couple of months ago, a bride asked me how to incorporate a wedding theme without sacrificing any style points. It's a not-so-secret fact that I'm not the biggest fan of wedding themes in general, but I must say that a golf-themed wedding (which is what she was proposing) was especially hard for me to comprehend. It was a design conundrum!

In an effort to help her, I sourced ways that she could incorporate her fiancé's passion. In the process, I became in tune with the idea that adding a few meaningful details can turn an ordinary theme into a wedding that is a celebration of everything the two of you love together. Now that I've officially converted into a theme-loving gal, I thought I'd share some of my favorite wedding shoots that don't scream kitsch.

Ever After
Ever After is my favorite movie because the storyline hit incredibly close to home. If you've ever dreamt of having your fairytale moment, then get inspired by this beautiful shoot inspired by the film. Incorporate your favorite quote about love on a mirror, chalkboard, or even throughout your paper products to tie them all together.

This shoot was originally featured on Le Magnifique.

I’ve always loved the sound of wind chimes. There’s something magical and mystical about their tranquil, tinkling tones, which is why I was delighted to come across a fantastic array of wind chimes from Woodstock Chimes. Not only are these wind chimes lovely to look at, but each one also has a distinct musical sound courtesy of Grammy award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad. He has fashioned each wind chime to have its own “voice” based on famous melodies and scales. I had a blast just listening to the chime melodies on their website (check it out!).

Wind chimes would be a fantastic addition to your wedding celebration. You can hang several from tree branches for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail party or give them as gifts to your wedding party. Here, a couple placed wind chimes on a bridge for their photo op:

At Woodstock Chimes, there are over 200 wind chimes to choose from, with prices starting at just $10. These Gem Drop Chimes (a great buy at $10!) are a unique gift for your bridesmaids and are available in wedding-perfect shades like violet, shamrock, sapphire, crystal and rose:

This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post

Well, this is one way to use a car!

Latemodel Restoration, an online Ford Mustang parts and accessories store, tweeted a photo Monday of a marriage proposal, orchestrated by Texas Mustang enthusiast Felix Flores, spelled out in (what else?) Mustangs. Check it out below:

Photo courtesy of Late Model Restoration via Twitter

Latemodel Restoration also posted the photo on their Facebook page, and groom-to-be Flores commented that his girlfriend, Addy Moreno, loves Mustangs and drives a red 2000 GT convertible. Moreno wrote that she loved the proposal, and Latemodel Restoration confirmed that she said "yes!"

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

One of the first things we do as engaged gals is decide who will stand up with us on our big day. And, there are lots of spots to fill: Bridesmaid, MOH, flower girl...you know, the wedding party! But what should you do if you want to include 16 of your closest girlfriends/sorority sisters/cousins and you're not keen on the idea of having a Kardashian-style soirée? Consider giving these additional roles to loved ones who aren't in the bridal party to make them feel special and appreciated, too.

Harry Styles had the performance of a lifetime this past weekend — playing Best Man at his mum's second wedding! The 19-year-old One Direction singer walked mother Anne Cox down the aisle as she married longtime partner Robin Twist, who helped raise Styles after his parents divorce (when he was just seven years old). The nuptials took place at Pecks Restaurant in Chesire, England.

The 19-year-old "Kiss You" and "That's What Makes You Beautiful" crooner shared the honorable title with his step-brother, Mike, while his sister, Gemma, acted as Maid of Honor. He and the groom wore matching suits from Burberry for the special occasion, accessorized with a white rose on the lapel (to match Mom's bouquet).

Photo Credit: gemmastagram on Instagram

As if the whole thing couldn't get any sweeter, he reportedly sang "Isn't She Lovely," which was his audition song for X Factor, the show that catapulted the band into stardom! Swoon. According to The Daily Mail, Styles has always been vocal about his close relationship with his mother, saying, "I tell her everything and she knows the truth."

Photo Credit: HarryStyles on Instagram