Blogs

Fine china, kitchen appliances, bedding and...a Star Trek chime? More brides and grooms are choosing to scan unique products that reflect their own personality and style, in addition to the classic staples Mom told them are a must. We got the scoop from MyRegistry.com, the leading online universal gift registry, on which non-traditional items are most popular with couples who register for the site.

1. Garden Charging Station

Raise your hand if your countertop has become a tangle of charging cords thanks to your iPhone, iPod, iPad, and i-everything. Rather than stockpiling your gadgets in a corner somewhere, show them off with this cheeky charging station (Amazon; $21.23).

Sawatdee Kaa, Hola and Hey, my fabulous honeymooners! To say I’ve been on the road loads in the past eight weeks is like saying Brad Pitt is attractive—it is inherently true. I’ve crisscrossed a few countries since February and even found a weekend to snuggle with my own special groom at the fabulous Amanyara in Turks and Caicos.

One of my favorite recent trips was a festive tour of Thailand. I’ve been to the warm (in both temperature and hospitality) Southeast Asian country before, but this trip was all about experiencing its diverse natural beauty. In the north, we stayed at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai, a jungle retreat known for its celebrated cooking school. Not only did I score a master chef certificate, I also got wet, Songkran style. Songkran is the New Year celebration in Thailand that’s both religious and secular. Pouring water on images of Buddha is said to bring good luck. In the olden times, splashing elders with a bit of water on their shoulders was considered respectful. And these days, Buddhist monks sprinkle water onto worshipers to bring prosperity. On the streets, there are parades, buckets and super soakers. Staying dry is almost like an acrobatic event.

Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Chiang Mai

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 shares some great ways to customize your bridal look.

You found a dress that you absolutely adore. It fits you like a glove and is a reflection of your style and personality. But the dress is just the first piece of your overall wedding day look, and you can completely transform this look with your choice of jewelry, accessories and shoes. The question is, how do you bring it all together? Here are 10 ways to accessorize your wedding day look.

If you’re looking for some ideas on what to give your bridesmaids, check out these super-sweet necklaces from Beth Quinn Designs. I love that they make gift-giving a bit more personal: Each one makes a statement that can relate to your best pals’ personalities. Costs range from $35 to $40 per necklace (not bad!), and you’ll have fun determining what saying is best suited for each friend.

For your selfless, big-hearted bestie, the She Has a Heart of Gold necklace is ideal:

The optimist in the group will appreciate Her Cup Is Always Half Full:

It’s no surprise that many couples opt to include their pets in their weddings. I mean, is there anything more adorable than a dog in a tux? Case in point:

Photo Credit: Joe Mikos Photographers

“A pet plays an important role in a couple’s life and for many pet parents, family festivities would not be complete without their pet’s involvement,” said John D’Ariano, President of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). “As a result, it's becoming more common for couples to customize their wedding parties to include family, friends, and furry companions.”

But if you’re looking to include your pet, there are a few precautions you need to take. We checked in with the NAPPS for some tips on how to keep your pet safe and happy during the wedding festivities.

Consider Your Pet’s Personality

Corey and I have been crunching numbers for the wedding lately, so we decided to reward ourselves by checking off something sweet on our to-do list. What could be better than choosing the perfect wedding cake? It gave us a totally valid excuse to cheat on our diet and play Willy Wonka for a day! We used three criteria to search for the perfect bakery: taste, appearance, and, you guessed it, price. This past week, we went cake-tasting around Indianapolis, and although I had already scheduled appointments well into next weekend, we've already made a decision.

The first bakery we tried didn’t offer formal tastings. Instead, they let us take home a 6-inch sample featuring their two classic flavors: chocolate and vanilla. My fiancé and I loved sharing this yummy cake together in the privacy of our own home, but it was difficult to imagine how it would actually look, since we didn't get to flip through sample photos, like you would normally do at a bakery consultation.

Next, we took a trip to a quaint little bakery that is known for their donuts (my dad raves about them). We sampled cupcakes in their most popular favors: vanilla, lemon and strawberry. This bakery had display cakes, so we were able to use them as a point of reference to get a sense of their cake designs. The samples were delicious and the prices were extremely affordable, but we had another appointment to get to the following day.

Still searching for your perfect wedding gown? Join our Twitter Party on Friday, May 4 from 1 - 2 pm (EST) to chat live with style experts at The Aisle and Angel Sanchez, along with our Assistant Beauty and Fashion Editor, Brittany Robins. We'll give you personalized shopping advice and unveil the newest gown styles before they even hit stores!

Follow these easy steps to join the conversation:

1. Sign in to Tweetchat, where you will log in with your Twitter account or create one if you don't have a username yet.

2. At the top of the screen, type in "#mydreamdress" for the hashtag. On Twitter, the pound sign "#" (referred to as a hashtag) tags a specific topic and connects you with other people who are chatting about the same subject. Once you hit the "Go" button, you'll be able to see tweets from all of the other participants in the party.

3. Each tweet that you send from Tweetchat will automatically get the "#mydreamdress" hashtag added to the end of it. The chat room auto-updates, so get your texting thumbs ready—responses will show up quickly on the site, so keep your eyes peeled so you don't miss anything!

When the groom's grandparents—who have been married for 72 years—couldn't make the cross-country trip for his wedding, they sent a hilarious video offering marriage advice (like, "Be good to each other." "Make sure that you have food in your Frigidaire, because you do not want to be hungry or starved." "Help each other in every way.") and a sweet toast to the happy couple. 

The final piece of advice? "Don't argue with each other," says Selma, before amending: "If I didn't argue with you and if i didn't fight you, we wouldn't be there together for how many years?" Kenny adds: "We went to bed happy—after our fights." "That's because we were tired of fighting" quips Selma. 

Watch the video:

Tell us: What's the best piece of marriage advice you've heard?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

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 Dos, a bi-coastal success and is in demand from corporate clients like Macy's and celebrity clients Jennifer Lopez and Tony Hawk. Dos-A's professionalism and unique style help his parties transcend cookie-cutter standards, and bring every event that he touches to the next level. "At weddings, I am channeling the couple's and guests' tastes and feeding it back to them with music they love." And clients love Dos-A's style and selections. He always delivers on his promise to keep his crowd smiling and feet moving all night long.

Photo Credit: Allyson Wiley Photography