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Many brides dream about even the smallest details of their wedding far in advance of getting a ring. Fast-forward to the planning process, after you've actually received a proposal, and it can be tough to relinquish some of that control to someone else. My fiancé Corey and I are extremely lucky that both of our parents have been very supportive of our wedding and receptive to our ideas. We've made it our goal to try and make everyone (especially our parents), happy with most of the choices we've made. Here are some compromises we've had to make and why.

Photo Credit: Hoffer Photography

1. Guest count. I always envisioned a very personal, intimate wedding day, around 100 guests or so. However, we had to invite almost double that amount in order to include extended family, coworkers and family friends. I wouldn't change our guest list, since each person we invited is important to us and our families, but it has required me to adjust my original vision. 

2. The budget. Compromising with dollar signs makes my head spin… but we’ve done it. We have upped the budget twice since we started planning our wedding. No one's excited about spending more, but I am very thankful that my parents have been open to doing whatever it takes to make the day wonderful. In fact, I've been the one who's most concerned about the budget, even though my parents are paying for the majority of the wedding. 

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices.

This week, enjoy nine songs that'll have all your guests singing along!

The ladies cannot resist dancing and singing along to this '80s classic.

►"Livin' on a Prayer" — Bon Jovi
Everyone — and we mean everyone — will belt out this Bon Jovi hit, New Jersey-style.

►"Don’t Stop Believin’" — Journey
No matter when your guests were born, they will know the chorus to this ever-popular anthem.

Shopping for my wedding dress was exhilarating, confusing, and addictive (my heart sank when the two-hour appointment was over). Even after over a year of working at your favorite bridal magazine —scouring our entire gown gallery —I was still surprised by the range of emotions that overtook me. I haven’t said yes to the dress (yet!), but would love to share my experience at Kleinfeld with you, in the hopes that someone out there can relate.

First, here was my inspiration, courtesy of my personal Pinterest board:

Dress by Oscar de la Renta. Photo credits: Erin Hearts Court Photography.

Dress at left by Romona Keveza, shot by Kate Stoops Photography; dress at right is "Scarlet" by Monique Lhullier, shot by Paul Johnson Photography. 

To celebrate the eighth season of TLC's hit show, Say Yes to the Dress, Kleinfeld launched an online gift shop featuring fun t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and more. Check out some of our favorites!

Just for BG readers: Get 10% off, plus free shipping, with the coupon code YESBG

For the morning of the wedding:
This cozy zip-up hoodie is perfect to wear while you're getting ready on the big day. Plus, you won't have to worry about messing up your hair and makeup when it's time to change into your gown ($40, available in black and white). 

For the bachelorette party:
For a casual night on the town, this cute t-shirt sends the message loud and clear: You're taken! ($19, available in black, white, and pink).

For an engagement gift:
How cute are these "his and her" mugs? Gift these to your favorite newly-engaged friends ($15 each).

When Jonathan Salama took out girlfriend Zuleth Telleria on June 10, she was in for the ride of her life.

Salama created one of our favorite proposal moments with the help of friends, family and a proposal planning service, The Yes Girls. And a helicopter, of course.

Check out the amazing video — we admit, we teared up a bit!

Boffo Video shot the couple as they flew over Huntington Beach, CA — the spot where they first became official three years prior. We especially love how Salama included his and Telleria's loved ones in the proposal while still having a romantic moment alone in the air. And how sweet are his hand-written signs?

We’re sure the duo must be flying high!

—Paulette Safdieh
 

There's something about Disney that feels oh-so-magical, even as an adult. In honor of Lillian & Walt Disney, who tied the knot on July 13, 1925, we've highlighted our favorite photos of couples basking in Disney joy on their big day. Starting with...

Lillian & Walt Disney

The Disney founders celebrated their 30th anniversary in Disneyland a few days before the park's grand opening. Since Disney Fairy Tale Weddings first launched in 1991, another 40,000 couples have celebrated their nuptials in the parks.

Amber & Frank

Photo courtesy of Disney Fine Art Photography and Video

 "We love Disney and fell in love at Disney so I cannot think of a better place to start our lives together," said Amber. "Oh, and the families did not mind the vacation either." We love how they stayed true to the playful theme of their wedding with matching, bright blue sneakers!

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new 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 discusses how to find the perfect veil.

Wearing a veil is one of the oldest wedding traditions — and a fun one, too! A few weeks ago, we looked at short and sweet veils, and today, we're sharing some options for brides who prefer longer, flowy veils.

Keep in mind the following when shopping for your veil:

► Your veil should complement your look, not compete with it.
► Simple gowns will offset any intricate lace or beadwork on your veil.
► Heavily beaded or laced gowns look best with sheer or transparent fabric veils (silk chiffon, voile, or organza).
► A blusher, a single layer worn over your face during procession, can be added to any veil.

Now, onto the long veils!

For most couples, the first year of marriage is usually wedded bliss. As your lives begin to intertwine and mesh into one, it’s not uncommon to see the glow on a newlywed’s face, long after the honeymoon’s over. Although we did have one short week together after getting married, my husband Michael and I have had to experience the aforementioned bliss over the phone, not in person. Like many other military couples, we have to think of creative ways to keep the romance alive.

We talk as often as our schedule allows. However, it's difficult to find time because of our packed schedules and the nine and a half hour time difference (between New York and Afghanistan, where Michael is deployed). We try to talk about twice a week, but we send Facebook messages more often, almost every day. There’s nothing like seeing his number and hearing his voice, even if we have to deal with a three-second delay and lack of privacy on his end.

We’ve only seen each other once since he’s left. I learned more about his deployment during those two weeks we shared in New York than I had in six months of back-and-forth phone calls. There's something about being face-to-face that fosters a special type of intimacy where you open up and say things you just can’t during a 30-minute phone conversation. I won’t experience that again until he comes home for good in November.

We real brides are constantly planning ahead, painstakingly plotting all the grand details of our big day. One thing you definitely don't want to forget: The exit. I honestly don't know what Corey and I are doing for ours, because as a fun surprise, my mom is coordinating it! I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve. Sure, it'll be tough to top a dramatic, long walk down the aisle for your entrance, but if you plan it right, the exit from your ceremony or wedding party can be just as memorable. Here are some romantic, funny, unique exit ideas we love.