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What I Learned in Premarital Counseling

Stressed out about getting married? Do you wonder how you'll get along with someone else for the rest of your life? How will you agree on finances when you still can't compromise on cleanliness? What if the alleged blissful engagement has turned into a harsh reality that you two are completely different? These were all issues that my fiancé Chris and I grappled with, and I'm thrilled to report that we were able to resolve them through premarital counseling.

As you may recall, I live in San Diego and my fiancé Chris resides in Sacramento. We had scheduled an appointment with Jennifer Young at the Pacific Trauma Center in Folsom on her day off before I had to fly back to San Diego. During our first session, she observed us hash out the reason we were there. Then she asked a few questions about how we met and what we love about each other. That helped lighten the mood. It was nice to share a moment reminiscing about the good times.

Then, she explained to us why it seems like we've been butting heads so much. She said that I'm a hummingbird and Chris is a rock. That broke the ice and made me laugh. How in the world did a rock and hummingbird fall in love and how would they go through life together?!

Watch: Comedian Kevin Hart's Adorable Proposal Video

It's official — funnyman Kevin Hart is engaged to his girlfriend of five years, Eniko Parrish! The happy couple shared their excitement with fans by posting a video and photos of this special moment on their respective Instagram accounts.

kevin hart proposal

The Ride Along 2 actor proposed to his longtime love while the pair were out celebrating Parrish's 30th birthday. Before the festivities began, he posted a throwback photo on Instagram, gushing, "Happy Birthday to the most amazing woman in the world. Today is your day babe and we are going to party like it's 1999....I love you so much. I'm a better man because of you..."

A party-goer captured the adorable proposal on video; check it out below:

The typically silly comedian shows off his sensitive side in the photo pictured below — but don't let him fool you! The next day, he joked, "Priceless....I hit her with the sexy nervous lip bite move at the end of my proposal."

kevin hart engagement

5 Ways to Save Big on an Engagement Ring

You might not be surprised to hear that "How do I save money on an engagement ring?" is a question we get all the time. It's true — an engagement ring is a huge investment not only for your relationship, but for your finances as well. Our best advice is to plan a budget and STICK TO IT.

Online jewelry store Trumpet and Horn helps you get a little more bang for your buck with the following tips:

engagement ring
Photo Credit: Natalie Franke Photography

​1. Compromise on the 4 C’s

Hilarious! Guy Proposes to All of the Princesses at Disney World

Which Disney princess was always secretly your favorite? Hopeless romantic (and jokester) Blaine Gibson loves them all; so much so, in fact, that he decided to pop the question to every storybook princess he encountered during a recent trip to Disney World with friends!

The 24-year-old Texan's final tally included Cinderella, Ariel, Rapunzel, Tinkerbell, Jasmine...and one very confused-looking Gaston, who briefly broke out of character:





5 Wedding Ideas We're Loving Right Now

kristin alexander
Guest Blogger: Kristin Alexander
Kristin Alexander is the founder of Los Angeles-based event planning studio Esoteric Events. By combining her passion for design and celebrations, years of experience planning and executing events, and desire to turn her clients’ dreams into reality, Kristin has an innate ability to produce discerning personal events that enchant, surprise and delight.


Your summer wedding should echo the romance, vibrancy and elegance of the season. Enchant your guests and leave a lasting impression by incorporating these five trends into your special day. 

1. Welcome Boxes

Shower your guests with appreciation by giving them one-of-a-kind welcome boxes. This fresh take on a traditional gesture is sure to make an impact. Choose a personalized box or basket over a conventional bag; they are easier to fill, arrange and deliver. Fill your box with flowers, wine, snacks, sentimental notes and wedding weekend information for your guests to enjoy. 

welcome box
Photo Credit: Carmen Santorelli Studios

Customize Your Flower Girl's Dress Using This Virtual Dressing Room

Finding a dress for your flower girl has now become a lot more fun and creative thanks to the "Pegeen Dress Dreamer!" This virtual dressing room from the Pegeen Flower Girl Dress Company allows you and your flower girl to "dress up" an online model with a range of different bodices, skirts, sashes and details.

