3 Ways to Make Sure the Weather Doesn't Get in the Way of Your Fall Wedding

Preparing for Fall Weather Weddings

Photo: Amber Gress

Fall weather all across the country can be unpredictable. Where I grew up in the mid-Atlantic region, Indian summers were common. But that didn’t mean we didn’t have snow in November a few times. It snowed on Halloween when I was in college at Ohio State. Some states out west and in northern New England could have sunshine or heavy snow as early as September. So does that mean you should reconsider getting married in the fall? Absolutely not. Who cares if there’s a snow flurry backdrop to the colorful canvas of leaves on the trees? Revel in it, work with it, and enjoy it — just be as prepared as possible for any weather eventuality.

Every wedding needs a “Plan B” in case of inclement weather, but the autumn tends to be more unpredictable than any other season. Think ahead, and consider my tips below, for a smooth and comfortable wedding day.

1. Learn as much as possible, ahead of time, about the weather where you’re getting married.
If it’s your hometown, you know how predictable, or crazy, the weather can be in the month that you’re planning to get married. Pay attention to the forecasts in the month ahead. Don’t set up weather alerts on your phone and make yourself crazy, but be aware if there’s a lot of hot, cold, or wet weather headed your way. If you’re getting married away from home, ask your venue or wedding planner for advice on how to be prepared. Hurricane season (June through November) can be tricky in the Caribbean, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

2. Prepare to give your guests a comfortable environment, wherever you’re celebrating your festivities.
If there’s the slightest possibility it will be a little too brisk for your cocktail hour you’ve planned on an outside terrace or patio, invest in attractive outside space heaters. If you don’t need them, you won’t use them. But if you don’t have them and the weather turns, you won’t be able to get them at the last minute because everybody who thought ahead will have already reserved them. It’s tailgate season, after all. The same goes for fans to cool a space that could become stuffy if the wedding day weather is exceptionally nice.

3. Tents can be used year-round most places for outdoor events, but you may have to goose things up a bit.
If you’re planning all or part of your wedding outside in the fall, make sure when you rent a tent to ask about the availability of sides for it, in case the temperatures drop, or it’s windy and raining sideways. They also have interior/exterior space heaters that can be used inside a closed-up tent, if you reserve them in advance. Also, if it’s been really rainy the week before your wedding, you may want to put down carpeting or a floor inside the tent. Your options for creating a comfortable, inviting outside space are limited only by your budget.

Sandy Malone is the owner of Sandy Malone Weddings & Events and author of How to Plan Your Own Destination Wedding: Do-It-Yourself Tips from an Experienced Professional. Sandy is the star of TLC’s reality show Wedding Island, about her destination wedding planning company, Weddings in Vieques.

See More: 42 Fall Inspired Wedding Cakes

6 Poolside Snacks That Won't Make You Bloat

watermelon

Photo: Getty Images

Between holding a novel above your head for an excruciatingly long time, applying sunscreen on your friend’s back and jumping in the water (only to spring back out because it’s too cold), let’s face it, laying out at the beach or pool is utterly exhausting — and a cause for hunger.

And because you care about your health, when hunger strikes near the water, you automatically reach in your bag for a good-for-you treat. But as you scarf down your container of raw veggies, you start to get an uneasy feeling in your gut, followed by an ominous rumbling and the inevitable tummy pooch.

Although snacks like raw vegetables are healthy, that doesn’t mean the effects are instantaneous. Oftentimes, foods that we think are the best for us can contribute to the biggest temporary bloating, which can be uncomfortable when you’re wearing a bikini.

No worries! Here are six pool, beach or lakeside snacks you can safely munch on (bloat-free), according to the experts.

Watermelon

Snacks pre-infused with water are your best bet to combat bloating. “Water-based fruit is ultra-hydrating and contains more electrolytes than coconut water,” explains Toby Amidor, a registered dietician.

According to Amidor, that extra dose of H2O will help keep things circulating. “Watermelon also contains L-Citrulline, an amino acid that supports heart and blood vessel health, helps your arteries relax and results in greater blood flow throughout the whole body.”

