One of the pleasures of attending bridal runway shows is getting to see the fully-realized vision of each designer—not just the gown, but the headpieces, the shoes, the hair, the makeup and, increasingly, the nail-polish choices.

Two standout shows took two very different color directions—each to gorgeous effect. 

At Vera Wang, a riot of red (yes, RED) gowns were beautifully offset with loose, undone hair and quietly nude nails.

"Did You Ear Van Vogh" by OPI

Over at Angel Sanchez, dreamy blue-gray nail lacquer was the color of the (big) day. 

"I Don't Give a Rotterdam" by OPI

—Mary Clarke

Since the moment I got engaged, I have truly relished wedding planning. I never really understood how much work and love goes into weddings until I became a bride-to-be; I can count the number of nuptials I've attended on one hand and only three of them took place within the last 10 years! Now, almost four months away from my own walk down the aisle, I have a much better understanding of weddings and a new outlook on celebrations in general.

1. I vow to never be upset if I’m not invited to someone’s wedding.

Prior to getting engaged, I had no clue how much weddings cost and what a huge impact just a few guests can have on the party budget. As a result, I will never be upset if I'm not invited to someone's wedding. On the flip side, I won't find it strange if someone I'm not particularly close to does invite me to their wedding in an attempt to be inclusive and not leave anyone out.

Technology is everywhere: At home, at work... and even on our dates? Mike Duerksen proved that to be true as he live-tweeted his 12-hour marriage proposal, consisting of eight dates on Friday the 13th, while hundreds of Twitter fans followed along.

The day before the proposal, Mike let Twitter followers know what he was planning (his girlfriend doesn't use Twitter) and invited them to follow him with the hashtag #MikeProposes. The next day, he led his girlfriend—and the Twitter world—on a whirlwind romance to eight different locations, each with a special meaning.  

He kept his followers in the loop with tweets and instagram photos from each place.

“Wishing best of luck to @mikeduerksen today! #MikeProposes is such a cool idea!” tweeted @MClinton007.

“@mikeduerksen #mikeproposes I'm not one for total mush but this is freaking adorable. Setting the standards high for all the guys out there!” @_dianer tweeted. 

Mike kept his followers updated every step of the way, even if his girlfriend may have disliked it.

Each week, we feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from Virginia-based DJ Drew Izm. His style features a wide range of music, mixing together sets that please audiences of all ages and walks of life. He has spun numerous events, including New Year's Eve on the high seas for Royal Caribbean, fashion shows with Macy's, and guest appearances at the rooftop pavillion of the W hotel in the nation's capital. Drew loves when couples are excited about the music for their wedding. "I think everyone has been to weddings where its all by-the-book, but I know there are many couples who want a party! Its a great opportunity for friends and family to get dressed up and then get down!” 

Photo Credit: K&K Photography