All too often when it comes to wedding planning, grooms are rarely (if ever!) mentioned.  Falling to the wayside after the proposal, soon-to-be-hubbies almost always become props in their bride’s wedding day plans.  But the most amazeballs part is how gladly said grooms assume their role in the way, WAY back just to please their queens.  (Sigh)  Whether they don’t really care about the details or they simply care about her too much, I always seem to warm from the inside out at the thought of the notion :)

With that said, however, I also absolutely la-Louvre when a groom takes matters into his own hands (without roughing the bridal waters) and provides his lady with a special surprise, unique to his personality, as well as their love. 

Set up as anniversary present for his wife, Denne, Dan made a “slammin” rap mix for their one year celebration.  With the help of GiftRapped.com, Dan was able to put his lyrics to music and accompany it with photos from their wedding day.  Haha!  Too and much.  Check out below and see what I mean.

My only concern now is… who am I gonna make one of these treats for??  It’s not like you have to have a good voice to rap; you just have to have a voice!  Therefore, it’s something open for all!

courtesy of Blush via jlmcouture.com

Now I know at least one pretty lady (wad up, Carolyn – our fearless MK leader) who won’t be happy about this trend, but I gotta admit, I kind of dig it :)

Sure, it’s not traditional in the least, and it would take just the right bride to pull it off… but some of the colorful results are nothing short of spectacular!  According to Brides Fashion Director, Rachel Leonard, “You don’t have to wear a white wedding dress anymore, but it still has to look like a wedding dress.  The trick is to find a color that’s flattering on your skin tone, and not everyone looks good in white.” (brides.com)

I mean, heeeellllooooo?!?!  It seems so simple.  Sure, tradition would have every bride pinned in white, but what tradition doesn’t understand is that some ladies simply don’t feel sexy in it.  And shouldn’t every bride get to feel beautiful on her big day?  I think YES!

So, bring on the colorfully carefree bridal gowns and see how some of today’s biggest designers put a more vibrant pallette to work!

Vera Wang.  While her entire Fall 2013 bridal line is chalk full of deep blush tones and black, her Spring 2013 line is filled with color in HD! 

courtesy of verawang.com

Oscar de la Renta.  It’s all about ice blues and red hots in Oscar’s 2013 Spring Bridal Collection, and looking at these pups strut, I can see why!

courtesy of oscardelarenta.com

Demetrios.  Lavender blue dilly dilly dilly, lavender green… and all the other pastel colors in between can be seen in Demetrios’ bridal line!

courtesy of demetriosbride.com

Douglas Hannant. And don’t forget about patterns… they’re no longer just for bridesmaids as Douglas Hannant’s Spring 2013 Collection shows!

courtesy of douglashannant.com

courtesy of habitatevents.com

Forget the diamonds and pearls.  You can keep your tulle and lace… because brides everywhere are flocking to flowers when it comes to finishing their looks, and the result is nothing short of stunning.

Breathtaking baby’s breath.  Powerful peonies.  Radiant roses.  Delicate daisies.  Lovely lilies and greens of grandeur all come together in one of this spring’s hottest trends: Flower Crowns! 

Their popularity can really only be defined by their versatility.  Sure, it’s easy to picture your happily clad, hippie friend or a Boho-chic beauty when you think of these blossoming toppers, but just below the surface of the obvious, there’s a whole new audience delightfully delving into this Mother Nature inspired trend.

Because the crowns can be anything from avant garde and over-the-top to softly serene and ethereal, they really are something every bride can adjust to her particular taste.  Not to mention, they can make for an incredibly easy and fun DIY wedding project! Check out below and see what I mean :)

photos courtesy of (from left to right, top to bottom) lexiebeauty.blogspot.com, myfavouritecolourisshiny.wordpress.com, peoniesandpearls.co.uk, allyritchie.com, onewed.com, bridalmusings.com, lovelybride.com, engagedandinspired.com, portender.com, c-h-c-h-e-r-r-y-b-o-m-b.tumblr.com, engagedandinspired.com, etsy.com, wolfeyebrows.wordpress.com and chicvintagebrides.com

courtesy of cptphotography.com

I recently came across an article on sheknows.com – a smart, beguiling website / professional hub filled with fun content and deft information – and thought it appropriate to share with all my favorite brides-to-be.  Enjoy, kittens :)

