Ricky Martin wants to go big to celebrate his marriage with partner Jwan Joseph. The pair already tied the knot in 2018, and are now planning a massive celebration with family and friends that may take place over multiple days.
Speaking to Mexican show Ventaneando, the singer explained that he wants a four-day wedding that will involve all four of the couple’s children. The twins, Matteo and Valentino witnessed their first nuptials but now Martin wants newest additions Renn and Lucía to see their parents marry.
The couple have been together since 2016 and spontaneously tied the knot in 2018.
“Two madmen have gotten together! Months passed and we said, ‘What are we waiting for? This is meant to be,” said Martin in the interview. “It just so happened that my parents were here in Los Angeles, and his parents were as well, so I said, ‘We have no other reason to wait, call the judge!’ It was super improvised.”
They are now passionate about having a large, public event to showcase their love.
“It’s going to be a great event. And people will be talking about it. We’re a modern family, and I think people need to see, and I want to normalise the beauty of our family. That’s why I’m making it public and I’m going to share my wedding with the world.”
Before she became a style icon and much-loved First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy O’Nassis was Jacqueline Bouvier, a George Washington University graduate, and inquiring photographer.
The course of her life changed when she met then-Congressman John F Kennedy and fell in love. The pair married in a lavish Newport, Rhode Island wedding. For her big day, the future First Lady was a vision in a buffant ivory silk-taffeta gown, which has gone down in history as one of the most iconic wedding dresses.
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Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress has a surprising history and was created by Black seamstress Ann Lowe. Lowe was an incredibly talented designer who opened the door for many other independent designers of colour. As one of the first known black designers, however, she faced constant discrimination as she fought to become one of the most sought-after couturiers for the American elite. Among her customers were famed American families like the du Ponts, the Roosevelts, the Rockefellers, and the Kennedys.
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Lowe was well acquainted with the Bouvier family and was thus commissioned to design Kennedy’s wedding dress in 1953. Julia Faye Smith, author of Ann Lowe’s biography Something to Prove, says it took Lowe and her team of seamstresses two months to complete the ornate creation that utilised over 50 yards of silk taffeta.
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However, a mere 10 days before the big day, everything went wrong. Lowe’s studio was flooded by a broken waterline, which ruined not only the wedding dress but also the bridesmaids’ dresses.
A disaster like this could destroy Lowe’s reputation. So, she swallowed her sadness, purchased more fabric, hired extra help, and completely recreated the gown within a matter of days.
The dress was completed and stunned everyone. However, Lowe came out of the deal losing $2,000 instead of making a profit on what was her biggest wedding gown to date. She never told the family what happened. To make matters even sadder, Lowe never received proper credit for her hard work. When asked who made her famous dress, Kennedy told reporters, “a colored dressmaker did it.”
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Lowe and Kennedy continued to work together on a number of occasions after the wedding. Smith explains that the women developed a mutual respect for one another. When she began losing her eyesight and her business, Lowe was financially saved by a mysterious benefactor. Lowe believed it was the First Lady who secretly stepped in to save her business.
Lowe died at age 82, with her business never truly reaching the degree of fame it should have.
“We need to remember Ann as a woman who, in the face of some of great adversity, persevered,” says Smith to Elle. “She knew what she was capable of doing, and she worked throughout her life to achieve it. From the Jim Crow South to the skyscrapers of New York, there were obstacles placed before her, but she proved that a designer of her race, or of any race, could become a major designer.”
A rustic wedding theme perfectly honours nature, while still providing an intimate feel. Some may picture a farmhouse vibe, while others envision a botanical-inspired beauty.
However you classify rustic, one thing is for sure. This theme uses nature and simple design elements to bring out the beauty of the venue and environment, not overwhelm it. Using stunning lighting, masses of greenery, fruits, and vegetables and candles, you can easily bring the rustic wedding of your dreams to life.
Here are a few ideas on how to decorate your rustic wedding table:
Royal weddings are often the stuff of fairytales, so it seems fitting that a curse would somehow be involved. A real-life curse may be true for one Royal family. According to legend, The Grimaldi Royal Family of Monaco is cursed and will never have a true happily-ever-after.
How the curse came to be is a bit of a mystery. One report of a 13th-century legend tells the tale of a Flemish woman who was raped by Prince Rainier I. In retaliation, she cursed the House, saying that “never will a Grimaldi find true happiness in marriage”.
Another tale says that a witch being burnt at the stake said those immortal words preventing a true happily-ever-after.
