Bridal Guide - Planning

• What it's Really Like to Have a Five-Year Engagement

  The benefits and drawbacks to having a longer-than-average engagement. The Five-Year Engagement premieres today, and it's a topic that hits close to home for the BG web team—between the two of us, we have a five-year engagement (two for Kristen, three for Stefania). So, in honor of the movie, we're sharing what we've learned about the benefits and drawbacks to having a longer-than-average engagement. THE PROS Time to Build the Life You Want and Prepare for Marriage One of the best parts of having a long engagement is that it gives you breathing room to focus on your career, get a sense of what your partner will be like as a spouse and decide what you both want for your marriage (living plans, when to have children, etc). It's a commitment towards a future together—one worth waiting for. My fiancé and I decided to get engaged because we were ready to take that next step after dating, but our plans to tie the knot in 2012 were derailed when his physical therapy program added an extra year to their requirements. An extra 365 days is a small price to pay for finding the person I want to spend the rest of my life with! Plus, since we're still relatively young (we're both in our mid-twenties), it gives us a small window of opportunity to enjoy some "me" time before the "we" factor starts to kick in more after we're married, when it's not quite so easy (but still important to spend separate time alone or with friends). — Stefaniaread more

• Find Your Perfect Wedding Venue

  Whether you envision your wedding held in a hotel ballroom, a trendy bistro or a sunny backyard, there are pros and cons to consider for each. Here, what you need to know before you book. By:  Valerie Berrios Left Outdoors Photo Credit: Tanya Lippert Photography (left); Elizabeth Messina Pros Nature-made decor Let’s face it, who needs lavish decorations when an amber sunset, blooming wildflowers or acres of kelly-green hills can serve as your backdrop? “Outdoor and tent weddings are among my favorite,” says Allison Sargent, of Allison Sargent Events in New Jersey, whose own daughter, Carly, was recently married in a custom-built tent overlooking two fairways on a golf course. “Everyone loves the outdoors on a glorious day,” she says.read more

• The Walk Down the Aisle

  Get David Tutera's top tips for planning a memorable wedding processional. Home Page Title:  Your Grand Entrance Home Page Abstract:  Get David Tutera's top tips for planning a memorable walk down the aisle. There are key moments in your wedding that are crucial when planning how you execute it; moments like your first dance or the exchange of vows during the ceremony. But the first (and most important) is when the bride walks down the aisle—also called the processional. Photo Credit: Amber Davis Photographyread more