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Bridesmaids

2011-08-05T05:12:00.001-07:00

Bridesmaids are members of the bride's wedding party in a wedding. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman, and often a close friend or sister. She attends to the bride on the day of a wedding or marriage ceremony. Traditionally, bridesmaids were chosen from unwed young women of marriageable age.

The principal bridesmaid, if one is so designated, may be called the chief bridesmaid or maid of honor if she is unmarried, or the matron of honor if she is married. A junior bridesmaid is a girl who is clearly too young to be marriageable, but who is included as an honorary bridesmaid.

Often there is more than one bridesmaid: in modern times the bride chooses how many to ask. Historically, no person of status went out unattended, and the size of the retinue was closely calculated to be appropriate to the family's social status. A large group of bridesmaids provided an opportunity for showing off the family's social status and wealth. Today, the number of bridesmaids in a wedding party is dependent on many variables, including a bride's preferences, the size of her family, and the number of attendants her partner would like to have as well.

Duties

Although many exceed the minimum, the bridesmaids' required duties are very limited. They are required to attend the wedding ceremony and to assist the bride on the day of the wedding. Bridesmaids in Europe and North America are often asked to assist the bride with planning the wedding and a wedding reception. In modern times, a bridesmaid is also typically asked to play a role in planning wedding-related events, such as a bridal shower or bachelorette party, if there are any. These, however, are optional activities; according to etiquette expert Judith Martin, "Contrary to rumor, bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride, nor to wear dresses they cannot afford. If it is customary in the bride's area to have a bridesmaids luncheon, then it is hosted, and therefore organized and paid for, by the bride. A junior bridesmaid has no responsibilities beyond attending the wedding.

The duties and costs of being a bridesmaid are parsed out between a bride and her attendants in a variety of ways. Since modern bridesmaids, unlike their historical counterparts, can no longer rely on having their clothes and travel expenses paid for by the bride's family, and are sometimes even told they must pay for parties that the bride wants to have before the wedding, it has become customary for the bride to present the bridesmaids with gifts as a sign of gratitude for the support and financial commitment that comes with their roles. It has become equally customary for women who are invited to serve as bridesmaids to first ask about the amount of time, energy, and money that the bride expects from them before accepting this position, and to decline or resign if this is more than they will be able to give.

Origin and history

The Western bridesmaid tradition is thought to have originated from Roman Law, which required ten witnesses at a wedding in order to outsmart evil spirits (believed to attend marriage ceremonies) by dressing in identical clothing to the bride and groom, so that the evil spirits would not know who was getting married. Even as late as 19th century England, there was a belief that ill-wishers could administer curses and taint the wedding. In Victorian wedding photographs, for example, the bride and groom are frequently dressed in the same fashion as other members of the bridal party.

Other people cite the Biblical story of Jacob, and his two wives Leah and Rachel, who both literally came with their own maids as detailed in the Book of Genesis (29:24, 46:18) as the origin of bridesmaids. These women were handmaidens (servants or slaves) instead of social peers.

Maid of honor

In the United Kingdom, the term "maid of honour" originally referred to the female attendant of a queen. The term bridesmaid is normally used for all bridal attendants in the UK. However, when the attendant is married, or is a mature woman, the term matron of honour is often used. The influence of American English has led to the chief bridesmaid sometimes being called the maid of honour.

In North America, a wedding party might include several bridesmaids, but the maid of honor is the title and position held by the bride's chief attendant, typically her closest friend or sister. In modern day weddings some brides opt to choose a long-time male friend or brother as their head attendant, using the title Best Man or man of honor.

The activities of the principal bridesmaid may be as many or as varied as she allows the bride to impose upon her. Her only required duty is to participate in the wedding ceremony. Typically, however, she is asked for help with the logistics of the wedding as an event, such as addressing invitations, and for her help as a friend, such as attending the bride as she shops for her wedding dress.

On the day of the wedding, her principal duty is to provide practical and emotional support. She might assist the bride with dressing and, if needed, help the bride manage her veil, a bouquet of flowers, a prayer book, or the train of her wedding dress during the day. In a double-ring wedding, the chief bridesmaid is often entrusted with the groom's wedding ring until it is needed during the ceremony. Many brides ask bridesmaids, if they are adults, to be legal witnesses who sign the marriage license after the ceremony. If there is a reception after the wedding, the maid of honor may be asked to offer a toast to the newlyweds.

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Hearst Magazines UK axes She and Cosmopolitan Bride‎

2011-08-05T05:09:00.000-07:00

Former National Magazine Company titles She and Cosmopolitan Bride are to close with immediate effect following NatMag's merger with Hachette Filipacchi which was completed this week.

The two publishers have combined to form Hearst Magazines UK. The move follows NatMag owner Hearst's acquisition of Hachette Filipacchi owner Lagardere in a £574m deal.

Hearst Magazines said the decision to close the two titles was prompted by "fierce" compeition in the sectors they operate in.

She magazine, which launched 56 years ago, achieved a fairly robust circulation performance in the last six months of the 2010 - dropping 3.7 per cent year on year to 144,583 copies a month. Describing itself as an "intelligent" read for women who juggle their lives, it may be that following the acquisition of Hachette titles Hearst felt it had too many brands in this sector.

Cosmopolitan Bride is fourth biggest bridal magazine in the UK and marked an average net circulation of 37,690 in December. It is thought Hearst Magazines UK will blend the content from its stablemate You and Your Wedding, the National Magazines title that recorded an ABC of 48,664 in December.

Meribeth Parker, group publishing director of Hearst Magazines UK, says the decision to close the titles was taken to ensure the company is as “robust and adaptable as possible for the future”.

She adds: “As a business that believes strongly in the future of print, it is never an easy decision to close a magazine. However we are taking this decisive action now to strengthen our overall portfolio, focusing our investment on our stronger titles and digital expansion.”

Competition in the women’s lifestyle sector has “never been fiercer” and Hearst Magazines UK felt the need to close the magazines to adapt to this trend, she says.

Hearst Magazines UK was formed earlier this week (1 Aug), when Hearst US finalised a $651m deal with Lagardère to buy its international division, which included Hachette Filipachhi in the UK.

Groomsman

2011-08-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

Groomsman is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony. The term usher is more common in the UK while the term 'groomsman' is considered somewhat lower-middle- class and used by those who have adopted the term from America. Usually the groom selects his closest friends and relatives to serve as groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be selected. From his groomsmen, the groom usually chooses one to serve as best man.

For a wedding with many guests, the groom may also ask other male friends and relatives to act as ushers without otherwise participating in the wedding ceremony; their sole task is ushering guests to their seats before the ceremony. Ushers may also be hired for very large weddings.

In a military officer's wedding, the roles of groomsmen are replaced by swordsmen of the sword honor guard. They are usually picked as close personal friends of the groom who have served with him. Their role includes forming the traditional saber arch for the married couple and guests to walk through.

Duties

Additionally, the groom may request other kinds of assistance, such as planning celebratory events such as a bachelor party, also called Stag Night or Buck's Night; helping make the wedding pleasant for guests by talking with people who are alone or dancing with unaccompanied guests or bridesmaids, if there is dancing at a wedding reception; or providing practical assistance with gifts, luggage, or unexpected complications. Groomsmen may also participate in local or regional traditions, such as decorating the newlywed couple's car.

Bridegroom-men had formerly important duties. The men were called bride-knights, and represented a survival of the primitive days of marriage by capture, when a man called his friends in to assist to "lift" or kidnap the bride, or from the need to defend the bride from would-be kidnappers.

Best man

The best man is the chief male assistant to the groom at a wedding. In most modern, English-speaking countries, the groom extends this honor to someone who is close to him, generally either a brother or his closest male friend. When the groom wishes to give this honor to a woman, she may be termed the best woman or best person, or may still be referred to as the 'best man'. The bride's equivalent of the best man is the bridesmaid, or the maid/matron of honour. A gender-neutral term is honor attendant.

While the best man's required duties are only those of a friend, in the context of a western white wedding, the best man will typically:

assist the groom on the wedding day,

keep the wedding rings safe until needed during the ceremony,

act as a legal witness to the marriage, and

make a toast to the bride and groom at the reception. Formerly, the best man would read out the telegrams of those who couldn't attend.

In various cultures

The best man, or honor attendants in general, are not universal customs. Even in places where a best man is customary, the role may be quite different when compared to other areas or times.

In Uganda a best man is expected to guide the newlyweds in the ways of marriage. This means that ideally a best man must be married, preferably to one wife, and should be in position to give sound, tried and tested advice. A best man must be a confidant and be discreet about the details he shares with the new couple.

In Bhutan the best man presents himself at the wedding as a ceremonial guardian to both bride and groom. Thereafter he entertains the guests, sometimes for several hours.

In Eastern Orthodox weddings in Greece, the best man is often also the koumbaros, or religious sponsor, and is traditionally the groom's godfather. The koumbaros (or koumbara, if a woman) is an honored participant who crowns the couple and participates in circling the altar three times. In some areas, this person also pays for all the wedding expenses.

In Ukraine a best man is responsible for guarding the bride during the wedding festivities. When he or the groom steps away, the bride gets "kidnapped" or has a shoe stolen. Then the groom or the best man must pay a ransom in exchange for returning the bride, usually by paying money (which is given to the bride) or by doing something embarrassing.