Over the course of the family’s 700-year-long rule, they have experienced much heartbreak and tragedy. Here are just a few of the ways the family has been unlucky in love:
Grace Kelly’s death
The Grimaldi family rose to international fame in 1952 when Prince Rainier III married Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly. However, their marriage was not the stuff of fairytales. Kelly reportedly struggled with the intense demand and expectation that comes with being a royal.
In 1982, the superstar actress tragically died in a car accident at the age of 52. She had reportedly suffered a stroke while driving with her daughter Stephanie. Dr. Jean Chatelain, chief surgeon at the hospital where she was treated, says she might have survived had she been at home and not in the car.
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Princess Caroline
Grace Kelly and Prince Renier’s eldest daughter Caroline had a short-lived marriage to French banker Philippe Junot, and also lost her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, in a tragic accident. Casiraghi, a professional speedboat racer, died in a powerboat crash off the coast of Monaco in 1990 while he was competing in his last race before retiring from the sport. Only weeks earlier, the racer had survived an incident in which his boat exploded.
Her third marriage to Prince Ernst August V of Hanover has had its ups and downs. The Prince is said to have a terrible temper and has faced assault charges in the past. The couple are now estranged.
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Princess Stephanie
Grace Kelly’s other daughter, Princess Stephanie was long considered the wild child of the family and brought even more scandal when she married her bodyguard, Daniel Ducruet after having children with him. The relationship ended when his affair with Miss Topless Belgium went public. She was also briefly married to a Portuguese acrobat 10 years her junior.
Prince Albert
Grace Kelly’s son Prince Albert II and wife Charlene Wittstock have also reportedly been unlucky in love. The Prince fathered two illegitimate children, one with a flight attendant from Togo and another with a US estate agent before he married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. Reports that he fathered a third love child while he was in a relationship with Wittstock were highly publicised in the lead up to their 2011 wedding.
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Whether it’s the result of a curse or sheer bad luck, one thing is for sure. The House of Grimaldi has been anything but lucky in love.
A bride reportedly demanded a refund from her wedding photographer after they publically supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, but her actions ended up backfiring.
Shakira Rochelle of Shakira Rochelle Photography is just one of many business owners who voiced their support for the movement, which has gained renewed traction in the wake of George Floyd’s death. On June 6, she took to Instagram and posted this image, captioning it “Shakira Rochelle Photography stands in solidarity with the black community. The black lives matter movement has my endless support.”
This image reportedly did not sit well with one of her clients. A bride-to-be messaged Rochelle asking for a refund back and to be relieved of their contract. In her message, the client explained that they cannot support someone who does not support their beliefs.
“We have done a lot of talking and we cannot bring ourselves to support anyone who is so outspoken on matters that simply do not concern them as well as someone that does not believe that ALL lives matter.”
“We would be truly embarrassed to have you at our event and feel that you aren’t stable enough to complete the job we need from you.”
In response, Rochelle said that their contract is non-refundable, and that it would instead be donated to the BLM movement.
“Unfortunately the contract you signed states that your deposit is non-refundable. I will email you a cancellation agreement shortly that will require your signature to forfeit your date. I wish you a lifetime of growth and I would like to thank you for your donation to Black Lives Matter.”
Rochelle’s friend shared screenshots of the exchange to Twitter, where it quickly went viral. To date, the post has over 1-million likes, 192.4k retweets and 3.7k responses.
Rochelle has since been flooded with positive support. However, she recently posted to warn that there is a photoshopped screenshot claiming that this was a business tactic to make a profit on the BLM movement.
“This is the most incredibly absurd thing I have ever heard. The original post started out private until a friend asked if she could share it. I never had the intentions or the desire to go viral for this or anything else,” Rochelle explained on her Facebook post. “Prior to this I am already booked until winter. I am not in need for clients or business as I already don’t have enough availability as it is.”
“I considered deleting the original post but it is viral on multiple platforms from other people and deleting it would go against everything I stand for. I have always stood up for human rights and will continue to do so. I have marched with my loved ones as well as alone. My intentions are pure.”
A little bit of sparkle never hurt anyone. Glamorous brides who aren’t afraid of a little over-the-top design will love a sparkly wedding gown that shines like the star they are.
Sparkly wedding dresses are perfect for winter weddings or glamorous themes. Go opulent with intricate beading, sequins or rhinestones to elevate your look. Depending on the detailing, these shiny additions can give a vintage effect or go full-on modern day princess.
If you love a bit of glitz and glam, try out one of these gowns.
Many may consider pearls to be old-fashioned and matronly, but we disagree. This timeless gem adds a vintage feel but can easily be updated to reflect more a modern design.
Trends come and go, but style is eternal. A pearl engagement ring is the perfect choice for a timeless bride. This classic gemstone is also known as the ‘Queen of the gems’ and can be dated back to 520 B.C. A pearl fragement was discovered in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess, making this stone the oldest known gem to be worn as jewellery.
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all revered this gemstone. In fact, the Greek word for pearl can also translate to ‘unique’, in honour of the fact that no two pearls are the same. Pearls quickly became a symbol of wealth and status, and at one point int time, a law was passed allowing only nobles to wear this gem in public.
Pearls are the only gemstones that grow inside another living organism. They come in various types, which will determine the price. The most rare and expensive is the natural pearl. This type is formed when an irritant like a parasite naturally enters a a bi-valve mollusk like an oyster, mussel or clam. A fluid coats this irritant as a defense mechanism, and continues to deposit multiple layers of this coating until a pearl is formed.
There are an estimated 8000 different species of bi-valve mollusks, of which only 20 can consistently produce pearls. As a result, natural pears are incredibly rare.
Cultured pearls are made in a similar fashion, except the process requires human intervention. An irritant like a bead or piece of shell, known as Mother of Pearl, is surgically inserted into the mollusk. The cultural process takes years to complete. After 3 years, mussels are at a mature stage and are able to receive an irritant either naturally or via implantation. Once there, it take another three years for the pearl to reach its full size. Only 5% of pearls produced are true gem-quality.
Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms under strict conditions, and fall into two categories: saltwater and freshwater.
Imitation pearls are typically made of glass beads coated in a solution made from fish scales. It’s easy to tell whether a pearl is an imitation by rubbing it against you teeth. A fake pearl will glide across, while a real pearl will feel gritty.
While this gemstone is most commonly round, it can also come in alternative shapes like pear or baroque pearls.
Iconic musician Rod Stewart and English model, photographer and TV personality Penny Lancaster have reached a new milestone. The couple recently celebrated their 13-year wedding anniversary, and they seem happier than ever.
Despite lockdown, the pair still honoured their special day. Lancaster shared an image to Instagram, revealing that the pair went to Hyde Park in London and had a take-out lunch to celebrate.
“Celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary with a trip into London for a take out in Hyde park, cheers everyone ? good health!” she captioned the image.
The couple began dating in 1999 and married in 2007. Stewart explains that Lancaster changed him for the better and helped him realise the importance of a long-lasting, healthy marriage.
Stewart still seems to be head-over-heels for his wife. Earlier this year, he told The Mirror that, “They have not invented the words for how I feel about her. She is everything”.
They have two children together: 12-year-old Alastair Wallace Stewart and 9-year-old Aiden Patrick Stewart.
The British Royal family are sticklers for tradition. The many Royal brides who have walked down the aisle over the decades are all connected in a number of ways. From the wedding rings made from the same nugget of welsh gold to brides incorporating orange blossom into their dress design, these royal brides are bonded together forever.
Another thing British Royal brides have in common are their wedding bouquets. While they look different, each royal bride since 1858 has had a spring of myrtle in her bouquet. What’s even more interesting is that the sprigs all come from Queen Victoria‘s 170-year-old garden.
Myrtle is said to represent love, fertility and innocence. The flower has been growing at Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home in the Isle of Wight, for about 170 years and its descendants still bloom today. The plant was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1845 by Prince Albert’s grandmother. Queen Victoria planted the myrtle at her home, and her daughter carried a spring from that myrtle bush when she married in 1858.
Since then, myrtle has appeared in the bouquets of iconic royal brides like Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Megan Markle.
In 1923, Queen Elizabeth built on this tradition when she placed her bouquet in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in a gesture of remembrance for her late brother, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915. She also did this to honour the millions of others killed and injured in World War I. She then continued to walk down the aisle sans bouquet.
Since this day, many other royal brides have followed in her footsteps. The only difference is that they lay their bouquets down after the ceremony, not before. Most recently, Duchess of Sussex Meghan laid her flowers on the tomb as she left the church.
On your wedding day, you’ve got to be dressed to the nines from head to toe. Your bridal hairstyle helps complete your look and adds to the overall vibe you’re going for.
If you’re a lover of the boho aesthetic, extend it to your tresses. Well-placed sprigs of flowers and unique hair accessories, as well as fun braids and twists will take you bridal look from drab to fab.
