Honeymoon Idea for Music-Loving Couples: Cruise to Cabo With John Mayer

We understand that not all brides have the time to plan their honeymoon 8 months in advance. (Hands-on wedding planning is already a ton of hard work!) So, we found a great last-minute honeymoon idea for all you music lovin’ brides out there looking for an awesome spring honeymoon. How does a 5-day concert cruise hosted by John Mayer and friends sound?

Tickets are still available for the Mayer Craft Carrier 2: Even Craftier!, a 5-day, 4-night cruise event departing from Los Angeles (Port of San Pedro) on Friday, March 27th, making a stop in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, then returning on Tuesday March 31st. Guests will board the Carnival Splendor -- the company’s newest and biggest ship -- for two days at sea with non-stop performances from John Mayer (obviously), O.A.R., Guster, and 12 other noteworthy acts. Plus, the anchor will drop in Cabo for a full day of leisurely fun in the sun.

When you're ready to give your ears a rest from the live music, the Splendor boasts lots of leisure activities – pick from 4 pools, 22-lounges and bars (includign the Red Carpet nightclub!), and games like karaoke and trivia. Room service is 24-hours.(Certainly a bonus for honeymooners!) Prices range from $800 per person (lower deck rooms) to $4,000 (spa suites!). Visit the official site for more details!

Attention American Express Card Holders: American Express is currently offering exclusive cruise packages for members. Card holders can purchase balcony or ocean view cabins with their AmEx and enjoy VIP check-in at the port, exclusive access to a John Mayer Q&A, an invite to the VIP cocktail party on board, and a special gift. This offer ends 2/15, so call 1-877-SIXTHMAN and refer to promotion code: SXMAE for more info, now!

“ER” Star Parminder Nagra Weds in Traditional Sikh Ceremony

Last Saturday in Hollywood, Parminder Nagra (who plays Doctor Neela Rasgotra on NBC’s ER) married longtime love, celebrity photographer James Stenson, in a traditional Sikh ceremony known as Anand Karaj.

Anand Karaj means “blissful event or occasion” and is the official name given to the Sikh wedding ceremony. (Though born in England, Parminder’s family is from Punjab India.) It’s considered a sacred bond of mutual dependencies between man and woman. The wedding is considered much more than just a legal contract of commitment, but rather a true union of the souls. (So romantic!) The ceremony is considered a union of their two families as well. Which was likely a smooth transition for both, since the pair has been together for seven years, reports People.

We didn’t know much about this particular cultural ceremony here in the CWB office, so we studied up. Here’s what we learned:

Unique Ceremony Elements: Both partners must be Sikh, and in order to prepare for the ceremony the couple must feel and think alike and completely identify with one another, therefore becoming “Ek Jot Doe Murti” -- meaning “one spirit two bodies”. The ceremony almost always takes place in a Gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship) or the home of the bride, and is held in the presence of a Sri Guru Granth Shaib (their Holy book, considered to be a living guru), and the holy congregation. The ceremony cannot take place in a banquet hall, or hotel, and no superstitious or astrological suspicions can be taken into consideration when booking the date. Four sacred hymns (called Shabads) are read, and together they’re called the laava. They are sometimes referred to as the “four rounds”. The cost of the ceremony should be split amongst families as equally as possible.

Need something more visual? We haven’t seen any wedding photos released yet, but here are some gorgeous images of other Anand Karaj ceremonies that we found online.

Favor Idea: All-Natural Water in Fun, Fruity Flavors

Hollywood’s youngest starlets are passing on the Starbucks, soda, and alcohol these days for a healthier beverage choice – HINT Essence Water, an all-natural water with a "hint" of natural flavor, and zero calories, sweeteners, or preservatives. (Gossip Girl star Blake Lively, Miley Cyrus, and The Hills’ Lauren Conrad have all been spotted with one of these hot new waters in hand!)

It’s not uncommon for brides who throw summer or tropical weddings to gift their guests with personalized water bottles as favors to help them beat the heat during the reception. The HINT Essence Water packaging is so pretty, if you decide to give these out at your summer wedding, you won’t even need to decorate them! Plus, with flavor options like pomegranate-tangerine, blackberry, and honeydew hibiscus, your guests are sure to love these yummy thirst-quenchers (yes, we taste-tested them!). For your convenience, you can order them by the case online.

Your Charity Registry: Katherine Heigl Gives to Best Friends

We always love to bring you guys fabulous celebrity-inspired ideas for your wedding day, but sometimes it’s also nice to offer a gentle reminder that charity registries do more than just create good karma for the bride and groom.

Right now, a lot of great charities around the country are suffering from lack of donations, specifically animal shelters and sanctuaries that have been hardest hit on two fronts: They’re funding has been cut and people are abandoning their animals in record numbers as they lose their home and life savings. I was especially moved last night when I saw one of my favorite celebrity newlyweds, Katherine Heigl on Access Hollywood giving her time and money to the Pup My Ride project through the Best Friends Animal Society (they’re the same group behind that fabulous DogTown TV show on the National Geographic Channel). The Grey’s Anatomy star is such a huge animal lover (she and her husband have rescued six dogs to date), she and her mother not only volunteered their time to transport small dogs (destined to be destroyed in L.A. shelters) to new families in other states, they also established a grant so the program can continue through the end of 2009.

Now I’m not saying every bride and groom should pick this particular charity, but it’s just one example of what impact your monetary gift can have on a life – human or otherwise. For more information on creating a charity registry or purchasing charity favors, check out our WeddingChannel.com Charity Registry Program.

Photo: Best Friends Animal Society

More Details on Josh and Fergie’s Honeymoon!

What would you do if you had the opportunity to enjoy some quality R&R at a super-ritzy villa in the Maldive Islands? Well, if you’re anything like newlyweds Josh Duhamel and Fergie, your honeymoon would also include, “cooking classes, private yoga and tennis lessons, spa treatments, scuba diving and, of course, fishing.”

According to Us Magazine, the duo (who wed on January 10 and then jetted off to the super-luxe One & Only Reethi Rah Resort on January 13), tried to keep it simple: “romantic relaxation — lying in the sun, tanning, just having a relaxing time," says a source.

The couple decided to extend their vacation to a “mini-moon” at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas where they both lent their star power to the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational. After twelve days of bliss, the newlyweds returned to Los Angles on Sunday looking tan and refreshed.

Get America Ferrera’s Vera Wang Dress from the SAG Awards!

Sometimes it’s hard to tell which has bigger impact on the Hollywood: Bridal fashion or traditional runway style. Well, if last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards were any indication, we say score one for brides!

We already pointed out some of the big bridal trends we’ve been spotting on the red carpet, but Ugly Betty star America Ferrera actually took it a step further when she showed up in a wedding dress from Vera Wang’s newest bridal collection!

This beautiful champagne-colored A-line chiffon gown with a wrapped bodice and black tulle is a slight variation on a real wedding dress currently offered by the designer in ivory or white with moss tulle. Love this look? It’s currently priced at $2,500 - $5,000, proving once again that you can get a great red carpet look for your wedding day without spending an absolute fortune.

Photo: Michael Buckner/WireImage/Getty Images; Vera Wang dress/Vera Wang

Woman Loses $70K Wedding Ring Down Toilet

How much would you pay to get your wedding ring back? For one woman in Phoenix, AZ, the sum total came to $7,200 after she accidentally dropped her seven carat wedding ring down a restaurant toilet. Allison Berry was so frantic to get her ring back city employees were called in to flush the ring out of the pipe.

When that didn’t work, the city was forced to call Mr. Rooter, a professional plumbing company based in Waco, Texas. The plumber fed an infrared video camera into the toilet until he spotted the ring. He then spent an hour and a half removing the pipe and cutting away from the area with a jack hammer.

The ring was eventually returned to Berry, but at a steep cost: The plumber charged $5,200, the city charged $1,000, and Berry and her husband felt obligated to tip the plumber and the city worker $400 each and a restaurant employee $200 for volunteering to stay late to assist them with the recovery.

“They always say diamonds are a girl's best friend. In this case, a plumber is a girl's best friend," says the heroic plumber, Mike Roberts. "She was just so excited, she had tears in her eyes. She gave us a hug and said 'Thank you so much.'"

Screen Actors Guild Awards Offers More Big Bridal Trends for '09

Much like the Golden Globe Awards, many of this season's hottest bridal trends were spotted on the red carpet (no big surprise, considering most of the designers behind last night's best-dressed stars also held court at Spring Bridal Fashion Week). Gowns with asymmetrical detailing were heavily represented on celebs like Laura Linney and Evan Rachel Wood. Meanwhile, Marcia Cross made an interesting statement (let's just say she had a little too much going on with her dress) in a dark blue satin-print gown with crumb-catcher detailing along the bodice.

While a soft canary yellow hue seemed to rule as the A-list color pallet of the Golden Globes, bold blues were out at the SAG Awards in full force. Kate Winslet looked stunning in an electric blue Narciso Rodriguez gown, as did Angelina Jolie (in a teal Max Azria - her second dress from the designer this award show season).

Note: Say bye-bye to delicate layered necklaces -- big earrings (as seen on Christina Applegate and Jane Krakowski) are absolutely "it" this season, signaling a move away from the soft Grecian goddess look that was so hot last year and a step towards statement jewelry, including rhinestone detailing and vintage broaches.

Photos: Kate Winslet/Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Christina Applegate/Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Celebrity Wedding Gossip: Kendra Wilkinson Not Marrying at Playboy Mansion?; The Truth Behind Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Broken Engagement

Leave it to Us Weekly to stir the pot when it comes to not one, but two of the most talked about pending celebrity weddings. Last week, Playboy Playmate and The Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson told the mag she was having her upcoming wedding to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hank Baskett at the Playboy Mansion and that former boyfriend Hugh Hefner was giving her away. Funny enough, that story seems to have changed once Kendra implied she was girlfriend to the aging Playboy founder in name only, and that she cheated on him during their “relationship". According to E!, Kendra’s now changed her tune and is “going for something more private, more family-oriented.” (Is it just us, or are you also holding out hope that this former centerfold caves and adds “you’re no bunny until some bunny loves you” to her wedding favors?)

In other celebrity wedding news, Ghost Whisperer star, Jennifer Love Hewitt graces the cover of this week’s Us. In it, the show’s former costume designer reveals that the actress’ clingy ways may have drove a wedge between Hewitt and her former fiancé, Ross McCall.

“[She was] so needy and immature," former Ghost Whisperer costume supervisor Claudia Wick designer tells the magazine. “She would call McCall up and go, 'Can you come and sit with me? I'm cold,'" she said. "She would drag him on the set and then pout and they'd fight. Mainly, it was her needing something from him: 'Can you say you love me?'"

Check back next week for the latest celebrity wedding news and gossip!

Bride and Groom File Lawsuit After Destination Wedding Disaster

It was supposed to be their dream vacation, but for British citizens Simmone Edwards and Samuel Hibberd, their destination wedding to the Dominican Republic proved to be a disaster in the making following botched travel plans and the hotel from hell.

According the U.K.’s Evening Post, the couple found themselves stuck after their travel agent gave them the wrong information about the country’s wedding waiting period, and they were forced to marry three days before their actual date without any friends or family present. When the hotel offered to rectify the situation, things went from bad to worse when the bride (as well as many guests) came down with a severe case of food poisoning at the wedding reception.

“I was so ill on my rescheduled wedding day that I vomited outside the restaurant where we were eating three times and almost fainted. It completely ruined what was supposed to be the best day of my life,” says Edwards.

The couple also claims the hotel never sent them a wedding breakfast, gave them the wrong flowers for their ceremony, and did not provide them with decorations or music for their wedding reception. To add insult to injury, the couple originally requested a sea view as part of their wedding package and got stuck looking at a construction site instead.

Edwards, Hibberd, as well as 20 of their relatives are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the travel agency that booked their destination wedding package.

Photo: Evening Post