Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi Pick a Wedding Venue

Ellen Degeneres and fiance Portia de Rossi continue to leak their wedding details as they move closer to "I do." The couple recently announced plans to wed at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs sometime in October, reports New York Post's Page Six. Known as the oldest "legacy" hotel in the downtown Palm Springs area, the famous property is currently undergoing an estimated $70 million renovation that is scheduled for completion later this year.

Originally designed to have the look and feel of a Las Vegas hotspot, the Riviera opened its doors in 1959, and has since become a star in its own right, famous for its popular wheel-shaped architecture and A-list clientèle (Britney Spears is rumored to be a fan) dating back to the early 1960's.

The blond power couple have already set a date and plan to wed in the tropical gardens by the pool and hold their reception in the grand ballroom. (We're not sure, but the couple could be gunning for the first post-rebuild wedding to be held at the famed resort.) Resort representative Hal Lifson tells us that when the project is complete the resort will be home to new restaurant Circa 59, chic nightclub The Starlight Lounge, and the Bikini Bar.

For more information on booking a wedding or special event at the new and improved Riviera Spa & Resort at Palm Springs please contact Hal Lifson.

Boston Cake Baker Goes Hollywood!

Calling all movie-lovin' brides! If you're a fan of romantic comedies than you're probably already hip to the fact that wedding movies are the newest trend in Hollywood, and they're proving to be huge hits at the box office (Think 27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl and Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan). Celebrities aren't the only ones making their claim to fame in these hilarious rom-coms – some wedding vendors are getting their big moment in the limelight too.

Meet Jessa Sahakian, owner and pastry chef at Yum Bunnies Cakery in Belmont, MA. Known for their bold and whimsical cake designs the gang at Yum Bunnies has not one, but two big screen appearances lined up for 2009. And while Jessa and her staff wont be in front of the camera, a few of her cake creations will. First the prop master from Pink Panther 2 (due out February 6, 2009) stumbled upon the cakes in Jessa's window display and she was asked to make 12 portrait cakes and one wedding cake, then Jessa received a call from the crew of Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner's new movie The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past in which McConaughey plays a bachelor haunted by the ghosts of his relationship past while attending his younger brother's wedding.

"They needed a huge wedding cake," says Jessa. "We ended up making nine in total -- some real, some fake – and one was even rigged."

Jessa says staging and shooting a cake scene took a lot more effort than one would imagine, but overall it was a lot of fun.

"We got to go to the set where we met Jennifer Garner," she says. "She was super nice, and we spotted Matthew McConaughey and Michael Douglas, too. The crew was very nice to us, and they gave us a tour and explained the process of shooting a cake scene."

For more information on how to have one of Jessa's quirky cake creations make a cameo appearance at your wedding, visit the Yum Bunnies Cakery official site or call (617) 484-3300. Plus, find hundreds of cake inspirations from real weddings here.

Make Your Bridesmaids Flip

After you've asked your bridesmaids to cater to your every need, dress alike in gowns they would never have picked themselves, and act as happy police during the ceremony to shield you from all things wrong, do you really expect them to get up and party with you on the dance floor TOO? If the answer is yes, chances are this won't be possible in those pretty stiletto heels you've already pre-selected for them. Perhaps you should purchase a pair of  Jamie Kreitman designer flip flops for them instead. Adorned with vintage bows and brooches, and brushed satin straps these uniquely sexy (and comfy) sandals have been worn by some pretty famous feet. (Vivica A. Fox, Paris Hilton, and Emma Roberts to name a few.) Shop for them in a variety of wedding-friendly colors, and choose between flat or wedged heels. Average cost: $100 or less. Having them celebrating by your side all night: priceless!

Click here for more bridal party dos and don'ts!

Uma Thurman Engaged!

Actress Uma Thurman is finally ready to settle down again. The Kill Bill star, who divorced her Gattica costar, Ethan Hawke in 2004, has announced her engagement to financier Arpad Busson (ex-husband of supermodel Elle Macpherson).

A friend of Thurman's tells the New York Daily News that Busson surprised the actress with a ring while traveling to London for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday this week. "It was a really old-fashioned romantic gesture," says a friend of the couple. "It's a done deal. They're already planning the wedding."

As for the ring itself, Thurman apparently has much to smile about.  The bauble is reportedly so big, the actress "can't fit it through the sleeve of her coat," claims a source.

How does Uma’s ring stack up against other celebrity rocks? Check out our Hollywood engagement ring slideshow

Photo by: AFP/Getty Images

Is Jessica Simpson on the Wedding (Back) Track?

