When you're planning a wedding, the date you choose is a huge factor—in fact, according to a recent survey by David's Bridal, 43 percent of brides say that they're planning their weddings around a special date. And there's a certain day this year on which David's Bridal says an estimated 20,000 couples will get married.

And it's 12/13/14. Why? Not only does it fall on a Saturday, it's also the last consecutive date in the entire century—which is kind of mind-boggling to think about.

According to David's Bridal, there was a huge upsurge of weddings that happened on other sequential dates—10/11/12, 11/12/13—even though they fell on weekdays, because some couples may consider these kinds of dates to be lucky (and, honestly, it certainly makes it easy to remember!).

Would you (or did you!) plan your wedding around a specific date that means something to you?

Going to a destination wedding means shelling out some cash—guests know that when the check the "Will Attend" box. But here's a hefty cost they might not be anticipating: If you're hosting your wedding at a resort, some of your guests might opt to stay elsewhere—someone always gets a Marriott discount, and someone else will score a $26 room on Priceline. If you have guests who are staying off-property, your resort might make them buy a day pass to get on the property to attend your wedding. And that pass could set your guests back $200. A person. Yikes!

Before you book a resort, check to see whether your guests will be expected to pay to attend your wedding. If they are, I kind of think the bride and groom should cover that cost. (I know at Sandals* and Beaches, your wedding guests who are staying elsewhere are welcome on property for no cost for the duration of your wedding. Whew!)

Would you be shocked if you had to pay to attend someone's destination wedding? Or am I the only one who didn't know about this?

*I got (pretend!) destination married at a Sandals before bridal market! I have so much to tell you guys. Stay tuned!

It's no secret that the Kate Middleton is a huge fan of Jenny Packham. (See here. And here. And here and here and here.) And with Jenny turning out dresses like these—all from her spring bridal 2015 collection—I can see why. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw the Duchess of Cambridge in a jewel-tone version of the top dress.

Wedding Dress 1

Wedding Dress 2

Wedding Dress 3

Wedding Dress 4

Wedding Dress 5

You can watch Jenny's entire runway show here—featuring models in different shapes and size and colors, something you don't always see. Bonus points if you can spot me in the crowd! (Hint: front row, right.)

Which of these Jenny Packham wedding dresses is your favorite? And can you totally see Kate Middleton in the top one too?

Looking for a way to do something a little different with your hair for an upcoming bridesmaid gig this season—or for a wedding you'll be attending as a guest? I just learned a fun new braiding trick, and it lets you take the usual little updo accent braids a step further.

Here's a step-by-step how-to I did with stylist Tonya Cuozzo at Zion the Hair Salon in Madison, N.J. (the same day I tried out that easy crisscross bun for you). My lovely model: My (eight-months-pregnant!) sister-in-law Jessica.

1. Start by making a regular three-strand braid.

2. After you've braided your way down several inches, grab one of the three strands you've been braiding and pull it taut. Let the other two sections loosen a bit, then slide them upward (while still holding that center strand taut). The braid will compact and take on a ropelike shape.

3. Keep braiding and pushing up, working your way down the section. Every so often, incorporate a strand from the loose hair outside the braid, as you do when French-braiding, to anchor your rope braid to your scalp.

4. Pin your rope braid back along your head so it'll disappear into your bun.

5. Do your updo in the back as usual, then work your braid in so the end disappears. For Jessica's loose side chignon, Tonya divided the hair into big sections and crossed them over one another, working all the hair to one side of the head. Tip: If your hair's really thick/heavy, you can make ponytails first and then twist those around one another. Oh, and maybe get a friend to help!

Here's a great updo wisp trick—Tonya gently rubbed the finished hairstyle with a scarf to make it look softer and loosen stray strands in a natural way.

Don't you love getting dolled up for weddings? Jess and I had a blast that night, and half the fun was our salon visit. (Thanks again, Tonya! And to Sasha Preziosa for snapping pics.)

Have you ever tried a push-up braid? Do you like adding little accent braids to your special-occasion updos?

