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What to Wear to Your Engagement Shoot

Here, photographers give us the scoop on which clothes make the cut for camera.

1. Wear an outfit that feels like you. "We usually tell our clients that the most important part of what they wear is that they feel like themselves. Whether that means that they're wearing jeans and a t-shirt, a swimsuit or a full suit, we're happy if they feel happy," said Tony Hoffer. The outfit that you choose will help set the mood and influence how your photographer shoots you, in the context of your location.

Whimsical:

Wedding Favors with a Buzz

Candy, custom cookies, and wine stoppers are popular choices for wedding favors, but it’s always fun to break away from tradition. Spice it up with alcohol-infused wedding favors for your 21 and over guests so that they can continue the party after the reception ends. These mini bottles and liquor-filled chocolates will give your friends and family a treat with a kick.

Bride and Groom Wedding Cake Vodka

pearl wedding cake vodka mini bottlespearl wedding cake vodka bride groom favor

Mini bottles of Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka couldn’t be more perfect. The sweet liquor serves as a reminder of your wonderful wedding. Dress up the bottles with mini veils and bowties from shopluxco.com or a craft store, making a bride and groom pair for guests to take home.

Chocolate or Vanilla Cake Vodka with Personalized Labels

uv cake vodka liquid courage label
 

Double-Duty Treat

Dessert tables are a fan fave at weddings. Guests not only get to satisfy their sweet tooth longings but they can also take delight in the visually beautiful displays and the wide variety of treats.

Here’s a nifty idea from Kelven Book, event planner at NYC-based catering company, Canard, Inc.: Instead of a separate table for your sweets, why not let your drinks bar do double-duty as your dessert table? While everyone is seated during the dinner, the bar can be re-configured to include all of the yummy desserts. When guests go back to the bar for more cocktails, they’ll be treated to a stunning display of mouth-watering sweets. Your bartenders can also offer cordials to pair with each dessert selection for an extra dose of wow.

Take a look at these amazing dessert displays from Canard, Inc.

dessert table

This table features parfaits of Armagnac cheesecake mousse, lemon and blueberry compote and clove shortbread crumbs garnished with a candied lemon wheel. Other treats include dark chocolate pot de crème with whipped cream, blueberry and raspberry and lemon tartlets and miniature s’mores.

dessert table

These pretty glass plates feature double fudge brownies, mini vanilla bean cupcakes with buttercream icing and mini German Chocolate cupcakes.

Would You Sell Your Dress Before the Wedding?

Bride Kathleen Baldwin tied the knot last Saturday in her ultimate fantasy gown: Vera Wang’s “Gemma” (the same style worn by actress Hilary Duff at her wedding). Wang describes this mermaid as “the perfect storm”—bands of tulle wrapped around the body like a swirling cyclone, ending in deconstructed, abstract blossoms featuring hundreds of scattered sequins. Naturally, Baldwin looked (and felt) beautiful in the dress, but as she walked down the aisle, it actually didn’t belong to her anymore.

vera wang gemma

Baldwin is part of a growing number of brides who are pre-selling their wedding gown. She sold it on PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, a top-rated listing service that connects buyers and sellers of wedding gowns (there's over 10,500 to choose from). According to founder Josie Daga, a used gown that is less than three years old can fetch half the original retail price, but because pre-sell dresses tend to be the most desirable styles (costing $5,000+), they sell for as much as 70-80 percent.

She first noticed the trend back in 2010 with Vera Wang’s coveted “Audrey,” but now brides are putting their gowns up for sale much earlier than in the past. “A few years ago, a bride might list her gown for sale 3-4 months after the wedding. Now, we see brides who’ve got their dresses posted before they’ve even left for their honeymoon,” said Daga.

Our Favorite Celebrity Tux Trends

Obsessed with celeb weddings like we are? We've broken down the most popular tuxedo trends, as seen on some of the biggest names out there. Dress your groom like an A-lister, and paparazzi will be chasing him down the aisle.

