This past week on Wedding Wars was the most shocking elimination to date — we couldn't believe it when powerhouse couple Hollywood and Kat took their final walk down the aisle, especially after winning the gift challenge! The couples had to try and knock each other off of a platform with a giant Q-tip. Hollywood and Kat emerged victorious and won a $10,000 trip to Vegas for their bachelor and bachelorette parties, with eight of their nearest and dearest. “We think we won the best prize!” the couple said.

The security challenge lifted couples Rich and Marina, Brandon and Stephanie, and Kevin and Angel to immunity. The balloon arch challenge left some couples in higher spirits. Tensions were high as the wedding bells sounded, sending the group to the chapel to see who would go home.

The elimination came down to “M and M” (Mario and Melinda) and Hollywood and Kat. When BG asked the losing couple about their alliance, they revealed that they had felt “safe with the people they put their trust into” and the couples that turned were never really their friends.

Although Hollywood and Kat didn't win the $100,000 grand prize, they still have an amazing vacay to Vegas in the works, and their summer dream wedding will be fulfilled. According to Hollywood and Kat, “Our wedding will still be fire! It will be an evening candlelit ceremony full of friends, family, drinks and Cajun food!” Sign us up and we're there.

— Emily Gardner

(Photo courtesy of VH1)

The two-year-long engagement between Michael Bublé and Luisana Lopilato, an Argentine actress, finally came to a close with a wedding ceremony in Buenos Aires, this past weekend.

Lopilato wore a Marchesa gown and carried a bouquet of purple orchids as she walked down the isle to Bublé, who was wearing a sleek gray suit. The dress — a silk, chiffon, v-neck gown — had an embroidered waistline and shoulders. The flowing fabric and elegant design screams Marchesa.

The wedding, a civil ceremony, was for close friends and family, but there were of course fans gathered outside. The celebration continues this weekend with a larger ceremony. The couple is expecting 300 guests to be present for the extravagant affair outside Buenos Aires. Their honeymoon destination is most likely going to be Africa.
 
Lopilato’s wedding dress is part of the new collection from Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, the designers behind Marchesa. It’s specifically designed by Georgina and the collection’s available in the U.S., Canada, London, Hong Kong, and Kuwait.

— Samantha Corbin

Candles and chocolates are practically the staples of any epic love affair — incorporate these sweet touches into your reception to instantly set the mood for the most romantic night of your life!

Let There Be Light

One of the coolest items to come my way recently are these gorgeous handmade GloLite candles from PartyLite. Why? Unlike most candles, these pillars literally glow from top to bottom when lit. Yep, the entire candle (not just the top part), is illuminated!

The effect is quite beautiful — I can just picture them grouped together on reception tables, casting a romantic light throughout the room. (Caveat: Make sure your venue site allows candles!) They’re also perfect for any other wedding celebration, from bridal showers to rehearsal dinners, ceremonies and after-parties.

But why wait for the wedding? Enjoy them in your home now and set the mood for romance and relaxation. Go to partylite.com or call 888-999-5706 and shine the light!

As the owner of a luxury travel company, I’m often asked about the most popular destinations. For honeymooners, there are countries that become trendy for a few years and eventually fade away, and then there are perennial favorites. At Absolute Travel, the top three most popular destinations for newlyweds of all time are:

1. South Africa: There is no denying that there is something for everyone in South Africa: the winding roads of the Garden Route, cosmopolitan Cape Town, the Winelands region and, of course, safaris. The finest lodges pamper honeymooners while also indulging their appetite for adventure. We recommend several days in Cape Town to enjoy the restaurants and do some touring, a few nights in the Winelands region to sample the excellent local cuisine and wine, and then heading out on safari, preferably at two different lodges to see a variety of landscapes and animals. For the ultimate experience, conclude the trip with several days enjoying the beaches of Mauritius or Mozambique.

Searching for vendors whose work you love and taste you trust can be an overwhelming time suck — add creating a registry to your to-do list and the options seem endless! That's where 1-800-Registry comes in: this online wedding advisory service syncs up your vendor searches and registry, so that you can access both in one convenient profile. The website launches TODAY, so create your free profile to start browsing for customized vendors and compile a registry where guests can contribute towards that once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon or your starter home with the hubs. If you upgrade to the Gold Service ($19.95/month), you'll earn up to 10% back for every vendor that you book through the site, which goes towards your registry fund. If you're a Platinum bride ($39.95/month), you'll have access to the Wedding Concierge Service and the 1-800-Registry Wedding Planner. Dubious about enlisting the help of an online wedding specialist? Not to worry: They are all pre-screened and highly recommended by real-life brides.

