Kindergarten Teacher Gets A+ Marriage Proposal, Thanks To Her Students

One kindergarten teacher got a surprise marriage proposal that was chalk-full of sweetness, thanks to her students and wonderful boyfriend.

On Oct. 26, Brett Wolf popped the question to his girlfriend Torrie Buehne, who teaches at Stanton Elementary School in Fenton, Missouri, during a school-wide rally. 

Courtesy of the couple

Brett Wolf got his girlfriend’s students involved in the proposal. 

Towards the end of the assembly, the principal announced that they would be giving out a “Love Is The Key” award for teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty. Buehne heard her name called as the first recipient. 

HowHeAsked/YouTube

Buehne’s past and present students were involved in the surprise proposal. 

“I was shocked,” she wrote on How He Asked. “It is really all a blur now, but I just remember feeling an overwhelming feeling of joy because I do love my kiddos!) [The principal] pointed to a chair that was in the middle of the gym and asked that I sit in it and watch a short video clip that they had put together to show their appreciation.”

In the video, Buehne’s former students gave their own definitions of love like, “When somebody really, really likes you.” The last kiddo says, “Love means you’re gonna get married.” That’s when a montage of photos from throughout the couple’s four-year relationship started playing. The video closes out with Buehne’s current students chanting, “Say yes!”

After the video, Wolf walked into the auditorium and got down on one knee in front of everyone to make it all official.

“I’m not entirely sure what he said, but I grabbed the ring, put it on my finger, and hugged him,’” Buehne said. “Because we had an entire gym filled with 5- to 10-year-olds watching us! A kiss would have been too much!”

On How He Asked, Buehne said that having her students involved in the proposal made it all the more special.

“I call my students ‘my kids’ because we are like a little family,” she wrote. “I care so much about them, and the fact that Brett was able to incorporate them into this just completely fills my heart.”
For more on this A+ proposal, head over to How He Asked.

14 Thanksgiving Wedding Photos Filled With Gratitude And Love

Couples who tied the knot over the weekend had yet another reason to be grateful this Thanksgiving ― namely the wonderful new husband or wife in their life!

Below, 14 real wedding photos from our readers whose Thanksgiving weekends were filled with pumpkin pie and a whole lot of love.



1

My Life Photography
“Shauna and Jonathan were married in an intimate ceremony on Saturday night. From their first look to their sendoff, their wedding day was dreamy.” — Summer McLane of My Simply Perfect Events


2

Ripperton Films/Instagram
“Lyndi and Brandon’s big day yesterday came complete with a stunning fall color palette AND the best pie we’ve ever had — so you could say we enjoyed our weekend!” — Ripperton Films


3

Danaea Li Photography/Instagram
“This classy pair got married and despite the torrential downpour, had a pretty awesome time. We have the dance floor shots to prove it!” — Danaea Li 


4

Michelle Walker Photography/Instagram
“The love and beauty of these two beauties was so infectious all day. The way they looked at each other just kept us all googly-eyed and it was such a pleasure to capture!” — Michelle Walker


5

Human Eye Photography/Instagram
“Winter wonderland heats up.” — CL Clay


6

Teshorn Jackson Photography
“Meagun and Maurice Jr. got married on Saturday at the Secrets Wild Orchid Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their gorgeous ceremony took place at sunset on the beach in front of 40 of their closest friends and family.” — Teshorn Jackson


7

Daniel T Davis Photography
“Brittnee and Quincy were married on Black Friday in a romantic Houston, Texas venue with a lush vine backdrop with hints of fall color arrangements.” — Daniel T. Davis


8

Scott Goh Photography
“Tim and Mia celebrated their love in traditional colorful Korean attire at Glen Ewin Estate, South Australia.” — Scott Goh 


9

Wild Eyed Photography/Instagram
“Kate and Ruth were married in the middle of Edwards Gardens with just their immediate families and best friends present. It was total and complete perfection.” — Alex Neary


10

Vesic Photography
“Melanie and Scott share their first sunset together as husband and wife at The Postcard Inn in St. Petersburg, Florida.” — Hooman Bahrani


11

MIKE RICE PHOTOGRAPHY
“Kainat and David tied the knot at the High Vista Country Club in Mills River, North Carolina.” — Mike Rice


12

MIKE RICE PHOTOGRAPHY
“Anja and Stan braved the cold to get married in front of their family and friends on top of a mountain at the Addison Farms Vineyard in Leicester, North Carolina.” — Mike Rice


13

Sandy Malone Weddings & Events
“Tina Orsello and Melissa Bohm of Las Vegas celebrated with a destination wedding in Vieques, Puerto Rico on Nov. 20!” — Sandy Malone


14

Anesha Collins of Unashamed Imaging
“Danielle and Thomas Tedrick married in Orlando, Florida.” — Anesha Collins

If you go to a wedding or get married yourself, hashtag your photos #HPrealweddings or e-mail one to us afterward and we may feature it on the site! Please include the couple’s names as well as the date and location of the wedding.

I Don’t Ask My Spouse For Permission

igorstevanovic/Shutterstock

When my neighbor invited me to a girls-only dinner with the rest of the ladies in our neighborhood, I did a lot of things. I checked my calendar. I looked up the restaurant online to scope out the menu (and let’s be honest, the martini selection). I texted to see what everybody else was planning to wear. I changed my mind about my outfit like six times. I debated whether to carry my big purse or just a clutch and whether or not I’d be cold without a jacket.

But of all those things, do you know what I didn’t do?

I didn’t ask my husband if it was OK for me to go.

Sure, I ran it by him, because that’s called consideration. “Hey, Honey, I’m going to dinner with the girls on Wednesday evening. Are you gonna be home, or should I arrange for a sitter?”
But there’s a difference between having the courtesy to let your spouse know you’ve got something planned, and actually asking for their permission.

The great thing about being an adult is that you are no longer under anyone else’s thumb. I never got the pony I begged for as a child, but now that I’m a bona fide grown-up, I could have that pony by this weekend if I wanted to. I could keep it in my living room if I so desired. And there wouldn’t be a damn thing anybody can do about it because I’m an adult and I don’t have to answer to anyone anymore (except maybe the police, but hey).

All right, so that’s a pretty far-fetched example. I would never really buy a pony on a whim and keep it in my living room. But the point is, I didn’t grow up and leave my folks’ house just to move in with someone else who’s going to tell me what I can and can’t do. My husband isn’t my parent; he’s my partner.

Kids have to ask permission for things because their parents are in control. And for good reason: Kids don’t have the best judgment. If they never had to ask permission for anything, they’d stay up late every school night and eat candy for breakfast every morning. As parents, it’s our job to veto some of the things they want because it’s in their best interest. We see consequences where they only see whims, and so we protect them from those consequences by telling them no. This is the nature of the parent/child relationship, dictating (or at least guiding) their choices until they learn to realistically weigh the pros and cons on their own.

But to ask your spouse for permission implies that you can’t be trusted to make a good decision by yourself, and I just can’t get on board with that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with running your plans by one another first. (In fact, it’d be pretty shitty not to.) But this is a common courtesy to make sure you’re not double-booking or forgetting something important.

For example, my husband might want to sign our son up for soccer, but it would mean committing me to driving to an early practice once a week, so he talks to me about it first. Or he wants to purchase a new laptop, but when he tells me, I remind him that we’ve got to replace the tires on the car next month. From there, I leave it alone because he’s an adult and I trust him to make a reasonable choice, one that’s in the best interest of everyone involved.

It is for this very reason that our fairly traditional wedding vows omitted the part about “obeying your spouse.” Love? Check. Honor? Absolutely. But obey? That’s a big hell naw. I want my dog to obey, not my husband. I don’t feel the need to control him, and I wouldn’t want to be with someone who wants to dictate what I’m allowed (or not allowed) to do. Trust is a huge component of a successful relationship, and if the level of trust is low enough that one of you feels the need to control the other’s actions, then you’ve got deeper issues to discuss than, say, your Friday night plans.

I have no desire to act like my husband’s mom. I have enough kids, and I’m asked for permission a bazillion times a day as it is.

When it comes to making a choice for myself, it’s nice to know that I’m not married to someone who feels the need — or the power — to “let” me do something.

How to Remove Any Stain in the Bathroom at a Party

Let’s face it, life can get messy. And, no, we’re not talking about your last Bumble date. We’re referring to food. That glorious source of energy that keeps us going even on our busiest and most stressful days. But when you’re constantly on the go (or when you’ve had one too many martinis at happy hour), it can be a challenge keeping our clothes stain-free. It’s time you learned a few tidying-up tricks to pull out when disaster strikes.
Enter Nick Ciccone, one of Rent the Runway’s masterful dry cleaning pros specializing in tough stain removal. Nick shared a tried-and-true technique for taking care of stains on the spot, a surprisingly simple method that will undoubtedly come in handy the next time you spill rosé on your white dress. Follow along to learn how to knock out a pesky stain in a pinch.

Step 1: Grab 2 white towels and head to your nearest sink.

First, gently remove whatever remains of the cause of the stain from the surface of your clothes. This might be excess avocado, a piece of a popsicle, a watermelon slice… you get the picture. Next, place a dry white towel underneath the stained portion of the garment. Nick stresses the importance of using a white towel here: “White is used so as to see if there is any dye transfer when beginning the process.” If you notice the towel changing color, get the garment to a dry cleaners ASAP. This is more likely to happen with natural fibers, such as silk or rayon.

Step 2: Begin gently blotting.

Next, grab your second white towel. Dap a portion of this towel in water and begin blotting the stain. Continue this process until you notice the stain fading away. The key here is to avoid a back and forth rubbing motion. “Never never never rub the fabric in a back and forth motion, as this tends to chafe the fabric,” explains Nick. When a fabric’s fibers have been overly stretched or weakened, light patches will form over time with each cleaning.

Step 3: Add a little detergent if the stain won’t budge.

If you notice the stain isn’t go away with water, add a little mild detergent to the towel and continue dabbing. Often times oilier stains require this extra push. If you try this step, make sure you follow up with more water to remove any excess soap. This step may not do away with the stain altogether, but it will certainly make your outfit far more wearable.
For best results, let the garment air dry for a few minutes. If you’re in a real hurry, you can use a hair dryer to speed things up. Do not let the hot air get too close to the garment, however: “Dot get too close [with the hair dryer], as you can burn the fabric or set what little bit of stain that may not have been removed.” Once you’re finished, you can get back to having fun, mess-free.

7 Ways to Upgrade Your Wedding Menu

The one thing wedding guests will always remember about your big day? The food! Here, Jess Levin from Carats & Cake asks a few wedding-industry pros to dish on the easiest ways to create a wedding menu that's memorable for all of the right reasons.

By Jess Levin of Carats Schedule and Cake

Image by Christian Oth Studio

Welcome Your Guests Right

"Before the ceremony welcome guests with passed Champagne. The arrival is the first impression of what the night will be like and there is nothing more elegant than a line of servers holding silver trays with Champagne flutes as friends and family enter the reception!"
- Leonardo Lorenzo, Associate Director of Catering at Lotte New York Palace

Choose the Best Champagne

Image by Craig Warga Studio

Create Something Custom

"The days of the meat and potatoes banquet style menu is buried deep within our history books. In order to elevate what you serve, stay away from any preset options and create a bespoke menu that is 100 percent uniquely you."
- Chef Ryan Murphy, Executive Chef, Topping Rose House

Try These Menu Trends

Image by Karlisch Photography

Play with Seasonal Flavors

"Embrace the seasonal foods available. During the fall, offer your guests a warm soup shooter or a made-to-order grilled cheese station during cocktail hour."
- Mary Wright Shah, Owner, Diamond Affairs Weddings and Special Events

Get Comfort Food Ideas

Image by Elizabeth Messina Photography

Replicate a Family Recipe

"Incorporate personal favorites. If you have a favorite family recipe, share it with the catering team prepping your wedding to either have them replicate or re-imagine as a fun way to add a personal touch to your wedding day."
- Allyson Levine Joseph, Executive Event Producer & Vice President of Sales, Bob Gail Special Events

Image courtesy of Thomas Preti Caterers

Think in Pairs

"Create a custom cocktail or wine pairing to serve with each menu course."
- Thomas Preti, Co-Owner/Founder, Thomas Preti Caterers

Delicious Wedding Food Pairs

Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel New York

Go Personal

"Your menu should incorporate who you are as a couple, what you like, and where you are from. For example, we have a couple who is originally from Andalusia, Spain so we worked closely with them to design a customized menu that incorporates flavors and concepts from their homeland. We are even creating a Tapas Restaurant experience using the show kitchen with its built-in plancha."
- Mariam Karim, Director of Catering and Conference Services, Four Seasons Hotel New York

Image by Love Ala Photography

End the Night on a Sugar High 

"Play up your dessert with a variety of sweets and mini versions of your favorite treats."
- Jami Pennings, Catering Sales Manager, Wolfgang Puck Catering

Seasonal Trends That Are Not Only Pretty, But Good Enough To Eat

Winter weddings provide some of the most magical wedding photos and bouquets. We love seeing unique bouquets like adding fresh fruit, pinecones and cotton and they are on the rise for 2017. Will your bouquet be full of color or stay elegant in natural colors? I have searched the web and brought you some of my favorites. Don’t be afraid to use the quick and easy to use pin button to save it to your wedding inspiration board on Pinterest!

Photo by: The Jon Hartman Photography Co. | Flowers by: Gail Vander Laan
Photo by: Amy Breeze | Flowers by: Amy Fairley
Photo by: Perez Photography
Photo by: Michael Radford Photography
Photo by: JoPhoto | Flowers by: Lisa Foster Floral Design Studio
Photo by: Jessica Frey Photography
Photo credit: Wedding Chicks

Photo credit: Story Mix Media Be sure to check the blog for winter wedding signature cocktails, cozy wedding accessories and ways to keep your guests warm during your winter wedding!

The Real Reason Michael Phelps & Nicole Johnson Had a Secret Wedding

Photography by: Getty Images

Last month, Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson said "I do" surrounded by friends and family in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. But shortly before their big day, TMZ revealed that the couple had actually been married for months, since before the 2016 Olympics in Rio—and now we know why! It turns out, it all came down to making the trip easier for Johnson and the son they share, six-month-old Boomer Phelps.

How Michael Phelps's Mom Always Knew Fiancée Nicole Johnson Was "The One"

"We wanted to try to make it as smooth as we could for them to travel," the 28-time Olympic medalist told USA Today on Monday night. The solution? Hold a secret wedding on June 13 in Paradise Valley, Arizona, then have a second, more formal wedding in the fall.

"It was small," Phelps said of the initial nuptials, which longtime friend and agent Peter Carlisle officiated. "It was our closest friends and family there. It was perfect."

But Phelps and Johnson didn't confirm their marriage until just before their second wedding—even dismissing rumors of already being married when Johnson wore a wedding band in Rio.


Celebrities Who Got Married at Home Like It was NBD

Phelps himself confirmed reports of their marriage in an October Facebook Live. "I've been married for a while, a couple of months," he said. "I had to keep it a secret from y'all, I had to keep it hush-hush from you guys. But Nicole and I are married, we're officially married." When fans commented asking why he decided to keep it from the public, Phelps replied, "just because." Well, now we know for sure! It was because of baby Boomer.

Speaking of babies, could Boomer be a big brother soon? In the same Facebook Live, Phelps alluded to just that: "Baby number two may be coming soon," Phelps said. "Who knows, though?"

Looks like this couple will continue to keep us on our toes.

20 Things to Do as Soon as You Get Engaged

You just got engaged, congrats! From taking a ring selfie to narrowing down the guest list, here are the 20 things to do to kickstart your wedding planning process.

 

This is the moment you've been waiting for. Holy moley, you have an engagement ring and you're getting married! It's so surreal, yet definitely happening, and like it or not, the hours, days, and weeks following that proposal are guaranteed to be a whirlwind.

There are so many things to think about, so many people to contact and so much to get done. Don't be overwhelmed. You have plenty of time to plan the rest of your lives but if you're like most newly engaged girls, you'll be itching to share the news with all your girls and dive into the actual wedding planning part headfirst.

Pinterest boards, bridal magazines, blogs, dress shopping, venue hunting...the list goes on and on. Years of watching wedding movies couldn't have prepared you for what's to come (trust us, it's totally different). While the average engagement lasts a year to a year-and-a-half, there are certain things you'll want to get done stat — no matter how long you plan on being his fiancé.
So where do you get started? Obviously, you have to spill the beans to your parents. After that, there's no strict order to follow as long as you tackle the immediate to-dos. Committing the rest of your life to the love of your life is scary and amazing and the best kind of stress, however, it's a major, major milestone, and planning a wedding together is the icing on the cake — we promise!

Getty Images

Call Your Parents

And your siblings and BFFs too! The last place they should have to hear about your new status is on social media so give them a ring personally and tell them the happy news. Chances are, mom and dad already know what's up and have been waiting by the phone patiently for your call. Eek, so exciting!

Annie McElwain Photography

Make Sure Your Nails are on Fleek

Your hands will be in the spotlight for the next couple of weeks, which means your manicure best be on fleek. Otherwise, friends will be focusing more on your chipped nail polish than your gorgeous engagement ring. Not cool.

Sarah Culotta via Pinterest

Post a Ring Selfie

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Now that you've got the important phone calls out of the way (because in the case of your parents, a picture alone won't suffice), it's time to announce to the world that, yes, you're engaged! The best way to do so, obviously, is by showing off that rock, brides. For some engagement ring selfie inspiration, peep these perfect Instagram posts.

Getty Images

Update Your Facebook Relationship Status

It's not official until it's on Facebook, duh! Some brides will be dying to do this right away, whereas others may prefer to wait a bit. There's no right or wrong answer here. But, expect to receive a ton of love (okay, likes) once you do formally make the change to engaged.

Christa Strick Photography

Celebrate

Cheers to married life! Round up some of your best friends and family and go out for a celebratory drink, or have a special date night solo if that's more your style. You're engaged, and that's totally worth toasting.

Getty Images

Have Sex

It is your first time as an engaged couple so we say, like Nike, just do it! End the night with a steamy sex session to seal the deal and set the tone for forever.

Getty Images

Insure that Rock

We know, we know — it's not exactly the most romantic or exciting thing in the world, but it could wind up saving your butt (and him big!) in the long run. When added as an extension to your homeowner or renter's insurance policy, it's surprisingly inexpensive.

Getty Images

Chill Out for a Week or Two

Don't jump into wedding planning right away! Take a week or two to let the news really sink in and to just savor the moment. Trust us, you'll have enough stress over the next twelve months to last you a lifetime.

Getty Images

Get Your Ring Sized

If the ring fits, great, and if not, you'll want to take it to your jeweler stat to get it sized — especially if it's practically falling off your finger. After all, you'd hate to throw thousands of dollars down the drain mere moments after saying yes to that beautiful rock.

District Desserts

Start Thinking About a Potential Date

The most desirable wedding dates and venues get booked far in advance so if you're hoping to get hitched in the next year or two, it's a wise idea to start thinking about dates now. Find out what works for both your families and if there are any potential conflicts.

Getty Images

Research Wedding Venues

Remember: You can't book a date until you've nailed down your dream venue! Do some research online first, or maybe you already have a place in mind and can call to get more information on pricing and availability.

Craig Paulson Photography

Determine Your Wedding Size

Whether you're going big or keeping it small, being on the same page about this one is so important. Get your family's input if it matters to either of you or if they'll be footing the bill. Once you've agreed on a rough guest count and budget (we'll get to that next), you can commit to a venue.

Getty Images

Discuss the Budget

Money talks, but unfortunately, no one likes to talk about money. It can be, well, awkward. However, before you can really move forward with any of your wedding plans, this is a discussion that has to be had, be it between you and your spouse, or you, your spouse, and the parents.

Getty Images

Build a Wedding Website

At the very least, look at your options and decide whether you'd prefer to create your own from scratch or use one of the many wedding website templates out there. Check out the pros and cons, and then pick together. Or you know, just do it yourself because the most help he'll be is, "Whatever you think, babe."

Getty Images

Create a Wedding Pinterest Board

If you're introverted, set your board to private and pin away without the rest of the world getting a glimpse of your wedding tastes. Even if you're not introverted, this is a smart move. You avoid oversharing your big day's style and décor, and you can still invite your wedding planner, mom, bridesmaids, or whoever else to view and contribute to your wedding Pinterest board.

Nadia D Photography

Talk About Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

How many do each of you want? Are you cool with having odd numbers or is even numbers a must? No matter what, you need to discuss these things before one of you starts popping the question to their friends.

Getty Images

Interview Wedding Planners

If you're considering bringing a professional planner on board to help with logistics and décor, ask around for references and do a little online research, then set up some interviews. For the vendor referrals alone, a wedding planner is totally worth her weight in gold!

Azzura Photography

Check Out Trunk Show Schedules

Have your eye on a specific wedding dress designer? You don't have to make a mad dash to try on dresses just yet, however, you may want to peep their trunk show schedule to see when they'll be in town (or where you'd have to travel to) and how much of a discount you can score on the new collection.

Getty Images

Plan Your Engagement Party

Or figure out if you plan on having one. Odds are, your parents or his have already hinted that they'd love to host it. If so, start discussing details.

Young Hearts Photography

Do Something Silly

Mini golf, bowling, ice skating — whatever floats your boat and brings out the kid in you, both. Wedding planning can be insanely stressful from the get-go, so try to find the humor in things and take some time to laugh, reconnect, and remember why you're getting hitched in the first place.