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    Wedding dresses are very rarely short. However, a handful of celebrities opted for a modern twist for their big day by sporting short gowns to say “I do” in. From Cindy Crawford to Kiera Knightley, take a look at five celebs who kicked traditionalism to the curb.

    Cindy Crawford

    Cindy Crawford married Rande Gerber in an off-the-rack Galliano slip. Their wedding was a secret and so Crawford lied to her stylist, saying she was attending a black tie event and needed a dress that was either black or white.

    Kiera Knightley

    Kiera Knightley stunned in a classic pale pink tulle Chanel dress when she married James Righton in 2014. She re-wore the dress on a number of occasions afterwards – the controversy!

    Sharon Tate

    Actress Sharon Tate married director Roman Polanski in a short silk wedding gown. She sported puffy shoulders and the dress was a yellowy-orange colour. In 2018, the dress sold for $56 250 in Julien’s Auctions in LA.

    Mia Farrow

    Mia Farrow married Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas in 1966 and wore a gorgeous short dress for the occasion.

    Nancy Shevell

    Nancy Shevell sported an above-the-knee white dress for her wedding to Paul McCartney.

    Feature image: Unsplash

    Wedding favours are the perfect way for newlyweds to thank their guests for attending their special day. They’re often tailored to the couple, and range from edible treats to easily DIY-ed wonders.

    Hangover kits are cute and tongue-in-cheek, but not so appropriate for little ones. If you plan on inviting chidren to your wedding, make sure they feel special with a wedding favour designed specifically for them.

    Here are some adorable ideas:

    Sweet as candy
    Source: Pinterest
    Colour me impressed
    Source: Pinterest
    Roast ’em up
    Source: Pinterest
    Story time
    Source: Pinterest
    A dough-lightful day
    Source: Pinterest
    Tic-tac-toe, away we go
    Source: Pinterest
    Fishing for compliments
    Source: Pinterest
    Hot chocolate thunder
    Source: Pinterest

    Also read: How to entertain kids at your wedding

    Feature image: Pexels

    Essential workers, including nurses, across the world have been separated from their loved ones for months, on account of COVID-19. Many are living away from their partners and children as they reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to the ones they care for the most.

    Alyssa Kayhill and Linh Trinh are one such couple. Kayhill was a nurse in the cardiology unit of a New York hospital, Brooklyn Hospital Centre. When the pandemic hit, Kayhill was was transferred to care for COVID-19 patients, and Trinh moved out of the apartment that the couple shared.

    As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. During the time they were apart, Kayhill decided it was time to make it official.

    She immediately started planning an epic proposal, which fell in Pride Month and on Kayhill’s birthday. Kayhill’s sister, Kristie Loscalzo,  suggested that she get on one knee during the nightly applause for essential workers.

    “The 7 p.m. cheer has always been very uplifting to me, so it was wonderful to combine that with the proposal,” said Kayhill to the New York Post.

    On June 8, Loscalzo helped Trinh move back into her apartment with Kayhill, as it was deemed safe to do so. She staged it as a surprise for Kayhill. Little did Trinh know, she was the one who would receive the surprise of a lifetime.

    As she walked up to Kayhill to gift her with some flowers, people applauded and Kayhill got down on one knee.

    “I had zero idea this was going to happen,” Trinh said. “And even though I am a shy person who hates being the center of attention, it was really beautiful.”

    Of course, she said yes! The couple are now back in the same apartment and planning to start wedding preparations as soon as it’s safe to have big celebrations again.

    Congrats to the happy couple!

    Watch the proposal here:

    Image: Screenshot from video

    Jordanian royals Queen Rania and King Abdullah II celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, June 10. The Queen paid tribute to her husband in a touching post on Instagram.

    A candid photo of the couple holding hands and walking side-by-side showed the comfort and love between the two.  The image was accompanied by a sweet caption declaring her love and appreciation for the King.

    “How could you not fall in love with the smile over and over again for 27 years! So lucky and grateful to have you by my side, happy anniversary,” said the Queen.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBPzxXQhkfF/

    Queen Rania and Kind Abdullah II (or Prince of Jordon, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein as he was then known) met in  August 1992, at a dinner party.

    In his book, Our Last Chance, Kind Abdullah II detailed the night they met. “When my eyes fell on her, I said to myself: What a beautiful lady!”

    At first the Queen was weary of the man pursuing her. However, she finally accepted his invite to have dinner in November, 1992, after he tirelessly made an effort to woe her by finding out her interests and her indulgences. He found out from a friend that she loves chocolate, and sent her a box of Belgian chocolate, which was the move that lead her to accept his first date request.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ittLVBqRU/

    “Things evolved and we began to talk more and go out together. On January 30, I invited Rania to dinner for my birthday, where my father sat next to her, and was amazed by her beauty and intelligence,” said Kind Abdullah in his book.

    “I took Rania to one of the best places; a mountain at the outskirts of Amman: Tal Al-Rumman, When we got off the car, I told her ‘I see our relationship taking a serious turn, and our marriage is a good idea.’ I smiled, and she stayed silent. I took this silence as a yes. We visited her parents after two weeks.”

    After his family met hers, their marriage was approved and they tied the knot on June 10, 1993.

    They now share 4 children together, and 27 years later are still as happy as ever!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6De_LSBa6A/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B776SAOhPXo/

    Source: Special Madame

    Image: Instagram / Queen Rania

    The Art Deco design aesthetic exudes glamour, exuberance and luxury. It first rose in popularity in France before World War I, and quickly came to influence the design of buildings, furniture and fashion.

    Art Deco is reminiscent of the roaring 20s, making it the perfect style to incorporate into your big day now that we’re in the new decade. Take inspiration from the style’s bold geometric shapes and rich colours when designing your sweet treat.

    Here are some stunning designs:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8WmOCLApOn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pAkYOgf4E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BkIF0nuH9-m/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CALhauOh1Kh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6df9QFB_Yg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0A7g5pl29S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5LQ9q-lZ24/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ-C1i3ANLj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XUQK5g7Rr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BZbQah5gaQX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Also read: Art-deco inspired wedding decor

    Feature image: Pexels

    The first time your loved ones see you in a wedding dress is always something special. One passionate kindergarten teacher, Kelsey Moeller, wanted to share the moment with her class at school.

    “The kids got to see me in my dress before anyone else, including John or my dad. I have a very strong bond with my class and I absolutely love going to school,” she said to The Metro.

    “When the kids saw me some of them didn’t know where to look and were all embarrassed, it was real cute.”

    The children even painted Moeller a ‘wedding dress’ as a gift with all their names on.

    “I’ve photographed first looks more times than I can count…….but this one! This one is special!” the photographer of Flying Pig Photography said on Instagram.

    Take a look at how it all went down, and the adorable look on the kids’ faces when they see their teacher in her dress:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    I’ve photographed first looks more times than I can count…….but this one! This one is special! Kelsey teaches kindergarten at Hugh Goodwin Elementary. And what a lucky class they are! They were the very first to see her in her dress….before dad, before her groom. And let me tell you, these sweet kiddos came to school dressed for the part, with a special surprise of their own. You see, Kelsey’s mom, Jerri Beth Smith, was also a teacher in the El Dorado School District. She substitutes for her daughter when she’s out of the classroom. During a couple of those days, the children hand-painted a beautiful dress for their teacher. And they topped it off by throwing her a bridal shower after the reveal. Miss Smith insists none of the children gave away her surprise, and I believe it. These children were the most well-behaved and sweet children – even in an exciting time for them. These photos are even more special now. Less than two weeks after I photographed this sweet kindergarten class, school was suspended due to Covid-19. I know it was meant to be for all of these kiddos to share in the wedding of their teacher, even if it wasn’t possible for everyone to come to the ceremony! Kelsey and her mom created a special table at the wedding to honor her class – a banner of one of these special images, a display of the dress and coloring sheets made from a group photo of them all. I know she loves them as much as they love her <3 As of yesterday evening, it’s……… Goodbye, Miss Smith and Hello, Mrs. Moeller! But changing her name will never dull the memory created on this day. Memories with Miss Smith/Mrs. Moeller will always have a special place in their heart, because she shared hers with them <3 Wedding Dress | She Said Yes in the Heights Engagement Ring | Taylor Made Design & Jewelry Hair & Makeup | Karen Millican Surprise Crew | Mom, Friends and Staff of Hugh Goodwin Elementary School

    A post shared by Flying Pig Photography ? (@flyingpigphotography) on

    The wedding took place on May 30 at a cattle ranch in Arkansas. Even though social distancing measures had to be kept in place, it was a spectacular day.

    Featured image: Unsplash

    The coronavirus outbreak has caused many industries to come to a standstill. In the wedding industry, vendors like photographers, musicians and caterers rely on some form of face-to-face contact to carry out their jobs.

    As many put their lives on hold, others are getting creative to maintain a sense of normalcy, like photographer Lex Alinsod from the Phillipines.

    Although this wedding photographer couldn’t perform his job as normal, he found an inventive loophole to still do what she loves.

    Alinsod shot an engagement photoshoot over FaceTime for couple Poy and Jeryl from the Philippines. The pair have postponed their November wedding due to COVID-19, but still wanted to have beautiful images to remember their engagement.

    “What inspired me is the drive to still create art and to express myself despite the pandemic. I was inspired by one of the photographers I look up to- Alessio Albi who shoots models virtually using facetime. I want to incorporate it to my field which is wedding photography,” Alinsod told Wedding ETC.

    Alinsod used his Photoshop skills to add graphics to the photos. He also asked the bride-to-be to write letters to her partner that he then superimposed onto the photos.

    Alinsod says that a Facetime photoshoot brings its own unique challenges.

    “The process of shooting on FaceTime is very much different from shooting with an actual camera. There’s an extra challenge to it. Other than directing the poses of the couple, you’ll need to also direct the placing of the camera. Prior to shooting, I asked the couple to give me a “virtual tour” of their place so I would know where is the good light and to also determine where will I let them position.”

    The only difficulty he faced was in the quality of the photos because comparing the quality of screenshots to an actual shot from a camera is way different. 

    This unique photoshoot goes beyond the pandemic, proving that creativity and love cannot be stopped. Despite the tough current climate, this couple will always have these stunning shots to remember that their love is real and survived the unexpected.

    For more, visit Lex Alinsod’s Facebook page and Instagram.

    Image/s: Lex Alinsod

    Albert Einstein may have been known for his theory of relativity but his personal life was far from perfect.

    Einstien was married twice, first to Mileva Marić a fellow scientist in 1904 and then after their divorce he married his cousin Elsa Löwenthal in 1919.

    While there are many details to these marriages, which were discovered in letters Einstein wrote to his partners and others throughout his life, one of the most shocking are the demands Einstein gave his first wife as their marriage fell apart.

    In the book Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson revealed a list that Einstein had written up for Marić around 1914. It was at this point that she had realised he was in love with his cousin and their relationship had deteriorated. 

    To come up with a way to stay together for their children, Einstein wrote out a list of rules for his wife which placed her in the role of his servant more than his partner.

    Under the title “Conditions” they were written out as follows:

    A. You will make sure:

    1. that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order;
    2. that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room;
    3. that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.

    B. You will renounce all personal relationships with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically you will forego:

    1. my sitting at home with you
    2. my going out or travelling with you

    C. You will obey the following points in your relations with me:

    1. you will not expect any intimacy from me nor reproach me in any way;
    2. you will stop talking to me if I request it;
    3. you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.

    D. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behaviour.

    Most can agree that even for the early 1900s this is a pretty harsh list so it was no wonder the two got divorced only a few years later.

    Image:Rainmaker1973/ Twitter

    To some, wedding colours may seem like a trivial topic. However, it is actually a tremendously important part of the planning process and in fact not much can be decided on, in terms of decor, if you don’t know what your colour scheme is.

    It’s not as easy as it sounds, though. While it should be based on your general preferred style and personal taste as a couple, you can’t simply throw together your favourite colour and your partners favourite colour and be done with it. That might lead you to a rather odd looking wedding! Don’t risk it.

    Your bridal party’s attire, table settings, flowers, and other decorative details all have to be synced to the same colour scheme. It’s likely it’ll be tough to get this sorted out if you’ve chosen colours that don’t match or even worse, if you haven’t decided on wedding colours at all.

    Despite all of this, you shouldn’t let it stress you out! Follow these simple steps and you’ll decide on your wedding colours in no time:

    – Start simple

    If there is one colour you’ve always wanted to feature in your wedding, start with that. By beginning with a base colour, the rest of your decisions will come much more easily. If you don’t have a base colour in mind just yet, that should be your first task. Look for inspiration where ever you can find it.

    – Think theme 

    A dramatic theme calls for dramatic colours, while a more low-key theme, like a bohemian style for example, calls for toned-down colours. Consider what you’d like your wedding to look like in terms of theme, and base your colours on that.

    – Season and style 

    We all know as seasons change, so do styles and colours. Some colours are best used in specific seasons. For example, coral works great in summer while silver stuns during the winter time. Thinking seasonally can easily lead you to your perfect wedding colours.

    Additionally, you’ll want your colour scheme to work across all parts of your wedding. So you’ll have to think about whether your colours are seasonally appropriate for your bridal party’s outfits too!

    – Venue 

    If you’ve already booked your venue, or have one in mind, consider what it looks like. Is it an outdoor venue with lots of greenery, or is it a warehouse with empty walls? These factors can inform your decisions on colour choices too. In fact, they can make or break your colour choices! For example, if your venue has walls decked out with wallpaper in intricate patters, it already gives a busy feel to the room. If you go with colours which are too bright, or decide to have too many different colours, it could start to look a bit messy.

    – The colour wheel 

    Don’t forget about this useful tool for colour co-ordination. The basics of the colour wheel are that colours which are opposite to each other on the wheel go well together. If you’re having trouble deciding on a second colour, consult this trusted resource.

    Image: Pixabay

    Even the best of us experience a bout of forgetfulness every now and then. However, when we forget an anniversary it may land us in the dog box. The day is, for obvious reasons, special to both partners and it stings just a bit when your significant others forget.

    If you’re the one who’s forgotten, not to worry. While your partner may be a bit upset, you definitely can fix it with a few simple but thoughtful gestures.

    Here’s what you have to do:

    – A simple apology goes a long way 

    Saying sorry genuinely makes the world of difference. A simple apology, taking the time to acknowledge that your partner’s feelings are hurt, is always appreciated. Make sure you note how this may have hurt them, and ask what you can do to make it up to them.

    – Explain, but don’t hide behind excuses 

    Explain to you partner what it is that led to your forgetting your anniversary. When you’re explaining, ensure that you note that you are not using these occurrances as an excuse. You shouldn’t try to play the victim or downplay its importance.

    – Plan an intimate celebration

    Once all is forgiven, you should make an effort to celebrate, whether its a belated celebration or not. Cook dinner and lay the table out with candles and flowers. Make it intimate and personal.

    Others may want to make a day of it. Celebrate by spending quality time doing different things throughout the day. Perhaps you could recreate a few of your early dates in your relationship, or take a day trip to somewhere pretty. The world is your oyster.

    – Do something sweet and unique 

    Do something quirky and cute, to make your partner laugh. Maybe you decide to make matching anniversary t-shirts, maybe you’ll decide to go big and get a tattoo of your anniversary date (although admittedly this has not turned out well for many people), or maybe you’ll make a funny anniversary video. Whatever you do, try to make it personal, adding details only you and your partner would understand.

    – Remember it next time! 

    Do not forget it ever again! Set a calendar reminder, write it down, memorise it, do what needs to be done. When you remember it next year, all the effort will be worth it when you see the joy and love on your partners face.

    Image: Unsplash