Blogs

Desiree Hartsock charmed millions of viewers across America with her candor and relatable, down-to-earth persona as The Bachelorette, and we're happy to report that she's just as lovely in real life. Now that she's found her happy ending with fiancé Chris Siegfried, she's determined to help other women find "The One" — their wedding dress, that is. 

She's teamed up with Maggie Sottero to design a collection of six to seven styles and, if her custom evening gowns from the show are any indication, they're going to be incredibly gorgeous! 

Des (we're on a first-name basis now) gave us the scoop on her upcoming big day, what advice she'd like to share with her fellow brides and more:

Once Upon a Time co-stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas tied the knot on April 12 in a hush-hush ceremony in Venice, California with only 25 guests and nary a paparazzi pic to be found. Now the new Mrs. is finally opening up about her wedding to Prince Charming!

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night, the actress declared that "it was the most stress-free, relaxing, beautiful day," despite an unexpected mishap — their wedding planner's car had been robbed.

Watch the interview here!

"'What could be in the car that actually would matter?' And she's saying, 'I've been on the phone with people in Israel,' and I'm like, 'Okay, the rabbi was not kidnapped.' And she says, 'I've sent people to art supply stores.' I'm like, 'Well, if my dress was stolen, I can just bring a sheet or something. I will be fine,'" Goodwin recalls.

The missing item in question turned out to be their ketubah (a religious contract used in Jewish ceremonies). In a turn of events that reads like something out of a rom-com film, two Jews were walking down the street in Hollywood and picked the paper up. They happened to be fluent in Hebrew and understood the importance of getting the document back to the rightful owners ASAP.

"They Googled who represents Ginnifer Goodwin, found my reps at home on a Saturday, and got us back our wedding ketubah," Goodwin says. 

Photo Credit: Larsen's Photography

Marriage is wonderful... weddings are beautiful. There’s the thrill of being in love and sharing your commitment with family and friends. There’s the joy of planning a day that’s uniquely yours and the happiness of celebrating with guests. And then there’s the after-the-wedding-day reality that inevitably sets in. After all, your marriage is bound to be an adventure, a roller-coaster ride filled with ups and downs, highs and lows and all sorts of unexpected detours and surprises. And if your relationship is solid and you two are truly the best of friends, committed to staying together and working through any difficulties that arise, then the rewards will be plentiful.

Which is why my blog today focuses on a couple of key points that both of you need to address — if you haven’t already — in these months leading up to the big day. We spoke with attorney Jennifer E. Paternostro, from the Sodoma Law firm, a leading family law firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, for some expert advice. Here, her “I Do To-Do List.”

If you're fortunate enough to find true love, it never truly ends.

That's the poignant message behind the first mini-documentary by Humans of New York creator Brandon Stanton. His blog-turned-book project is dedicated to stopping strangers  on the street in the Big Apple and getting a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Over the past three years, he's collected over 5,000 portraits and generated a tremendous response with viewers online (he has over 4.6 million fans on Facebook alone!).

The interview subject in the video is centenarian Shirley Hyman, who recounts falling in love with her husband, Moe: "We didn't say we were going to get married, we just knew it. It was a meeting of the souls."  Brandon revealed to The Huffington Post that meeting Shirley "was the one time I ever cried on the street."

Her incredible story also moved us to tears — watch it below!

When Moe got sick and they knew he didn't have much time left, he wanted to ensure that his wife would continue to love and be loved, long after he was gone. "I said, 'Moe, what will I do without you?'" Shirley recalls. "He gathered up all the energy he could and he said, 'Take the love you have for me and spread it around. When love is spread around, beauty is found." What a beautiful example to strive to live up to in our marriages!

While relaxing at Lucky Llama Coffee in Carpinteria, CA, Larry Nimmer noticed a wedding ceremony starting outside — and immediately recognized the father of the bride: former Vice President Al Gore. Nimmer — a reporter who runs EveryoneHasAStory.org — headed outdoors to capture some footage of the nuptials. 

