Tag: Weddings

Newlyweds share kiss at wedding—then the bride’s brother chimes in and now people are side-eyeing him: ‘He was stressing’

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Everyone loves a wedding. What’s not to love? Ideally, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event celebrating commitment, community, and a couple’s undying love. It’s a mushy-gushy day of love.

Admittedly, that utopian picture doesn’t always pan out in real life—but sometimes it does. And there’s nothing lovelier than seeing two people who are really, really into each other act head over heels for one another on their big, big day.

One couple has gone viral for doing just that. Moreover, the reaction from the bride’s younger brother has their video truly making the rounds.

‘I can’t with him’

TikToker Ariella Nyssa (@ariellanyssa) posted a video from her wedding on Feb. 19 that has since accumulated over 9 million views. In it, she features the arguably most iconic moment in any wedding: The first official kiss between the newlywed groom and bride.

The video opens with Nyssa and her now-husband moving in for a grand kiss, with their loved ones gathered around them and cheering. Text overlaid on the video reads, “POV: your little brother is overprotective,” with a laughing emoji.

“That’s my sister,” Nyssa’s brother cheers, beaming, while everyone claps.

As the cheering and applause peters out, the couple shows no signs of stopping—quite the opposite. Nyssa’s brother decides to (jokingly) put his foot down.

“All right, that’s it,” he calls. “That’s my sister. That’s enough.”

Viewers got a kick out of his reaction, with many joking that he was right as she and her husband “kissed so long.”

“Your brother was red,” noted one commenter with laughing emojis. “He was stressing.”

“You guys are so weird!” teased a different viewer, also laughing. “I have a sister and I would tell her man the same thing I don’t wanna see allat, much love though.”

“He’s like if I have to be this close to the kissing there’s a time limit,” laughed another.

@ariellanyssa I can’t with him ?? @Ravensthorpe Estate @lemonade.memories ♬ original sound – Ariella Nyssa

The first wedding kiss: How long should it last?

Was Nyssa’s brother onto something? How long are kisses at the altar supposed to last, anyway?

Well, the obvious answer is… however long the newlyweds want. But if you’re wondering if there’s an actual unspoken rule about this, people do certainly have thoughts online. In fact, wedding website The Pink Bride (TPB) has written an entire comprehensive guide on the matter.

According to TPB, there’s a lot of thought that goes into the perfect wedding kiss—not least because it is honestly a bit of a performance moment, considering all your loved ones are gathered to watch. TPB points out that even minute details like head angles and hand placement matter for your wedding photographer to snag the perfect shot. One key bit of advice: Avoid tongue, and don’t “make it last forever.”

“Keep it short(ish), sweet, and to the point,” TPB writes. “Most photographers recommend 5 quick seconds or ‘3 Mississippi’s’ for the first kiss. It is long enough to get quality photos and to be intimate, but is not too long that will make your guests slightly uncomfortable. Save those longer kisses for the honeymoon!”

At the end of the day, your wedding is your wedding, and you should probably kiss your spouse as long or as little as you please—playfully protective brothers notwithstanding.

The Mary Sue has reached out to Nyssa via email.

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Sophia Paslidis

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February 26, 2026
New York woman buys $4.5K wedding dress for $100 at sample sale. The gag? She’s single AF: ‘I couldn’t pass it up’

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A New York woman saw the perfect wedding dress available for only $100 at a sample sale. The only confusing part? She’s single.

TikToker Shayla Quinn (@shayla.quinn) proved it was never too late to purchase a wedding dress, even if you’re currently single. She made the decision to grab a wedding dress early at a steal price, saying, “It had to be done,” in her video’s description. Since then, the TikToker’s post has garnered 1.3 million views.

Many commenters took her purchasing the dress as a manifestation. They predict that Quinn will be married within the year due to her decision to snag a dress now rather than later.

However, others remained cautious, letting her know that she could sell the dress if she remains single forever.

What are sample sales?

Sample sales are usually multi-day sales where designers try to offload a portion of their inventory. Typically, these sales exist to offload merchandise that’s no longer in season or merchandise that just finished its trial run, aka prototype clothing.

Both definitions fit, although more traditional sample sales only sell items that were trial-run clothing. Often, these items can’t be sold in retail stores. They’re used for photoshoots, shows, or other events and may not have the inventory or stock to get sold traditionally.

Luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Hermès sometimes have sample sales. Alternatively, websites like 260samplesale.com post physical sales in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami for keen customers.

Many sample sales are exclusively in-person events, drawing thousands of people to purchase items. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Miami are some of the most popular cities for sample sales, although some companies host sales in cities like Houston. Bridal sample sales, for instance, take place all over the country.

It all depends on the retailer. 260samplesale.com has a selection of online sales for customers. Other companies let customers know about potential sales via newsletters or social media posts.

Why do single women go to bridal sales?

There are a variety of reasons why single women go to bridal sales. For one, some bridal dresses are just casual enough to be used for regular outings, which can make them a cheaper alternative to white dresses.

Another reason why single women go to bridal sales events is to find their wedding dresses in advance. More and more, women are looking for their dream wedding items—like rings, dresses, and decorations—well in advance of their actual wedding. It can be for biblical reasons, such as “faith of a mustard seed,” or it can be because women simply want to manifest their dream day in advance.

Wedding planning can also be extremely difficult. Having a wedding dress picked out months, if not years, in advance can actually decrease stress for many women and simplify their planning.

“This also means you can add an extra $4000 to the budget for your wedding cuz you would’ve spent that money anyway so it doesn’t really even exist – girl math,” one commenter said.

Another added, “[I] have [three] wedding dresses. all different… just in case,” echoing the idea that early planning is the new strategy for most women.

All in all, it seems that more and more women are taking an early step toward the future. Plus, it’s hard to beat a $100 price tag, even if a wedding isn’t in the near future.

@shayla.quinn

It had to be done!!!!!

♬ original sound – Shayla Quinn

The Mary Sue reached out to Quinn via TikTok direct message and email for comment.

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Rachel Thomas

Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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Rachel Thomas

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February 24, 2026
Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf are ‘couple goals’ as he shares heartfelt note and photos to celebrate the ‘love of his life’

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Andre Agassi shared a sweet note dedicated to his wife Steffi Graf to celebrate the “love of his life” on Valentine’s Day.

The tennis legend took to social media to share a carousel of pictures of the duo, including one of himself romantically kissing a huge hallway picture of Steffi, as she happily held up her Grand Slam trophy.

The other featured pictures showed the pair playing tennis together when they were younger and more recently.

© Instagram
Andre shared a sweet post online

He captained the shot: “Happy Valentine’s Day to the love of my life, my unicorn,” with a heart emoji.

Fans loved the thoughtful gesture and flocked to the comments to show their support. One follower wrote: “Couple goals,” while another wrote: “My 13-year-old self prayed SO hard for this union. My 48-year-old self still cannot believe it really happened!”

A third fan commented: “Two champions, one GIGANTIC love story,” while another added: “Absolutely love Seeing two legends fall in love.”

© Instagram
He shared a throwback picture of the duo

This isn’t the first time that Andre has romantically gushed about his wife online. For their anniversary back in October 2025, he captioned a moving carousel of the duo enjoying a night out and a throwback to them holding up their trophies together.

He captioned it: “24 years with this wonderful woman. Happy Anniversary Steffi, you are my unicorn!”

Andre had a crush on Steffi way before they were together. He revealed in his memoir titled Open: “I’ve had a crush on Steffi since I first saw her doing an interview on French TV. I was thunderstruck, dazzled by her understated grace, her effortless beauty.”

© Instagram
This isn’t the first time that he’s gushed about his wife

He sent her a message in 1991, however “she didn’t respond.” The following year after he won Wimbledon, he looked forward to meeting her at the Wimbledon Ball but it was canceled.

He recalled: “I don’t get to dance with Steffi, but there will be a kind of consolation match: a formal introduction. I look forward to it all night. Then it happens.”

© Instagram
He previously shared another throwback of the pair

Andre continued: “Shaking her hand, I tell Steffi that I tried to reach her at last year’s French Open and I hope she didn’t misunderstand my intentions. I say, ‘I’d really love to talk with you some time.’”

Their coaches set up a tennis practice for them in 1999, however, she had a boyfriend at the time and he was going through a divorce from Brooke Shields.

It all worked out in the end, and the two got married in 2001, and then days after tying the knot, she gave birth to their first child Jaden Gil Agassi in 2001, and then Jaz Elle Agassi two years later.

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Nova M Bajamonti

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February 14, 2026
Nicole Kidman shares telling message in Valentine’s post following Keith Urban divorce

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Nicole Kidman appears to be embracing her new normal after finding herself single for the first time in almost 20 years.

The actress finalized her divorce from Keith Urban in January after their shocking split last September, but she doesn’t appear to be fazed about marking her first Valentine’s Day as a single woman.

Nicole shared a telling message on Friday, revealing that she was embracing Galentine’s Day, an unofficial holiday celebrating friendship, especially among women.

Sharing a stunning photo of herself sitting in bed wearing an oversized pink pinstriped sleep shirt over her bare legs and a duvet draped across her lap, Nicole penned: “‘Happy Galentines,” alongside a pink heart emoji.

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: What Keith Urban said about marriage to Nicole Kidman before divorce

The glamorous shot showed Nicole with her eyes closed while sunlight streamed through the window and illuminated her complexion, which was enhanced with bright red lipstick, while her hair cascaded over her shoulders.

© Instagram
Nicole embraced Galentine’s Day following her divorce from Keith Urban

Nicole filed for divorce on September 30, 2025, in Nashville, where she and Keith had lived since 2007. According to court documents obtained by People, Nicole listed their date of separation as the date of filing and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split.

They finalized their divorce just four months after filing, per court records in Tennessee dated Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

© Getty Images
Nicole and Keith finalized their divorce in January 2026

According to the court documents, “All properties, trusts, and business assets remain separate,” meaning that the pair will retain their individual assets, suggesting a prenuptial agreement was determined before filing.

Neither party will pay any spousal support or child support to the other. Nicole and Keith are the parents of daughters Sunday, 17, and Faith, 15. While Sunday is now a working model, both are still in school and classified as “dependents.”

© Getty Images
Keith and Nicole announced their split in September 2025

Their divorce agreement lists Nicole as the primary parent for the teens, at least when it comes to residential matters. Sunday and Faith will spend 306 days of the year with their mom and 59 days with their dad.

However, neither party will pay the other child support, and all matters about their life, such as healthcare, education, and the like, will be decided upon jointly. One clause from the agreement reportedly also suggests that neither parent will speak negatively about the other, so as to put on a united front for their daughters.

© Getty Images
Nicole and Keith won’t pay each other spousal or child support

“They will not speak badly of each other or the members of the family of the other parent,” the marital dissolution agreement read. “They will encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families.”

While neither party has addressed the split directly, Nicole alluded to a difficult year in a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, where she reflected on “painful” and “difficult” moments that she has experienced but ultimately “survived.”

© Getty Images
Nicole knows how to survive ‘painful’ moments

“There’s something to knowing that no matter how painful, or how difficult, or how devastating something is, there is a way through. You’re going to have to feel it,” she said.

“You’re not going to be able to numb it. You are going to have to feel it, and it’s going to feel insurmountable at times. You’re going to feel like you’re broken, but if you move gently and slowly – and it can take an enormous amount of time – it does pass.”

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Jenni McKnight

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February 14, 2026
Content creators get hired for wedding in Miami. Then the photographer belittles their job—right in front of the bride: ‘He’s afraid’

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You’d think that by now, especially among younger people, content creators or “influencers” would be accepted as part of the labor market. Apparently, that’s not the case.

As TikToker Fanny (@vivafanny) shared, there are still people out there who think being a content creator is a “made-up job.”

In a viral video that has racked up more than 1 million views, Fanny films a wedding photographer who openly dismisses the role of content creators at the event.

What Did the Photographer Have to Say?

“So as many of you may know,” Fanny begins, “content creation is now a thing for weddings.”

She explains that the wedding photographer who confronted them was working alongside them and began criticizing and filming her and her business partner.

So, she says she decided to film as well. Then Fanny cuts to the awkward conflict scene, where photographer Levy Hertzel is filming Fanny and her partner.

“OK, we have here Emily and Michelle,” Hertzel says, standing next to the bride. “Could be their names. Who cares?” he states.

“We told him our names before we started, but OK,” Fanny writes in the video’s text overlay.

“They are what they call wedding day cellphone people,” Hertzel continues.

“Content creators,” Fanny clarifies.

“Basically, they couldn’t get a job anywhere,” Hertzel says. “Out of the kindness of the bride’s heart, she hired them to just stalk her with cellphones.”

The bride is just there by Hertzel’s side, not really reacting at all.

“They’re gonna be here all day. So if you have a job for them or food—they’re a little hungry—or a smoothie, then bring it over,” he says dismissively.

“As if we look hungry,” Fanny wrote in the video’s text overlay. She then pans the camera around, showing Hertzel sarcastically blowing a kiss for the camera.

In the comments section, viewers thought Hertzel’s actions were unacceptable.

“As a photographer, this is so inappropriate,” one user wrote. “You guys were hired by the bride to do your job and this guy is literally making fun of you IN FRONT of the bride! I’m so sorry you had to deal with this!”

Another commenter claimed the photographer’s comments were offensive to the bride herself. “He’s basically making fun of the bride too for hiring yall,” they wrote.

“Excuse me!?!? With the bride right there???” asked a third. “This is so incredibly unprofessional by that photographer.”

What Do Wedding Content Creators Do?

As the name suggests, their role revolves around capturing every moment of the wedding.

According to Rock n Roll Bride, a wedding content creator creates candid wedding footage from their phone, which a newlywed couple can receive shortly after the event.

It’s unique because the turnover is quick, allowing the couple to feel like they’re posting in real-time.

The main difference is that while photographers or videographers create professional content, wedding content creators make content specifically for social media.

According to Reddit’s r/WeddingPhotography, a wedding content creator may cost around “$85/hr to $125/hr” per hour, depending on what package the client selects.

@vivafanny please follow our business on IG @letsbefriendsmedia — lmk if he’s actually funny or just rude in the comments ? #fyp #wedding #weddingcontentcreator #contentcreator #weddingday ♬ original sound – vivafanny

The Mary Sue has reached out to Fanny via email and Hertzel via TikTok and Instagram messages for official comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Ljeonida Mulabazi

Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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Ljeonida Mulabazi

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February 1, 2026
Austin baker turns her back while setting up wedding cake. Then the mother of the bride grabs a spatula: ‘This is super insulting’

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When you’re involved in the wedding business, there’s no doubt you’ll find yourself in the middle of some kind of dispute. It’s a high-stress event, where emotions also tend to run high.

That’s exactly what happened for one wedding baker based in Austin, who got into an argument with the mother of the bride, and ended up losing her spatula in the process.

What Happened at the Wedding?

TikTok creator and wedding cake baker Malina (@sweetgracedessertco), shared a storytime video about the incident that transpired about a year before.

“There is a video circulating around on TikTok right now,” she says. “I kind of hoped that this was never gonna happen, but it has. So I’m gonna make a really long story short.”

Malina explains that a year ago, she was hired to bake a wedding cake, and was in the process of setting it up at the venue when the situation unfolded.

“I’m setting the cake up. It’s a beautiful cake. Everything’s going well,” she says. “If you’ve ever worked with me, you know I pride myself on kindness and professionalism.”

Malina says she propped her phone up against her cake kit and turned around to finish the cake. Then she got a visitor.

“An older woman comes up, she grabs gloves out of my cake kit, puts the gloves on, grabs my offset spatula out of my cake kit,” she says. “She sets her phone up next to my phone, walks up behind me, and she starts talking to her phone.”

Malina says the woman began using her tools on the cake itself.

“She’s making a video, and she’s using my offset spatula on the wedding cake,” Malina says. “It was damaging the wedding cake design.”

Malina says the woman told her she had found and hired her through TikTok, and now wanted to film a joint video.

“She wanted to make a video of us setting up her daughter’s wedding cake together,” Malina says. “She did pay for the cake. It was her daughter’s cake. However, the fact remains that she was damaging the cake while I was in the middle of setting it up.”

Malina says she asked her to stop. “I very kindly and very calmly told her, ‘I’m so sorry, ma’am. I’m not really comfortable having you help me set it up,’” she says. Instead, she says she offered to let her help with florals or the topper instead.

The Mother of the Bride Got Angry

The woman didn’t like the response. “She told me that she paid me, and she gets to do whatever she wants,” Malina says. “So I had to set a little bit of a boundary.”

She reiterated to her that she could help with decorations at the end, but the cake itself was off-limits.

“Or I can just stop my setup right now and leave the premises,” she says. “You can keep the gloves, you can set the cake up however you would like.”

According to Malina, the woman got “really mad,” “really, really mad.” So upset she wouldn’t give her her tools back.

“She wouldn’t give me my offset spatula back,” Malina says. “She said ‘No, that was the least I could do.’”

The woman reportedly later asked for a refund of the setup fee. “I did not refund the fee,” Malina recounts. “I did what I was contractually supposed to do with a kind heart and professionalism.”

She says she only decided to speak publicly after the woman posted a TikTok about the incident a year later.

“She only posted the portion where I very kindly told her she could not help me set the cake up,” Malina says. “But her caption was that I ruined her daughter’s wedding.”

Malina pushed back on that claim.

“I have spoken to the daughter. We are all good,” she says. “I did not ruin her wedding. She loved her wedding cake.”

She concludes by explaining why she didn’t share the story at the time.

“I did not feel like that was the time to make a loud, performative TikTok for her channel,” Malina says. “That’s all I have to say.”

In the comments section, most viewers thought the mother of the bride was in the wrong.

“Do not refund the set up fee, send her a bill for the offset spatula,” one commenter advised.

“I am starting to think weddings are more for the mothers than the bride,” chimed in another.

Others shared personal stories. “I wish the lady we used for my wedding cake yelled at my mom when my mom decided to put the ugliest fake flowers on top as a topper without my permission,” one wrote. “They weren’t even meant to go on the cake. She just decided to stab a hole in the top.”

Many commenters also wanted to see the original video that the mother of the bride posted. However, Malina shared in a follow-up post that the mother deleted her post shortly after, without it ever taking off.

How to Handle Client Disputes as a Wedding Cake Baker

In a high-stress situation like the one Malina described, the best thing any vendor can do is remain calm throughout.

According to an article by Wedded Wonderland, it’s also a good idea to let the client feel heard and acknowledged. After all, you’re building relationships meant to last, so it’s not in your interest for a client to walk away unsatisfied.

The guide also advises providing clients with realistic next steps so they feel their situation has been resolved.

Wedding vendor communities are tight-knit, so the goal is for clients to leave as satisfied as they can reasonably be.

@sweetgracedessertco She kept my offset spatula ?? #weddingcake #storytime ♬ original sound – sweetgracedessertco

The Mary Sue has reached out to Malina via TikTok messages for comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Ljeonida Mulabazi

Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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Ljeonida Mulabazi

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January 30, 2026
Woman’s Dior wedding dress arrives from Paris. Then she opens the box: ‘I don’t want to imagine the shipping cost’

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A box so big it needs its own ZIP code shows up at her front door, and now it’s a full-blown Parisian production. In a now-viral TikTok, a bride and her two friends unbox a six-foot mannequin carrying her Dior gown.

This prompts viewers to wonder less about the vows and more about how much it costs to ship haute couture across an ocean. Many are split between swooning over the luxury flex or blasting capitalism. Others not-so-quietly side-eye the reveal by commenting on her TikToks of the wedding day, whispering, “That’s it?”

Wedding Gowns that Create Their Own Rules

Hayley Sullivan (@haylsullivanmarrero) and her unboxing have garnered a whopping 26 million views. The clip is short, only nine seconds long, but fully captures the grandiosity of the white box Hayley is opening. She, alongside two other people, lifts the cover and starts unwrapping the sheets protecting the gown. The text overlay reads: “pov your wedding dress arrives from paris in a 6ft mannequin that you can barely get into the house.” Her caption: “Wedding dress of my dreams!!!”

As challenging as getting RSVPs and booking venues might be, handling a wedding dress is a whole other conundrum on its own. Sometimes, rules are made, and others are broken. For example, the Mary Sue covered a story where a woman was desperate to get tips on how to travel to Italy with her wedding gown. The comments advised her to simply buy a seat. Others share how some airlines allow you to hang it in the closet. Hayley was lucky that her dress arrived pristine and beautifully packed, something viewers definitely noticed.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship Your Wedding Dress from Paris?

Many of Hayley’s viewers seemed to harp on one specific topic: the shipping. From wondering about the cost to even how one would get a wedding dress shipped, considering the importance of the garment. France’s UPS website has an entire section dedicated to such a question. In their carefully detailed explanation, they share how a person carefully packs their wedding dress and conducts the shipping process. Of course, the fees depend on different countries and their tax rates. For Dior specifically, though, their shipping rules are laid out quite simply.

“Dior offers up to four rapid and secure delivery options.

-Standard Shipping: Free for all orders

-Express Delivery: $25, Free for orders over $3,000

-Saturday Delivery: $35, Free for orders over $3,000.”

Without knowing Hayley’s exact wedding dress model, we can infer from the prices cited for other weddings. Dior is well-known across the celebrity world, and it frequently pops up in articles citing the expenses. The Knot includes two of its most expensive dresses: Chiara Ferragni’s dress at $420,000 and Chinese actress Angelababy’s. While the exact cost is unknown, her wedding alone cost $31 million and the Dior dress was covered in 100 roses of Chantilly lace, and a 10-foot train made of 170 feet of tulle.

What do the Viewers Say?

First things first, the luxury of affording a Dior wedding gown has people shocked. More specifically, calling out capitalism. One viewer says, “Ohhh you RICH RICH.” While another asks, “What tax bracket is this?” A third jokes, “People are dying, Kim.”

One viewer says, “You are living the problem that I want to stress about.” Another shares, “I miss The French Revolution.”

Others crack jokes. One viewer says, “U could rent that box out as a micro studio in nyc for 500 a month just sayin.” One sarcastically comments, “I hate it when that happens.” In a similar fashion, one says, “Happened to me last week. It had to go in my backup mansion. So annoying.”

@haylsullivanmarrero

Wedding dress of my dreams!!!

♬ original sound – Ellies discord kitten

But What Does it Look Like?

As usual, when the internet is offered a peek of something, they naturally want a reveal. In this case, many were dying to see the design that called for so much ceremony. In another TikTok, Hayley posts a clip of her getting ready on her wedding day with the caption, “The day I said ‘I do.””

In the clip, she stands still as three helpers suit her up in the dress. With a long train, lace bodice, and flowy skirt, Hayley’s gown is a sight. However, not many think it’s a good sight.

One viewer says, “I was expecting so much more when I seen the box. I’m glad u love it.” Another says, “Cute but so plain I thought Dior would be a lot more fancy.” A third says, “Oh that’s all?”

However, she does get many comments defending her. One viewer shares, “Ya’ll are just rude, just cause it isn’t your taste doesn’t mean her heart didn’t skip a beat when she saw this.” A second chastises, “Not y’all in this lady’s comments downplaying her DIOR wedding dress. The audacity!”

Lastly, one viewer says, “Just pure elegance and class. Every woman’s dream.”

The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Gisselle Hernandez

Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].

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January 13, 2026
Inside the Wild Wedding of Lady Pamela Hicks

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The bride, now Lady Pamela Hicks, wore a white satin gown by Worth, which featured white fur as a nod to the winter wedding. Atop her head was the Mountbatten Pearl and Diamond tiara, loaned to her by her mother for the occasion. The provenance of the Belle Epoque style piece is unknown, but The Royal Watcher surmises that it must have originated around 1901, as a wedding gift for Countess Mountbatten’s own mother, Amalia Mary Maud Cassel, when she married Wilfried Ashley.

Lady Pamela wore a gown by Worth and a family heirloom tiara

PA Images/Getty Images

Lady Pamela wore the tiara for some of the nation’s most historic moments, including the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the following Commonwealth tour, which she recalled being a tiring experience, especially “donning an evening dress and tiara at 10 in the morning.”

On her wedding day, Pamela Hicks was accompanied by a host of royals–though her friend, Queen Elizabeth II, could not attend, as she was heavily pregnant with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the time. Queen Louise of Sweden and Prince Philip joined the congregation, as did the Queen Mother (who wore a brooch belonging to Queen Victoria), Princess Alice, Princess Marina, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Sophie of Greece and Hanover, and Penelope Knatchbull. Alongside them were a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne, then aged just 11 and 10 respectively.

The newlyweds would go on to welcome three children–Edwina, a goddaughter of Queen Elizabeth; Ashley, a godson of Prince Philip, and India, a goddaughter of King Charles who served as a bridesmaid at his wedding to Princess Diana–and raised their family at home in the Chilterns. The Hickses continued to serve a crucial role as pillars of support for the late Queen and the royal family for decades to come, and David and Lady Pamela spent 38 years together before David passed away on March 29, 1998.

Originally published in Tatler.

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Ben Jureidini

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January 13, 2026
Country singer Zach Bryan has married Samantha Leonard

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NEW YORK — Here’s to a lifetime of pink skies: The irreverent country singer Zach Bryan is married.

Bryan, 29, confirmed the news in an Instagram post shared Thursday. Beneath a photo of him holding his bride, Samantha Leonard, 28, he wrote the caption, “tougher than the rest,” a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. In the next slide of the two-frame carousel, Bryan shared a short clip of him covering the song.

It is unclear when the couple started dating or got engaged. Rumors of their relationship hit social media in August, when Leonard posted a picture of the pair embracing on a boat on her official Instagram account.

Bryan shared a tribute to Leonard on his Instagram account a few months later, in October, writing, “Today is your birthday and I love you, Samantha Marie. To the only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats, skydive over the alps and catch a bigger fish than me all in the same day,” he wrote. “Hope your day was as graceful as you are.”

A representative for Bryan confirmed the marriage but did not provide additional comment.

Bryan’s 2023 self-titled album debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200. At the time, the trade publication reported that the release moved 200,000 units in its first week. His duet with Kacey Musgraves from the album “I Remember Everything” earned Bryan his sole No. 1 hit. AP named the collaboration one of the year’s best songs.

His last album, 2024’s “The Great American Bar Scene” peaked at No. 2.

Bryan is scheduled to release his sixth studio album, “With Heaven On Top,” next Friday.

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January 2, 2026
Zach Bryan Confirms Marriage to Samantha Leonard on Instagram

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Zach Bryan has confirmed his marriage to Samantha Leonard.

Bryan, 29, took to Instagram on Wednesday, December 31, and shared a black-and-white photo of him carrying Leonard, 28, as she sported a strapless white bridal gown with a feathery hem. The happy couple smiled as Leonard held a wine glass.

“Tougher than the rest,” he captioned his post, which also included a video of him performing the Bruce Springsteen song with the same name at their wedding reception.

Earlier Wednesday, the country star was spotted holding Leonard in his arms after exchanging vows in Spain, multiple outlets reported. A video posted via Instagram showed the newlyweds laughing as they hopped into a convertible and drove off into the proverbial sunset.

Related: Singer Zach Bryan’s Dating History

Rising artist Zach Bryan‘s swoon-worthy songwriting has fans curious about the real-life love stories that inspired them. Bryan’s career took off after the 2022 release of his album American Heartbreak, his first record with a major label. He previously dropped DeAnn and Elisabeth in 2019 and 2020, respectively, later solidifying his place in the industry […]

The day before the wedding, Bryan shared a photo of him with his guy friends, adding a caption that cited lyrics from the Black Eyes Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.” On December 29, Bryan posted a clip of him crooning a heartfelt song on the guitar that seemingly referenced his upcoming nuptials.

“I made a woman fall in love and made our young hearts cry,” he sang. “I’m on an aeroplane bound to Spain tonight.”

On Wednesday, Leonard posted a clip via her Instagram Stories in which she and Bryan touched down on an airplane.

The couple were first linked in August. That October, Bryan paid tribute to his new love via Instagram, writing, “From bull runs to all the bulls***, today is your birthday and I love you Samantha Marie. To the only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats, skydive over the alps and catch a bigger fish than me all in the same day. Hope your day was as graceful as you are.”

