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Former Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler tied the knot to her pro-baseball player fiancé Cutter DykstraSaturday in a low-key ceremony that’s totally different than what we’d expect from a mobster’s daughter. After the actress revealed her continuing struggle with multiple sclerosis, according to People, she relates walking down the aisle to “walking into a new life” — and in a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown, she sure looked great doing it!

The actress said “I do” in a gorgeous white strapless Oscar de la Renta gown that was equal parts gorgeous and classic. “I went shopping at a place in Long Island with my mom called The Wedding Salon. I walked in and the lady was like, ‘What are you looking for?’” she told People. “And I was like, ‘I don’t want sweetheart, I don’t want ball gown’ and that’s exactly what I’m wearing. I feel like a princess in it.”

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Unlike most celebs that call up their favorite designer for a one-of-a-kind creation, Sigler opted to share herwedding dress shopping experience with one person — her mom. “It’s everything. … I didn’t go through designers or anything, I wanted it more for my mom, I wanted her to have that fun experience with me. It’s just simple and strapless.”

The simple dress, which the actress accented with jewelry by Forevermark Diamonds, was perfect for the duo’s 150-guest Palm Springs nuptials. The ceremony was officiated by Sigler’s BFF Lance Bass, who in a way was returning the favor. Sigler officiated Bass’ nuptials a little over a year ago in December 2014. The wedding also became a total family affair when the couple’s 2-year-old son Beau walked down the aisle holding a sign that said, “Here comes my mommy.” Is that not the most adorable thing ever?!

The bride and groom topped off their big day with a romantic candlelit reception that had blankets and pillows strewn about, and the two even made sure to have a romantic fire pit for making s’mores. “We just wanted everyone to be relaxed and have a great time,” Sigler said of her self-planned nuptials. “It’s laid-back, not fancy. That’s who we are as a couple so we wanted the wedding to represent us.” Even though we haven’t seen pictures of the reception yet, we have a feeling Sigler may want to look into turning wedding planninginto a full time gig.

The couple’s intimate nuptials boasted a few a-list guests including Sigler’s close friends Lea Michele and JoAnna Garcia Swisher. “Getting to see this amazing couple share such a beautiful moment among all of our friends and their families was so amazing,” Michele shared. “I couldn’t be happier for my friend Jamie on this wonderful day.”

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Jamie-Lynn Sigler got the “wonderland” wedding of her dreams.

The Sopranos alum married her fiancé of almost three years, pro baseball player Cutter Dykstra, in a candlelit, desert chic wedding in front of more than 150 guests at the Parker Palm Springs hotel in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday, PEOPLE exclusively confirms. “Jamie was glowing,” says a guest. “She looked breathtaking. She couldn’t be happier. You could feel the love.”

The festivities kicked off on Friday night with a welcome reception at the Palm Court Lawn where guests snacked on tray-passed hors d’oeuvres and s’mores around a fire pit.

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The Saturday ceremony – where Sigler wore an Oscar de la Renta dress and Forevermark Diamonds jewels and Dykstra wore a suit by Brooks Brothers – took place on the Croquet Lawn under a tree followed by dinner and dancing in the hotel’s ballroom. Singer Lance Bass, who is close friends with the actress,officiated the ceremony, during which the couple said their own vows and their 2-year-old son, Beau, walked down the aisle in a miniature tuxedo holding a baseball homeplate that said “Here comes my mommy.” The couple’s dog, Bean, also took part, leading Dykstra’s niece down the aisle.

“I just wanted it to feel like a wonderland with candlelight,” says Sigler, 34, who was escorted down the aisle by her father. “I’m excited about just seeing everyone have a great time because we put so much heart and love into this.”

Dinner included pan-seared sea bass, New York Strip steak and roasted vegetable napoleon. Guests were also treated to a lavish desserts table before toasting the couple with Ace of Spade champagne. Floral arrangements including peonies, roses and dahlias, were designed by Blooming Gypsy florist in San Diego.

At the reception, guests, which included Lea Michele and JoAnna Garcia Swisher, danced to ’80s cover band The Spazmatics.

“I am completely overwhelmed with emotion,” Swisher said of the wedding to PEOPLE. “Cutter and Jamie are one of the most incredible couples I know. Watching them make this commitment in front of so much love and their perfect son, Beau, is just the most amazing thing.”

