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Guest blogger: Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of over 35 wedding books, including The Bride’s Guide to Freebies. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

Kate Middleton has a knack for creating new wedding trends; first, she brought back lace for wedding gowns, and now she’s done something very sentimental with the top tier of her wedding cake.

Girl power! This weekend was all about the ladies. On Sunday, I trained with Bonne Marcus and had an awesome workout. I trained alone because Rene didn’t want to miss football Sunday for the third week in a row (insert eye roll here). I was upset I had to go alone, but it ended up being amazing — Bonne taught me special workouts to focus on my lady parts (exercises she would not give to Rene) and the parts that are going to show while I'm wearing my wedding dress.

We started with what Bonne calls "The Wedding March" — aka walking lunges — where you start with your feet together, step with one foot into a lunge, step up, and then lunge with the other foot. These were not easy. We also did side kicks, where you rest one arm on the top of a chair, balance on one leg, and kick the other leg out to the side in slow motion, so you really feel it in both legs.

Left: The Wedding March. Right: Side Kicks

I truly want everyone to look their best on their wedding day and get the most out of their wedding photos. While I am unable to be at every wedding (the laws of physics being what they are), I am happy to share some of my knowledge and experience with you. Todaym I am going to focus on what you can do to actually look your best. I am not telling you to do anything that makes you feel unnatural or uncomfortable. These are just pointers. And this is not just for the bride or groom; everyone who might have their picture taken on the day of the wedding should take note — so listen up bridesmaids and groomsmen!

1. Stand Up Straight

Yes, I probably sound like your mother, but people underestimate the power of good posture. Many of us spend so much time hunched over at our desks all day that we have developed a sloped shoulder look that is far from elegant. You do not have to be a ballerina to take some tips from them and imagine a string pulling at the top of your head — your body elongates, your shoulders naturally start to fall back, and you look ten times better in a matter of a few seconds.

2. Chin Up

Double chins can plague even the slimmest among us if their chin is nearly touching their chest. So keep your chin up! It elongates your neck. But remember, everything in moderation — you don’t want to look like a giraffe. If it feels awkward, you have gone too far.

3. Lay Off the Booze!

In our new "Friday Favorites" column, we'll share our top five inspirations of the week culled from real wedding submissions, industry events, what's trending in the weddings world and more!

1. Bridal Fashion Week is over, and the BG editors are still reeling from the parade of beautiful new dresses we saw in every imaginable style and price point. This season's trends include pink-hued gowns, gold embellishments and cap sleeves. 

One great tip I got was from designer Pnina Tornai, who told me that she finds inspiration in the fine line between fantasy and reality. Search for a wedding dress that makes you feel like you're living in a dream every time that you put it on — this is your moment to try something really spectacular. Stay tuned for a recap on the most buzzed-about 2014 styles from each major designer.

2. Ramani and David's engagement photos make me want to bite the bullet and schedule a wedding anniversary shoot! They feature a wide variety of backdrops, including a rustic cabin, a ferris wheel, the changing fall leaves, and — my personal favorite — a boat filled with biodegradable confetti.

We're excited to announce the launch of our first EVER Fashion Issue, available for iPad. This exclusive digital magazine is filled with BG editors' favorite wedding gowns, bridal party fashion, jewelry, accessories and more. A definite necessity for fashionable brides-to-be! The style guide also features gorgeous new dresses and tuxedos from our special edition sponsor, Allure Bridals. You can easily download the issue by searching for Bridal Guide Magazine in the iTunes App Store. Once you have downloaded our free App, search our store for The Fashion Issue and tap to buy! The best part? It's only 99¢!

Here are 5 reasons to download The Fashion Issue:

...this sturdy, stainless-steel workhorse of a pan by would be in the upper reaches of my wish list. The generous 4-quart capacity, wide, flat base and high, rounded sides make this “ideal for preparing one-pan meals during a busy week,” the manufacturers (that would be All-Clad) tell us. Now that’s a pan with my name on it!

As a busy person who lives for the one-dish meal, I was delighted to take the Weeknight Pan ($179, crateandbarrel.com) for a test drive. On the menu: fresh tomato soup topped with homemade croutons, adapted from a recent recipe in The New York Times.

Step one: The croutons — ciabatta cut into cubes and browned in olive oil. (Remove from pan, place in a bowl and sprinkle with sea salt.) Tip: If you’re new to cooking with stainless steel, note that you’ll get the best results using low to medium heat.

Known for her corset designs embellished with crystals, Pnina Tornai's gowns — sold exclusively at Kleinfeld Bridal and frequently featured on Say Yes to the Dress — never fail to impress. She's dressed countless celebrities over the years, most recently Kim Zolciak and NeNe Leakes from Bravo's Real Housewives franchise.

On her inspiration this season: "I fell into the 'between' of reality and fantasy," said Tornai. "I guess I found the inspiration right there — how these two worlds really have a very, very fine line in between them, and that's where illusion exists."

Tell us: Which dress is your favorite? Tornai describes herself as a Cinderella bride; if she were to get married again, she'd wear the second to last dress in the runway show. (For her last wedding — her third — she wore a taffeta A-line gown with 52 roses on the train).

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Photo Credit: Justin Baldoni on Instagram

Justin Baldoni wanted to ask his girlfriend, Emily Foxler, to be his wife in the most romantic way possible, but he couldn't decide how to do it. Should he call into a local radio station? Profess his love N*Sync or Boyz II Men-style, crooning classic love songs from the '90s? (After all, what teenage girl didn't have that particular fantasy at one point?) Dance with a professional flash mob? Create a mock movie trailer for the proposal, complete with home video footage?

In the end, the 29-year-old actor/director went with Option E, "all of the above." The result is a 27-minute video mash-up that pokes fun at everything we love (and roll our eyes at) when it comes to viral engagements. We're looking at you, Bruno Mars!

The premise: Foxler visits Blu Jam Cafe, a restaurant in Los Angeles where she and Baldoni had their first date. While she waits for him to arrive, the video starts playing, and hidden cameras capture her reactions. 

Becky Swales' lifelong dream was to have all three of her daughters get married. On Oct. 13, in Snellville, Georgia, her wish came true with a triple wedding.

The 43-year-old mom watched from the front pew as her husband, Otis Swales, walked their girls — Sarah, Kaylee, and Jodie — down the aisle. The couples recited their vows and kissed in unison when the priest declared, "you may now kiss the brides." It was an emotional moment that the Swales family will never forget.

Photo Credits: Jodie Mankus/Facebook

Just 12 hours later, Becky lost her four-year-long battle with cancer, which had recently spread from her breasts to her liver. Jodie, the oldest daughter, posted the following on Facebook, in memory of her Mom:

"My mommy Becky Nickerson Swales went to be with the Lord this morning. She was the most beautiful person I knew, and I bet she is the most beautiful angel. My mom was strong and fought the fight for a long time and I know she's watching me and my family and I'm gonna [sic] give her a life that she'd be proud to watch. Thank you God for letting her be here for the wedding yesterday. I love you bigga bunches mommy. R.I.P."