Blogs

Talk about a labor of love: Atlanta-based photographer and filmmaker Walt Thomas spent 22 hours taking 2,600 posed photos and over two and a half days locked away in his "man cave" creating this super cute proposal video for his girlfriend of four years, Nealey Dozier. "He claimed to be working on an anniversary poem, which didn't raise any flags because he writes me one every year," she told HuffPost Weddings.

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 Mike Sincere, one of the most-wanted DJs in LA. He has worked with music-industry legends, such as Russell Simmons and Missy Elliott, as well as up-and-comers, like Estelle and the Ting Tings. Mike Sincere connects with guests of all ages to create a feel-good, cut-loose wedding atmosphere. "My aim is to get every single person on the dance floor! I start out by gathering information from the couple. I come prepared and then read the crowd and adjust along the way to ensures that everyone is enjoying themselves on the dance floor."

Photo Credit: K and K Photography

We are already a week into the New Year, and I hope all of you enjoyed a fantastic holiday. And, to those of you visiting bridalguide.com for the first time, I’d love to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your engagement! Yep, holiday season is primo proposal time, and I know that there were plenty of sparkling rings being placed onto fingers shaking with delight! I’m sure it was beyond thrilling and you’ve been basking in all the joy and excitement. In fact, I ran into a newly engaged couple just last week in my local Barnes & Noble and they were so happy, it was contagious. (Of course, I was also happy to see that she was purchasing Bridal Guide to help get her started.) She admitted to feeling overwhelmed, so I told her to relax, put her feet up, read the issue and visit our website. Everything you need to know to plan a dream wedding is right here.

As you start planning your party of a lifetime, it will seem overwhelming at times, but if you stay organized and make it a point to really enjoy the process, it will be fun and exciting. And before you know it, the big day will be here, and you’ll be husband and wife! Here’s my best advice to help get you started:

1. Find Your Wedding Style

There are a thousand and one ga-jillon travel websites out there, and figuring out which one to trust can be a major time-suck. That’s where I come in.

Melanie Brandman is hands-down one of the glammest gals in travel. Sure, DVF may that whole “I’m a fashion icon” thing and a titled marriage going for her, but Melanie still may beat her in our little travel industry. As the head of one of the hautest travel PR agencies around, Melanie often spots trends in travel before the rest of us. It’s also her job to test the local waters while she visiting her clients or just jetting for fun.

Ever the savvy source, Melanie recently began an online journal of sorts highlighting her travels. The result is a chic insider view that she publishes monthly called The Travel Curator. In her monthly updates, Melanie highlights her must-sees, -dos, -eats and -experiences at some of her favorite destinations. She shares some of her secret spots, too, and of course, it is all so glam.

Sign up for The Travel Curator and read more about Melanie at thetravelcurator.com. 

—Jenna Mahoney

Photo Credit: Smitten Kitchen

I’ve decided to refocus on my health in 2012, not just because I’m hoping to look amazing in my wedding dress, but also since the cold weather has really been stalling my fitness routine. That being said, this is not a diet. I feel like the word "diet" is intimidating and sets some women up to fail.

Instead, I will make small changes to my eating habits and commit to working out more. Corey and I are both going to be in this together, so it will be nice to have his support. First, we'll start with some simple changes, like switching to whole wheat pasta, ordering half-tomato, half-Alfredo sauce to cut calories and drinking more H20. I am also going to try cooking more healthy recipes, including the following yummy options.

Bank of America is coming under fire for refusing to deposit a newlywed's wedding gifts because, since the wife chose to keep her maiden name, she was not legally "Mrs. Peter Iorizzo."

Pete explained, "Most of the checks were made out to 'Mr. and Mrs. Peter Iorizzo.' I endorsed them, designated them “for deposit only” and gave them to my wife. She planned to deposit them into our joint account."

But when she reached the teller, the checks were refused, since her name did not match the name on the checks. "Bank of America told us there was no way around it: All the checks were void. We would have to go back to our guests and request new checks."

Obviously, this wasn't a practical solution. Even though the couple offered to present their marriage license, arrange a meeting with the bank involving both of them, or bring a witness, the bank still refused. The bank's advice? Alert your guests beforehand that you're not changing your name: