Blog Posts by BRIDES

By BRIDES Magazine

Wondering if your honeymoon will rate high on the sexy scale? If you're thinking of staying at any of these hotels, it's easy to get your groove on with these steamy in-room amenities.

Kiki De Montparnasse's Intimacy Kit ($165) comes with silk ties and a (very) personal vibrator. Find it at the 60 Thompson hotel in New York City.

See Also: BRIDES Magazine's 10 Sexiest Resorts

Foreplay's even more fun with a fortune-telling "love decoder," part of Jimmyjane's Indulgences set ($25). Find it at Sky Hotel in Aspen, Colorado.

Booty Parlor's cheeky Intimacy LoveKit ($26.50) includes Don't Stop massage oil and Add Magic lubricant. Find it at The Nines in Portland, Oregon.

Related: Four Easy Ways to Get the Perfect Hotel Room

Tiger-print jammies (a cami-and-shorts set) by KN Karen Neuburger ($30) are purr-fect for bed. Find them at 70 Park Avenue Hotel in New York City.

Image via Jeff Harris/BRIDES

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• How to Make Vintage Save-the-Dates

Read More »from 4 Saucy Minibar Items to Make You Blush

By BRIDES magazine

You don't have to match your wedding cake to your shoes (unless you want to), but you do want the perfect finish to your big night. BRIDES magazine outlines what you need to know about this most celebratory dessert.

1. Before hiring an outside baker, see what your caterer has to offer. If your cake is included in the package but you're not crazy about the colors or design, try working with the in-house baker on some tweaks to make it more to your liking.

2. Find the right pastry pro. If you want something more unique than your caterer has to offer, hire a special cake maker. (But remember: Your caterer may charge a cake-cutting fee of $1 to $8 per slice.) Get referrals from recent brides, then check out the bakers' websites. Rule out anyone whose design aesthetic veers too far from yours.

3. Meet with your top picks. View their portfolios and displays, and describe the cake you have in mind. Attend a tasting (some charge a fee for this but may deduct it if

Read More »from 10 Steps to Getting the Perfect Wedding Cake

By Sally Kilbridge, BRIDES Magazine

1. Classic Chelsea: Wearing a cloudlike ball gown, her blonde hair pulled into an updo, and a sheer cage veil covering her head to toe, the former first daughter illustrated what a princess bride looks like circa 2010. Chelsea's alabaster skin and wide smile outshone her simple drop earrings and pearl bracelet, as well as her clean, all-white bouquet (looks like there was some ranunculus mixed in with the roses). Nice going, Chels!

2. Friends & Family: With more BFFs than BF names in the crowd, the day really was a family wedding-albeit a biggie. With the exception of Clinton-administration buds like Madeleine Albright and longtime Arkansas pal Mary Steenbergen, the celeb factor was zero. Were we disappointed not to see what Oprah would wear? Maybe. Were we happy to see two world leaders take a backseat to their child's big moment? You betcha!

See also: 10 Steps to Getting the Perfect Wedding Cake

3. The Rite Stuff: You only have to glance at theRead More »from BRIDES Magazine's Recap: Why Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Will Stand the Test of Time

By Millie Martini Bratten, BRIDES magazine

Following her recent appearances on Good Morning America, AOL, and Entertainment Tonight, BRIDES magazine editor in chief Millie Martini Bratten divulges her top wedding predictions for Chelsea Clinton's upcoming nuptials. (Does she know something you don't know? Hmmm...)

DRESS

Chelsea's signature style-simple, subdued, and classic-will certainly be on display in the dress she chooses. Vera Wang, whose gowns have been worn by Holly Hunter, Karenna Gore, and Jennifer Lopez, will most likely be making a one-of-a-kind ball-gown fit for the palatial setting of Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, New York, and for political royalty. As a show of respect for future husband Marc Mezvinsky's Jewish heritage, the dress may also feature a high neck and sleeves to cover her arms during the religious ceremony. Like many brides today, she will probably change out of her formal ceremony dress at the reception into a less formal frock as the party goes on into the

Read More »from BRIDES Magazine's Editor in Chief Shares Her Exclusive Chelsea Clinton Wedding Predictions

At BRIDES, we've been seeing a lot of cash-strapped (or just musically picky) couples doing their reception music themselves. Going digital is tempting, but bear in mind that nothing sabotages a party faster than a music malfunction and an empty dance floor. Check out these possible iPod pitfalls and smart solutions.

GLITCH: The gap of silence between songs is deafening in a crowded room.
HOW TO AVOID IT: Despite the common use of the term iPod wedding, it's actually easier to work with iTunes on a laptop than on an actual iPod--the screen is bigger, and you can avoid those uncomfortable silences and tweak equalizer settings to improve sound quality.

See Also: 10 Ways to Save up to $1,000 on Your Wedding Reception

GLITCH: Your laptop dies on the day of the wedding, and you can't get to your music.
HOW TO AVOID IT: Always have a backup plan. The easiest is to load your wedding playlists onto your iPod as well. Be sure you have the right cord to connect it to the venue's speakers--and be

Read More »from Top Tips for Avoiding the Biggest DIY-Wedding-Music Mistakes

With all the buzz over Chelsea Clinton's wedding this weekend, BRIDES Magazine asked our friends from Kakes by Karen, Cake Alchemy, and Just Cakes to dream up some exclusive cake designs that they think would be fitting for the former first daughter's reception.

Pink and yellow peonies intertwined in each of the three tiers strike a very romantic and whimsical note. Florida-based baker Kakes by Karen recommended a Meyer-lemon cake with lemon-curd filling, finished off on top with refreshing (and melt-proof) fondant--a perfect final course just in case it's a scorcher this Saturday.

See also: Dress Options for Chelsea Clinton and Mother of the Bride Hillary

On the other end of the spectrum, cake number two, by Cake Alchemy in New York City (just a two-hour drive from Chelsea's wedding in Rhinebeck, New York), is simple and sophisticated. The baker wanted to pay homage to New York's state flower, the rose. The gorgeous, golden four-tiered cake has a personalized touch with Chelsea and

Read More »from BRIDES Magazine Predicts Chelsea Clinton's Wedding-Cake

By Yolanda Crous, BRIDES magazine

Whether you're having a wedding reception or birthday blowout, one of the biggest expenses is the alcohol. Here, BRIDES magazine offers up ideas on how to save money on the bar tab without sacrificing fun (or looking cheap):

1) Forgo the Full Bar
Providing only beer, wine, soda, and a signature drink can cut your bill in half.

2) Find a BYOB Venue
Choose a site that will let you bring your own liquor. Buy it by the case to save 10 to 15 percent off the cost of single bottles. Return unopened bottles, if that's allowed in your state.

3) Say Yes to a Different Bubbly
Instead of the real French stuff, serve sparkling wine like Prosecco (Italy) or Cava (Spain), which mimic champagne's bubbly personality but not its price tag.

Related: 10 Ways to Save up to $1000 on Your Wedding Reception

4) Avoid Designer Labels
Choose nonbrand liquors and house wines instead of premium brands. Most guests won't notice.

5) Use

Read More »from 10 Ways to Save on Your Wedding Bar Bill

Until my wedding, I didn't think it possible to make a 170-person fete feel low-key and personal. But I have to say, Erica and I did a damn good job of it and pulled together an amazing night that was just our speed. No matter your style, there are things everyone can do to create an overall experience for themselves and their guests. Here are a few things we did:

1) Personalize the programs - Aside from the venue itself, programs are often the first thing your guests see upon arrival, so make them a reflection of the two of you. In our case, we asked some students from Erica's second-grade class to design them. They were cute, informal, and slightly uneven-kind of like us.

2) Set the tone for the party - We kept our first dance a secret, and then proceeded to bust out with a choreographed hip-hop routine to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." The crowd went crazy, and the dance floor was full until dinner.

Related: Why Bachelor Parties Are Nothing to Worry About

3)

Read More »from Big-Day Advice from a Groom Who's Been There