Michele also shared her thoughts on the romantic nuptials to PEOPLE: “Getting to see this amazing couple share such a beautiful moment among all of our friends and their families was so amazing. I couldn’t be happier for my friend Jamie on this wonderful day.”

Planning everything herself along with her best friend, Sigler wanted the wedding to have a very cozy, “homemade” feel with twinkle lights, blankets, pillows and candles. At the end of the festivities, guests were given parcels that included Casamigos tequila and Alkaline H2O from Pressed Juicery.

Sigler and Dykstra, 26, who were first introduced by Swisher and her husband,got engaged in 2013. Their son Beau was born later that year. “Anytime I look at Cutter and Beau, I’m overwhelmed with emotion,” Sigler says. “My dad has said to me on several occasions that Cutter is exactly who he would want for me. It means everything that my dad feels that way about him.”

As for the wedding, “we just wanted everyone to be relaxed and have a great time. It’s laid-back, not fancy. That’s who we are as a couple so we wanted the wedding to represent us.”

“And our son gets to stay up late and eat as much cake and candy as he wants,” Sigler adds. “I think it’s so cool that I have that memory with him.”

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Deep décolletage was the look of the night at the first awards-show red carpet of the new year, with celebrities at the 73rd Golden Globes on Sunday sporting necklines that plunged lower than the Chinese stock market.

The look could be seen in “Blindspot” actress Jaimie Alexander’s green gown by Genny, Heidi Klum’s flapper-fringe number by Marchesa, “Chicago P.D.” star Sophia Bush’s otherwise-understated little black bridesmaids dresses sydney by Narciso Rodriguez and the blue strapless gown from the pre-fall 2016 Reem Acra collection worn by “Downton Abbey’s” Joanne Froggatt.

Katy Perry, a stunner in a rose pink Prada gown with a plunging — but comparatively safe — neckline, managed to draw even more attention to the trend by pointing to her bosom and remarking to red-carpet commentator Ryan Seacrest that she “brought the globes.”

Olivia Wilde wore a custom Michael Kors Collection wine-colored silk crepe halter gown with sequin embellishments that made her a two-fer in the trend department: The night’s other big theme was a surfeit of sequins, which came down the carpet with the festive feel of a freshly uncorked Jeroboam of bubbly.

Among the standouts of the evening’s sparkle posse were nominee Regina King (“American Crime”) in a sleeveless gold metallic floral sequin dress by Krikor Jabotian accessorized with a regal-looking cape, nominee Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”) in a sparkly gown from the Talbot Runhof Resort 2016 collection and Julianne Moore in a midnight-blue, sequin-covered, draped-back dress by her awards-show date Tom Ford. Brie Larson’s custom gold gown from the Calvin Klein collection was embellished with so much metal, she likened the dress to “wearing Joan of Arc armor.”

Kate Hudson wore a custom beaded crepe bandeau-top gown from the Michael Kors collection, but it was another Kate — last name Bosworth — who set the sequin bar even before she’d left the limousine. Bosworth posted photos of her pink sequin Dolce & Gabbana gown to social media in advance of her arrival, and the confection looked like a wearable glass of pink Champagne.

Bosworth’s strapless gown also keyed into one of the smaller trends of the night: the bare and off-the-shoulder looks sported by the likes of Kate Winslet in a Ralph Lauren Collection royal blue silk crepe crisscross halter budget wedding dresses, Lady Gaga in a custom black Atelier Versace gown with exaggerated hips and a sweetheart neckline, Gina Rodriguez in a blue Zac Posen gown and Amy Schumer in a black and white color-blocked Prabal Gurung gown that was also notable for the fact that it had something that’s often in short supply on the red carpet: pockets.

The Rings of Love Bridal Show is back again Sunday at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, bringing a wonderland of wedding ideas and necessities to brides and grooms to be. There are more venues and vendors than ever before.

“We’ve had hundreds of brides come in every year,” said Ashley Thomas, business manager and event coordinator at Forever Communications. “They come in and look for gowns and registries and food and entertainment, venues, honeymoon information, makeup, wedding planners, jewelers, rentals, photography — they can get pretty much everything they need at the bridal show. They can talk to the vendors, ask their questions, and watch the show.”

Over 500 brides and their guests attended the area’s longest-running bridal show last year, taking advantage of the best wedding ideas West Tennessee has to offer, according to a news release.

“The show is all about local businesses that are based in West Tennessee,” said Thomas. “We do get some vendors from Memphis and sometimes Nashville, but most of them are local, easy to get to, places that are here in town.”

For any future grooms who make the trip to the bridal show, the groom’s room is back again this year to offer a space where they can take a break from shopping, relax and watch football.

Also back is the show’s most popular event, the fashion show.

“We have a fashion show every year,” said Thomas, “where brides can actually see different bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses and tuxes and even junior bridesmaid and ring bearer outfits too. The fashion show is what everyone looks forward to. It’s always at the end of the show and it’s always fun and entertaining and it’s a great way to look for your perfect gown without having to actually go shopping.”

Beginning on the main stage at 4 p.m., this year’s fashion show is coordinated by Jenna King of My Best Friend Jenna, who is looking forward to showing off the hottest upcoming trends of 2016.

“There are new dress styles that come out each year and there are a lot of new looks this year for brides to get excited about that consist of sparkles and a lot of Pinterest inspiration,” King said. “Pinterest is a great inspiration for all brides, so there is going to be a lot of Pinterest-inspired ideas. But it’s all the latest 2016 looks in both dresses and tuxedos.”

One trend to look for involves lots of sparkles.

“A lot of the bridesmaid dresses have more sparkle this year,” King said. “We have a collection at my store that has a lot of sparkle. I’ll be showcasing a matte sequin collection that has been very popular this year.”

Yet another trend involves setting-specific wedding wear.

King said another trend this year is to have a rehearsal dinner dress as well as a second dress for the wedding day. “One to change into at the reception to be able to enjoy the evening with dancing and all and not have to be stuck in your wedding gown all night if it’s one that’s difficult to dance in, so we’re showcasing a lot of reception dresses.”

Also see: http://www.sheindressau.com/white-bridesmaid-dresses

Last night on Vanderpump Rules, viewers finally got to see Tom Schwartz pop the question and propose to Katie Maloney. Of course, she said yes to him after waiting years on Schwartz to propose. E! Online shared that this couple is now revealing which stars of the show are going to get invites to their big wedding and who isn’t going to get to attend the event.

After all of the drama last night about who would get to go on the birthday trip to Hawaii, it was obvious that Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney might not be inviting everyone to their wedding. Not everyone will get invited to Katie and Tom’s wedding just because they happen to work at SUR. Last night, the news came out on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live when the couple played a game Andy Cohen invented called “RSVP or B***h, Please?”

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One couple from Vanderpump Rules that Katie Maloney and James Schwartz do not have plans to invite are Lala Kent and James Kennedy. These two are a bit wild, so it might be best that they are not going to be attending. James was having trouble last week getting an invite to the Hawaii trip, and now he won’t get to go to Schwartz wedding. Scheana Marie’s mom will be getting an invitation for sure. Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz also shared that Carmen Dickman, who used to date Jax Taylor, has moved away and will not be at their wedding. They don’t have much to do with Vail Bloom anymore either, so don’t expect Katie to track her down to give her an invitation.

Katie Maloney shared that Pandora Vanderpump is on the guest list as well. When a caller named Bif called in, he wanted to know if Stassi Schroeder would get an invite, and Katie Maloney said she is not sure honestly. She then went on to share that you might know the answer in a few weeks.

Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney did not share exact details about their wedding yet. It doesn’t sound like they have a wedding date. Andy Cohen guessed it would be in 2018, and Katie Maloney said that it could be. Tom then teased that he wanted to make sure he made the right decision, but it was obvious he was teasing.

Schwartz also said that he didn’t feel pressure to propose to Katie and that he was at a point in his life where he was ready to do it. These two seem to be doing great, but Tom Schwartz isn’t rushing into marriage just yet. One caller asked if Katie Maloney is afraid that Tom Schwartz will cheat on her again, and of course, Tom said it would never happen again.

Here is what Katie had to say about it.

“Absolutely not. They say, ‘Once a cheater, always a cheater,’ but I don’t subscribe to that knowledge. I trust him and, like, I think he learned is lesson that one time and he knows never to do it again, otherwise he [gets cut]…It won’t happen.”

Bustle revealed that Tom and Katie are still together. They don’t have a wedding date set yet, but they are still going strong and enjoying life with their dog. Fans are very hopeful that when it all happens, everyone will get to see it go down on Vanderpump Rules. Scheana Marie shared her wedding, and hopefully Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz will do the same.

How soon do you think that Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz will end up tying the knot? Sound off in the comments, and don’t miss these two on new episodes of Vanderpump Rules on Monday nights on Bravo.

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The minimalist trend – and its “less is more mantra” – defined trends in 2015, with muted color patterns, clean lines and simple shapes. Consider that a palate cleanser for what’s to come in 2016.

Runways previewing 2016 collections have dropped some not-so-subtle hints that 2016 styles will be big and bold, albeit feminine. Traditional springtime English garden florals will get juxtaposed with black lace for a grunge edge. Louis Vuitton and Balmain shows are ruffling fashion, with the lady-like detailing proving popular on cheap wedding dresses and blouses and skirts.

Here’s a preview of 6 trends in store for 2016.

BOLD STRIPES

Stripes are a perennial fashion trend. But the more common dainty Breton stripes we see appear in spring are being usurped by wide, colorful stripes. This structured ponte top has nautical navy stripes that are subtle in scale, but is popped with wider ribbons of lime for a fresh take on the striped shirt staple.

RUFFLE UP YOUR WARDROBE

From bold, all-over flamenco ruffles on tea length wedding dresses to subtle ruffles at hemlines, the feminine detail is a designer favorite for 2016. We love how the soft ruffles on the sleeve and at the hemline transform this shift dress into a unique, statement piece that comes in sapphire, pine or black.

JEWELRY THAT MAKES A STATEMENT

A statement necklace has the superpower ability to transform an entire jeans-and-T-shirt outfit or add a “wow” factor to a shift dress. Anthropologie is one of our favorite places to go shopping for unique, statement pieces. We’re loving the Bainbridge Layer Necklace with mixed textures and four strands of beads that harmoniously blend mixed metals, blue hues and cream, marble-like stones.

NEAT PLEATS

A little bit preppy, dainty, knife pleats are re-emerging for 2016. Loft has a darling take on the trend with a pleated flippy dress in burgundy with long sleeves and a flattering drop waist. For a fashion-forward combo, combine burgundy with a bold, azure blue accessory for an unexpected color palette.

MARLED KNITS

Designers like Jason Wu and Michael Kors have been previewing pretty marled knits in their 2016 collections. Start the New Year off in style with a marled knit sweater dress that’s classic, but chic. Polish off the look with heeled booties and a jolt of color – like a burgundy purse and swipe of lipstick.

MOODY FLORALS

Floral patterns blossom every spring. This year, they are less soft, more moody. Find delicate florals mixed with lace details on blouses and dark backgrounds on dresses. Have year-round flower power in your wardrobe with the graphic floral hues set on a black canvas with this short-sleeve floral sheath dress. Wear with a black moto jacket to give it extra edge.

For some Boxing Day means eating leftover ham and friendly games of backyard cricket. For others it’s a regulated bloodsport where ruthlessness is the only option. By that we mean the annual Boxing Day sales, which can have the tendency to turn even the mildest of people into a frenzied monster. And it’s easy to understand why it happens. Sales tend to whip up strong reactions – from fear of missing out to uber competitiveness – all of which can lead to making poor decisions. That purple bejewelled fedora at 50 per cent off might seem like a good idea at the time, but mostly, well, it’s not.

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To help with this we’ve pulled together the ultimate ELLE girl guide to surviving – and thriving – the summer sale season.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Take cues from fashion girls who will happily spend hours trawling through runway shows, street style pics and shopping websites to hone in on what you really love, where to buy it and where you’re going to get the best price. This includes shopping like a ninja online – this includes making wish lists on your favourite stores and following your favourite brands on social media to get a heads up on upcoming sales and offers .

DO A STOCKTAKE

This is important. Take a long, hard look at your wardrobe and figure out what you actually need – remember a bargain isn’t really a bargain if you didn’t either need or absolutely love it. Do you have ten striped shirts but only one pair of jeans? Need a dress for your cousin’s wedding next year? This is a great time to plug the holes in your wardrobe.

