Well, here’s the MOST perfect thing to usher in the weekend: This groom and his groomsmen dancing for almost six straight minutes to six different songs, including “Crazy In Love” and “Bootylicious.” It pretty much made my week:
Would you want your groom to perform at your wedding? Or would you just die?
I think it’s awesome. But then again, my wedding featured this surprise performance, which I couldn’t have loved more.
Ladies and gents, let’s all direct our attention Scarlett Johansson’s left hand, where her engagement ring seems to have been joined by an awfully wedding-y looking ring.
Obviously we’re going in for a closer look:
So were Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac secret married? I kind of think yes. Of course the two welcomed daughter Rose in September, so the new ring could be a push present. But it looks like a simple gold band—in my experience push presents are more bling-y—and she’s wearing it below her engagement ring, which is traditionally the spot reserved for a wedding ring. Also, we didn't see a single picture from Scarlett and Ryan Reynolds’ 2008 wedding, so she has a history of getting married on the DL.
Click here for a picture of Scarlett Johansson's engagement ring, if you need a refresher.
Do you think Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac were married in secret?
I’m guessing y-e-s.
Mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses are awesome, in theory: Your friends probably have different body types and comfort levels, and you want every last one of ’em to feel gorgeous. That said, mix-and-match can quickly turn into a major headache. (The bride is vetoing anything that’s not the EXACT right shade of pale peacock blue, and her bridesmaids keep suggesting dresses that would be more appropriate for a rave than a wedding reception.)
Here’s the totally painless/totally brainless way to keep everyone happy.
Weddington Way (which knows a thing or two about bridesmaid dresses—see here) just turned out its own line of bridesmaid dresses with a whole bunch of styles and colors. All the bride has to do is pick a color, and each ’maid picks her favorite dress. The dresses start at $150 and max out at $175 AND six of the styles are rentable for a mere $75. Every silhouette is wedding-friendly, and the colors match across the board. It’s basically win-win-win-win-win.
Here are six of my favorites in Plum Perfect, which is, um, plum perfect for a fall or winter wedding.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Lola. Ella. Emily. Olivia. Grace. Vivien.
Click here to check out all of the offerings from Weddington Way.
Are you doing mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses? Which of these dresses is your favorite?
Engagement Season kicks off in matter of days, so brace yourselves for the influx of engagement ring selfies (“I SAID YES!” and #engaged!) that’s about to take over your social media. Here are five gorgeous real-girl engagement rings to ease you into the season.
Engagement Ring 1
Jena’s boyfriend proposed in front of the Eiffel Tower in the rain. Jena says she has small hands, so she loves that her ring is “simple and delicate.”
Engagement Ring 2
Holly and her boyfriend both love to garden, so he hid her engagement ring in an antique tin in their vegetable patch. Holly dug up the ring {Thank God—can you hear me having a heart attack?! } and he proposed right then in their backyard.
Engagement Ring 3
This super-unique sparkler belongs to a lucky girl named Deb.
Engagement Ring 4
Nicole got her “dream ring” when her boyfriend proposed after dinner one night. “We walked into our apartment, which was filled with candles!” she says.
Engagement Ring 5
Teresa and her fiance, Arman, are getting married next weekend! Her groom had a jeweler design her ring, which features a yellow diamond in yellow gold, white diamonds in white gold, and pink diamonds in rose gold. He wanted “a unique ring for a unique girl!” she says.
Are you expecting an engagement ring this season? Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?
PS: Is Engagement Season a Myth?
If you'd like to share a photo of your ring on Save the Date, you can click here to submit it with the contact form. Or you can email a photo to glamour[dot]weddings[dot]girls[at]gmail[dot]com. I try to run reader engagement ring posts often, so take your time and send a biggish, nonblurry photo! (Please DON'T send an Instagram photo or add text or special effects!) And if you've already sent a pic, sit tight—it's coming!
Writes Save the Date reader Taylor:
My boyfriend was previously married, but we’ve been together for six years. (He’s 41 and I’m 27.) About two years ago I was on the computer and he came up behind me and announced that he wanted to marry me. It was so sweet and perfect. For a while we’d talk about all the details of our dream wedding: dates, colors, cakes, everything. And then nothing. He has said he wants to wait to get married until we move into a new home, but I don’t understand why we can’t get engaged. Yes, money is tight—I was in school and am now trying to find a full-time job, and his job is part time with limited hours—so we’ve had a hard time saving for a new place, never mind a ring. But I’ve been ready to get engaged for years now, and it’s starting to drive me insane. Am I getting upset over nothing? Or do I need to speak up?
Here are my thoughts:
If it’s upsetting you this much—and clearly it is—you need to ask him, not me: “We used to talk about getting married, but that stopped a while ago, and I’m worried. I’d like to be engaged within a year and married by the time I’m 30. What’s your timeline for our relationship?”
The only caveat, I think, is that Engagement Season is mere days away, as I mentioned yesterday. So you might want to cool your heels and hold off on the conversation for a few months. Yes, waiting till after Valentine’s Day (the official end of Engagement Season) might seem like an eternity, but if a proposal’s already in the works, things could get REAL awkward if his answer is, “Well, I WAS going to ask your dad on Thanksgiving* and propose on Christmas. Is that soon enough?”
*Not that he has to ask your dad, but that’s often how holiday proposals unfold, in my experience.
In the meantime, with the holidays about to kick into high gear, I’m sure there’s plenty to keep you busy. Plan lots of “me time” between your shopping outings and holiday parties to avoid getting further stressed. And if you have time to cook, I don’t think it would hurt to throw an Engagement Chicken in the oven. Ya gotta eat, right?
Ladies, what do you think? Should Taylor speak up? If so, should she blurt it out now? Or wait a few months?
Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!
Just when we thought we’d seen every snippet from Lauren Conrad and William Tell’s September wedding, Kristin Ess, Lauren’s longtime hairstylist, shared a new photo: a peek at the bride’s utterly perfect (obviously) rehearsal dinner updo.
Of course your rehearsal dinner won’t be as formal as your wedding, but since you’ll still be the center of attention, you should give some thought to your hair. Lauren (and Kristin) nailed it with this piecey side chignon. If you’d like to copycat Lauren’s rehearsal-dinner updo, here are two similarly pretty hair combs:
FROM LEFT: Freshwater Pearl Hair Comb from Etsy seller somethingjeweled, $95. Hand-Wired Bridal Comb from Etsy seller SecretJewel, $65.
It would also be great for your bridal shower and bachelorette party.
Would you copy Lauren’s unfussy side chignon for your rehearsal dinner?
Also, Lauren Conrad, Jennifer Aniston, and 3 More Celeb Brides Who Chopped Their Hair After the Wedding
Angelina Jolie’s 10-carat engagement ring(click here for a photo) must have been weighing her down: The newlywed has been leaving the bauble at home, wearing just her ultra-simple new wedding band instead. Here it is at the Hollywood Film Awards earlier this month:
Wanna go in for a closer look? Of course you do.
The new ring was reportedly designed by jeweler Robert Procop, who also designed her engagement ring.
Thoughts on Angelina Jolie’s wedding ring? Will you give your engagement ring a rest when you have a wedding ring? Will you bump your e ring to your right hand? Or will you keep both on the left?
Also, Everyone Should Steal This Perfect Line From Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Wedding Vows
Your wedding day is one time when you want to be sure you're using all the best possible beauty products—but where to begin? With this list from celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams. Not only does she spend her days testing all the latest products on her A-list clients, she's a bride-to-be herself (she's busy planning a wedding that'll take place in Canada in May).
1. CK One Pure Color Lipstick in Tempt
"I can't get enough of this lipstick. The color is the perfect peachy nude shade. There's a warmth to it that will translate perfectly in your pictures, unlike some nude shades that just read totally flat."
2. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow
"This product is great for contouring and highlighting your face. The shimmer is so subtle that it will just give you that glow every bride wants to achieve without looking too cakey. Apply the darker shade along your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and to the corners of your forehead. A little artist trick: As a very last step on your eyes, after you have applied all shadows and liner, take a blending brush and very softly apply the dark product in the crease of your eye, blending outward. This final touch brings the whole look together, from top to bottom."
3. Kiehls Micro Blur Skin Perfector
"This mattifier will keep combat shine throughout the day as well as filling in pores and giving the look of smooth skin. It works really well under foundation."
4. Tatcha Japanese Beauty Papers
"These blotting papers really are the best. Before I tried them, I thought, aren't all papers the same? They're not! These don't remove products—they just suck up oil. They're a good alternative to powder for touch-ups; too much powder throughout the day can make your skin look flat."
"Makeup artists talk about this product all the time, but it really is our best trick for giving skin that airbrushed finish. Apply your foundation with a brush, then after wetting the sponge, go back over and buff it all out. The finished look is seamless."
6. CK One Color Brow Pencil + Gel Duo
"Defined brows are essential on your wedding day. They will frame your eyes and give you that classic Audrey Hepburn look. Use the pencil to fill in any gaps, and finish with a coat of clear gel to set the brows in place. You don't want to worry about brushing them up all day."
7. Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion
"It just doesn't make sense to spend an hour on your wedding makeup and then completely forget about the rest of your body! Most brides wear dresses that show off their arms and decolletage. Use this shimmery lotion, which you can find in most drugstores, to give your skin that glow. It will read beautifully in pictures."
"I think subtle false lashes are essential to give the eye depth and shape. Every bride wants full, long-looking lashes. These are formed into clusters, taking all the hard work out of individuals but giving a softer and more natural feel than a strip. My trick for applying them: Apply one coat of waterproof mascara, apply mediums in the center, shorts on the inner and outer corners, and follow up with another coat of mascara."
9. Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
"These eye gels are the perfect shape and really depuff and moisturize the eye area. I like to apply them at the very beginning, do the eye, and then apply the rest of the makeup. These little guys will catch any fallout shadow and keep the undereye area clean."
10. Hourglass Cosmetics Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint
"This is a brand-new foundation, and it is beautiful on. The finish is a little dry but still has a luminosity to it that looks healthy. The slightly dry finish gives this foundation great staying power for the entire day and into the night."
Thanks for the reccs, Kayleen—and good luck with the wedding planning! Lovely readers, have you tried any of the makeup and skin items she lists here? Are there any you think you'll test out soon? Share below!
I’m expecting an influx of engagement ring selfies now that Engagement Season has officially kicked off. Here’s how to share the prettiest possible picture:
1) Resist the urge to post 26 shots. YOU can’t stop staring at your new ring, but resist the urge to share multiple shots. One good picture is enough for 99 percent of your Facebook friends and Instagram followers.
2) Get a manicure. Since you’re sharing only one photo (see above), you might as well hold off until your nails looks decent.
3) For the best results, wait for natural light. No filter is going to give your ring the same sparkle as the sun. If it’s not frigid, go outside for your photo shoot. Don’t hold your hand in direct sunlight or you’ll look like a Twilight vampire with glowy, blown-out skin.
4) Look for an interesting backdrop. Don’t ruin the shot with dirty dishes in the background. If you don’t have, say, a tropical beach handy, hold your hand against a cool fabric so your ring pops. Lauren Conrad chose a clean dinner table—with a champagne cork in the background.
5) Find a pose that flatters your hand. If your hand looks weird lying on a flat surface, hold it up (it will look less veiny), hold something (like a wineglass) to smooth your knuckles, or make a fist, like Whitney Port did here.
6) Get your bling in focus. On an iPhone, tap the screen to force the camera to focus where you want it to, otherwise it’s going to focus on a random knuckle.
7) Soften the edges. This is my favorite Instagram feature: Under the Wrench tool, slide all the way to the end and the second-to-last tool is called Tilt Shift. Click Radial for a ring picture, then move the circle so the center stone is in the center, and let go. Your ring is sharp, and everything gently blurs.