Cooked grilled vegetables
According to Abbey Sharp, a registered dietician and blogger at AbbeysKitchen.com, some of the worst bloating culprits can be the healthiest. “In raw form, uncooked veggies like cauliflower, kale and broccoli contain certain sugars that are difficult to digest and cause bloating,” she says. “Cooked veggies eliminate those sugars and are more easily digested.”

Of course, cold cooked veggies aren’t the most appetizing poolside snack. For something with a crunch, try these baked zucchini chips from SkinnyMom.com.

Frozen grapes
A favorite dieting trick from Victoria Beckham, snacking on frozen grapes can be a great way to stay hydrated and bloat-free by the water. “On a hot, sunny day, these are a great skinny frozen treat,” says Kate Martino, a physician assistant in lifestyle medicine. “They’re hydrating and can be snacked on for as long as they stay chilled.”

Ceviche
Although it will take a bit more prep time, ceviche can be a tasty, refreshing way to avoid an oncoming stomach pooch. “I recommend ceviche as a regular for poolside munchies, considerings its many health benefits,” says Mike Clancy, a certified sports nutritionist. “The simple combination of lightly cooked shrimp or raw tuna, avocado cubes and lemon juice is a guaranteed hit and is very easy on the digestive system.” Get the recipe here.

Flat beverages
The fact that carbonated beverages cause bloating isn’t necessarily breaking news. But just because you aren’t reaching for a soda or beer to quench your thirst, doesn’t mean your stomach is bound to stay flat. “Stick to lemon and water,” says Sharp. “High-sugar drinks and even sparkling water can be difficult to digest and cause you to bloat.”

Plain old lemon and water not doing much for you? We hear that! Try adding in strawberries, cucumber and mint leaves for a yummy, refreshing, simple and detoxifying concoction.

Avocado
Packed to the brim with essential fatty acids, plant-based proteins, potassium and Vitamin E, avocados are superfoods when it comes to smooth digestion. What’s more, their healthy fats help absorb the nutrients of other foods, key in ensuring that anything you’ve eaten moves more seamlessly through your system.

Of course, it can be easy to pair this smooth treat with carb-loaded foods like chips and bread and ultimately negate its digestion-boosting effects. Instead, try eating with tomatoes and cooked veggies or in blending into yummy smoothie form.

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See More: Mess-Free Snacks to Munch on While You & Your Bridesmaids Get Glam

8 Real Life Stories of Canceled Weddings That You Have to Read to Believe

Cancelled Wedding Reddit Stories

Photo: Getty Images

Here comes the bride… Or on second thought, maybe not. It’s the very last thing any to-be-wedded couple wants to think about, but canceled weddings do happen. Runaway Bride wasn’t just a movie, after all! Whether a bride or groom gets a case of the dreaded cold feet or disaster strikes, nuptials do get called off from time to time. It’s awful, but it’s reality for some no-longer brides and grooms. And sometimes, that reality sounds like something straight out of movie. For example, these real-life stories of called-off weddings are so jaw-droppingly dramatic, we’d be trying to sell the screen rights after getting our deposit back on the venue.

Our hearts go out to the brides and grooms behind these cancelled wedding anecdotes, shared by Reddit users and complied by People. But seriously, we’re mostly just happy that we’re not them…

“It was my own wedding. I was there waiting, and my bride-to-be texted me letting me know that she wasn’t feeling well and that she needed to go to the hospital. I got suspicious when I noticed that no one from her side of the family had shown up. Turns out, they had never sent out their half of the invitations and never bothered to tell me that there was no wedding. So there I was with my friends and family at a wedding that didn’t actually exist.”

“The groom left the bride at the altar. He just didn’t show up! He said he had cold feet. The couple stayed together, and then planned another wedding. He stood her up AGAIN! Somehow, they stayed together, and she agreed to attempt to marry him a third time. He showed up, they wed, and have now been together for over forty-five years.”

Real Housewives Gif

Photo: Giphy

“The groom’s mother spilled something on the bride’s dress. The bride flipped out and cussed out the mother-in-law. The groom was in a state of shock and demanded an apology, but his wife-to-be refused. He walked out. The guests tried to talk to the bride and groom, but they weren’t having any of it.”