In India, there are different customs in different states. In Hindu marriages of north India, the best man is always with the groom one or two days prior to the wedding. He cares for the groom's wedding attire and items and sees that the groom is not stressed. The counterparts from the bride's side always try to tease or try to come to terms with the groom's best man. The groom's pair of shoes is something which the bride's side is eyeing on the wedding day. Usually the shoes are stolen during the wedding lunch or some religious ceremony and hidden at a secured location completely under control of the bride's team. The groom's best man and his team are responsible for searching and stealing them back unbeknownst to the bride. If they fail, a small cash ransom is negotiated between the groom and his best man and the bride's counterparts. The shoes are then returned to the groom.

Bachelor party

In the past, the bachelor party was typically scheduled for a convenient evening during the week before the wedding. A type of farewell dinner, it was always hosted, and therefore organized and paid for, entirely by the groom. The dinner was seen as the groom's last chance to entertain his friends as a single man; after the wedding, dinner parties at his home would always be presided over by his wife in her role as hostess.

Common slang names for this event are bachelor party, stag do or bucks' night in different parts of the world. In many areas, this dinner is now most commonly organized by the best man, and the costs can be shared by all of the participants, or all of the participants except the groom, who becomes the guest of honor.

Bride

2011-08-05T02:49:00.000-07:00

Bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.

The word may come from the Teutonic word for "cooking. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by one or more bridesmaids.

Her partner, who becomes her spouse after the wedding, is referred to as the bridegroom (or groom) if male.

History

The term bride appears in combination with many words, some of them obsolete. Thus "bridegroom" is a newly married man, and "bride-bell," "bride-banquet" are old equivalents of wedding-bells, wedding-breakfast. "Bridal" (from Bride-ale), originally the wedding-feast itself, has grown into a general descriptive adjective, the bridal ceremony. The bride-cake had its origin in the Roman confarreatio, an upper-class form of marriage, the essential features of whose ceremony were the eating by the couple of a cake made of salt, water and spelt flour, and the holding by the bride of three wheat-ears, a symbol of plenty.

The cake-eating went out of fashion, but the wheat ears survived. In the Middle Ages they were either worn or carried by the bride. Eventually it became the custom for the young girls to assemble outside the church porch and throw grains of wheat over the bride, and afterwards a scramble for the grains took place. In time the wheat-grains came to be cooked into thin dry biscuits, which were broken over the bride's head, as is the custom in Scotland today, an oatmeal cake being used. In Elizabeth's reign these biscuits began to take the form of small rectangular cakes made of eggs, milk, sugar, currants and spices. Every wedding guest had one at least, and the whole collection were thrown at the bride the instant she crossed the threshold. Those that lighted on her head or shoulders were most prized by the scramblers. At last these cakes became amalgamated into a large one that took on its full glories of almond paste and ornaments during Charles II's time. But even today in rural parishes, e.g. north Notts, wheat is thrown over the bridal couple with the cry "Bread for life and pudding for ever," expressive of a wish that the newly wed may be always affluent. The throwing of rice, a very ancient custom but one later than the wheat, is symbolical of the wish that the bridal may be fruitful.

The bride-cup was the bowl or loving-cup in which the bridegroom pledged the bride, and she him. The custom of breaking this wine-cup, after the bridal couple had drained its contents, is common to both the Greek Christians and members of the Jewish faith. It is thrown against a wall or trodden under foot. The phrase "bride-cup" was also sometimes used of the bowl of spiced wine prepared at night for the bridal couple. Bride-favours, anciently called bride-lace, were at first pieces of gold, silk or other lace, used to bind up the sprigs of rosemary formerly worn at weddings. These took later the form of bunches of ribbons, which were at last metamorphosed into rosettes.

The bride-wain, the wagon in which the bride was driven to her new home, gave its name to the weddings of any poor deserving couple, who drove a "wain" round the village, collecting small sums of money or articles of furniture towards their housekeeping. These were called bidding-weddings, or bid-ales, which were in the nature of "benefit" feasts. So general is still the custom of "bidding-weddings" in Wales, that printers usually keep the form of invitation in type. Sometimes as many as six hundred couples will walk in the bridal procession.

Attire

Bride and groom in traditional Chinese clothing. The bride and groom wear red or with red decoration, which is associated with courage, loyalty, honor, success, fortune, fertility, happiness, and passion in Chinese culture.

The woman to the far right is wearing a typical wedding dress from 1929. Up until the late 1930s wedding dresses reflected the styles of the day. From that time onward, wedding dresses have been based on Victorian ballgowns.

In Europe and North America, the typical attire for a bride is a formal dress and a veil. Usually, in the "white wedding" model, the bride's dress is bought specifically for the wedding, and is not in a style that could be worn for any subsequent events. Previously, until at least the middle of the 19th century, the bride generally wore her best dress, whatever color it was, or if the bride was well-off, she ordered a new dress in her favorite color and expected to wear it again.

For first marriages in Western countries, a white wedding dress is usually worn, a tradition started by Queen Victoria's wedding. Through the earlier parts of the 20th century, Western etiquette prescribed that a white dress should not be worn for subsequent marriages, since the wearing of white was mistakenly regarded by some as an ancient symbol of virginity, despite the fact that wearing white is a fairly recent development in wedding traditions, and its origin has more to do with conspicuous consumption from an era when a white dress was luxurious, even prodigal, because of difficulties with laundering delicate clothes. Today, Western brides frequently wear white, cream, or ivory dresses for any number of marriages; the color of the dress is not a comment on the bride's sexual history. Outside of English-speaking countries countries, brides most commonly wear national dress. White wedding dresses are particularly uncommon in Asian traditions, because white is the color of mourning and death in those cultures. In many Asian cultures, red is usual for brides, as this colour indicates vibrance and health and has over time been associated with brides. However in modern times other colours may be worn, or Western styles preferred. Regardless of colour in most Asian cultures bridal clothes are highly decorative, often covered with embroidery, beading or gold. In some traditions brides may wear more than one outfit, this is true for example in Japan, parts of India, and, archaically, in parts of the Arab world.

Particular styles of jewelry are often associated with bridal wear, for example wedding rings in most Western cultures, or chura (red and white bangles) in Punjabi Sikh culture. Hindu brides are presented with a mangalsutra during the wedding ceremony, which has much of the same significance as a wedding ring in other parts of the world. Wedding jewellery has traditionally been used to demonstrate the value of the bride's dowry.

In addition to the gown, brides often wear a veil and carry a bouquet of flowers, a small heirloom such as a lucky coin, a prayer book, or other token. In Western countries, a bride may wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”; a bridal purse (or money bag) is also common.

Wedding ceremony participants

2011-08-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Wedding ceremony participants, also referred to as the wedding party, are the people that participate directly in the wedding ceremony itself.

Depending on the location, religion, and style of the wedding, this group may include only the individual people that are marrying, or it may include one or more brides, grooms (or bridegrooms), persons of honor, bridespersons, best persons, groomsmen, flower girls, pages and ringbearers.

A woman’s bridal party consists of only those on her side of the wedding party. Those on a groom’s side are called his groom’s party.

Marriage officiant: the person who officiates at the wedding, validating the wedding from a legal and/or religious standpoint. This person may be a judge, justice of the peace, or a member of clergy.

Bride: A woman about to be married, or newly wed.

Bridegroom or Groom: A man who is about to be married, or who has just been married.

Best Man, Woman, or Person: The chief assistant to a bridegroom at a wedding, typically a sibling or friend of special significance in his life. Often holds the wedding rings until their exchange.

Maid, Matron or Man of Honor: The title and position held by a bride's chief attendant, typically her closest friend or sibling.

Bridesmaids: The female attendants to a bride. Males in this role may be called honor attendants or sometimes bridesmen, but that term has a different traditional meaning.

Groomsmen or Ushers: The attendants, usually male, to a bridegroom in a wedding ceremony. Female attendants, such as a sister of the groom, are typically called honor attendants.

Page(s): Young attendants may carry the bride’s train. In a formal wedding, the ring bearer is a special page who carries the rings down the aisle. The coin bearer is similar page who marches on the wedding aisle to bring the wedding coins.

Flower girl(s): In some traditions, one or more children carry bouquets or drop rose petals in front of the bride in the wedding procession.

Kristin Cavallari Returns Her Engagement Rin

2011-08-05T02:38:00.000-07:00

Now that Jay Cutler has called off his engagement to The Hills star Kristin Cavallari, she has returned the sparkler that he gave her.

Jay’s friends said that he’s been thinking about ending things with Kristin for quite some time. We have to wonder why he waited so long then? He did it after she already tried on wedding dresses and they had their engagement party.

A source said, “She noticed a change in him. He suddenly became more supportive of her career. Up ’til then, he’d always talked about it coming to an end once they got married. It was like Jay knew he was leaving the relationship and didn’t want Kristin to miss out on great opportunities in Los Angeles.”

So he cut off their engagement because he didn’t want to limit her opportunities? He’s such a thoughtful guy, isn’t he? He totally put her first there, didn’t he? (Enter sarcasm here.)

Kristin bounced back from the split by hanging out at The Beverly in L.A. with Alessandra Ambrosio and Nicky Hilton.

A source close to the newly single gal confirms that she gave the ring (you can see it in the photo) back to the pro football player, weeks after he called off their nuptials.

The news will hopefully provide some closure for the Laguna Beach babe. It was less than a month ago that the duo released their wedding registry, but as time went on, sources say the pair was drifting apart.

"She noticed a change in him," an insider told Life & Style magazine. "He suddenly became more supportive of her career. Up till then, he'd always talked about it coming to an end once they got married. It was like Jay knew he was leaving the relationship and didn't want Kristin to miss out on great opportunities in L.A."

But at the end of the day, it's the Chicago Bears quarterback who's missing out.

