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Real Wedding at Disney's Aulani in Oahu, Hawaii

There is something so magical about a destination wedding: The endless blue sky, cerulean sea and white sands create their own breathtaking backdrop. And if the wedding is on a tropical island, the abundant flowers are beyond beautiful.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting Disney’s new Aulani Resort & Spa on Oahu in Hawaii. It is a fantastic location, and the resort perfectly captures all of the beauty and charm of the Hawaiian architecture and culture. The beach, set on a cove, is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen, and all around, there are innumerable sites for the most amazing photo ops. Plus, the Disney wedding coordinators will work their unparalleled magic to guarantee that you have the wedding of your dreams.

As part of the visit, I was invited to attend ABC’s “Live! With Kelly” TV show. That day, the show featured a wonderful couple, Kevin and Eileen, who were getting married on air and merging their two families of seven children (very Brady Bunch!) into one. Both had tragically lost their spouses several years ago but were lucky to find love a second time around. It was a lot of fun to watch the wedding take place, and the incomparable Kelly Ripa herself, along with her husband Mark Consuelos, led the proceedings.

kelly ripa aulani resort oahu hawaii

Song Ideas for Your Ceremony Processional

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Jon Blak, whose client list includes Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri and Ryan Leslie. He describes his style as "retro/future”, a seamless blend of old and new that translates well to wedding guests of all ages. "I love the challenge of crossing genres and generations and playing a diverse mix that's totally seamless. At the end a wedding, I'd like the bride and the groom to be exhausted from dancing!" Jon is known infusing any event with energy and cool, while always keeping the client's musical preferences front and center in his music selection.

wedding processional


Photo Credit: Holli B Photography

Snooki is Engaged!

According to People, Jersey Shore star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, 24, is engaged to Jionni LaValle! The couple met during the third season of the show. 

Polizzi hinted at an upcoming proposal in January: "I know he's the one, so I know the ring's gonna come soon," Polizzi told People on Jan. 12. "Well, not soon-soon. He knows it should be big, cuz if it's small I'm saying no. Like, 'Get another ring!' "

Despite some turbulent times, as Jersey Shore fans know all too well, Polizzi has been ready to settle down with LaValle for months:

"Jionni is a great guy, so I am so down to making guido babies with him...I don't hook up anymore. I'll always be this crazy, fun person, but by the time I get married, I'm going to be this amazing wife," she said on Good Morning America in August.

According to several sources, a "guido baby" is in their future as well —reports claim Polizzi is three months pregnant and, yes, LaValle is the father.

95-Year-Old Bride and 98-Year-Old Groom Become the World's Oldest Newlyweds

When Lillian Hartley, 95, and Allan Marks, 98, tied the knot this week, they unknowingly became the world's oldest newlyweds. Their combined 193 years broke the previous record of 191 years.

"Honest to God? Oh, I can't believe it," Hartley told The Desert Sun about breaking the record. "Oh, I'm impressed with myself." 


 Photo via The Desert Sun

The happy couple met 18 years ago at temple on Yom Kippur in Palm Springs. He complimented her dress, and their relationship grew from there.

“I believe in fate and destiny a little bit and I think that was meant to be,” Hartley told ABC News. “I had been a widow for six years and I really loved my freedom. …I said, ‘Oh, I don’t want a relationship,’…and then he came along, and somehow hooked me.”

How One Man Used Internet Memes, Pinterest, and Twitter to Propose!


A true modern-day proposal story: BuzzFeed contributor Len Kendall used Internet memes, Pinterest, and Twitter to propose to his girlfriend Katie today.

After posting his initial photo (left) on BuzzFeed, he encouraged users to submit their own meme-inspired photos. Within an hour, more than 160 users had posted photos in the comments. BuzzFeed created a Pinterest board with some of the best submissions, and the hashtag #sayyeskatie picked up steam on Twitter.

At 12:57 pm, Len announced that Katie had, in fact, said yes.

Below, check out some of our favorites.

 

 

The Truth About Why Women Propose on Leap Day

woman proposing to man

It's only natural for a day that comes around just once every four years to attract some fun folklore and superstitions. We did some digging on the tradition of women proposing to men on this day, as seen in the 2010 flick Leap Year.

These days, we all know it's perfectly fine for a woman to propose to a man. But centuries ago, it was unthinkable—except on leap day. As the story goes, St. Bridget struck a deal with St. Patrick after complaining that women did not have the right to propose marriage. St. Patrick suggested that women have the right once every seven years, but St. Bridget negotiated it down to once every four years—and that day would be leap day.