8) Share! If you'd like to share a photo of your ring on Save the Date, you can click here to submit it with the contact form. Or you can email a photo to glamour[dot]weddings[dot]girls[at]gmail[dot]com. I try to run reader engagement ring posts often, so take your time and send a biggish, nonblurry photo. (Please DON'T send an Instagram photo or add text or special effects.) And if you've already sent a pic, sit tight—it's coming!
Does anyone have engagement news to share? Has your Facebook feed blown up with ring shots yet?
You’ve come a long way, Snooki: The mini-skirted troublemaker from The Jersey Shore looked stunning for her walk down the aisle this weekend. (Snooki and Jionni Lavalle were married earlier today, if you missed the news.) Snooki shared a picture of the first of two wedding dresses on her blog earlier today. Dress No. 1—not the dress in the picture below—was a lace ball gown with a fitted bodice and cap sleeves. A cascading veil completed her look.
Click here to see Snooki in her wedding dress, then get back her to discuss!
Thoughts on Snooki’s wedding dress?
I think she looks great—and I’m looking forward to seeing more from her wedding!
Did you know Betsey Johnson has a line of accessories at David’s Bridal? Well, she does. Since the line is from David’s, obviously everything is reasonably priced. And since it’s designed by Betsey, obviously it’s all super cute. And my favorite part: The shoes all have light-blue soles, so your “something blue” is built right in. There’s ONE thing you can cross off your to-do list. Here are nine of my favorite pairs.
Blue by Betsey Johnson High-Heel Peep-Toe Pumps, $129.50. Blue by Betsey Johnson Chiffon Flower Sandals, $79.50. Blue by Betsey Johnson Floral T-Strap Sandals, $99.50.
Blue by Betsey Johnson Peep-Toe Pumps With Bow, $99.50. Blue by Betsey Johnson Low-Heel Peep-Toe Sandals, $129.50. Blue by Betsey Johnson Cutout T-Strap Sandals, $69.50.
These three pairs are all on sale, so you get an extra 50 percent off the price below when you add ’em to your cart.
Blue by Betsey Johnson Crystal T-Strap Sandals, $59.99. Blue by Betsey Johnson Encrusted Bow Sandals, $79.99. Blue by Betsey Johnson Rhinestone-Heel Sandals, $59.99.
Which pair of shoes is your favorite? Or did you have another “something blue” in mind?
Solange was super-hush-hush about her engagement—which we didn’t even know about until a week before she and Alan Ferguson swapped vows. But post-wedding Solange is much more open to sharing: The fashion icon has posted more than a dozen gorgeous photos from her honeymoon on Instagram. Of course, if you spent a few weeks in paradise, you’d probably share pictures too. Look how pretty:
She mentions that at least part of the trip was in Brazil, but I’m not sure if she and her groom went destination-hopping. Solange is a woman of few words. At least when it comes to Instagram captions.
Thoughts on Solange’s honeymoon pics? Gorgeous, no? Could you use a sun-drenched getaway too?
Also: Beyonce’s Picture of Blue Ivy at Solange’s Wedding Might Melt Your Ovaries
If you’re newly engaged, congrats! (Did you send me your engagement ring selfie yet?!) I know you’re super excited to start planning your wedding, but I suggest you step on the brakes before you make these three mistakes—if you haven’t made them already.
Tadashi Shoji Lilian Dress from BHLDN, $420.
MISTAKE NO. 1: Declaring a wedding date.
Your first date was on October 8, and he proposed on October 8, so an October 8 wedding only makes sense. “Save the date!” you’ve announced—before nailing down vendors and checking your family members’ schedules. If you can’t find a country club (or a caterer) or your brother has a work conference in Des Moines that weekend, you’re going to have to do a lot of explaining if your aunt already booked her flight. Hold off on announcing a date until it’s set in stone.
MISTAKE NO. 2: Falling in love with a dress that’s way out of your budget.
