Here are some of our favorite wedding-related links, finds and stories from the week:

* Talk about going all out for your one true love. Have you seen this amazing projector ring? It “contains a tiny photographic slide paired with a lens. When illuminated by an equally small light source—Jerram says even a candle will work—the couple will have four adorable images of themselves projected wherever they go,” according to gizmodo.com. Sounds like it’s a one-of-a-kind deal, but we think it would be a great inspiration piece for planning a wedding. Think vintage photos, projector reels, old pieces of film as decor….

There is inspiration galore in Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

* An LWPI student recently posted some ideas for a Cinderella-inspired wedding in the student-blog section for the Preston Bailey Design course. We loved her vintage, Audrey Hepburn ideas so when we ran across this Alice in Wonderland themed wedding we were immediately smitten! The decor - including “eat me” and “drink me” labels on the food and drinks are adorable. Check it all out here, on bridesmaid.com.

* Some brides are hard-pressed to get their grooms to take part in filling out the registry, but that’s probably because a lot of men have a hard time getting excited about china, vacuums and pillow shams! That’s where The Man Registry comes in. (Yes; for real.) It’s a place where guy stuff reigns supreme: sports-related home items and memorabilia; gifts for the griller and outdoorsman; and yes, of course there are tools to be had, too. We know a lot of brides like to grill and user power tools, too, but adding them to The Man Registry is a sneaky way to get the groom involved!

* What are the best honeymoon locations on earth? Denise and Mark Duffield-Thomas have the dream job of discovering just such places. The Irish Times held a contest to find a couple willing to act as honeymoon testers, and among 30,000 applicants those two got the job. You can follow their adventures on thehoneymoontesters.com, nicknamed the ultimate couple’s travel blog. Where have they been so far? Jordan, Malta, Ireland and Mauritius just to name a few spots. Some people have all the luck, don’t they? (If you think YOU have the luck apply here to be next year’s testers!)

A big baseball diamond, that is!

Imagine planning a wedding - with hundreds of guests - at the last minute. OK. So maybe this wasn’t your typical wedding: the bride wore a veiled baseball cap and instead of a bouquet she carried, what else? A baseball bat! It was a special day nonetheless, meant to bring two people together before the groom headed out on another deployment. It’s great to see the community come together to help make a dream come true - even if it is on a baseball diamond. It’s something this couple will never forget!

So there you have it. Just a feel-good story to get the week started. It’s stories like this that help to remind us that wedding and event planning might be our life, but there is always a lot of love behind what we do! Have you seen any last-minute weddings at unexpected places?

Lauren + JP from Matt Odom on Vimeo.

Our jaw dropped when we first saw this amazing wedding video! It’s more like a music video than a wedding keepsake, which just makes it one of the most awesome things we’ve ever seen. Bridal couples are going all out these days in every step of their wedding planning: save the dates, invitations and now amazing wedding videos like this one are popping up everywhere. We’ll admit that we’ll always have a soft spot for amateur-style movies filled with Uncle Frank getting down on the dance floor and tipsy friends giving maybe-not-so-appropriate advice to the new couple. That doesn’t mean, however, that a couple can’t also have something amazing like this video to remember their special day. It’s easy to see how this video is a very personal representation of the couple. We encourage all of LWPI’s certified wedding and event coordinators to help their couples come up with creative ways to make their day special. With a video like this they’ll be easily reminded of “their style” and, of course, how cute they and their friends looked on the big day!

Courtesy of Piece A Cake of North Carolina

“Jackson wants a groom’s cake in the shape of a giant armadillo. He’s got an aunt who makes them.”
“It’s got gray icing! I can’t even begin to think how you’d make gray icing.”
“People are going to be hacking into the poor animal that looks like it’s bleeding to death.”

Or something to that effect. (Forgive us if we get a few words out of order!)

