This week, our real brides come together to share three confessions about their weddings. Tweet us @bridalguidemag with the hashtag "#realbrides" to share yours!

Hi BG brides! I know you're scratching your heads over my latest headline, wondering why I would put myself through the time, cost (and okay, I'll admit it, fun) of planning two large-scale events. Allow me to explain—Most Nigerians have two wedding ceremonies: a traditional ceremony and a ‘white-dress’ wedding ceremony the day after the traditional ceremony. Every bride and bride-to-be knows the stress of planning your wedding and reception. Now imagine doing it all twice. Picking out two sets of invites, picking out two menus, two venues, two bands/DJ’s, two everything! Planning both ceremonies had the potential to be easier but things that work for a regular wedding ceremony wouldn’t necessarily work for a traditional Nigerian ceremony. For example, people don’t RSVP, so I need a venue that can hold all the people we invite, same for food, same for beverages, etc.

This week, our real brides come together to share three confessions about their weddings. Tweet us @bridalguidemag with the hashtag "#realbrides" to share yours!

Minutes after Michael popped the question, he took a moment to exclaim, “Now go nuts!” I gazed at him, still smiling, and gave him an inquisitive look. He replied, “You know, with planning. You’ve been wedding obsessed for a while now, so you can finally begin preparing for our big day. Let me know when you want to start visiting venues.”

I thought my hours of research (i.e. watching countless episodes of David Tutera’s “My Fair Wedding” and TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”) would have prepared me for this moment. Making matters worse, as soon as we began telling family and friends our exciting news, we were bombarded with the same two questions: “When are you getting married? Where will the reception be?” Needless to say, I felt extremely unprepared and behind schedule.

So, what’s a girl to do? Get organized! BG brides, follow the helpful "BRIDE" acronym (Budget, Research, Ignore, Discover, Explore) to get off to a running start:

This week, our real brides come together to share three confessions about their weddings. Tweet us @bridalguidemag with the hashtag "#realbrides" to share yours!

Whenever Luke (who will, from now on, also be referred to as The Mister, The Man and My Boy) and I mention the location of our wedding, we always get the same, puzzled response: "Vegas! Wow...uh, why?" Most seem to think that since Australia (especially Western Australia, where we live) is filled with so many beautiful locations—everything from vineyards to lush, greenery-filled backyards—it's kind of weird that we’d pick somewhere like…Vegas?

It started out as a funny joke going around our family, that when we all visit America at the end of this year, Luke and I should get married in Vegas, just for the fun of it. That snowballed as we did more research, and realized that Sin City was a feasible destination option for us because it would allow us to avoid offending loved ones we couldn't afford to invite, thereby sparing our budget. To ours and many other people's surprise, Vegas is incredibly wedding-friendly and offers tons of great options beyond quickie nuptials in a drive-through chapel. (Note: Stay tuned for gorgeous evidence and a future post about the breakdown of costs for my destination wedding compared to what it would have cost to have my big day Down Under.)

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we agree.

That's why we didn't take it personally when Glamour posted about how "cheesy" it is to have a Harry Potter themed wedding with "a Hogwarts Express train ride to the venue. A reception hall set up like the wizarding school with the four 'house' tables for guests. Seating cards set alongside a Sorting Hat"... and then linked to an image featuring some of these things — the same image we posted a few weeks earlier in a blog about two gorgeous Harry Potter-themed weddings we fell in love with. It's been one of our most popular features on the site.

That's not to say we didn't chuckle about Jezebel's follow-up post, "Glamour Says Your Harry Potter Wedding is Cheesy." 

We love our Harry Potter weddings because let's face it, when you hear "Harry Potter-themed weddings," it conjures up all kinds of images, not all of which seem wedding appropriate. Turns out, they are beautiful and classy in their own right — with a mystical touch.

Oh, and for the record, we don't think it's very nice to call anyone's wedding tacky; it may not be your taste, but that doesn't make it cheesy.

Wish you could enlist a personal trainer to help you reach your fitness goals in time for the big day? Now's your chance: Join Bridal Guide Magazine and workout guru Sue Fleming on Friday, August 5 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (EST)  for a live chat on our Facebook page!

Here's how it works, in three easy steps:

Step 1. Become a fan of Bridal Guide Magazine by clicking the "Like" button at  facebook.com/bridalguide.

Step 2. Stay tuned for the following prompt, which will go live on Friday at 11 a.m. (EST):

FITNESS FRIDAY: Wish you had a personal trainer? Now's your chance: Leave a comment below with your fitness question and workout guru Sue Fleming will give you personalized advice!

Step 3. Ask us your question on our Facebook wall and Sue will answer you live on the spot.

