Blog Posts by Bridal Guide

Host a bachelorette party or long weekend to remember at one of these fabulous destinations.

1. Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas

Roll the dice, pop Champagne and enjoy a glittery show in this quintessential party town. Stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, a non-gaming hotel, and you'll have a refined experience while still being in the heart of the action. By day, lounge in a poolside cabana replete with chaises, sofas, butler service and TV. At the spa, which offers a series of steam rooms and relaxation areas, try the hammam treatment, an invigorating scrub and refreshing massage with warm and cool water. Sip Veuve Clicquot and watch the sunset from the Mandarin Bar, 23 floors above the Strip. After, enjoy the delectable foamy concoctions of chef José Andrés at the Cosmopolitan next door and dance at Marquee, the club of the moment (Mandarin Oriental, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV , rates for the two-night bachelorette getaway package start at $349 per

Read More »from Top 3 Girls-Only Getaways

A recently-married real bride blogger reflects on her final hours leading up to her walk down the aisle.

This photo was taken at the rehearsal dinner. I'm pictured in the center with two of my bridesmaids.

14 DAYS BEFORE: Making final decisions on the bachelorette party. I hope Neesha doesn't make this too wild! I'm looking forward to it, though. To do: Print out programs for my traditional Nigerian ceremony and make fan programs for my modern white wedding.

13 DAYS BEFORE: Brian's mum and I worked on the ring bearer book/box. Answered tons of emails and calls about wedding details. Still waiting on reception dress to arrive from Nigeria...

12 DAYS BEFORE: Family is here!!! I'm so excited to see my grandmother, uncle and cousins. I started moving my things into our new apartment. It makes me a bit sad to leave the room I've lived in for 12 years.

11 DAYS BEFORE: Bought coke bottles, pecan candies, peaches, oatmeal and water for the bags I'm giving out-of-town

Read More »from Wedding Countdown: My Last Two Weeks As a Single Woman

Bridesmaids, the hilarious movie from Knocked Up producer Judd Apatow starring SNL breakouts Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, is now available on DVD/Blu-ray! Here, our top five reasons why you should watch this movie with your bridal party.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. You'll Get Ideas for the Bachelorette Party
Rita: What are we doing for the bachelorette party?
Becca: What about like, a princess theme?
Helen: Versace meets The Gold Rush.
Rita: I'm thinking tanned gentlemen that swallow fire and wear sarongs.
Megan: Female fight club. We grease up - surprise! Beat the crap out of her.
Rita: I don't hate it-
Helen: Vegas it is.

2. You'll Find Fun Themes for a Wedding
Officer Rhodes: Running a wedding should be fun. You know, if I ever had a wedding, I would want everyone to be stress-free.
Officer Rhodes: I would like it to be a carnival. Like people win prizes guessing the bride's weight.
Annie: You know, you could have

Read More »from 5 Reasons to Watch Bridesmaids With Your Bridal Party ASAP

Channel your inner Coco with these modern picks.

tiffany pearl and pink sapphire necklace





Up the style quotient of your outfits with this triple-strand pearl necklace by Tiffany & Co (tiffany.com). We love the pink sapphire and diamond orchid clasp.









yael pearl drop earrings








Treat yourself to a little eye candy with elegant pearl drop earrings, by Yael Designs (415-989-9235, yaeldesigns.com), set in 18kt white gold and accented with diamonds.







verdura pearl ring




Reveal your cultured taste with this South Sea diamond-wrapped pearl ring by Verdura (vendura.com).












mikimoto pearl ring



A bewitching South Sea pearl ring by Mikimoto (mikimotoamerica.com) is set in platinum in the shape of a diamond petaled flower.










penny preville pearl ring




Garner attention with this intricate diamond and mabé pearl ring by Penny Preville (pennypreville.com).



swarovski pearl earrings















For an update on your mother's classic studs, these pearl earrings with pavé details by Swarovski (800-426-3088, swarovski.com) are a deluxe choice.





oscar de la renta floral cuff








Mix things up with Oscar de la Renta's floral cuff with pearl and crystal detailing (oscardelarenta.com). It's a gorgeous Read More »from Pearl Jewelry Too Pretty to Pass Up

Being 20 years old and preparing for a wedding that will take place a few weeks after your 21st birthday is a slightly...what shall we call it..."different" experience.