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody have been decidedly low-key about their engagement and marriage, so it's no surprise it's taken months to get a good look at her engagement ring and wedding ring. (She's so laid-back, in fact, she often goes to events not wearing them.) But Leighton did us all a favor, flashing both pretty rings at the Tribeca Film Festival. So here we go:

Obviously we're going in for a closer look:

Her engagement ring looks like a bezel-set 4-carat cushion-cut diamond in a rose-gold setting. There's possibly some sort of side stone going on there. And I think her wedding ring is tiny round diamonds in a platinum or white gold bezel setting.

Thoughts on Leighton Meester's engagement ring from Adam Brody? Would you want something similar?

I'd totally wear the full set.

Whether you're a stickler for tradition or you consider yourself a modern-day bride, remember: Your wedding day is supposed to be about you and your fiancé, and every decision you make should reflect that. So, if you don't want to walk down the aisle wearing a white dress or want to steal a first look with your groom before the ceremony — do it! Here, we rounded up a few standard wedding rules that are totally OK to break.

Wearing a white wedding gown
Sure, your grandma may raise an eyebrow if you decide to rock a pink gown (Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Biel did it!), but it's your dress and you should wear what you want to. By the time the actual wedding rolls around, no one (Grams included!) will really care that you aren't adorned in white. On the other hand, if this is your second or even third marriage and you still want to wear a white dress, by all means, go for it.

Appointing a single flower girl and ring bearer
Many couples are opting to nix the roles of the flower girl and ring bearer altogether. If you don't know any kids, this decision makes sense (you can let your dog fill in instead!). If you have several nieces and nephews, however, you shouldn't feel pressured to pick just one boy and one girl to be a part of your wedding. Include them all, and give each child a special role.

Choosing matching bridesmaids dresses
Unlike the miraculous jeans in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, the same gown isn't going to look amazing on everyone. So let your bridesmaids pick out a dress that makes them feel confident. You can always designate a color or fabric for everyone to stick to if you'd still like to keep the look uniform.

Seeing the groom before you say, "I do"
We promise your marriage isn't doomed forever if you do decide to meet up with your man before the wedding. In fact, your photographer will most likely encourage this! Snapping pics prior to the ceremony will not only free up more time for you to spend with family and friends, but your hair and makeup will be freshly done as well.

Having a tiered wedding cake
You can have your traditional wedding cake and eat it too. Or you can do something totally out of the box and serve up a different dessert altogether. Think: cupcake or French macaron tower, chocolate fondue fountain, or a whole buffet full of sweet treat options. No matter what you serve, you can never really go wrong with sweets.

Throwing your bouquet and garter
This can be a fun and silly tradition for all your unattached pals to take part in. If only a few of your friends are single though, there's no need to go out of your way to draw attention to their lack of a significant other. Instead, play a wedding trivia game where everyone can get involved. The guy and girl who answer the most questions correct regarding your relationship take home the "prize" of the bouquet and garter.

—Written by Elizabeth Mitchell for Brides

What traditions would you be OK skipping? And which ones wouldn't you?

More from Brides:
*4 Inexpensive Date-Night Ideas You Haven't Tried Yet but Should
*11 Things to Do After Getting Engaged
*50 Ways to Slash Your Wedding Budget

If you need a reason to travel to London this spring, there's a phenomenal exhibition of wedding dresses opening at the V&A on May 3. And if you can't make it in the next few weeks, no worries. Wedding Dresses 1775-2014 will be on site until March of next year. Here are 10 dresses from the collection that I'd love to visit in London. Some are famous (you'll recognize Kate Moss and Gwen Stefani's Galliano gowns), and the rest are just fabulous.

Wedding Dress 1

Worn by Margaret Whigham, Duchess of Argyll, for her marriage to Charles Sweeny: Embroidered silk satin wedding dress designed by Norman Hartnell, 1933. (Given and worn by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (C) Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans.)

Wedding Dress 2

Worn by Barbara "Baba" Beaton for her marriage to Alec Hambro: Silk satin wedding dress designed by Charles James, London, 1934. (Given by Mrs Alec Hambro (C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 3

Worn by the Duchess of Cornwall for the blessing after her marriage to HRH the Prince of Wales: Embroidered silk coat and silk dress designed by Anna Valentine, feather headdress created by Philip Treacy, 2005. (Photograph by Hugo Burnand.)

Wedding Dress 4

Worn by Katie Shillingford for her marriage to Alex Dromgoole: Pale gray slashed chiffon wedding dress designed by Gareth Pugh and veil by Stephen Jones, 2011. (Courtesy of Katie Shillingford. Photograph (C) Amy Gwatkin.)

Wedding Dress 5

Worn by Elizabeth King for her marriage to Ralph Rowland Absalom: Silk wedding dress made from lightweight upholstery fabric by Ella Dolling, London, 1941. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 6

Worn by Anne Shelia Molineux for her marriage to Gordon Hodson: Silk and lace wedding dress designed by Isobel, London, 1953. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 7

Silk Satin Court dress, British, 1775-80. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 8

Worn by Gwen Stefani for her marriage to Gavin Rossdale: Gwen Stefani's wedding dress designed by John Galliano for Dior, 2002. Lent by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 9

Worn by Dita von Teese for her marriage to Marilyn Manson: Bird of Paradise dress in changeant silk grosgrain by Vivienne Westwood. Grosgrain, velvet and mink tricorne by Stephen Jones. Exclusively Designed for Dita von Teese 2005. Lent by Dita von Teese. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Wedding Dress 10

Worn by Kate Moss for her marriage to Jamie Hince: Kate Moss's wedding dress and veil designed by John Galliano, 2011. Worn for her marriage to Jamie Hince. Silk chiffon, silk georgette and silk tulle, hand-embroidered with sequins and pearls. Lent by Kate Moss. ((C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.)

Anyone planning a trip to London? Would you check out this exhibit? And which one of the dresses above is your favorite?

Before they embarked on their three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, it seems Prince William presented his bride with a three-year wedding-anniversary gift. (Their actual anniversary is tomorrow. Here's their real royal wedding album, if you're feeling nostalgic!) If you look closely at Kate Middleton's wrist throughout the tour {Because that's not stalker-y at all. }, almost every day she was spotted wearing a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.

The watch was in even more photos, but my collage was getting out of hand! Click here to check out all of Kate Middleton's New Zealand and Australia tour outfits in one place!

Hollywood Life is reporting that William gifted this particular watch to his bride because the winding mechanism features a cabochon sapphire, which of course matches her sapphire engagement ring, which previously belonged to his mother.

Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.

The traditional three-year anniversary gift in both the U.S. and the U.K. is leather, but I'd have no problem making an exception for this.

Thoughts on Kate Middleton's three-year wedding-anniversary gift from Prince William?

It looks like another Bachelorette will to make it down the aisle: Desiree Hartsock just shared a sneak-peek photo from her engagement shoot with Chris Siegfried, who got her final rose in 2013, on season nine of The Bachelorette.

I'm pretty sure the first pic is a selfie, but this is a shot from their actual Seattle shoot.

Kind of amazing, no?

And here's an outtake with the photographer, Jodi Bodtke from Giving Tree Photography.

Thoughts on Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried's engagement shoot?

Pretty magical!

It's been a while since we've seen fresh designs for the masses from the engagement ring world, so I'm extra-excited about Brilliant Earth's new Windsor Collection. For so long, "vintage-style" engagement rings have all felt very Art Deco, but this collection was inspired by designs from the 1930s to 1950s, so they're a little bit different from what we've already seen. Check 'em out.

Engagement Ring 1

Iris Diamond Ring, $975 (setting only).

And look how chic it looks with the matching band!

Iris Diamond Matched Set, $1,825 (setting and band only).

Engagement Ring 2

Polaris Diamond Ring, $1050 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 3
Jasmine Diamond Ring, $925 (setting only).

This set feels more "classic" than "retro," if that makes sense. But I adore how the rose gold makes it fresh.

Engagement Ring 4

Posie Diamond Matched Set, $1,825 (setting and band only).

I'm pretty sure this ring was meant as a wedding or anniversary band, but I'm all about the engagement band. I'd also love to wear this ring solo, on days I needed to be a little more low-key. SO pretty!

Engagement Ring 5

Orianthe Diamond Ring, $1,250.

Brilliant Earth's diamonds are always guaranteed to be "beyond conflict free." You can read up on their ethical practices here. And click here to check out all the offerings from The Windsor Collection.

Which of these rings is your favorite?

