London “Bachelor” Calls Out Ex-Fiance on Ring Fib

And we’re on to Round 3! In the wake of the breakup between ex-Bachelor Matt Grant and Shayne Lamas, Lamas went public saying she planned to keep her 2.85-carat in a glass box “for the rest of her life.”

Lamas told People Grant was okay with that solution. But now Grant’s saying it isn’t so. “We never discussed this,” he later told People. “I never said it was cool to just keep it. If she said we spoke about it, she just made it up. Sometimes she thinks she can say anything and I’ll go along with it.” Grant said the ring was a symbol of a marriage that never happened, not a “television or a handbag” that she can hold on to.

The former Bachelor thinks Lamas should auction off the ring (valued at $65,000) so the ex-couple can donate the proceeds to their favorite charities (including his favorite, Stop Puppy Mills).   

What do you think they should do with the ring?

Make your Wedding Sparkle with Fireworks

You’ve heard plenty about over-the-top celebrity weddings. Whether it’s TomKat’s Italian castle venue to Liza Minnelli and David Guest’s 60-piece orchestra, it’s clear Hollywood A-listers know how to make a splash with their nuptials. But a select few know how to make a big bang, too.

VIP’s like David and Victoria Beckham and Tiger Woods and wife Elin Nordegren amped up their “I dos” with fireworks displays. But fireworks aren’t just reserved for the rich and famous; you can light up the sky at your wedding, too.  But before you go signing any contracts, make sure you’re willing to pay the big bucks. High-quality outdoor productions cost at least $2,000-$5,000, depending on the length and types of pyrotechnics used, according to the New York Daily News. And it’s quite a process making sure your fireworks are legal and safe. The American Pyrotechnics Association  (APA) says 45 states allow some sort of consumer fireworks, but the degree varies from state to state. One constant: Cherry Bombs, M-80s, and Silver Salutes are banned across the country. In terms of safety, viewers should be at least 500 feet from the launch, so make sure you have the space to allow for that. When the display goes live, have water on hand. And even though you may be a fan of extravagant displays, don’t light more than one firework at a time.

Tips: Make sure it’s legal. Before you go ahead with any plans, check with the American Pyrotechnics Association for even more specifics on the legality of fireworks in your town. For example, you may be restricted to sparklers or able to aim sky-high with a professional display.

Plan ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute to scope out the fireworks location or figure out exactly how to implement it. If you want an extensive production, hire a professional and get his or her input on the type of space you’ll need to do this safely. If you’re near water, you may consider renting a barge and shooting the fireworks from there.

Clean up. If you’re set on fireworks, keep in mind it’s your responsibility to make sure the debris and other mess is cleaned up afterward, either by you, your family, and friends, or someone else you hire to do the job.

Open the Green Door

You're hip, you're hot and you're looking for the ultimate A-list spot to host your reception. If you're planning a Southern California wedding, it's time to sneak past the velvet ropes and check out Green Door, the latest hot spot for Hollywood's "It" crowd.

Inspired by a 1950's song (as well as an adult movie), the club (a favorite for Hollywood stars like Heidi Klum and Jennifer Connelly) boasts an R-rated vibe with a 19th Century Parisian aesthetic. Antique red velvet couches, iron tables and chandeliers set a "Toulouse-Lautrec-meets-young-Hollywood" tone for your visit.

The expansive space includes two bars, a lounge and European-style salon where stars like Ryan Gosling have been spotted spinning. The menu is just as eclectic and includes steak frites, crepes, and truffle mac n' cheese.

Sure, rumor has it you may encounter some attitude when you call to make a reservation or inquire about a rental, but isn't it a small price to pay when it comes to hosting a party at the hottest venue in town?

Jaime Lynn Spears' (Low-Key) Wedding Plans

This week OK! reveals a first look at Zoey 101 star Jamie Lynn Spears and fiancé Casey Aldridge's initial wedding plans. According to the mag, the couple are planning a late fall wedding at their new home in Liberty, Mississippi (which sits on three acres and is located just 30 miles from the Spears’ Serenity mansion).

"She loves everything about the area where she lives. She's not going to get married at some luxury resort in the Caribbean or a hotel in Beverly Hills," notes a friend of the bride-to-be. "Her own backyard with just the people who matter most is more Jamie Lynn's style."

Big sister Britney will reportedly be Jamie Lynn's maid of honor, and Aldridge's sister Ashlee will be one of the bridesmaids. The couple is also said to be considering including their brand new daughter Maddie in the wedding a la a basket decorated with flowers to be carried into the ceremony by the bride and groom's mothers.

Play While You Plan – New Downloadable Wedding Game

Calling all NYC brides: Looking for a way to blow off some steam? You're going to love the newest addition to I-play's Dream Day wedding game series. Introducing, Dream Day Wedding: Married in Manhattan. Get a sneak peak at all that goes into planning a lavish NYC affair by helping two very different couples create their ultimate Manhattan weddings. (Think Beyonce and Jay-Z's all-white loft wedding, or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas' lavish, star-studded nuptials at New York's Plaza Hotel.)

Navigate through 42 challenging levels, and choose from 27 different premiere locations as you help marry off either the sophisticated upper-east side socialites, or the fabulous trendsetters from Greenwich Village. There will be plenty of wedding crises to correct throughout the game, but knowing there are two honeymoon levels to unlock and a wedding registry level to conquer is sure to keep your inner bridezilla highly motivated.

