When it comes to finding your dream dress, planning the best wedding ever or deciding on just the right honeymoon spot for your getaway, our November/December 2013 issue has you covered!

You’ll find fashions that are ideal for your body type,

Chic, sophisticated gowns with a stylish, retro vibe:

...and the prettiest party-perfect looks for your attendants, from the littlest flower girl to your junior bridesmaids and BFFs:

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our fun shoot here — we asked the girls to decribe their dream weddings, and their answers are just precious:

We also feature some of the hottest new trends:

Our workout on Saturday morning with Bonne Marcus was tough! Since I had a busy day with only 45 minutes to exercise, I thought it would be easy — boy, was I wrong. She introduced a Tabata workout, and it killed us!

The workout was broken into seven sets of moves, focusing on different body parts. You do one exercise for 50 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, then do the next for 50 seconds, rest for another 10 seconds, and repeat each one another time. 

The first set consisted of kettle bell swings for 50 seconds. I liked doing this because it really got my heart rate up, so I knew it was helping burn calories. The second set consisted of 50 seconds of step-ups and then 50 seconds of knee-downs, one time through on each leg. The other sets were filled with bicep, triceps, shoulders, abs and more leg exercises. It went quickly, but it was not easy to get through! We were sore before we even left her house.

I spent the rest of the day running errands and hanging out at a friend’s house. It was beautiful out that evening, so Rene and I cooked Porterhouse steaks on the grill and hung out outside. I made roasted Parmesan cauliflower and green beans to go with dinner, and it was delicious. We also drank Oktoberfest beer, which was pretty delicious, too — I only had two, though! I love that fall is almost here. I even bought a new pumpkin spice candle today.

Sunday, we were both very sore. Rene was out watching football at his friend’s house, so I got a pedicure with my mom, went food shopping with my girlfriend, and spent the day preparing dinner and lunches for the week. All in all, a very relaxing weekend.

Monday, September 9

An incredibly moving story came across my desk recently that I’d like to share with you. Last December, San Jose, CA hairstylist, Jen Bulik, received the worst news possible and was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. She and her boyfriend of six years, Jeff Lang, a yoga instructor, decided to marry as soon as possible. Due to time constraints, her illness and limited finances, they planned to have a very low-key backyard barbecue.

That is, until Jen’s friend, Emily LeDeau, posted Jen’s story on a Facebook group page for wedding professionals. Enter wedding planner Erica Ota (right), who spotted the post and immediately responded. She offered her services, met with the couple and was so moved by their story that she decided to give them a wedding they could only dream about. “As a former social worker, I met countless people with terminal illnesses but was only able to offer emotional support. However, as a wedding planner, I now had the ability and resources to do a lot more for them,” says Erica.

As any bride-to-be will tell you, planning a wedding is no cakewalk! According to a recent survey of BG brides, 40% of couples spend between 13 and 18 months planning their wedding, and over 90% opt to create and organize their big day without the help of coordinators or planners.

Although couples are certainly devoting the time and energy to turn their dream days into realities, occasional planning fiascos are bound to occur. Between juggling countless vendors, appointments, and schedules — along with their everyday priorities — couples are spread paper-thin. We reached out to brides about the challenges they faced and how they powered through to have their perfect weddings.

1. Disappearing Baker

Theresa Roma searched for a local baker who could create her ideal wedding cake. She received quotes averaging $750 until she met a relatively new baker who offered to provide the cake for $400.

"She was young and just beginning," Roma says. "But her pictures were beautiful, she was willing to be flexible and do what we wanted, and she provided samples of her cake." She signed a contract that day (November 10) and put down a $200 deposit.

But when Roma's mother tried to contact the baker in April to order a cake for the bridal shower, all of the phone numbers they had were disconnected, and both the website and the storefront were gone. All emails to the vendor went unanswered.