As of last Friday, I officially have one year until I say I do! I can't believe how fast time went, and I can only imagine how quickly these next 12 months are going to go. Ah! Now it’s all really starting to sink in how close the big day actually is — and the need to lose the weight and plan the wedding of my dreams are both top priorities in my mind.

Last week, Rene and I attended a bridal expo on Monday and Tuesday night, where we met with various vendors and were able to schedule appointments and get information. So far, we decided on our florist and picked out the centerpieces, booked our photo booth (which was a must-have for Rene and me), and decided on a few little surprises we want to have at the reception. My next step to check off my list is finding a photographer and videographer. I know how important it is to find a great one, and I want to get my engagement photos done soon to get out my save-the-dates. Saturday morning, we met with a photographer/videographer, but I wasn't too impressed, so I need to make more appointments for this coming weekend. I need to find the perfect fit for us, and if it takes a few weeks to find it, then it’s all worth it.

Loverly is the heart of weddings: a visual inspiration search engine designed to help brides discover ideas, people to hire, and things to buy. Loverly makes finding beautiful wedding inspiration easier than ever! Their images are powered by the best wedding publishers and wedding shopping partners on the web. Find Bridal Guide on Loverly >>

You don’t have to live in a cramped New York City apartment (as my husband and I do) to appreciate the mini-me-sized approach to design. These products pack mega benefits in petite packages. Here, five ways to live large in a small space.

Who wants to push around a mongo vacuum cleaner when the Dyson DC50 gets the job done so efficiently? It’s lighter and smaller than its full-sized sister models, yet packs the same high performance, along with a new and more sophisticated patented brush-bar technology that self-adjusts to clean fine dust from hard floors with carbon fiber filaments, while stiff nylon bristles remove dirt from carpets ($499.99, dyson.com).

With its click-on, click-off handles, Cristel — stylish, stainless cookware from France — transitions from stove to tabletop with ease. But what we really value is how each piece stacks and nests into another for space saving of the highest order (from $99, cristelusa.com).