Take a break from your job, put down that soggy sandwich, and tell your bestie you'll call her in 10. Get lost in these sparkly engagement rings for a few minutes and then you can return to your mundane Monday.

Engagement Ring 1

Anam's ruby-and-diamond wedding ring (the smallest of the three here) matched her wedding dress—and ruby is her birthstone!

Engagement Ring 2

Julia's engagement ring, which featured a vintage sapphire, got lost on its way to her home, so her mother offered to dig up up Julia's grandma's ring, albeit calling it "a solitaire and kind of ugly" based on her memories of it. But when she found the ring, Julia fell in love. "I love the fact that it was my grandma's because we are really close," she says, "and I am especially obsessed with the subtle floral detailing." Even though she was sad about the lost ring, Julia says she felt like this one was meant to be. Aw!

Engagement Ring 3

This bling-y ring is by Yael Designs, a brand you've seen on Save the Date before!

Engagement Ring 4

Kaitlyn's boyfriend custom-designed her super-unique engagement ring around the center stone, an antique-cut diamond that came from a family member.

Engagement Ring 5

Amy's boyfriend proposed on Christmas Eve with a ring that's "nontraditional, just like us," she says.

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

If you'd like to share a photo of your ring on Save the Date, you can click here to submit it with the contact form. Or you can email a photo to glamour[dot]weddings[dot]girls[at]gmail[dot]com. I try to run reader engagement ring posts often, so take your time and send a biggish, nonblurry photo! (Please DON'T send an Instagram photo or add text or special effects!) And if you've already sent a pic, sit tight—it's coming!

I'm not suggesting this bride and groom skip anything! I just needed a generic wedding picture, and I really like this one :)

There have been so many fun updates to wedding receptions over the past five years (photo booths! late-night food trucks!), so it seems odd that wedding ceremonies have been pretty much the same since forever. So here are two updates I'm suggesting we implement, stat.

1) Ditch the "If anyone here objects …" OK, obviously this isn't the biggest time-suck, but it seems a little…outdated? Unnecessary? I mean, I know we're all hoping to be at the wedding where an ex comes crashing down the aisle yelling "I object!" but I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen in real life.

2) Nix the unity ceremony. I'm pretty sure the unity ceremony—which often involves a bride and groom lighting a candle together or simultaneously pouring sand into a vase—was invented in the past five or 10 years for couples who wanted to keep the religious elements of their wedding ceremony to a minimum. As half of a VERY nonreligious couple, I get this. Rory's Jewish, I'm Episcopalian, and neither of us is observant, so it would have felt forced if our wedding was all "God this" and "Bible that." But the unity ceremony felt a little forced to both of us. It just seemed odd to replace traditional religious rites—like saying the seven blessings at a Jewish wedding—with a made-up ritual, ya know? Of course, you might feel like your wedding ceremony will be super short if there are no "ritual" portions, but I promise your guests will be happy to get to the cake and dancing sooner.

Would you be OK with dropping these two things from your wedding? Or are you insisting on one—or both—of them?

You guys know how much we love the White by Vera Wang collection for David's Bridal around here. Remember the "Pippa Middleton at the royal wedding" vibe we got from this showstopping wedding dress? The latest addition to the line is no exception. This Mikado fit-and-flare wedding dress solves what I like to call "the brunch conundrum." Just like when you go to brunch and can't decide between sweet and savory (But I want the pancakes and the omelet!), it can be hard to choose between an over-the-top princess gown and a sexier, more figure-show-offy style. Enter the solution:

Oh, and did I mention it's only $928?! Yup, everything you want for less than $1,000. Scoop it up at whitebyverawang.com now. This gown is the first of five online exclusive dresses from the White by Vera Wang fall 2013 collection. Two other wedding dresses and two bridesmaid dresses will be available August 27.

Do you like it as much as I do? Anyone else struggling to pick out a wedding dress silhouette? Does this style help?