First off, it was no surprise to me that my parents were not completely overjoyed when they heard the news. They were happy...but I was 19. You could (and I eventually did) understand. I was a baby in their eyes, even though I'd lived outside of home for about two years at that point.

Throughout the past year or so, I've had to deal with a lot of awkward comments. It was - and still is - difficult when you tell someone you're getting married (whether its a lady you've never met before in a shop or old friends you run into from high school) and the response is underwhelming.

The most uncomfortable situation was when my fiancé Luke and I jumped into a cab the weekend we got engaged and drove off to a lovely dinner with our friends. In our newly-engaged bliss, we shared the good news with our cab drive. She

Read More »from Congrats on Your Engagement! Wait, How Old Are You?

These real brides' true confessions- and hard-won wisdom-may help you avoid making some bridal blunders of your own.

Javier Gomez Studios

1. Money Doesn't Buy Happiness "If I could do it over, I wouldn't assume that a vendor who charges top dollar is necessarily the best choice. My high-priced florist and band were awful: The band didn't sing the songs on our list, and the florist, who was said to be a 'celebrity floral designer,' skipped meetings and showed up two hours late for setup. Meanwhile, the wedding coordinator and makeup guy I found on craigslist.com were fabulous-and they charged very reasonable rates." -Michelle, New York, NY

iStockPhoto

2. Don't Overdo the Dieting "I'd been dieting like a crazy person for three months, and then I was so nervous and excited that I barely ate anything the four days before the wedding. When I put on my dress, it hung on me like

Read More »from Real Brides Confess Their Biggest Wedding Regrets

It strikes when I least expect it: After a romantic, four-course meal; while I'm checking my news feed on Facebook; when I spot that Michael Kors bag I can't afford; during the meditation portion of yoga, when my eyes close and I finally give myself permission to relax and let go.

As I've gotten deeper and deeper into my wedding planning and it's time to select vendors, I notice that a budget-induced panic seizes me from behind and puts me in a chokehold during the strangest moments, when I'm not even consciously thinking about it. As a result, I find myself constantly bringing up the "B" word with a very perplexed Jason, my fiancé, who is much better at compartmentalizing subjects and doesn't understand why I'm thinking about which photographer we should choose while watching Planet of the Apes. Even though I try to rationalize that I know we can afford our budget, sometimes it just feels plain exhausting to be engaged.

I'm not alone: Every engaged or recently-married

Read More »from How to Talk About the Wedding Budget (Without Bickering!)

There will always be wedding cakes. But today's brides love to add another layer of style with whimsical treats that pop with personality. Check out more wedding cake alternatives here.

1. Puff pastry with Chantilly cream from Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach (cupcakescouturemb.com). Sign by custom-programs.com.

2. Layered dessert of Bavarian cream, flavored gelatin and candied fruit, from Canard, Inc. (canardinc.com).
3. Bride and groom cake pops from Sweet E's Bake Shop, LA (sweetesbakeshop.com).
4. Black and white monogrammed cake balls, from Austin Cake Ball (austincakeball.com).
5. Macaroons, in flavors that include coconut, blood orange and pistachio, from Vanille Patisserie (vanillepatisserie.com).

Check out more great wedding dessert ideas!

More from Bridal Guide:

Harry Potter-Themed Weddings
How to Get the Wedding Cake of Your Dreams
Find the Right Cake for Your Wedding Style
Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Perfect Reception
Top 12

Read More »from 5 Wedding Desserts Almost Too Cute to Eat