Bride’s Blog

Krissy Wendell (star player for the U.S. women’s Olympic ice hockey team) and John Pohl (player for the Maple Leafs of the NHL) scored a goal when they decided to get married. The hockey lovers exchanged vows in a local church located in Minnesota among 200 guests. It was no coincidence that the happy couple got married at the same church in which Wendell’s parents were married. The Rose Hill Alliance Church must be a special place for this family!

Hockey gear was nowhere to be found in Wendell and Pohl’s wedding attire. Wendell was quite a beauty in her white gown and 4-foot train designed by Mori Lee. Pohl apparently didn’t want to come in as the runner up—his sharp black Ralph Lauren tuxedo accented by a white vest made quite a statement!

Krissy and John began their relationship as friends first and eventually made their way to each other’s hearts. It is always refreshing to hear about two people falling in love.

Getting engaged apparently has different meanings depending on the persons involved.

Earlier this year, Drumline star, Nick Cannon proposed to girlfriend and Victoria Secret model Selita Ebanks. The couple has yet to set a date or location for their wedding. In fact, the couple has not really discussed many plans about getting married at all. What’s the hold up? According to reporters, Cannon is in no rush to tie the knot. He is a fan of long engagements and feels that it is important for he and Ebanks to get to know each other a little better. Isn’t that the purpose of dating?

Apparently, Cannon has his own definition of engagement. For most, getting engaged means that there is an actual commitment to one another and typically the couple begins to make wedding plans—if not definite plans, at least make it a topic of discussion. What is the point of an engagement if there is no real discussion about having a wedding? Again, every couple is different.

Want to express your opinion about Nick Cannon’s idea of an engagement? How long do you think their engagement will last? Post your comments here…

Why did The Bachelor cancel his wedding plans? Did he get cold feet?

Last season, fans of the popular television series, The Bachelor, anxiously waited for the moment when Lt. Andy Baldwin would choose his special lady. Well, Tessa Horst was the lucky woman this time around! Apparently sparks were flying on the set of this hit television series because Baldwin decided to propose to Horst on the season finale. This is only the second time in the history of the show that a marriage proposal took place!

Unfortunately, Andy and Tessa recently have decided that it would be best to call off their engagement. According to People Magazine, the couple is very much in love and would like to continue their relationship, but getting married is not a pressing issue at the moment.

Many couples break off their engagement for various reasons. Sometimes it is a result of infidelity, a difference of opinion, or incompatibly. Well, Baldwin and Horst do not claim to face any of these issues. Read further to find out why The Bachelor is not engaged anymore.

Aside from the upcoming 2008 Presidential Election, there is going to be a new member to add to the White House!

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush recently announced the engagement of their daughter, Jenna Bush to boyfriend Henry Hager. According to reporters, Jenna’s parents are happy for the couple. The marriage proposal took place on August 15, 2007, but no wedding plans have been announced as of yet.

It’s going to be pretty interesting to watch the new developments that will take place concerning the Bush-Hager engagement. In the meantime, Jenna is working on releasing her new book entitled Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope. She is also working in collaboration with her mother, Laura Bush, to publish a children’s book, not yet titled.

The White House is going to be pretty busy with Jenna and Henry’s wedding plans, the new book releases, and the upcoming 2008 Presidential Election!

How did Backstreet Boy, Howie Dorough, manage to keep his engagement a secret for more than 6 months? Dorough decided to propose to his longtime girlfriend and soul mate of 6 years on New Years Eve. However, the couple made the mutual decision to keep their engagement hush-hush for a while. Dorough and his girlfriend, Leigh Boniello, finally decided that it was okay to spread their good news since the wedding will take place in the very near future.

Using a longtime joke about carrots as his punch line, Howie, proposed to Leigh in front of her family. He told People Magazine in so many words, that it is easier to perform in front of an audience of 40,000 people, than to propose to his girlfriend in the presence of 40 members of her family members. Boniello’s engagement ring consisted of more than three carats—what a proposal!

Want to find out more about Dorough and Boniello’s engagement? Read further

Brides sometimes find it difficult to come across the perfect bridesmaids gift. On the other hand, bridesmaids have a similar problem with finding the ideal gift for the bride. When it comes to true friendships, great gifts are hard to come by…or are they?

Despite the theme of a bridal shower, giving the bride an informative, funny, yet spirited book is always in order. One manuscript that is climbing the charts in the wedding industry is Chicken Soup For The Bride’s Soul, written by four best-selling authors. This paperback is filled with stories of love and romance to help encourage brides as they prepare for a lifetime of marriage.

If you are looking for that perfect gift for the bride-to-be then you may consider giving her a copy of Chicken Soup For The Bride’s Soul. For a list of other great marriage books, click here…

If you are not the type of bridesmaid that likes to by books for others, then you might consider giving her bridal jewelry. Not only is wedding jewelry a beautiful gift for a bride, but also it is useful. Click here for bridal jewelry gift ideas.

While rumors were circulating concerning Usher and Tameka Foster’s cancelled wedding, the couple shocked everyone and got married on Friday, August 4 before Usher’s attorney. Their wedding was originally scheduled to take place last month, but was cancelled due to personal complications. Some speculated that Usher and Foster were on the outs about their wedding plans and others blamed it on boyfriend mama drama. Fortunately, Tameka cleared up these rumors by revealing that she was having pregnancy complications and had to go to the emergency room. Foster announced that she and the baby are doing well. To everyone’s surprise, the couple forfeited their extravagant wedding plans, which included $10,000-wedding invitations, a performance by Robin Thicke, and a reception catered by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The couple’s actual wedding was private and took place in the office of Usher’s attorney—what a drastic change! Well, extravagant wedding or not, the couple is officially married.

Today a wedding took place in Shanghai between an NBA superstar and a Chinese national basketball player. Can you guess who they are? Star center for the Houston Rockets, Yao Ming, exchanged vows with his basketball girlfriend Ye Li in Ming’s hometown.

The 70-guest wedding took place at Shangri-La Hotel where at least 100 reporters anxiously waited to get the scoop on Ming’s nuptials. Having a private wedding is pretty difficult for a 7 foot 6 inch-groom and a 6 foot 2 inch-bride. Hiding from paparazzi must get awkward at times!

Sources report that the couple met as teenagers back in 1999. Apparently, their puppy love matured into pure romance. It will be interesting to watch Ming and Li start a family in the future—that’s if they plan to have children. We’ll keep our ears open for any developing stories on this newlywed couple.

Many couples grow to love a particular love song while they are dating. Sometimes the song is one that they danced to on their first date, or maybe it’s a song that was playing on the radio when they had their first kiss…

A romantic gesture that some couples conform to is playing their favorite song at their wedding. There are several ways that couples can incorporate their favorite song into their wedding day. One method is to play the song as the groom comes down the aisle. Another option is to have the song playing while the guests are taking their seats. Some couples opt to save their beloved song for their first dance as husband and wife, which is a logical choice.

Believe it or not, some love songs contain lyrics that are not appropriate for a wedding ceremony. If you and your fiancé would like to incorporate your favorite love song into your wedding day without offending your guests, then you may consider playing the instrumental version or just a portion of the song.

Whether your favorite song was adopted after your first kiss, your first dance, or during love at first sight, celebrating your love through song is a romantic beginning to an everlasting marriage.

Just when we think that things are calming down in Hollywood, someone else steps up to bat. There is always something strange taking place in L.A. According to reporters, Steve Martin invited 75 guests to his home for what was said to be a party. You might ask, what’s so strange about a party at Steve Martin’s house?

When the guests arrived it was acknowledged that they had been invited to a surprise wedding instead—not just any wedding—Steve Martin’s wedding! On Saturday, July 28, Martin married girlfriend Anne Stringfield, who is 26 years younger than he. Tom Hanks, Diane Keaton, and other celebrities were in attendance to Martin’s wedding. The best man was none other than Lorne Michaels, the mastermind behind Saturday Night Live.

Reporters did not reveal Steve Martin’s reason for keeping his wedding a secret. Maybe the surprise was meant to add to the romantic ambiance?

Past relationships can cause a little turmoil when it comes to making the guest list. Some couples find it difficult to accept friendships between exes. In order to avoid hurt feelings it is important to communicate with your fiancé openly and honestly. If your fiancé is adamant about not inviting your ex to the wedding it is best to follow suit. After all, your wedding day is about the bride and the groom.

If you are amongst the couples that have agreed to invite your exes to the wedding, there is proper etiquette to follow during the wedding. Below you will find a list of do’s and don’ts for inviting exes to your wedding day.

Do allow your ex to bring a guest to the wedding.
Do greet your ex and thank him/her for attending.
Don’t dance with your ex.
Don’t spend too much time talking to your ex.
Don’t introduce your ex as your “ex”—“friend” is more appropriate.

For more tips on inviting your ex to your wedding, read further…

Most jewelry designed for bridesmaids can be used on many occasions especially for almost any formal occasion. This helps bridesmaids to choose jewelry for their friends wedding day, and it can make it easier for a bride to suggest affordable pieces to their bridesmaids. Most brides want their bridesmaids to look good but not take away from the bride as center of attention.y.

Bridesmaid accessories usually consist of earrings, a necklace or bracelet. A bride should consider giving her girlfriends bridesmaid jewelry as a gift. This gift may include necklaces that compliment their attire for the wedding day, a pair of earrings, and for a beach-side wedding the bridesmaid jewelry pieces may be a Tiffany inspired starfish bracelet or a Clamshell Crystal Necklace These may also be appropriate for a destination wedding.

Many brides sacrifice a lot of time in order to make their wedding dreams come true. Balancing work, relationships, and wedding planning can get very stressful. Time-management skills are the solution to every busy bride’s problems. Below you will find a few helpful strategies that may make your life as a busy bride a lot easier!

Organization is the key- One of the greatest contributors to stress is disorganization. A great way to organize your wedding plans is to record your plans in a planner. There are several wedding planners on the market that are specifically designed for the busy bride. However, a regular appointment planner will also suffice.

Use E-mail- It is very important that you communicate with your wedding party on a weekly basis. While it may be impossible to personally contact each attendant, individually, sending mass emails is the perfect solution to this problem.

Plan around your work schedule- Take advantage of your lunchtime. You can use this opportunity to make phone calls, jot down ideas, run errands, or send emails.

Delegate tasks- you should not hesitate to put your bridesmaids, friends, and family to work. Take advantage of offers from others to help. Small tasks that are not bride-specific can be handed off to others. You’ll be surprised just how willing your loved ones are to help.

For 10 tips to help you manage your wedding planning time, read more...

Of the most important decisions that a couple will make while planning their wedding, choosing the right photographer ranks high on the list. There are two things that a couple will cherish the most, years after their wedding—a distant memory and their wedding album! When deciding on the best photographer and the type of photographs to use, many couples are clueless. Shopping for the best deal is usually at the forefront of decision-making more than anything else. What should couples consider when choosing the right photographer?

Modern photographers are turning more toward digital cameras rather than your traditional 35mm camera. While film is growing less popular, there remains to be several benefits to using film. According to the experts, storing your wedding on film can help preserve them for years and years to come. Digital photos, on the other hand, may not last quite as long due to technological advances and equipment upgrades.

While, digital photos produce a more crisp visual quality, it tends to lack the subtle appeal that film produces. The intimacy of a wedding ceremony can be preserved on film more accurately than with digital photography, according to some experts. However, the turnaround time that a couple will receive their digital photos is more efficient than with film.

If you are undecided about which type of photography will best suit your needs, read further for more pros and cons…

Some other photography ideas.

Antique bridal jewelry can be used to create a wonderful effect combined with modern jewelry if the modern bride chooses the right accessories. Today’s bride can create a contemporary style by mixing her old family heirloom with a new element. See how you can incorporate a little family history with modern bridal jewelry.

There are numerous advice centers on how the bride should go about choosing bridesmaids gifts, but how should the bridesmaids go about selecting a bridesmaids gift to the bride? Here are some ideas on how the bridesmaids can select a gift for the bride.

Bridesmaids work very hard to support the bride during her engagement. While love and friendship are their number one motivation, bridesmaids deserve to be rewarded with an appropriate gift. If you are a bride that is looking for the perfect gift for your bridesmaids, then you may consider buying your girlfriends the bridesmaids survival kit.

The survival kit makes an excellent bridesmaids gift for every girl. Give a monogrammed cosmetic case with everything a girl needs to make it through an entire day. Some of the items contained in the bridesmaids survival kit includes: a hairbrush, hairspray, ponytail holder, mirror, band-aids, feminine hygiene products, and much more.

Sometimes the unexpected will happen and it is important to be prepared on your wedding day. Giving your bridesmaids a gift that they can use will create an everlasting memory. If you are looking for other great bridesmaids gift ideas then shop here…

A popular idea is have a wedding based on a theme. Themes can be centered around time of year ie..spring,fall,winter etc. or based on a holiday such as Christmas, New Year’s day etc. Another great theme idea is the location of the wedding such as the mountains or the beach.

A way to complement the theme is to choose bridesmaids gifts based on the theme of the wedding. For a destination wedding where there may be significant travel a suitable bridesmaids gift may be a personalized garment bag

If the Theme is a beach wedding some great bridesmaids gifts would be a Tiffany style starfish necklace or a Tiffany style dolphin necklace would be a nice gift for your bridesmaids.

Getting married is very exciting! Hosting a bridal shower is the perfect way for a bride to celebrate her engagement amongst her closest female friends and family members. Serving a cake for dessert is a popular tradition among bridal shower hosts. However, one dessert that you may consider serving is sherbet. Serving a cool refreshing treat such as sherbet to your guests is a perfect way to indulge them while the bride opens her gifts.

Most weddings take place during the summer months; therefore sherbet is the perfect dessert to serve on a hot day. You may consider offering a choice of flavors (raspberry, lime, orange, rainbow, etc.). Serving sherbet in a dessert cup along with a slice of fruit will add a nice decorative touch.

Another alternative to sherbet is sorbet or mousse. Both are easy to serve, non-traditional, and tasty! Your guests are sure to enjoy one of these refreshing treats on a hot summer day. Remember, there is more to dessert than settling for cake.

For more bridal shower dessert ideas visit