Photo courtesy of White by Vera Wang

Now that we're all up to speed on that emotional roller coaster of a Bachelorette finale, let's talk about more important things. Like the engagment ring.

L.A.-based jeweler Neil Lane graciously made his customary trek out to the exotic tropical paradise du jour (tough job, eh?) and presented some engagement ring options. According to Lane, Chris seemed very genuine and ready to tie the knot.

“There was no doubt or uncertainty about Chris. He was very much in love," Lane told People Stylewatch.

Chris picked a ring with a band of intertwined rose gold and platinum (which is cute and symbolic, because, rose gold). If I were to guess, the center stone appears to be a cushion-shaped diamond, around 2+ carats, surrounded by a halo of pink and white pave diamonds that continue down the band.

Our blogger Kim has mentioned that she's a little bored with all of these cushion halo engagement rings on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. What do you think?

Let's hear your thoughts on Desiree's new engagement ring in the comments below.

Photo: ABC

Worried about the order of major moments at your wedding reception? Planning this party by the minute seems a tad overwhelming, so we've asked Brides' wedding etiquette experts to make a reception timeline for you.

Can you give me a timetable for a seated wedding dinner with dancing?

Here's a basic outline: If you don't have a receiving line at the church, form it during the first half hour of your reception. If you've already greeted each guest personally, take your wedding party photos now. During the next 30 to 60 minutes, musicians play, drinks are poured, hors d'oeuvres are served, and guests pick up their table cards and proceed into the dining room. Once the attendants and parents have been served the first course, the best man may make his toast, and you and the groom can follow. Your first dance and other special dances should take place after the first course has been cleared. After these traditional dances, the main course is served. Once dishes have been cleared, it is time for the cake-cutting ceremony. Guests can take to the dance floor while the caterer finishes distributing the cake. After the bouquet and garter tosses, the dancing can continue for an hour or more, with full bar.

—Written by Brides

Is there anything you wish you'd done differently with your wedding timetable?

More from Brides:
*Sexy Summer Wedding Dresses
*Celebrity Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
*25 Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Our Favorite Celebrities
*America's Most Beautiful Cakes
*11 Things to Avoid Before Your Wedding

Photo: Stec Photo

Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson just said "I do" to Justin Mikita (and they had the cutest cake topper ever) and it seems his new marriage is spreading the love!

Jesse joined on Thursday night's episode of Project Runway on behalf of his bow-tie collection, Tie the Knot, which supports marriage equality. He also appeared as a guest judge on that night's bow-tie-making challenge, during which designer Bradon McDonald proposed to his partner of 18 years! The guests could barely hold it together—and I definitely didn't!

I'm having trouble getting the video to embed here, but I highly recommend watching it here. If you don't mind a little early-a.m. cry, that is. (And watch till the end, when Heidi Klum offers to be a bridesmaid! I DIE.)

Seriously, how sweet was that? Is anyone else crying?

No, new parents Kim Kardashian and Kanye West not even engaged yet (that we know of) but the cover of the latest Us Weekly is already shouting about Kim's Secret Wedding, which will possibly happen in Paris. I always like to remind people (myself) to take "news" from celebrity mags with a grain of salt, but Us is one of the more reputable sources out there, IMO.

So here are the highlights, which I stumbled across on Hollywood Life:

+ "Kanye has been in love with Kim for years," a source tells the mag. "He's so happy now, and seriously into her."

+ [Kanye] has told his friends and family that he was going to wife her since the day they met, and he is determined to do it.

The only thing that's allegedly holding them back is that their definition of "dream wedding" varies wildly.

In typical Yeezy fashion, Kanye wants a "really cool and big and over-the-top" celebration, according to the source. (Kaye has one broken engagement, but he's never been wed.)

But since it will be Kim's third trip down the aisle—and since her second wedding and marriage to Kris Humphries were such public spectacles—she's rather keep the guest list to 30 to 50 people. "Not even extended family will be invited!"

The story's not up on Us yet, but you can click your way over to HollywoodLife to read more.

Thoughts on Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's maybe-secret wedding?

I'm sure Kris Jenner is relieved, in any event.

Photo: Getty Images

In case you missed the screen grab yesterday, here's a fuzzy pic of the Neil Laneengagement ringChris Siegfried gave Desiree Hartsock on the finale of The Bahelorette Monday night.

People has a better pic, plus info on all that bling: "The sparkler is over 3.5 carats, with more than 200 small diamonds adorning a cushion-cut center stone." So no pink diamonds, like we guessed yesterday. Which is unfortunate, b/c I think pink diamonds would have jazzed it up a bit. I DO love the platinum/rose-gold combo though. It's pretty hard to find mixed-metal engagement rings, which I wanted to focus on since the rose gold is what make Des' ring unique. Here are my best "inspired by" picks:

Engagement Ring 1

Platinum and Rose Gold Diamond Engagement Ring With Pave Halo and Double-Claw Prongs from James Allen, $4,300.

Engagement Ring 2

Twist Diamond Engagement Ring from Blue Nile, $1,585 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 3

Monique Lhuillier Double Diamond Halo Engagement Ring from Blue Nile, $3,000 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 4

White-Gold Twisted-Vine Diamond Engagement Ring from Brilliant Earth, $1,495.

Engagement Ring 5

White and Rose Gold Serenity Diamond Engagement Ring from Brilliant Earth, $1,325 (setting).

The pair are ready to move in together in Seattle—this weekend!—and are already planning a wedding, possibly for next June! While they plan on keeping the guest list to family and close friends {So not a Bachelor/Bachelorette reunion? Boo. } in the grand tradition of Bachelor and Bachelorette weddings "all of America" will be invited, the bride told people. Thank God.

And in the grand tradition of this season, Desiree, a bridal designer by trade, who designed many of her rose ceremony gowns, is planning to design her own wedding dress. "Twenties-inspired, a sheath dress with beading or lace," she told People.

Read the full story (and see the nonblurry pic) here.

Thoughts on my "inspired by" engagement rings? Do you like 'em better for than Des'?

Photo 1: Courtesy of ABC.

Writes Save the Date reader Ginny:

My fiance and I have been together since we were 12. Thirteen years later, we're SO excited to marry. Our families are already "family," so everyone is super-duper insanely happy. (I'm the first person in my family to marry a non-Indian in an unarranged marriage, so that's something!)

The only problem I'm facing is blending our cultures. I'm American, but my heritage is 100 percent South Indian, and I want to honor that. My guy is American and doesn't have ties to any particular culture, and neither of us is really religious. I'm wearing an "American"-style wedding dress (the Ortensia Wedding Dress from BHLDN) and plan to pair it with a very ornate gold necklace that my great-grandmother wore for her wedding. I don't want to, like, serve food on banana leaves, but I want to make sure there are some fun Indian touches. Any ideas?

Here are my thoughts:

I LOVE a traditional Indian wedding (check out my dear friend Madhu's here!), but I understand that if you identify as American over Indian, it would be weird to make your wedding a big cultural celebration. Especially since your fiance doesn't identify with the culture at all. If you want to borrow, maybe, one rite from a traditional Indian wedding for your ceremony, that might be neat. I know there's one that involves throwing rice that always photographs beautifully! To keep all your guests in the loop, I'd have whoever's marrying you explain whatever tradition you choose before you perform it during the ceremony.

Beyond that (and even if a borrowed ceremony feels like "too much"), I think your best bet is to focus on decor. Here's Madhu and Ben's wedding invitation—which my husband, Rory, actually designed!

He also designed the save-the-date and some other stationery that had tiny elephants with interlocking trunks; sadly, this not-so-great pic is the only one I can find.

The good news is, there's loads of beautiful Indian-inspired stationery out there that doesn't involve, you know, calling my house.

Exotic Lace Wedding Invitations from Wedding Paper Divas, from $1.64 each.

Vintage Scrollwork from Wedding Paper Divas, from $1.74 each.

Beyond that, I would have a few decorative Indian-inspired items in a strong, bold color palette (hot pink and orange or turquoise and bright green) scattered throughout your reception area. I'm partial to the carnation elephant:

But if that's too OTT for your taste, I think you could copy some of Madhu and Ben's tabletop ideas without your party seeming too in-your-face Indian.

Ladies, what do you think? Should Ginny pass on Indian-themed decor? Or embrace her culture?

Main photo: Thinkstock. All other photos: Ajit Singh.

I know, I know. The Bachelorette's Desiree Hartsock is all about making her own wedding dress. "Twenties-inspired, a sheath dress with beading or lace," she told People. (Read more deets on her wedding to Chris Siegfried here.) But trust me, wedding planning is hectic, Des, so you might not have time to whip up a beaded gown on your own between sampling bites of wedding cake and picking out your flowers. The good news is, I spotted the MOST perfect dress for you at our photo shoot last week. Ta-da!

Emerson Wedding Gown from Wtoo.

I know, I know. It's almost creepy how perfect it is. But how fab would this dress look on Des?

Thoughts on the Emerson dress? Do you like it for Desiree? Would you wear it as your wedding dress?

Photo: Courtesy of the designer

With so many skin treatments out there—peels and LED light and lasers, oh my!—planning your wedding skin care routine can be (almost) as overwhelming and confusing as tackling your seating chart. So we got celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas, founder of Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection, to break down the perfect pre-wedding skin care routine for you (these recommendations are based on treatments she offers in her own salon, but you can find similar offerings at a spa near you or at a dermatologist's office).

Here's what she recommends you do if your wedding is...

4 weeks away:

"Typically, a month before the wedding, the bride is stressed and everything she has so carefully planned is coming together relentlessly," Vargas says. Thus, she recommends a deep pore cleansing to de-clog pores and prevent future blemishes so your skin will be smooth on your big day. "Having one four weeks out will give the skin time to heal," she explains. "I would follow with an LED light session so the pores start to shrink and you can get the skin even-toned and perfect for the big day."

3 weeks away:

Want to try a fancy new treatment to wake your skin up? Vargas suggests that three weeks out you could have the first of three microcurrent facials. "It de-puffs you and takes the tired out of your eyes, no matter how much rest you have gotten," she says. This is also a good time to get a resurfacing fruit-acid peel, which you could follow with an LED light treatment to really get glowing.

2 weeks away:

Two weeks out, "I would do an LED Light treatment plus oxygen. LED works in a series. The more you do, the more the pores shrink and the better your skin looks," Joanna says. "The oxygen is awesome for bringing a great glow to the skin, which is so important with all the stress and pollution we subject it to."

A few days away:

Get your final microcurrent facial, if you started doing a series. "Many brides end up trying to manage stress with wine this last week, which leads to puffiness," Joanna says. Microcurrent will make you look de-puffed; it will make your cheekbones high and your jaw and neck really perfect for pictures. This is my favorite facial to give to anyone before a big day like a wedding or red carpet." The best part? There's no downtime like there is with regular pore-cleansing facials.

Tomorrow!

"Morning of, I would use my Exfoliating Mask in the shower. It will brighten your skin before makeup," Joanna suggests. "Under your makeup, I would use the Daily Serum. It's really great for oxygenating the skin and giving you a rosy glow. It's so easy too because it goes on the face neck and eyes."

What's your wedding skin care routine like? Do you plan to try any of the treatments Joanna Vargas mentions here?

Photo: Mark Leibowitz

If you pin engagement rings on Pinterest {guilty! }, there's a good chance you've pinned a bunch from Blue Nile. (The brand has more than 50,000 followers and upwards of 4,400 pins, so you've probably stumbled across a Blue Nile pin or 20!) Of all the Blue Nile engagement rings out there, here are the ones that are getting pinned the most. I can certainly see why they're popular!

Engagement Ring 1

Classic Pear-Shaped Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum, $3,450 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 2

Floating-Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum, $3,825 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 3

Heirloom Petite Cathedral Pave Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum,$1,130 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 4

Round Halo Diamond Engagement Ring in 14k White Gold, $1,750 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 5

Step-Cut Trapezoid Diamond Engagement Ring in Platinum, $4,500 (setting only).

Do you pin engagement rings on Pinterest? Are you open about it, or on a "secret" board? Which of this rings is your favorite?

I'd happily wear No. 5!

Photos: Courtesy of the designer

It's natural to care about your bridesmaids' dresses and appearance, but there's no need to start a fuss with your closest friends. Brides' wedding experts help you navigate this conversation.

Can I ask my bridesmaids to cover their tattoos?

You can—as long as you ask nicely and help facilitate the process, either by hiring a professional makeup artist to do the job (most pros use a drying spray on the concealer so that it doesn't rub off on clothes) or by giving each maid something to slip over her shoulders, like a boxy brocade jacket or a stylish shrug. But before you do either of these things, you should realize that tats on your bridesmaids' backs will not take away from the elegance of your wedding. The overall setting and style of a celebration, and gracious hosts (you and your fiancé) are what create a high-toned ambience.

—Written by Brides

Would you ever ask your bridesmaids to cover their tattoos?

More from Brides:
*Sexy Summer Wedding Dresses
*Celebrity Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
*25 Wedding Hairstyles Inspired by Our Favorite Celebrities
*America's Most Beautiful Cakes
*11 Things to Avoid Before Your Wedding

Photo: Blair Nicole Photography

Since I grew up just a stone's throw from the ocean, a nautical-inspired wedding always makes my heart skip a beat. Here are eight seaworthy wedding ideas that have me just a teeny bit homesick today.

For more seafaring inspiration, check out the Glamour Nautical bundle on Loverly!

Would you host a nautical-themed wedding? Or would it be a little weird at your venue?

Obviously I can wax poetic about couture wedding dresses, but for most real-life brides, the fancy-pants gowns can be a little too fussy, am I right? Which is why I'm loving Luxe, the new line from Ines Di Santo, which the brand is calling "the youthful, playful and flirtatious sister" of the couture collection. I think that about sums it up! Here are three of my faves:

Wedding Dress 1

Wedding Dress 2

Wedding Dress 3

Click here to see more from Ines Di Santo Luxe, which hit stores at the end of last month.

Which one of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Photos: Courtesy of the designer

Most of the actresses who walked the Teen Choice Awards red, er, blue carpet won't be brides for a decade or so. But you can still totally copycat their ultra-pretty hair ideas for your walk down the aisle. Here are four of my favorite, wedding-worthy looks.

Lily Collins' Bumped-Up Faux Bob

Maia Mitchell's Braided Crown

Lucy Hale's Side-Swept Waves

Bella Thorne's Over-the-Ear Braid

Which of these Teen Choice Awards hair ideas would you copycat for your wedding?

I'd love to see Lily Collins' look (makeup too!) on a retro-inspired bride!

Photo: Getty Images

I know, I know. You probably think that "under-$800" is a typo, since jeweler-to-the-stars Neil Lane is best known for designing doorknob-size engagement rings for celebrities. But it's not. And I think this $799 ring from Neil Lane Designs—Neil's line with Kay Jewelers—would be just perfect for a girl looking for a unique engagement ring with a vintage-y vibe.

Round-Cut Ring, $799.

Here are the two other new pieces in the collection. First a ring that would make an eye-catching wedding band next to a simple engagement ring. (Or, on its own, if you wanted to bump you engagement ring to your right hand.)

Diamond Leaves and Vines Ring, $299.99.

