Win a trip for 2 to L.A. for the So You Think You Can Dance dance-off

Nanette Lepore may be as American as apple pie, but her Jacqueline dress has all the kittenish appeal of that most Parisian of outfits: The Little Black Dress.

Sophisticated dolman sleeves and all-over draping sensuously hug every curve and the deep front and back V-neckline show just enough flesh to keep things interesting. Let your bridesmaids wear this and make them feel like they're part of the beau monde.


Continue reading Dress of the day: Jacqueline by Nanette Lepore

Sunglasses can be a fabulous bridesmaid gift for an outdoor or beachy wedding, but if your wedding is nothing but opulence and luxury, get shades that follow suit. After all, if your jewelry is Tiffany & Co. or Bulgari, why should your bridesmaids have anything less?



Tiffany & Co.'s line of sunglasses is relatively new, so in addition to getting the name, you'll also be at the forefront of fashion by choosing these. However, Bulgari is ... well, it's Bulgari, and no girl in her right mind is going to turn her head to that.

However, each brand has it's own stylings -- Tiffany has several glasses with the well-known "Return" tag, while Bulgari is just bling-a-rific. Check out the gallery and let us know if any of these styles would be a satisfactorily luxurious gift for the members of your bridal party.
If you are planning your wedding without the restraint of a budget, the sky really is the limit when it comes to what gifts to buy for your bridesmaids. A few things to choose from when it comes to spoiling your favorite women include the dress they will wear in your ceremony, travel accommodations to the wedding (flight, hotel) or a day at a local spa (pedicure, manicure, facial -- the works!).

But if you're looking to splurge on a thank-you gift that not only shows your gratitude but is also original -- something she is sure to get use of and be stunned by, check out the gallery for a handful of lavish gift ideas your bridal party won't soon forget.

If you're going to make sure the flowers, cake and decorations are all the cream of the crop, thank your bridesmaids with the best of the best, as well.


For a bridesmaids dress that has more than a dash of bling, and a whole lot of glamour, check out this gorgeous, beaded dress from UK store, BHS.

The Lavinia champagne beaded dress costs £150 (about $300) and has a beautiful floral pattern embellished with heavy beading. It's a flattering design that will suit almost all body shapes and would be just perfect for a wedding with a lavish gold theme. Team it up with a pair of sparkly, high-heeled sandals and some gorgeous gold jewelery for a luxurious finishing touch.
We received a panicked email from a friend this morning asking for advice about her bridesmaid's dress. She is to be in a wedding up North, the bride currently lives out West, and the friend in question in in the Southeast.

The bride told her what dress she would be wearing and told her to get measured. Our friend got nervous because she wasn't sure what that entailed, seeing as how she hadn't been a bridesmaid before.

This reminded us that every bridesmaid is a first-timer at some point, and many of us are first-timers in a location that is nowhere near the bride (or anyone else affiliated with the wedding, for that matter). And so, we've put together some tips to help you stay calm and order your dress properly. Click through the gallery and put your mind at ease!

Misaki is a jewelery design company that used to sell only to airlines. Luckily for all of us, we no longer need to hop on a plane and browse through the duty-free catalogue to have the chance to get our hands on some of their fabulous designs. So, if you're looking for something funky to give your bridesmaids, and most importantly, something that won't blow your bank account to smithereens, then head on over to Misaki. Their unusual, contemporary pearl jewelery would make the perfect gift.

Every design is striking, and wonderfully different. From sleek and sophisticated, to quirky and off-beat, the variety of pieces within the entire range is madly tempting. Whimsical dragonflies, spiderwebs, butterflies, geometrics and swirls. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, watches, cell phone bling. It's all there. It's all fantastic.

To view some of their whimsical designs, click on the gallery below.

For a complete change from the ring-bearer pillow, here we have a gorgeous silver rose to hold your ring. The rose is 22.8 cm tall (about 9 inches), and is lined with red velveteen. The ring-bearer can carry one, and, putting a twist on tradition, if you're having a double-ring ceremony (and who doesn't, these days?), the flower girl can carry one, too.

Just picture two little people, each with their silver rose, one with the bride's ring, one with the groom's. A sweetly delicate variation on the standard basket and pillow! The only question in our minds is: Would they be more or less likely to drop a rose than a pillow or a basket?

The Janey by J Crew is a beautiful cotton bridesmaid dress with a chic 1950s vibe: The retro silhouette - a fitted bodice with a full pleated skirt - is updated with a deep V-neckline and back. It's a fun and flirty option for your wedding party - and it's available in dark chocolate and black, as well as in candy-shop brights.

$275 at JCrew.com


Continue reading Dress of the day: Janey by J Crew

To put a new spin on the typical rehearsal dinner and to show your out of town guests 360 degrees of your wedding city, book your rehearsal dinner at a rotating restaurant. Along with great food, you'll get instant entertainment for the children in your wedding party (and you have to admit, we adults think it's fun, too). And, there's just something romantic about them. La Ronde was the first revolving restaurant built in 1961 at the top of an office building in Hawaii. If you're interested in the engineering behind the design, read this, and for a nostalgic look at the history of these marvels, click here.

You can still find this dining revolution in many cities throughout the world. See if there's one in the city where you're getting married -- it makes an elegant setting for your rehearsal dinner or after-party brunch. One caution: find a stationary landmark near your table so you can find your way back after that inevitable visit to the ladies' room.

We've found a fabulous handmade, 1920's inspired, tote bag. In fact, we've found four of them. All made by Art Deco Diva on Etsy. The bags are made of 100% cotton canvas and are ideal for bridesmaids gifts - and even for yourself.

A great way to lug all the little bits and pieces that make up your wedding emergency kit. (And yes, you do need to have some sort of survival kit - especially if you're doing the wedding yourself, without a wedding planner to sort out any problems that might crop up.)

You could also get yourself, and your attendants, one of the cute Flapper-print t-shirts. At $26.99, they are just the bee's knees!



Incorporating color into your wedding has never been easier - thanks to the internet, it's simple to find entire communities of like-minded brides who share your love of color. If you're planning a pink and brown wedding, you're in luck - we've just made your life that much easier! Aisledash staffers have put together the ULTIMATE guide to a pink and brown wedding - come and take a look at all the pretty things we've found:


Continue reading Inspiration boards: Pink and Brown

Bridesmaids dresses aren't cheap, and while you certainly don't want to ask your attendants to break the bank to buy their dresses (and you don't want to go broke buying dresses for them), we understand that you don't want to give up on the vision you have of your wedding day. Sometimes part of that vision is a bridesmaid's dress. An expensive bridesmaid's dress.

If you find a dress you like, you very well might be able to find it for a lower cost online. However, there are several things we ask that you keep in mind it you opt to order bridesmaids' gowns online:

Continue reading Shopping online for bridesmaids gowns: 4 rules to follow

As the writers of Aisle Dash have shown, planning and hosting a green wedding really is as easy as planning a wedding that isn't quite as earth-friendly. Once you the details for your green wedding finalized, it will be time to shop for gifts for your wedding party that will show your friends -- and the environment -- how much you care.

Here are a few earth-friendly gifts to give your bridal party:

  • For the bridesmaids and groomsmen who are at one with nature, purchase a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass. For less than $100, this pass is valid for 12 months and can be used by the pass-holder and any other passengers in the car. Ninety percent of the purchase price will be returned to the federal land agencies to preserve the country's parks for years to come.
  • Purchase a subscription to The Green Guide -- National Geographic's consumer magazine that offers alternative products for the conscientious shopper.
  • For the music fans in your bridal party, pick up a solar iPod charger. For $29.99, your iPod-toting (or any other mp3-player) friend can re-charge anywhere the sun is shining.
  • Search for local and organic food in your area (or wherever your bridesmaids are located) at the Eat Well Guide -- then choose a local supermarket, restaurant or farmer's market to buy a gift card at.
  • Or, choose some organic coffee for the caffeine-lovers in your wedding party at Bean Trees.
You can't go wrong with any of these gifts -- your friendly (and earthy!) thoughtfulness will be deeply appreciated.
A gadget for the gizmo guy or gal -- and it's green, too! Well, it comes in five different colors including green, but we meant the eco-friendly kind of green. You hear all the time that environmentally healthy changes can be large or small. This is probably one of the smallest -- but so cool.

Instead of attaching papers with staples, which are very often only pulled out and tossed (into the recycling bin, of course!!), this gadget actually attaches papers to each other with a paper stitch. At about $8.00, it might be a little expensive for a wedding favor (or it might be right on budget for you), but it would make a cool gift for your groomsmen!

To see how it works, check out the next page!

Continue reading For the gizmo guy or gal: Staple-free stapler

As soon as you have that shiny ring on your left ring finger, you'll also have a few (dozen) decisions to make. From what kind of wedding dress you see yourself gliding down the aisle in to whether you should have an open or cash bar. Until the moment you say "I do" you and your husband-to-be will be making choices. Most of these decisions will be fun and each will lead you to the beautiful wedding of your dreams, but none of them are as important as the first one you'll make: where to tie the knot?

Destination weddings are a rising and popular trend in the wedding industry. It's appealing to offer your guests (and yourselves) a vacation in addition to your wedding. And, it has to be said: destination weddings make for incredible pictures.

But before you make the decision to get married away from your hometown, here are a few things to consider. Questions, when answered honestly, that will make it rather easy to decide between your figurative backyard and a fun destination away from home.

Continue reading Your wedding: At home or away?

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