Jennifer Bell

Would you invite an ex to your wedding?

2010-12-23T12:28:00Z

For me, weddings are a time when you have your loved ones around you as you celebrate walking down the aisle and starting your new life as husband and wife.

So I was very intrigued recently when I read an article about a woman who had her fiance's ex-girlfriend as her maid of honour.

Writing for the Stir, Jeanne Sager explained how she moved to her husband's town two months before the big day and started a job on a local paper.

Here, she made friends with a woman called Alaina who, it turned out, used to date her partner when they were at school.

"The fact that both were easy, open and honest about it practically begged me to take her up on the offer of friendship," Ms Sager continued.

She said Alaina helped out with all the last-minute wedding preparations "and when I asked her to stand up on the altar to see her one time boyfriend say 'I do' she said, 'I will,'"

I think this is a great story but I'll admit, it can't be too often brides and grooms find themselves in this kind of situation. These were pretty exceptional circumstances and, as Ms Sager noted, the fact her husband and her maid of honour were together many years ago at school made a big difference.

Ex-partners usually just conjure up feelings of jealousy and insecurity, so I can imagine having them at a wedding would be a bad idea for most people, even if things did end on good terms or you were all friends.

Would you have an ex-partner at your wedding?

Michael Buble 'not singing at his wedding'

2010-12-20T15:58:00Z

There can't be many couples who don't look forward to a dance at their reception after the ceremony and hiring the perfect DJ or singer could be vital.

Of course, if you consider yourself to be a bit of a songbird or have some talent when it comes to playing an instrument, I think there's nothing wrong with getting on stage and strutting your stuff.

It seems this is not the case for Michael Buble, however.

Appearing on ITV's Daybreak recently, the Canadian singer - who previously dated British actress Emily Blunt - revealed all about his upcoming wedding to Luisana Lopilato.

"I asked my fiancee if she wanted me to sing and she said no. She said, 'I want Ricardo Montaner'. So now I've got Ricardo Montaner coming," Buble confessed.

He also claimed to be feeling nervous about his nuptials, even though the big day is still four months away.

The singer doesn't seem to be too upset about the fact his wife-to-be isn't keen on him performing at the party, but I reckon it would be pretty nice if he treated guests to a few hits - I'm a big fan of Cry Me A River!

But, then again, after the stress of saying your vows and arranging the whole thing, I guess some people would be happy to sit back and let the professionals get on with it.

Would you sing at your own wedding?

Overseas weddings - is it for you?

2010-12-16T12:28:00Z

We all know the weather can be pretty unpredictable in the UK, which could be why so many couples decide to tie the knot in warmer climes.

There can't be a lot things more romantic than saying "I do" under a beautiful setting sun on a warm sunny evening in Europe and it seems as though one celeb agrees.

Appearing on The Rachael Ray Show in the US this week, Nick Lachey hinted he could tie the knot with partner Vanessa Minnillo in Italy during the festive season.

He stated: "We're going to be in Tuscany for New Year's. Who knows, we may be married in Tuscany, too!"

I think getting married abroad is a great idea and it's a way for couples to treat themselves to a holiday as well as ensuring their big day is something to remember.

But I do appreciate why some may dislike the idea, as I imagine it's a bit of a hassle trying to get family and friends on a plane, booked into a hotel and organised for the event - not to mention expensive!

Wedding planning is stressful enough as it is without having to do the whole lot in a foreign country.

I suppose it's just down to the couple and how much they're willing to take on really. If they do want to get married abroad I think it could be a magical day, but it's worth arranging the event properly and that's likely to take time.

Are you currently planning a wedding abroad?

Who will design Kate Middleton's wedding dress?

2010-12-13T12:46:00Z

Now that the royal wedding has been revealed, the question on everybody's lips is who will design Kate Middleton's wedding dress?

Rumours have been flying and while she chose to wear a blue Issa frock when she and Prince William announced their engagement, one person has some other ideas about her gown for the ceremony next year.

According to the Daily Telegraph, designer Ben de Lisi expects Bruce Oldfield to do the honours.

He is also certain he will not be chosen for the role, although he admitted it is going to be hard for Kate to make a decision.

"It's never going to be easy for her because the whole world is looking at her. She has a lot of boxes to tick," de Lisi continued.

Personally I can't wait to see who Kate chooses and I have a feeling she will go for quite a sleek, modern design but with some very classic and elegant elements as well.

While Vera Wang is a popular choice among many celebrities, I do think it would be nice if she chose a British designer as a royal ceremony is even more special.

What do you think? Should Kate choose a British designer? What kind of dress would you like to see her walk down the aisle in?

Nicole Richie's wedding preparations 'hotting up'

2010-12-10T10:22:00Z

It seems as though preparations are well underway for Nicole Richie's wedding and by the looks of things, it could rival Katy Perry and Russell Brand's nuptials for the title of showbiz marriage of the year.

The socialite is set to marry long-term partner Joel Madden and recently released photos suggest the party is going to take place at her father Lionel Richie's mansion in Los Angeles.

Aerial pictures show a large white marquee standing in the amazing gardens surrounding the house, while another large structure is almost complete.

"Nicole is going for a vintage and romantic vibe," a source told RadarOnline. "The wedding will be true to Nicole's style."

I am jealous of this ceremony already and I've only seen the marquee, so who knows what the event itself is going to be like!

All this did get me thinking about wedding venues and what my dream setting would be. If my dad owned a huge mansion surrounded by pools and exotic plants I think I'd be pretty eager to walk down the aisle there as well.

But us non-celebrities usually need to find an alternative location and I like the idea of somewhere in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the city so it feels like you've got the whole place to yourself.

A posh hotel or a country manor could be the perfect choice, especially if it's got beautiful grounds as a backdrop for all the photos.

What would your ideal wedding venue be? Would you consider holding the reception at your parent's house?