You’ve seen the play or popular movie, Steel Magnolias, right? When Shelby marries Jackson, Jackson’s aunt makes him a gray armadillo groom’s cake (that they put in the garage during the reception, which makes the whole situation even funnier.) Yes, a groom’s cake. We’ve never considered the wedding cake to be made specifically for the bride, but we can see where some people would get that idea. We also know that not every groom is interested in planning their wedding so a groom’s cake is a nice tribute to him and his hobbies, whatever they may be.

Courtesy of Edible Artistry of North Carolina

The history of the groom’s cake is varied, but here are a couple of legends tied to it:
* Some historians say it dates to the 17th century and was for a long time a lost tradition that has seen a resurgence in the last several years.
*Other historians say that the groom’s cake is modern tradition, which likely originated in the Southeastern U.S. in the early 19th Century.
* It has been said that at one time the groom’s cake was actually the top layer of the wedding cake, but it was removed, soaked in brandy and preserved for the couple’s first wedding anniversary.
* Perhaps you’ve heard the old wive’s tale that if the single lady guests take a slice of the groom’s cake home and put it under their pillow they will dream of their future husband.

We think that a groom’s cake is a great way to incorporate some fun into the reception or perhaps even the rehearsal dinner, where it may be better enjoyed. The popularity of dessert and candy buffets, alongside the traditional wedding cake, make having a groom’s cake at the reception a kind of sugar overkill. Serving it at the rehearsal dinner, however, is a great way to include a special dessert in the festivities, and many brides may want to keep it a surprise for their husbands.

Courtesy of Lively Caking of Texas

When you’re a wedding planner and you have a bride who wants to either incorporate traditional customs into her planning or offer something special to her groom, a groom’s cake is a nice touch. Today’s bakeries and sugar artists can make almost anything, consider: sports logos, stadiums or gear; video-game covers or consoles; briefcases, outdoor equipment or even a stack of books. Anything is possible, and it’s easy to find a cake that represents the groom. The most important thing is to make sure the bride has fun choosing the cake! We’re sure that the rehearsal or wedding guests will be excited to see the bride’s (and your) creativity!

Summer Flowers Courtesy of Martha Stewart

There is a good chance that some of LWPI’s certified wedding and event planners are broiling in the heat this week. That’s because the East Coast is living under a severe heat wave! But the show (er, wedding) must go on, and we know that a lot of brides have their hearts set on a steamy, summery, August ceremony. What can you suggest to help keep the bridal couple - and their guests - cool on a hot summer day? We spent a little time gathering some of our favorite summer-wedding ideas to share with you. Fashion? Check. Food? Check. Decor? Check. While it may seem like there is no relief in sight when you’re in the middle of August there are a few things you can do to trick the senses. (Be sure to click on the source links in each paragraph to visit these great sites see if these fabulous vendors are available in your area! We love their work.)

1 and 2: Nothing quite says summer like a beach wedding. There’s a reason they’re so popular! Beach weddings are the perfect excuse for the bridal party - and guests - to dress simply and kick off their shoes to stay cool. A few photos in the water are the cherry on top! (1-modernbridal.com and 2-brides.com.)

3. While taking it outdoors may seem like a risky prospect when the temperature is hovering near 100 degrees there is a way to keep cool: Hold the ceremony at night. When the sun goes down it’s time to party in August. Setting the mood with candlelight and lanterns is a gorgeous rustic touch, too. 15 - Another option? Hold the ceremony by the pool! Some guests may not be able to resist jumping in to cool off, but as the wedding planner try to keep them on dry land at least until the reception! (3-Jessica Verma Photography and 15-Singapore Brides.)

4 and 5. Especially in the South will you see these next two tricks: hand fans for the guests and 5 - parasols for the bride and her maids. It goes without saying that the fans are a cute favor, but they can also double as programs for the ceremony. And the parasols make some of the cutest photos we’ve ever seen! Forget the flowers; parasols are a lot more fun to carry! 14 - But don’t forget the guests! A tin bucket filled with parasols for all the ladies would be a cute gesture for an outdoor, day-time wedding. (4-Opulent Favors, 5- Southern Accents and 14-Richelle Dante Photography.)

6. You don’t want your bride melting under a long, heavy gown in the summer. It may seem trendy to wear a tea-length gown, but it certainly harkens to the 1950s, too. With the perfect shoes and perhaps a cage veil this is the perfect summer look. (6-Posh Girl Vintage.)

7. Let’s talk food. If there is one thing that screams summer refreshment it’s watermelon! They’re best in the summer, when they’re local and fresh. And there are so many ways to serve it. Consider: Watermelon granita (Country Living); 8 - Watermelon kebabs (National Watermelon Promotion Board); 16 - Spiked watermelon pops instead of cocktails, perhaps (Food Network); and 18 - Watermelon mint coolers (Real Simple.)

9. And if watermelon doesn’t do the trick? Ice cream is sure to. An ice-cream cake decorated with scoops of colorful ice cream is the perfect summer treat. (The Knot) 10 - Or if your bride wants to be a bit more original perhaps a stack of ice-cream sandwiches. Vanilla ice cream can be tinted to any color to match the wedding! (Skinny Cow) 11 - A more old-fashioned treat would be a simple cookies-n-cream ice-cream cake. You simply can’t go wrong with black and white, or chocolate and vanilla. (Real Simple) 12 - Sundae bars are popular at birthday parties right now, but we see no reason you can’t bring them in on the wedding fun! (Katie Moos Photography)

Finally if you’re trying to inject a little color with your coolness try these two obvious, and obviously adorable, ideas. 11 - Sno-Cones are sure to bring out the kid in everybody (and make them forget the heat for a moment!) Plus they’re easily tailored to match the wedding colors. Cocktail hour is fun, but wouldn’t Sno-Cone hour be cute, too? (Daisy I Do) 13 - And of course every guest needs something to wet their whistle, which is where colorful, gourmet sodas come in. Some couples may choose to bottle their own liquid refreshment - pink lemonade comes to mind. It’s a great personal touch to any wedding! (Dexknows Weddings)

We hope these ideas give you some cute ways to beat the heat at your summer weddings. Do you have any cute ideas to add? What have your brides and grooms suggested to help keep guests cool this summer? (Remember to click on the source links in each paragraph to visit these great sites and see if these fabulous vendors are available in your area!)

Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute is excited to welcome Nadia Lewis of N’Chantment Events to the blog today. According to Nadia, “N’Chantment Events is a Wedding and Event Planning business owned and operated by Nadia Lewis, a Certified Wedding and Event Planner. It is located in the Bronx and provides service throughout NYC. It was established in 2010. N’Chantment Events provides quality service that exudes elegance and charm through creating an atmosphere that clients, as well as their guests, will not only enjoy but will cherish as an experience of their lifetime while meeting every client’s budget.” Today Nadia will discuss a few ways to make every groom feel special. Afterall, it’s their special day, too! Here are a few of her tips:

1. Have a sports-themed shower for the groom and a few of his best friends and male family members, packed with beer, chips, pizza, sandwiches and Buffalo wings. The gifts should be exclusively for the groom.

2. Make the groom’s cake a must at the wedding, and incorporate the groom’s favorite hobby into the design.

3. Let the groom walk down the aisle to a song of his choice.

4. Incorporate the groom’s favorite color into the reception. Assuming that the groom likes navy blue, for example, a bride could incorporate it into the table linens or use it as the font color on menu cards.

5. Make plans for a surprise performance for the groom by either the bride or a paid entertainer, such as singing the groom’s favorite love song.

6. Honor the groom’s mother by allowing her to walk with the bride and her mother down the aisle.

7. Let the groom be completely in charge of an aspect of the wedding, such as the music or photography.

8. Send the groom and his groomsmen to get pampered, for example by planning haircuts, massages etc.

9. Give the groom a wedding-day gift of something he loves to do or watch. Sports tickets or personalized sporting equipment are great suggestions.