BUY THE BASICS

Make like ELLE fashion news coordinator Claudia Jukic and stock up on the everyday items that you’ll use over and over, but don’t necessarily love spending loads of money on.“I always buy swimwear on sale – you can find cute ‘kinis and it feels better to spend less money on something with very little fabric … ditto lingerie,” she says.

LOOK FOR CLASSIC ITEMS THAT WON’T DATE

You can’t go wrong with classic, non-trend driven items that you will wear for years to come. Look for things like trench coats, crisp white shirts and tailored trousers. As Dee Jenner, ELLE style editor says of her sales strategy,“I try not to impulse buy. Things like cashmere, coats and a great bag are always going to be a good investment so I know I’m making the right decision.”

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN ALSO USE THE SALES AS THE CHANCE TO BUY SOMETHING YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY

We don’t mean somethingridiculous,but if you were keen try a pair of fur lined shoes or a tutu during the year but couldn’t quite stump up the cash for something so … dramatic… and you spot them on sale, this is your moment. Or at least to challenge yourself a little, sartorially speaking. As ELLE digital contributor Ruby Jones says,

“I usually try to see them as an opportunity to buy my favourite item in a seasonal colour I would NEVER usually choose, this way I’m also encouraged to wear more colour.

“For example, last year [I saw] a pair of orange suede Altuzarra heels on sale for like $300 bucks. Obviously I bought them and now I proudly strut around in orange suede heels that are amazing. “

TAKE A FRIEND WHOSE OPINION YOU TRUST

The kind of friend who will tell you to put the unflattering (but such a bargain!) culottes down, and is not the kind of enabling friend that will encourage you to spend a week’s rent on a pair of shoes.

MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE SALES ASSISTANTS

Obviously this takes some pre-sales ground work, but being on friendly terms with the staff in your favourite stores can go a long way toward getting first dibs on the good stuff or at least an honest opinion.

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT INSTINCT

Try and remain calm in the face of a rack of half-off shoes and think about what you really want to buy, and what will inevitably be a regrettable decision. Your gut instinct will tell you to put down the drop crotch, acid wash, asymmetrical pants. You should listen to it.

EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST

A lot of bad decisions could be avoided had you had you eaten a decent breakfast beforehand. Hangry is not a happy place for shoppers.

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A bride has spoken of her joy after her “miracle” babies were able to be bridesmaids for the Christmas wedding she had dreamed of.

Natalie Whitefox walked down the aisle with little 16-month-olds Heidi and Halle by her side, just months after giving birth to the twins doctors said would be impossible when both her fallopian tubes were removed.

Against all the odds, the girls survived and alongside their big brother, Harry, were there to watch as Natalie and husband, Ros, exchanged vows just before Christmas.

Natalie said: “The day was absolutely perfect and I still have to pinch myself that it really happened.

“For such a long time I never thought I would have any more children, so to have the girls by my side on one of the happiest days of my life was beyond all my dreams.”

In January 2013, Natalie was told she was suffering an ectopic pregnancy and needed a major operation to remove her final fallopian tube and what she thought was a single seven-week foetus.

The 27-year-old hairdresser had already had her other tube removed after two previous ectopic pregnancies, and four miscarriages and believed all her chances of having any more children had been cruelly snatched away.

But just 24 hours after the operation to save Natalie’s life, doctors detected a tiny heartbeat.

Miraculously, just before the surgery, the tiny embryo had travelled through to her womb. And it wasn’t just one baby – Natalie was pregnant with twins.

Mirrorpix

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Little angels: Natalie with her twin girls

She said: “I was stunned. It was the best news. We had gone from believing we had lost our baby to discovering we were having twins. We had no idea how but somehow our babies had survived. I just sobbed and sobbed but this time they were tears of happiness.”

Natalie, from Hunsworth, West Yorkshire, was just 18 when she was diagnosed with endometriosis, which affects the lining of the womb.

She feared she would never be able to carry a baby to term so was overjoyed when she gave birth to son, Harry, now five, in October 2010.

Natalie needed further operations but she and partner Ros Whitehead, 30 , a data analyst, would not give up hope.

But over the next two years Natalie suffered two heartbreaking ectopic pregnancies, losing both babies, and resulting in her first fallopian tube being removed.