Gore's daughter, Sarah, married real estate agent Patrick Maiani in a low-key ceremony held beneath a historic Torrey Pine tree, the largest in the world. Wearing a lovely boho-inspired gown, the bride stood with her groom inside a heart made of flower petals. The couple enjoyed a lively first dance on the lawn before heading to Crushcakes & Cafe bakery with their guests for a reception. 

Nimmer had a slightly embarrassing moment when he asked the former VP for some advice on building a successful marriage, forgetting that Gore and his wife, Tipper, separated several years ago (oops!).

Watch the video:

—Kristen Klein

Last year, the Boston Marathon turned to tragedy for hundreds of participants and spectators. But this year, it turned into a celebration of love and overcoming for adversity. 

Greg Picklesimer was among the participants in last year's marathon; he finished the race well before the bombs went off but says the tragedy helped put everything into perspective. He ran again this year, and after completing the race, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend Carla White at the finish line. "After last year, I realized the people you love and your life can be taken so quickly,” he told CBS. “I didn’t want to lose that, so I decided to come back and seal the deal.”

Photo via Paula Ebben on Twitter

Photo via Joe Giza on Twitter

Guest blogger: Bonne Marcus
A fitness industry expert for 27 years, Marcus holds numerous certifications from the Aerobic Fitness Association of America (AFAA), including Step, Spin, Bosu™, Pre/Post Natal, Youth Fitness, Aqua, and Personal Training. She has taught for New York City’s top health clubs, including Crunch, New York Health and Racquet, and Reebok Sports Club. A recognized name on Long Island, Bonne has taught at Dany Holdstein’s Two Worlds, North Shore Health Club, LA Fitness, Sport time, Equinox and currently teaches at the Sid Jacobsen JCC in Roslyn. Learn more at getfitwithbonne.com.

Photo Credit: iStock

How often do you weigh yourself? Be honest. Here is a better question: How often do you feel like throwing the scale out the window? 

Q: I’ve never had a good relationship with my father. He’s pretty much been an absentee dad and I resent the way he treats my mom. I don’t feel comfortable having him escort me down the aisle so is it OK if I walk by myself?

Photo Credit: Stephen Green Photography

A: It’s perfectly fine to take your trip down the aisle solo, but make your preference known ahead of time to avoid any heated arguments with your dad right before the wedding. In spite of your difficult relationship, he may still be expecting to do the honors. You’ll want to explain your decision to him and, who knows, it might just help improve his behavior. (One can only hope.) But be forewarned: It can also create even more of a rift.

Also, if your parents are contributing financially in any way, you might want to think twice about your decision and perhaps ask both of them to accompany you down the aisle. Ultimately, it’s your decision to do whatever is most comfortable for you.

Plus, check out more Wedding Ceremony Q&As.

—Diane Forden

I’m sure all of you will agree with me when I say that fulfilling goals is one of the best feelings in the world. Being able to check that item off your list and say "I did it!" is truly empowering.

Last weekend, I completed my first 5K! Some of my friends and I ran the 3.1 miles in the “Run or Dye” 5K Color Run last Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY. It was so much fun because people are literally throwing colors on you as your running, and it was a gorgeous day. I ran most of it and walked some, but the fact that I was able to complete it was a huge accomplishment for me and something I am very proud of doing. Six months ago, I couldn’t run on the treadmill for longer than two minutes and dreaded the long NYC subway stairs, but now I can run three miles comfortably with a smile on my face. Something about crossing the finish line made me realize, “Okay, I am doing this; I’m going to get to my end goal.”

The second best part of my day was when I came home and found "congratulations" balloons on my fence and lining my stairs, plus beautiful roses in the kitchen. Aside from fulfilling one of my goals and challenges last week, I have a pretty amazing fiancé, too.

Our fashion team is reporting live from the bridal runway shows in New York City! You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates. Here, get a quick look at the new gowns from White by Vera Wang for David's Bridal.

A feminine floral look:

For the fashionista bride:

Gorgeous crystal-embellished bodice and a frothy tulle skirt:

We love this stunner: