1)A general rule of thumb is to give enough of a gift to cover the cost of you and your date’s meal. This is typically at least $250 per couple in the city of Chicago. If this is too much for you, please don’t worry.

2) Couples love checks (Make it out to the groom, since he’s most likely keeping his name. And, a check is safe because if it is stolen, you can cancel it.)

3) Choose from the registry and have the gift sent to their home (Lugging gifts from the hotel after the wedding is a pain!)

4) If the couple hasn’t registered, give them a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or funds to spend on their honeymoon.

5) If a gift is out of the question for you financially, give them a card with a heartfelt note inside and include a wish for their future together.

Guests can score trendy wedding-friendly dresses, suits, and gifts in the “I’m Invited” section. If you are unsure of what to wear to a particular type of wedding, sort by black tie, civil ceremony, semi-formal, or destination wedding to get Bluefly-approved ideas.

I’m dying to wear this Vera Wang jersey dress to my friend’s wedding in April:

Vera Wang’s Love Knots are a sweet way to toast to your new marriage.
The adorable set of two is on sale for $55.25 at Bloomingdales.

Kate Spade’s Belle Boulevard Toasting Flutes are perfect for a modern Spring wedding.
They are $51 for a set of two at Bloomingdales.

Swarovski Crystalline Toasting Flutes are my absolute favorite. This photo doesn’t do them justice! These are for the couple who loves to make a statement…a very sparkly statement! The stems are filled with tiny individual crystals and the bases are brilliant cut, resembling a diamond. I found them online at Upscale Gallery for$292.50 for the pair.

Other ideas:

If you are feeling generous, choose champagne flutes from your favorite retailer for your entire bridal party. Check out Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn for a start.

For the couple who really wants to make a statement with their wedding color pallette, choose colored toasting flutes.

Brides who would like to surprise their husbands with the gift of taking his name could take the fun a little further with monnogrammed toasting flutes (and a cake topper!)

Cheers!

Check out these gorgeous white details that could be used to add a serious WOW factor to your chic, modern decor. Imagine these vases with just a few stems of your accent color.

These are from West Elm

I love the clean, modern design. How cute do they look with leaves in them? It’s a fun take on the typical fall leaf decor. Leaves are an unexpected element for a spring or summer wedding. I think they look great with the white backdrop.

Happy Planning!

When I was getting married, I searched high and low for a white dress to wear to my rehearsal dinner. I found one, but not until I had wasted more time than I care to admit.

Now that I  am no longer the bride in search of the perfect rehearsal dinner dress, there are white dresses popping up everywhere! I thought I’d share a few in case you hadn’t started your shopping.

Casual (Old Navy, Old Navy, Gap):

Classic (Banana Republic, JCrew):

Fancy (JCrew):

I think this goes without saying, but please, do not, under any circumstances, wear your adorable white rehearsal dinner dress to a friend’s wedding-related event…a shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, or brunch. You can wear it on your honeymoon!

Happy Shopping!

http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/index.html

If you are already married, think about donating your gown!

Here’s a little peek:

What makes these separates so different from those you’ll find elsewhere is that all of the skirts are adjustable. I think this is amazing because the dresses are custom-made for each bridesmaid AND they are adjustable. That takes care of all of those pricey alterations and worries with pregnant bridesmaids! You really have to see this to believe it, but some of the skirts are made with a drawstring that is concealed by a reversible sash and others are a full wrap skirt. Genius!
There are 80 basic color choices in three fabrics: Silk Shantung, Duppione Silk, and Faille Taffeta Polyester.  You can also choose an embroidered specialty silk. I think it would be fabulous to dress your bridesmaids in their favorite pieces from the separates and the mothers in complimentary tones using an embroidered silk accent. You can tie it all together and take care of gifts for the girls with custom made wraps or purses. How fun!

If you are considering a unique high-end look for your bridesmaids that truly fits the bill of something they can “wear again,” check out Special Occasion Separates from Scarlet Designs.

Here’s my favorite look…

I am obsessed with the skirt. And, if you go to the studio, you can see similar styles with an adorable ruffle on the bottom!

This is the Twinkle Ballet Flat in Platinum Gold Glitter…Who says that your left hand has to have all of the fun?

This style is called the Clea Printed-Fabric Ballet Flat. It’s perfect for the non-traditional bride wearing a more casual wedding dress. It’s especially great if you were inspired by the Martha Stewart Weddings Spring 2007 issue with the gorgeous marigold and pewter color palette.

And…here are a few shoe tips that you’ve probably heard a million times…

• Regardless of whether you wear an adorable ballet flat or a chic stiletto on your wedding day, make sure that your feet are properly supported and comfy! No matter how cute those shoes are, you’ll be upset if you are wincing in pain in all of your photos.
• Buy your wedding day shoes well in advance. You need them for wedding gown alterations anyway. Break them in by wearing them around the house with socks. And, no…it doesn’t cause bad luck if your fiance sees your wedding shoes!

For many women the wedding dress is the most important dress they’ll ever wear. But choosing the perfect one can be a tough decision. What Not to Wear takes three very lucky brides-to-be to New York for the bridal transformation of a lifetime.

In the meantime, here are Blush & Bashful’s tips for choosing the perfect-for-you gown:1) Show off your best assets: a tiny waist, great cleavage, or toned arms (camouflage the rest!).
2) Stay away from things that are too trendy because you’ll have these photos forever.
3) Choose a fabric shade that compliments your skin tone. Read: It doesn’t have to be white!
Have fun!
Meg