It's no secret new mom and bride-to-be Ciara has her hands full these days — she's raising her two-month old, Future Jr., planning her wedding to fiancé, Future, and recording a new album. But luckily for Brides readers, the "Body Party" singer took time out of her busy schedule to cover our August/September issue. And now, we're taking you behind the scenes at our photo shoot.
In our new issue, Ciara beams in a number of incredible wedding dresses from designers like Reem Acra, Tara LaTour and Mark Zunino, but it was her own jewelry that added serious sparkle to her looks. Her stunning 15-carat three-stone engagement ring, gold bracelets, and a simple pendant necklace showcase the surprisingly classic style the engaged star plans to channel on her wedding day.
"For my wedding, I'm just looking forward to it being another unforgettable moment," Ciara exclusively told us while on set. "I want it to be fun. I want the food to be great. And, of course, the dress has to be everything."
The star opened up — and got emotional — about her fiancé, too. "When I met my fiancé, I had to do a double take," she said of Future as she wiped back tears. "I was like, 'This guy is really handsome, he's really cute.'"
Ciara also shared a few bits of advice for fellow brides-to-be. "You will have a lot of ups and you may have some downs," Ciara explained. "Your love should be your best friend. Make the best of life. Don't over think things." We couldn't agree more!
Here, check out a few more exclusive moments from Ciara's cover shoot:
Photo: Brides
Though she admitted in our cover story that she wants her wedding-day look to be "elegant with a little edge," Ciara was totally sexy in this body-hugging, asymmetrical dress paired with a cool moto-style jacket.
Photo: Brides
Ciara and Brides Editor in Chief Keija Minor were all smiles as they reviewed some of the first shots on set.
Want more Ciara scoop? Watch the entire behind-the-scenes video, above, and don't forget to pick up the new issues of Brides August/September issue, on newsstands now! You can also download the tablet edition here.