Don’t book an appointment at Vera Wang (or any of the high-end designers) until you know how much you can spend on your wedding dress. Because once you step into a $12,000 gown, you’re never going to be as happy with a $1,200 frock. When you’re flipping through bridal magazines (or blogs!), note the elements you love about different dresses—an illusion neckline or a beaded sleeve—then look for those elements on dresses that are in your price range.
MISTAKE NO. 3: Inviting every Tom, Dick, and hairdresser you know.
You’ve been going to your colorist since the dawn of time, and you like your college roommate’s little sister more than half of your cousins. If budget and space are no object, of course you can invite them all, but until you know for certain how many guests you’ll be able to accommodate, don’t blab about your big day to everyone you know. In short: Avoid sentences like, “You’re going to DIE when I walk down the aisle.” until you know for sure who’ll be there.
Which wedding-planning mistakes have you already made?
I was SO BAD about No. 3!
Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine were married in July, so presumably he put a second ring on it back then. But I couldn’t find a picture of her wedding band for ages, and when she finally started flashing it, all the photos were blurry. (#weddingbloggerproblems) Until now. Behati Insta’d a pic of her wedding band last week, and Karlie Kloss posted another yesterday. So here you have it, ladies:
It appears to be a vintage (or vintage-inspired) band with engraving and maybe some pave diamonds. I like it because it looks a lot like my wedding band, but what I like best is that her engagement ring and her wedding band don’t lie flush—and it looks totally OK. I feel like when a lot of brides start wedding ring shopping, they want their engagement ring and their wedding ring to line up with no space between the two, but unless the center stone is set really high or the wedding band is curved, that rarely happens. But clearly it’s no big deal, right?
Thoughts on Behati Prinsloo’s wedding band? And do you want your rings to lie flush? Or had you never even thought of ring spacing?
Snooki and Jionni LaValle’s wedding pictures are in, and I can’t stop staring. (The two were married last Saturday, if you missed the news.) Our little guidette is all grown up—and seriously glam. People shared a series of photos this week, so let’s go pic by pic and discuss. (Each number links to a photo in the slideshow.)
1) I mean, seriously. I love her head-to-toe look, including the glitzy bouquet. (Her dress is Eve of Milady, and her earrings are Deepa Gurnan.) And I love how Jionni looks so pleased with himself. Like, “I’m not going to grin TOO big, but look at the gal I just scored.”
2) Holy cuteness. Giovanna looks like an angel baby, and the fact that Lorenzo isn’t wearing shoes is just perfection.
3) I’m loving the rear view on the dress, and how happy Snooki’s mama looks in Ines Di Santo.
4) The wedding was Gatsby-inspired, so the newlyweds picked an old-old-school getaway car. Also, faux-fur wraps are a winter-wedding essential, in my book.
5) Such a sweet portrait. I like how the scalloped lace on her veil matches the cap sleeves on her dress.
The One Thing Snooki Hated About Wedding Planning
Thoughts on Snooki’s wedding pictures?
I’m impressed!
And ICYMI: My analysis of Lauren Conrad’s wedding pictures.
The average cost of a wedding now hovers around $30,000 {Yikes! } with the median cost (closer to what most people spend) around $18,000. Either way, you’re spending a LOT of money. So where does it all go? Here’s roughly how the budget breaks down, vendor by vendor.
(The number in parentheses is what you’d spend if your budget was $18,000.)
Obviously some of the numbers can be shuffled: If your venue is free, you can add $1,800 to your music budget—and you don’t have to hand out favors, so that $180 can be bumped to another category. But for the most part, if you have a traditional wedding, your budget will shake out something like this.
Does this breakdown reflect your budget? Or is your spending totally different?
ICYMI, Brides, Beware: 4 Unexpected Fees That Can Totally Screw Up Your Wedding Budget
I think every girl feels extra pretty in gold, right? No matter your coloring, a gold dress makes you look candlelit. I love gold for a bride, but if you’re not feeling that bold, how ‘bout heavy metal for your bridesmaids:
I couldn’t add this stunner to our shop-a-ma-jammy, but I just had to share:
Tamara Dress from LulaKate, $325.
