Since the moment I got engaged, I have truly relished wedding planning. I never really understood how much work and love goes into weddings until I became a bride-to-be; I can count the number of nuptials I've attended on one hand and only three of them took place within the last 10 years! Now, almost four months away from my own walk down the aisle, I have a much better understanding of weddings and a new outlook on celebrations in general.

1. I vow to never be upset if I’m not invited to someone’s wedding.

Prior to getting engaged, I had no clue how much weddings cost and what a huge impact just a few guests can have on the party budget. As a result, I will never be upset if I'm not invited to someone's wedding. On the flip side, I won't find it strange if someone I'm not particularly close to does invite me to their wedding in an attempt to be inclusive and not leave anyone out.

Technology is everywhere: At home, at work... and even on our dates? Mike Duerksen proved that to be true as he live-tweeted his 12-hour marriage proposal, consisting of eight dates on Friday the 13th, while hundreds of Twitter fans followed along.

The day before the proposal, Mike let Twitter followers know what he was planning (his girlfriend doesn't use Twitter) and invited them to follow him with the hashtag #MikeProposes. The next day, he led his girlfriend—and the Twitter world—on a whirlwind romance to eight different locations, each with a special meaning.  

He kept his followers in the loop with tweets and instagram photos from each place.

“Wishing best of luck to @mikeduerksen today! #MikeProposes is such a cool idea!” tweeted @MClinton007.

“@mikeduerksen #mikeproposes I'm not one for total mush but this is freaking adorable. Setting the standards high for all the guys out there!” @_dianer tweeted. 

Mike kept his followers updated every step of the way, even if his girlfriend may have disliked it.

Each week, we feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from Virginia-based DJ Drew Izm. His style features a wide range of music, mixing together sets that please audiences of all ages and walks of life. He has spun numerous events, including New Year's Eve on the high seas for Royal Caribbean, fashion shows with Macy's, and guest appearances at the rooftop pavillion of the W hotel in the nation's capital. Drew loves when couples are excited about the music for their wedding. "I think everyone has been to weddings where its all by-the-book, but I know there are many couples who want a party! Its a great opportunity for friends and family to get dressed up and then get down!” 

Photo Credit: K&K Photography

Interviewing potential vendors is like going on an awkward first date — you both hope there's chemistry, but it can be confusing to know exactly what to say (even for a Wedding Editor like myself!). Follow our new "10 Questions to Ask..." blog series with experts from each field who will break it down for you step-by-step. This week, contributors Julie Hill from Elysium Productions and Lori Roche of I Do Films show us how to find a winning videographer.

1. How did you get started filming weddings and is it your main business? How long have you been in the weddings industry?

"Weddings are 'run and gun' shooting situations with no set-ups or second takes, so you need to make sure your filmmaker is prepared for anything," said Julie Hill of Elysium Productions. They must be equipped to handle unforeseen challenges but also anticipate valuable, smaller moments that more inexperienced vendors might miss, like noticing the groom look lovingly at the bride and knowing he's about to squeeze her hand, so the focus of the camera needs to pan down.

Knowing their back story will give you insight about whether they truly love filming weddings, or if they view it as a way to pay the bills in between other video projects. "The amount of experience a videographer has isn't always as important as how passionate they are about their craft and their desire to work with you to make an amazing wedding video," said Lori Roche of I Do Films.