“I was taken to a wedding by a then-girlfriend. I knew no one there. I was sort of just dumped with the groom and his wedding party, as my girlfriend was a bridesmaid. The groom and his buddies proceeded to get drunk and just bail. Not telling anyone, just leaving. So here I am, not knowing anyone. I had to go to the room the bride was getting ready in, knock, ask for my girlfriend and explain to her. She and I pretty much just had to break the news.”

Will and Grace Gif

Photo: Giphy

“My friend and his girlfriend had been dating for like five years, and they were going to get married. Everyone approved of this woman too, educated, smart and good-looking. The day of his wedding, he left his cell phone in his jacket in some room where the wedding was going to happen. Normally for an event like this, he’d be the first to turn it off and leave it somewhere, but I guess he needed to call his cousin who was late and in the wedding. When he got to the room, he found the bride hooking up with a friend of a bridesmaid.”

See More: This Reddit Thread About Horrifying Wedding Stories Is Killing Us

“This happened in Calcutta. The couple had been introduced to each other and after like six months of hanging out and getting to know each other, they got engaged. They had known each other for almost a year up to this point. The evening of the wedding, a group of people showed up and literally blocked the street so the groom couldn’t come to the wedding venue. Turns out, the groom had been sleeping with a female of said blockade, with the promise of getting married. Even going so far as to introduce himself to her parents and family, plan a future date for his parents to meet hers. For about an hour there was a stand off. When the information got back to the bride and her family, they called off the wedding. The guests were half in shock, half trying to eat and drink as much as they could before the inevitable cancellation happened.”

Harry Potter Gif

Photo: Giphy

“Last wedding I went to the groom was doing drugs with his friend in the back room right before the ceremony. He could barely walk down the aisle, and he passed out before they could get through their vows. The bride and her mom left crying. They actually got married for real like two weeks later and now have a two-year-old.”

“I used to work with a girl named Ashley. She was engaged to some guy I never met. He used to travel a lot for work, or so I was told. We became pretty close friends and a couple of us were invited to the wedding. A couple days before the wedding, I heard some coworkers talking loudly about something terrible that happened. I went over to hear what was going on and I found out Ashley had called off the wedding. Family and friends from Utah had already flown in. Turns out, the fiancé was actually an awful low-life. He had no job and was stealing from her. She decided not to go through with it. Silver lining: three months after the canceled wedding, Ashley and I started dating. She told me later she had doubts about the marriage and had feelings for me. Which I didn’t know I had them as well until after the ordeal. We have been married for five years now and have a son together. When people ask how we met, we leave that story out.”

Friends Gif

Photo: Giphy

Veronica Mars Star Kyle Gallner's Winter Wedding Photos Are Giving Us All the Christmas Feels

While Kyle Gallner‘s role on the TV show Outsiders is all about drama and power struggles, his relationship with Tara Ferguson is pure love story. “We met at a karaoke bar in Burbank, California, in August of 2011. It was very romantic, I assure you!” says Tara. With two young boys, Oliver and Leo, the couple skipped a formal engagement and instead decided it was time. “We always knew we would get married,” Tara explains. “We designed my ring together and picked out my wedding band.” And that was it! The pair sought out a property where they could have a simple, rustic celebration that honored the Christmas season, and found the Graf Barn in Oxnard, California. The barn and surrounding property, filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind antiques, is just an hour outside of Los Angeles. “The experience was so laid-back,” says Tara. “The owner, Laina, does almost everything herself. She’s a one stop shop, it’s incredible!”

For their December 12, 2015, wedding, Tara and Kyle — who played Beaver in the hit TV show Veronica Mars — opted for dark red, green, and blue hues, accented with silver, gold, and twinkling lights. “We both love Christmas, and wanted everything to be simple and cozy. It felt like being in a cabin, so I think we achieved what we were after!” says the bride. With 100 guests (and their boys!) in tow, they had just about the most wintery wedding you could expect to find in California. The sweet, personal celebration was photographed by Brett & Tori Photographers — take a peek, below!

Tara’s Rosa Clara wedding dress featured a high neck and delicately striped ottoman fabric. She paired her seasonal ensemble with a dark red lip and a soft chignon. “We were on location while Kyle was shooting Outsiders, so I went dress shopping in Pittsburgh with my sister. I had no idea how long it would take to order a dress and have all the fittings!” says the bride. She borrowed a ring from her mother-in-law that every woman in the Gallner family has worn at her wedding.

The ceremony took place beneath the property’s oak trees, with wooden folding chairs draped in soft branches.

Kyle wore a dark blue Ted Baker suit, while his groomsmen wore varying shades of gray. The flower girls rode down the aisle in a Radio Flyer wagon, while the couple’s sons came down the aisle with the bride’s nephew, William. “Oliver had a sign that said ‘Daddy Here Comes Mommy,'” Tara says.

The bride walked down the aisle with her father, who wore his Marine dress blues, as musicians played an instrumental version of “Your Song” by Elton John.

A braid of cream yarn was used for the handfasting ceremony. “For every vow, my maid of honor wrapped the yarn around our hands, and with the last vow she tied the strands together,” the bride says of the meaningful tradition. “This is where the term ‘tying the knot’ comes from.”

Instead of choosing a single dress, Tara asked her bridesmaids to wear any floor-length gray dress they loved. She carried a bouquet of dark red peonies and light pink roses, while her ‘maids carried a mix of white and red roses. The groomsmen’s boutonnieres combined red blooms with greenery and seasonal berries.

A fur wrap was the perfect way to fight off the December chill — as was a little fun with sons Oliver and Leo!

Guests sipped cranberry and vodka cocktails while lounging on the venue’s collection of antique furniture, then headed into the barn for dinner.

A combination of reclaimed tables, chandeliers, and yards and yards of twinkle lights created a warm and cozy atmosphere inside the barn. Each table featured mismatched china, gold chargers, and centerpieces that combined pine branches, pomegranates, and gold-painted pinecones. At the sweetheart table, Tara and Kyle sat in chairs covered with sheepskin and sipped out of gold crystal goblets.

Instead of traditional table numbers, wooden Christmas trees were topped with stars that were each painted with a different number.

Kyle and Tara made their grand entrance through two white sheer curtains, then headed to the dance floor for their first dance.

When Kyle and his mom took to the floor for their mother-son dance, his mom had Leo strapped to her in a baby carrier. “It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!” says Tara. “Oliver and I joined in for the end of the dance.”

The two-tiered wedding cake, with layers of zucchini cake and cream cheese frosting, was topped with two shimmering deer, sliced almonds, roses, and gilded pinecones. “It was so delicious!” Tara remembers.

At the end of the night, guests headed out to get ready for the sparkler exit while Tara and Kyle shared one last dance alone to “Amazed” by Lonestar. “Our moms were peeking through a hole in the barn doors!” she says.

Needless to say, the relaxed and welcoming celebration was a smashing success. “Remember, not everything needs to be perfect,” says Tara. “It’s the little imperfections that make your day special!”

Venue, Flowers & Catering: The Graf Barn || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara || Shoes: Saint Laurent Paris || Hair & Makeup: Camilla Orosco || Groom’s Attire: Ted Baker London || Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Platt Boutique Jewelry || Music: DJ Steve Stock || Videographer: Light Up Video || Photographer: Brett & Tori Photographers

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Did you love this wintry celebration? Then check out another couple’s Christmas-inspired wedding in the video below.

The Marriage Didn't Last a Year — Should The Couple Return Their Wedding Gifts?

wedding gifts

Photo: Getty Images

It’s always sad when a relationship comes to an end, especially when the couple made plans to spend their lives together. While a wedding called off before the big day means the couple should return the gifts they’ve received, what happens if they make it down the aisle, but not much further? Here’s what our experts recommend couples do in regards to the etiquette of returning wedding gifts if the marriage fails.

According to the queen of etiquette, Emily Post, keeping wedding gifts is not dependent on the success of the marriage. So whether it’s a week, a few months, or almost a year of marriage before the couple calls it quits, guests should not expect to get their gifts back.

The biggest thing to remember is that these gifts have probably already been used. Even if you’re superstitious and don’t believe a wedding gift should be used before the Big Day, that isn’t a hard and fast rule. Many couples immediately put new dishes straight into the dishwasher or bust out that blender for a batch of margaritas on their next day off — after all, they probably don’t have space to store an entire second kitchen worth of gear in the packaging while they wait to say “I do!” If the gift has been opened and used, it’s unreasonable to expect that they’ll send your gift back to you — and no way you’ll get your money back!

