Blog Posts by BRIDES

We like to think that garden weddings combine the best of both worlds: you get to enjoy the elegance of a well-manicured setting as well as the relaxed, organic elements of the great outdoors. For a classic garden party, incorporate floral motifs and pops of vibrant green-and pray for plenty of sunshine!

Obsessing about your wedding dress? We know the feeling. This season's big, high-drama gowns are so spellbinding, you'll be thinking about them 24/7.

Take a cue from the red carpet with a wedding hairstyle that turns heads. Whether you prefer Jessica Chastain's retro side-swept curls, Jessica Biel's long, straight locks, or Gabrielle Union's playful ponytail, each of these 25 celebrity hairstyles could easily translate to a wedding-day look.

More from Brides:
The Ultimate Wedding Beauty To-Do List
6 Affordable Island Honeymoon Destinations
Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings
16 Beach Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Celebrities

by Brides

While jetting wedding guests off to Marrakech is probably a bit out of budget, it's easy to infuse your wedding day with the flavor of this Moroccan gem. Set the tone with warm, spicy colors and exotic prints.

More from Brides:
The Ultimate Wedding Beauty To-Do List
6 Affordable Island Honeymoon Destinations
Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings
16 Beach Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Celebrities

by Brides

Achieving the perfect retro wedding style doesn't always have to include a proper pillbox hat and enormous pearls, or a small town carnival and classic cars. Why not party by the pool in a timeless gown and tropical brights? (Whether or not tiki torches and a conga line are involved, though, is your call!)

More from Brides:
The Ultimate Wedding Beauty To-Do List
6 Affordable Island Honeymoon Destinations
Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings
16 Beach Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Celebrities

Courtesy of Minted

by Lisa Birnbach, Brides

We asked The Official Preppy Handbook's Lisa Birnbach for advice on how soon to send those Save-the-Dates.

Related: The Most Beautiful Cakes in America

How far in advance should we send out the save-the-dates and invites for our destination wedding? -LaToya S. of Petersburg, Va., via Facebook

Related: Wedding Gowns with Sexy Backs

Dear LaToya,

Word on the hostess circuit is that you send out save-the-dates eight months prior, and the invites eight weeks before your big day. Not only do some people have to apply for passports and save money, but there are those who will have to get time off from their jobs, arrange child care, and take care of other pesky chores so they can join you. Advance notice will give guests more flexibility when they're making travel arrangements, too.

More from Brides:
The Ultimate Wedding Beauty To-Do List
6 Affordable Island Honeymoon Destinations
Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings
16

Melanie Nashanby Lisa Birnbach, Brides

We asked The Official Preppy Handbook's Lisa Birnbach to help you navigate the tricky situation of inviting some coworkers and not others.

Related: The Most Beautiful Cakes in America

How do I go about inviting only certain coworkers to the wedding? I don't want to offend anyone. -Kara T. of Boone, N.C., via Facebook

Related: Wedding Gowns with Sexy Backs

Dear Kara,
This is tricky-especially if you plan on returning to your job after your honeymoon. If you work with 10 or fewer coworkers, you really ought to invite all of them. But if you work at a large company, get the message out that you have to keep the list small, and invite only those you actually spend time with outside of work. The other option is to invite no one from your office other than your boss and your assistant, who (if you have one) most likely licked envelopes or covered for you when you were at a dress fitting. Inevitably, someone who considers you a close work ally

by Philip B. Crook, Brides

As an iconic, longtime staple of bridal design, lace hardly offers a surprise to the world of wedding dresses. Yet, somehow, this fine, feminine fabric felt new again on the Spring 2013 runways, invigorating gowns with a fresh (sometimes sleek, sometimes rustic) perspective on how appliques, trims, and overlays take shape around the body. Of course, it didn't hurt that almost every collection presented at least one look layered in lace, making this a watershed moment for the top textile of the season.

More from Brides:

The Ultimate Wedding Beauty To-Do List

6 Affordable Island Honeymoon Destinations

Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings

16 Beach Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Celebrities