Waaaaay back in August, we shot a real bride series in the brand-new New York outpost of Lovely Bride, which also has stores in LA, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The New York store's aesthetic is just dreamy (in this post I called it like being "in a BHLDN catalog") and the selection of wedding dresses is exceptional. The boutique just does such a great job of curating lesser-known designers who are doing great things with wedding dresses. (There are also loads of dresses from designers you already know and love, including Nicole Miller, Sarah Seven, Watters, and Wtoo.)

I meant to get this post up sooner, but you might recall I was blogging live from the NICU, so #babybrain. But I'm happy to report the dresses are still just as pretty as they were eight months ago. Here are six from designers that Lovely Bride stocks.

Wedding Dress 1: Anna Campbell

The Miranda Dress.

Wedding Dress 2: Claire La Faye

From the A Love Less Ordinary collection.

Wedding Dress 3: Elizabeth Dye

Helena Wedding Gown.

Wedding Dress 4: Lea-Ann Belter

Eloise.

Wedding Dress 5: Rebecca Schoneveld

Everly Gown.

Wedding Dress 6: Leanne Marshall

From the Bridal Signature collection.

I'm not sure if Lovely Bride carries these exact dresses (I didn't check their stock lists) but I know they definitely carry these designers, so it's totally worth visiting them, regardless. (Not all the designers are featured in all the stores, so check here ahead of time.)

Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

I got to check out the latest wedding accessories and shoes from the always affordable Nina Shoes last week. Here are six things that caught my eye:

1. This pretty little hair clip.

2. This bling-y headband, which could also double as a sash.

3. These mega-watt sparkly earrings.

4. These "something blue" shoes.

5. These zip-up heels, which would ensure you don't trip out of your shoes on your way down the aisle.

6. These not-too-high heels. (They look high here, but they're less than 3 inches!)

Which of these items is your favorite?

I'd wear the earrings and the gray shoes to get married—or to dress up jeans and a T-shirt.

George Clooney has good taste in women and jewelry, it seems. Amal Alamuddin showed off her new fiance and her new engagement ring when the two were out to dinner recently. People scored the exclusive photos {annoying, I know }, but you can click here to see a photo of Amal Alamuddin's engagement ring.

People is reporting that the ring features an ethically mined emerald-cut diamond estimated at 7-plus carats and two tapered baguettes set in platinum. It looks like a yellow diamond set in yellow gold in that photo, but I guess that's just the lighting. It looks very similar to Kate Hudson's engagement ring from Matthew Bellamy.

Thoughts on Amal Alamuddin's engagement ring? Do you think George Clooney did a good job?

Writes Save the Date reader Taylor:

My boyfriend and I had been living together for a year when he proposed on Christmas with a 4-carat engagement ring. I was clear when we moved in together that it was a step toward marriage, not a perma-roommate situation, so I was thrilled when we got engaged. So here's the problem: Every time I try to talk to him about our wedding, he says I'm pressuring him and we get into an argument. He says we will get married when and where he wants and that he wants to surprise me. Please help.

Here are my thoughts:

Well, that's obnoxious. I mean, for what it's worth, your guy's intentions might be good. But his actions are just gross.

It's possible that he just really likes surprising you and has dreamed up some really grand wedding plans that he thinks you're going to love. But he needs to let go of what he thinks you want and listen to what you actually want. And it sounds like you DON'T want a surprise wedding. And that's OK. Honestly, I don't know many {or any } girls who would.

If you let him throw his surprise wedding—and I don't think you should—you're setting the precedent for him to bulldoze your opinions for the rest of your marriage. Want to redecorate the living room? SURPRISE! He tricked it out with animal heads! Want to go on vacation? SURPRISE! He already planned his your dream golf/camping trip! Want a new pet? SURPRISE! Meet your 150-pound sheepdog-rottweiler mix!

Both people come into a marriage with preconceived ideas about what they want. Rory decided long before we met that one day he was going to have a daughter named Chaya (after his great-aunt's Hebrew name), but then I came along and said, "Oh, hell no." And we picked our daughter's name together. (Clara was that great-aunt's given name, so I took his wants into consideration too.)