The Classic Tuxedo

Vera Wang Two-Button Super 130s Grosgrain Notch Lapel

Tuxedo by Black by Vera Wang

Hollywood’s leading man may no longer be available, but Matthew McConaughey looked quite dapper in his 3-piece Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo at his wedding. The actor appeared ever-so-handsome in a black jacket, black bow tie and white shirt. For a man who made being shirtless a trend, we’re quite impressed at how well he cleaned up! Whether your groom's as smooth as James Bond or as laidback as McConaughey, the timelessness of this style makes the classic tux a perfect choice for just about anyone.

The Statement Tuxedo

White Tuxedo
Tuxedo by Savvi Formalwear

5 Hidden Travel Fees to Watch Out For

couple on plane

As travel fees continue to soar, airline and hotel customers have come to expect less and pay more. Survey results from Airfare Watchdog found that 16 percent of respondents would pay extra money to get off the plane first (10 percent would pay $10 and three percent would pay up to $20). The enforcement of such fees isn’t too far-fetched. Amenities that were once complimentary (e.g. blankets and checking bags) now come with a price tag.

For select hotels and airlines that haven’t jumped on board, these complimentary items serve as a marketing boost. New Hawaiian Airlines ads read: “The captain has turned off the nickel and dime sign. Complimentary meals and more.” Shouldn’t that always be the case for a 12-hour flight? As you plan your honeymoon, watch out for these five hidden travel fees.

Wedding on Wheels—Just $99

the vegas wedding wagon

Forget drive-through chapels—the hottest new trend is curbside weddings. For just $99, the Las Vegas Wedding Wagon will marry you in 15 minutes, max, at your desired location (the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign is a crowd-pleaser). Co-founders Andy Gonzalez and James Cass ditched their corporate jobs to find their true calling. Inspired by the Hangover Truck, which gives tuckered-out revelers intravenous aid, their mobile matrimony idea was borne.

Sure, it sounds like a scene in a rom-com: Lonely girl meets lonely boy at wild party, and after a brief, but promising conversation (and five too many rounds of margaritas) they decide to make it forever. But there’s only one problem: They don't have a car, so they text the Wedding Truck to meet them on the Strip. Not so fast—they require that you obtain an official marriage license in advance, but you can speed up the process with this online form. Gonzalez and Cass are available for immediate service between 12 – 9 pm, but you can schedule your nuptials in advance on their website.

My Dad, the Unlikely Wedding Planner

graduation day

It might seem strange to have Dad as your wedding planner, but with my circumstances, it just made natural sense. (As I've mentioned in past posts, my fiancé Michael is deployed in Afghanistan, so I'm planning our wedding in San Diego from across the country, in New York.) A couple of months ago, I realized I needed to call in reinforcements, so I found a planner in Cali who completely shared my vision. I was enamoured with her ideas—until I got the quote. I was seriously considering dropping $2,400 for her help, but when I brought it up to my dad, he enthusiastically offered to plan the wedding himself. I knew he'd always have my back, but I was surprised by just how thrilled he was to take part in my wedding. It was a big relief.

Since I've asked him to take over, my dad has secured the venue, DJ, rentals and linens, florist, and photographer. Basically, all the heavy lifting is done. Luckily, we haven't had any disagreements yet. He's happy to hear me out if I don't like something or would prefer a more affordable vendor, so I never feel pressured to go with his first choice or afraid to say no. The planning process is new to both of us, so we're learning everything together and having fun in the process! Dad's a natural—he talks to strangers with ease and even thrives on it (much to my embarrassment as a teenager). He loves to brag about his son-in-law, too, so he'll use any excuse to bring up his brave soldier in conversation.

Sparkling Ideas for Your Wedding

From classic exits to fun thank-you cards, sparklers are everywhere lately in wedding photos.

sparklers wedding photos
Photo Credits: B&G Photography (left);  Ruth Anne Photography (right)

If you're thinking about using sparklers, keep in mind a few safety tips:

► Don't pass around already-lit sparklers. 
► Sparklers are not recommended for kids under 12.
► Keep your distance; everyone using a sparkler should stand six inches apart from one another. Also, when holding a sparkler, keep it at arm's length. 
► Check the legal status in your area; sparklers are banned in several states.
► Because the sparkler stick remains hot long after the flame is gone, drop used sparklers into a bucket of water.

And now, some of our favorite photos with sparklers!

sparklers wedding photos
Photo Credit: Heidi Rae Photography for Ron Parks Photography

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