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Hey! I’m Lisa. I’m beyond thrilled to share my wedding planning experiences with you guys.

I wanted to start by saying, "I’m not your typical bride," but let’s face it—who is? One of the most exciting aspects of wedding planning is that you’re creating a personal celebration for you and your groom that reflects who you are as a couple.

That being said, my situation is unique because I’m actually already married. I'm also an Army wife. My husband Michael and I met as teenagers, growing up on the same street. We got engaged in late September of 2011, soon after we found out that he would be leaving for a one-year tour in Afghanistan. After receiving our parents’ blessing and sealing the deal with a beautiful ring, we got married in a small civil ceremony at the home of a family friend, just five weeks after we got engaged.

Michael’s currently deployed in Afghanistan, but as soon as he gets back we’re kicking off our lives together with a proper celebration with friends and family in our hometown of San Diego. Our vintage-inspired fiesta wedding will incorporate all the best things about SoCal living: beaches, delicious Mexican food and laid-back fun. Because I’m currently finishing up graduate school in New York City, my dad has taken on most of the wedding planning duties in California. He’s a natural.

Recently, I was invited to participate on a panel of judges to select the winning dress design for the “Bride of the Future,” created by the super-talented students of the High School of Fashion Industries in New York City.

Mara Urshel and Robert di Mauro with the finalists' gowns.

The judging took place at the Kleinfeld Bridal Salon, where Mara Urshel and Robert di Mauro, who created the contest, presented the students and their designs. My fellow judges (designer Lazaro, and Kleinfeld’s Dorothy Silver and Jacques Vignault) and I were thrilled to see the level of creativity and skill exhibited by these high school students. This past semester, under the guidance of their instructors, Sandra Manning and Adrian Carranza, they sketched gowns and created inspiration boards for the “Bride of the Future.” From the 25 or 30 sketches we viewed in February, five finalists were chosen and the class was then divided into teams to bring the sketches to life.

Photo Credit: Ian Grant Photography

Your wedding vows are the most sacred and meaningful words you’ll ever speak. Some couples opt to use traditional vows, capped off with that memorable "I do," while others prefer to be wed in their own words. My fiancé Corey and I have decided to include both versions at our nuptials. Although we won't be sharing our personal vows with anyone until the day of our wedding (we don't want to give away the surprise!), here are some ways we're making them meaningful to us.

Plus, check out 30+ examples of wedding vows.

1. DO make it personal. The reason why many couples choose to write their own vows is because they want to convey their love for one another in a unique way that is specific to their relationship as a couple. Describe why you care about your partner and how much you value the fact that they've chosen to spend the rest of their life with you.

2. DON'T make it too personal. Remember, you have an audience… and that might include Grandma and Grandpa! Reference personal aspects of your relationship, but avoid mentioning how sexy you think your future husband/wife is or anything else that can be misconstrued as borderline inappropriate. It's probably best to tell them these things in private.

When we spotted this photo of a bride and groom holding up their shoes and having a blast, we had to get the story behind the photo:

Photo Credit: Katelyn James Photography

In the picture, photographer Rebekah Hoyt and her husband, Matt, are playing “The Shoe Game."

Never heard of it? Here’s how it works: During your reception, after you’ve enjoyed some dinner, dancing, and drinks, place two chairs back-to-back on the dance floor for the bride and groom. Remove both of your shoes, then trade a shoe with your new spouse so that you’re holding one of each. Then, have a designated person ask a series of questions about the two of you and your relationship (i.e.. “Who will be doing most of the cooking?” "Who said 'I love you' first?"). After each question, hold up the shoe of the person you think is the best answer to the question.

Photo Credit: Katelyn James Photography 

Rebekah describes how to game played out at her wedding:

Hello, my loves. You are all just going to die (in a Zoe way) over these brand new destination wedding packages by Sandals. For years, the luxury-included brand has partnered with big-name planners to bring you cool Big Day options. However, the packages themselves weren’t always as customizable as you savvy brides would have liked.

Enter stage left: The Your Wedding. Your Style. program that launched with loads of fanfare at NYC’s gorgeous Grand Central last week.

