Wedded Bits

Houston

Dance the night away

Courtesy of Sengelmann Hall

Here's a really unique venue for a quirky, fun wedding. Sengelmann Hall is a 19th-century dance hall located in Schulenburg, Texas, about an hour and a half away from Houston. The hall features communal tables, a really neat biergarten adorned with ficus streets and oyster shells covering the floor (so cool!), and a patio overlooking the town's Main Street. Plus, the dance floor is huge—stretching from one end of the hall to the other. And of course, there's a stage for a live band.

Because of the German and Czech influence in the area, the kitchen specializes in "Pul A Pul" cuisine (half German, half Czech, with a Texas twist). The menu includes favorites like German and Czech sausages, schnitzel, and goulash. Visit Sengelmann Hall's website for more information.—Kim Forrest, Editor, Brides Houston

Favots & Gifts

Give great gifts

Whether you've exhausted them with tasks, or simply asked them to stand beside you during the ceremony, your wedding party deserves a thoughtful thank-you gift. We've rounded up our favorites so you can easily shop our selects. Check out gifts for bridesmaids, groomsmen and more.

Weddings to Watch

A vampire-themed wedding

Halloween is over but with the newest movie in the Twilight saga New Moon opening in theatres today it seems like everyone's obsession with vampires and werewolves has lived on. Check out this couple who took their fandom to a new level, marrying in the Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel last month in a vampire-themed ceremony (the officiant entered through a tomb!) Kind of brings a new meaning to "til death do us part."

Philadelphia

Lights, camera, action!

Courtesy of Philadelphia in the Movies

Since Philadelphia is the backdrop of many famous films—including the Rocky series and The Sixth Sense—why not arrange a Philly-themed movie tour for your out-of-town wedding guests? The Philadelphia in the Movies tour will give your friends and family members an inside look at the city's movie-making industry aboard a luxury bus; the tour guide will play clips from the various flicks for a refresher and can even stop at famous eateries as seen in the films. To book a private tour, call (215) 625-7980 or sign up online here. —Abigail Reid, Brides Philadelphia

Brides are Talking

What will you give your bridesmaids?

This week in our Brides.com Forums brides talk about the gifts they are buying for their bridesmaids. See what our brides have to say here:

Some brides like the idea of giving them presents they can use at the wedding. "I got them shoes and jewelry to wear at the wedding. A little boring? Yes. But they were all relieved to not have to worry about getting anything other than the dress," says MrsCP3.

Others will personalize each friend's gift. "I created a coffee mug for each on zazzle.com. The mug had a picture of me and the bridesmaid on one side, and on the other a quote that was specific to them," says MsDenuninani.

And some brides choose untraditional gifts that suited their bridesmaids' (and brides men's) personalities. "I got my maid of honor and my dude of honor both Swiss Army knives. Both of them were thrilled, and spent half the reception checking them out," says 2dBride.

BRIDES Magazine

The big move

Jackie Lebowitz

BRIDES is moving! Don't worry—you'll still be getting the biggest and best bridal information from us in your mailbox, on the newsstand, and online. After Thanksgiving we'll be working out of our new digs in Times Square, the heart and center of New York City. Seventy-five years' worth of baggage (and countless copies of the country's largest bridal magazine) sure weigh a ton. Oy!

—Jackie, BRIDES Magazine

Michigan

Custom candles

Bullfrog Light Company

Instead of another piece of tchotchke, be sure to offer your wedding guests a favor that's thoughtful and functional. We like these candles from Bullfrog Light Company, a candle-making company in Charlevoix, MI. Couples can create custom candles using their own design—incorporate your wedding monogram or a decorative motif from your invitation. The candle pictured here, which shows just how detailed the artwork can be, was a custom design by Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm for her 2007 inauguration. For more information on creating custom candles, call (800) 499-3332 or visit the company's candle gallery here. —Abigail Reid, Brides Philadelphia

Celebrity Insider

Twilight wedding news: a New Moon proposal, Bella's engagement ring and more

Courtesy of Amazon

Attention, fan-pire brides! The wait is finally over: New Moon opens this midnight (cue screams from 14-year-old girls everywhere). While I definitely wouldn't recommend planning a Twilight-themed wedding, I do think the girl-meets-vampire love story is great escapist entertainment—and full of dreamy romantic details. Check out a few of the best in our Twilight-wedding roundup:

Spoiler Alert! Get ready for Edward to get down on his knees: Screenwriter Melissa Rosenburg says that the sparkly vampire will pop the question in New Moon.

In the books, Edward proposes with an heirloom ring that is a described as a "long oval, set with slanting rows of glittering round stones." Like the style? Emitations has designed a ring based on Bella's engagement ring.

Who says only girls like vampire stories? This guy based his proposal on Twilight.

If you've ever wondered what Bella and Edward's wedding invitations might look like, satisfy your curiousity by taking at look at this fan's interpretation. —Kathryn Papanek

Wed-site Roundup

Courtesy of Bridal Bubbly*

Ritzy Bee: Creative ways to incorporate wheat in your details

Cocktails & Details: A chic wedding day emergency kit for the bride and groom

The Bride's Cafe: J. Crew's new party dress collection

Little White Book: The difference between escort cards and place cards

Bridal Bubbly: Picture-perfect ideas for a New Year's Eve wedding

*Image from Bella M Events

Atlanta

Outlet shopping

If you're looking to save a ton of money on your gown or need a dress ASAP, visit Etain Bridal Boutique's "Outlet Store." It's an online sample sale of sorts, where you can check out sample gowns by designers like Casablanca Bridal, Cymbeline, Pronovias, and Jasmine Couture, whose prices have been slashed. If you find a gown you're interested in, you can contact the store for more information. The gowns are in good condition, though they will probably need to be cleaned and altered. A recent find? A gorgeous Pronovias gown marked down 25 percent to under $1,000. Amazing! Visit Etain's online outlet by clicking this link or check out their lovely boutique in Tyrone, Georgia.—Kim Forrest, Editor, Brides Atlanta