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Wedding dress of Kate Middleton

2011-08-05T01:43:00.000-07:00

Wedding dress of Kate Middleton was the bridal gown worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at her wedding to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, on 29 April 2011. The dress was designed by English designer Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.

The dress and its maker were not formally announced until the bride stepped from her car to enter Westminster Abbey just prior to the service. Noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends, the dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Replicas of the garment have already been produced and sold, and the original dress has gone on display at Buckingham Palace.

Pre-wedding speculation

Before the day, there was much speculation as to what Catherine Middleton would choose for her dress. On 6 March, The Sunday Times reported on speculation that Middleton had chosen McQueen designer Sarah Burton. Their report stated: "A fashion source said that the dress will be a combination of Middleton's own design ideas and Burton's deep knowledge and understanding of high fashion." The label and Burton both denied any involvement. Burton's work came to the notice of Middleton in 2005 when she attended the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall. Burton had designed the bridal gown for his bride, fashion journalist Sara Buys. Also suggested were Victoria Beckham,Sophie Cranston's Libelula, Jasper Conran, Elizabeth Emanuel, Daniella Issa Helayel Marchesa by Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, Stella McCartney, Bruce Oldfield, and Catherine Walker.

Burton emerged as the odds-on favourite to create the dress amongst bookmakers, so much so that the English bookmaker William Hill stopped taking wagers weeks before the event. David Emanuel, co-designer of Princess Diana's wedding dress, commented to the Canadian fashion journalist Jeanne Beker that "McQueen is owned by Gucci, an Italian company. If Kate's gone that route, it would be the first time a British-owned house wasn't chosen. And the Italians would have a field day with that.

According to Joanna Marschner, Senior Curator of the Historic Royal Palaces, "the dresses have had to grow as the media expectation has grown. Television cameras in Westminster Abbey have meant that those dresses are going to have to live up to those venues and indeed be of a design excellence to bear infinite scrutiny.

Design

Official statements noted that Middleton wished to combine tradition and modernity, "with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work." She and Burton worked closely together in formulating the dress design.

It has a lace applique bodice with detailing symbolising the nations of the United Kingdom. It was made of satin and featured a lace applique bodice and skirt. The lace bodice design was hand-made using a technique that originated in Ireland in the 1820s called Carrickmacross, which involved cutting out rose detailing (symbolising England), thistles (Scotland), daffodils (Wales), and shamrocks (Ireland), individually applying them to the ivory silk tulle. These lace appliques were hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used fresh needles every three hours, and washed their hands every half an hour to avoid marking the fabric.

The bridal train measured 270 cm (110 in). Hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace was used throughout the bodice, skirt, and the underskirt trim. With laces coming from different sources, much care was taken to ensure that each flower was the same colour. The whole process was overseen and put together by hand by Ms Burton and her team. The "ivory satin bodice is padded slightly at the hips and narrowed at the waist, and was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry that is a particular Alexander McQueen hallmark. On the back are 58 buttons of gazar and organza, which fasten by means of Rouleau loops. The underskirt is made of English Cluny lace over silk tulle.

The main body of the dress was made in ivory and white satin gazar, using UK fabrics which had been specially sourced by Sarah Burton, with a long, full skirt designed to echo an opening flower, with soft pleats which unfolded to the floor, forming a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, and finishing in a short train measuring just under three metres in length.

To partially fulfill the "something blue" portion of the British wedding tradition, a blue ribbon was sewn inside the dress. The design for the bodice of the dress featuring Carrickmacross craftsmanship was the "something old".

The British tabloid The News of the World reported that to maintain secrecy, the embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework were initially told that the dress was intended to be used in a television costume drama and that cost was no object. As a result, it had been widely reported that the dress cost £250,000, although a Clarence House spokesperson dismissed that claim.

Reception

The dress generated much comment in the media from fashion experts and was very well received. It was noted that the design was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s. Karl Lagerfeld wrote "the dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor. It almost reminds me of Elizabeth's wedding, the royal weddings in the 50s. The proportion of the train is good. The lace is very pretty. I like the veil a lot. Antonio Marras, of Kenzo, stated, "the choice of the label and the style of the dress was a very clever mix between edgy fashion and tradition — all in a very British way. You could see references to Grace Kelly or Queen Elizabeth's dresses, but in a simpler, more modern way. It was noted that the lace bodice of Middleton's dress echoed that worn by Grace Kelly for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1956. Comparisons were also drawn with Princess Margaret's wedding dress. Mark Badgley of Badgley Mischka wrote that "it's the kind of gown that will stand the test of time. Not all gowns do. Any bride across the world will want to wear it. It's got a touch of vintage, a classic 1950s ball gown, so timeless that her daughter would look gorgeous in this gown 30 years from now. Meanwhile Oscar de la Renta stated that it was "a very traditional dress for a very traditional wedding...not ostentatious. There was not 50 meters of train, and it was not overembroidered. It was just a very traditional dress for a ravishing girl who doesn't need a lot.

Comparisons were also made to the dress worn by Prince William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Vera Wang said "Diana's dress had a sense of innocence, whimsy, almost storybook romance. In contrast Catherine's gown was about way more than simply the dress. Sarah Burton channelled a new take on classicism for a modern-day bride who will one day be queen. Diana's wedding dress maker, Elizabeth Emanuel, has suggested: "Exactly as it happened in 1981, there are going to be people watching as she walks down the aisle with their sketch pads, with the machinists and pattern cutters all ready and waiting. By the next morning you'll see copies in High Street. Emanuel says the dress would fit many body shapes.

There were many suggestions that the style of the dress would influence wedding fashion for the next few years. Alison McGill, the editor-in-chief of Weddingbells Magazine: "I think her choice to wear long sleeves signals a big goodbye to strapless wedding gowns. Meanwhile Veronica Di Santo-Abramowicz, of the Toronto-based Ines Di Santo label opined "Kate's dress will influence so much of the bridal style that we will see over the next few years. It always happens that when a person of royalty or high stature gets married, this sets trends for several years. For example, Princess Diana's gown and Carolyn Bessette's gown are two noteworthy brides that come to mind.

One British firm's replica, commissioned by The Times as a contest prize, was completed less than five hours after Middleton began her car ride to the Abbey. The firm received numerous inquiries within a day, but expressed that it would have to consult lawyers before replicas could be sold. New Zealand couturist Jane Yeh worked through the night after the wedding to create another copy of the dress. Chinese dressmakers told news reporters they expected to have knock-offs of the dress available one week from the event; one expressed frustration that it was not leaked in advance so that they could have stock prepared earlier. Another suggested a £70 to £90 retail price.

The choice of a dress from the fashion house of Alexander McQueen, who had committed suicide in 2010, led Hubert de Givenchy to state "It's a lovely thought, a nice tribute.

The dress along with other items pertaining to the Royal Wedding will be exhibited at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October, 2011. The method of displaying the dress and tiara (on a headless mannequin lit by white lighting) was reported to have been described as "horrible" by the Queen during a private tour of the exhibition with the Duchess of Cambridge in July 2011. A microphone overheard the Queen remarking to the Duchess "It's made to look very creepy" while Catherine responded that it had a "3D effect".

Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer

2011-08-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

Wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer was worn by Lady Diana Spencer at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. Diana wore a ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot (7.62 m) train, valued then at £9000. It became one of the most famous dresses in the world,and was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.

Design

The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and was described as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved", and one which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression". Diana Spencer had personally selected the designers to make her wedding dress as she had been fond of a chiffon blouse which they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon.

The woven silk taffeta was made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk. In the making of the dress, the Emanuels consulted Maureen Baker, who had made the wedding dress of Princess Anne. One observer wrote of the dress, "the dress was a crinoline, a symbol of sexuality and grandiosity, a meringue embroidered with pearls and sequins, its bodice frilled with lace". The traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique used on the wedding dress was later used on the wedding dress of Kate Middleton in her marriage to Prince William, Diana's eldest son. It was also decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. The making of the dress posed difficulties, given that Diana had developed bulimia and had dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 in the run-up to the wedding; even the seamstress was concerned about her weight loss and that the dress would not fit as it should. Due to the length of the train, Diana's father found it difficult to fit inside the glass coach to accompany his daughter to the cathedral.

Reception and influence

After the wedding, few specifically wanted a dress in the same design, but large puffed sleeves, a full skirt and "soft touch fabrics" became popular requests. Copies by other dressmakers were available "within hours" of the 1981 wedding.

Even after the styles became dated, many considered it a "gold standard" in wedding dresses.However, continued appreciation for the dress was not universal: one 2004 bridal magazine listed it as "too much dress, too little princess. Nevertheless, in 2011, Elizabeth Emanuel noted that she still received requests for replicas of Diana's dress.

The dress has toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration", though generally it stays for only part of the exhibit. Althorp House, Northampton is the primary display location of the dress.

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Kim Kardashian's Vera Wang Wedding Dress Fitting

2011-08-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

E! announced today that, on the evenings of October 9 and 10, the network will air a two-part celebration of reality-TV star Kim's marriage to Kris Humphries, complete with "lavish wedding planning," "fabulous parties," and, presumably, some shots of the bride in her Vera Wang dress. (And this is before some network airs the wedding itself.) Start taking bets on whether Kourtney or Khloe will steal the show, a la Pippa.

Keeping Up With the Kardashians” babe and her posse walked along the streets of New York City, drawing all sorts of attention from the surprised pedestrians around them - with Kim stopping to pose for pictures with a few adoring fans along the way.

Having arrived in the Big Apple locale earlier in the morning, the 30-year-old happily tweeted, "Back in NY and it feels so good! I've missed u so much!!!"