Determined not to give up, Natalie and Ros went to see a fertility specialist in December 2012, who carried out tests to see if they were eligible for IVF on the NHS.

But a month later, Natalie suspected she might be pregnant, and a test revealed her greatest wish had come true.

Read more: Miracle baby who was so small her dad’s wedding ring fit on her wrist celebrates first Christmas

A few days later, Natalie was sent for a scan. The sonographer couldn’t find the baby and the next day, Natalie was admitted to St James Hospital in Leeds after suffering severe stomach pains.

Scans showed the pregnancy was ectopic and she needed more surgery to have her second fallopian tube removed.

Natalie says: “I just felt like my world had fallen apart. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and never open my eyes again. But 24 hours later blood tests revealed that despite the fact that my last fallopian tube had been taken away, I was still pregnant. Somehow the embryo had travelled through into the womb.”

But despite being told there was a strong chance Natalie could miscarry, she went on to have Heidi and Halle in August 2013, by a planned Caesarean section. Heidi came first, at 4lb 7oz, and Halle soon after, weighting 5lb 0.5oz.

Natalie, whose wedding was held at a West Yorkshire country hotel, said: “We have been through an emotional roller coaster over the last few years, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have two beautiful little girls as bridesmaids.

“The day was absolutely perfect. We couldn’t have been happier. It felt like all our Christmas’s had come at once. We feel so blessed to have three beautiful children and it meant to much that they were there to help celebrate our very special day.”

More info: http://www.sheindressau.com/white-bridesmaid-dresses

A grumpy Lacey almost ruined Jed’s valiant efforts for a surprise proposal on One Tree Hill.

But it was clearly meant to be, and the couple was married in a short and sweet ceremony on the beautiful Tutukaka Coast, with family and friends travelling far and wide for the big day.

The celebrant was late, but the weather was perfect – and Lacey’s dad even wore a suit.

We’ll let her fill you in on all the details…

How did you meet? Jed and I met at university in 2009. We had quite a few mutual friends but didn’t manage to cross paths until our third year when my friend and Jed’s flatmate invited me around to their house for a “red card” party.

Tell us about the proposal: Jed is incapable of keeping secrets so I always thought that I would know when he was going to propose because he wouldn’t be able to hide it from me. However, he fooled me by buying the ring, calling my dad for permission, and proposing all in the one day. I was at work so he could resist the urge to text or call me.

He picked me up from work and said he had been cooped up inside all day and wanted us to go for a walk (not unusual – Jed doesn’t cope well being inside all day). Long story short, I had had a very stressful day, I was a bit grumpy, I insisted on doing the grocery shopping and didn’t pick up on his not so subtle hints to hurry up at the supermarket. When we got home I still didn’t notice how quickly he unpacked the shopping while hurrying me to change into exercise gear.

We then left the house to get in the car – I was still grumpy and said something about driving to go walking and how silly that was. We fought through 5:30pm Auckland traffic to get to Cornwall Park. We power-walked up to One Tree Hill and under an overcast sky, howling wind and the threat of rain, Jed asked me to be his wife. I never saw it coming! We then ran all the way back down the hill to the car to call our families.

Location of wedding: We got married at Matapouri on the Tutukaka Coast, which is north of Whangarei. My dad lives there, it is the place I call home, and Jed and I have spent many summers swimming and fishing up there. We wanted to showcase this beautiful part of New Zealand and it was the perfect place for our wedding. Our ceremony was at Otito Reserve and the reception was in a massive marquee at the Matapouri Hall.

Andrew Noakes and Jo Dixon

Friends and family came from all over the country for the wedding.

Describe your wedding day: The whole day was spectacular! It rained for most of Friday (not a surprise for September) and we were very worried about having to turn our outdoor wedding into an indoor wedding, and to floor our 10m x 20m marquee. But we woke to cloudless skies on Saturday and it remained that way the whole day.

I got ready at my family home with my closest family members and my two bridesmaids while Jed and his family and friends set up our marquee and ceremony. He also managed to fit in a round of golf, too! Our ceremony was short and sweet, we said our own vows and tried to personalise everything. Our guests enjoyed nibbles and drinks and lawn games while we had our photos taken back on my farm. We had an amazing band (who also played at Jed’s 21st), and after all the formalities were over, we danced the night away!

