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Interviewing potential vendors is like going on an awkward first date — you both hope there's chemistry, but it can be confusing to know exactly what to say (even for a Wedding Editor like myself!). Follow our new "10 Questions to Ask..." blog series with experts from each field who will break it down for you step-by-step. I'll share hard-earned real bride advice along the way, so you know how to spot the best vendor for your needs. First up: My fabulous wedding photographer, Josh Lynn and the talented Casey Fatchett share the Q's clients ask most.

1. Is photography your main business? What percentage of your work is composed of weddings?

First, you need to gauge how much experience a potential vendor has. Photographers' time commitments and skill sets vary—some only work part-time or might mostly photograph something else (e.g. portraits). This doesn't necessarily mean they won't do an amazing job as your wedding photographer, but it will give you a sense of what they will be able to contribute towards your nuptials. According to Casey Fatchett, a busy full-time wedding photographer will probably shoot between 20 and 30 weddings a year.

Photo Credit: Casey Fatchett Photography

For the daring bride, one of this season's top trends is high slits. This can look incredibly chic and adds a bit of sexy to your big day. What I love best about this trend is you can show off your new heels while still wearing a long gown.

Here, you can see the trend at Tara Keely, Monique Lhuillier, and Reem Acra.

Tell us: Would you dare to wear this style?

—Naima DiFranco

Recently, I had the pleasure of participating on a panel to judge a bridal gown design competition at the High School of Fashion Industries in NYC. The contest was conceived by Robert di Mauro, a member of the school advisory board, and Mara Urshel, co-owner of Kleinfeld (you all know Mara from TV’s “Say Yes to the Dress”).

Robert di Mauro with one of the finalists, and Mara Urshel with another competitor.

Students were asked to create inspiration boards and design a gown for the bride of the future. We selected five winning sketches (not an easy task!), and those five finalists will now work in teams with their other classmates to make the dresses. The five gowns will then be judged in June and one winning dress will be selected and displayed at Kleinfeld. Quite a thrilling coup for any fashion student!

I didn’t know quite what to expect, but was amazed at the level of talent these young designers (17 years old) exhibited. They had three weeks to create a design concept, look for inspiration and complete the sketches. Their teachers, Ms. Sandra Manning and Mr. Adrian Carranza, certainly deserve a great deal of credit for all of their guidance and support. Along with Robert and Mara, the other judges included Dorothy Silver, Director of Sales and Merchandising at Kleinfeld...

Travel fun fact: My name means “paradise’ in Arabic. Okay, the spelling is a bit different, but the pronunciation is the same! Needless to say, I have made a bunch a jokes about how I’m the definition of awesometown ever since my new friend Fatima told me the news when I met her at her home in Casablanca.

Another thing that is aptly moinkered with the Arabic for paradise? Amanjena in Marrakech . Part of the ultra-exclusive hotel brand, the Moroccan outpost is a peaceful oasis of red-tinted pavilions and riads (private homes) scattered among traditional gardens. Sounds like paradise to me! Go to amanjena.com for more information.

—Jenna Mahoney

The Royal Wedding is officially and oh-so-fashionably iconic. Just in time for Kate and William's one-year anniversary, this April will see the introduction of a special-edition gift set from Barbie Collector.

Available for pre-orders at barbiecollector.com, $100.

Tell us: What do you think of the dolls?

—Mary Clarke

P.S. Have you seen Barbie & Ken's wedding? We think someone needs to re-create the Royal Wedding with these dolls...

The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, opened on February 10 and took the top spot at the box office over the weekend. The couple whose real life story inspired the hit movie visited the Today Show  yesterday to discuss the tragic accident that forever changed both of their lives.

My blog today is a bit of a diversion from the norm. But I want to share with you my personal recollections of Whitney Houston. The news of her untimely passing has shocked us all, and I am just heartbroken when I think about the young Whitney I knew before she became Whitney Houston, the Superstar.

I had the pleasure of working with Whitney during her high school years when she was a teen model. I was a fashion editor at Seventeen magazine and then Fashion Director at YM. She was a delightful, sweet, wonderful person, and all of us who worked with her loved her. She was truly beautiful inside and out. Anytime we were booking models for a photo shoot, we would always say, “Let’s book Whitney” “See if Whitney is available” “Whitney would be great for this story.” She was never a diva and she was always professional. She showed up on time and made our jobs easier by doing her best in front of the camera. She never complained if days ran long and cheerfully did whatever was expected.

The Stroud Family (I'm last on the right)

Most brides only have two options for their last name after they're married (a third if you count the hyphen). My decision comes with a twist: I'm torn between two last names, but neither of them are mine, and only one belongs to my fiancé Corey. Let me explain...

Corey’s last name is "Allan," but unlike most last names—which date back decades and encompass a rich sense of family history—"Allan" isn't old, it's new. Corey's dad, a news anchor, was born a "Trojanowski," but decided to make the switch after he graduated from college and began his career in broadcasting. His original name was too difficult to pronounce by TV standards, so he came up with "Allan" after adding an extra "L" to his middle name ("Alan").

What complicates our decision even further is that the Trojanowski family line will officially end if we decide not to take that last name. Corey's grandparents immigrated from Poland, and his dad has a brother and a sister, but neither ever had children. This is something that has bothered Corey for a while now, and family history is important to both of us. When Corey turned 18 (a few years before we met), he considered reverting back to the original "Trojanowski," but decided against it after finding out how much work was involved in a legal name change. 

To get the inside scoop on the beautiful wedding scene, we caught up with wedding designer Tammy Polatsek

Although I'm sure that my wedding will be the most romantic day of my life, I've heard from several different married friends that romance is scarce on the actual wedding night. By that point, you've been up for countless hours smiling and posing for photos, entertaining a hundred or so of your nearest and dearest, and dancing the night away. It's completely understandable if throwing on a sexy négligée and seducing your new husband isn't the first thing on your mind. Make up for it on your honeymoon by creating a late-night wardrobe that will make him blush! Here, some of my favorite editors' picks.

Simply Sweet Babydolls

1. Betsey Johnson Chiffon and Lace Babydoll with Thong ($59, bloomingdales.com)