Meanwhile, Kim is constantly coming up with new product ideas and her latest venture happens to be a special wedding day fragrance called Love by Kim Kardashian.

The scent will be limited to 1,000 bottles, with one of those going to the bride herself and 200 bottles going to wedding guests. The leftover 799 will be available to some lucky fans.

Pippa Middleton's bridesmaid dress

2011-08-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately you always seem to be the bridesmaid and never the bride, at least you can do it in style with a Pippa Middleton inspired bridesmaid dress. Pippa has climbed to a great level of fame since she appeared in that gorgeous Alexander McQueen dress at her sister Kate’s wedding and now the general public can get a little piece of Pippa with a new limited edition dress that has just been released.

Popular UK department store Debenhams has announced that they will be selling the limited edition range of dresses later this year after being inundated by demands from customers and the demand for these dresses is so great that a ‘lady in waiting’ type list has been created to allow customers to reserve the departments store’s homage to Pippa Middleton’s iconic figure-hugging bridesmaid gown, which reportedly cost £20,000. Luckily for us, the high-street version of Pippa’s dress will set us back just £170. What a bargain.

After being "inundated" by customers wanting a similar dress to that of Pippa's, high street retailer Debenhams has produced a £170 version which will go on sale later this year.

In pictures: Pippa in action at the royal wedding

Featuring a cowl neck and button-detail at the back, the dress accurately emulates Middleton's bespoke creation.

"The ivory dress worn by Pippa is the most requested by far," said Alain Mehada, chief personal shopper at the Debenhams Oxford Street store.

"Both men and women everywhere were instantly talking about Pippa, so naturally brides-to-be will want to emulate her classic look - both for themselves or their bridesmaids."

The store has also created a version of the green, floor-length gown by Alice Temperley which Pippa wore to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's evening reception.

"We have taken the best of the dresses and added our designer twist. Now you can get the Middletons' look at high street prices," said Russell Fish, head of occasionwear design at Debenhams.

Fans of what the child bridesmaids wore to the wedding will no doubt be delighted to learn that a flower girl dress will sit alongside the copy of Pippa's gown. Priced between £48 and £52 (depending on age) the dress features a delicate lace trim, puff sleeves and a pale gold sash bow.

Those keen to get their hands on the wedding copies are invited to join the 'lady-in-waiting list' by emailing their details to ladyinwaitinglist@debenhams.com, to receive updates about availabilty.

Wedding Dresses Development for Autumn & Winter

2011-08-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

Private Label by G Wedding Dresses, Fall 2010. A strapless diamond organza gown featuring an accentuated sweetheart neckline and a bodice adorned in lavish embroidery of Swarovski crystals. The midriff is enhanced with an asymmetrical pattern of soft pleating that leads to a dropped waistline accented with a lovely beaded embellishment. A uniquely styled bouffant skirt is highlighted throughout with a pattern of embroidery and three rosettes. The back bodice features a sunray pattern of soft pleats and a zipper back adorned in covered buttons that follow down to a cathedral train accented with an extraordinary patterns.

The innovative intricate designs will dominate the market through details such as paillette and embroidery. The designers are trying to design those with three-dimensional effects, like taffeta and high waistline designs to make the whole dress elegant.

In the New York Fashion Week, A-line wedding dresses with a belt look classic and creates a harmony among geometrical lines, light chiffon skirt and embroidery without a cumbersome feeling.

Mermaid Bridal Dresses

The second series of mermaid dresses are mostly sheath styles, which makes the bride slim and tall.

They are ideal dresses for those witty women.

The third of the trends is the dresses that emphasize details and superior materials. They also strive to decorate the dress through matching jewelries.

The last series is the very example of dresses that combine simple and intricate designs. Slim sheath taffeta style, that is then decorated with layers of lace, which make the bride the princess at the wedding.

After a general understanding of the wedding dress fashion trends, those newly-engaged brides-to-be can adjust the design of their dream dresses to make them fashionable.

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Kim Kardashian

2011-08-05T01:10:00.000-07:00

Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian, born October 21, 1980 is an American socialite, television personality, model, and actress. She is the daughter of late attorney Robert Kardashian, and is known for a sex tape with her former boyfriend Ray J as well as her E! reality series that she shares with her family, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Kardashian's prominence has increased as of January 2011 with the premiere of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, the second spin-off of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (the first being Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami), debuting on E!, with the series following Kim and sister Kourtney Kardashian as they leave Los Angeles to open a third D-A-S-H store in New York City.

Kardashian has launched multiple fragrances, guest starred on numerous shows, competed on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and has had roles in movies such as Disaster Movie and Deep in the Valley. In 2010, Kardashian, along with her sisters Kourtney and Khloé, released an autobiography, Kardashian Konfidential, and plan to launch their own fashion line.

Early life

Kardashian was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of late attorney Robert Kardashian and Kris Jenner (née Houghton). Her father was a third generation Armenian American and her mother is of Dutch and Scottish descent. Her paternal great-grandparents immigrated to Los Angeles from historic Armenia (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now in Turkey). Her last name in Armenian (spelled Քարտաշեան in Armenian) means "son of a stonemason." Although only half Armenian, she states that she "was raised with a huge Armenian influence, always hearing stories of Armenia, eating Armenian food and celebrating Armenian holidays".

Kardashian has two sisters, Kourtney and Khloé, and one brother, Robert. She has stepbrothers Burton Jenner, Brandon Jenner, and reality TV star Brody Jenner, step-sister Casey Jenner, and half-sisters Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.

She attended Marymount High School. During high school, Kardashian worked at her father's music marketing firm, Movie Tunes.

Career,Reality television

Kardashian first rose to fame in October 2007 when she along with her two sisters, mother, brother, half-sisters, and stepfather starred in the E! television series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The series has aired five seasons to date, with two spin-off series.

Her first acting role was in the television series Beyond the Break. She then starred in the 2008 disaster film spoof Disaster Movie as Lisa. Kardashian appeared in the How I Met Your Mother episode "Benefits". She also appeared on the Season 3 premiere of the series 90210 with her sisters Khloé and Kourtney; they all played themselves. Kardashian was a guest hostess of WrestleMania XXIV and appeared as a guest judge during Cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model. On December 16, 2009, Kardashian made a guest star appearance on CBS's CSI: NY with Vanessa Minnillo.

Kardashian was one of 13 participants on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Mark Ballas and was the third contestant voted off the show on September 30, 2008, finishing in 11th place overall.

Week # Dance/song Judges' scores Result

Inaba Goodman Tonioli

1 Foxtrot/"The Pink Panther Theme" 6 7 6 Last to be saved

1 Mambo/"Baby Got Back" 6 6 6 Safe

2 Rumba/"You Give Me Something" 6 6 5 Eliminated

Personal life

In 2000, Kardashian married music producer Damon Thomas; their relationship ended in divorce in 2004.

Kardashian dated R&B singer Ray J in 2007. Later in 2007, she began dating NFL star Reggie Bush after they met at the ESPY Awards. The couple split at the end of July 2009.On September 29, 2009, E! stated that Kardashian had visited Bush. Khloé's wedding made her miss him, so she flew to see him".According to their reality show, they began dating once again in October 2009, although they split again in March 2010. She dated Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin up until August 2010. She later admitted that she and Austin were indeed dating. The couple split in September 2010. She was later spotted with model Gabriel Aubry in November, but by December, they too had split. Kardashian then began dating NBA player Kris Humphries of the New Jersey Nets.

On May 18, 2011, Humphries and Kardashian became engaged. Humphries proposed with a custom-designed 20.5-carat Lorrain Schwartz diamond engagement ring. On June 2, 2011, Kardashian stated in an interview with Allison Kugel that she is planning on using Kardashian as her middle name and taking Humphries as her last.

Modeling and retail

Kardashian co-owns a clothing boutique called D-A-S-H with her sisters Kourtney and Khloé. In the spring of 2010, she and her sisters released a clothing line for retail store Bebe.

In December 2007, Kardashian posed nude for Playboy. She has also featured in numerous international editions of FHM, including the cover of the April 2010 Australian edition and the UK March 2011 edition. In February 2008, Bongo Jeans announced that Kardashian would be their face model. Kardashian is also a model for Travis Barker's Famous Stars and Straps clothing line. She also models for Quick Trim weight loss supplements, Balenciaga shoes, Carl's Jr. fast food,Sugar Factory lollipops, Perfect Skin skincare products, and various other products.

In July 2008, Kardashian announced on her blog that she was working on her own perfume line to be released in 2009. The perfume, Kim Kardashian, was released into U.S. stores in February 2010. The perfume was released in Canada on May 4, 2010.

In March 2009, Kardashian launched an endorsement with ShoeDazzle shopping. Kardashian is the co-founder and chief fashion stylist for ShoeDazzle. The following month on April 9, 2009, Kardashian released a workout DVD series, Fit In Your Jeans By Friday, with trainers Jennifer Galardi and Patrick Goudeau. On September 15, 2009, Fusion Beauty and Seven Bar Foundation launched "Kiss Away Poverty", with Kardashian as the face of the campaign. For every LipFusion lipgloss sold, $1 went to the Foundation to fund women entrepreneurs in the US.

Famous Cupcakes, a Los Angeles bakery, created a vanilla cupcake mix for Kardashian. The cupcake flavor is called Va-Va-Va-Nilla.

