It's no surprise that planning a wedding can make you break out the tissues from time to time, but one thing I didn't realize as a bride is that there are distinct emotional phases you may go through before getting married. Just like Kübler-Ross' "Five Stages of Grief" theory, you can experience these stages in any order and every person's experience is just as unique as their wedding.

Thinking of wedding planning within this framework explains how it's possible to go from being giddy one moment to anxious or disinterested the next. Here, I share my experience, but I'd love to hear which stages, if any, you'd add to my list!

Stage 1: Pure Joy

Pop the champagne corks: This is really happening! Getting engaged to my husband Jason was a surreal experience, even though I had a feeling that bended-knee moment was coming. I was initiated into the incredibly wonderful (and wacky) world of weddings. I nostalgically look back on all of my wedding experiences now that my proofs are back, my beautiful wedding dress is dangling from a closet door, waiting to be preserved, and I'm transitioning into my role as a wife.

But the truth is that the source of my happiness was deeper than all of that. The Most Epic Party of Our Lives would just be the first of many adventures together: buying a house, traveling the world and hopefully having a baby someday. Professing our commitment added another dimension to our relationship, no matter how cliché it sounds.

The winning dress! I added the custom straps shown at right. 

There’s a crisp, brisk early-morning chill in the air these days that readily conjures up all the sights and scents of the season for me (baked apples, cinnamon, pumpkin-spiced lattes!). I find autumn an especially beautiful time of year to marry. The colors are gorgeous and the décor ideas are plentiful.

We asked noted floral designer, Rene van Rems, spokesperson for Lily Occasions, for flower tips for fall weddings. Rene suggested using a few flowers that you might not normally think of as fall blooms, such as calla lilies, Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies and gladiolus. “Mini Calla lilies are clean simple and elegant and won’t wilt out of water for days!” says Rene. “They come in more than 20 colors including bronze, deep purple, cream and burnt orange — quintessential fall hues.

Another favorite of Rene’s, the Asiatic lily is grown in greenhouses year-round and is the perfect size for carrying or to display in centerpieces. “The colors are too many to mention. If you can imagine the color, there is a bloom!” (just no blues or lavenders.)

The large “show stopper” lily is the Oriental lily. It has a strong scent unlike the unscented Asiatic lily and comes in a deep burgundy, red or soft yellow to brighten your display.

Another year-round choice recommended by Rene is the gladiolus that “is in vogue again.” “This spiky flower is available in deep purples, terra cotta, oranges or every hue and can be used on their long stem or cut in pieces,” says Rene.

Rene likes to mix these blooms together for a baroque looking collage of color, form and texture. “And if you simply add some fall leaves, branches or ornamental grasses you’ll have a more rustic, country look.”

These orange calla lilies are especially charming in small, textured silver vases:

You’ve likely seen the video that went viral about the officiant who got angry at the wedding photographers when they encroached upon the ceremony space, making loud camera noises:

Leaving aside the debate whether or not the officiant was righteous in telling them to back off, I think we can all agree that photographers being obtrusive like a flock of paparazzi helped create the environment where something like this could happen.

That's why it's so important to remember this: When it comes to choosing your photographer, don’t make the mistake of thinking only about the photography.

Here’s a thought borrowed from acclaimed acting teacher Stella Adler (whose students included Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro). "It's not enough to have talent; you have to have a talent for your talent." Her admonition was that to rely solely on natural talent only works when things go well. But it’s training and honed skills that get you through and deliver results when things don’t quite fall into place. 

And let’s be frank; with all its various personalities, moving parts, and details involved, plenty of things at your wedding may not exactly fall smoothly into place. That’s just the way real life goes — point being, talent alone is not enough. Talent needs to be honed and developed. Skills have to be learned, and then they need to be practiced until they become second nature. Then experience serves to yield insight and refine those talents and skills.

What began as one woman’s small gesture of affection — making a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich for her boyfriend — led to a marriage proposition ("honey, you’re 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring!") that’s sparking online debate over whether fulfilling such a promise is sweet or misogynistic.

