By Amelia Robinson – Dayton Daily News

According to eyewitness accounts, the youngest bridezilla in the history of the world exploded last week at the Target near the Dayton Mall.

There was gnashing of teeth and crocodile tears after the little angel didn’t get exactly what she wanted – a glossy bridal magazine.

As a source close to the investigation reports, the 5-year-old tenderly asked her mom to purchase the magazine that no doubt features tips on floral centerpieces design and “something blue.”

“The mother said, ‘No, we’re not getting married anytime soon’,” my source reveals. “The little girl went nuts and said, ‘But, I want to get married!’ ”

Not to say I don’t relate to this child, but when I was that age, I was more concerned with developing a career as a shoeless tap dancer and/or an internationally known jelly and peanut butter swirler.

But alas, kids think the darnedest things and love fairy tales.

I was no different. OK, a little different.

For years and years, I thought my grandfather’s bodiless friend lived under his four post bed. The disembodied head, Frank, would roll out every morning to discuss the Cuban missile crisis with my grandpa.

There was no reason for my irrational thinking. My granddad never spoke of Frank and I never actually saw him (or did I?).

But in my head there was a head named Frank — and in that little girl’s brain there was a million dollar wedding to plan.

The mother was blocking progress.

The girl probably has a very good reason to think she’ll nab a husband by second grade.

It seems the thing to do — nearly 2.2 million couples said I do in 2008, according to TheWeddingReport.com.

And if that little girl doesn’t do it by, let’s say 23, she figures she’ll be a big, fat loser with a hairy face mole and Sour Patch Kids in her teeth.

Not to say having a lavish wedding ceremony isn’t wonderful, (it can be), but come on?

Why is being matched with a man and parading around in an expensive white dress still so critical to a woman’s identity?

Aren’t there other fantasies little girls should be having, too?

All things bridal are everywhere. Look no further than chick flicks like “29 Dresses.”

And more are likely to come a TV set near you.

Rainbow Media Holdings last week announced the launch of the Wedding Central channel and www.wedcentral.com.

The Web site and channel, now only available on Cablevision in New York, will feature weddings and relationship stuff all the time.

Shows include “My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding,” “I Do … Let’s Eat!,” and “Bride vs. Bride.”

It seems the tiny bridezilla isn’t the only one obsessed with wedding fairy tales.

According to Rainbow, the company behind We-TV, the women who like bridal programming are most likely to be in their 30s with a median income of about $58,000. They are 33 percent likely to have a household income of more than $100,000 and make the key decisions about household purchases.

With that in mind, it’s a wonder there aren’t more major meltdowns at Target over glossy magazines.

(Reuters Life!) – Want to blow your guests away with the music at your wedding? Hire the Rolling Stones who are bound to make a big impression on your family and friends — as well as on your bank manager.

The veteran British band has topped a list of the 12 most expensive music acts to perform at weddings that was compiled by Britain’s Living TV. They charge about US$8 million to perform but only agree to private shows if they are already on tour.

Here is the list of the world’s 12 most expensive wedding acts as compiled by Living TV, a unit of Virgin Media Television. Reuters has not endorsed this list.

1. Rolling Stones

2. Elton John is the second most expensive, charging over $2 million for private performances although all earnings from his private concerts go to his charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation

2. Australian popster Kylie Minogue also charges about $2 million

3. U.S. singer Christina Aguilera charges up to $2 million

4. British pop star George Michael charges almost $2 million 

5. George Michael: $2 million

6. Amy Winehouse: $1.5 million

7. Paul McCartney: $1.5 million

8. Leona Lewis: $1.5 million list

9. Jennifer Lopez: $1.5 million

10. Barry Manilow: $1 million

11. Rod Stewart: $1 million

12. Duran Duran: $1 million

Dusty Ricketts – NWFDailyNews.com

Some businesses find a way to thrive even in the toughest of economic times.

During the Great Depression, movies and radio found great success as relatively inexpensive forms of entertainment.

While many businesses are struggling today, one niche enterprise has done well. The popularity of beach weddings has continued to grow this summer.

“The beach wedding business has been great,” said Darrel Jones, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council. “We get an average of seven to nine leads a week (at the TDC). That has grown each year.”

The TDC has advertised its beach wedding opportunities in a popular wedding magazine called Knot. Jones said that has been successful in drawing couples to the Emerald Coast.

Although beach weddings have been big business in the area for years, the economic slump had organizers worried.

“I knew it was a reality out there that people were hurting and people were having to cut back” said Cecilia Cappella, owner of Tropical Beach Weddings in Navarre. “Everyone was concerned. I was concerned as a business owner, being self employed, but I have not seen a decrease at all.”

Cappella said she did not have any wedding cancellations this summer because of lost jobs or anything to do with the economy. She said she only had one couple call to downgrade a previous plan.

Financially, Cappella said she was even with last year’s summer numbers. Things have gone so well this year that Cappella has decided to expand her business next year to add another wedding crew to her staff to increase the number of weddings her company performs.

“It was a very good season. We’re still doing weddings. I’m slammed for September,” she said.

Maggie Halsey, owner of Barefoot Weddings in downtown Fort Walton Beach, said the biggest advantage to a beach wedding is the savings. She said a typical church wedding costs $10,000 to $12,000, whereas the most expensive package she offers is $2,500, which includes the bouquet, photos, chairs, music, decorations and officiating.

“It has been phenomenal,” Halsey said. “I have been really blessed. I just took my first day off since July 4 this past Sunday.”

From OneWed.com

While wedding planning, couples who are hard-core baseball fans may consider incorporating their favorite team into their nuptials – maybe with a cake topper, colors or favors.

Some brides and grooms take their passion even further and tie the knot on a baseball field. This Labor Day weekend, Jennifer Moran and Michael Blair will wed at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, the News-Gazette reports.

Moran told the newspaper the idea arose because the pair had gotten engaged, but were struggling to get excited about wedding planning.

“I’m not really a girly girl, more of a tomboy,” she explained, adding that choosing a wedding dress and wedding flowers was “the last thing on my mind.”

So, baseball stadium nuptials seemed just the right theme to get both of them excited. According to the article, the pair will walk down the aisle to the theme song from the film The Natural, and guests will dine on hot dogs, corn and ice cream sundaes.

In the past, some couples who tied the knot at Wrigley Stadium have also featured their names in lights on the giant marquee outside.