In addition to hobnobbing with Randy Fenoli (yes, girls, that Randy of Say Yes fame), I got a sneak peek at the totally customizable program. It’s so simple, so pretty, and so perfect for every bride, I’m afraid none of you will get your work done at the office. See, the program is streamlined online, so you can literally plan and re-plan your wedding all day long by choosing which Sandals property, what colors, flowers, décor option and even a DJ!

Personally, I prefer the Emerald Bay outpost, which has one of the Caribbean’s most challenging and gorgeous golf courses. I also like the idea of having bright pink flowers, or maybe peach or white and letting my guests boogie all night poolside. Or maybe they’d prefer being on one of the manicured lawns… See what I mean? Go to sandals.com and start customizing your wedding today.

Dessert tables can make any party look (and feel) more put-together. There's just something about a smorgasboard of treats that has the power to revert guests back to a simpler, sweeter moment in time. Plus, we believe that they make any bridal shower or wedding more fun.

But you don't have to be a pro planner to put one together — just pick up a copy of Amy Atlas' new manual, Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It. Amy, a sweets stylist, is credited with starting the dessert table trend and has designed parties for celebs including Brooke Shields, Kelly Ripa and Tori Spelling. Learn how to make this stunning Chanel-inspired dessert table from her new book!

Chanel-Inspired Dessert Table Tutorial

►Tweed Tablecloth

►Couture Vase Covers

Up the style quotient on your wedding gown with the simple addition of a sash. A crisp sash tied in a bow can take a dress from simple to fabulous. If you aren't a bow girl but love a little bling, try adding a brooch to your sash for sophisticated sparkle. Black is a fashion-forward choice, creating high contrast and modern panache, but a nude, champagne, or blush sash would look extremely elegant and romantic. Take a look at ninabridal.com, abellie.com, or davidsbridal.com for some great sash options. 

Tip: If you are short-waisted, choose a thinner sash. Also, it might be best to buy the sash at the same store you buy the dress to ensure the colors match and the style enhances the dress.

—Naima DiFranco

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 discusses how to find the perfect veil.

The wedding veil is one of the oldest wedding traditions, symbolizing modesty, purity, and chastity. In this day and age, however, wearing a veil is not a requirement, which is why it's so much fun to let your style and personality shine when it comes to selecting your veil. But with so many lengths and styles available, how do you know which veil is the right one for you? 

Keep in mind the following when shopping for your veil:

► Your veil should complement your look, not compete with it.
► Simple gowns will offset any intricate lace or beadwork on your veil.
► Heavily beaded or laced gowns look best with sheer or transparent fabric veils (silk chiffon, voile, or organza).
► A blusher, a single layer worn over your face during procession, can be added to any veil.

When I first got engaged, I knew there were certain parts of the wedding I would care very much about—my cake was never one of them. “It’s just dessert,” I thought dismissively. Silly me. Back then, I didn’t realize how creative bakers can be, dolling out the most beautiful creations I’ve ever seen and making sure the taste is on point as well. Now that we’ve chosen an amazing baker for our wedding and are finalizing our design, I wanted to take a look at all of the options out there.

1. Classic look, modern twist. The cake below was created by my baker. It's reminiscent of the cakes I remember seeing in weddings from the time when my parents were married: lots of tiers with flowers in between. But this one has modern, clean lines and two different shapes for the tiers (notice that the bottom two are square, while the top two are round).

Photo Credit: Simply Perfection Cakes

2. Little cake, big impact. Who says bigger is better? Despite the fact that there is minimal décor and only a simple, white ribbon with some sheen, this cake is beautiful. It will never go out of style.

Photo Credit: April Reed Cake Design

What should brides expect a month out from the big day? In an effort to make sure that we don't forget any details, my fiancé Michael and I created a monthly to-do list back in January, which has served as a friendly reminder of what to do when.

Here, the eight tasks I regret leaving for the last minute:

1. Assemble your ceremony programs, menus, and escort cards. I recommend selecting all paper goods prior to finalizing your ceremony, menu and guest list. For me, the most difficult part was choosing which stationery to purchase—eliminate this hurdle early on so that all you have left to do is order your pre-selected design.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Chau Photography

2. Finalize your seating chart. Three weeks prior to your vows, you should have a solid list of attendees. Have Mom or Dad help with seating their own guests. It's one less task that you're responsible for and increases the likelihood that their friends will be happy with their seating arrangement.

Photo Credit: Chris Sherburne Photography