I think you need to say to your guy, "I appreciate the fact that you want to plan a surprise wedding, but I don't WANT a surprise wedding. I want a wedding that we plan together. And I want to start planning it now." If he starts whining about feeling pressured, put your foot down. Explain that you don't want to get married tomorrow, but wedding planning takes time, and you're ready to start planning your future together. If he's not ready to start planning your future, frankly, I don't think he wants to be a part of it. Which means you need to move on and find someone who does.

Ladies, what do you think? Should Taylor let her guy plan a surprise wedding? Or should she put her foot down?

Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!

I was flipping through film of Victoria Beckham's left hand—as a weddings blogger sometimes does—and I realized we'd never discussed her engagement ring. Makes sense, since she and David Beckham got engaged back in 1998. I thought this pear-shaped doorknob was her original engagement ring:

But it turns out Becks proposed with something way more low-key—and got himself a man-gagement ring to boot.

I also just really love that they released a photo of their post-engagement hands. I wish every celeb would be so considerate.

I'd guess that top ring is, maybe, 10 carats? 15? It's hard to tell since I don't see many diamonds that big. The bottom ring, a marquise cut, is no more than 4 carats, I'd guess. But wait! There's more! Victoria's often spotted with this sparkler on THAT finger:

I'm going to guess that ring is an 8-carat emerald-cut yellow diamond set in yellow gold.

I guess if you're Posh Spice, you need to have options.

Thoughts on the many engagement rings of Victoria Beckham? How 'bout David's man-gagement ring? Which of Posh's rings do you like best?

I think the original ring is my favorite.

P.S. You know Posh and Becks sat on thrones at their wedding, right? Also, please take a moment to fully appreciate David's head-to-toe ivory getup. And those highlights! (Plus, baby in a tiny white suit. I'm sure THAT didn't end well.)

Since I BARELY believe George Clooney proposed to someone {I'm still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to yell "PUNK'D!" } naturally I've been snooping around for all the details on the (alleged?!) proposal. Here's what I've found:

Page Six is reporting that the whole thing went down in George's Los Angeles home over a meal he cooked himself. According to their sources, he designed the engagement ring himself (more details on Amal Alamuddin's engagement ring here) and presented it to her on bended knee. "He was so happy she accepted, he was calling friends with the news later that night," their sources say. I can't imagine George Clooney giddily making phone calls, but hey, love makes us all crazy, right?

Page Six is also reporting that George and Amal "want to get married at the end of the summer, in early September, before Amal returns to work." (I'm not sure why she's not working. Maybe England is like Italy, where everything shuts down for the month of August?)

Of course everyone's speculating that the wedding will happen at George's estate in Lake Como, Italy, but the property is reportedly not very private, which would afford the public and the paparazzi a front-row seat. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Read the full story here.

Thoughts on George Clooney's proposal to Amal Alamuddin?

Congrats, kids!

If I frequented the red-carpet scene, I would wear a wedding dress for every appearance. There are just SO many amazing, not-too-wedding-y wedding dresses out there that deserve some time in the spotlight. For example, the Raven dress from Claire Pettibone's Still Life collection, which Carrie Underwood wore to the Time 100 Gala Tuesday night.

Here's the dress on Carrie:

Here it is on the runway last fall:

And—brace yourselves—here's the phenomenal rear view:

Click here to see all the offerings from Claire Pettibone's Still Life collection.

How gorgeous is that? Would you wear this dress for your wedding? How 'bout on the red carpet? And how pretty did Carrie look Tuesday night?

Are diamonds still a girl's best friend? If you'd like a little more color on your ring finger, you might want to check out sapphires, instead. And—surprise!—sapphires don't just come in shades of blue, like Kate Middleton's famous sapphire sparkler. Here are eight colorful engagement rings from The Natural Sapphire Company:

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: Padparadscha Sapphire Ring (J4097) $14,025. Pink Sapphire Ring (J4645) $2,975. Padparadscha Sapphire Ring (J1468) $18,700. Unique Sapphire Ring (J3928) $1,275. BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEF: Blue Sapphire Ring (J4620) $2,125. Blue Sapphire Ring (J4424) $7,522.50. Unique Sapphire Ring (J4573) $15,725. Unique Sapphire Ring (J3826) $10,625.