Kardashian also creates jewelry along with her sisters, Khloé and Kourtney. The trio released a jewelry line for Virgins, Angels, and Saints. The 20 piece collection debuted in March 2010. The jewelry reflects on the Kardashian's Armenian heritage. In addition, Kardashian and her sisters created a sunless tanner called Kardashian Glamour Tan. It was released in Summer 2010 and is available at Sephora. In August 2010, Kardashian announced that she and her sisters will release another clothing line. The clothing line is called K-Dash and it will be sold on QVC. K-Dash will be released on September 10, 2010.

On July 1, 2010, the New York City branch of Madame Tussauds revealed a wax figure of Kardashian

Present

Kardashian is the producer of The Spin Crowd, a reality television show about Command PR, a New York City public relations firm, run by Jonathan Cheban and Simon Huck. The show follows them as they settle into their new offices in Los Angeles. Kardashian is friends with both, specifically Cheban, and frequently appears on her reality shows. She also appeared at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010. She also appeared in and was the subject and judge of a task on the ninth episode of Season 10 of The Apprentice (US air date, November 12, 2010); the two teams had to create an in-store display for her new perfume line, to be sold at Perfumania.

Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé wrote an autobiography entitled Kardashian Konfidential. The book was released in stores on November 23, 2010.

In December 2010, Kardashian filmed a music video for a song titled "Jam (Turn It Up)," the video was directed by Hype Williams; Kanye West makes a cameo in the video. Kardashian premiered the song during a New Year's Eve party at TAO Las Vegas on December 31, 2010. The song was produced by The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. Kardashian said that she was forced into doing the song by friends such as Ciara, Kanye West, and "Turn It Up" producer The-Dream. When asked if an album is in the works, Kardashian replied: "There's no album in the works or anything – just one song we did for Kourtney and Kim Take New York, and a video Hype Williams directed, half of the proceeds we're giving away to a cancer foundation, because The-Dream's and one of my parents passed away from cancer. It's just all having fun – with a good cause".

Sex tape

In February 2007, a pornographic home video she made with singer Ray J was leaked. Kardashian sued Vivid Entertainment for ownership of the tape. In late April 2007, Kardashian dropped the suit and settled with Vivid Entertainment for $5 million.

Cookie Diet lawsuit

Dr. Sanford Siegal, the creator of the Cookie Diet, sued Kardashian, claiming she defamed him on Twitter. According to Siegal, Kardashian tweeted in October that he was "falsely promoting" that she was on the cookie diet. Siegal filed a claim in a Florida state court claiming the statements are false and defamatory. He also alleges that Kardashian was on QuickTrim's payroll when she posted the tweet. Kardashian's tweet appears to stem from an article on CookieDiet.com, that named Kardashian as one of many celebrities who saw positive results on the diet. Kardashian sent a cease-and-desist order to Siegal, demanding the link be removed.

Activism

Kardashian has openly supported the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on numerous occasions and has encouraged Barack Obama and the United States government to consider its acknowledgement. On April 21, 2011, a few days before the 96th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, she has written about the issue on her blog in an effort to put it under spotlight and has also sent a tweet to her fans urging its recognition.

On April 1, 2010, Kardashian joined Cyndi Lauper in the launch of her Give a Damn campaign to create a wider awareness of discrimination against the LGBT community as part of her True Colors Fund. The campaign is to bring straight people to stand up with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community and stop the discrimination. Other names included in the campaign are Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Elton John, Judith Light, Cynthia Nixon, Clay Aiken, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne.

However, she has also been on the receiving end of activism. Animal rights organization PETA has criticized her for repeatedly wearing fur coats, and named her as one of the five worst people or organizations of 2010 when it came to animal welfare.

Kat Von D and Jesse James getting back together

2011-08-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Kat Von D doesn't have a heart made of teflon, she's doing a damn good impression of it as the end of her engagement to Jesse James comes back to haunt her again and again.

Any love affair ending is painful, especially when it was headed towards a wedding that will never be, but the 29-year-old tattoo guru is suffering more than most.

Ironically Von D's chief tormentor is the one thing that also gives her solace - her business, the LA Ink parlour, which is promoted in her reality TV show for TLC.

Perhaps that's why Von D, who put on a brave face out in LA last week after momentarily losing her cool on a chat show, can deal with the pain of now dashed hopes being played out for the fans.

We've already seen Von D ink the face of ex-fiance James, 42 , to her torso and next week the audience of LA Ink will witness Kat designing her dream wedding dress.

We see one scene that depicts the ink-artist in fully-fledged Bridezilla mode as she shows her 'wedding folder' to reluctant designer friends, before describing her dream dress.

The raven-haired beauty turns to the friends who are busily putting the finishing touches to the Kat Von D clothing line, which launches in the Autumn.

Von D is seen explaining to her pals that both she and Jesse James want their wedding to be 'really special.'

In a recent tweet, James wrote to Kat, "*sigh,*" and included a link to an image that appeared to be a screen grab of the two together in happier times on Von D's TLC show, LA Ink. The show has been focusing a great deal of air time since this season debuted on their relationship. In the picture, Von D can be seen with her arms around James and kissing the troubled star who famously cheated on ex-wife Sandra Bullock.

In response, Von D tweeted back enigmatically, "..." That small exchange has led others to wonder if Von D is leaving the door open for the heavily tattooed pair to reunite. It seems to suggest that the two are communicating and share a fondness for what they had. But will they give it another go?

One problem is that James lives with his kids in Austin, Texas, and Von D is based in Los Angeles, California, where her tattoo shop is located and her show is filmed. Even if they were to overcome that hurdle, James doesn't seem like a very likely candidate for being able to keep it together in the long-term when it comes to relationships.

Kim Kardashian Copying Will and Kate's Wedding Cake

2011-08-05T00:54:00.000-07:00

Kim Kardashian could even contemplate something like this.

The reality star is using her wedding to Kris Humphries as a marketing tool, coming out with a fragrance ("Love by Kim Kardashian") that she'll wear down the aisle - and, of course, charge $100 to naive fans to purchase.

My wedding day is going to be really special. My fragrance will be a keepsake I can keep for years, and I am excited to be able to share it with my fans," Kardashian told Us Weekly.

Perhaps someday the public will catch on: Being able to "share it with my fans" is nothing more than a euphemism for "cashing in on every conceivable opportunity I can because followers actually think they know me and I care.

Says a source close to the reality starlet, 30: "Kim wants it to resemble Prince William and Duchess Kate's!"

Kardashian and NBA hunk Humphries, 26, chose their cake -- which costs $15,000 to $20,000!! -- on a July 29 visit to Hansen's Cakes in L.A.

When the Duke and Duchess tied the knot on April 29, they munched on a traditional multitiered fruitcake with cream and white piping designed by prestigious British baker Fiona Cairns. The royal sweethearts worked closely with designer Cairns, who told Us Weekly "Catherine wanted a traditional wedding cake with a modern twist."

As for Kardashian and Humphries royal reality wedding, she tells Us, "It's all exciting, but a little stressful.

Is Humphries a hands-on groom? "He knows what he wants!" Kardashian says.

Wedding ring

2011-08-05T00:47:00.000-07:00

Wedding ring or wedding band is a metal ring indicating the wearer is married. Depending on the local culture, it is worn on the base of the right or the left ring finger. The custom of wearing such a ring has spread widely beyond its origin in Europe. Originally worn by wives only, wedding rings became customary for both husbands and wives during the 20th century.

Traditional customs,Pre-wedding customs

According to some customs, the wedding ring forms the last in a series of gifts, which also may include the engagement ring, traditionally given as a betrothal present. This tradition was already in use in Ancient Rome and is possibly much older.

Among Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, the exchange of rings is not technically part of the wedding service, but rather are exchanged at the betrothal. It is always a two-ring set given to her by the priest or by the best man. The orthodox Christian Church of Greece has recently stopped performing betrothal blessings separately, as these were often non-committing, and a betrothal ceremony is the initial part of the wedding service anyway. In many families an informal blessing is now performed by the betrothed ones' parents in a family dinner that formalizes the betrothal. The ceremony of betrothal is now possibly performed immediately before the wedding (or "crowning" as it is more properly called), and the actual symbolic act of marriage is not the exchange of rings, but the public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader.

The future bridegroom may also give his future bride a jeweled ring (in North America since the 1930s, most commonly set with a diamond. See Engagement Ring) upon proposing to her. After the wedding the wedding band is worn on the ring finger, closest to the hand, and the engagement ring is worn in front of it. The rings usually match and sometimes interlock or are fused together to form one ring.

Wedding ceremony

In several traditions, the best man or maid of honor may have the duty of keeping track of a couple's wedding rings and to produce them at the symbolic moment of the giving and receiving of the rings during the traditional marriage ceremony. In more elaborate weddings, a ring bearer (that is, part of the family of the bride or groom) may assist in the ceremonial parading of the rings into the ceremony, often[citation needed] on a special cushion.

In older times, the wedding rings were not only a sign of love, but were also linked to the bestowal of 'earnest money'. According to the prayer book of Edward VI: after the words 'with this ring I thee wed' follow the words 'This gold and silver I give thee', at which point the groom was supposed to hand a leather purse filled with gold and silver coins to the bride.

Historically, the wedding ring was rather connected to the exchange of valuables at the moment of the wedding rather than a symbol of eternal love and devotion. It is a relic of the times when marriage was a contract between families, not individual lovers. Both families were then eager to ensure the economic safety of the young couple. Sometimes it went as far as being a conditional exchange as this old (and today outdated) German formula shows: 'I give you this ring as a sign of the marriage which has been promised between us, provided your father gives with you a marriage portion of 1000 Reichsthalers'.

