Blogs

There are a thousand and one ga-jillon travel websites out there, and figuring out which one to trust can be a major time-suck. That’s where I come in.

Photo courtesy of gorecess.com

My über stylish frond about town (and intermittent workout buddy) Sarah turned me on to this handy little site that’s perfect for exercising when I’m on the go. GoRecess is a workout-booking engine that helps you find a host of classes (the icons for cardio are so cute—too bad all that heart-thumping makes me feel icky) across the country. Simply type in your zip code, the date and select what kind of workout session you’d like. Then you’ll get a menu of selections just for you.

All classes, from bootcamp and spinning to hot yoga and dance, are a-la-carte and there are no member fees. Of course, I think the site is honeymoon-perfect, but it’s also great for all your brides sans gym memberships who want to try out the best new barre class or Pilates trend of the moment.

Happy Sweating! Go to GoRecess.com for more info. 

—Jenna Mahoney

This summer, I know exactly which song I'll be belting out at my girlfriend's last fling before the ring: Sarah Kirkland's debut single "Bachelorette." With her Motown-country sound, catchy hook and tongue-in-cheek lyrics ("before we get home, we'll delete the pictures from our phones"), it's earned a spot on our pre-party playlists. 

Now this singer and bachelorette pro (she's attended 12 and counting!) is giving one bride-to-be the chance to hit the jackpot with an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway to Sin City. The winner and three friends will score posh digs at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and a Saks Fifth Avenue makeover.

The contest ends June 29, so enter now:  "Like" Sarah on Facebook and submit a short essay that explains why your group of ladies deserves to win. The top 20 entries will be posted on the singer's Facebook page for public voting.

Good luck!

—Stefania Sainato

Ashley Blazer Biden, a social worker and the daughter of Jill Jacobs Biden and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., married Dr. Howard Krein, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, this past Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware. 

"This is the right guy," the VP told People Magazine about his new son-in-law. "And he's getting a helluva woman." 

Biden escorted Ashley, the youngest of his three children, down the aisle in the same church where she was baptized. She looked ravishing in a custom silk mermaid gown by Vera Wang, featuring trendy illusion sleeves and a hand-cut tulle and organza petal skirt. According to an interview with The News Journal, the bride kept the dress a secret to everyone except her mother and Maid of Honor, so that her famous father would be surprised. 

Imagine wearing a $27,000 necklace to perfectly complement your wedding gown—perhaps a necklace that's dripping in four carats of diamonds.

Now picture wearing this lavish necklace but only paying $270 for it. 

Adorn.com is a fine jewelry rental website that specializes in wedding accessories. The site is easy to navigate and offers free jewelry consultations. Just send their stylist details of your dress, your dream jewelry, and any hair accessories you'll be wearing, and she'll return jewelry recommendations that will seamlessly match your big day look. 

Chandelier Earrings. Rental price: $180 (Retail: $10,125). Pearl Bracelet. Rental price: $260 (Retail: $26,250)  

Each piece of jewelry is insured and professionally cleaned and inspected before it's shipped out. Once you have worn the gorgeous items, simply ship them back with the prepaid label. 

Everyone will know that your adornments are real, but it can be our little secret that you paid a fraction of the cost!

Our favorite fashion underdog, Andy Sachs, will return to the bookshelves next April in Revenge Wears Prada, a sequel to the 2003 bestselling novel Devil Wears Prada. The former assistant at Runway magazine will be even more lovable this time around, engaged to a gorgeous man and editing the best bridal magazine in the country, The Plunge.

Author Lauren Weisberger will take readers through Andy’s life as an engaged, working woman (something that many of us can relate to). She works at The Plunge with best friend and one-time enemy, Emily, as she balances the glamour of planning her wedding with a demanding career. But it's not always picture perfect— Andy's soured relationship with her dreadful ex-boss, Miranda Priestly, continues to get in her way.

Revenge Wears Prada is expected for release in April 2013, exactly ten years since we all fell in love with the original. Until then, we can watch Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in the movie rendition of Devil Wears Prada and hope for a sequel to that, too!

Tell us: Will you be reading Revenge Wears Prada? How do you balance work with wedding planning?

Photo Credit: Fox 2000 Pictures

—Paulette Safdieh
 

Photographer Michael Harris captured these unique underwater bridal portraits that add an artistic touch to a trash-the-dress session. 

To snap the photos, both the photographer and bride fully submerged themselves in a pool while wearing weighted belts, which enabled them to take a few shots before resurfacing for some air. Throughout the two- to three-hour session, Harris captures 250-500 raw images.

"As you can probably guess, a lot of the images aren't usable. Bubbles coming out of her nose just don't look good," said Harris. "This, of course, is not for everyone. The bride needs to be very comfortable underwater, but when she is, it can be a very beautiful image."

Check out the photos, and let us know what you think!

If you're obsessed with your pup or can't get enough of your cat, chances are you'll want to include them in your special day. Here are three hotels that not only host weddings but also have awesome pet programs.

The Muse Hotel, a Kimpton Hotel
Located at the center of the world—Time Square in Manhattan—this hotel offers both a sleek, city-style wedding and a pet-friendly atmosphere. The Muse Hotel encourages VSPs (Very Special Pets) to join the wedding party and invites them to stay free of charge. There’s no limit on the amount of pets in one room, and the hotel welcomes all sizes and breeds (talk about hosPETality!). Your pooch will be welcomed with a special basket filled with treats, a cozy bed and a list of local attractions, like the local dog park, "Canine Court" (themusehotel.com). 

Photo Credit: The Muse Hotel

Last week, my fiancé Michael and I spent two hours (excessive, but necessary) debating our delicious options for our wedding menu. Our event manager presented us with images of enticing hor d’oeuvres, stations, entrées and desserts. Needless to say, we were left drooling and unable to decide which appetizer to pair with which entrée.  After much debate, we were able to create a menu that incorporates our favorite dishes yet also caters to the diverse appetites of our beloved guests.

Comfort Food

I was surprised to discover that selecting our menu was like taking a stroll down memory lane, with so many options reminding Michael and I of dining experiences from the past. We selected crispy, blanketed franks—a new spin on classic pigs in a blanket—a starter that we have during every holiday at my future in-laws' home.  Michael and I then chose a BLT salad, complete with apple-smoked bacon, asiago cheese and buttermilk chive dressing. This dish reminded us of a scrumptious salad we enjoyed while vacationing in Florida. Lastly, our wedding cake will be filled with lemon curd and raspberry buttercream as a nod to Michael’s favorite lemon cake. These personal touches will probably go unnoticed to the majority of our guests, but will have Michael and I secretly grinning from ear to ear.

Pigs in a Blanket. Photo Credit: Abigail Kirsch Catering