Lately you just cannot escape the news – William and Kate are finally getting married! And who doesn’t look forward to the hoopla surrounding a royal wedding. Everything got started on the right note – William gave her Princess Diana’s ring *sigh* soo perfect. There’s already speculation over the venue, date and dress designer. What would you pick out for a royal wedding?

what a stunning engagement ring

You may not have to get approval on your wedding date from the royal family, but that doesn’t mean you can’t steal a little inspiration from past British wedding bashes. Take a note from Diana and Charles’ wedding and travel from your ceremony to reception in a carriage. It may seem a little old-fashioned and over-the-top but when else in your life will you get the chance to have a truly romantic carriage ride? Or be a princess for your day and wear a jewel-studded tiara like all the royal brides. If a royal-esque wedding doesn’t suit your style don’t incorporate these details, but do look through this royal wedding slideshow.

Wedding proposals are well thought out. Men (and women) spend a lot of time figuring out the perfect moment, the perfect thing to say or the perfect thing to do. It’s likely one of the most romantic moments in your life and I think that should be shared at your wedding day. Whether in a toast at the wedding or a picture or anecdote at the rehearsal dinner, don’t forget to share how that special moment happened on your wedding day. After all, you wouldn’t have a wedding day without it!

Here are a few irresistible proposals, how could you say no?:

“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” –Pride and Prejudice

“The first time I got married we’d been together since college. Marriage… just seemed like the next step. It was just something that happened. But I think for two people to really love each other to really commit to each other it has to be an act of will. Or a decision. And I think two people have to live that decision every day. Even when things are hard and you feel like giving up you have to hang on to that decision, that choice to love each other. Even if it’s only by a thread. I let that thread break once. This time, it won’t. Will you marry me?” –Stepmom

What’s your engagement story?

For anyone who is not already married or engaged, I have just heard about the most amazing concept in In Style magazine: trial engagement rings. I understand your hesitation but bear with me here. Jean Dousset Diamonds (see Eva Langoria-Parker and Amy Adams left hands) is now offering the option of buying a ‘replica’ ring. They run between $200-400 dollars and are the exact size, proportions and stone count as the real thing but the actual diamonds are fake. So you can buy a trial engagement ring and wear it for a few days before deciding if that’s the ring you want to wear for the rest of your life. Now you may be thinking that sounds like an expensive trial but get this – if you end up buying the real diamond ring at Jean Dousset, the money you paid for the replica goes toward the payment for the real ring, so not a single penny wasted. Seems like such a simple idea, yet so clever of them. And now you can be completely surprised yet still have a say in your wedding ring style. And on a depressing note, any man that gets rejected doesn’t loose that much money.

my favorite of the bunch

Try before you buy – brilliant. Why doesn’t every shop do this? Why didn’t it occur to me how great of an idea this was sooner?

love her boots

The Bride-to-Be: Jen

The Groom-to-Be: Brett

The Photo Shoot Location: Denver, CO

The Wedding Location: Mill City Museum, Minnesota

How They Met: Brett and I met through work — I worked an agency that ran a press conference for his company.  It was illuminating for us both to see each other in a professional capacity.  He’s so smart!  After the work was done, Brett and I kept in touch and he flew me to Denver — I lived in Chicago at the time — so I could see his life and meet his world.  I met his friends, family, and pretty much the entire city of Denver that weekend and we decided someone had to move.  Brett decided to move to Chicago a few months later.

changing outfits made for a fun shoot

Inspiration for the Engagement Photo Shoot: Though we love to travel and considered a destination wedding, there’s something about a hometown wedding.  Because we were getting married in Minnesota but our life is in Denver (my job is promoting the city), we wanted to show our favorite places and our new life here in the Mile High.

mismatching plaids are so cute

Perks of Your Engagement Shoot: Troy, our photographer, just had a natural ease behind the camera.  He went above and beyond to accommodate the many locations we wanted to capture, and found ways to tell a different story at each venue.  He helped Brett and I feel comfortable in our own shoes while on camera, something we definitely wanted to make sure of before the big day.  And it was easy to tell he’s great with every audience — from cute, curious little kids to passersby that miiiight just stick around a little long.  He handled every situation well and delivered fabulous photos.

For more details about Jen & Brett’s engagement photos, check out their feature on Bellagala’s blog.