Before Ed and I bought a house, I spend hours online researching home prices, market values, mortgage rates, etc.

The same can not be said for my bridal gown. Don't get me wrong. I spent lots of time researching different styles, fabrics and looks, but the woman who is sewing my gown -- not at all. I was just happy to have found her.

I lucked out. Deb has bought the fabric I requested, show it to me and is busy working on my gown. But a recent article in The Boston Herald was a wake-up call that I left myself wide open for some sort of fraud. I've also heard of wedding photographers who collect the cash and never deliver the photos.

While the Internet is a great source for undiscovered vendors who may provide more reasonable prices, beware that you don't get taken for a ride. Ask everyone for references. Check to see if there are complaints against the company by googling their names and contacting the Better Business Bureau. If you're still not sure, pay a little extra and go with someone a friend used and was happy with.

There's a bridal show coming up in Amesbury, Mass., this weekend. Even though it's a bit far away, if you've got nothing to do this weekend, go check it out. The bridal shows give you a chance to look at some of the new trends and get some ideas for your own wedding -- plus there's usually tons of freebies!

You may have noticed that I've been out of the blogosphere this week. I'm not neglecting you my faithful readers (mom); it's been a crazy week in the lives of Ed and Donna.

First up, Ed and I bought a house last week. Yippee! Of course, that means packing, moving, cleaning, yardwork, etc. We lived in an apartment before -- which can be kind of like living with your parents -- the grass gets mowed, but you have no idea how it happens.

So this is our first house. At least, we think we own it. We signed a lot of paperwork, but someone else is still living there. They're hanging out while they're waiting for their house to open up. And so a butterfly flaps its wings . . .

On top of that, I've been named the new Encore editor here at The Telegraph. Yippee! So I started that job this week. So in between, packing and learning a new job, I haven't had much time to plan my wedding . . . or blog about how I haven't had much time to plan my wedding.

Anyhow, in wedding world, things are still moving forward. Ed and I are trying to nail down a place to have our reception dinner and, because it's a destination wedding of sorts, we're inviting all of our guests who will be in town the night before the wedding to the rehearsal dinner. So we're having a hard time finding a place that can fit such a large party without it actually being a full-on function. As a result, we can't order invitations, since we're announcing the rehearsal dinner along with the reception in said invitations.

Hopefully, all will get sorted out next week. I'll keep you updated (mom) and I promise, I'll be blogging more next week . . . at least I hope so.

Enjoy you weekend with some wedding fun!