10 Ways To Hint You're Ready to Get Engaged -- Hollywood Style!

Engagement season is officially in effect ladies, and if you're browsing this blog and are not yet a bride-to-be, we're guessing it's because you're hoping to receive a fat rock for the holidays! So, here's our (early) gift to you: 10 wedding expert-approved ways to hint to him (both subtly, and not) that you're more than ready to head down the aisle, designed especially for all you entertainment junkies out there. Good luck!

1. Make Beyonce's smash hit single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" your new favorite song! Learn the words, and the now-famous dance routine from the video, and make it a point to rock out to it daily.

2. Load up your Netflix queue with all your favorite wedding rom-coms, then, when they all arrive at once at your door, pretend you "just forgot" to add a few of his picks into the weekend mix.

3. Fish through your most recent stack of Us Weekly mags and find one of those celebrity engagement ring features. Then the next time he's tidying up your living room make sure it's there and "conveniently" open to that page.

4. Channel Meg Ryan from When Harry Met Sally for New Year’s Eve (in all her 1989 permed glory) and hope he feels inspired to reenact the midnight speech and kiss.

5. Next time you log on to Facebook, become a fan of your favorite wedding sites like WeddingChannel.com (duh!), and TheKnot.com. (He'll surely see it during his daily browse of your mini-feed.)

6. Drag him out to a karaoke bar, down a shot or two, and then launch into a rousing rendition of "Say a Little Prayer For You" with your gay bestie.

7. Capitalize on your Sex and the City infatuation and either shell out some cash for one of those "I'm a Carrie" tees (and start calling him Mr. Big), or put the book Love Letters of Great Men on your holiday wish list so you can reenact that uber romantic pillow-talk scene from the film.

8. Come up with a catchy couple-nickname-combo a la TomKat, or Brangelina, and use it as a signature on all your joint holiday gifts. (Need a little inspiration? (Try our Name Game Tool to start!)

9. Hire some Abba impersonators to show up at your holiday party and then innocently suggest that Greece would make a great locale for a destination wedding.

10. Bake him a bloody armadillo cake a la Steel Magnolias, and when he feigns nausea at the sight of it, assure him it’s normal for the groom to feel anxious before his wedding day.

Have an idea to add to our list? Share the love, and post it below! (We'd love to read 'em.)

Wedding Date Set for Fergie and Josh Duhamel!

We knew Fergie and her fiancé must be making plans for their wedding day (after all, they’ve been engaged for over a year now),  so I guess it’s not exactly shocking that she and her actor boyfriend, Josh Duhamel are hoping to sneak it in right after the new year.

According to Access Hollywood, the couple will be tying the knot in Southern California the weekend of January 9-11. Hollywood guests set to attend include Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson (Ferg’s costars in the big screen adaption of Nine).

The couple, who announced their engagement in December of ’07, were recently spotted registry shopping at an L.A. Crate & Barrel. 

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Vince Vaughn IS Getting Engaged... Seriously!

Are wedding bells in the future for Vince Vaughn? InTouch Weekly reported this week that the Four Christmases star is ready to propose to his girlfriend, Canadian real estate agent Kyla Walker, around the new year.

A friend of the couple spilled to the mag that Kyla met Vince’s family in September at the Vaughn's Chicago home AND that Vince already purchased a ring! Now, this isn't just a regular engagement ring. This ring is over four carats and costs around $125,000! I certainly wouldn’t hate being Vince’s fiancé!

What do you ladies think? Is this the real deal, or is Vince playing a joke on us?

Sexy Slips for Your Bridesmaids

You know, I'd like to think Katherine Heigl's character in 27 Dresses might have enjoyed her stint as a bridesmaid a little bit more if she had the opportunity to take one of those dresses and actually burn it upgrade the look from "bridesmaid blech" to "A-list attendant." Sure, you're often limited when it comes to implementing your own personal style, but that doesn't mean you can’t leave your mark when it comes down to the little details.

That’s why I'm currently stalking Your Slip is Showing, a cool company that creates splashy, Breakfast at Tiffany's-inspired slips that peek out from under the hem of your dress. The feathered ones are pure glam, while the ruffled and lace ones scream cocktail party chic. I think this is a great alternative to spending hundreds of dollars on a bridesmaid dress you’ll never wear again, when you can simply pull your favorite LBD out of the closet, slip into this, and make a splash while walking down the alter.

Priced at $150-$350, these slips aren't cheap, but they sure are flexible when it comes to mixing up your wardrobe for your next black-tie affair.

Last-Minute Gift Idea for Brides: Mamma Mia 2-Disc Special Edition DVD Set On Sale Now

Listen up all you musical fanatics. Remember when you were the first in line to buy a ticket to see Mamma Mia! in theaters last summer, then  drug your poor maid of honor back for two more repeat visits shortly thereafter and cried when it left theaters? (You know I’m spot on!) Well, as of this morning you can now obsess about your favorite wedding movie of the year without heading to the multiplex. The Mamma Mia special edition DVD is out today, girls, and I know you’re already half way out the door. Want to know how I know? Because our post about the wedding gown Amanda Seyfried’s character Sophie wore in the film was our most popular ever!

The new disc is loaded with bride-friendly special features. Enjoy Sing Along! On Screen Lyrics for 22 songs, “The Name Game” (a musical number you didn’t see), the “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” music video, and loads of other bonus behind the scenes footage and deleted extras.  Even the DVD’s official website  is packed with goodies. Check it out for more details, and in the meantime (since I know you cant wait!) here’s a sneak peak at some of the hilarious outtakes.  Boy do we love catching Meryl at her best!

CONTEST: WIN THIS DVD!