And then there are these diamond-and-pearl earrings, which I adore for a bride. The price tag is probably a stretch for a girl who's planning a wedding, but if you could spring for 'em, they'd be such a nice keepsake to pass on to your (future, imaginary) daughter.

Diamond and Cultured-Pearl Earrings, $799.99.

Click here to view everything in the collection.

Thoughts on the latest baubles from Neil Lane Designs?

If I had a spare $800, I would love, love, love to splurge on the first ring.

Photo: Courtesy of the designer.

Writes Save the Date reader Nikki:

My fiance and I had a big, lavish "wedding" in our hometown, and all of our friends and family members were able to attend. However, due to some technicalities, we were weren't officially married that day, so now I'm planning a second, smaller wedding (to the same man!) in Vegas. Since it will be our REAL wedding day, I don't want it to be cheesy or lame. I'm planning on wearing my wedding dress again, and he'll wear his three-piece suit. A couple of my bridesmaids have said they want to wear their dresses again, and I have no problem with that. I actually welcome it. However, does this mean I have to buy gifts for them again? Do I have to do anything special for anyone else attending our "destination wedding"? Also, I wasn't planning on hosting a reception or anything after, rather just having everyone go to a buffet on their own dime. Is that OK?

Here are my thoughts:

I don't think you have to do bridesmaids gifts again, especially if you're not asking them to take on additional responsibilities or get their hair and makeup done or whatever. And I don't think you have to do "welcome bags" or whatever for anyone else who's attending. (I do love a good welcome bag, but I understand that the cost can add up, and I hardly consider them mandatory.)

That said, if people are traveling on your behalf, I do think you're obligated to feed them. I tend to err on the side of Miss Manners when it comes to party hosting rules. And if you're having a destination wedding (even if it's not your first wedding), you're hosting a party. I mean, it's basically the equivalent of a vow renewal, just a little sooner. And you wouldn't host one of those and let your guests go hungry, I hope.

I know hosting a whole dinner thing could wind up being super-spendy, so I'd either have an A.M. ceremony (say, 9:30) and follow up with mimosas and pastries or a post-dinner ceremony (8 P.M.) and then celebrate with desserts and champagne. I mean, you mentioned you don't want your wedding to be cheesy or lame, and I think not feeding people is kind of both.

Ladies, what do you think? Should Nikki do SOMETHING to feed her guests? Or is it fine to ask them to spring for their own food?

Photo: Thinkstock.

Three of today's ultra-pretty engagement rings feature colorful stones. **love!!**

Engagement Ring 1

This breathtaking ring belongs to Glam Belleza Latina editor Lyndsay Luff. (Read her sweet proposal story here.)

Engagement Ring 2

Andrea picked out this super-unique ring, which features a tanzanite center stone, after her boyfriend proposed while they were fly-fishing. "I just thought he was rerigging his rod or something when suddenly out of his waders came a ring!" she remembers. (He proposed with a ring of his mother's and then let her pick her own!)

Engagement Ring 3

Ashley's guy proposed with this custom ring while they were ice skating on the pond at his parents' farm.

Engagement Ring 4

Nellie tried on more than 100 rings before picking this ruby sparkler.

Engagement Ring 5

Courtney's boyfriend proposed while they were vacationing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

If you'd like to share a photo of your ring on Save the Date, you can click here to submit it with the contact form. Or you can email a photo to glamour[dot]weddings[dot]girls[at]gmail[dot]com. I try to run reader engagement ring posts often, so take your time and send a biggish, nonblurry photo! (Please DON'T send an Instagram photo or add text or special effects!) And if you've already sent a pic, sit tight—it's coming!

Rather than stressing over shades of gray or pops of pink or "Are fern green and sage green the same?" make your wedding instantly chic (and instantly simple—amen!) by limiting your color palette to black and white. Worried a plan black-and-white palette will be boring? These 14 wedding ideas (all plucked from Loverly) should convince you otherwise.