The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry + Meghan Markle

Yesterday morning was the long awaited royal wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. The wedding took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor and everything was just gorgeous!  Meghan's ceremony dress was elegant and simple, and she changed into another for the reception! Prince Harry made me swoon a few times with the sweet things he did! He hand-picked the forget-me-nots from his mother Princess Diana's garden for Meghan's bouquet, and he whispered "I'm so lucky" when he saw Meghan at the altar. See some of the photos below and tell us what you think of this magical royal wedding!

  

Planning Tips :: The Wedding Exit & Rice Toss Tradition

Ever wonder why people throw rice at weddings? It's a tradition that dates back to ancient Roman times and symbolizes "showering" the bride and groom with fertility and good fotrune. These days rice isn't used as much as it once was (for many reasons), but the toss tradition itself is still going strong!

Be sure to check with your venue for any rules and regulations about what you can and can't use for your exit toss. Some require that you don't use anything that needs clean up, some don't allow fire or open flames, and some don't have any restrictions at all. No matter the rules, below is a list of exit ideas and toss ideas that are sure to wow!

Toss Ideas

Petals

Paper Airplanes

Lavender or Herbs

Popcorn

Feathers

Paper Streamers

Large Rainbow Confetti

Birdseed

Toss Alternatives

Ribbon Wands

Sparklers

Fireworks

Lighted Balloons

Lanterns

SmokeBombs

Light Sabers

Bubbles

Flags

Maracas

Bells

Getaway Car

Golf Cart

Antique Car

Luxury Car

Horse & Carriage

Specialty Bus

Rickshaw

Celeb Wedding :: Amy Reimann + Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Amy Reimann and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had a 2017 New Year's wedding. The vows were officiated by NASCAR chaplain Nick Terry and took place at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina.The bride wore a strapless dress with a ball gown skirt. Earnhardt announced the happy news on his Twitter page with a gorgeous wedding photo.

“Happily married!!! What an amazing experience. Looking forward to the rest of our lives @Amy_Reimann. #honeymooners,” he said.

See the post at Celebrity Bridal Guide.

Celeb Wedding :: Tara Lipinski + Todd Kapostasy

Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski and sports producer Todd Kapostasy tied the knot at historic Middleton Place in Charleston, South Carolina on June 24. So romantic! See some of the beautiful pics below! See the full article at People Magazine.

Celeb Wedding :: James Matthews & Pippa Middleton

Pippa Middleton's wedding yesterday was attended by high-profile guests including her older sister, Princess Kate.

Middleton, 33, donned a white gown designed by Giles Deacon at her wedding to James Matthews, a 41-year-old financier, at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire.

Middleton's bespoke veil was designed by milliner Stephen Jones and featured tulle and embroidered pearls. The bride wore a tiara handmade by Robinson Pelham and donned ivory satin Manolo Blahnik pumps.

She carried a bouquet of peony, sweet pea, astilbe, freesia, waxflower, green bell and alchemilla mollis. Kate, 35, dressed in pink, was photographed arranging the train of Middleton's gown as she entered the church.

Middleton’s nephew, Prince George, 3, and niece, Princess Charlotte, 2, joined the wedding celebration as a page boy and bridesmaid, respectively. George and Charlotte were part of a group of eight in the bridal party, all wearing custom-made outfits designed by Pepa & Co.

Matthews proposed to Middleton at England's Lake District that same month. Middleton's multicarat engagement ring is an Asscher-cut, hexagonal-shaped diamond set in platinum surrounded by multiple smaller diamonds.

See the full article at ABC News.

What's Involved in Being a Groomsman

Being a groomsman entails a monetary commitment, a time commitment, and a support commitment. It's not just partying all night with your buddies, bridesmaids and single ladies! Use this list as a guide to prepare yourself for what will be expected of you when you accept a groomsman position in your friend's wedding.

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Attend fittings and pay for a tuxedo. More than likely you will be asked to rent a tuxedo for the day (unless you already own one that would be acceptable). In that case, you'll probably have to buy/rent a matching tie, vest, cummerbund, or other accessories. Be prepared financially to pay for your clothing ensemble for the day. Also, be prepared to do it well in advance. Don't wait until the week of the wedding and give the bride added stress. :)

Help the Best Man organize the bachelor party. The Best Man and groomsmen are responsible for paying for and organizing the bachelor party. Offer your help to the Best Man to assist with the planning and clean up of the party.

Prepare a toast/speech (if needed). Sometimes with a large wedding party, only the Best Man and Fathers will give a toast. However, if the groom wants you to say a few words, you should be prepared with something charming to say.

 Photo by Trejo Photography

Participate in all pre-wedding functions. As a groomsmen, there are several pre-wedding functions you'll need to be present at including (but not limited to) the bachelor party, the ceremony rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.

Rent a hotel room. If the wedding is not near your home, you may need to reserve a hotel room for the night of the night before and night of the wedding. If you're friends with any of the groomsmen who live nearby, staying at their place might be an option for you, but be prepared to reserve a hotel room in advance if you need to. You may also be able to share a hotel room with another groomsman to split the cost. Make sure to ask for a room with two double beds. :)

Buy a gift. Start saving your extra dollars to buy a wedding gift for the happy couple. It is acceptable to partner up with another groomsman (or two) and combine your funds to get a more expensive and bigger gift!

Photo by Lambert Photographs

Be on-time! The most important thing is to be on-time. If you have trouble being on time, then pretend everything starts half an hour earlier than it really does. Fittings, parties, dinners, and ESPECIALLY the wedding ceremony.

Escorting during the ceremony. Sometimes groomsmen are asked to act as ushers when none are available. This means escorting the female guests to their seats at the ceremony for both the bride's side and the groom's side. You simply ask them which side they'd prefer (bride or groom), offer your arm, and walk them to the next available row of seats. You will also participate in the ceremony processional by walking a bridesmaid down the aisle.

Dancing! You may be asked to dance with a bridesmaid during the traditional wedding party dance. Sometimes the bride & groom will choose to have everyone dance with their wives or dates instead, but be prepared to dance at some point in time during the evening! You may also want to coax others to dance and help to liven up the dance floor.

Photo by Z Media

Decorate the getaway car. You may need to enlist the help of the rest of the wedding party to decorate the bride & groom's getaway car. Check beforehand to see if this is acceptable because some rentals or limos won't allow you to do anything to their vehicles. If they say it's ok, make sure to have the necessary items ready and sneak out mid-reception to do the damage. :)

Return your tuxedo. If you rented a tux instead of purchasing, make sure to return it on time. The groom could be charged a late fee if he organized the rentals, and that's not the parting gift you want to leave for him!

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If you know in advance that you can't afford it or can't commit to everything being a groomsman includes, don't be afraid to graciously decline. Simply say that you're honored to be asked, but that you're unable to commit to the duties for financial reasons. He may opt to help out in some way to make sure you're included, but you should always be up front with him if you think there will be issues.