Inside the Mind of Bride-To-Be Ellen Degeneres

What really goes on behind the scenes when celebrity brides plan their A-list weddings? We can't read their minds, but we found the next best thing. Meet Stacey Wolf, a professional psychic astrologer and our newest guest blogger. This week, she dishes on what's in the stars for Ellen Degeneres and offers some advice for her upcoming wedding to Portia de Rossi. Check out her bridal reading!

Ellen Degeneres, Aquarius (January 26, 1958)
Ellen is a typical Aquarius—a fun-loving, socially graceful, nonconformist! Aquarians love to stand up for what they believe and have all their friends and family around to witness that. We can expect Ellen’s ceremony to be filled with vows and ideals that are important to her and her larger community as well. Her reception will either be packed with everyone she has ever known and loved or no one at all—depending upon whether she’s going with the community-loving side of Aquarius or the rebellious one.

Aquarians always do something very un-bridal—neither Ellen nor her partner may show up looking like a bride at all, but however she is dressed, she’ll look polished and elegant. The socially conscious Water Bearers are great at doing eccentric chic.

With a fearless and fiery Aries Moon, her wedding is sure to have its fair share of drama and spontaneity—the vows, the kiss, the first-dance. With her attention grabbing emotional nature, what ever she does, she does it big and bold.

To ensure a happy outcome for this unconventional bride, her other half should be open to everything and not try to limit or control her idealistic nature. With an Aquarius as part of your pair, you need a big enough plan so that everyone feels heard and respected.

Parrot Cay Puts the "P" in Private Resort

I've been wanting to go to the Turks & Caicos Islands ever since I was in my early 20's and discovered that the Club Med there had a circus camp for singles. Now that I'm a little more mature (and a lot less inclined to make a fool of myself falling off a tight rope), I'm more inclined to want to spend my days being pampered than practicing some death-defying feat.

The Parrot Cay Resort certainly fits the bill. This exclusive 1,000 acre island features beautiful white sandy beaches, miles of natural wetlands, and hands-on service for those that appreciate pampering and privacy. Catering to an A-list crowd, the resort's luxe beach houses offer up an open air layout celebrity brides and grooms like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria and Tony Parker have come to enjoy.

While their packages can be pricey (depending on the time of season, a seven night stay can run $5,292-$18,227), you're actually paying less for Parrot Cay's five-star offerings (like it's spa and haute cuisine) and more for the total anonymity the resort tends to offer its guests. From solitary jogs on quiet sandy beaches, to leisurely exploration of the island's iguana population, this is one resort that makes getting lost at sea sound extremely appealing.

Ex-"Bachelor" Fiance Keeps Ring, Denies Cheating

By now you've heard that The Bachelor: London Calling's dreamy star Matt Grant and winner Shayne Lamas are so over, but did you know she's keeping her ring anyway -- in a glass case?

"I have it and I am going to keep it forever for the rest of my life," Lamas told People. "It's safe and clean and in a glass box like a glass slipper."

Lamas says Grant's fine with the arrangement for her 2.85-carat Tacori platinum-and-diamond eternity ring, and she goes on to deny rumors that her infidelity led to the split.

"I did not cheat on Matt,” she insists. “I would never, ever cheat on Matt. He was my fiancé."

No judgments here! And don't be sad show fans, Lamas tells People she and Grant speak "daily" although she does plan on being "single for a while".

Mark Wahlberg on Why He's Ready For Marriage

Mark Wahlberg credits his decision to marry longtime girlfriend Rhea Durham to giving up life in the fast lane. Last month the couple (who are expecting their third child together) announced their plans to wed, and over the weekend People caught up with Wahlberg at San Diego's Comic-Con International, where he was promoting his upcoming film Max Payne.

"I wasn't prepared to be married – I don't care who it was – at [age] 20 or 30," Wahlberg told People. But now, he says, he's ready for "committing to really making it work constantly and all the other things that go into building a solid foundation."

The late-night action Wahlberg admits to letting go of is what inspired his hit HBO show Entourage, which he produces.

"We continue to grow in our relationship," said Wahlberg "I think we have a much better chance at succeeding and staying together."

The couple plan to wed in a formal summer ceremony in 2009 after the birth of their child. Wahlberg and Durham are already parents to daughter Ella, 4, and son Mike, 2.

photo: Mathew Imaging/Emmy/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Wedding Bouquets Go Country

So many brides these days are looking for a way to cut corners on their wedding, it's ironic that they're still willing to spend $300-$400 for the perfect bouquet when the hot trend right now is implementing flowers commonly found in your own backyard.

First daughter Jenna Bush and Rebecca Romjin are just two of the most recent A-List brides who have embraced country fresh blossoms like geraniums, ranunculus, steel grass, thistle, fiddlehead ferns, scabiosa pods and other field greens

These blooms add an organic elegance to any wedding, and are often paired with old antique vases, mason jars and steel buckets to create the perfect table arrangement.

While these types of field greens do tend to be cheaper than your typical rose or lily, they can cost more when purchased out of season, so it's a good idea to talk to your florist first before you get your heart set on a hosting your own version of Little House on the Prairie.

photo: Craighead/White House