1. Weather.  Think about the time of year your wedding will take place and consider the weather complications that could come with it. If rain is in the forecast, be safe and put a tent on hold. For impending tropical storms, make sure you have a secondary location so you and your guests will be safe.
2. Alcohol.  Staying sober on your wedding day keeps you in control and constantly aware of your surroundings. After all of the time, money and energy you have spent on making your day perfect, make sure you stay clear-headed so you can enjoy it!
3. Wilting wedding flowers.  Consider the elements your flowers will be subjected to before making a decision. If it’s hot and humid, delicate flowers won’t make it very long. Ask your florist what will work best after considering the environment.
4. Overspending.  When planning a wedding, spending over your budget is easy to do. But in the end, remember that you want to enjoy not just the wedding day itself but also the memory of it. If you go into debt over your big day, that won’t be the case. Instead of overspending on the wedding, put aside some money for future anniversary vacations.
5. Vendor drama.  Three days before your wedding, make sure all vendors have been contacted about arrival times and contracted services. Confirm all details and expectations on the contract.
6. Untamed children.  Making an effort to entertain the children attending your ceremony and reception can go a long way with your guests. Fill children’s activities boxes with coloring books, small toys or even games to keep them entertained and out of trouble.
7. Toast(ed).  Ask those giving toasts prior to the wedding what they are going to talk about. Feel free to give suggestions or ask them to leave out any unnecessary or embarrassing information.
8. Unhappy guests.  If you aren’t doing a receiving line, make sure to visit each guest’s table during your reception. Saying hello to your guests and thanking them for their gifts will make them feel appreciated.
9. Unexpected music.  Unless you want to watch grandma do the funky chicken five times in a row, make sure your entertainment knows what you expect from them and what music not to play.
10. Last minute loose ends.  Want to know the best thing you can do to make sure your day is perfect? Hire a wedding planner! From full planning to day-of packages, wedding planners offer a variety of services that help you take care of any and all unexpected dilemmas on your big day.

(sheknows.com, 10 Possible Wedding Dilemmas, Ashley Gain, 29 September 2011)

courtesy of heraldsun.com

That’s right, my friends, the Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-stars are FINALLY tying the knot!  After seven years, countless speculations, one gargantuan celebrity scandal and 2034289 kids later, these two purrr-fectly proportioned kittens are getting hitched… and I, along with all my other celebrity junky counterparts, couldn’t be more excited!

On April 13, 2012 – just a shade under a decade after the celebrity break-up scandal of the century – the most famous other woman, Angelina Jolie, and Mr. Anniston’s (former) other half, Brad Pitt, were forced into the nuptial limelight after Jolie was spotted sporting a right ring finger rock out in public.  Celebrity media went into overhaul, until reps of the couple officially confirmed the engagement rumors were no longer rumors at all :)

According to USMagazine.com, Brad proposed to Angie during a weekly Jolie-Pitt family meeting in front of their six (yes, six, not 2034289 – hehe) children, to which Angie happily responded with tears of joy. 

Tears of joy, indeed!  CBS News reports, it took Brad an entire year co-designing this tablet-styled, 16-carat diamond stunner with jeweler, Robert Procop, to get it just right… 

Marisa Guthrie, senior writer for the Hollywood Reporter, broke the story of the Jolie-Pitt engagement after receiving a hot tip that the hot woman was seen with some sparkle on her right finger at a benefit last Wednesday. (photo courtesy of mommyish.com)

And why now after seven years was the itch to get hitched so great??  Well, all the pressure, of course!  But not the media pressure… oh no!  The kids’ pressure, duh! is what finally made Brad get down on one knee.

On a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview, Pitt confirmed that Maddox, 10, Pax, 8, Zahara, 7, Shiloh, 5, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 3 were all anxious to see their parents get married.   Pitt reported catching grief from his kids about why he and “Mommy” hadn’t gotten married when all their friends’ parents were married.

After responding with, “We will someday.  We will,” Pitt was confronted with a chorus of, “Get Mommy a ring then!”

Haha :)    

While the certified wedding date hasn’t been announced yet, I can only it happens soon!  (And that my invite comes even sooner!!)  Surely, they’ll want me at the affair :)

In the meantime, here are some other E! Online celebrity powerhouse couples who also took their time in tying the knot:

Jay-Z & Beyoncé

This multi-talented, multi-million dollar couple kept their private love under wraps for six years before saying "I do" in NYC back in 2008. (photo courtesy of music.yahoo.com)

Brian Austin Green & Megan Fox

This uber hot couple may have started seeing love stars back in 2004, but it wasn't until 2010 that they made it official on a private Hawaiian beach in front of Green's son. (photo courtesy of justjared.com)

Jewel & Ty Murray

This singer and rodeo star celebrated for 10 years before tying the knot under the sunset in the Bahamas. (photo courtesy of usatoday.com)

Mark Wahlberg & Rhea Durham

Mark and Rhea had 8+ years and 3 kids under their belt before taking the nuptial plunge back in August of 2009. (photo courtesy of withfriendship.com)

Woody Harrelson & Laura Louie

Talk about staying power! Woody and his lady love had more than 20 years of before they wed just after Christmas in '08 near their home in Hawaii. (photo courtesy of newshopper.sulekha.com)

David Letterman & Regina Lasko

But nobody can top the king of late night comedy and his leading lady. She had the starring role in his love life for more than 23 years before they got married back in 2009! (photo courtesy of beersteak.com)