And of course, remember that there’s much more to the situation than simply whether the couple needs to send back their wedding gifts. They have lives to rebuild and a divorce to navigate, so don’t add any more pressure with the expectation that they now need to sift through their belongings not only to figure out who gets what, but to figure out what gets sent back to their friends and family members. Asking for your gift back will put you high on the list of people they resent, when what they really need is love and support.

See more: Real Divorced Women Reveal What Could Have Made Their Marriages Work

5 Ways to Beat Honeymoon Jet Lag

jet lagged woman

Photo: Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that jet-setting to different countries can have a downside — but it does. Jet lag (also called desynchronosis) is an actual temporary medical condition related to a sleep disorder induced by rapidly traveling through time zones. Honeymooners crossing one or two time zones — fear not — you’ll be fine. But for those travelers heading to an Italian escape, African Safari, Bali beaches and more — check out our tips for beating bridal jet lag to make the most of every moment.

Stay Hydrated

It’s no secret how important it is to stay hydrated while traveling. The circulated air and high altitude can do a number on your skin, and energy levels before you even factor in jet lag. As a general rule of thumb, try to drink about 8oz of water at least every 90 minutes while in air. Enough to keep you going — but to limit the amount of annoying in-flight bathroom breaks!

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
While it may be tempting to drink until you’re ready to sleep, or sip coffee to fight back against the snooze struggles, your efforts run the risk of backfiring. Overconsumption of both alcohol and caffeine can result in dehydration, headaches, upset stomach, fatigue — the list goes on. Some say jet lag can feel like a hangover — imagine jet lag PLUS a hangover? No thanks.

Move
A general rule of thumb is that movement makes things better. Improve circulation and alertness with stretches and short walks when you can. Even shifting your seated position can help make you more comfortable. When you’re feeling really sleepy at inappropriately timed hours — try a brisk walk to get your heart rate going and get a natural jolt of energy to help adapt.

Ease in to It
For seasoned travelers, many opt to ease in to the time changes a few days prior to their departure. By waking an hour earlier or heading to bed an hour later each day for a few days, you can begin a slower transition. Also, many opt for flights that will arrive in the early evening, leaving enough time for dinner and decompression — but not much else — resulting in a hopefully “normal” bed time for new arrivals.

Adapt Quickly

Changing your watch and phone times to that of your destination as soon as you take off can help you become acclimated mid-air, versus feeling jarred by the shifts upon landing. The earlier you are on destination time, the better. It’s not uncommon to take a red-eye, arrive at 7AM and crave dinner food — but opt for traditional breakfast items for breakfast, lunch for lunch, and — you guessed it — dinner for dinner. The sooner you become acclimated, the less of an effect jet lag will have on your trip.

See More: 6 Pre-Wedding Beauty Supplements to Try

Michael Phelps' Heartfelt Message to Fiancé Nicole Johnson is Total #HusbandGoals

michael phelps nicole johnson

Photo: Michael Phelps via Instagram

Could they get any cuter? Just days after winning a handful of gold medals at the 2016 summer Olympic games in Rio, swimmer Michael Phelps shared a sweet tribute to his fiancée Nicole Johnson on Instagram yesterday. In it, he wrote some very heartfelt sentiments to his wife-to-be, sure to make any significant other swoon.

Michael Phelps posted a photo of himself and his fiancée Nicole Johnson, captioning it, “I love spending time together with you!! Thank you for everything!! Can’t wait for the next chapter of our life to begin!! Love you!! #rio2016 #omega” — now that is a lot of exclamation points, and with good reason. The 31-year-old Olympian just won his final round of gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games (he now has 28 in total, according to The Daily Mail), has a beautiful fiancée, and a little cherub of a son named Boomer. Life is pretty good right now, that’s for sure.

And the next chapter in their lives is sure to be a good one as well. With a wedding happening at the end of the year and Phelps retiring from his swimming days (with a net-worth of about $55 million according to CNBC), life is pretty sweet. He announced on Monday that he’s leaving his post as Olympic champion to focus on “building a family” with his 31-year-old fiancée and three-month-old Boomer. After 28 medals and zillions of laps, you deserve a break!

