The Biggest Loser - Another One Finds Love!

We have covered two weddings from couples who have found love while on the TV show, The Biggest Loser.

Matt & Suzy Hoover met on the show, fell head over heels, got married in Jamaica (featured on our Summer 2007 cover) and now are blessed with having started a family!

In our current issue, you'll see the adorable and romantic story of Amy & Marty Wolff, who tied the knot in St. Lucia after having fell in love on the show.

Image by Baltazar Photography

Is it just me, or is there something more to this show than just reinventing your body, mind and spirit - maybe it's also an aphrodisiac?

Either way, there's more good news coming from Season 6. Michelle Aguilar, just tied the knot to Micha Whitehead in Texas on June 14th, looking slim and smashing in a silk satin off the shoulder gown with a bow detail and rhinestone and crystal beading by Piccione (style 450).

Image by Edmonson Weddings / David, Luke & Lauren

Bridesmaids donned short, sleek dresses from the Alfred Angelo collection, in refreshing summer color Lipstick (Style 6129sn).

Congrats to Michelle and Micha! Best of luck!

NEW ON NEWSSTANDS

This issue is one of my favorites! First of all, we had an amazing photo shoot in New Orleans that showcases some show-stopping talent by the city's best (Josh Andrus - photography, Robye Ducote - hair, Brandy Gomez-Duplessis- makeup, Rubener Bautista - jewelry) not to mention one of my closest friends and amazing model Leah Notebaert graced the set at the W French Quarter (which is the hottest spot in NOLA). Our very own Sr. Editor and the original "Anti-Bride," Carolyn Gerin, was an integral part of the entire creative process, right down to our gorgeous cover. Not to mention, she got to interview the famous Austin Scarlett (who is the head designer for Kenneth Pool and was on Season 1 of Project Runway) in her article aptly named "Interview with a Glampire."

This issue showcases destinations that help you keep the luxe and lose the bucks since affordable luxury is all the rage. We feature places right here in the US so you don't have to travel far to say your destination i do's (think Florida, Cali, Vegas, Smokies, the Outer Banks and MANY more). Honeymoon hideaways in the BVI's, Fiji and Mexico are covered as well for the people who are interested in a little seclusion.

If you're interested in reading all about other brides who have done destination weddings, we have several real-life couples telling all. As far as celebrity wedding stories - Teresa Strasser (co-host of the Adam Corolla Show) and Amy and Marty Wolffe from the Biggest Loser both shared their experiences with us.

Trashing the dress, advice from travel agents, wedding planners and etiquette specialists are just a few of the things you're in store for. We've PACKED this issue with helpful editorial and great locations. It's available at Barnes & Noble, many Borders Books and other fine retailers throughout the country. You can also order copies on our web site by visiting www.destinationidomag.com/subscribe. ENJOY!

TLC'S "SAY YES TO THE DRESS" AIRS SPECIAL INSTALLMENT OF HIT SERIES

Say Yes to the Dress: Ultimate Wedding Edition premieres on January 25 at 10pm ET/PT


On January 25, TLC will premiere SAY YES TO THE DRESS: ULTIMATE WEDDING EDITION, a one-hour special featuring three very deserving couples who get their dream weddings after overcoming hardships and tribulations.

• April and Elijah were originally planning for a Spring 2009 wedding, but when they found out they were both getting deployed to Iraq (they met during training--April, the bride, is a tank mechanic for the army national guard), they had to move up the date to December 2008 and plan their wedding in a month! They just got married December 27. The special also touches upon a great loss for the couple, the groom's twin brother recently died of cancer. Between the loss of his brother and the couple's upcoming deployment to Iraq, this was a very emotional event, but also a very joyous celebration.


• Hope and Eugene put their original wedding date on hold when Hurricane Ike hit. To make matters worse, Eugene recently lost his job as a program manager at the YMCA working with disadvantaged young people when budgets were cut due to the recession. They used their entire wedding budget to help family and friends recover from the devastation. We help them plan the wedding they've always dreamed of, and help the bride-to-be get her perfect dress as well. They are now getting married on February 14, 2009.
  
• Theresa and Irving just recently moved to NYC from New Orleans, and had spent most of their money supporting Irving's little brother. They've always wanted to plan a nice wedding but decided their money was better spent supporting Lamar and saving for their move to NY. The folks at Kleinfeld actually surprised the couple by transforming the lobby of the bridal salon into a wedding venue for them, and it's all documented in this special. This is the very first time the store has ever done this for anyone.

Say it with SWAROVSKI!

As many of you know, Fergie (aka Stacy Fergsuson) married Josh Duhamel last weekend and boy did they sparkle!

According to Courtney Kish at Film Fashion:

Fergie gifted her seven bridesmaids an assortment of jewelry from Swarovski.

Each bridesmaid wore the Dauphin pendant necklace ($190) featuring Black Pearl crystal pearls, Black Diamond and clear crystal pavé.

They also wore rhodium-plated Random bangles ($70),

and the pavé crystal Eyeliner bangles ($100)

Several attendants completed their look with crystal earring styles including:

Galet ($65)

Parallele ($115)

and Stonehenge ($95)

As for the boys?