It reminds me of how much I loved playing with paper dolls growing up! Just choose your size and start selecting styles in each category to place onto the onsceen model. See how a tank-style bodice looks, or maybe one with short sleeves. Try a sash with pleats or ruffles. Layer the skirt in tulle or organza and add a rose or two. 

pegeen dress dreamer

You can select from a multitude of different colors to find a shade that matches your wedding colors. Or you can mix and match the bodice, skirt and sash in a variety of hues. The result: an adorable, affordable customized style that you and your flower girl "designed" together. 

Go to pegeen.com/icloset and enjoy creating a dress that you and your littlest attendant will love. 

And for inspiration here are some awww-some flower girls wearing gorgeous Pegeen dresses: 

"19 Kids and Counting" Star Jessa Duggar is Engaged!

There's another Duggar family wedding in the works! 19 Kids and Counting Star Jessa Duggar, 21, is engaged to Ben Seewald, 19.

jessa duggar engaged
Photo Credit: @jessaseewald on Instagram

The newlyweds-to-be released an official statement expressing their joy: "We are so blessed to be engaged! God has written an amazing story through our courtship, and another chapter has just begun! We are thrilled to see what the future holds — especially the wedding bells!"

Jessa, the fifth-oldest child in the Duggar family, and her now-fiancé recently celebrated 11 months of courtship. "It was 11 months ago that this dashing man asked to court me! Darling, I love you now more than ever! These 11 months together have been AMAZING...I'm sure only to be superseded by the next 11!" she writes on Instagram. (She's changed her last name to Seewald on all of her social media accounts.)

jessa duggar engaged
Photo Credit: @jessaseewald on Instagram

7 Little Wedding Details You Can't Forget

I have a confession to make: I am a chronic list maker. I keep running lists for to-dos, restaurants that I want to try with my fiancé Justin and birthday/Christmas/Mother's Day/Father's Day gift ideas so that when special occasions roll around, I am prepared. I even painted a chalkboard wall in our apartment so that I have a giant, colorful space for my many lists. (Don't judge me!)

Naturally, when Justin and I started planning our wedding, I immediately created lists for our guest count, wedding party, budget, wishes, preferred vendors, etc. I am just trying to find the best way to make our Hackettstown, New Jersey nuptials on September 26th not just fun and personal but also seamless. 

disney proposal

But even with all of my meticulous planning, I still get asked about things that I totally forgot to account for in my checklist. Whether you're celebrating your big day with five guests or 500 guests, there is a lot going on and making all of those decisions can be totally overwhelming!

In an effort to assist my fellow brides, I'm sharing a few "How could I forget this?" moments that I've been experiencing recently:

bride and groom
Photo Credit: Lisa Agiewich

4 Tips to Make the Garter Toss Less Awkward

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

The removal of the garter is one of those wedding traditions that you either love or hate. Many brides are opting out of the garter toss these days, while others think it's funny. If you're on the fence about the garter tradition, here are four ways to make it a little less awkward.

1. Tone it way down.
Opt for a simple garter that isn't overtly sexy, place it much lower on your leg, and pick a fun (innocent!) love song. You don't have to flash a ton of skin if you don't want to.

Not Even a Hurricane Could Put a Damper On This Couple's Wedding

Worried about the chance of rain on your big day? British newlyweds Katy Lomas and Richard Owen not only went through with their wedding despite a series of horrific weather setbacks but they also did it with their enthusiasm intact.

bride and groom

As the wedding party made their way down the aisle of the conservatory at Wentworth Castle, it began to downpour. The couple's vows were inaudible over the sound of torrential rain as the storm raged outside. The glass roof cracked and water began pouring in — soaking the 100 guests in attendance. "We just stood laughing about the rain and then we saw the roof was leaking. Soon, our guests were drenched. We could not believe it," the groom told the Daily Mail.

Once the ceremony ended, the newlyweds discovered that their outdoor teepee reception was completely flooded. Miraculously, the staff — along with the help of friends and family — worked together to move the entire party back into the conservatory so that the event could go on as planned.

When Katy's father went up to the makeshift bar to grab the first pint of beer, everyone cheered. Just when it seemed like the rest of the wedding would run smoothly, the power went out, cutting off the DJ. Instead of letting this ruin the party, Katy, Richard and their photographer, Jon Dennis of S6 Photography, decided to take some more shots in the rain.

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