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I can hardly believe that the holiday season is upon us! And what better time is there to break out a little bubbly or sparking wine to toast the season?

One of my favorites is an Italian sparkling wine, the Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè from Terlato Wines International. It’s light, fresh and fruity (but not cloyingly sweet) and pairs beautifully with everything from French toast to grilled salmon, chicken, Asian and vegetable dishes. And it’s ideal with desserts, making it a perfect choice for all your upcoming celebrations.

Here’s a wedding-perfect signature cocktail you’ll love, created by Michael MacDonnel, Director of Beverage Monte Carlo Resort & Casino:

Raspberry Kiss Cocktail

1½ oz Raspberry-flavored vodka
¾ oz Crème de Cassis
1½ oz. fresh lemon sour
3-5 fresh raspberries
1½ to 3 oz Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè
Sugar for rim of glass

Steps:

1. Sugar the rim of the cocktail glass; use a flute or martini glass for best presentation
2. Pour vodka, Crème de Cassis, lemon sour and fresh raspberries into cocktail shaker; top with ice
3. Shake vigorously
4. Strain into glass
5. Top with Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosè
6. Optional garnish: add fresh raspberries

Enjoy this special cocktail with family and friends and here’s to many more celebratory moments!

—Diane Forden

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.

Here, Rosanna shares her picks for what to wear to a winter wedding.

They say it's the most wonderful time of the year; ornaments and lights, eggnog and candy canes, holiday parties and, of course, those beautiful winter weddings. Now, just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't (and shouldn't) look fabulous. Besides, what better time to break out the sequins and lace and color than the holidays?

Just remember to stay warm with stockings and closed-toe shoes, and accessorize with a fun pair of gloves, a hat and perhaps a gorgeous feather coverup!

Ballroom

Photo Credit: Royal Household/John Swannell

Today, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. The couple tied the knot on November 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey before 2,000 guests, followed by an intimate wedding lunch at Buckingham Palace. Here, check out 20 facts you may not know about the longest-married British monarch:

1. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are third cousins — both are great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Philip’s mother was born in Windsor Castle and he, in fact, has more royal blood than Elizabeth—his parents were Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece, while Elizabeth’s mother was of British nobility.

It’s time to celebrate! Our January/February 2013 issue is on the newsstands, and it marks the start of Bridal Guide’s 25th anniversary year. Yep…25 years of giving brides like you the very best advice and latest news in fashion, wedding planning and honeymoons. And, to note our special anniversary, we’re giving you a chance to win this stunning cover gown by Melissa Sweet for David’s Bridal:

But wait, there’s more! You also have an opportunity to win a dream-come-true safari honeymoon in Africa worth $14,000.

Plus, if you’re thinking of having a wedding away, you’ll get “Your Complete Destination Wedding Guide” free with this issue.

With Wreck-It Ralph making us feel a little nostalgic for video games — and a little sympathetic toward the most hated villains — we've compiled some of our favorite gaming-themed weddings, from Super Mario Bros. to Rock Band to Halo. 

Nintendo

There are so many fun ways to incorporate Nintendo elements in your wedding, starting with the proposal: Hide the engagement ring inside of this classic question mark box! 

Photo Credit: Emmadreamstar/Etsy

Nintendo superfans Esther and Ryan enlisted friend Larry Quach to custom-design invitations, favor boxes, and more for their Super Mario Bros. theme wedding:

Join us every Friday for our Q&A column, where editor-in-chief Diane Forden answers one reader's biggest etiquette question.

Photo Credit: William Innes Photography

Q. Our wedding party consists of four bridesmaids and seven groomsmen. What’s the best way to pair them up for the ceremony? Do all of the groomsmen have to walk down the aisle during the processional?

A. Wedding parties like yours, with an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, are quite common. The good news is you have several options to consider for both the processional and recessional. For the processional, your groomsmen could enter the ceremony first and walk down the aisle in single file, followed by your bridesmaids. Or, the groomsmen could already be in the room, either at their seats or standing in front of the guests with the groom, before your bridesmaids start their processional. For the recessional, pair the first bridesmaid with one groomsman and the next three bridesmaids with two groomsmen each, one on either side.

—Diane Forden

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.

Crafting a cocktail that matches your wedding color palette — and tastes incredible — is easier than you might think! We start with fresh herbs and fruit before asking the bride for her inspiration boards and wedding colors. After narrowing down a list of the bride and groom’s favorite spirits, we begin the creation process.

At Contemporary Catering, mixing and matching colors and flavors is one of our specialties. We have found a way to match virtually any color and flavor that anyone could dream up! 

Finding your perfect drink definitely takes a little mixing and matching, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The only way to come up with a memorable cocktail that your guests won’t forget is to be creative (the sampling part doesn’t hurt, either!).

Here, we've come up with five great drinks that are sure to tickle your taste buds:

When groom-to-be Joe began shopping for Emily's engagement ring, he knew that a run-of-the-mill diamond ring just wouldn't cut it. The couple, who met while working together in a tattoo shop, bonded over their "nerdiness," and Joe set out on a quest to find someone to create a R2-D2-themed engagement ring to match his "fanatical Star Wars enthusiasm."

He soon discovered Paul Michael Designs through CustomMade, an online marketplace that connects shoppers with artisans who can turn their dreams into reality. 

After months of planning, sketching, and designing, the incredible final product arrived a day before Halloween. Joe decided to propose the following day at work, while they'd be decked out in their Peanuts-themed Halloween costumes — Joe as Charlie Brown and Emily as Lucy.

"I know it would have been better in Star Wars gear," said Joe. "[But] Charlie Brown proposing to Lucy is still kind of a fun thing, too." We agree! Watch their proposal:

Jennifer Doncsecz, an expert on planning destination weddings, has been President and Owner of VIP Vacations Inc. since 1992 and has over 25 years of travel agent experience. She regularly appears as a travel expert on Fox Philadelphia's "Good Day" and on PBS Tempo, and she has also appeared on The Travel Channel, CNN, and RCN. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for using a travel agent and has been a speaker at many national travel conventions, including The New York Times Travel Show, and Travel Weekly's conferences. 

Photo Credit: Meg Courtney Photography 

Ever hear the expression, "There are two kinds of luggage....carry-on and lost"? Unfortunately, putting your wedding dress in your checked suitcase and hoping for the best is like playing Russian Roulette. The smarter option is to carry it on with you in a garment bag (either use the one it came in or purchase a heavy-duty bag).

Once you get on the plane, gently fold your garment bag in half and place it in the overhead bin. Some people may tell you to hang it in the first class closet, but that's rarely done. Besides, the closet is only four feet high, so you'd have to stuff it in.