Related: Brianna Chickenfry Says Zach Bryan Picked Out an Engagement Ring for Her

Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia is sharing more accusations about her ex, Zach Bryan, in the wake of their acrimonious split. The podcaster, 25, shared via TikTok on Friday, November 15, that the country singer had picked out an engagement ring for her before their relationship came crashing down. “Fun fact my biggest celeb crush tried to […]

Sparks flew between Bryan and Leonard one year after his not-so-amicable split with Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, whom he dated from the summer of 2023 up to fall 2024.

“Brianna and me [sic] have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that, I’ll always thank her,” Bryan said in a statement in October 2024. “I’ve had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be.”

LaPaglia, 26, has said that the breakup blindsided her and accused Bryan of being emotionally abusive. (Us Weekly reached out for comment at the time. Bryan hasn’t responded to the allegations.)

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LaPaglia’s fans, meanwhile, have noted the physical resemblance between her and Leonard.

“Next question is [one] that I got a million times. ‘What do you think about Zach’s girlfriend looking exactly like you?’” LaPaglia said during an October episode of her “Plan Bri Uncut” podcast. “I think that is narcissism textbook 101, like, that’s what narcissists do. They just go and find another version of you to date.”

She continued, “People are like, ‘Are you creeped out? Are you mad? Are you flattered?’ I am flattered to be honest. I dyed my hair so that people [would] stop sending me every single picture that he posts of her, and I blocked him. I don’t wanna see this [and] I don’t want to indulge in anything that he does.”

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Erin Carlson

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December 31, 2025
‘They brought in gen z to save the day’: Florida Bride-to-be excitedly tries on Galia Lahav dress. The stylist’s comments nearly bring her to tears

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Trying on a Galia Lahav gown is supposed to feel like a fairytale, not a corporate performance review. A Florida bride-to-be went viral after sharing a dress-fitting horror story that nearly ended in tears, all because she dared to ask if her train could be a little longer.

What followed was a stylist delivering accusations and a lecture about “asking for a lot.” Good thing the bride knew how to stand up for herself.

What happened during the wedding dress try-on?

Luna’s (@drlunaa) video is only 38 seconds long, but it shows enough to attract 6.7 million views. Even more, it has over 3,700 comments, all in shock over the conversation. The clip begins with Luna standing in the dressing room. She looks to the side, presumably where the stylist is standing, and says, “What can we do about making the train a little bit longer?” The stylist, in return, barely takes a breath before launching into her response.

“I have to find these things out, that’s what I’m saying to you. You’re asking for a lot, so I have to find out from them if it’s possible,” the stylist responds. “Because your gown is in production. I keep trying to explain that to you. So I don’t know what changes are possible at this moment because we’ve already placed the order.”

She finishes her speech by saying she also needs to find out the cost and then cross-check with Luna if she wants to pay for it. During the entire time, Luna only says “OK” and listens. The text overlays read: “NOT MY DRESS” and “Why is she so aggressive,” and “Listen to the way a stylist was talking to me (I was so nervous and uncomfortable, I had to ask for someone else).”

The camera then cuts to a new clip, with Luna videoing while holding her phone and looking into the mirror. The new text overlay reads: “My new stylist, I loved her!!!”

The clip shows the new stylist (dubbed Gen Z by viewers because she looks young) holding up a piece of fabric for the wedding dress sleeves. She says enthusiastically to Luna, “It’s gonna be so pretty.” Luna laughs and says she likes these gloves better. The clip ends.

What is Galia Lahav?

Established in Tel Aviv, Israel, this boutique has been carefully crafting wedding gowns for three decades. On their website, they describe themselves as, “We take pride in being one of the leading houses able to offer custom couture gowns without physically meeting our customers thanks to the unique technology we developed. Our emphasis on personalization and customization, alongside our uncompromising designs, is what continues to differentiate us from other designers.”

Since some viewers make sure to comment on the pricing, it’s worth noting that the site lists its wedding gowns’ prices on the FAQ section. “Our Couture collections start at $9,000 USD and our GALA collection start at $6,000.”

@drlunaa Now that we’re a couple months out from my wedding, I finally feel comfortable sharing this. The situation was extremely uncomfortable for me, especially as a paying customer coming in for the first time to request a simple dress adjustment. I want to be clear that I don’t think this reflects the brand as a whole, but it did remind me how important it is to advocate for yourself. The woman helping me was genuinely scaring me, and I ended up having to ask for someone else. I would never speak to someone the way she spoke to me, so I don’t think anyone in a customer-facing role should speak to clients that way either. @Galia Lahav ♬ original sound – Dr. Luna

Viewers are Outraged

With thousands of comments, most of them are supporting Luna and outraged on her behalf. Many call out the first stylist’s attitude. One viewer says, “The attitude is INSANE.” Another says, “I can’t stand when people act like you’re inconveniencing them for doing their job!” A third states, “Why TF is she yelling at you?”

Others call out the bad service for the high price. One viewer shared, “Mind you a Galia Lahav dress is like 10k, one of the most expensive in the business and to be talked to like that is crazy.”

Another says, “‘You’re asking for a lot.’ YEAH, CUZ SHES PAYING A LOT. lorddd.”

Some viewers sympathize with Luna and say they would have reacted differently. One viewer says, “Oh. my. god. your reaction is 10x better that whag mine would have been.” Luna replies, “@Dr. Luna: I know I realize now that I didn’t stick up for myself. At least I asked for someone else in the end. I was just so uncomfortable and didn’t understand why she was being so aggressive.”

Another says, “You are so strong for not crying on the spot.”

Last but certainly not least, Galia Lahav’s TikTok account commented on Luna’s video. “We’re so sorry that this was your experience. We just want to note that this does not reflect our brand values and the experience we want to give, and that she is no longer working with us! Sending you much love.”

The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via TikTok direct message and to Galia Lahav via press email.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Gisselle Hernandez

Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].

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Gisselle Hernandez

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December 21, 2025
‘I don’t know how to break the news’: They were planning a spring wedding. Then the doctor said something that changed everything

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A Pennsylvania woman goes viral for her November wedding photos. However, she shares how devastating news about her fiancé’s health led the couple to celebrate months earlier than their planned spring 2026 wedding.

In a video with over 4.3 million views, TikToker Grace (@dacedenn) acknowledges many “older women” in the comments of her wedding photos, which she posted throughout December following her November ceremony.

“I don’t know how to break the news. They had such sweet comments,” she says. “But I am so sorry to say that, unfortunately, Evan died on Tuesday.”

The couple’s last-minute wedding reschedule

Grace consistently posted her and her fiancé’s journey following his glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, diagnosis in 2022. According to the Glioblastoma Research Organization, the five-year survival rate for the disease is just 6.8 percent.

Viewers praised the couple for their sense of humor and for sharing a candid look into life as an engaged couple navigating a serious diagnosis. The couple also advocated for further research into glioblastoma.

In a prior post, Grace shared that the couple initially planned to hold their wedding in May 2026, but moved up the ceremony at the suggestion of Evan’s healthcare team.

Grace writes that she had only 3 months to plan for their new wedding date, joking about the ordeal: “Luckily, I’m a genius.”

Other widows share their stories

In the comments of Grace’s video, other young widows share their own stories of having a spouse with a terminal illness. Many offer encouragement to Grace, pushing back against comments that questioned her use of dark humor in the grieving process.

“Some of these comments are wild. My husband died 33 hours after we got married in his ICU room. If I didn’t make jokes, I’d never get through it in one piece. I’m sorry for your loss. You two looked very happy together,” one offers.

Another shares, “My husband died 8 weeks after our wedding. Your emotions are all over the place. I laughed, changing my last name at the dmv. it was 3 dollars for the driving test. I laughed hysterically for 10 minutes over that 3-dollar charge.”

“Folks who have never experienced a loss like the loss of a partner will never understand. Go ahead and laugh. Sometimes you have to. It’s been 3 years for me, dark humor has gotten me this far,” a third writes.

“Dark humor is how I’ve survived! I’m so sorry for such a huge loss!” another viewer comments.

@dacedenn

sorry to the fans

♬ original sound – grace

How to break the news about a date change

While there’s no right way to handle a change of wedding plans due to a serious health issue, brides on Reddit share how they approached similar situations.

One bride, whose fiancé was diagnosed with lung cancer, asks others for advice on informing guests about rescheduling in the subreddit r/weddingplanning.

“Some good friends of mine changed their wedding date due to some family circumstances that they wanted to keep private. We received a ‘Changed the date!’ in the mail—thought it was a cute play on words!” one suggests.

Another tells brides to lean into their humor and genuine feelings, writing, “My husband is 33, and they found a cancerous tumor in his bladder 3 months before our wedding. ‘We’re both pretty f— up about this’ really resonated with me lol.”

The Mary Sue reached out to Grace via TikTok direct message for further comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Rebekah Harding

Rebekah Harding is a reporter and content strategist based in Philadelphia. You can contact her at rebekahjonesharding.com.

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Rebekah Harding

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December 18, 2025
Donald Trump Jr. Is Engaged (Again). Will Bettina Anderson Get a White House Wedding?

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As the father of the groom looked on in the background, Don Jr. took the microphone, thanking Anderson, standing to his right in a strapless red dress with a stone twinkling on her ring finger, for “that one word: yes.”

“When you’re down there and you’re gonna go, and you’re trying to ask, and you’re not sure what the answer’s gonna be, it’s always a little bit rough,” he said of the proposal. “But she said yes, so that’s a big win for the end of the year.”

This is the third time Don Jr. has gotten engaged, which explains that “always” he dropped. Trump was previously engaged, then married to Vanessa Trump, who has been romantically linked to golf star Tiger Woods since early this year, and before Anderson, was engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, whose relationship with Trump ended about the same time as her ambassadorship to Greece was announced and Anderson and Trump’s relationship became public. Are those last things connected? Who could even begin to say!

The engagement could be seen as a belated birthday present to Anderson, who turned 39 on December 1, or one heck of an early Christmas stocking stuffer.

Or, hey, maybe there’s something in the air: Earlier Monday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who recently announced that she will resign from her position in January following disagreements with the president, shared that she is also engaged to be married, in her case to journalist Brian Glenn of Real America’s Voice.

The White House, when contacted by Vanity Fair for comment on the presidential offspring’s latest betrothal, referred us to Don Jr.’s representative. As of the publication of this article, that spokesperson did not respond to the request for comment.

Anderson also said a few words to the assembled well-wishers at the White House Monday, where her experience as a benefit host, welcoming and thanking attendees and sponsors, was apparent.

“Wow, what a privilege it is to be here in the White House, Mr. President,” she said. “To our first lady—these decorations! Am I right? Are they unbelievable? This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life and I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Those “unbelievable” Christmas decorations masterminded by Melania Trump include a Lego recreation of her husband’s mugshot alongside one of George Washington’s presidential portraits, as well as topple-ready structures made of dominoes and playing cards. It’s an about-face from the chilling blood-red trees of yesteryear, though no update has been publicly offered on whether she now “gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decorations” as she said in 2018.

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Kase Wickman

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December 16, 2025
Rare Dom Pérignon champagne from Charles and Diana’s wedding fails to sell during Denmark auction

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LYNGBY, Denmark (AP) — It was a wedding that captivated the world — in 1981, Lady Diana Spencer said “I will” to Prince Charles, becoming Princess of Wales and bringing youth and glamour to Britain’s royal family.

More than 40 years after the wedding and many years after the marriage fell apart, royal fans had the chance to buy a rare part of that historic day — or perhaps a sip of it — during an auction Thursday. But the exclusive magnum of Dom Pérignon Vintage 1961 champagne was ultimately not sold because the bids were not high enough.

The champagne, specially produced for the occasion, was expected to fetch up to 600,000 Danish kroner (around 81,000 euros or $93,000) when it went under the hammer Thursday at Bruun Rasmussen’s auction house in Lyngby, north of Copenhagen.

“The bids did not reach the desired minimum price, and therefore it was unfortunately not sold,” auction house spokesperson Kirstine Dam Frihed said in an email Thursday. “We had of course hoped that it would sell at the estimated value, especially considering the great public interest it received.”

Prince Charles, now King Charles III, married Lady Diana Spencer in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981. The ceremony was followed by a lavish reception at Buckingham Palace.

Charles and Diana separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. A year later, she and companion Dodi Fayed died in a high-speed car crash in Paris.

The champagne was a limited-edition wedding release, created to celebrate the union.

A unique label reads: “Specially shipped to honor the marriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. 29 July 1981.”

“It’s really, really rare and a bottle with that royal provenance,” Thomas Rosendahl, head of the auction house’s wine department, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press ahead of the auction.

Rosendahl said only 12 were made and were intended to be opened on the day. It’s not known what happened to the others, perhaps gifted to guests.

“It was a celebration from Dom Pérignon to the wedding,” Rosendahl said.

“They also got … normal bottles that were served at the wedding, but these bottles were just forgotten or kept away.”

Little was revealed about the seller. Rosendahl only said that it’s a Danish collector who previously purchased the bottle from a London wine merchant.

Rosendahl said that he’s been contacted by “a lot of wine collectors” asking about the magnum, its provenance, and how it was stored. And tests suggest it’s still drinkable.

Henrik Smidt, who is the fine wine manager at Danish wine merchant Kjaer and Sommerfeldt in Copenhagen, said beforehand that he expected the magnum to achieve a high price.

“You have the combination of one of the most famous weddings ever, Lady Diana and Prince Charles. A Dom Pérignon, one of the most famous brands in the world from a very rare vintage,” Smidt said. “All wine connoisseurs, all wine collectors would love to have Dom Pérignon in their cellar.”

“My guess is that it will not be a wine connoisseur who will buy this bottle of wine, more likely a collector of royal artifacts or even potentially a museum,” he said.

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December 11, 2025
Meet Jack White’s striking musician wife he married mid-performance

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Jack White is an incredible musician and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, but he is not the only talent in his household.

The 50-year-old is happily married to Olivia Jean, 35, and he created a viral moment when he proposed mid-performance and then married her on stage moments later in 2022.

The couple first met in 2009 when she signed to his record label, Third Man Records, but it wasn’t until 2014 that they began a romantic relationship.

“We were just really good friends,” she told the New York Times in July 2022. “You have to know that you can be friends for a while before you can date. It wasn’t really a transition. It was more, OK, this is happening. More like a continuation.”

© Getty Images
Jack and Olivia Jean married in 2022

Olivia Jean is Jack’s third wife. He married his The White Stripes bandmate and drummer, Meg White, in 1996, and they divorced in 2000.

His second wife was model and singer Karen Elson, whom he wed in 2005 before they announced their separation in 2011, with their divorce official in 2013. They have two children, Scarlett Teresa White and Henry Lee White.

Find out more about Jack White’s third wife, Olivia Jean, below.

© Instagram

Olivia Jean can play several guitars and other instruments

She’s a multi-instrumentalist

Not only is Olivia Jean a singer and songwriter, but she also plays multiple instruments after receiving her first guitar from her aunt for her seventh birthday. She now plays a variety of guitars, including the Fender American Professional Jazzmaster and Gretsch George Harrison Duo Jet, drums, piano, and bass.

© Instagram

Olivia Jean’s first concert was The White Stripes

The White Stripes were her first concert in 2003

When Olivia Jean was 13, she attended her first music concert at Detroit’s Masonic Temple, and it was none other than The White Stripes. “My mom loved it,” she told The Huffington Post in 2014.

“When I started taking music a little bit more seriously, I don’t think [my parents] knew my intentions were to try to make a career out of it. So when I became more obsessed with the music, they would get kind of frustrated with me playing all the time. But they were always supportive.”

© Instagram

Olivia Jean has impeccable style

She has incredible style

One look at Olivia Jean’s Instagram and you can see that she has great style, with a penchant for leather and bold patterns. She’s also been rocking winged eyeliner since she was a child and has mastered the perfect cat eye.

“The cat eyes I’ve had since I got my first eyeliner – I think I was 11 when I first colored my hair black and started wearing heavy makeup. My mom would say I looked spooky, and I’d say, ‘Thank you – that’s what I’m going for,’” she told Vogue in 2023.

“Later, when I was 16, I went to cosmetology school – it was one through my school, so it was not very high-end – and our textbooks were from the ’70s, so we were learning all the hairstyles from the ’60s. All of us in my cosmetology school had giant bouffants, and it just became a part of me.”

© Instagram

Olivia Jean and Jack have collaborated on several projects

She’s collaborated with Jack

Olivia Jean and Jack were collaborators long before they became husband and wife. They met when she was 19 after he received her demo, and he invited her to his Third Man Records record label. After forming an all-female goth-garage band called The Black Belles, Jack produced their first single and their 2011 self-titled debut album.

Since then, they have collaborated many times, with Olivia Jean playing on several of Jack’s solo albums and appearing in his music videos. Jack also produced her 2014 solo debut album, Bathtub Love Killings.

© Instagram

Jack proposed and married Olivia Jean on stage in 2022

She got engaged and married Jack White on stage

On April 8, 2022, Jack created a viral moment when he not only proposed to Olivia Jean on stage during his performance at Detroit’s Masonic Temple (the venue where she saw The White Stripes for the first time 19 years prior), but they got married on stage too.

Jack invited his then-girlfriend on stage to perform a rendition of The White Stripes’ song, “Hotel Yorba”, and popped the question right before he sang the lyrics, “Let’s get married.”

A tearful Olivia Jean immediately said, ‘Yes,’ and after finishing the song, the newly engaged couple disappeared off stage, before returning for the encore, where they tied the knot in front of Jack’s mom, Olivia Jean’s dad, and the elated crowd.

The ceremony was officiated by Third Man Records co-founder Ben Swank, and the bass players from their respective bands served as best man and maid of honor.

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Jenni McKnight

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November 28, 2025
The late Queen’s ‘beautiful’ 9-foot wedding cake as you’ve never seen it before

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On what would have been their 78th anniversary, The Royal Collection Trust has recalled the wedding of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the charity shared two photos from the historic occasion, which began with a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London, followed by a reception in the Ball-Supper Room at Buckingham Palace. “Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey on this day in 1947,” the caption began. “This photo by Baron, taken in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace, shows the happy couple on their wedding day.

“The second photo shows Jack Bryant making the final adjustments to their wedding cake. The cake was 2.7 metres (9 feet) high and weighed 226 kg (500 pounds). One tier of the wedding cake was kept for the christening of their first child, Prince Charles, in December 1948.” According to the Royal Collection Trust’s official website, the bride and groom received eleven wedding cakes, but their official choice was baked by McVitie and Price, using ingredients which were sourced from around the world, including Australia.

Queen Elizabeth’s wedding cake was made with ingredients from around the world, earning it the nickname, the ‘10,000 mile’ wedding cake

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s historic wedding cake

A decadent and highly detailed creation, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s wedding cake featured the arms of both families, as well as their respective monograms and regimental and naval badges. After the Pâtisserie team at Le Cordon Bleu London was offered the opportunity to recreate the cake for the ITV documentary, A Very Royal Wedding, Chef Julie Walsh revealed what she and her colleagues learned about the design.

WATCH: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s 1947 wedding

“The original recipe was developed by Fredrick Schur, Lead Confectioner at McVities & Price. He had his original design for the cake selected by the happy couple out of 11 possible designs. The recipe for the original cake was not disclosed and may have been lost in a fire that devastated the McVities & Price factory many years ago,” explained Julie, “therefore, we had to piece together the information we had to develop the recipe.

“We discovered that as the royal wedding took place in 1940s post-war Britain, food rationing was still in force, many of the ingredients for a cake of this magnitude would have been scarce and hard to find in the quantities required. The people of Britain and the Commonwealth donated as much as they could spare to ensure the young princess had a fitting cake for the celebrations.

© Getty Images
Ingredients were shipped over from all around the world, including Australia

“The most notable donation came from the Girl Guide Association of Australia (Princess Elizabeth held the office of Chief Ranger of the British Empire), who sent seven crates containing ingredients for the cake, including powdered milk, flour, spices, and dried fruit, as well as one bottle of the best Australian Brandy! In addition to the Girl Guides donation, others received included flour from Canada, Rum from Jamaica and brown sugar from Barbados.”

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Megan Bull

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November 21, 2025
I had the most perfect hen do at this villa in the Andalusian mountains

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It’s worth noting that the villa is around 70km from Malaga airport, and as you ascend into the mountains, the roads can become narrow and difficult to navigate, particularly at night. I’d definitely recommend using the transfer service operated by the villa’s incredibly helpful owner, Alan, or renting a car at Malaga airport. We did neither of these things, instead hopping in a taxi at the airport, and ended up getting lost somewhere in the Andalusian mountains at 11pm which, if anything, made a very memorable start to the hen do which we still laugh about now (well, some of us). Renting a car is also pretty essential if you want to explore the surrounding area, too (Alan recommends visiting the beautiful beaches of Nerja, around 40km away).

But I won’t lie, we didn’t leave the villa the whole weekend, except for calling a taxi when we needed to pick up extra groceries (read: more wine). And honestly? I have zero regrets. Normally I’m very adventurous when travelling somewhere new – I’m down for any activities and don’t like staying in the hotel too long – but as all brides know, planning a wedding is stressful and time-consuming. All I needed was a few days with my best friends to do, well, not very much at all. Besides, we had everything we needed for a glorious girls’ weekend right there in the villa. It’s the kind of place you’ll never want to leave, even just for a short while.

Prices start from £2,183 for a four-night stay or from £3,817 for a seven-night stay for 10 people, working out at approximately £55 per person, per night.

easyJet flights from London Gatwick to Malaga start at £20.99.

Find out more at oliverstravels.com.

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Ali Pantony

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November 18, 2025
Former jail building draws couples for Halloween weddings in Ohio

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DELAWARE, Ohio — Nine couples got married Friday inside a former county jail in central Ohio that was decorated for Halloween.

The vows were exchanged in Delaware County’s 18-cell jail building, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Columbus.

These days the 1878 structure is owned by the Delaware County Historical Society, but until 1988 it served as the county lockup.

Andrea Bates and Jessica Scales decided to tie the knot about a month ago — Bates had previously determined that if she ever got married, she’d do it on Halloween.

“I feel like I just have a weird connection with Halloween. My daughter’s named Salem, so, it’s just my favorite. The spookiness, the atmosphere of the time, I just love it,” she said.

Halloween is also the favorite holiday of Nicole Bond and Jacob Beatty, who got hitched after being together for a decade.

“I think we were both kind of looking for an excuse to get married and this opportunity presented itself and we jumped on it,” Beatty said. “So it was such a cool, unique experience and kind of right up our alley.”

Bond said they had sweet plans for after the ceremony.

“Eat some lunch, take a nap and then go trick-or-treating,” she said.

Court officials in Delaware County do weddings every other Friday, and when they realized that Halloween fell on a Friday this year, they began planning for the jailhouse weddings.

Court employees wore costumes and decorated the space with pumpkins and a spider web. Couples were provided with a way to take mugshot-style photos.

Organizers capped the number of weddings at 10 and nine couples showed up. There’s no word on whether the bride and groom who didn’t show up got spooked.

___

Associated Press writer Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed.

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November 1, 2025
What to wear to an autumn wedding

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Though we hear about it all the time, there’s actually no such thing as “wedding season”. I’m currently on the hunt for the best autumn wedding guest dresses, because although May-August are the most popular months for tying the knot, September-November nuptials exist too.

And, trust me, it’s not as simple as throwing a blazer over one of your old-faithful wedding guest dresses and calling it a day.

As AW25 trends take over our favourite high-street and designer stores, I’m putting my best summer wedding guest dresses on hold ’til next year and will continue browsing the best fall wedding guest dresses from here until December.

Thanks to Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, tulle is going to be everywhere for the upcoming season, and as for colours; gothic black and scarlet red is the way to go. Though, maybe ask the bride for her opinion on both beforehand…

luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym

The actual purchasing part is easier said than done, however. Whether you’re after the best wedding guest dresses with sleeves, something sparkly/sequin-y as we edge into winter wedding guest dress territory, or a mini dress adorned in autumnal florals, it can be hard to strike the balance between “best dressed”, “out-shining the bride” and “overly practical”. You’ll want to stay warm while posing for pics outside in the breeze, granted, but, a bit like when you’re shopping for the best spring wedding guest dresses, it’s not exactly going to be freezing either – so how to find the perfect middle?

After much deliberation and a few trend-related chats with GLAMOUR’s favourite dress brands, I’ve come to a conclusion and have 33 autumn wedding guest dresses bookmarked and ready to buy. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.

From online clothing stores like ASOS, Nobody’s Child, Pretty Lavish and Net-A-Porter, there’s a stunning array of Instagram-ready gowns that will really pop on your feed (and IRL, too). Find them below.

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Georgia Trodd

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October 23, 2025
‘There are tell-tale signs’: Minnesota Wedding planner says this one thing a groom does predicts marriage will fail

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Every wedding planner has seen some messy relationships, but one Minnesota TikToker claims she can predict which marriages are doomed from the moment they start planning. Birdie (@birdie1216), known for spilling insider tea from years of coordinating “I do’s” and “don’t you dares,” says she can spot a cursed marriage before the vows are even exchanged.

Apparently, there are five dead giveaways that a groom’s heart (or head) isn’t in it. She’s talking about the fiancés that mock the wedding, ignore bachelor party boundaries, and can’t care less about planning. Or—worst of all—had to be talked into proposing. In other words, if he’s rolling his eyes now, just wait until the honeymoon’s over.

What are the Biggest Red Flags in a Marriage?

The Mary Sue has covered Birdie before when she went viral with a whopping 3.8 million views on a TikTok. In it, she stated, “I can tell if they will divorce before a marriage happens.”

Since it seems the topic lit up a flame on TikTok, Birdie has returned with a new series: “How to tell a marriage is going to fail.” She previously did a ‘Bride’ edition for this series and now her ‘Groom’ clip is quickly gaining traction and already has up to 225,000 views.

Birdie’s 5 signs might sound obvious, but she explains exactly why this means the man in a tux is hiding a giant red flag. First, she mentions, “The first sign is if the groom isn’t interested at all. I don’t mean that they’re not the main planner… I mean, they’re like ‘I don’t care.’”

The next two signs are straightforward: if he is disrespectful to anyone in the bride’s wedding party. Or if he doesn’t respect the bachelor party boundaries. The last two are arguably the most important. Birdie says, “Making dismissive comments about the wedding, like ‘whatever,’ ‘I don’t care,’ and ‘let’s get it done.”

Lastly and most importantly, she reveals, “If it was any kind of a push for them to propose. So, every girl deserves to be proposed to in a traditional, surprising way, and if he had to be pushed to do it, or didn’t do it all, if it was more like a business discussion, that marriage isn’t going to work out.” As she says in her text overlay, ‘The marriage could fail if the groom does any of these.’

What Other Red Flags Should We Know Of?

Birdie opened quite the dam holding back other red flags TikTok users know or even personally experienced. One red flag a viewer shared was, “The groom allows his mother to take control of wedding planning.”

Interestingly enough, that’s a whole other can of worms to begin with. The Mary Sue has covered horror stories concerning weddings and mothers-in-law. For example, the time one wanted to wear a bridal gown to her son’s wedding. Or the time a soon-to-be mother-in-law bought a ‘light pink’ dress that obviously looked matrimonial.

Another viewer shares, “If one person has to give the other an ultimatum in order to get engaged/married.” While another asks, “What about a groom that doesn’t want to talk about the wedding or plan it at all after he proposes.”

There were a few disagreements because of cultural differences. One viewer shares, “That last one is interesting because in my family, and I suspect in the French culture in general, engagements were never big surprises before we got influenced by the American culture. A couple would discuss getting married and would plan a dinner so their families could meet, but not a lot was left as a one-sided surprise.”

@birdie1216 Signs your marriage will fail before the wedding – groom edition #wedding #weddingplanning #bridetok #groom ♬ original sound – Birdie

Either way, all these points need some good analysis before jumping the broom.

The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via email.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Gisselle Hernandez

Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].

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Gisselle Hernandez

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October 23, 2025