10. Get the groom’s opinion on male-geared favors for the reception.

Thanks, Nadia, for these fabulous ideas. It’s a great suggestion to make sure that the groom enjoys the wedding day, too, and also feels special. Please be sure to also visit Nadia’s blog and follow her on Twitter. If you are also a graduate of LWPI and would like to submit a guest blog, please contact Abby Langston, Lovegevity’s managing editor, at abby (at) lovegevity dot com.

We’ve already discussed how technology is really starting to make an impact on weddings. Remember this awesome Hollywood-style Save the Date? It’s so awesome to see couples really inject their own style into their wedding from beginning to end. As certified wedding and event planners you know there is always something new out there to be discovered in the wedding industry. So how about this: 8-bit video game wedding invitations! As the bride explained to Offbeat Bride, “We knew that we didn’t want standard paper invites. We wanted something for people to keep and remember. We are geeks. We love video games. Why not have a video game invite?”

Grooms (and their friends and groomsmen alike) will likely flip out over this awesome invitation. Its old-school style and rules are reminiscent of Nintendo games of yesterday, such as Super Mario Brothers. For brides who beg you to figure out ways to interest the grooms in the wedding planning, well, this is it, wouldn’t you say? This bridal couple designed the game themselves, which makes it a great task for couples to do together (with your encouragement!) If the couple is game (hardy har har) it would be a lot of fun to carry the video-game theme through the rehearsal and maybe even through the wedding! Think cakes, flower colors (that correspond to a specific game), favors and programs. Hmmm … a program or favors popped inside a video-game box - with a customized label - would be really cool!

This is one theme where you can really let your imagination run wild. With the right couple you can really take this video-game idea far! Consider setting up a folder just for funky ideas like this one. As a professional, certified wedding and event coordinator you never know who’s going to call next!

Even in times of financial strain and political uncertainty there is a willingness to help others. We offer our money and time to organizations that help children and victims of natural disasters, and weddings are no different. Everyone loves a happy ending, and it’s even better when we join together to make a fairytale come true. Horace Prescott and Dawn Barrett of the U.K. were recently married, but they weren’t always sure it would happen.

Dawn Barrett and Horace Prescott

They have been a couple for the last 10 years but first met as teenagers in London. Mr. Prescott suffered bowel and bladder cancer three years ago, and sadly it has now returned in his stomach and kidneys. Suffice it to say, medical bills and general stress have put a strain on the couple, who thought they may never become husband and wife. Mr. Prescott’s condition is terminal, and he has been told he has only months to live. After a story in the Evening Telegraph about the couples’ hardship support from the community started pouring in. The use of a vintage Rolls Royce was donated by a fellow resident, and a local Holiday Inn decided to offer a free reception, including a three-course meal, to the couple and their 60 wedding guests. Other local businesses pledged favors, food and decor for the wedding and reception.

Paul Noble, the general manager at the Corby Holiday Inn, said, “When a member of my team brought to my attention to the predicament of Horace and Dawn I felt compelled, as did the team, to help. Their touching story tugged on the heartstrings of all here and I don’t think anyone with a heart couldn’t relate to their plight. I know the team will do everything to make this one of the happiest days of their lives.”

“People are just so warm and it has given us such an lift. It is a lovely thing and they are all so kind. There are no words to express how kind they are being. A lot of kindness is going out of the world and it is great to see that there are people out there who are willing to help us,” Miss Barrett said.

As certified wedding and event planners your schedule is packed, and it’s easy to get caught up in the details and forget what a wedding ceremony is all about. A quick look around your community may reveal opportunities for you to give back. Everyone deserves a beautiful wedding - budget or no budget - and all children deserve wonderful birthday parties given in their honor. Building your business is important, and Lovegevity encourages its graduates to work hard and build their reputations, but it also encourages you to share your talents with your community. It’s a great way to recharge your batteries, so to speak, and lift others’ spirits at the same time!