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The last time that I wore an elegant floor-length gown was in 1985, at my wedding. Every girl dreams of her wedding dress, and I loved mine with its long cathedral train. Fast-forward 28 years, and I will be walking down the aisle again for my daughter Stefania's wedding (in the same exact church where I was married). Shopping this time around was very different.

My friends told me that the second most looked-at person after the bride is her mom. Co-workers and family members bombarded me with questions: "What color are you getting?" "Why haven't you picked a dress yet?" "Are you wearing strapless?" It all made me a little nervous. Several of my friends who had gone through the same process for their child's wedding told me that the most important thing is to feel both comfortable and beautiful in a dress.

Armed with good advice, a new strapless bra, and the best pair of Spanx I could buy, we went to the first store on the list. Nervously, I touched each gown on the rack, slowly flipping through them as if they were pages in a magazine, not pulling any of them out. Luckily, my daughter was there with me! Together with the sales associate, she sized me up and pulled gown after gown. I tried on several ball gowns, but learned that it wasn't flattering on my body type. Several children (and multiple surgeries) later, I was determined to find a style that accentuated my figure, not one that made me feel heavy, dowdy, or older than I am.

Guest Blogger: Nathaniel Neubauer, owner of Contemporary Catering
Nathaniel’s mom says it best: “When Nathaniel was turning three, I asked him what he wanted for his third birthday. He said, ‘Quiche.’” Ever since, Nathaniel’s love for food has never been far from reach. With his presence, Contemporary Catering quickly became a major contender in the Los Angeles catering industry. From overseeing production to designing a nine-course tasting menu with five-star service, Nathaniel’s dedication to his clients and his company is unparalleled.
 

While it’s a tradition to have that jaw-dropping wedding cake, times have changed! Sometimes we even wonder, “Who needs a wedding cake anymore?!” Lucky, for couples who don’t want to go through the cake selection process, serving an assortment of mini desserts is definitely trending.

The best part is that you can really personalize your offerings. We suggest taking family recipes from both sides and making miniature desserts in larger quantities. Recently, we had a bride who really loved pie, so we handmade a three-tiered “wedding pie” by using 20”, 18”, and 16” pies! 

On my wedding day, I want to not only look stunning, but also express my fun personality through my hair and makeup. Knowing how important these beauty decisions would be, I started the process early on, and did a few things that made all the difference.

First, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many salons will offer to do a free or discounted trial for brides—all you have to do is ask. They explained that it's worth the effort on their part because they book more brides (and even bridal parties) this way. I made an appointment with Salon Trisse in Dyer, Indiana, which came highly recommended by our venue.

I loved all of the different looks so much that the girls at the salon offered to come to my wedding to switch up my hair and makeup throughout my wedding day! Gretchen, the makeup artist, suggested doing softer makeup for the ceremony, moderate makeup for the reception, and an even more dramatic look to cap off the night. Also, knowing that they'll be there to help me with touch-ups is very comforting. 

This is what we came up with—which look is your favorite?

Look #1 Soft Curl with Tiara and Subtle Makeup

This demure, romantic look consisted of light eye makeup with rosy lipstick and bronzer.

Valentine's Day marks the only day of the year when couples can marry atop the Empire State Building. Following Preston Bailey's own nuptials at the stroke of midnight, the event planner transformed the space for three lucky couples, who were selected from couples around the country who submitted their love stories to the NYC landmark building.

The ceremonies, held at 9 a.m, 10 a.m, and 11 a.m. yesterday, each had their own unique style. "I have always been inspired by Mother Nature and the way she changes her designs throughout the year. I wanted to give each couple the chance to marry surrounded by the unique beauty of their favorite season without any limitations," said Preston.

Laurie Ann Phillips and Daniel Rosenthal of Washington, DC
Both single parents, the pair met on a blind date and instantly hit it off, bonding over their young children. "There was a magic about our connection that no one — not us, nor the friend who set us up — ever could have predicted," Laurie Ann told Preston. After deciding to tie the knot, they took an nontraditional approach and purchased a house together in lieu of an engagement ring. Their ceremony had a winter wonderland theme, followed by a spring reception.

Happy Valentine's Day! What could be more perfect for a day dedicated to love than a wedding? Candy heart photo props, a vibrant pink and orange color palette, and whimsical paper heart garlands are just a few of our favorite aspects of this romantic inspiration shoot. 

Guest blogger: Scratch Weddings, the nation's leading provider of highly skilled, experienced, and affordable marquee-level DJ talent for weddings.

Photo Credit: Muriel Silva Photography

Your first dance is one of the sweetest and most sentimental moments of the wedding day — and the perfect moment begins with the perfect song. Here, we've pulled together the most romantic song choices for every mood.

Classic:
► “Unforgettable” – Nat King Cole
► “You Belong To Me” – Dean Martin
► “At Last” – Etta James
► “Once in My Life” - Stevie Wonder
► “Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison
► “Your Song” – Elton John

Set in the Roaring Twenties, Gatsby style is all about glitz, glamour, and opulence. In honor of the latest interpretation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, a fabulous group of wedding vendors in Florida pulled together this incredible wedding inspiration shoot. Enjoy!

Even though you may have mastered the art of applying your own makeup, you might not be translating your style accurately when it comes to your makeup trial. Getting across the look you like to the experts can be tricky! We sat down with Kimara Ahnert, of Kimara Ahnert Makeup & Skincare Studio in NYC, to learn how to make the most of your makeup trial — and how to avoid the most common makeup trial mistakes.

1. Be Specific
“You may say natural but want false individual lashes at the same time,” says Upper East Side’s favorite makeup artist, Kimara Ahnert. Rather than describing what you want as “smoky” or “natural” and using words that might be interpreted differently by the expert, you should start by telling the artist which features you want to accentuate and/or play down. For example, you can say that you want your eyes to pop, and she may recommend a more dramatic eye and neutral face and lips. Try to be as specific as possible in your verbal descriptions.

2. Bring the Goods
Provide as many props and visuals as possible, including makeup products you love, as well as magazine tearouts of your favorite looks. Better yet, Kimara gives this recommendation: “Apply your own makeup like you would for going out and wear it to your trial. It is the best way for me to see what you usually do and improve upon it.”

Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to love, so it comes as no surprise that thousands of couples tie the knot on February 14th each year. According to a survey by American Express, a whopping 6 million people are planning or expecting a proposal this Valentine’s Day. If he already put a ring on it, why not get married on the most romantic day of the year? We’ve rounded up the most unique ways to get hitched this week in NYC — these wedding venues are anything but ordinary and are sure to make your special day all the more unforgettable!

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 Center, who spreads his signature sound worldwide. He's performed with music icons like John Legend, Estelle and Digable Planets, as well as for corporate clients like Adidas and Gucci. 

From funk to hip-hop, R&B to pop classics, Center flows through genres effortlessly. "Weddings are very special celebrations and I'm honored to entertain on the couple's big day. I create a custom mix that will keep everyone dancing all night long and then talking about it for weeks to come.”

Photo Credit: Ashley Rose Photography