I know I picked some spendy dresses, but there are two under-$100 options up there. And most of the expensive ones are from department stores, where you can score some major deals this time of year.
Would you dress your bridesmaids in gold? Which of these dresses is your favorite?
I *wish* I had thought of gold. #love
I’m always gushing about Brit designer Aruna Seth’s latest collection of shoes. (Nikki Reed and Pippa Middleton are fans.) But when I saw Aruna at bridal market, I was also gushing about her hair. It was the second-to-last day of bridal market—meaning my own hair was barely combed—and she had somehow mustered the energy to work an awesome braid into hers.
What up, cute?
Turns out Aruna was in zombie mode too; she just had a cute little accessory up her sleeve:
Hershesons Chunky Braided Headband from Selfridges & Co.
It’s a little tricky to track down that exact headband stateside, but you can find ’em on eBay. I like how thick that one is, but here are some similar options:
If you’re planning on wearing your hair down on your wedding day, I think this is the perfect way to keep it from looking ho-hum. It might be even more adorable worked into a wedding updo. (Especially good if you have fine, thin hair—meaning nothing to spare for a braid—like I do.)
Oh, and here are some of my favorite wedding-worthy shoes from Aruna’s latest collections, since I can’t do a post on a shoe designer and not mention ’em. Wouldn’t the pink ones be perfection for a spring garden wedding?
Would you wear a braid headband for your wedding?
Normally nothing Lady Gaga’s wearing would make me flinch. Meat dress? Sure. Kilt fashioned from hand-stitched dinosaur pelts? Of course. But today her left hand made me do a double take. As I mentioned in October, Gaga and longtime boyfriend Taylor Kinney are near the top of my soon-to-be-engaged-celebs list. And Mama Monster herself told Howard Stern on Monday that she’d say yes if the Chicago Fire star proposed. So I couldn’t help but be suspicious when she stepped out today in THIS, the most shocking of accessories, in my book:
Let’s go in for a closer look.
I mean, I’m not forgetting that she’s Lady Gaga. She can wear this and no one’s alarmed:
But she so rarely wears a ring on THAT finger—believe me, I check—so I have a few questions I’d like answered about this new accessory. It looks like a black diamond solitaire on a simple gold band. Not a traditional center stone, for sure, but the cut and the classic setting are SO engagement-y.
So, what do you think? Are Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney engaged? Is this ring THE ring? Or am I overthinking it? Do picture Lady Gaga wearing a traditional engagement ring? Or, like, a ring attached to a miniature cage housing a live tarantula?
Let me just remind everyone that I noticed Scarlett Johansson’s new wedding ring a full week before the rest of the world realized she and Romain Dauriac got secret-married, so my ring-tracking radar is on point right now.
If you're thinking about wedding makeup, don't forget primer—even if this base layer isn't an item you use every day (or ever), it can make a huge difference on the biggest beauty day of your life. A short list of things primer can do to make your skin look closer to perfect:
1. Nix redness A primer with a slight green tint (scary as that might sound) is one of the best ways to zap strong pink tones, as well as obscure reddish blemishes and acne scars—much better than piling on tons of foundation. Our pick: Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Primer
2. "Shrink" large pores Primers can dramatically minimize the appearance of pores, often by smoothing them over with silicone. Our picks: Benefit the Porefessional and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
3. Add gleam Got dull, often-dry skin? A lustrous primer is a key step in getting glowing for your wedding. Our picks: L'Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Primer and Clinique Superprimer (one version specifically targets dullness in darker skin tones)
4. Mattify If too much shine, plus grease, is more your issue, go for a primer that'll absorb oil and keep you reflection-free all night long. Our pick: Laura Mercier Secret Finish Mattifying
5. Erase lines Got creases on your forehead or around your eyes/mouth? Help disguise them by using a wrinkle-targeting primer first. Our pick: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
There are lots of variations on each of these fantastic primer formulas, so browse around and find the perfect one for your wedding-day skin wish list!
Do you have a favorite primer, and/or know which one you'll wear on your wedding day? What skin issues does that particular formula address for you? Share below!