Duhamel’s seven groomsmen wore the Francesco cuff links ($70) by Swarovski. The rhodium- plated rectangular cuff links feature a rich black Jet crystal set in the smart princess baguette cut.

To order your very own Swarovski jewelry, visit: www.swarovski.com

Destination: Buff Brides

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Second, congrats to all the newly engaged couples who are surfing the net to find the perfect weddding away. I hope you find destinationidomag.com and Destination I Do Magazine helpful tools in creating the destination wedding of your dreams.

Getting in shape is one way to start a new year off right, and it will help you look your best come W-day. Jennifer Cassetty, Celebrity Fitness Expert has some fantastic tips for how to look picture perfect depending on the gown you select:

A-Line: shoulders, sculpted arms- Bicep Curl/Shoulder Press Combination - With dumbbells, perform bicep curl up to chin, then rotate hands as press weights overhead, then return to start position
- Lateral Raises - standing with knees slightly bent, shoulders back palms down toward thighs, raise from mid-shoulder arms straight out to side up to shoulder level, then return to thighs
- Bench dips - sitting on edge of bench, hands just over edge, move hips just off bench and lower body by bending elbows straight back. Press from back of arms to extended position then lower body and repeat
- Rear Delt - Lying face down flat on bench; weights on floor, palms facing each other at shoulder level raise from back of shoulders straight out to side, squeezing shoulders together, then return to floor

Mermaid: back, toned glutes, lean thighs.
- Deadlift/Bentover rows - standing, knees slightly bent, shoulders back and chest out. Weights hanging down with straight arms in front of thighs, band at waist until back is parallel to floor; pull shoulders back together bending elbows up, then extend arms straight down and extend through hips to stand fully up.
- Single leg squats - one leg behind you on bench, keeping hips and shoulders square to the front, raise head and chest and squat down as far as possible keeping all the weight on the front heel., then stand back to start position and repeat.
- Squat/upright row Combination - wide stance with toes slightly turned out, weights in hands hanging straight down. Squat down, knees following line of toes, then stand and raise elbows up to the ears pulling from the shoulders, then return weights straight down back to squat position.


Ball Gown: slender or pear-shaped women to create smaller waist; nice arms - Rotating Plank - hold plank position on extended arms and toes, then rotate one arm up to ceiling, back to plank, and repeat on other side. Advanced move, add push-up during plank.
- Suitcase Crunches - on back, hands under ears, knees bent on floor crunch up and touch elbows to knees, then return to start position
- Sunrise Abs - lying on back with knees bent; holding ball, bar, or small dumbbell overhead with arms extended. press weight up to ceiling and perform full sit-up straight up to ceiling. Advanced move. rotate shoulders as you sit up, ball still straight up to ceiling.

Empire: focuses eye to neck and chest- Incline Chest Flies - incline bench lying face up, palms facing each other, bend elbows slightly and lower arms straight out to sides (above the chest, not shoulders or face), then pull from chest arms back up together.
- Chest press/triceps press combination - flat bench lying face up; palms facing outward bend elbows at 90 degree angle down to chest and press back up together; then face palms together and lower elbows straight down by side to chest level and press through back of arms straight above chest again. Rotate back to chest press/trice press for reps.
- Upright row/press out combination - sitting on edge of bench, hold weights straight down and pull upward from shoulders then extend arms straight out in front, pull back to shoulders, then lower back to start position.

Column: straight down for leaner figures, Belly and lean, toned thighs- CARDIO!!!! - interval training mixed with proper healthy diet will lean out legs and flatten belly in time for fittings!
- Star Lunges - Left foot stays anchored; right foot steps out front to lunge, back together; diagonal, lateral, and reverse lunge. Then Switch legs
- Lower abs - lying flat on floor, knees bent, pull belly into floor and raise knees up to chest raising hips off the floor, then lower back down to start position.
- Scissor abs - lying flat on back with legs extended, place hands under hips to support back raise legs off floor and alternate crossing them over and back of each other focusing on keeping inner thighs tight and lower belly pressed into floor.


For more information on Jennifer Cassetty please visit http://www.jennifercassetty.com/

New on Newsstands!

Cover photo by Rebecca Bouck Photography

That's right - it's new! And in my personal opinion, our best yet. This Fall/Winter issue of Destination I Do covers domestic and exotic locations along with a very special celebrity wedding (Chris Kattan and Sunshine Tutt) and an extremely helpful "Guide to Wedding Gowns" giving you an idea on how to dress your shape, not your size.

We have many of our same contributors back again, but also some new faces and places to help you in your quest of planning the greatest day of your life. You'll find helpful editorial on places to tie the knot and are perfect for your rustic chic getaway, spots in the Caribbean that will blow your mind, but not your bank account.

We all know that the economy is putting a strain on our spending - but that shouldn't mean you have to settle. This issue has some great places (such as Thailand) where you can stretch your dollar further but keep the elegance in tact.

You can find the magazine on newsstands nationwide or feel free to order a copy right off our web site!