Lauren Williams
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Do you know what a ranunculus is? A few weeks ago, I didn't either. Now, I spend my free time obsessively searching the Internet for images of ranunculus, lisanthius and a number of other tongue-twister plants in an effort to make some decisions about my wedding flowers.

How did I get here? Floral decor was the last of my wedding concerns. The dress, the venue, the food and the photographer were far higher on the totem pole. But after meeting with some florists this week, I became a flower convert. I realized that if used in the right way, flowers can be a gorgeous addition to your ceremony and reception. I also learned that they can be a total pain.

Continue reading The Blogging Bride: Love is in Bloom

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My bachelorette party is months away, but my girls and I can't stop brainstorming possible locations for my "last hurrah" bash. There's Las Vegas, of course. Miami has been thrown into the mix. And in a moment of extreme financial optimism (or delusion), we have even considered Rio de Janeiro. But let's be serious. The economy is wack, no one is trying to spend money on a lavish vacation and chances are my maids and I will be celebrating my last days as an unmarried woman in New York, where I live. That's no reason to despair, though. There are plenty of options in New York, just like there are plenty of options for a fun and unique bachelorette party in your hometown. I've done some research, and here are a few ideas if you're planning on staying close to home for your bachelorette bash.

Continue reading The Blogging Bride: Bachelorette Party Alternatives

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There are a number of pressing items that should fall before bridal fashion on your wedding planning to-do list. Booking the venue is one. Finding a photographer, another. But just try telling that to a bride-to-be. It's hard to figure out a vision for your wedding if you don't actually see yourself as a bride. For me, that didn't happen until I was in a bridal shop, standing in front of a wall of mirrors in a bridal gown and veil. It feels really good. I mean, I almost (almost) understand why Beyoncé felt the need to incorporate a crazy bridal outfit into her tour wardrobe.

My mother initially convinced me to go to a few nearby bridal shops just to try on a few things and figure out which styles I like. Of course, I ended up not only finding the perfect dress -- one of the consultant's picks that I didn't even want to try on -- but I buying it two days later. As luck would have it, the store was having a trunk show for the designer of my dress, and it was 15 percent off. Who can argue with a sale? I had the best case scenario -- my dress shopping experience was short, sweet and relatively pain free. The second wedding gown I tried on turned out to be "the one," and, thanks to a trunk show, the dress ended up being close enough to my original budget that I didn't feel guilty about splurging a little. For those of you who are beginning the dress finding process, here are some tips and tricks I picked up along the way.

Continue reading The Blogging Bride: Finding the Perfect Wedding Dress

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When my boyfriend of eight years proposed to me in April, my emotions were across the map -- from pure happiness ("I'm marrying the love of my life!) to relief ("Finally! It's only been eight years...). Shortly after the excitement over the impending marriage hit me, a more immediate concern enters the mix. Before my dear fiance becomes my dear husband, there will have to be a wedding.

Continue reading BV on Weddings: Bridal Blogging

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Most people don't have the resources to pull off the kinds of grand weddings celebrities do (some of them more than once), but that doesn't mean we can't admire their lavish affairs and translate some of their high-priced ideas for low-key budget nuptials.

Check out 10 of some of the most lavish, creative and beautiful celebrity weddings in recent years.


Continue reading BV's Top 10 Celebrity Weddings

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When Mildred and Richard Loving married in 1958, their union was illegal in their home state of Virginia. Mildred, a black woman, and Richard, a white man, were arrested for daring to marry and both pleaded guilty. The couple left Virginia to avoid jail time. They wrote then-attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, and their case was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. On June 12, 1967, the court ruled that anti-miscegenation laws (which still existed in 16 states) were unconstitutional.

Loving Day was created to honor the anniversary of the ruling, and every year on June 12, events are held across the country to celebrate the occasion.

Check out some of celebrity couples the Lovings paved the way for!

Famous Interracial Couples

    Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett
    The Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver kicked enough game to get 'Girls Next Door' star Kendra out of the Playboy Mansion and into his arms. Now they're expecting!

    Denise Truscello, WireImage

    Tara Wilson and Chris Noth
    The two are the proud parents of a baby boy, Orion Christopher Noth, born in January 2008. They met in 2004 when she worked as a bartender at his now defunct music venue in NYC The Cutting Room.

    Monica Morgan, WireImage

    Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush
    Stars in their own right, these two have risen to tabloid stardom with their very public relationship. While he is a football phenom, she is a gorgeous socialite made famous by a reality show and a racy sex tape.

    Johnny Nunez, Getty Images

    Seal and Heidi Klum
    One of today's most striking 'it' couples, these two first met when Heidi was pregnant with ex-husband Flavio Briatore's child. They were married a year later and now have two gorgeous sons together.

    FilmMagic.com

    Ice T and Coco
    Rapper turned actor Ice T married voluptuous swimsuit model Nicole Austin, known professionally as Coco. The 'Law & Order: SVU' regular and his wife speak often of the secret of their seven year marriage -- great sex!

    Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

    DJ Ironik and Danielle Lloyd
    Former Miss Great Britain and reality TV star is the on-again-off fiance of MOBO nominated rapper. In October, they were off again -- or it could be a publicity stunt?

    Chris Jackson, Getty Images

    Cuba Gooding and Sara Gooding
    Cuba Gooding has been married to Sara Kapfer since 1994, but the two were high school sweethearts since 1986. The Goodings have three children: Spencer, Mason and Piper.

    Giulio Marcocchi, Getty Images

    Thandie Newton and Ol Parker
    Bi-racial British actress Thandie Newton married her writer/director/producer husband in 1998. The pair have two daughters, Ripley and Nico.

    Jon Furniss, WireImage

    Iman and David Bowie
    Somalian supermodel Iman and rock luminary David Bowie have been married 19 years and have one daughter, Alexandria Zahra -- they make an amazing power couple.

    WireImage

    Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
    These two were introduced in 2001 and by 2004 were getting married at an exclusive golf resort in Barbados. The two have two children, Sam Alexis and Charlie Axel.

    WireImage

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It's naive to think any famous couple will be together forever (the celebrity divorce rate is no joke) but many hip hop and R&B fans surely thought that Nas and Kelis, who are expecting a baby in a couple of months, were in it for the long haul. Not so... And now the demise of their relationship is getting broken down in the debut issue of Vibe's gossip rag, The Most!

"One minute [Nas] is very warm, loving, and endearing;" a source told The Most, "the next minute he says horrible things for absolutely no reason."

In a nod to couples who haven't suffered the Hollywood curse, The Most also put together a list of the 12 hottest hip hop couples, with 3 couples on the come up thrown in.

Continue reading Inside Info on the Kelis and Nas Divorce, Plus 12 Hot Hip-Hop Couples

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As wedding season rears it's lovely head once again, brides and grooms everywhere are struggling to fit the wedding of their dreams into their recession budgets. Wedding and event planner Khadijia Mayo Morrow, owner of the Washington, D.C.-based Avant Garde Event Boutique, has all the answers.

Check out her responses to 10 questions everyone should ask before planning a wedding.

BHM MEDIA NEW

    While on a family vacation with Tom and Suri, Katie Holmes hit the beach near Rio de Janeiro in this blue one piece.

    bauergriffinonline.com

    Rihanna hits the stage at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert in a pair of knee-high black boots. What do you think about the pop singer's look?

    Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images for NFL

    Mischa Barton wore this Elie Saab couture mint green gown to the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is Mischa's look a hit or miss?

    Eric Ryan, Getty Images

    Heroes star Hayden Panettiere arrives at the NBC Universal Pre-Super Bowl event at Portofino in a black tuxedo jacket and dress with a plunging neckline. Is the Hollywood starlet hot or not?

    Gerardo Mora, Getty Images

    Diane Kruger wore Nina Ricci for the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville. Is her dress a mess or amazing?

    Eric Ryan, Getty Images

    Kim Kardashian opted for this floral strapless Tracey Reese dress for the 2009 Moves Magazine Super Bowl Party at The Venue Club. Let us know what you think about Kim's look.

    Tim Boyles, Getty Images

    Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese wore an ice blue Elie Saab (left) satin dress at the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d'Armenonville.

    Dominique Charriau, WireImage

    Spanish actress Penelope Cruz appeared at the the 2009 Goya Cinema Awards in Madrid in this black lace Chanel gown. Is it a win or a loss?

    Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images

    Amy Adams wore a Jasmine di Milo gold and silver sequin backless dress and Christian Louboutin heels to the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.

    Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

    Being thousands of miles away didn't stop Meryl Streep from celebrating the inauguration. The actress wore this Catherine Malandrino flag dress to the Paris premiere of Doubt.

    Julien Hekimian, WireImage

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The domestic violence saga between young pop stars Chris Brown and Rihanna has not only caused an uproar among fans and gossip junkies -- many celebrities are weighing in as well. The sordid story inspired Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks to dedicate entire episodes of their talk shows to domestic violence.

Actress Robin Givens, who went through a very public struggle with spousal abuse during her marriage to former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson and is now a spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, went on 'Larry King Live' to talk about the often-deadly cycle of abuse that plagues so many women.

"I've spoken to women every[where]," she told guest host Joy Behar. "Peoria, El Paso. ... And what's amazing is that I find that my story is their story; their story is my story -- down to the details. He dragged me down the hall by my hair. He pulled me out of bed by my panties. He would like to choke me. He would kick."

Domestic Violence Myths Exposed

    Myth: Women are the only victims of domestic violence.

    jupiterimages

    Fact: Although women make up the majority of victims of domestic violence, men are not to be excluded. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, men account for approximately 15% of the victims of reported abuse by an intimate partner. Men often fail to report the abuse because they fear no one will believe them or take them seriously. Children are also victims. In a national survey, 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.

    jupiterimages

    Myth: Domestic violence happens only in poor, uneducated, minority households.

    jupiterimages

    Fact: There is no "typical victim" of domestic violence. It happens in ALL families and relationships. Regardless of age, class, religion, marital status or gender, anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. However, some statistics show that "minority" communities have higher rates of domestic violence. Approximately one in four women are victims of abuse.

    jupiterimages

    Myth: Domestic violence is only physical abuse.

    Corbis

    Fact: Domestic violence can come in the form of physical, emotional, psychological, and/or sexual abuse. According to Verbalabuse.com, name-calling is abusive because it says that you are BLANK, instead of a person. Batterers define their mates as objects. It isn't healthy to be in the same room with a person who defines you, and it is harmful to children who witness it. Physical abuse often begins with and is accompanied by verbal battering.

    Jupiterimages

    Myth: If a woman doesn't leave, it must not be so bad.

    Corbis

    Fact: Leaving an abusive relationship is easier said than done. Women stay in abusive relationships for many reasons. The victim may:
    -Be afraid of what the abuser may do if he finds out
    -Have financial dependency on the abuser
    -Be in love with the abuser
    -Believe the abuse is her fault
    -Have no other place to live
    -Stay for the 'sake of the children'; the idea being that two parents are better than one.

    Alex Mares-Manton, jupiterimages

    Myth: Women who are abused often provoke it.

    Fact: Abuse is often learned -- more than half of children who witness abuse will go on to be abusers -- and an abuser chooses to abuse. No one deserves to be abused and the abuser is the only one to blame.

Continue reading Robin Givens Weighs in on Rihanna and Chris Brown

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Chris Brown and Rihanna might get the prize for the highest profile stormy relationship in years. The gossip biz has been buzzing over Brown's recent arrest for alleged domestic violence, devastating photos showing Rihanna's facial injuries and rumors that the two pop stars are actually back together. But CB and Rih are certainly not the only celebrities to weather a stormy relationship in the public eye...

The College Survival Guide

    A Fridge
    Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.

    Computer
    The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.

    Snacks
    You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.

    Things from home
    Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.

    MP3 Player
    With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.

    Budget
    Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age

    Alarm Clock
    When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.

    Cleaning supplies
    Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.

    Bedding
    What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.

    Shower shoes
    You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!