The more likely scenario is that, since February 29 was seen as a "bonus" day, people felt that the traditional rules of conduct did not apply. Regardless, it's become a fun tradition over the centuries for leap day to become a Sadie Hawkins Day. 

Although there's a myth that it's illegal for a man to refuse a leap day proposal, there's no basis to the so-called 1288 law by Queen Margaret of Scotland that required fines be levied if a proposal was refused, ranging from a kiss to a monetary fine to expensive gifts for the scorned woman. Regardless, one tradition says a man who refuses must buy the woman 12 pairs of gloves to hide the embarrassment of having no engagement ring. Another says he must buy her silk. And another story say that a man who refuses will suffer severe bad luck and ill fortune. 

Get Oscar-Worthy Nails With the Perfect Neutral Polish

It’s one of those universal beauty truths: Skin-toned polishes are a particularly great option for brides who are (like me) challenged in the nail-length department. A neutral, flesh-like tone can leave even the stubbiest nails looking subtly but wildly chic. That said, the perfect nude-y neutral shade is not so easy to find. Some formulas are too sheer, others too chalky. After trying dozens of shades, I found the perfect hue a couple of years ago, and have stayed with it ever since. Behold: OPI’s Samoan Sand. Turns out my go-to shade has other fans, too.

Both Amy Adams and Stacy Keibler rocked the refined shade on the red carpet last night. The polish paired perfectly with both silver (on Amy) and gold (on Stacy) gowns, so just think how killer it will look with bridal whites and ivories. Oscar-worthy and aisle-worthy!

—Mary Clarke

Take a Trip to Downton Abbey!

Are you as depressed as I am without your weekly visits with Lady Mary and the Dowager Countess? I also miss radical Lady Sybil and loyal Anna—a lot. I know that I can visit my friends both upstairs and down via Netflix and pbs.org, but really it isn’t the same knowing how Daisy will react and if Miss Lavina Swire is truly so sweet or not. So instead of trolling the internet for information about the Gratham family and the back stories to the plot lines, I’ve decided to—gasp—take a day trip to Downton Abbey itself! And you can, too. I know!—it is such exciting news, it almost seems impossible.

NoteWorthy Events tours, a British outfitter, is offering day-long adventures to Highclere Castle, the private home in which the fantastic series is filmed. The private excursion includes morning coffee in the Countess’ day room. a house tour, lunch in the Drawing room and a glimpse of the Crawly House. There is also a Jeep ride across the grounds and a tour of the on-site archaeological caves. Of course, High Tea is also served—Cora wouldn’t have it any other way. Go to noteworthyevents.com for more information.

—Jenna Mahoney

Photos courtesy of Masterpiece

Why You Should Play Reggae At Your Wedding

Each week, we feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Kuato. His unique blend of feel-good music has extended from New York to Boston and overseas in London. He has shared the stage with the legendary Patti Smith and DJed alongside Justin Timberlake, Tim Gunn, and Nigel Barker. His talent has also taken him to NYC's hottest clubs, secured top corporate clients and led to an appearance as the DJ on the hit television series, Gossip Girl. But don't let these A-list names fool you. Kuato is a down-to-earth guy who gets it when it comes to weddings. "I enjoy meeting new couples, understanding their backgrounds, influences and how they got to where they are today. The highlight of the wedding night for me is always watching the bride and groom smile and dance the night away, alongside their closest friends and family members.” For Kuato, weddings are special affairs—one of the most memorable nights in a couple's life —so he always comes prepared to rock the dance floor and help make the celebration a tremendous success.

How to Decide if a Destination Wedding is Right for You

One of the first decisions that a newly-engaged couple has to make post-proposal is not only when to get married, but where. Beachy destination weddings are becoming especially popular, but in my opinion, they are simply not a good fit for everyone. BG brides, I'd love to share my experience attending my sister's wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with you, in the hopes that it will help you decide if it's the right choice for you and your groom. I'll also share what it's like to be a guest in this scenario, so that you can get some insight on what to expect if you'll be jetting off to a loved one's wedding soon. Let me take you through some of the details...


Photo Credit: kieraphoto.com

1. How do you feel about an informal dress code? The dress code for a destination wedding is likely to be more relaxed than a formal wedding, especially if the ceremony is taking place on or near a beach. Embrace it! My dad wore flip-flops as he walked down the aisle and Corey sported khaki shorts. Typically, if you're attending a destination wedding, you can pack light: a few summer dresses and swimsuits should be sufficient. Encourage guests to kick off their shoes and have some fun—my sister's entire bridal party jumped into a resort pool (with the bride still wearing her wedding dress!) after the reception festivities ended. Can you imagine a bride wearing a ball gown and tiara doing the same? I can't, either.

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