Blogs

I’ve always loved the sound of wind chimes. There’s something magical and mystical about their tranquil, tinkling tones, which is why I was delighted to come across a fantastic array of wind chimes from Woodstock Chimes. Not only are these wind chimes lovely to look at, but each one also has a distinct musical sound courtesy of Grammy award-winning musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad. He has fashioned each wind chime to have its own “voice” based on famous melodies and scales. I had a blast just listening to the chime melodies on their website (check it out!).

Wind chimes would be a fantastic addition to your wedding celebration. You can hang several from tree branches for an outdoor ceremony or cocktail party or give them as gifts to your wedding party. Here, a couple placed wind chimes on a bridge for their photo op:

At Woodstock Chimes, there are over 200 wind chimes to choose from, with prices starting at just $10. These Gem Drop Chimes (a great buy at $10!) are a unique gift for your bridesmaids and are available in wedding-perfect shades like violet, shamrock, sapphire, crystal and rose:

This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post

Well, this is one way to use a car!

Latemodel Restoration, an online Ford Mustang parts and accessories store, tweeted a photo Monday of a marriage proposal, orchestrated by Texas Mustang enthusiast Felix Flores, spelled out in (what else?) Mustangs. Check it out below:

Photo courtesy of Late Model Restoration via Twitter

Latemodel Restoration also posted the photo on their Facebook page, and groom-to-be Flores commented that his girlfriend, Addy Moreno, loves Mustangs and drives a red 2000 GT convertible. Moreno wrote that she loved the proposal, and Latemodel Restoration confirmed that she said "yes!"

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 >>

One of the first things we do as engaged gals is decide who will stand up with us on our big day. And, there are lots of spots to fill: Bridesmaid, MOH, flower girl...you know, the wedding party! But what should you do if you want to include 16 of your closest girlfriends/sorority sisters/cousins and you're not keen on the idea of having a Kardashian-style soirée? Consider giving these additional roles to loved ones who aren't in the bridal party to make them feel special and appreciated, too.

Harry Styles had the performance of a lifetime this past weekend — playing Best Man at his mum's second wedding! The 19-year-old One Direction singer walked mother Anne Cox down the aisle as she married longtime partner Robin Twist, who helped raise Styles after his parents divorce (when he was just seven years old). The nuptials took place at Pecks Restaurant in Chesire, England.

The 19-year-old "Kiss You" and "That's What Makes You Beautiful" crooner shared the honorable title with his step-brother, Mike, while his sister, Gemma, acted as Maid of Honor. He and the groom wore matching suits from Burberry for the special occasion, accessorized with a white rose on the lapel (to match Mom's bouquet).

Photo Credit: gemmastagram on Instagram

As if the whole thing couldn't get any sweeter, he reportedly sang "Isn't She Lovely," which was his audition song for X Factor, the show that catapulted the band into stardom! Swoon. According to The Daily Mail, Styles has always been vocal about his close relationship with his mother, saying, "I tell her everything and she knows the truth."

Photo Credit: HarryStyles on Instagram

Guest blogger: Nicole Lapin, Editor-in-Chief of Recessionista.com. She is the founder and CEO of Nothing But Gold Productions, a multimedia production company focused on creating accessible financial content across television, print and digital platforms. Lapin is the former anchor of CNBC’s "Worldwide Exchange," the only global show on the network. Lapin was also a contributor on MSNBC and served as a personal finance expert on NBC’s "Today Show." Prior to CNBC, Lapin was the youngest anchor ever on CNN.

So you’ve been chosen as your gal pal to be one of her bridesmaids. Congrats! We’re sure you’re thrilled, as you should be. But guess who’s less than thrilled? Your wallet. The truth is, after the dress, accessories, travel expenses, gifts…being in someone’s wedding is downright pricey. In fact, a recent poll conducted by American Express found that bridal party attendants spent an average of $577 in 2012, which is about $200 more than the year prior. So what’s a gal to do?

First things first, speak with your bride or the Maid of Honor about any budget concerns immediately after accepting the position. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page with what they can afford, and will lessen the chance of uncomfortable money conversations down the road.

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 >>

Billy Idol may have made white weddings famous in the 1980s, but we’re still digging the idea for 2013! White wedding details are anything but boring, and they offer some clear benefits. They’re easy (no more trying to explain the difference between sage green and pistachio green!), versatile (think lace table linens for a vintage wedding and sleek white chairs for a modern wedding), and classic.

Here are some of our favorite white wedding ideas: 

I am a creature of habit in the kitchen — as well as a bit of a cookware snob. When I cook (which is almost every night), it's only with enameled cast iron or plain cast iron pans, the same kind my parents always used. It actually never occured to me to try stainless steel for anything other than heating up water for coffee or tea. That is, until I had the chance to test-drive a sauté pan from Cristel, the esteemed French cookware company. 

Cristel's innovative design was the initial draw, and with good reason: The handles on the Strate Removable line are detachable and interchangeable. Remove the long handle and attach two smaller grips and voilà: table-worthy serve ware right from the stove. You also get more room in the sink come cleanup time, along with easier storage capabilities, a particular advantage to the cabinet-challenged. 

Guest blogger: Ms. Herringbone, polkadotbride.com. Ms. Herringbone writes for Polka Dot Bride, Australia’s premier wedding blog dedicated to anything and everything wedding related that may be useful to today’s bride — style, unique finds, fabulous suppliers, real wedding inspiration — and a little bit of fun thrown in!

We've gathered some of our favorite DIY tutorials for the bride who wants to incorporate a handmade element in her wedding, but isn’t prepared (or able) to spend hours and hundreds of dollars sourcing all of the items required. These projects range from basic to more advanced and suit different wedding styles. Best of all, they can be prepared well in advance of your wedding to ensure that there aren't any last-minute panic attacks or dramas before the big day!

1. Glitter Table Numbers
Why we love them: This is such an easy way to add a little sparkle to your wedding tables! Not only is glitter festive, but the metallic functions as a neutral, making this a great addition to any color palette. 

Bars are all the rage at weddings…and not just the wine/liquor bar. There are espresso bars, martini and vodka bars, gelato bars, crepe bars, candy bars and dessert bars. And here’s another unique idea: How about a tea bar where guests can enjoy a selection of specialty teas, like these from Davidson’s Organics?

There is a wide range of flavors (i.e. fruity, mint, buttery) to choose from, and the colors are wedding-perfect. You can label each tea for guests and also consider providing containers so they can take a blend home as a wedding favor. The teas are all organic, kosher and fair-trade certified. Plus, 10% of all Davidson’s Tulsi (a basil plant found in India) tea sales is donated to the company’s “Aasha (Hope) Fund” to improve abandoned farm lands in India through sustainable, organic agricultural practices. Nice!

And don’t forget some sweet treats for the table, like these yummy Madeleine’s from Donsuemor Desserts:

Beautiful inspirational sheer illusion backs are all the rage. They make a stylish and romantic statement. There’s something about the combination of covered and sheer that makes them simultaneously demure and sexy — perfect for a wedding. This look pairs best with an updo (you want to show off the extraordinary detail in these gorgeous backs).

—Naima DiFranco