Johnny Gonzales The Wedding Ceremony Cocktail Hour Reception Guitarist

For me, the most romantic way to get married was to elope. I didn't always feel this way. A decade ago, when I was engaged for the first time at 23, I spent a stressful year diligently planning what was supposed to be the most important day of my life. During that year, I often fantasized about running off to elope instead, but I couldn't dare stray from doing it "right." I ended up having a proper wedding with dozens of guests, the requisite toasts and a white tiered cake. Read more from Bazaar

Boxed Wholesale CEO Chieh Huang decided the company would reimburse employees up to $20,000 for wedding expenses. Marcel Graham, shown with his fiancee, Tara Aucoin, was the first employee to receive the benefit. (Boxed Wholesale)   Nick DeMarco runs a small biotech startup in Raleigh, N.C., that makes scientific instruments. But what got his company, Practichem , attention from CNBC's " Power Lunch ," the Huffington Post , Fortune and other media outlets last week wasn't the innovative products he's making. It was his promise to lease Tesla Model 3s to employees when they become available. Read more from the Washington Post

How do you take a wedding dress on a plane? What if you bought honeymoon tickets under your maiden name but now have a new surname? Such are the practical questions that arise when planning a destination wedding and honeymoon. For answers, you could try trawling online wedding boards where members have diamond ring avatars and plenty of opinions. But if you prefer not to take advice from handles like GlamBride4Ever or TheFutureMrsJones, here instead is the lowdown from United States Customs and Border Protection , the Transportation Security Administration , and major airlines. Read more from The New York Times

Yahoo Finance Canada - It's not just the father of the bride who'll be shelling out big bucks: everyone in the wedding party and guests are spending hundreds to attend someone's big day. When it comes to tying the knot, everyone knows that nuptials run up a hefty tab. In Canada, depending on which province you live in, the actual cost of a wedding can come in as low as a meager $300, since all you need is a basic license and someone to marry you. Everything else is technically extra. But oh, those extras… By the time you factor in extravagant venues, music, flowers, dresses, a honeymoon and the like, the average Canadian couple now spends just over $30,000 on their big day . Read more from Yahoo Finance

When it comes to planning a wedding, forget something old and something blue. This year, it’s all about the something new.  More couples are finding ways to incorporate the latest technologies into their wedding day.  “Some people may say that using technology during your wedding day may make it a little bit impersonal. I would argue the opposite,” said Samantha Murphy Kelly, the Deputy Tech Editor for Mashable. “If you’re using in subtle or certain ways you can actually make it much more personal.”  Read more from ABCNews

Couple has their wedding in the theme of Friday The 13th. To view their video of their wedding simply go here .

The department store takes bigger aim at the $60 billion industry Macy’s wants more shoppers to say “I do” to its wedding business. The department store chain is stepping up its nuptials game in the hopes of winning a bigger slice of the $60 billion U.S. wedding pie. Among other moves: Macy’s is adding higher-end bridal jewelry to its assortment and training its army of personal shoppers to advise anxious couples. Read more from Fortune.com http://fortune.com/2016/05/06/macys-weddings/  

My youngest son — the baby in our family — got married last weekend. Was I ready? Is any mother ever ready? My speech (Keep it short, Mom, I am warned) was written. My dress (Don’t go too fancy, Mom) had been altered. My hair (Please don’t go for the wild, curly look, Mom) had been colored and cut. My photo list (Mom, go easy on the amount of pictures you are requesting we take) was submitted. Along with who sits with whom. All was ready, except me. I was not ready to let go — to give this son to another woman and to share him with so many. Read more from the Huffington Post

Keats was correct in his epic poem Endymion; and for today's groom his promised love is easily  remembered and fashionable.   To this beginning of the wedding season all brides are a joy forever.   "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth, Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon, Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make ...

Brides spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on flowers for their weddings. Unfortunately, those flowers get trashed after the wedding and reception are over. Fortunately, a company has come up with a great solution to repurpose all those flowers, according to NBC Nightly News during its "Inspiring American" segment on Friday, May 6. A company called Repeat Roses is in business to give all flowers and not just roses a second chance to put smiles on recipients' faces. Repeat Roses was founded by a former event planner who owned a boutique wedding and event design company. Founder and CEO Jennifer Groves asks, "Why throw away beautiful flowers after the party is over?" Groves and her team repurpose leftover flowers and donate them to hospitals, nursing homes and other communities in need. Read more from the examiner.com

Gina Rivera Founder, Phenix Salon Suites    Wedding season is on the doorstep, close on the heels of prom season, and we’re seeing some of the same styles emerge for these two pinnacle hair events. These high-end celebrations are so interesting to track because they follow fashion trends and set new ones. What we’ve seen for proms and now for weddings is a looser look in hair. These are still formal events with the tuxedos and gowns, so the hair is still carefully finished. You won’t just pull up your hair on top in a gym bun. Nor will you go for the super tight curls that were popular in recent years. Read more from Huffpost