Sue knows a thing or two about how to train brides-to-be: she's the creator of the Buff Fitness® workout regimen, which led to the "Buff Brides" reality TV series (still in reruns on Fit TV) and numerous DVDs, including Buff Brides, Buff Moms, Buff Moms-to-Be and Fashionably Buff.  Whether you're an exercise beginner or an accomplished athlete, Sue's got the advice you need to look (and feel) like the most beautiful version of yourself for your wedding. So ask away, don't be shy—spread the word to your 'maids and MOB, too!

—Stefania Sainato

Oh, this is just too good...

New York Magazine is reporting that Jersey Shore star Mike Sorrentino, aka "The Situation," is supposedly going to be the face of a new line of tuxedos named after him, thanks to a company called Flow Formal. And, naturally, he'll be earning a six-figure sum for this.

The company is planning to launch the line in February 2012. "This is great for us and great for the industry," Brian Weintraub, CEO of Flow Formal, has said. "[Tuxedos have] become an old man thing."

Look, I can understand a tuxedo company trying to target a younger customer, but here's my question: why The Situation? There are plenty of charming, handsome young men in Hollywood today, so why choose a guy best known for wearing Ed Hardy muscle tees, being a womanizer, binge drinking, and flashing his abs to anyone who will look as the face of a tuxedo line? Maybe it's just me, but I think it sends some mixed messages about the way you're supposed to behave when donning a tuxedo—which, by the way, is like a gentleman...

BG brides, what do you think? Would your groom wear a tuxedo from The Situation's new line on his wedding day? Or perhaps the real question is: would you let him?

—Kelsie Allen

Photo Credit: MTV

We're so excited to share our new interactive Jamaica brochure with you! It's packed with everything you need to know to plan your perfect destination wedding or honeymoon.

Inside, you'll find guides to romantic resorts, easy ways to book flights and hotels, and ideas for adding personal touches to the island wedding of your dreams.

Check it out, and let us know what you think!

Here's a wedding story that gives new meaning to the vows "in sickness and in health."

Just two months before her wedding, Rachelle Friedman was paralyzed during a freak accident at her bachelorette party. “We got home, ran upstairs and changed into our bathing suits. My best friend — and she still is my best friend — she playfully pushed me in like we've done a million times," Friedman has said. But this time, Friedman slammed her head on the bottom of the pool, leaving her permanently paralyzed.

The couple postponed their wedding, but their commitment never wavered. A year later, Rachelle and Chris Chapman were married on July 22. Their videographer, Matt Davis (owner of Life Stage Films), has shared with us a clip from their wedding, and it's truly the most heartwarming video we've ever seen.

"In a day when divorce is just as common as marriage and people decide to walk away from their spouses or their marriages when things get ‘tough’ or they don't get their way, it should impact anyone watching this," he said. "To see others not only have much bigger problems and obstacles, but with a selfless – not a selfish – mindset and heart, it makes you see life is much fuller."

Okay, we know you're getting tired of hearing about Kim's wedding (I have to admit, so am I). But this is actually kind of cute...

To celebrate her upcoming nuptials, Kim Kardashian has released a limited-edition fragrance, Love by Kim Kardashian.

Only 1,000 bottles have been produced—one for Kim to wear on her wedding day, 200 for her bridal shower, and 799 available for purchase. The cost? $100.

It's described as a "soft, feminine scent" that  "opens with top notes of sparkling red currant, pink freesia and star jasmine. A heart of French mimosa, rare Egyptian tuberose, and rose absolute orpur eases into a rich background of sensual musk, creamy sandalwood, and orris butter".

“I used to think falling in love was the most incredible feeling,” said Kim Kardashian in a release. “But now I see there’s nothing more special than the enduring beauty of building a life with your other half and watching your love grow, each and every day.”

The best part is the packaging. The bottle itself is reminiscent of an engagement ring and is embellished with 450 sparkly stones. It's presented in a case inspired by a ring box. And each bottle numbered and signed by Kim.

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

More on Kim's Wedding:

It may be my job description to tell you where to travel, but did you know I’m also pretty well-versed in how to travel? A series of trails and fails and successes in my personal globe-hopping experiences makes it a little easier for you.

Check out the Sept/Oct issue (on newsstands now) of your fave bridal mag for some of my tips on booking the best excursion. And the next one has all you need to know about tipping.

In addition to those "i" dots and "t" crossing type subjects, I’ve also gathered a bunch of what-to-wear advice while on the road. I stash a bunch of jersey dresses in my carry-on and add scarves, heels and chunky costume jewelry at night. And during the day, I pretty much always wear Toms shoes. To say I’m obsessed could be considered and understatement.