The double-ring ceremony, or use of wedding rings for both partners, is a relatively recent innovation. The American jewelery industry started a marketing campaign aimed at encouraging this practice in the late 19th century.Learning from marketing lessons of the 1920s, changing economic times, and the impact of World War II, led to a more successful marketing campaign, and by the late 1940s, double-ring ceremonies made up for 80% of all weddings, as opposed to 15% before the Great Depression.

Post-wedding customs

After marriage, the ring is worn on the hand it had been placed on during the ceremony. By wearing rings on the fourth finger, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. This has now become a matter of tradition and etiquette.

Some cultures exchange additional rings: In some parts of India, Hindus may use a toe ring or bichiya which is worn instead of a ring on a finger; although this is only for women, and increasingly worn along with a finger ring. In the eastern parts of India, primarily West Bengal, an iron bangle, or 'loha,' is worn by women. Increasingly, this bangle is given a gold or silver coating to improve its appearance. In Romania spouses celebrate their silver wedding anniversary (25 years of marriage) by exchanging silver wedding rings, which are worn on the 4th finger of the left hand along with the original (usually gold) wedding ring.

Religion

Church of England (1662 Book of Common Prayer) - "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Jewish - "With this ring, you are consecrated to me according to the law of Moses and Israel." - Said in Hebrew by the groom at an Orthodox Jewish wedding and by both the bride and groom at a Reform Jewish wedding

Roman Catholic - "N., take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Eastern Orthodox - "The servant of God (N.) is betrothed to the handmaid of God (N.), in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." - from the Eastern Orthodox Service of Betrothal, part of the Mysterion of Holy Matrimony ("crowning"), said three times while the Priest makes the Sign of the Cross with the bride's ring over the bridegroom's head, he then places the bride's ring on the groom's hand. The same words are said three times over the bride, reversing the names of the bride and groom, placing the groom's ring on the bride's hand. The rings are then exchanged three times (either by the priest or by the best man), so that the bride and the groom end up with their own rings. In Eastern Orthodoxy the wedding ring is worn on the right hand rather than the left.

Kristin Cavallari

2011-08-05T00:38:00.000-07:00

Kristin Elizabeth Cavallari, born January 5, 1987 is an American television personality and actress. She is best known for her starring roles on the former MTV programs Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and its spin-off, The Hills.

Early life

Cavallari was born in Denver, Colorado, the second of two children of Judith Spies (née Eifrig) and Dennis Cavallari. When her mother divorced her father, her older brother Mike moved with their father to Laguna Beach, California, while she moved with her mother to the village of Barrington, Illinois, a suburb an hour northwest of Chicago. Kristin attended Barrington Station Middle School, and graduated on to Barrington High School. After difficulties adjusting to a new life with a stepfather and stepbrother, Kristin moved to California to live with her father. Instead Kristin was enrolled at Santa Margarita Catholic High School for her sophomore year. After she attended a Driver's Education course through Laguna Beach High School, her father enrolled her in Laguna Beach High School.

Career

Cavallari was in her junior year of high school when the first season of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County began production. At the time, she was involved in an on-and-off relationship with senior Stephen Colletti. Cavallari's romance with Colletti caused a rivalry with another cast member, Lauren Conrad. The love triangle became one of the series' central plotline.

In May 2009, Cavallari confirmed that she would be joining the cast of the popular MTV reality series The Hills. She appeared in the mid-season finale that aired on May 31, 2009 and appeared as a regular in the remainder of the fifth season. She inked a deal with MTV to appear as a series regular throughout two more seasons of the series following the fifth. The sixth and final season aired summer 2010.

Acting

After her stint on Laguna Beach, Cavallari headed to Los Angeles and briefly enrolled at University of Southern California. She signed on the UPN reality television series Get This Party Started, which premiered February 7, 2006. The series was canceled after airing two episodes due to extremely low ratings. She guest starred in another UPN series Veronica Mars in one episode. She has appeared in numerous television roles such as CSI: NY, Cane and Adventures in Hollyhood.

In 2006, she signed on as Crystal in the horror film Fingerprints. Filming took place throughout April and May 2006 in two Oklahoma towns. The film premiered at Screamfest on October 16, 2006. The film won Best Feature at the 2006 New York City Horror Film Festival. The film was released in 2007 to mixed to positive reviews. She also played a small role in "Wristcutters: A Love Story," an independent film, directed by Goran Dukic in 2006.

In 2008, she had a supporting role in Spring Breakdown alongside Amy Poehler as Summer. The film was released straight-to-DVD on June 2, 2009 and received mixed reviews. She also starred in the independent film Green Flash alongside Torrey DeVitto.

Activism

Cavallari has been involved in the "Until There's a Cure" public service advertising campaign to raise awareness and funds for AIDS and HIV research and vaccine development. In 2006, Cavallari appeared in ads for PETA. and has also appeared as a celebrity spokesperson for "We Are Ellis Island", a campaign for the restoration of historic buildings on Ellis Island. In February 2009, she posed for the NOH8 Campaign in support of gay marriage. In January 2010, she traveled to El Salvador to do charity work. She told US Magazine "It really put everything into perspective and made me appreciate everything I have, seeing how happy and excited the kids were was the best feeling in the world", said Cavallari. In March 2011, Cavallari traveled to Kenya, Africa to do charity work with the non-profit organization One Kid One World. Cavallari was engaged to Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler but he called off their engagement in mid July 2011.

Filmography

2004 - 2005 Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County Herself 28 episodes

2006 Get This Party Started Host 2 episodes

2006 Veronica Mars Kylie Marker 1 episode

2006 Fingerprints Crystal

2007 Cheerleader Camp Julie Television movie

2007 Cane Casey Episode: "Family Business"

2008 Green Flash Lana Direct-to-DVD release

2008 CSI: NY Isabelle Vaughn Episode: "Forbidden Fruit"

2008 Spring Breakdown Seven #3

2009 Wild Cherry Trish van Doren

2009 National Lampoon's Van Wilder: Freshman Year Kaitlin Hayes Direct-to-DVD release

2009 - 2010 The Hills Herself 23 episodes

2011 The Middle Ms. Devereaux Episode: "Friends, Lies, and Videotape

Vanessa Minnillo

2011-08-05T00:32:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Joy Lachey, née Minnillo, born November 9, 1980 is an American television personality, television host, model, and actress. A former Miss Teen USA, she has been a New York-based correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and a host of Total Request Live on MTV. She was the host of the Miss Universe 2007, which was held at Mexico City, Mexico, in the National Auditorium, with Mario Lopez.

Early life

Minnillo was born November 9, 1980. Her father is an American of Italian and Irish descent, and her mother, the former Helen Bercero, is of Philippine decent. Minnillo has an adopted brother, Vincent, who is two years older.

Minnillo's family moved frequently because of her father's service in the Air Force. She lived in Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, Germany and Japan and attended eight different schools in nine years. Minnillo's parents separated in 1983 and divorced in 1986.

After her mother's remarriage, Minnillo and her brother moved to Turkey with their mother and new stepfather. By 1990, in the wake of Operation Desert Shield, Minnillo and her brother returned to their father's home, eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina, where Vanessa Minnillo attended the Roman Catholic Bishop England High School and was a cheerleader. From then on, she lived with her father and his second wife, Donna.

She also attended Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, located in San Bernardino, California, for one year.

Personal life

After meeting Nick Lachey and starring in his music video "What's Left Of Me", the pair dated for nearly three years. Minnillo's publicist confirmed the couple's split in June 2009. In the fall of 2009 it was announced they had reconciled. In November 2010, they announced their engagement.They were married July 15, 2011, on Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, with a intimate party of 35 close friends and family.

Career,Beauty pageants

Minnillo was crowned Miss South Carolina Teen USA and went on to win the title Miss Teen USA in 1998, the first Miss Teen USA from South Carolina and also the first from South Carolina to be named the pageant's Miss Congeniality.

Hosting

The pageants served as a springboard to wider fame. She was a host on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) from 2003 to 2007 and became a New York City correspondent for Entertainment Tonight in 2005.

She hosted Miss Teen USA (2004) and co-hosted Miss Universe (2007). Minnillo was a finalist in E!'s competition to replace Brooke Burke as host of Wild On.

She hosts True Beauty, a competition in which 10 contestants vie for $100,000 and inclusion in People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People issue. The series premiered on ABC on January 5, 2009, with a first season that ran through February 23, 2009. ABC renewed the series for a second season which ran from May 31, 2010 through July 19, 2010.

Minnillo will become co-host of ABC's Wipeout beginning in winter 2011.

Advertising

After leaving MTV and Entertainment Tonight, Minnillo was featured in print and web-based advertising for BONGO Jeans' Spring/Summer 2007 collection.

She has been spokeswoman for Flirt! Cosmetics, a line she helped create which debuted in August 2007, in Kohl's department stores.

In May 2006, Maxim magazine ranked Minnillo #15 in its annual Hot 100 issue.

She has been featured on the covers of Maxim (October 2005, October 2006), Shape (March 2007), and Lucky (July 2007).

Acting

Minnillo has appeared in television series including That's Life, City Girls, The Bold and The Beautiful, Psych, Hawaii 5-0 and Maybe It's Me. In 2008, she played Ashlee in an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

She starred in the 2008 comedy Disaster Movie, a spoof of big-budget Hollywood disaster movies. Released on August 29, 2008, the film had moderate box office success, earning $34,624,652 worldwide. The film received extremely negative reviews, earning six Razzie Award nominations. As of January 2011, it stands at number sixteen on the IMDb Bottom 100.

Minnillo signed on to appear in Redefining Love, a 2009 romantic comedy, but she is not listed in the final cast.