I know some of the prices seem high for non-diamonds, but the sapphires on those rings are huge. (The peachy sapphire weighs in at more than 4 carats! And the purpley-blue one is 8!)

The site doesn't have any pre-made rings with green sapphires, but they have tons of loose sapphires in every shade of green:

FROM LEFT: Cushion Unique Sapphire (U4529) $1,198.50. Cushion Unique Sapphire (U3633) $1,864.05. Cushion Unique Sapphire (U3626) $2,177.70. Cushion Unique Sapphire (U4880) $2,924.

I'm also fascinated with these blue-gray and gray sapphires:

FROM LEFT: Cushion Unique Sapphire (U4696) $5,867.55. Asscher Unique Sapphire (U5055) $794.75.

The only color sapphire I don't see is red. But don't worry, there are loads and loads of pretty ruby rings on the site, if you want a red engagement ring:

Ruby Ring (J3835) $7,522.50.

Would you want a sapphire engagement ring? Which color sapphire do you like best? Which of these rings is your favorite?

I'd LOVE a ring with the third green sapphire as a center stone and side stones the color of the gray sapphire on the right.

I thought Emma Roberts was keeping her hair pretty short lately, so I was super-confused when she posted this adorable updo on Instagram last night:

Was it an old photo? Were witchcraft and sorcery involved?

It turns out the photo is current—Emma just has a very talented stylist. She captioned the pic: "@ninezeroone @riawnacapri killed it tonight putting my short hair up like this!! #magic"

Here are Emma and her hair at an event two days ago:

It looks like the hair wizardry was the work of Riawna Capri from Nine Zero One salon. I'll do my best to get the how-to, because I'm guessing brides with medium-length hair would rather rock this cuteness than spend the months leading up to their wedding willing their hair to grow eight inches. I also love it for girls headed to prom—perfect for showing off a pretty neckline and keeping you cool on the dance floor.

Thoughts on Emma Roberts' magical updo? Would you copy her look for your wedding? What if you were a bridesmaid? How 'bout prom

Let's face it: No matter how much planning and preparation you put into your big day, there's bound to be a few surprises that pop up — for better or worse. From the aww to the aww sh*t, these five brides are confessing their biggest wedding day surprises.

An Unexpected Gift From Dad
"My biggest surprise was a gold coin necklace that my dad gave me right before we walked down the aisle. My now husband's dad had given it to me the day I was born when he and their family came to visit me. My dad had kept it in our safety deposit box all those years, and I never knew about it. It was such an amazing reminder that I was truly about to marry my soulmate!" — Sarah, 26

No Time to Eat
"My biggest wedding surprise was how I didn't get to eat any of our wedding food. I was expecting to sit down and have a meal with my new hubby, but between all of the guests it was such a whirlwind that it was time to go before we could enjoy our food. We ended up ordering room service later because we were so hungry." — Heidi, 28

It Went By Too Fast
"No matter how many people told me the wedding would fly by, I wasn't ready for it! Looking back, I felt like there were so many people that I don't know if I even said hello to them all. I had short term wedding memory loss, I guess because of the adrenaline."— Melissa, 26

So Many Emotions (and Tears!)
"My biggest wedding day surprise was probably how weirdly emotional I got before the ceremony. Everything was fine and I felt great. Then while I was getting my hair done and my sister asked me what sandwiches we were ordering for lunch, I suddenly felt a sea of emotions and just started crying in front of all my bridesmaids. They didn't really know what to do, and I had no idea why I was crying — scared, anxious, happy? Just too many weird emotions going on at once and they decided to come pouring out at that moment. I had no idea that would happen. I thought if anything I would cry at the ceremony, but I was totally calm and composed for that." — Vanessa, 27

A Last-Minute Change of Venue
"Everyone seems to get a kick out of this. I got married the day before a hurricane at the beach! The venue literally had to be changed two hours before the ceremony was supposed to start. I was amazed by how calm I remained. It's a lot of work for everything to change and then be over in the blink of an eye." — Megan, 29

—Written by Elizabeth Mitchell for Brides

Did you have any big wedding day surprises?

More from Brides:
*4 Inexpensive Date-Night Ideas You Haven't Tried Yet but Should
*11 Things to Do After Getting Engaged
*50 Ways to Slash Your Wedding Budget