For more information, visit 1800registry.com or call 1-888-734-4787.

— Emily Gardner

MORE ON BRIDALGUIDE.COM

• Reception Site Selection
• Arranging Wedding Day Transportation
• Prepare for Wedding Vendor Meetings

True story: My first flight out of JFK as a New Yorker was blessed by a famous face. It wasn’t the quintessential sighting of Robert De Niro, Woody Allen or even a top model. Nope, instead I was stuck with none other than '80s fitness phenom Richard Simmons. He was dressed in all of his workout garb—short shorts, tank-type top and a sweatband across his hair. Did I mention that it was the middle of February in New York? Pre-boarding, he came down to the gate area and led the entire flight in exercises to “combat all the lethargic movement of being in flight.” And yes, that is a direct quote. A lot of the passengers were into it, although the ground crew tried to convince him that he’d be more comfortable in the first class lounge. It looks like that airline is alone in their thinking, because today I stumbled upon the new air safety vid. Mr. Simmons taped for Air New Zealand:

— Jenna Mahoney

Can't get enough of the Royal Wedding Madness? Neither can we! Despite all of the far-fetched memorabilia — we love Kate and Wills, but that doesn't mean we're going to install a fridge plastered with their likeness in the BG kitchen — it's been riveting to see Ms. Middleton step into the role we've all secretly (or not so secretly) dreamed about since we were little girls. Prepare for the epic event (which will take place on April 29th, only about a month away!) by tuning into "William & Kate: Inside the Royal Wedding," a one-hour special that airs on TLC this Sunday, March 27th at 10/9c. The special gives viewers an exclusive look at all of the deets we've been speculating about for months now, including what Kate's wedding dress will look like and what Buckingham Palace's menu will include.

— Stefania Sainato

Do you ever fantasize about skipping town and sailing away to a private tropical island, where every magical detail of your "I Do" has already been planned for you? Now's your chance: You can "Run to the Altar" with 20 of your closest friends, off the coast of Antigua at Jumby Bay, a Rosewood Resort. The local government has updated their marriage policies, so in as little as 24 hours on the island, you can get hitched — Caribbean blue has never looked so inviting! 

"Run to the Altar" includes a stunning ceremony in a private setting (Jumby Bay is only accessible by boat), a Guest Services Manager to help you execute your vision, a marriage license and officer fees, champagne on the beach and dinner at the Estate House, a wedding cake for you and your guests, and music to dance the night away to, as well as a bridal bouquet and boutonniere...and that’s just for the wedding!

Worried that your friends and family won't be able to attend? The package comes with a three-night stay for up to 20 people in 10 beachside Courtyard suites, as well as round-trip airport transfers and a White Night Party welcome and rehearsal dinner. 

At the end of the night, you and hubby can retire to an upgraded Pool Suite and celebrate with a massage at SENSE, a Rosewood Spa. Jumby Bay will also provide a romantic wedding night turndown service for the bride and groom.

It may be my job, my title and my duty to travel, but even I have daydreams about actually taking a fabulous vacation. Don’t tell my boss, but I often sit here at my desk Googling fantasies of kicking back on some remote beach and not having to write about it (wink). I also imagine myself wandering through quaint undiscovered villages, when suddenly I decide to stay for a month or longer! I learn the language, I become a regular at the corner café…okay, now I’m getting a bit carried away. But one globetrotting fantasy of mine that may become your honeymoon reality is a romantic sail aboard a chartered boat. I recently met with the folks from YCO, a Monaco-based yacht charter company that has a fleet of vessel options all over the world. Personally, I dream about cruising around some islands of the Mediterranean on a masted sailboat. The company also hosts boats—all of which come equipped with a full-service crew—in the far-flung South Seas, nearby Caribbean and anywhere else your heart desires (hola, South America! G-day, Aussieland). For more information, go to ycoyacht.com.

— Jenna Mahoney