In November 2009, TVGuide.com announced that Minnillo would guest star alongside Disaster Movie co-star Kim Kardashian on CBS's CSI: NY. "The ladies (Vanessa and Kim) portray two women who've managed to concoct a very interesting scheme that ends in murder," confirmed executive producer Pam Veasey. Minnillo's former MTV colleague and close friend, La La Vasquez, as well as the band Train, will also appear in the episode.

In 2011, she guest starred on 30 Rock as Carmen Chao, Avery's coworker at NBC who is competing for the same promotion.

Filmography

2008 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Julie Angel Cameo

Disaster Movie Amy Lead Role

Love for New York after 9/11:McCartney

2011-08-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. --Beatles songs have become standard fare on music competition shows, and Paul McCartney admitted on Thursday he is a fan of programs like “American Idol” and “The X Factor.”

“I think all of that is cool because it’s what’s happening today,” Paul told reporters as he answered questions via satellite from Cincinnati, OH, at the Showtime portion of the Television Critics Association Session in Beverly Hills.

“You always have to understand, if people want it – it’s got some value,” he continued. “I feel a little sorry sometimes for some of the performers because they don’t have that background [like The Beatles]. We had years before we hit it big time… But I think the shows are fascinating. I watch those kinds of shows.”

Paul, who was promoting his upcoming Showtime documentary “The Love We Make,” about the Concert for New York, following 9/11, said that while he likes the music shows, he prefers a little more action on the tube.

“My taste in TV is not perhaps the greatest. But I love those kinds of shows. I probably watch more sports. I like ESPN,” he said. “I hate to say, I sometimes get completely hooked on the shopping channels.

On Thursday, he spoke at the Television Critics Press tour in Los Angeles -- via satellite from Cincinnati – about what he experienced on Sept. 11 and what drove him to help.

I was on my way back to England having just had a short visit to America,” McCartney recounted. “We were at JFK on the tarmac. The pilot just suddenly said we can’t take off, we have to go back to base. And out of the window out of the right hand side of the airplane, you could see the Twin Towers. First you could see one plume of smoke, and then you could see two shortly thereafter.”

McCartney said that at first, he thought it was an optical illusion, and that he didn’t realize how serious it was until a steward told him something “serious” had happened and whisked him off the plane.

The whole mood of the world, the country of America, and particularly the city of New York had changed. There was fear in the air. And I never experienced that, particularly in New York. So this was where the idea of doing a show came about.”

McCartney also said that growing up in a post-World War II Liverpool inspired him to use music to help the people of New York: “I grew up with all these people who just recently survived a war, and I noticed how they dealt with it. (He began to sing an old war song.) So I remembered that. And I thought, ‘That’s maybe what I can bring to this.’ Maybe I can just get that kind of feeling, that kind of old courage that I’d seen my parents and their generation exhibit. Maybe I’d be able to help America, New York out of this fearfulness.”

The musician said it wasn’t his intent to wait for the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 to do a documentary about the concert, but that the date spurred him to action.

The anniversary just seemed like a good opportunity, so I got in touch with (director) Albert Maysles and said, ‘Is (all the footage from the concert) still all around? Would it make into a film?’ He said, ‘Yes, it would,’ so I said, ‘C’mon. Let’s do it, then.

I Love Lucy' Exhibit Opens At Library Of Congress

2011-08-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Museum is celebrating the legendary Lucille Ball with a new exhibit.

It's timed to coincide with two special events- "I Love Lucy" is now 60 years old, and Ball herself would have been 100 years old on Saturday.

The new exhibit, "Lucille Ball at 100 and I Love Lucy at 60," highlights the life and career of the late queen of comedy.

"This was her life," said daughter Lucie Arnaz. "I mean, she was never happier when she was at work. I would like to say except when she was home. But, truly, that wasn't- she would even say, 'I'm sorry kids but my joy is my work.'"

Ball's work of course, included the TV comedy classic, "I Love Lucy." A "Best Of" DVD was just released with 14 classic episodes.

"Nobody better and no one like her," said Valerie Harper. "The Mount Rushmore of comedy."

"She was the first who was truly, exceptionally beautiful and not afraid to be a clown," said Carolyn Hennesy.

"Her timing was just so unbelievable," said Kate Linder. "I study her all the time."

If you want to know more about Ball, you have until Nov. 30 to visit the Hollywood Museum.

Also Library of Congress opened a new exhibition today, dedicated to the (still) popular television show "I Love Lucy."

The exhibit, "I Love Lucy: An American Legend," celebrates the 60th anniversary of the show. It is free, and will be on display until Jan. 28.

It features artifacts from the show, as well as photos and scrapbooks from the stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Head on over to the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays to check out your favorite redhead.

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Wedding dress smash-and-grab in Halifax

2011-08-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

A 19-year-old Halifax woman is facing charges of break and enter after police say she smashed the window of a business, grabbed a wedding dress that was on display and ran away.

At 4:42 a.m. Tuesday, Halifax police were called to the business after witnesses reported seeing the alleged smash and grab.

Police located a woman matching the suspect's description a few blocks away. A wedding dress was also found nearby.

In a new twist on a runaway bride, a Halifax woman allegedly broke into a wedding shop early Tuesday morning, grabbed a dress and ran.

Halifax Police told the CBC the woman smashed the window of Winchester’s Bridal and Formals on Dresden Row just before 5 a.m., grabbed a dress that was on display and fled down Spring Garden Road.

Police caught the 19-year-old with the dress still in hand. Caitlin Patricia Marie Hill, 19, was charged with break and enter, breach of recognizance and breach of probation.

There were no details on whether the dress was designer or off-the-rack. “The only thing I can tell you as a guy is that it’s a white dress. That’s all I can say for sure,” said Const. Brian Palmeter.

De Niro, Keaton, Heigl shoot 'Wedding' scenes at Greenwich steakhouse

2011-08-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Lionsgate has acquired U.S. and U.K. distribution rights to "The Big Wedding" from Nu Image?/?Millennium films, and plans to open the ensemble comedy domestically Oct. 19, 2012.

Cast includes Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Ben Barnes and Topher Grace. It's shooting in Greenwich, Conn.

"Wedding," written and directed by Justin Zackham ("The Bucket List"), centers on a long-divorced couple, played by De Niro and Keaton, being forced to pretend that they are still happily married at their son's wedding.

Zackham, Clay Pecorin, Richard Salvatore and Harry Ufland are producing. Nu Image's Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short are executive producing.

I saw De Niro because he came out for a cigarette when I was smoking," Sue Slocum, a paralegal who works on Sherwood Place, said Tuesday.

Sherwood Place runs parallel to Church Street and has a view of the back of the restaurant, where the film's cast and crew milled about in the beating sun, all under the watchful eye of a hulking security guard.

Williams made a cameo Monday on the closed set of the movie, which is scheduled for release in October 2012 and is being directed and produced by Greenwich High School graduates Justin Zackham and Clay Pecorin.

The filmmakers chose Gabriele's -- the former longtime home of Luca's -- for interior shots of the wedding reception that is supposed to take place at a country club.

The restaurant closed for three days, the first for setup and Monday and Tuesday for shooting.

"It's a privilege to have them here," said Danny Gabriele, the restaurant's owner. "Out of all the places in Greenwich, they chose us, which was a great thing."

The densely packed neighborhood just north of the Post Road in central Greenwich was transformed into Paramount Studios-lite, with Escalades shuttling the celebs to and fro and an assemblage of extras piling into a convoy vans.

"If anything, I think it's great for business because it brings more attention to an area that might not get it," said Nancy Waesche, owner of Pinky, a women's accessories shop in nearby William Street.

Waesche was out walking her golden retriever Honey at lunchtime Tuesday when she stopped to check out the action. Not long before, Keaton arrived on the set in the passenger seat of a van, smiling through the window.

"I'm a big fan of Diane Keaton," Waesche said.

De Niro and Keaton play a divorced couple who pretend to still be married for the wedding of their adopted son, played by Ben Barnes, who is known for his role as Prince Caspian in "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Barnes' character marries Amanda Seyfried, of "Mamma Mia!" and "Mean Girls" notoriety.

Heigl, who attended New Canaan High School and is known for her roles in the television series "Grey's Anatomy" and the comedy "Knocked Up," plays the biological daughter of De Niro's and Keaton's characters.

The movie also stars Topher Grace, the Darien-raised former star of "That '70s Show."

Grace and Heigl dined Monday night at Polpo restaurant, another celebrity hangout on Old Post Road No. 3.

True to their roots in Connecticut, which has become a prime destination for Hollywood because of its tax credits program, the movie's producers picked a number of locations in Greenwich to shoot.

Two Ton Films, Pecorin and Zackham's production company, is collaborating with Millennium Films on "The Wedding." In 2008, Zackham gave the graduation speech at Greenwich High School.

Zackham wrote and served as executive producer of "The Bucket List," the seize-the-day comedic drama pairing Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

Millennium Films sold the distribution rights of "The Wedding" in the U.S. and U.K. to Lionsgate, as first reported Tuesday by Variety.

The town waived a midnight-to-6 a.m. filming curfew so the producers could shoot a pool scene Friday into Saturday at Burning Tree Country Club.

Filming also took place at a home in the Stanwich neighborhood last month, which is about the same time that Gabriele said filmmakers approached him about using his restaurant, which opened in February.

Gabriele hung out on the set Monday and Tuesday, rubbing elbows with the cast.

"I met all of them. They were all great people," said Gabriele, whose family has owned the Luca's and now Gabriele's property for 30 years.

