Blogs

We're excited about the launch of BrideBox, a new creation service devoted entirely to DIY couples who want the look and feel of a high-end wedding album, without the hefty price tag. Skeptical? The BG editors were, too; that is, until we reviewed a gorgeous sample firsthand. We were unable to differentiate the thick, glossy paper and sturdy binding from professional (much more costly) albums that we've seen.

The average price for a traditional, flush-mount album (with one image glued to each page) is $764, while pros charge an average of $400 for a magazine-style photo book (with images on both sides of the page). BrideBox offers four different albums to choose from, which range from $369.99 for a flush-mount to as low as $89.99 for a photo book, and can be customized to your cover and page preferences.

Finalizing your album with a photographer could take months—but with Bridebox you have the option to make one in less time than the actual reception, from start to finish. They offer dozens of free, easy-to-use templates (similar to the ones photogs use), so that you can drag and drop in all of your favorite snapshots. Once you've designed your album, a photo editing professional color corrects each photo, ensuring that the final product looks perfect before it's shipped off to production. 

If you've already signed on the dotted line for a pro album, consider gifting a parent album, instead!

Photo Credit: Dianna Hart Photography

One of our favorite celeb couples is reportedly getting divorced.

According to TMZ, Klum will file divorce papers early next week citing "irreconcilable differences."

Klum and Seal, known to renew their vows every year on their anniversary, married in 2005 and have three children together. Seal is also the adoptive father of Klum's oldest daughter from a previous relationship.

The couple is also known for their lavish Halloween parties and incredibly elaborate costumes. We'll certainly miss seeing what they come up with every year!

The U.S. Postal Service just released the new 65-cent version of their popular wedding cake stamp to reflect this year's postage increases. The stamp, designed for invitations 2 ounces and under, was first introduced in 2009 as part of the weddings series.

The pretty three-tiered cake pictured was created by pastry chef Peter Brett of Washington, DC. 

Before you run out to your Post Office, though, here's some must-know advice:

Baby's breath is no longer relegated to "filler flower" status; it's been popping up everywhere lately, from bouquets to centerpieces to ceremony décor. And it's no surprise why: this extremely budget-friendly bloom is readily-available year-round, it's versatile, and it can make an impact at any kind of wedding, from a rustic backyard to a formal ballroom. Here, some of our favorite ideas.

Bridal Party

Photo Credit: Dina Chmut Photography (left); Jonathan Ivy Photo (right) 

Photo Credit: Shannen Norman Photography

Once you've sent out your wedding invitations, it's time to sit back and relax (yeah, right!) as the responses come rolling (more like trickling) in. However, as any real bride knows, the process is rarely ever that simple. RSVP cards may return to you with an illegible name, they could be damaged from the mail, or—even worse—blank. 

Here's how to prevent yourself from going postal:

When Michael and I began the process of choosing our honeymoon destination, we both decided to write down the top two things we wanted most from the vacation. I was looking for an oceanfront suite, where I could spend our days on the beach and listen to the ocean waves crash on the shore in the evenings. Michael's main goal was to relax and unwind, but he also wanted to visit a spot that we were unlikely to return to in the near future (an eleven-hour flight is not something we want to repeat very often!).

Once we chose Hawaii, we started to research the islands to see which suited our needs. We opted for Oahu and Kauai. Oahu was our first choice due to the rich history (it's home to Pearl Harbor) and the new addition of the Aulani Villas, a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) resort. Since we're already DVC members, Michael and I were able to save on our accommodations for the five nights we were spending in Oahu, while still getting the Disney hospitality that we are accustomed to. This great savings allowed us to splurge on our resort for Kauai, opting for Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort. Kauai was a no-brainer because we desperately wanted a secluded location with plenty of outdoor activities.

Beauty and the Beast fans were treated to an extra bit of animated romance at the 3D premiere this weekend. Tangled Ever After, the short film sequel to the 2010 hit, Tangled, runs before each showing of Beauty and the Beast 3D and features the wedding of Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder.

Check out these sneak peek clips from the film—and see what goes wrong right before the couple exchanges vows!

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

If you pride yourself on being an au naturel beauty and, dare I say, downright skeptical of the fake tan à la Snookie, faux lashes of Kardashian proportions, and impostor hair extensions dangling from the heads of certain pop princesses, then you are just like me. However, as a blonde whose tresses slowly turned to icky brown over the years, I began coloring my hair to recapture the golden gorgeousness of my youth. Unfortunately, as my hair lightened, my once-thick and profuse locks slowly dwindled away.

No longer able to enjoy the luxury of wearing cute hats, and suffering countless styling restrictions, I decided I needed a change. As an alternative to glue-in, sew-in, weave-in hair extensions (nothing should ever be “glued” or “sewed” or “weaved” into your precious mane) I found this wonderful clip-in hair extensions company based in New York City—Hair Extensions NYC. The founder and creative director of this little gem is Jessica Hyllarée, a hospitable woman who graciously grants free consultations. With my over-processed blonde locks, there were many different colors to emulate, and Jessica custom-made clip-on extensions with streaks of various colors found in my hair. She measured my head and matched the precise texture and style of my hair so as to create a perfect facsimile where no one would suspect a thing.

Our favorite vampire couple is now being immortalized in a new way: Mattel is releasing Bella and Edward Breaking Dawn Barbie dolls!

The dolls, available on barbiecollector.com for $29.95 each starting next month, feature the same wedding-day attire we grew to love in the theaters.

We hope the back of Barbie Bella's gown is as gorgeous as the movie version. Edward's looking a little pale — even for a vampire — but the tux fits the vintage vibe of his movie attire.

What do you think of the dolls?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein