• Music can make or break an event and with a party as important as your wedding, you better make sure you play the right beats.

    Some songs reign supreme in the wedding world, and have done so for decades. According to data from Spotify, these songs are still on the top of the list for couples tying the knot.

    Spotify recently exclusively shared with Brides their most streamed songs of 2020 at weddings and wedding-related events.

    Of course, classics like “At Last” by Etta James, “Your Song” by Elton John and “Thinking out Loud” by Ed Sheeran made the playlists.

    Ed Sheeran topped the list as the most globally streamed artist for weddings and related events in 2020, followed by Bruno Mars and Dan + Shay.

    Here are the top songs for Bachelorettes, Bachelor parties, Father-Daughter Dances and First Dance playlists, according to Spotify.

    Top 20 Songs From Bachelorette Party-Themed Playlists:

    • “Wannabe” – Spice Girls
    • “Jumpin’, Jumpin”– Destiny’s Child
    • “Truth Hurts”– Lizzo
    • “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
    • “WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” – Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion
    • “Crazy In Love (feat. Jay Z)” – Beyoncé, Jay-Z
    • “We Can’t Stop” – Miley Cyrus 
    • “Glamorous” – Fergie, Ludacris
    • “Run the World (Girls)” – Beyoncé
    • “Any Man of Mine” – Shania Twain
    • “SexyBack (feat. Timbaland)” – Justin Timberlake, Timbaland
    • “Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris)” – Lil Jon, Ludacris, Usher
    • “No Scrubs” – TLC
    • “Bootylicious” – Destiny’s Child
    • “Buttons” – The Pussycat Dolls
    • “Get Low” – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Ying Yang Twins
    • “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston
    • “Fancy” – Charli XCX, Iggy Azalea
    • “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj
    • “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” – Beyoncé

    Top Songs From Bachelor Party-Themed Playlists:

    • “Post Malone (feat. RANI)” – RANI, Sam Feldt
    • “Shotgun (The Wild Remix)” – George Ezra, The Wild
    • “Higher Love” – Kygo, Whitney Houston
    • “Body” – Brando, Loud Luxury
    • “Wow.” – Post Malone
    • “South of the Border (feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B) – Cheat Codes Remix” – Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Cheat Codes, Ed Sheeran
    • “Ride It – Jonas Blue Remix” – Jonas Blue, Regard
    • “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
    • “SICKO MODE – Skrillex Remix” – Skrillex, Travis Scott
    • “I Don’t Care (with Justin Bieber) – Loud Luxury Remix” – Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Loud Luxury
    • “Insomnia – King Arthur Remix” – Daya, King Arthur
    • “High Hopes – Don Diablo Remix” – Don Diablo, Panic! At The Disco
    • “SOS (feat. Aloe Blacc)” – Aloe Blacc, Avicii
    • “The Rhythm of the Night” – Corona, Sean Finn
    • “Better Now” – Post Malone
    • “Ni**as In Paris” – JAY-Z, Kanye West
    • “Low (feat. T-Pain)” – Low (feat. T-Pain)
    • “Old Town Road – Diplo Remix” – Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Lil Nas X
    • “Sweet but Psycho – Morgan Page Dance Remix” – Ava Max, Morgan Page
    • “Everytime We Touch – Radio Edit” – Cascada

    Top 20 Most Streamed Songs in Father & Daughter-Themed Playlists:

    • “Father and Daughter” – Paul Simon
    • “I Loved Her First” – Heartland
    • “You Are My Sunshine” – Johnny Cash
    • “Wildflowers” – Tom Petty
    • “My Little Girl” – Tim McGraw
    • “Sweet Pea” – Amos Lee
    • “Daughters” – John Mayer
    • “First Man” – Camila Cabello
    • “My Wish” – Rascal Flatts
    • “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
    • “Butterfly Kisses” – Bob Carlisle
    • “Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
    • “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” – Darius Rucker
    • “Fathers and Daughters” – Kristin Chenoweth
    • “You’ll Be In My Heart” – Phil Collins
    • “Daddy’s Little Girl” – Michael Bolton
    • “The Way You Look Tonight” – Frank Sinatra
    • “Daddy Dance with Me” – Krystal Keith
    • “Lights” – Journey
    • “God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton

    Top 20 Most Streamed Songs in First Dance-Themed Playlists: 

    • “Conversations in the Dark” – John Legend
    • “You Are the Best Thing” – Ray LaMontagne
    • “Yours – Wedding Edition” – Russell Dickerson
    • “Beyond” – Leon Bridges
    • “At Last” – Etta James
    • “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Haley Reinhart
    • “Marry Me” – Train
    • “How Would You Feel (Paean)” – Ed Sheeran
    • “Thinking out Loud” – Ed Sheeran
    • “Greatest Love Story” – LANCO
    • “How Long Will I Love You – Bonus Track” –Ellie Goulding
    • “From the Ground Up” –Dan + Shay
    • “Speechless” –Dan + Shay
    • “Perfect” –Ed Sheeran
    • “I Won’t Give Up” –Jason Mraz
    • “Everything” –Michael Bublé
    • “Say You Won’t Let Go” –James Arthur
    • “Then” –Brad Paisley
    • “I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice
    • “Your Song” – Elton John

    Picture: Unsplash

    Weddings are exciting, but they can also be super stressful. Brides are often so wrapped in the planning and details of their big day that they forget to take care of the most important detail, their health – and more specifically, their sleep.

    Sleep deprivation can trigger anxiety and stress, making it difficult for you to feel your best on your wedding day, as well as the weeks and months leading up to it. Preparing for your wedding is a joyous time, and you should enjoy it well-rested.

    Of course, stress itself also contributes to difficulties with sleep. You may find yourself lying in bed, thinking about what you need to do next, worrying about vendors and so much more. It’s important to let these anxieties go so that you can get the rest you need to function at your best.

    Try these tips and tricks to reduce stress and get a better night’s sleep, especially on the eve of your big day.

    Ask for help

    Staying up late working on decorations can seriously cut into sleep time. Instead of trying to take it all on by yourself, get help. Ask your bridesmaids, family and friends to come over and work on wedding craft projects to take some of the load off.

    Pass off duties that other people can handle. Ask your fiance to arrange the tuxes and take on some of the planning. Letting go of some duties may be difficult (we know you want to be in control), but it will also reduce your own workload.

    Keep a journal for your thoughts

    If you’re plagued by stressful thoughts and lots of what-ifs when you’re trying to get to sleep at night, consider keeping a journal by your bed. You can write down any thoughts that pop into your head. This process allows you to let them go so you can go to sleep knowing you’ll have that reference to take care of it in the morning, without having to remember it yourself.

    Practice meditation and mindfulness

    Relaxation techniques are one of the best ways to help you calm down and drift off to sleep at night. Consider mindful deep breathing and meditation. Take a warm bath, practice yoga, or try any other relaxation technique you know works for you.

    Talk it out

    If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about your wedding, or anything else, reach out. Therapy can be helpful, but even just calling up a friend to chat and vent will make a huge difference. Lean on your fiance and talk through what’s stressing you out. You will feel better just having laid out any issues that are causing you stress.

    Try aromatherapy

    Aromatherapy can make your sleep environment more relaxing and healthy. Consider using essential oils aimed at relaxation, like lavender.

    Maintain healthy sleep hygiene

    Create a comfortable, healthy sleep environment. If you need to buy a new mattress or blackout curtains to help, both are great investments in your health. Also avoid caffeine, heavy exercise and large meals right before bed. Maintain a regular sleep schedule and keep a consistent bed time to encourage you to sleep more easily.

    Picture: Pexels

    Waiting a long time to get married can feel almost criminal. Clearly, one woman took this quite seriously and allegedly decided to take her man to court for failing to take the next step and get married after eight years together.

    According to Kenyan news site Tuko, a Zambian woman named Gertrude Ngoma (26) grew tired of waiting for her longterm boyfriend and father of her child, Herbert Salaliki (28), to say ‘I do’. Despite a dowry being paid, the pair have never lived together and no wedding is on the horizon.

    She took matters into her own hands and took him to court for wasting her time. During the court case, Ngoma alleged that Salalili had promised to marry her but never followed up. In fact, she had caught him texting another woman.

    “He has never been serious, that is why I [brought] him to court, because I deserve to know the way forward and our future,” Ngoma told a Zambian court.

    According to Salaliki, he cannot financially afford a wedding and that is why he has not proposed. He also added that Ngoma does not give him sufficient attention in their relationship.

    Zambian news site Mwebantu reports that the judge, Evelyn Nalwize, said she cannot do anything as there is no formal marriage. However, she advised Ngoma to sue for breach of marriage contract.

    Picture: Pexels

    An unidentified woman in the US is working hard to sell a vintage wedding dress she found in an abandoned old gold rush town while hiking.

    Since returning home with the dress, she claims strange things have been happening to her. The bride is now trying to sell her dress on Facebook Market place for $600 (about R8 900).

    In the Facebook advert for her dress, the bride explains that the minute she returned home with the dress, everything changed.

    “While my fiancé and I were hiking through a small town between Fairfax and Carbanado, Washington, we came across an old gold rush town that was completely abandoned,” she wrote. “Needless to say our curiosity got the best of us and we started to explore the ruins of this ghost town. In one of the rundown remnants of a small cottage we shimmied up into, I came across this dress.

    “It was so gorgeous, I froze at the sight of it. And if I’m being completely honest, it scared the crap out of me all at the same time, but something about its ethereal beauty just begged me to bring it home with me.”

    “First small things like a sock, and my closet door being open in the morning when I specifically remember closing it before bed. Then my cat’s food tray would get thrown at such velocity it would knock things off of the shelf hung on the wall it strikes. This happened relentlessly.”

    Doors would slam, lights would turn on and off, and the couple heard footsteps all over their apartment. If that wasn’t bad enough, their home also began to smell.

    “And then came the smell of rotten eggs and fire that would fill our bedroom. Night after night. Then flies started to pile up against my back windows and swarm around my front door.”

    Life began to calm down after the woman gave the dress to her future mother-in-law for cleaning and tailoring.

    “During the two months that she had the dress it was complete peace, no more tension in the room, no more arguing between me and my partner, no more objects moving or footsteps and my cat was back to her affectionate playful self,” she said.

    “She never got it dry-cleaned and begged me not to get married in this dress because of the energy surrounding it and I hadn’t even told her about what was going on at home because up until that point, I hadn’t even connected the two.”

    The bride is now keen to find a new owner for the cursed dress. However, her Facebook post did not get the reaction she was expecting. Many accused her of stealing the dress, and said she deserved to be haunted for taking something that did not belong to her.

    Others said instead of selling and making a profit off of it, she should return the dress wear she found it to hopefully break the curse.

    Picture: Unsplash