It seems like only yesterday Jessica Simpson was spilling to Glamour (in between her magazine photo shoot in which she was shot wearing what looks suspiciously like a bridal gown) how great her relationship with boyfriend Tony Romois. “It feels like forever. I love this guy," she gushed in an interview in the April issue. Meanwhile her friends were reportedly hearing that Simpson was ready to make Romo her “future husband".  Fast forward to this week and suddenly her bridal ambitions have cooled.

"We're still together," Simpson admitted while being interviewed on The View on Wednesday.  "I don't know about wedding bells… but I'm still with him."

Why the sudden backtrack?  According to Us, Simpson is still smarting from the almost break-up she had with her beau after her dad, Joe Simpson, reportedly tried to interfere with Romo's football career. Word is, the football star only took Simpson back after she promised to tell her dad to take a hike.

Are your future in-laws hurting your relationship? Share your story now!

Ruben Studdard Wedding News: Is he a Groomzilla?

This weekend, American Idol season 2 winner Ruben Studdard will marry his longtime love Surata Zuri in a big, lavish, southern-style ceremony in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, reports People.com.

The mag also reveals Ruben's plans to have twenty groomsmen by his side during the ceremony. There's no news yet on whether the bride plans to even things out with her bridesmaids. Ruben and the guys will wear all black Joseph Abboud tuxedos (similar to the one featured in this photo). The groom has chosen a white vest and a white hand-tied bow tie for himself and black shirts and vest for his groomsmen.

While we've still got love for the Velvet Teddy Bear, we're really dying to know who's running this wedding show. Share your thoughts on large or uneven bridal parties with us!

Candy Over Wedding Cake

I have an extremely large sweet tooth, so it should come as no surprise that desert is top priority for me. Trust me, I love beautiful wedding cakes, but for some reason pink pastillage and flowered marzipan just don’t do it for me like a cool candy buffet.

I really love the idea of mixing interesting colors and textures with old-time aesthetics like vintage apothecary jars and Depression-era glass, but even modern-day cylinders filled with colorful treats (like Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross’s saltwater taffy, jelly beans, rock candy and chocolate-covered strawberry set-up) feel sexy, yet sweet.

Thanks to our friends at Style Me Pretty, I’ve recently discovered Miette Confiserie, this gorgeous little candy shop in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley district. They’re wedding candy buffets bring to mind penny candy days when a dollar could buy you more than a bag of M&M’s.  From imported boiled sweets, Dutch licorice and salt water taffy to the finest chocolates and caramels, Miette is the kind of place that could easily convince a blushing bride to say “I do” to a sugary sweet wedding cake alternative.

Wow Vows: Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller Reveal Their Wedding Vows

Ok, so you're ready to walk down the aisle, but do you know what you're going to say once you get there? For some celebrity bride and grooms, reciting your wedding vows has become a fun way to entertain guests while expressing your commitment to each other in a unique way.

Case in point: Recently Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller touched upon their most annoying habits during their wedding ceremony.  While Sheen vowed to, "organize less and listen more, quit breaking a hug too soon, and mute the ball game," Brooke promised to, “keep the pile of debris on my side of the bed below the two foot mark, and to clean my closet at least once per decade." They each ended their vows with "this and that, such and such. Yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah."

If those words don't exactly express the sentiment you're hoping to share with your better half, you can always hit the books and do some research. We suggest The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions from our own wedding guru, Carley Roney. We love the many modern options it has, from traditional love poems to Native American prayers. Trust us -- this book is just one way to make your "I do's" stand out in a crowd.

photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images

The Purrfect Lace Garter for the Girly Bride

It's no secret that newlywed songstress (and uber girly-girl) Mariah Carey loves Hello Kitty…and the color pink…and bling. This garter from celebrity jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino combines all three to help like-minded brides make a sexy statement on their wedding day. The satin and lace garter comes decorated with Swarvoski crystals and features a pink Hello Kitty head portrait, a baroque crystal drop, and a tiny velvet bow. Talk about the purr-fect wedding accessory. Glam it up under your gown!

White House Hosts Wedding Reception for Jenna Bush

Apparently the party isn't over for first daughter and newlywed Jenna Bush. Following her May 10, Crawford, Texas wedding, Bush and her new hubby, Henry Hager (the couple just returned from their honeymoon in Hawaii), were toasted over the weekend at a White House reception thrown by the President Bush and First Lady for family and friends of the couple.

According to People, the mostly D.C. crowd danced the night away while the United States Marine Band played "oldies-but-goodies."

"The President looked pretty cool,” noted a guest. “He was a good dancer. He was having a great time."

Check out more White House weddings now!

photo: Craighead/White House