That’s because the girlfriend-in-question, Stephanie Smith (she recently revealed her identity as a reporter for The New York Post’s gossip site, Page Six), actually took on this culinary dare. Undeterred by friends who were concerned she would morph into a Stepford Wife from the ‘50s, she decided to document her progress on a blog titled 300sandwiches.com.

Photo Credit: 300sandwiches.com

On it, she writes that, "Some say I’m desperate to get engaged. Hardly. I don’t have to be. E [her boyfriend, Eric Schulte] didn’t say ‘cook me 300 sandwiches or I’m leaving you!’ He gave me a challenge…and the type-A, Tracy Flick side of me can’t stand being challenged."

Fall and winter weddings are on the horizon, and long, thick, gorgeous locks are the perfect look to complement the cooler weather. Taking a cue from the stars, hair extensions could be the quick fix to getting luscious hair in a short amount of time — just in time for that November wedding! I sat down with stylist Akira Yamane of Eiji Salon to get the big scoop on hair extensions.

How long does your hair have to be to get extensions?
Length should be at least shoulder length. If it’s too short, then the extensions will look more noticeable.

How long do extensions stay in?
Extensions last from anywhere from 3 to 4 months; longer if they're maintained well, such as blow drying them well, conditioning, and taking time to comb through them.

How long does it take to put in extensions?
It depends on the amount of extensions applied, but it usually takes five hours for a full head. A half head will be half the amount of time. You also need to have a pre-consultation at the salon so that they can order hair that is a color match.

Do you cut the extension on the head?
Yes, we cut length and bulkiness of the ends around the face line, depending on the angles already applied to the haircut before the application of the extensions.

Any tips for brides considering extensions?
Extensions are great to add length and fullness to the style. Also, they can give the illusion of highlights —  we can add lighter or darker pieces to create the look without the commitment. 

If Jennifer Salvage’s wedding dress could talk, it would have some pretty wild travel stories to tell. It’s gone dog sledding in Iceland, paragliding in New Zealand, and even taken an under-the-sea dip in Maui. The gown’s been worn 148 times in 19 locations across six continents and has traveled a total of 147,500 miles. Salvage, 42, a Medford, NJ native, brings it along to every vacation in a backpack.

The "One Dress, One Woman, One World" project , as it was dubbed, began five-and-a-half years ago, when Jennifer married her husband Jeff on Easter Island in Chile — one of the most remote places in the world. Both are avid hikers, and Jeff, a 46-year-old professional photographer, decided they should wed in Chile after visiting the country on a trip when he first started dating Jennifer. He wanted to get some spectacular wedding photos (naturally!), so he shot his beautiful new wife in multiple locations under different lighting conditions. The dress held up well, so they decided to take it with them to their summer travels to the Alps and China.

"When we broke the dress out, people first thought they’d stumbled upon a wedding and were excited. Then, when they found out it was something different, they were even more excited. On the way home, we realized we had the idea of something special and went with it," Jeff tells us.

"We love the idea of using up the dress, reliving our wedding over and over again," he says.

The Salvages relived their wedding everywhere, from iconic monuments (The Eiffel Tower, The Vatican, Egyptian Pyramids) to scenic natural backdrops (mountains, beaches, canyons, craters) to sports stadiums.

Take a look at their amazing photos below!

Lavish texture can give your big-day look a couture feel! To complement detailed big-statement accessories, go for minimalist makeup and hair. A clean top-knot and neutral makeup will give this look an off-the-runway feel. Which big statement accessories are you planning for your wedding? 

Credits left to right: 1. Gold Iris platform sandals with t-bar ankle strap and rubber soles from Alexander McQueen. 2. Milou embellished gold-tone headband by Eugenia Kim. 3. Metallic Lace Sandal by Charlotte Olympia. 4.Belinda cutout leather sandals by Charlotte Olympia. 5. Hayley Paige tulle ballgown with lace embellished tulle shawl. 6. Clear Crystal Earrings by Noir Jewelry. 7. Mix No. 6 Honor pump from DSW.com. 8. Oscar de la Renta Embroidered tulle gown. 9. Oscar de la Renta Glass pearl and crystal-embellished floral necklace.

—Naima DiFranco