July 14th

Photo Credit: Brushfire Photography on Smitten Mag via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Incorporate seasonal guest comforts in your wedding. Getting married during the summer? Michael Winship of Winship Productions suggests having a tent on "rain reserve," putting your wedding program on a fan, giving out sunglasses as wedding favors, offering buckets of iced beverages and providing wet towelettes/cooling face mist if it's going to be a hot day.

Plus, check out Wedding Ideas for Every Season.

July 11th

Photo Credit: George Street Photo & Video

Tip of the Day: While you’re caught up in the joy and happiness of the day, you’ll be relying on your photographer to capture all the important highlights. But, what about those spontaneous moments you haven’t accounted for? That’s where your second shooter steps in!

"It’s moments like the glow on your fiance’s face when you walk down the aisle, or the happy tears your mom sheds during your first dance, that are too beautiful to go unnoticed! By hiring a second shooter to work with your lead photographer on your wedding day, you’ll sleep well knowing that no sweet moment will go un captured," says Amanda Liberatore at George Street Photo & Video.

Plus, find out How to Get Gorgeous Wedding Photos.

Watch: News Anchor's Adorable On-Air Proposal

It was a typical work day at KWES TV for Alexa Williams until the story she was covering turned out to be her own marriage proposal!

The Texas-based news anchor began reading the script, which stated that "An Odessa woman is about to get the surprise of her life, and eventually a last name." She was barely able to finish her sentence as her boyfriend, Wayne Dunson, appeared on the set with a bouquet of roses and a ring.

Watch the surprise proposal here:

Williams, 23, was in disbelief even as Dunson told her that he wanted to love her for the rest of his life. Then, with all of Williams's co-workers eagerly looking on, the real estate broker got down on one knee and asked, "I just wanted to know, will you love me for the rest of yours?"

The answer was a resounding "yes!" and the bride-to-be was so happy that she almost forgot to put on the ring. After the proposal, she posted on Facebook that "Working on the 4th of July turned into the best day of my life!" 

Congratulations to the happy couple! Plus, check out 48 Heartwarming Proposal Stories.

— Mary Gillen 

Wedding Weight-Loss: Bachelorette Party and Getting Back on Track

Trying to lose weight amid all of the celebrations that come along with getting married is no easy task. From your wedding shower to your bachelorette party there are so many temptations that can throw a healthy diet off track. 

I recently celebrated round one of my two planned bachelorette parties and it was one of the best weekends of my life. The only downfall of my getaway was the extra weight I packed on during it. 

Here's how I spent my weekend and what I did to regain control of my weight-loss: 

bachelorette bash friends

My girlfriends rented a house in Narraganset, a small town right outside of Newport, Rode Island and it was so cute and perfect for the seven of us. A great advantange of renting a house is you can cook for yourself, alowing you to save money on dining out and you can prepare heathier meals than you would get at a restaurant!

Tip: If you’re looking for bachelorette party ideas I would highly recommend looking into renting a house in a cool beach town like Newport. You can look for house rentals on websites such as VRBO.com or Airbnb.com.

When you are traveling with a large group of people, renting a house can be cheaper and has less restrictions than staying in individual hotel rooms. My bridesmaids decorated the entire house and made personalized shirts and wine glasses. 

July 10

Photo Credit: Jose Villa

Tip of the Day: If you're using a Pinterest board to gather ideas and inspiration for your wedding, make sure to go in every so often and "clean up." "Delete photos that no longer fit your wedding style and/or theme, this will help keep you focused and help keep a cohesive look for your wedding. Too much inspiration can lead to confusion," advises Brooklyn-based wedding and events planner Laura Remmert of Laura Remmert Events.

Plus, check out 10 Ways to Keep Your Sanity While Planning a Wedding.

Father's Quest to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle Will Leave You in Tears

The emotional pinnacle of any wedding is the bride's walk down the aisle and the parent spotlight dances are a close second. Many of us take these special moments with our parents for granted, but for 25-year-old bride Lindsay Nieto, performing them at her nuptials on July 5 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California was nothing short of a miracle. 

Lindsay's 56-year-old father, Augie, has battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease), for the past decade. This progressive neurodegenerative disease affects nerve cells to the brain and spinal cord, which may lead to total paralysis in later stages. Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year.

Augie lost the use of his arms and legs, and he also underwent a trachetomy that rendered him unable to speak. After seeing her dad suffer for so long, the bride opened up to BG that she had given up hope that he would be able to participate in escorting her down the aisle. It was an incredible testament to his hard work and dedication to train throughout the past year. 

"It was the most important walk I had ever taken with my dad by my side and my husband Chris waiting at the end of the aisle. I felt overwhelmed by the love shared by our joined families as they supported Chris and I. We all laughed and cried together," she says.

In a role reversal, this father was determined to make his youngest child proud: "She made me feel loved and that no matter what I did, it would be okay and I was a success! What a wonderful way to take the pressure off," he tells us. Augie was able to mouth "I love you, and I'm so proud of you" to Lindsay during the ceremony.

Get the Look: Jessica Simpson's Wedding Gown

Check out the first photos of Jessica Simpson's wedding gown, courtesy of People! This issue hits newsstands this Friday. Pick up a copy for all of the full details about her unique Great Expectations-themed nuptials on July 5 with Eric Johnson.

After waiting four years to get married — and having two kids together — Simpson yearned for a wedding that was anything but traditional, and her dress was no exception. The fashion-mogul bride wore a custom couture Carolina Herrera champagne gown with delicate gold embroidery, describing her wedding-day look as "romantic, ethereal and chic."

jessica simpson peoplejessica simpson wedding dress

Scan from the July 21, 2014 issue of People

Pages

Subscribe to BridalGuide RSS