The plus size bridesmaid dresses: My dress was a Stella York design from Brides Corner. It wasn’t the type of dress I was expecting to wear on my wedding day, but as soon as I put it on, I did not want to take it off and I knew that it was the dress for me.

The flowers: I used the amazing team at Mint Floral in Whangarei. I knew absolutely nothing about flowers so I gave Jasmine a picture of what I wanted from Pinterest and she recreated it perfectly.

Highlight of the wedding: Oh, there are so many, I don’t even know where to begin! The amazing weather was definitely one of them, as well as all of our guests travelling so far (99 per cent of them had to travel for our wedding, some as far south as Dunedin and as far north as Samoa). We had a barbecue the night before and brunch the day after so that we had plenty of time to catch up with everyone.

Probably the thing that I loved the most was that our wedding was very personal to us (from the rugby and dog cake to the table numbers to hand-built bar leaners to the wording in our ceremony) and it was also a very family affair – my dad collected all the food for the caterers, my brother was MC, my mum helped with getting ready on the day, and Jed’s family were amazing at setting up the entire marquee exactly how we wanted it.

Jed’s mum made our “Mr and Mrs” banner, our table runners, and an enormous bowl of punch for everyone to drink. We had a family friend make our signing board and hand-paint all our table numbers. Another family friend made our cake and a family friend runs a restaurant that caters weddings as well.

One other thing that sticks in my mind is my dad in a suit! My dad is a farmer, he lives in stubbies and swazi shirts. I’ve never seen him in a suit in my lifetime and what’s more, he led me to believe he was just going to wear a shirt and jeans with his gumboots, then he steps out in the latest suit AND tie from Barkers!

Was there any drama? We initially thought the weather was going to cause trouble but the only issue we had was that our celebrant was late. She got the time mixed up and was 45 minutes late to the ceremony. But it’s true what they say – on the day, it really doesn’t matter!

The honeymoon: We spent a lot of time with family and friends in the lead-up to the wedding and a couple days after the big event. On the Monday, we headed up to Paihia for two days of relaxing. We will go on a proper honeymoon in March next year – so far Hawaii or the Galapagos Islands are our top choices.

Your photographer and favourite photo? We used friends of my dad’s – a husband and wife team – and they were amazing! I love all 858 of our photos but the one of Jed and I at the front entrance to the farm is pretty amazing.

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The rules of wedding etiquette are constantly changing, making it difficult for modern brides, grooms and guests to find up-to-date and correct information. That’s why we launched#MannersMondays, a series in which we ask our followers on Twitter and Facebook to submit their most burning etiquette-related questions. Then, with the help of our team of etiquette experts, we get you the right answers to your biggest Big Day dilemmas. Check out this week’s question below!

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At my new job, I am being mentored by a colleague I have known in a professional sense for many years. He has been terrific and really helped me inthis transition. Problem: his daughter is getting married in a couple of months — a black-tie affair. I’ve been told my wife and I should expect an invitation. But we don’t know his daughter and probably won’t know many people at thewedding. Is it tacky not to go? Would it be tacky of me to ask others at work, including our mutual supervisor, if they intend to go? Frankly, I’d prefer not to go but my colleague is a terrific guy and I’d hate to tarnish our relationship. – David B.

Amber Harrison — Wedding Papers Divas’ resident wedding and etiquette expert — is here to help us answer this week’s question. Here’s what she had to say:

Congratulations on the new job! The fact that your mentor considers you close enough to invite you to his daughter’s wedding speaks volumes. Creating a wedding guest list is a long and deliberate process that requires a lot of compromise all around. While you are not obligated to accept the invitation (though, you are obligated to send a gift), it sounds as though your presence would be meaningful and demonstrate your support for your colleague and his family.

If you have a conflict and are unable to attend, you can send your heartfelt regrets once you receive the invitation. If you choose not to attend because it is inconvenient, there is always the possibility of hurt feelings that may put your relationship at risk. Either way, asking other colleagues about their plans is a sure way to stir up trouble. It is quite possible you are the only one from the office invited and discussing that could lead to a variety of awkward situations for both you and your mentor.

If you decide to attend, try to enjoy a beautiful event with your wife and make sure you are open to new experiences – you very well may have the opportunity to meet some new and interesting people!

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