Blog Posts by Bridal Guide

Discussing fees and figures doesn't have to be daunting. Here's how to speak up—and save. Most brides don't look forward to negotiating prices with their vendors. If you're like them, you may be thinking that haggling over money seems so…crass. After all, this is your wedding we're talking about-the most romantic day of your life.

But think of it this way: Your goal is to develop a good working relationship with all your vendors-whether it's your venue representative, your florist, your caterer or your photographer-so that you can get what you really want at the best possible price. Now that's how to guarantee bliss!

1. Do your homework

Let's say you and your fiancé are scouting around for a reception venue. You've found several, and there's one you especially like. Don't start negotiating until you're well armed with quotes from the venue's competitors. And well armed means knowing exactly what the competitors are offering for the same price. If a competitor offers a better deal, you can point that out to your first choice and ask if he can either whittle

The strip twinkles just beyond the lobby windows of the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.There's a saying, and I'm sure you've heard it: "Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Well, when you're a travel writer and you've got to report on the best that Sin City has to offer for a bunch of bachelorettes, that anthem isn't so true. Luckily-and contrary to popular thinking-you don't need a Girls Gone Wild attitude to appreciate all this oasis has to offer. In fact, there are loads of fun non-gaming activities, some serious restaurants and great pools to experience any time, day or night. Here, some of my favorite-and totally shareable-things to do in Vegas, baby.

1. Strip Down
All the glitz, glamour and "only in Vegas" antics can be found on a four-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known as The Strip. Lined by towering themed hotels, kitschy souvenir shops and countless bars, the area provides endless (and did I mention free?) entertainment options. Chief among them is the people watching. Where else in the world can you spot an Elvis impersonator, a

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site. Here, Rosanna shares some fresh ideas for your "something blue."

I have a confession to make. Four years into married life, I realized that I never had a something blue at my wedding. Nothing in my dress, jewelry, bouquet or even underwear had a trace of blue in it. How could I, a self proclaimed (and semi-supertitious) wedding aficionado, have overlooked my something blue? Then I started to think - what's the big fuss about anyway?

As it turns out, this tradition comes

Two of Vera Wang's stunning red wedding dresses.

Once again, Vera Wang didn't show one white dress on the bridal runways. Last season, nude and black gowns dominated the runway. But this season, Vera went even more bold with all red gowns!

Vera's collection of 15 gowns celebrates the color of love and passion: Red. In her own words: "Beautiful dream. The symbolism of Red. Boldly romantic, charming, protective, grand, seductive, sexy. From dahlia to scarlet, crimson and vermillion. A celebration of love."

"She also pays homage to her heritage, as the color red is worn by brides in China to reflect love and romance and joy," said Diane Forden, Editor-in-Chief of Bridal Guide. "It is a magical collection."

"Vera always likes to wow and show a somewhat rebellious, anti-traditionalist approach in her shows, and I think that definitely came through," said Brittany Robins, Bridal Guide's Assistant Fashion & Beauty Editor. "She never ceases to amaze!"

"Vera proves that we should have an open mind and that any color can

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Brangelina has finally made it official!

On Wednesday at a private event in Los Angeles, Jolie was spotted with a new bauble on that finger.

Beverly Hills jeweler Robert Procop, who worked with Jolie on the "Style of Jolie" jewelry collection and The Tourist, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, who first broke the story.

Pitt's manager Cynthia Pett-Dante later verified the engagement: "Yes, it's confirmed," she told People. "It is a promise for the future and their kids are very happy. There's no date set at this time."

It took over a year to create Jolie's one-of-a-kind sparkler. Us Weekly reports that Brad oversaw the entire design process, from selecting a tablet-shaped diamond that "perfectly suits Angelina's long, slender fingers" to finalizing a mounting with a "galaxy of smaller side stones which are graduated in size and faceted to match." Click here to see an exclusive photo of Jolie's ring!

In January 2012, Pitt revealed to The Hollywood

From flowers to décor to invites, wedding planners share their tips for a party that treats the earth like a special guest.

A couple exchanges vows, framed by barrels of lush wildflowers.

1. Go for simple, high-impact design, advises DeJuan Stroud of DeJuan Stroud Incorporated, an event-planning firm in New York City. "We created a wedding in a barn, with white tablecloths and bistroware. We rigged wooden planks from the ceiling to hold pillar candles in glass cylinders. It was gorgeous-the entire room was illuminated with candlelight."

2. It's green not to use a tablecloth at all," says Alice Charlier of Alice Charlier Events in Los Angeles. "Nowdays a lot of rental companies have glass tabletops, and with the lighting, the effect is really stunning."

3. "Being green is really about reusing," notes Charlier, who is always on the lookout for interesting objects she can recycle. "We create hurricanes with old, prettily patterned mason jars, on which we might put a beeswax seal of the couple's initials. You can glue crystals on the

North, south, east, and west: See how couples across the country are celebrating their weddings!

Down South
What is it that makes Southern hospitality feel so special? Luke Wilson of Luke Wilson Special Events in Charleston, South Carolina, tells us how to get that low-country charm.

Low-country brides embrace refined elegance.

1. Brides are very choosy about their venues. Country belles have their pick of mansions and plantation houses surrounded by mossy oak trees, but Southern city girls also like walled gardens and Victorian houses. Because historic buildings tend to have smaller receiving rooms, the receptions for Southern weddings often take place outside in glamorous swagged tents with perhaps just the cocktail hour or cake cutting inside.

2. Southern brides don't mess around when it comes to cuisine. "They want a quality selection of things people really enjoy and that are local to the region, such as shrimp and grits," Luke says. For dinner, Luke's brides prefer dual entrées, such as braised short

Our fashion editor Robin is reporting live from the Chicago runways! Get the scoop on the latest bridal trends from each designer collection in 140 characters or less.