Photo of the Day
Jenny Liu Photography
We love this creative idea for your engagement announcement or save-the-date card!
Jenny Liu Photography
We love this creative idea for your engagement announcement or save-the-date card!
Hot off his recent Grammy win for best pop vocal album, Bruno Mars will take the field in New Jersey on Sunday to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. Though he's still a relatively new artist — his debut album came out in 2010 — he's topped the charts with five number-one singles in that time, including some tunes that have become wedding must-haves. In honor of his upcoming Super Bowl show, Star Talent put together a list of the best Bruno Mars songs to play at your wedding. Enjoy!
For Your Processional: "Marry You" (Instrumental)
This softer version of the popular tune is perfect for your walk down the aisle. Or, play the original version for a fun bridal party entrance.
For Your Reception Entrance: "Treasure"
With lyrics like “I know you can make my wish come true if you let me treasure you,” this song is ideal for your first post-ceremony appearance together. It sets the tone for a fun-filled reception while also serving representing the love you have for one another.
For Your First Dance: "Rest of My Life"
This lesser-known ballad has such swoon-worthy lyrics, like "It took us a lifetime to find each other / It was worth the wait cause I finally found the one / Never in my dreams did I think that this would happen to me."
Photo by: Something Turquoise
Tip of the Day: You don’t want to jeopardize your day job, so have your planning to-do list prepped the night before, then stick to planning duties only during off-times such as over your morning coffee and/or during your lunch hour. You should only be moonlighting as a wedding planner — it should not replace your full-time career.
Plus, check out our Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Wedding. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great wedding tips and advice.
Last weekend, I visited San Diego with my fiancé Chris to check out some potential wedding locations. We saw six venues in two days, which made for a whirlwind experience. It was so much fun! In fact, I could get used to all of this shopping around, but we need to book our date soon so that guests have nine months to plan for our out-of-state destination wedding.
The trip had extra-special significance to me because we also attended a remembrance ceremony in honor of my late grandmother who passed away one year ago. She lived in La Jolla since 1979 and I would visit her every chance I got. Visiting wedding venues there brought back great memories of walking along the shoreline with her and having gelato. I always told her how much I wanted her to be at my wedding. In true granny style, she would throw up her hands and laugh. "I took too long!" she'd say. Granny, you'll still be there in spirit, looking over us from your ocean-view room.
The author pictured at left with her late grandmother
Check out our venue photo diary, along with some tips we learned along the way!
Venue Option #1: Tom Ham's Lighthouse
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse was GORGEOUS! A good friend of mine in Sacramento told me to check it out because she knew we wanted an ocean view. And at that place, we sure got one. With huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown San Diego, Chris and I almost felt as if we were on a boat.
Starting your wedding registry soon? Karin Sun, co-founder of Crane & Canopy, shares the most common mistakes couples make when choosing their bedding.
Mistake #1: Choosing bedding with the highest thread count.
Most people think the higher the tread count, the better the sheets. But Sun warns that thread count doesn't give you the entire picture. "There are only three things I look for in my bedding choice to get that optimum soft, silky, and smooth feel — the fabrics are between 300 and 450 thread count, made from extra-long staple single-ply cotton, and in a sateen weave," she said.
Mistake #2: Thinking you need to choose "grown-up" colors.
"Don’t shop for bedding like you would your formal china," recommended Sun. "The look of luxury does not mean your linens need to be white." Instead, add some personality to your bedroom with pops of colors and patterns.
Are you ready for some football? We love this fun reception entrance! Get more football-themed wedding ideas ►
Photo Credit: Erin Johnson on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly
Israel-born actress Natalie Portman and French choreographer Benjamin Millepied tied the knot in a private Jewish ceremony back in 2012. Now, the parents to two-year-old Aleph are living in Israel while Portman works on her directorial debut, an adaptation of A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz. After "falling in love with the country," Millepied has reportedly decided to convert to Judaism.
When I met Jake, I never would have guessed that we'd eventually become husband and wife. In 2011, we both made the terrifying decision to move to Los Angeles to work for a motivational media company, which required us to speak to hundreds of students every day. When I picked him up at the airport, I was greeted with a half-awake, rather cranky individual.
Later that same day, I heard someone playing my favorite Coldplay song ("The Scientist") on the piano by the girls dorm, and I looked over at my bunkmate and said, "I'm going to marry whoever is playing that!" I was being sarcastic but lo and behold, I found out the musician was that same crabby traveler I had just met. I giggled and didn't think much of it...until I married him two years later on September 21st, 2013 in a very glittery, purple, rustic outdoor wedding.
I come from a family that isn’t what you would call close. We all keep to ourselves and only meet up about once a year for the holidays. I'm also an only child. So, when I found out that my boyfriend had a tight-knit family and multiple siblings, I was beyond excited and couldn't wait to join a family who invested in each other.
Soon after meeting the man I knew I was going to marry, I flew to his parents' house for Thanksgiving. I never thought anything could go wrong but I still had this weird, nervous feeling in my gut. I rationalized that I was getting frazzled because of the fact that these people would be my future in-laws — forever. My boyfriend at the time was also a bit nervous because I was the first woman he had ever dated and brought home to meet his parents.
Photo by: Serendipity Corner Photography on Polka-Dot Bride via Lover.ly
Photo by: Life in Bloom Photography on Inspired by This via Lover.ly
Tip of the Day: Last year's weddings seemed to feature a lot of couches and chairs in a field for photos, and a terrific new prop for this season’s artistic wedding photos is a ladder. Not a metal ladder from a home supply shop, but rather a wooden ladder with lots of personality and history. Ask your Dad, your grandfather or a family friend if you can borrow their old, paint-spattered ladder for your wedding. They might be confused at first, but they’ll get it once they see the beautiful finished product like the photo pictured above!
Plus, check out 75 Must-Have Photos with Your Groom. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great wedding tips and advice.