His wife-to-be has shared an equal amount of heartwarming photos on her Instagram while she supported her man in his quest to defend his gold medal titles. In the latest snap, she posted a pic of her and her hubs-to-be overlooking Copacabana in Brazil (complete with boomer in a bjorn on her chest!), saying, “My happy lil family @m_phelps00 #proudfiancé #family #bestfriend” complete with heart eyes emojis.

The duo shared that they’re tying the knot at the end of this year in an intimate ceremony — followed by a big party. “It’ll be small and intimate for the wedding, then we’re throwing a massive bash for everyone in the States,” the former beauty queen shared with Access Hollywood while in Rio.

The ex-Miss California and champion swimmer have had quite the on-again, off-again relationship, but it definitely seems like they are in it for the long haul. “I’m pretty sure we both shared stuff with our parents and were like, ‘Oh, this is it, there’s no way we are getting back together,'” Johnson recalled. Phelps’ mom, Debbie Phelps weighed in, sharing that she always felt that Johnson was “The One.” In fact, when they got back together and the swimmer told his mom that he was back with his leading lady, his mom was thrilled. “That’s where he should be,” she said.

See More: 7 Women Share How They Knew He Was the One

The future Mrs. Phelps had similar feelings about it, noting that she and her groom picked up right where they left off. “It was still a little rocky and figuring things out, figuring each other out because it had been some time. But we didn’t miss a beat.”

The one question we have for the retired athlete and his wife-to-be, however, is — are his 12,000 calories-per-day diets still going to be on the menu in this new chapter? Now THAT’s a lot of cooking for a bride-to-be while she’s planning her big day!

My happy lil family ** @m_phelps00 #proudfianc* #family #bestfriend

A photo posted by Nicole Michele Johnson (@nicole.m.johnson) on Aug 16, 2016 at 3:26pm PDT

How to Easily Avoid These 5 Common Wedding Day Disasters

upset bride

Photo: Getty Images

While your wedding day will easily be one of the best days of your life, it’s also a day that potentially anything could go wrong. No matter how many times you cross things off your to-do list, triple confirm with your vendors, and do a no-rain dance, you never know the crazy situations that may knock on your door during one of the most precious and important days of your life. So if you’re looking to take a proactive approach to fighting off stressful situations on your wedding day, here are five wedding day disasters that you can easily avoid (with careful planning).


1. Vendors Who are a No-Show

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning a wedding and often those moving parts involve your wedding vendors. Even if you’ve been chatting with them for months, have one member of your bridal party call them at 9am on your wedding day to confirm their arrival. Ask them to show up 30-45 minutes before the time you truly need them there. That buffer period will allow for traffic and any other hiccups.

2. You Run Out of Food
You don’t want to have to face a couple hundred hungry guests when you run out of food at your buffet or even during cocktail hour. Always order a little more food than you need or add on a late night snack bar.

3. The Dress of Your Dreams is a Nightmare to Wear

If you’re having trouble fitting into your wedding dress, whether it’s too big or too small, make sure you bring some fashion emergency items with you, including a mini-sewing kit, double-sided tape, and safety pins. The bigger tip here, however, is make sure to get a dress that you feel comfortable and beautiful in from the start (and not after you will yourself to lose 15 pounds!).

4. Your Flowers Make You Sneeze
If you suddenly realize that you’re allergic to the flowers you picked, try to avoid holding your bouquet until it’s time to walk down the aisle. Keep it at a bit of a distance from your chest and face and hand it over to your maid-of-honor before it’s time to kiss the groom.

5. The Power Goes Out

If the power goes out and the venue doesn’t have a backup generator, the only thing you can do is make the best of the situation. The best thing you can do is double check with your venue beforehand to make sure that this won’t ever be an issue. Send someone to the nearest convenience store to pick up candles and move the party outdoors.

See More: Real Brides Dish on Their Funniest Wedding Disasters

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

Wife Posts Heartbreaking Ad Selling Her Wedding Dress After She Finds Husband Cheating

Normally after a wedding, your white gown is something that commemorates the special day you and your husband shared together. It brings back memories of your first kiss, first dance and first piece of cake together as a married couple. But for one disgruntled wife, it only brings sorrow. Can you blame her?!

