The survey revealed that brides are willing to share resources, and of the brides who do share, the top items they share with other brides are:  decorations (63%), clothing and accessories (50%) and coveted planning tools (38%).  I think sharing wedding decorations is a great idea but clothing I’m not so sure about.

It also seems like brides are planning and wearing what they want at their weddings despite disapproval of their moms.  The survey shows that the person most brides would trust in helping plan their weddings is their significant others (56%), followed by their mothers (52%) and more than half of brides (56%) say that if their mother thought their wedding dress was inappropriate, they would not choose another style.  Sorry moms.

I wasn’t so surprised to find that brides are still cutting back on wedding spending in 2011 just as in 2010, but are less likely to cut spending on reception essentials including:  venue (22% in 2011, 57% in 2010), décor (47% in 2011, 59% in 2010) and alcohol (27% in 2011, 44% in 2010).  I think spending on a venue can get very pricey and if you shop around enough, you could possibly find a beautiful venue at a significant savings over a dream location. 

Are you surprised by some of these results?  Let us know.

I love, love, love this idea of using old scrabble letters to spell words of affection and this puzzle key ring that features a puzzle piece with a loving saying. Both make a great gift for the guy who loves games.

Some people say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach so for guys who like a little something sweet, you can’t go wrong with an assortment of Valentine’s Day themed shortbread cookies or a heart themed make your own smores kit.

Those are a few of my favorites. Find any favorites for your fiancé? Let us know which items you like best.

Here’s how to enter:

Capture your blissful moments by providing a photo and an essay of 250-words or less, listing the top five things you’d like to experience together during your marriage. Experiences can range from people you’d like to meet, places you want to visit, skills you want to develop together, etc. Couples have until February 29, 2012 to submit entries to the “Bliss List” contest site.

Maggiano’s will select finalists from the list of submissions and judge the essays based on a number of criteria, including unique experience ideas, as well as creative descriptions and photography. Once confirmed, Maggiano’s will post the finalists’ stories online where everyone is encouraged to solicit votes for their favorite couple.

The couple who receives the most votes at the end of the voting period on March 30, 2012, will win a grand prize 5-day, 4-night stay at a Luxury Included® Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean, with airfare included. Second and third place winners will receive a $3,500 and $1,500 credit toward a banquet event at Maggiano’s, respectively.

For additional information about the “Bliss List” including official contest rules, please visit http://blisslist.maggianos.com. To inquire about hosting a wedding event at Maggiano’s, check out http://weddings.maggianos.com for banquet package details.

The featured couple, Scott Ely and Natalie Gonzalez, was among those left homeless after devastating tornadoes hit Joplin, Mo. last year.  Scott vowed that if they survived the storm, they’d get married.  Thanks to Men’s Warehouse and ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the couple can begin married life looking good and living well. 

Tune in for the final episode to see a seven home build for Joplin tornado victims, the largest build ever completed, and the story of Scott and Natalie.   I’ll have my box of Kleenex.  Don’t forget yours.

Even though hotels and reception halls will already be decked out for the holidays, there are so many ways to liven up a New Year’s Eve wedding even more.  Besides the obvious noisemakers, party hats and champagne toasts, I think it’d be so much fun to have a balloon drop over the dance floor at midnight, serve cookies or cupcakes with a clock face striking midnight on them, decorate with a cluster of vintage clocks or use accents of crystals and metallic elements for some extra sparkle.

New Year’s Eve is a great night for a party and I can’t think of a better party than a New Year’s Eve wedding.

Image Credit

The couple shared similar interests and instantly connected so Ed proposed after a few months. I love that they embraced modern technology for their search for one another and that they are happily married and enjoying their honeymoon.  Congratulations to them!

The vintage-inspired contemporary jewelry collection features pieces that are hand cast and hand assembled from Lane’s original designs, the diamonds are hand set, engraving and scrolling is finished by hand, and then the finished pieces are given a four-step polishing process that makes them sparkle.  I’ve only seen pictures but they look exquisite.  There are many different styles available too, from diamond bands with a solitaire, to larger, more intricate pieces that feature diamonds, surrounded by diamonds, surrounded by even more diamonds.  Now that’s the one I’d want!

Have you seen the new Neil Lane Bridal Collection?  How’d you like it?

Were you planning to attend a “Running of the Brides” sale?  Tell us your story.

The day is particularly special for Waltham couple U.S. Air Force Tech Sergeant Andrew Limes and Lauren Joyce.  The pair competed against other military couples and won an all expenses paid Veterans Day wedding plus honeymoon by the Westin Copley Place valued at $100,000.

The competition will now be an annual event and I think it’s a great way to honor our military. 

Congratulations to them and Happy Veteran’s Day!

Read their entire story at Wicked Local Waltham or watch the wedding video.

Once you download the free app from the iTunes App Store to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad2 and register for a free account, you can start compiling your list.  When the registry is complete, tell your family and friends to join your group account in order to see your list.  Items get organized into categories like cookware, tabletop, etc. and include pictures, comments and personalization by you.  When they select a gift, the registry gets updated immediately.  It’s that simple.

Another reason I like the new Wedding Registry App is that it allows your family and friends to make purchases at stores where they have a credit card, rewards points or where a registry item might be on sale. 

If you’re using the app, let us know how you like it.