Next door to the movie shoot, at The Greenwich Exchange for Women's Work, a nonprofit consignment shop on Sherwood Place, the frenzy added a little spice to the dog days.

"I think it's a bit exciting," said Susan DeLuca, who has been working at the shop since April. "It's a good thing for Greenwich.

Duchess of Cambridge 'given SAS training' amid kidnap fears

2011-08-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Price William and Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton, flew economy class on their return home from the wedding of his cousin Zara Phillips.

The royal couple attended the wedding of Zara Phillips and English rugby player Mike Tindall. on July 30 in Edinburgh, Scotland. On their way home, they boarded Flybe a budget airline which costs about $80 for a one-way journey, reports the Daily Mail.

The couple came with security and checked in like ordinary folks. The flight was for Manchester, from where the couple’s home Anglesey is about two hours from the airport.

Prince Harry followed suit by taking a round-trip on Easy Jet flight, another discount airline. He paid about $70. He had to fork out an extra $20 for checking in his military bag.

A spokesperson for Flybe said they couldn’t comment on the couple’s trip because they had to respect the privacy of passengers, reports Telegraph.

With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge living in Anglesey, the airport authorities are expecting more royal traffic. With that in mind they have even refurbished their airport lounge at a cost of $33,000 .Participants are also taught how to drive under pressure and how to create and pass on coded messages to rescuers.

The training, taught by members of the SAS, Scotland Yard’s personal protection squad or MI5 officers, has been taken by other Royals as well as politicians and people who work in some of the world’s dangerous regions.

The Queen, the Duke of Cambridge, and his parents, the late Diana, Princess of Wales and the Prince of Wales, have all taken the training.

The Duke took the course as a 16-year-old at the SAS base in Hereford in 1998. He was taught to fire a submachine gun and bundled into a car in a mock ambush.

"The Palace want to ensure Kate's new status doesn't make her vulnerable to attack,” a source told The Sun.

"She has been well trained in what to do should the unthinkable happen. VIP kidnap protection training teaches how to cope both mentally and physically.

“The mental element involves reacting to unusual situations, such as when there was a stranger in the Queen's bedroom — and she just started talking to him."

The location of her training has not been disclosed. A spokesman for the Duchess was unavailable for comment.

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall delay honeymoon

2011-08-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Queen's granddaughter was back at work today, launching a range of children's equestrian clothing just days after the couple's wedding at Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk. Tindall returned to training yesterday.

Zara, who will still be known by her maiden name, said: ''The day was amazing and to have all of your friends there in one place, for both of us, was the best part of it.

''Unfortunately both of us do have quite busy lives so it's going to have to wait a bit for a honeymoon, but it is quite nice to go back to work as well.

''We're kind of missing the quiet period where we can catch up and have some sleep. It's back to work and that's what we do.''

She said the day had been nerve-wracking, adding: ''Everyone looked really serious when I walked in.

Zara denied reports that her cousin William - who married Kate Middleton in April - had been singing Bon Jovi's Livin' On A Prayer at karaoke during Saturday's celebrations, telling reporters if anyone had been singing it would have been her husband.

''There was no karaoke. I think there was assistance with the band, but that was about it,'' she said.

The eventing world champion today unveiled her first children's equestrian collection at Manor Farm, in Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire.

The collection, named ZP 176 Kids, has been made in collaboration with clothing brand Musto, which already has an adult clothing range with Zara, and will form part of the autumn and winter 2011 collection.

Zara said she hoped to encourage enthusiasm among young riders.

The royal bride, 30, said she was excited to be Mrs Tindall, but she will remain Zara Phillips to preserve her sporting name.

"I'm very much Mrs Tindall and will be privately and I'm sure publicly as well, but just for professional and sponsors I'm going to keep Phillips as well - I'll keep both of them!"

Zara, who will be competing in the Gatcombe Park horse trials later this week, showed off her new range of clothing. It was modelled by keen Pony Club members, including two of her god-daughters - Nell Maude, 11, and Jaz Jocelyn, 8.

30-year-old said the couple has a busy life and has to delay the post-wedding trip.

She told the Associated Press: "We're kind of missing the quiet period where we can catch up and have some sleep."

Her cousin, Prince William, also delayed his honeymoon with the former Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, following their wedding in April.

Phillips, who does not use a royal title, married Tindall on Saturday in a low-key, private ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse that reportedly went on into the early hours of the morning.

She said she has decided to keep her maiden name for professional and sponsorship purposes, but will be known as Mrs. Tindall in private.

Kim Kardashian Wants Her Wedding Cake To Resemble The Royal Wedding Cake

2011-08-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

In the five months between the highly-anticipated announcement and her April nuptials, “waity Katie” morphed into “waify Katie," shedding a reported 20 pounds from her already super svelte figure.

Middleton’s willowy appearance raised eyebrows during a visit to Ireland just prior to the big day, and when one woman told the future royal “not to lose any more weight,” she responded off-the-cuff that it was “all part of the plan.”

Middleton is not alone in her widely-reported quest to become an itty bitty bride. Kim Kardashian’s pre-wedding weight loss regime is now under the microscope. One report has her cutting carbs and hiring someone cooking he special weight loss meals. Another has linked her to the “ice cube diet” in an attempt to shed two sizes. Kardashian has also been tweeting about her double daily work-outs, and when a Twitter follower told her she was off to purchase the weight loss supplement QuickTrim, which Kardashian endorses, the reality star responded: “Take some for me! I'm about to start again! Wedding slimdown."

So is the media and Hollywood’s fixation with wedding weight loss encouraging so-called “bride-orexia” with us average civilians?

“When celebrities and pop culture promote women getting thin for their wedding days, of course this impacts the women who follow these stories and encourages a trend of wedding day weight loss,” body image expert Sarah Maria told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “There is no denying that there is a cultural trend that women should be as thin as possible on their wedding day to fit into their dress and look their best, but all of this puts undue influence on the appearance of women for wedding day. Although ‘bride-orexia’ might not be a scientific term yet, it is used to refer to women who rapidly lose weight and whose weight falls below a healthy level in preparation for their wedding day. It can be a dangerous situation.”

According to the 2009 Health and Fitness Study conducted by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com, roughly1.7 million American brides each year pledge to whittle their middle before the occasion, with most looking to shed 10 to 20 pounds before they wed.

Hollywood has cashed in on the craze via reality shows like CW’s “Shedding For the Wedding,” which follows nine overweight couples as they attempt to lose their unwanted weight and win a dream wedding. E!’s controversial “Bridalplasty” chronicled engaged women fighting for free plastic surgery ahead of their big day. And WE aired “Bulging Brides” which documented women’s desperate struggle to pop the pounds and “look picture perfect” to walk down the aisle.

Kim and hubby Kris Humphries visited Hansen’s Cakes on July 29 to try forkfuls of Los Angeles’ best cakes. The couple decided to get a ten-tier white cake with chocolate-chip icing and black-and-white decorations for their July 29 wedding. However, a source reveals to Us Magazine that “Kim wants it to resemble Prince William and Duchess Kate’s!”

“It’s going to be royal wedding number two,” says Khloe, whose 2009 wedding was watched by 3.2 million viewers on television. Back in May, OK! Magazine reported that Kim wanted to trump the Royal Wedding. Kim doesn’t see why a royal wedding should get more attention that hers. She sees herself as a bigger celebrity than Kate Middleton. Kim thinks it would probably be the biggest TV wedding of all time.

Computer minister marries Houston couple

2011-08-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Rev. Bit greeted the 30 guests, in his robotic voice, told them a few stories about the happy couple and then lead them through their "I dos".

Hanson even programmed Rev. Bit to declare at that most poignant moment during the ceremony when last objections may be raised: "If anyone here has anything to say that might change their minds or has any objections, they do not want to hear it and I will not recognize your objections since Miguel has programmed me to only recognize his commands."

Wesley was thrilled about how her big day went. "Nothing about this wedding was traditional. We're not a traditional couple. We're kind of geeky, we're kind of techy and this was for us everything we wanted," she said.

The computer-officiated wedding won't be legally binding. Mr Hanson and Ms Wesley still have to get a justice of the peace to sign their paperwork to make the marriage official. They plan to do that shortly after the ceremony.

"We're both friends of the computer. So it's kind of like our best friend is still marrying us," the bride said. "The computer is a huge part of our lives, so why not be a huge part of this?"

While performing weddings might not be the next logical step in the evolution of computers, the Texan newlyweds are not alone in wanting holy matrimony to be more high tech.

The computer-officiated wedding won’t be legally binding. Hanson and Wesley still have to get a justice of the peace to sign their paperwork to make the marriage official. They plan to do that shortly after the ceremony.

“We’re both friends of the computer. So it’s kind of like our best friend is still marrying us,” Wesley said. “The computer is a huge part of our lives, so why not be a huge part of this?”

The story does not mention whether Hanson and Wesley are people of faith. I wish it had. In the video, after Wesley reads her vows from an iPhone in a hot pink case, she says, “We’re not a traditional couple; we’re kind of tech-y, we’re kind of geeky.”

Perhaps this is the rise of the Church of the Geek?

Clearly technology means a lot to this pair, and over the past several decades computers and the Internet have been able to assume roles that were traditionally held by the church. I discussed this phenomenon in a post featuring the viral video “The Internet is My Religion.”

But is the Internet replacing people’s once-religious experiences or supplementing them? I’m not sure. When it comes to getting hitched, church weddings have declined 60 percent among Roman Catholics in the U.S. over the past 40 years, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, and anecdotally, more people are having ordained-online friends perform the ceremony.