Weddingbee

• Janet Jackson doesn’t know if she’s engaged.
• Jean Reno aka The Professional weds.
• North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il weds.
• Nascar driver Kurt Busch weds.
• Providence star Paula Cale weds.
• Bridezillas - behind the scenes with one real bride.
• Kate Moss’ chic wedding style.
• Princess Diana - A Wedding Dress to Remember.
• Princess Diana and Prince Charles - 25 Years Later.
• Big Brother housemate announces he wants to marry his partner.
• Generator saves Queens wedding during blackout.
• Mexicans change antiquated macho vows.
• How to select a good wedding photographer.
• Five things to consider before the wedding.
• Wild Wedding Proposals.
• Man proposes onstage during performance of The Wedding Singer.
• Wedding anniversary gifts.
• Wedding favor tips.
• I’ve never been to a sad or ugly wedding.

Weddingbee News

• The best DIY Project Contest ends today!
• Enter the Miss Spider drawing contest.
• We’re looking for new bloggers!
• Join our Frappr! map.

Update: Check out pictures of the complete nuptials here.

(image via sky showbiz)

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Kid Rock wed Pamela Anderson, who was clad in a white string bikini, at a rock and roll St. Tropez wedding today. This is the first marriage for Kid Rock, 35, and the second for Pamela Anderson, 39, who was previously married to Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee.

(source: people)

Dear Weddingbee,

I love the coffee table book albums and I’m proficient with photoshop enough to design my own pages, however, I’m looking for a vendor that would allow us to just upload the designs. I’ve heard of mypublisher and other sites similar to that, but I’m looking for similar type albums that you can only get through professional photographers. Unfortunately some of the websites I found only sell to pro photographers. Any websites we should be looking at?

Thanks,
Christina (Dallas, TX)

The most popular posts this week:

1. Favorite Favors by Miss Grasshopper
2. Hows Wedding Planning by Miss Butterfly
3. Invitation Proofs by Miss Butterfly
4. Bar + Wedding=Mental Breakdown, But Invites Are Done by Miss Caterpillar
5. I Now Present Mr. and Mrs. Bee by Mrs. Bee
6. Rogue RSVPs by Miss Daisy
7. Miss Spider by Mrs. Bee
8. Confessions of a Groom by Mr. Bee
9. Sensitively Speaking by Mrs. Rose
10. Bloggers Block by Mrs. Bee

First of all… I love your site! It is fantastic!

I am a young bride with a very limited budget (think under 10,000). I want a dress that I can afford and keep at the same time. I really loved Miss Butterfly’s post about sites like cocomyle.com where you can design your wedding gown for a very low price. I was wondering if you could refer me to any other sites or locations like cocomyle that can help me design a dress or get a dress of my dreams at a low (very low to be exact) price? Anything you could refer me to would be so helpful and appreciated!

Thanks!,
Mechelle

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Hi Mechelle,

There are many options out there for budget brides looking for a good deal on a dress…you just have to do a bit of digging.

I know several brides who have actually worn bridesmaid dresses (in white) as wedding gowns with much success. Bridesmaid dress options are getting more and more plentiful each year and there are really a number of designers now who do some great dresses that work as bridal gowns.

J Crew also has a wonderful, chic line of both bridesmaid dresses and Bridal Gowns that are very reasonably priced ($295 and up).

It might seem somewhat scary at first, but I know Ebay has also been a fantastic resource for a number of brides. If you can find yourself a good seamstress, you can purchase a gown on ebay and then have it fitted perfectly for your body. They usually have a good selection of current styles as well as some interesting vintage pieces. If you decide to go the ebay route, I would definitely recommend you give yourself as much time as possible to allow for all of the alterations needed.

Of course there are also always bridal gown trunk shows, sample sales and deep discount days at places such as David’s Bridal (I recently saw them advertise a $99 sale). Call your local shops to see what sorts of sales might be coming up in the next few months.

Stick to your guns! You can definitely find a gorgeous, cheap but still chic wedding dress if you put forth a bit of effort and do some research.

“dress you up in my love,”
Erica
www.paperbride.com
www.papermama.com

Brides Against Breast Cancer is holding a charity wedding gown sale in NYC on August 17-19, with all proceeds benefiting Making Memories.

Every year Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation receives thousands of beautiful designer wedding gowns from bridal shops, manufacturers, and individuals across the nation. A foundation dedicated to helping terminally ill breast cancer patients, Making Memories has received over 25,000 wedding gowns for their nationwide “Brides Against Breast Cancer” events, including 2,500 brand new gowns that were recently donated by a national bridal gown manufacturer.

Shopping at a “Brides Against Breast Cancer” event is a great way to find a fabulous gown and save hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, while making wishes and dreams come true for terminal patients.

The sale will feature new and used gowns from designers like Anne Barge, Carolina Herrera, Paula Varsalona and stores like Kleinfelds and Mark Ingram. Normally priced up to $15,000, prices start at just $250 at this event. The sale will kick off with a VIP preview sale on August 17th where they will have gift bags, a free cocktail hour and a raffle including prizes like a $1000 Confetti Cake, custom menu card design by SonicStefdesigns and a 5 night luxury Honeymoon at Raffles Resort Canoun Island.

Brides Against Breast Cancer is currently seeking dress donations from brides, and volunteers for the event itself. Please contact Sarah @ sarahgarfunkel@yahoo.com to make a donation or to volunteer. Please forward this to your friends that are getting married and help us spread the word about this wonderful event!

VIP Preview Sale
Where: Prince George Ballroom, 15 East 27th Street
When: August 17-19, 4 - 6:30pm
Cost: $150 for bride and one guest

Brides Against Breast Cancer Regular Event
When: August 18 (10 am - 8 pm), Aug 19 (9 am - 6pm)
Cost: $20 donation for bride and 2 guests

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit makingmemories.

Dude, planning the honeymoon is freaking like pulling my fingernails off with pliers, then soaking my pulpy bloody fleshy nail beds in lemon juice, and then super gluing the nails back on just to do it all over again. Seriously.

In determining where we want to go I used three factors: Theme = BEACH; Cost = MODERATE; and Weather= NO EFFING HURRICANES. Seems simple right? Let’s take a look at where theknot.com says will be perfect:

OCTOBER
Australia, Bali, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Central & South Africa, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Italy, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Seychelles, Spain, USA

I think I will be soooooooooo ready for the beach after my wedding, I am not gonna be a happy camper if I need to sit on a plane for 10+ hours. So that whittles down the list a bit. I also want to avoid destinations that require a ton of pre-planning ie. sightseeing and waiting on long ass lines to see ruins or climb stairs or kiss a magical rock. Too bad the Caribbean is shadowed by the threat of rain and hurricanes man. Otherwise, it would be perfect. Most islands are but a few hours away from NYC, each promises Travel Channel beaches, turquoise waters la la la, and with so many competing resorts to choose from, prices are reasonable.

After much debate and months of surfing luxurylink.com (a fabulous vacation package website my BM Ange used for her own honeymoon) and cross referencing each deal by reading tripadvisor.com reviews, I said screw it, let the hurricanes come, I’m going to pick the places I want to go. If a hurricane does strike down upon us, shit, well I guess we’ll just have to honeymoon again at a later date. So I narrowed it down to a few places:

Marquis Los Cabos, MEXICO

With its gorgeous infinity pool and chic open air lobby. This hotel is a luscious delight. Their 7-night honeymoon package includes:

• VIP Transportation from the Airport to Marquis Los Cabos.
• Ocean front view, comfortable balcony for dining, hydro massage bathtub and separate shower, Bulgari bathroom amenities, imported luxury Italian Frette bed linens with a goose down duvet.
• Marquis Los Cabos signature welcome drink.
• Buffet Breakfast daily for two to be taken in our Restaurant «°®ista Ballenas?
• Three to Five lunches and 1 dinner for two to be taken in any of our restaurants including Suite Service during your stay (Include one hour of alcoholic drinks during the lunches and dinner).
• A daily bath turndown which consists of a special cocktail, the preparation of your hydro massage tub with scented bath salts and candles to set the mood.
• A chilled bottle of imported champagne upon arrival.
• A special romantic gift.
• A Rent-A-Car with budget for three days (Does not include insurance and gasoline).
• A Romantic Dinner for two in our Gourmet Restaurant «°…anto Del Mar?(including 1 bottle of wine).
• A special massage for both of you at our luxurious international Spa per stay.
• The pleasure of being pampered with one manicure or one pedicure per stay in our Spa.
• Unlimited access to our fitness center.
• VIP Transportation from Marquis Los Cabos to the Airport.

The price: $2720 PER PERSON (the website does not indicate that their pricing is per person, it wasn’t until I called and spoke to the hotel that I found out.)

Luckily, luxurylink has an awesome package for them:

• 7 nights accommodation in Junior Suite Ocean Front
• Complimentary upgrade to Suite Marquis with private pool, if available upon check-in
• Round-trip VIP transfers for two between the airport and Marquis Los Cabos
• Marquis Los Cabos signature welcome drink
• Marquis breakfast for two each morning
• Complimentary use of the specially equipped Fitness Center
• Taxes and service charges

The price: an amazing minimum bid price of $2065

A little about Los Cabos’ weather:

Some say that San Jose del Cabo has the perfect weather - and that’s true. Most of the year, you will have sunny skies and cool breezy nights. Much like the summer weather that we are all used to. It does get warmer, and more humid in the summer months, leading up to September which is hurricane season. The heat and humidity are high, and the risk of tropical storms means that you will get many cloudy, and even rainy days in September. The weather breaks mid October and then it’s back to beautiful weather once again.

An indepth perusal of tripadvisor.com reviews sniffed out a few red flags namely snotty service; expensive meals and NO SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN. WHAT?!? So I called the hotel myself and confirmed that the beaches on the Pacific side of Mexico are indeed “unswimmable”. Apparently signs are posted all over warning visitors not to try. Bummer, no water sports? BUMMER.

The Palms, Turks and Caicos

Absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous white sand beaches and crystal clear water and a very chic and luxurious hotel. Their 7-night honeymoon package includes:

• Room Accommodations for 7 nights
• Luxury Oceanview
• Deluxe Welcome Amenity
• Continental Breakfast Daily
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers
• Champagne Upon Arrival
• Two Dinners for 2 in Parallel23
• One Couples Massage
• Room Tax and Service Charge
• Spa Gratuities

The price: $3325

A little about Turks and Caicos’s weather:

Even in the winter, the temperatures on the island remain quite warm at about 80 or 85°F (27-29°C), with the water being only slightly cooler at 75°F (24°C). However, thanks to the moderating influence of the Caribbean Sea and constantly circulating trade winds, the temperature rarely goes above the mid-90s Fahrenehit (35°C) even in the late summer, when the water is just over 80°F (27°C). The islands get a moderate rainfall of about 40 inches (100cm) per year, which means plenty of sunshine. However, the months of June through October constitute hurricane season, which can get quite severe in this area due to a lack of surrounding land to slow down the winds. Therefore, it is probably best to visit outside of these months; some tropical storms may still develop between November and May, but these are much milder and more infrequent.

An indepth persual of tripadvisor.com reviews reveals even more gorgeous candid photos from visitors and the boast of locals that TC has not been hit by a hurricane in over 20 YEARS. The reviews also talks of bidding wars over the cushy “sun pods” that line the inifinity pool and raves about the continental breakfast which includes pancakes and omelets. AWESOME.

Laluna, Grenada

Beautiful four poster Balinese beds set in Indonesian and Italian inspired open air rooms and thatched roof private pool side living rooms makes this place an absolute luxury retreat. Their 7-night honeymoon package includes:

• Accommodation for two in a deluxe cottage with private plunge pool
• Daily american breakfast for two
• Daily dinner for two (excluding drinks)
• Complimentary bottle of champagne on arrival
• Unique 4-hour guided island tour
• Laluna gift

The price: $4,343

A little about Grenada’s weather:

Average temperatures range from 75ºF to 85ºF (24ºC to 30ºC), tempered by the steady and cooling trade winds. The lowest temperatures occur between November and February. Due to Grenada’s remarkable topography, the island also experiences climate changes according to altitude. The driest season is between January and May. Even during the rainy season, from June to December, it rarely rains for more than an hour at a time and generally not every day.

Another great deal from luxurylink.com:

• 7 nights in a Deluxe Cottage or Cottage Suite with verandah & private plunge pool
• Bottle of champagne upon arrival
• Full American breakfast for two each day
• Dinner for two each evening, excluding beverages
• Guided 4-hour island tour for two on one day of your stay
• Access to the beautiful pool area, located directly on Laluna’s secluded, white sand beach featuring a covered open-air pavilion with seating areas and a bar, and complimentary beach towels.
• Complimentary use of Hobie Cats, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and mountain bikes
• Laluna giftac
• Government taxes and service charge

The price: $2,773

An indepth review of tripadvisor.com reviews paints the picture of romantic seclusion in an old world style. Red flags include MOSQUITOS, lackluster pool, unimpressive beach and boredom.

So which did we choose? Ahh… stay tuned my pets… haha

Hi

First of all, I wanted to tell you that your site has been an indispensible resource thus far in my planning. Although I don’t live in NYC, I read daily as I particularly love to see the new product and gift ideas.

Which brings me to my next question:

Do you or your readers have any great ideas on where to find very inexpensive satin kimono style robes? I would love to throw a monogramed robe in with my girls’ gifts but since I am paying for thier dresses amongst MANY other gift, I am on a tight budget.

Thanks for all of your help!

A Bride

I bought these adorable bride & groom photo clips from Target, thinking that we might be able to use them as our cake toppers.

Some quick, low-quality mockups I made using printer paper.

With black and white printouts

With color printouts

With a printout of our engagement photo

I adore the photo clips by themselves and those are some of my favorite photos of us. But I’m really not quite sure what to think of them together and how they’ll look on top of our wedding cake.

• Cake topper or photo display area?
• As kids or engagement pic? Color or black and white?

Keep in mind that our wedding is in Negril, Jamaica and is going to be really laid back.

First of all, I wanted to say I really enjoy your website and reading all the bloggers’ crazy wedding exploits- you really have to be a bride to relate. Your site is great, with lots of functionality and features

Thanks & keep up the great work.
Amanda

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Hi Amanda,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention - we will definitely look into it.

Meanwhile, we’ve been toying with the idea of launching our own messageboard. There are already many popular boards out there - theknot, weddingchannel, liweddings, ultimateweddings, pricescope, indiebride… do you think there’s a niche for a weddingbee messageboard?