Mamma Mia! is about a daughter searching for a magical wedding moment with her father, so we want to hear about you and yours.  Send us an e-mail with a photo of you and your father (OR whoever’s walking you down the aisle) , the song you plan to dance with them to, and a few sentences about why they rock your world. We’ll pick our favorite 10 stories and those brides will win 1 of 10 Mamma Mia Special Edition DVDs. Good luck!

Fergie and Josh Duhamel Deny Crate and Barrel Wedding Registry Rumors

My mom always says if it looks like a duck,  walks like a duck, and quacks like duck it is a duck, so I’m not quite sure why Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie and actor Josh Duhamel are fibbing about being registered at one of my favorite stores, Crate and Barrel. Both Us Magazine and TMZ caught the future bride and groom in the act, happily scanning their items  a la a wedding registry wish list.

Holiday shopping? Hmm, I’m not buying it, but I gotta say the stockpot is a solid choice for an "I do" wish list…as long as Fergie Ferg is the one doing the cooking. By the looks of things (watch the video and you'll see what I mean), Josh shouldn’t be left alone next to a hot stove.

Celebrity Wedding Planner Donnie Brown's Big List of Wedding Don'ts for 2009

If you've watched The Style Network's Who's Wedding Is It Anyway? you know celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown isn't one to mince words. As a matter of fact, he had quite a lot to say when he stopped by our offices last week to fill us in on what's in and what's out for 2009. Here's our wrap-up on what you should avoid when planning your 2009 nuptials.

Colors:
Have your heart set on chocolate brown and Tiffany blue? "It's so over," insists Brown. If you don't want to look dated, avoid these two hues entirely, he says. Hot new colors? Green and orange are the way to go if you want to give your wedding décor a style upgrade.

Destination Weddings:
"Most of my brides aren't doing it," says Brown. "I always ask them, is your grandmother going be able to attend? In the end, they decide against it." Brown says alternative venues offer more options and less restrictions than a big hotel or resort.

Reception Menu:
Food stations and cocktail receptions are out and sit-down meals are back in says Brown. "Do you want your most important guests standing around with a plate in hand in drink in another?" Brown asks. "That's just asking for a disaster like a spill." The formality of European serving and dining adds an element of class and anticipation, Brown promises.

For more on Donnie Brown, check out the Style Network for details.

photo: courtesy of The Style Network

Couple Remarry After an Affair Causes Split

I never understood how my grandmother could call Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton a super couple after they married and remarried more times than I can remember (heck, I never figured out why Eminem remarried his ex, Kim, after all the stuff he wrote and rapped about her, but then again, to each his own), so I guess I wasn't exactly shocked when I read on Jezebel about a New York City couple that had renewed their vows following a break-up and divorce that culminated with the husband leaving his wife for a new girlfriend. convertible, and a sailboat.

Traditional vows mention loving, honoring, and cherishing your spouse, but there really isn't a handbook on cheating. Some people say it depends on the circumstances, others say it a black and white issue, but at least everyone is in agreement that it's on the rise.

Would you forgive your husband or fiancé if he cheated? Cast your vote below, then share your opinion or story.

True Love At Last For ABC's "The Bachelor"?

After seasons upon seasons of failed relationships, did the new bachelor finally get it right? A representative for The Bachelor told Usmagazine.com yesterday that their new bachelor, Jason Mesnick is engaged.

You probably remember Jason from last season's Bachelorette, when DeAnna Pappas broke his heart on national television. DeAnna chose Jesse Csincsak over Jason in the season finale (but the two announced their broken engagement in November!). Now it's Jason's turn to call the shots on what is sure to be an exciting season!

"All I am missing, really, is someone to share [my life] with," the cutie told Us Magazine. After seeing how hurt he was by the outcome of The Bachelorette, I'm definitely rooting for him and his adorable three-year-old son Ty!

Do you think they're telling the truth about the engagement, or is this just for publicity? Find out for yourself when the new season of The Bachelor premieres Jan. 5 on ABC!

“Sex and the City: The Wedding Collection” on DVD Today

Tis’ the season to find the perfect gifts for those you love. Trouble is, doing so isn’t always as easy as it sounds. That said, here’s a gift idea that’s guaranteed to please. Pick up a few copies of the new Sex and the City: The Wedding Collection, on DVD today, and you can cross all of your glamorous bridesmaids off your holiday gift list.

Nearly every woman I know turned out to see SATC when it was in theaters, so it’s a fail-safe idea I’m sure your friends will love. Stuff this collector’s edition gift set into their stockings, and who knows how many extra wedding errands they’ll help you run in the New Year. Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “But we already saw the movie together – twice!” Perhaps -- but this set is loaded with wedding-friendly bonus features that will excite any and all Carrie Bradshaw devotees. (Plus, I screened it for you in advance, and I got way more than I even hoped for!)

The 4-disc set includes a total of 4 and a half hours of bonus fun. (Look out for deleted scenes that show us a little more of the Samantha we wish we’d seen more of in the film, and a closer look at what went down between Carrie /Big/Miranda those fateful days before the wedding. ) Producers Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King pull up chairs and offer feature-long commentary that’s good – real good! Other bonus features include: “The Making of Sex and the City” (yes, they’re talking clothes!) , “Putting Sex on Screen” (your backstage pass to the set), “Fergie in the Studio”, “The Party That Never Was” (witness the DVD launch party from the pink carpet), and “The Ladies of Sex and the City” (hear lots more from your favorite foursome!). The goods don’t stop there. The set also includes a Limited Edition Certificate of Authenticity, the “Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours” wedding album with photos from the set and famous quotes from your favorite characters and a few great men.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed diving into all this bonus material and rocking out to the new soundtrack (that includes 8 never-before-compiled songs), it was the behind-the scenes look at Carrie’s legendary Vogue bridal shoot, that truly made it a “me time” weekend. Cosmo anyone?