Engaged Volunteers Needed!

University of Virginia Doctoral Student Cristina Reitz-Krueger is looking for volunteers for a study of engaged couples' attitudes toward marriage and parenthood. The study consists of a 25- to 30-minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20 to 35 years old, live in the U.S. and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you.

You can:

• Help a doctoral candidate;
• Increase the pool of scientific knowledge;
• Support research on marriage and families; and
• Spend some time thinking about your relationship!

Reitz-Krueger is working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. This study has been approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board #2009025800.

If you and/or your romantic partner are interested in participating or want further information, please email her at survey.couples@gmail.com. She will send you a link you can use to access the study.

Win a Solar-Powered Outdoor Wedding

Sun Crystals is seeking 20 couples to tie the knot or renew their vows on October 22, 2009, in New York City's Foley Square. For your chance to win an eco-friendly Sweet & Solar Wedding, complete this online form and state in 50 words or less why you want a solar-powered wedding and what makes you a naturally sweet couple. The deadline for entries is October 16, 2009.

Eco-wedding planner Danielle Venokur of dvGreen will design the event, which will be powered by trailer-based solar panels. From the band and the lighting to the paper goods and the naturally sweet, chilled refreshments, every element of the Sun Crystals Sweet & Solar Weddings will be sun-ergized and eco-friendly. Winning couples will trade "I Dos" throughout the day in town hall-style outdoor ceremonies complete with sunflower bouquets, naturally sweet wedding cakes made with Sun Crystals All-Natural Sweetener and a photo for each couple.

Cool Treats for Hot Summer Outdoor Weddings

Temperatures are expected to top 90 degrees here in the Northeast today for the first time this summer, and I'm thinking about cool treats for hot summer outdoor weddings: specifically, gourmet popsicles! BizBash New York recently reported on a Brooklyn-based company, People's Pops, that makes and delivers popsicles in a variety of farmer's market-inspired flavors: Watermelon & Mint, Organic Lemon & Ginger, Peach & Chamomile and many more. I also stumbled upon my About.com colleague Andrew Collins' piece on Las Paletas, a Nashville gourmet popsicle shop that sells an ever-changing line-up of unique flavors such as Rose Petal, Honey Dew and Hibiscus.

These stories got me thinking that signature-flavored popsicles would make a terrific treat at an outdoor wedding. Have a cooler-full of frozen treats waiting as guests arrive for your wedding ceremony on a sultry summer day. Ask your caterer to serve popsicles as a palate-cleansing surprise dinner course. Or offer popsicles as a light alternative to dessert or for a cool sweet refreshment when the dance floor heats up.

Know of a gourmet popsicle provider in your area? Click "comments" below to share the info.

5 Phenomenal Outdoor Weddings

The Fall/Winter issue of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style is just hitting newsstands, and I'm thrilled to share a sneak peek at five phenomenal outdoor wedding stories I had the opportunity to write for the magazine, including:

• Michelle Hynek and Jason Anthony's Hollywood meets homespun wedding on a Kansas hilltop;
• Johnnyswim bandmates Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano's intimate oceanfront wedding at the Florida home of her parents, Bruce Sudano and Donna Summer;
• Former Miss Hawaii Candes Meijide Gentry and Hilton Hawaiian Village Assistant Food and Beverage Director Milan Drager's emotional wedding celebration at the Four Seasons Resort on Lana'i;
• Luxembourg hoopsters Katie Donovan and Tim Giver's soggy yet spectacular lakeside wedding in Canada; and
• Lindsay Rosen and Andrew Priston's elaborate affair at the Vanderbilt Mansion on Florida's Fisher Island.

Click comments below to tell me which story is your favorite!

Save $500 on a Dominica Outdoor Wedding

Book by August 31, 2009, and you can use a special coupon code to save $500 off an Escape Wedding & Honeymoon package at Jungle Bay on the Caribbean island of Dominica. This offer includes the services of a professional wedding planner, who will ensure your Dominica outdoor wedding is a one-of-a-kind celebration in a romantic, tropical island atmosphere. Package rates begin at $1,500, and you'll save $500 when you refer to coupon code: wedding09. For more information, email info@junglebaydominica.com or call 767-446-1789.

Wedding Day Premieres Tomorrow on TNT

Wedding Day, a new wedding reality show, debuts June 16 on TNT at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). I'm watching the extended sneak preview online now, and I'm already drawn in by the story of Holli and Steve, whose wedding was postponed following Holli's near-fatal car accident.

Wedding Day marks TNT's first foray into the unscripted, reality TV genre. Each week, celebrity event planner and food expert Alan Dunn and celebrity wedding producer and designer Diann Valentine host as family, friends and community come together to create a dream wedding for a special couple. I'm guessing there are bound to be a few outdoor weddings featured.

If you watch the debut show... click Comments below to tell us what you think.

_{Media photo of Holli's emotional wedding day courtesy of Warner Bros.}

Don't Learn These Lessons the Hard Way

Lesson 1: Don't ever pack your wedding gown in your checked luggage.

Lesson 2: If at all possible, don't wait until the last minute to transport your dress to your wedding location.

If you need to transport your carefully selected, custom-altered gown to your wedding destination--as many outdoor brides do--it's important to read Jenn's sad story, reported today in the Consumerist, so you won't find yourself in a similar predicament. The gown in which Jenn had already invested $1,000 vanished from her checked bag on a US Airways flight to her hometown just eight days before her wedding, and she was forced to hastily shop for a substitute gown and pay extra to expedite alterations. And the stress is far from over: Now, she's battling the airline for compensation.

While it's not always possible to shop for your gown near your intended wedding destination, keep in mind that there are smart alternatives to checking your precious dress including carrying it on the plane (even if it will require a fresh pressing when you arrive), shipping it insured well in advance via UPS or FedEx, paying a trusted friend to drive the dress to your wedding location if possible, or wearing your gown on the plane. OK--that may not be the wisest choice unless your dress is sleek and comfortable, but it would definitely protect against loss and might even earn you an upgrade!

Two Ways to Win Your Wedding Gown

I always advise outdoor brides not to overspend on their wedding gowns, and winning the dress of your dreams is certainly one way to accomplish this! If you are getting married any time after August 2009, you'll want to play the new Match the Wedding Gowns memory game from Get Married and submit your score for a chance to win a dress valued at up to $1,800 from Alfred Angelo or the Alfred Angelo Sapphire Collection.

Want an even easier way to win? Simply fill out the entry form on the Alfred Angelo site for an additional chance to win a wedding gown in the designer's 75th anniversary giveaway. Other prizes include: NWA World Vacations honeymoon packages worth $5000, his and hers palladium wedding bands, Alfred Angelo bridesmaid dresses and a Mindy Weiss bridal gift package.

Alfred Angelo offers many bridal gowns perfect for outdoor nuptials, including several with blue accents that are ideal for beach weddings. Styles 2014 and 1774NT are two of my favorites for seaside brides. View the complete current collection, and tell us in the comments which Alfred Angelo designs caught your eye.

Poll: What type of outdoor wedding are you planning?

3 New Rooftop Outdoor Wedding Venues in NYC

Looking for a fun, creative and new outdoor space to host your wedding in New York City? BizBash reported yesterday on 3 New Rooftop Spots for Summer Events including the 2,700-square-foot Penthouse atop the Cooper Square Hotel with its 1,400-square-foot wraparound deck: The space can accommodate up to 175 guests. Hurry while there's still time to be the first bride on the block to book one of these chic new event venues.