Samantha, a 28-year-old blogger from the United Kingdom, recently found out her husband was having an affair AND living with the woman he was cheating on her with (talk about a double-whammy…). And because filing for divorce isn’t exactly a cheap matter, Samantha decided to sell the one logical thing she could — her wedding dress.

wedding dress ad on ebay

Photo: Courtesy eBay

Reeling from the emotional devastation that going through a divorce creates, this wife took to eBay to auction off her strapless lace wedding gown that she described as, “Used: Great condition but needs dry cleaning before wearing to get rid of the stench of betrayal.” Ouch. She started the bidding at 500 pounds, and added a lengthy description of not only the gown, but her “scumbag of a husband” as well. It reads:

“I’m selling this designer Art Deco wedding dress in ivory. Mainly selling as I need to pay for my divorce which my ex-husband has left me to foot the bill for! It’s strapless, with a long lace train which can be hooked up for the evening do…As it reaches the floor, it is a little dirty around this area and so will need a dry clean before it’s worn for your special day. I didn’t have time to get it dry-cleaned myself before my cheating scumbag of a husband decided to call an end to our marriage. It cost my poor parents around 2,000 pounds brand new in 2014.”

“Sorry there are only two pictures, but when I found out my husband was living with another woman, I pretty much burned/permanently deleted everything with his disgusting face on it! If you want a dress that is full of bad memories and shattered hopes and dreams then this is the one for you! Hope this dress brings you a lot more happiness than it brought me in the end and if not…well you can always sell it on here!”

See More: Does Flirting Equal Infidelity?

She ended the (understandably) bitter rant with, “If you’ve got any questions — either about the dress or the skank that my husband ran off with — then please feel free to contact me!”

Since posting the ad on August 11th, the bid has gone up to a whopping 29,600 pounds. See the whole ad here.

Jesse Metcalfe is Engaged!

Jesse Metcalfe is Engaged

Photo: Getty Images

After playing a slew of characters who were perpetually unlucky in love (Remember when he dove into Gabrielle’s hedges when her husband came home on Desperate Housewives? Or when four spurned high school girls united to ruin his life in John Tucker Must Die? Yikes…), Jesse Metcalfe has officially found the love of his life — and proposed to her! Yes, Metcalfe is engaged after popping the question to his longtime sweetheart, Cara Santana. And John Tucker made us want to die when we got a look at the engagement ring he picked out for his soon-to-be bride. Seriously, it’s that pretty!

So just who is this Cara Santana? If you can only recall Metcalfe canoodling on-screen with Eva Longoria, you’re not alone. Metcalfe and Santana — who earns a living as a trendy fashion blogger — have managed to keep their love pretty much out of the spotlight, but they’ve actually been in a relationship for over a decade. “I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight,” the actor shared with YourTango back in 2013. “It was more of a slow burn, which I think is a better start for a relationship. I think if it comes on fast and furious, it generally fizzles out just as fast. We were slow and steady.” We’d say! “We took the time to get to know each other,” added the bride-to-be. “We’ve known each other for, like, 10 years.” It may have taken a decade, but these two are finally heading down the aisle — and that ring was definitely worth the wait!

According to Us Weekly, Metcalfe did the deed aboard a 50-foot sailboat as they floated along the Hudson River in New York City. Cue the sunset and Eric Clapton’s “Pretty Girl” playing in the background. (Yes, really!) Oh, and a five and half carat diamond engagement ring, of course! This sparkler is a serious stunner. In a post-proposal pic of Metcalfe and Santana, it can be seen glittering on the blogger bride’s hand and features an emerald-cut center stone. Kudos to Metcalfe on his taste in jewelry. We’re obsessed!

“It’s been a long time coming, but we couldn’t be happier,” the actor shared. But their the engagement wasn’t this couple’s only reason to celebrate. The to-be-wedded pair were also living it up for the bride’s 31st birthday. So many reasons to smile!

What a weekend! Meant to get this up yesterday, but was too busy celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby!!!??????????????

A photo posted by Jesse Metcalfe (@realjessemetcalfe) on Aug 16, 2016 at 1:47pm PDT

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