5. Offbeat Bride

Brides who are searching for non-traditional weddings or inspiration to include a more whimsical feel into your wedding this is the blog for you. Ariel is the author of the blog and book “Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides”. I love looking at the eye candy of all the offbeat weddings, not one wedding is alike.

*5 Hot Ways to Trash the Wedding Dress…

4. Style Me Pretty

Wedding trends, vintage glam, rustic, and vibrant weddings; if you are looking for it chances are Style Me Pretty has a picture of it. Features of wedding details, beautiful brides, funny grooms, and a voice from the bride or groom of these weddings posted is what you’ll find when you stalk this blog like I do.

*5 Reasons to Have Kids in Your Wedding…

3. With This Ring

Think Martha Stewart meets Etsy.com and you have Darci’s blog, which features photos of real weddings and links to wedding vendors.  If you look back in 2008 you’ll find her very own classy on the water wedding. I love all the wedding ideas that Darci shares from jewelry to wedding cakes. She now also shares details and ideas for your home over at With This Nest, so when you settle in after the honeymoon check out her other blog for great decorating tips.

 *10 Best Love Blogs for Women…

2. The Perfect Palette

Another Etsy.com lover. Some of the colorful inspiration boards are put together just with items from Etsy, which is wonderful for any bride looking for colors to choose for her own wedding and items to match. I love stalking the beautiful palettes and coming up with ideas for our wedding.

*10 Best Fashion Blogs for Women…

1. Weddingbee

Even if you’re not a DIY bride, you will become obsessed with Weddingbee like I have! Every day brides talk about their weddings, show you pictures, give you instructions on DIY projects and have cute names like Miss Poodle and Mrs. Powder Puff who just got married! Mrs. Bee, whose first name is Bee, started the blog when she got married and now Mr. Bee and a few other bees help with this wonderful blog. Check out the boards for great community support, and Weddingbee Pro where professionals in the wedding industry blog about tips, venues, invitations, etc.

What wedding blogs do you stalk?

Photo Credit: OffBeatBride.com, StyleMePretty.com, With–this–ring.blogspot.com, ThePerfectPalette.blogspot.com, WeddingBee.com

5. What fits into your budget?

Now that you both have crossed other big items off your list, how much are you willing to spend on the photography? Did you go over budget on your gown or venue, but you still want the photographer who may be more than you can afford?  If so don’t be afraid to contact them and ask about their prices and see if they are able to negotiate. Tell them that you’re thankful for their time, however your budget won’t allow for their prices. This is when the photographer might surprise you with a return email or call and ask you about your budget and what will work for both of you. Don’t forget to check out every detail of the photographer’s wedding package and what’s included within the price they are given you. Ask how much extra photos cost, photo albums for your parents, and if engagement photos are included. Don’t be left in the dark and find a bill in the mail that isn’t what you negotiated.

Could you be lucky enough to have one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers of 2009 like Jasmine Star? Jasmine captured a special moment for Jessica and Roy as they took their first few photos together on their wedding day. You can see the passion they have for each other and now Jessica and Roy will forever be able to hold on to this moment with thanks to their talented photographer. Contact Jasmine (who is the photographer in the top photo) to see if her prices fit into your budget.

*5 Ways to Stick to Your Wedding Budget…

4. Do some research…

Within the last five years the internet has blossomed with wedding blogs like Weddingbee.com, photographer blogs like JessicaClaire.net and wedding message boards like the ones at TheKnot.com. The information is out there waiting for you to find it, so start Googling! Find brides in your area who had a great experience with their photography and ask them if they can email you a sample of their beautiful pictures. Ask your family members who to stay away from, remember theres a horror story for every great photographer story. When you do find someone who has great reviews set up a meeting to check out their work and see if it fits your style.

Would a fun personality work with your style? Are you willing to play around on the rings in the park and make for a unique and memorable shoot with photographers Jessica Claire and Braedon like couple Allison and Delwin did? Every serious shot needs a fun one, so contact Jessica or Braedon to ask about their style.

*10 Best Lifestyle Blogs for Women…

3. What are you looking for?

Do you want your wedding to tell a story with candid, emotional pictures or do you want to have certain posed images with the bridal party and guests? How do you want to remember your day? For our wedding I want those random shots that tell a story and show the love in the room and the bond that everyone shares with us. However, I would also like us to have a few photos with our bridal party and our family members. Though I don’t want us to look posed, I do want to have these photos just incase the random shots don’t capture everyone that came to our wedding.

Another important idea to think about is how you want your photos edited and processed. Do you like how photographer Jaci Clark has edited this photo to make the moment more romantic? The first photo just looks like a simple shot that any photographer could have made at a wedding, but with her artistic eye Jaci has turned this photo into a touching memory that the bride and groom will think of every year on their anniversary. Contact Jaci if this is how you would like to remember your big day.

*10 Ideal Bridal Party Gifts…

2. Make a list…

There are so many elements of your wedding day that are important and obvious to you, but that doesn’t mean that your photography knows that these components of your wedding are significant. You have a voice and it should be heard from everyone you are dealing with for your wedding and the photographer should be at the top of that list. If there is a brooch on your bouquet that was your grandmother’s tell your photographer about it. Make a list of all the shots you want and if it’s near the end of your day and you feel like something was left out than let them know.

Photographers Jennifer and CJ Nichols, who are husband and wife, took a moment to capture the bride’s beautiful bouquet and mixed in other details like the matching decor that Kate and James had at their amazing wedding. Sometimes the little details are missed and this could have been something the bride and groom had on their list or maybe it was something the Nichols knew the bride would love. Contact Jennifer and CJ so that all your details will be caught on film.

*5 Top US Honeymoon Locations…

1. Which shots make the cut?

Does anyone have their eyes closed, was the sun in anyone’s face, are the kids behaving, and how does the picture make you feel? These are questions you want to ask yourselves as you look through the hundreds or maybe thousands of shots your photographer took on your wedding day. Your wedding package only includes so many photos, but the photographers take more than needed to make sure the perfect shot was taken. So now the pressure is turned on to you because these will be the photos you will keep. However, this is does not always make things final because many photographers allow for extra photos to be picked months later for an extra cost. You could also ask for the negatives for the option of processing photos years later.

To me this photo with the little boy crying that photographer Peter Pawinski won six place for in 2006 with the WPJA would be a shot I would keep! Although some brides and grooms would be upset about this photo and upset at the little boy for crying, you have to factor in how tired he must be. Weddings are fun for adults and some kids, but little kids might have a hard time keeping up with all the directions. So unless you think this photo is cute like I do, bring some toys for the little kids to keep them happy during the photo shoots. Contact Peter if you have kids at your wedding who will keep everyone on their toes!

*5 Real Weddings to be Inspired by…

What are your tips for perfect photos?

Source Credit: Bridaltips.com

Photo Credit: WPJA.com, TheNicholsblog.com, blog.JaciClark.com, JessicaClaire.net, JasmineStarblog.com

5. The First Look…

Whether you decide to see each other before or during the ceremony, the emotions that will run through your body are unexplainable. But here, bride Mandy and groom Michael show us just how emotional it can be seeing each other for the first time on your wedding day. When I first saw this picture I started to cry and now I can’t wait to have this same experience on my wedding day.

*20 Inspiring Quotes about Love…

4. A Special Moment Together…

Yes there is a lot going on during a wedding and everyone is pulling you in different directions to say hello, dance, or have a drink with them. However, whatever chaos is going on with everyone else, remember that this day is about you and him. So step away from all the crazy fun to share a special “I Love You” moment together like Heather and Brent did.

*5 Secret Rules for a Happy Relationship. Shhh!

3. Daddy’s Little Girl…

This is a big day for you and your groom, but it is also a big day for your family as well, especially those who raised you. Always remember to include your loved ones in your planning process as well as on your wedding day. If your daddy’s little girl, like I am, surprise him during the father-daughter dance with a song from his favorite singer like Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” or James Taylor’s “Your Smiling Face”. I love the smile Jennifer and her father share in this picture as he walks her down the aisle and I’m sure as he walks her down the aisle he remembers the day she was born.

*10 Practical Tips on Meeting Your Boyfriend’s Parents…

2. Live, Laugh, Love…

Now that all the planning and worrying is over: Have Fun!!! Kick off your shoes, get on the dance floor with your friends and family and have a good time. Or like Lani and Jamie , jump around in an inflatible castle!  Check out the rest of their photos on Flickr and you will see how much fun Lani and Jamie’s wedding was with all the candy, an awesome cake, cotton candy, and props they had at their wedding! I love to dance so I know I will be enjoying all the fun with my husband to be in the middle of the dance floor…”The Electric Slide” anyone?!

*5 Hot Wedding Themes…

1. Be Yourself…

While getting all dolled up for your wedding is fun…don’t forget to be yourself. Don’t buy a big, extravagant ball gown or a bow tie tuxedo if that isn’t your style. This day is a reflection of who you are as a person and as a couple, not what others think you or your wedding should look like. Jared and Holly had a sweet yet simple wedding which included pie for dessert instead of a big wedding cake and rode away on a cute bicycle built for two. To make things simple for our afternoon wedding we will be using our own car for transportation since the ceremony and reception are at the same location.

*5 Ways to Stick to Your Wedding Budget…

What important detail are you looking forward to the most on your wedding day?

Photo Credit: With–this–ring.blogspot.com, photos by Flickr user: lampy1978, Snippetandink.blogspot.com

1. Yellow is Hot for Spring or Summer…

Yellow floral arrangements can include roses, daisies, daffodils, cymbidium orchids, and calla lilies. White, blue, or green are great colors to accent your bright hues of yellow. Fun centerpieces of lemons will get your party talking about how creative you are. Yellow is a fun, bright color and doesn’t have to look like the yellow bus color you remember from elementary school. Make your wedding day shine just as bright as your beautiful smile.

*Ten Most Fab Vera Wang Wedding Gowns

Wedding Do’s

1. Make a Budget …

Know how much money you have to make your dream day perfect. Also know where the money is coming from. Are mom and dad helping or are the two of you responsible for everything? We planned for a long engagement because we knew how much money we needed to save for the big details like the reception hall and the wedding dress.

 *Fabulous Beach Wedding Look on a Budget

2. Communicate with each other …

 Ask your spouse important questions like who to invite and what type of wedding you are having…i.e. traditional, low-key, extravagant, destination, etc. Will the wedding be indoor or outdoor and what colors will be incorporated? Also figure out what important traditions and religious aspects you would like to include in the ceremony and reception. We have decided to have an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception with 75 of our closest friends and family members. We will be having a spring time wedding with colors of teal and white.

*45 Sweetest Romantic Ways to Say “I Love You”

3. Start to plan early …

Book vendors that you truly want to have for your wedding. The longer you wait, the bigger chance you have of not getting the reception hall you want, or the florist who designs your favorite bouquets. We looked around and searched online for reception vendors that would also hold ceremonies and found the perfect location. We set up a meeting and were ready to book within a week; which was almost a year and a half from our wedding date.

*7 Most Romantic Destinations for Your Honeymoon

4. Brides: Do shop around …

 
Try on more than one dress and if the first dress you tried is “the one” then try it on again after you have tried on others. Also search online for ideas before you go to the bridal shop. I have searched online for ideas of what might suit me, but I haven’t completely shut out the ones I don’t consider my favorites. I am looking forward to trying on many different shapes and designs. This coming May I will let you know how I made out!

*Ten Most Fab Vera Wang Wedding Gowns
 

5. Grooms: Do give your input …

Help your bride out with details about the wedding that you might be interested in. Maybe you would like to pick out the DJ or the food. Trust me, she will appreciate your input and know that it’s as important to you as it is to her. My fiancé has given me great ideas of what he likes and doesn’t like. He also gives me his opinion on details that I have shown him. At first we were thinking of going with tiffany blue instead of teal, but when we both started to see the tiffany blue everywhere we decided to go with a different shade of blue…but still in the blue family!

*What Women Love about Men

6. Grooms: Give your Groomsmen some help …

Let your groomsmen know details about where to rent a tux or if you are all going to shopping together. Maybe shop online first so you can give them a range of prices. Also let know them where you stand on bachelor parties and if you want your bestman to hold the rings for you. They need to know just as much as bridesmaids do. My fiance and I are still in the beginning stages of planning, but we both will be taking our bridal parties shopping to look for tuxes and dresses.

*14 Best Gifts for Men

Wedding Don’ts

1. Brides: Don’t try to do everything by yourself …

Ask your mother, friends, maid of honor, and of coarse even your groom for help. Stuffing 100 invitations until 3 a.m. isn’t any fun by yourself. Make a party out of it; call some girlfriends over, turn on the music and stuff away! I cannot wait to start putting little details together and asking my maid of honor and mother for help. I can picture it now…we will be listening to “My Best Friend’s Wedding” soundtrack as we stuff 75 invitations with directions and little maps to the reception hall!

“I tried so hard to be an R&B artist [on his first solo album, Justified] and it was the pop album of the year, and I was like, ‘F@#!. That’s the last thing I wanted,’” Timberlake says, taking a swig from another can of cream soda. “But I was like, ‘So everyone considers me a pop artist? Well, f@#! it. I’m going to do whatever I want to do.’”

The internal battle is most evident when he talks about this year’s Grammys. Weeks in advance of the telecast, he was asked to be the star of “My Grammy Moment,” a cheesy, American Idol rip-off bit in which the winner of a contest got to perform onstage with him. Before the idea was fleshed out, Timberlake agreed. As the potentially disastrous plan hurtled to fruition, he ached to back out. He couldn’t. “Because I’m the nice guy who follows through on the things he commits to,” he says, a mock smile locked into place. “But I don’t know if I’ll be going through that sort of thing again. I feel like the Grammys used me for ratings. And look at it�”they were up 18 percent.”

Well duh dude! The reason they hire anyone to host an awards show is in anticipation of that person helping ratings. JT did a fair job at the Grammy’s. He didn’t hit it out of the park or anything.  Justin seems to be very ungrateful to his fans, success, or his musical heritage. If you don’t want to be known as a pop artist then don’t join the biggest boy band of all-time. But then again without N’Snyc we wouldn’t know who Justin Timberlake is…..until he went on ‘American Idol’ and won the show he can’t stand.

Will Timberlake complain next about his record company allowing him to make albums so they can make money? Welcome to show business JT.  Shut up or grow up.

Justin Timberlake is the cover boy for the April 2007 issue of Details Magazine. Here are some of the highlights from Justin’s interview with Details:

• On the tabloids: “I despise what they do. They create soap operas out of people’s lives. [Cameron and I] had our thing, and it’s over. They edit that stuff like MTV edits reality shows. It’s a spin game, and I choose not to take part in it.”
• On being considered the New King of Pop: “I tried so hard to be an R&B artist [with first solo album Justified] and it was the pop album of the year, and I was like, ‘F***. That’s the last thing I wanted but I was like, ‘So everyone considers me a pop artist? Well, fuck it. I’m going to do whatever I want to do.”
• On surviving the boy-band apocalypse and becoming a man: “I could give you a bunch of analogies about why I’m still around that would sound like hippie self-help bullshit. ‘I saw an opportunity and I took it?’ Fuck you. Sure, there’s a lot of luck involved. But on some level I have to believe in my ability. And I’m not apologizing to anyone. I worked fucking hard to get here.”
• On being used by the Grammys for ratings: “I’m the nice guy who follows through on the things he commits to. But I don’t know if I’ll be going through that sort of thing again. I feel like the Grammys used me for ratings. And look at it-they were up 18 percent.”

I love Justin Timberlake, but Cry Me A Freakin River, can’t he say something about how blessed he is to be this huge star? He seems so ungrateful sometimes.

This Justin Timberlake issue hits newsstands in NY/LA today, March 20 and nationwide next Tuesday, March 27.

Source: Just Jared

Here’s a samplin’ of what he had to say this time around and you can also check out the entire interview HERE.
§ On the tabloids: “I despise what they do. They create

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1. Anna Nicole Smith’s private nurse was with her in the room at the time of the incident. No one will confirm why Anna Nicole had a private nurse with her…was she sick? in …

I was really searching for hideous outfits from the SAG Awards (much more fun!), but Cate Blanchett looks wonderful and I can’t deny it. That bronze color is sensational with her skin tone, the v-neck deep but not skanky, and her hair is perfectly styled and wonderfully smooth.

Okay, the length is the only thing that bothers me a little… but still, Cate joined the ranks of Best Dressed at SAG 2007.

What do you think of her shoes?

Photo Credit: Getty/Frank Micelotta