Even if you’re not generally the DIY type, when it comes to your wedding there’s a lot of pressure to make the day feel special and unique and “you.” So it’s easy to see how many brides fall into the trap of, “I’ll just DIY a few little details.” That’s how you wind up swimming in a pool of regret with glitter in your hair and your wedding just weeks—or days—away.

Which is all to say, if you’re not feeling compelled to DIY for your wedding, just DON’T. There will be plenty of other things to keep you busy. Trust me. But if you’d like to try some light DIY, here are three projects most brides will be able to manage—and two that 99 percent of brides should never attempt.

DO DIY…

Beach Wedding Invite.

1. INVITATIONS AND SAVE-THE-DATES
Wedding Chicks is my favorite place for online stationery freebies. If you can get invites like this for $0, it almost doesn’t make sense to pay for them. You can download and print them at home, but I’d go to a print shop, where the pro-grade facilities will be able to handle heavier stock than your at-home printer.

2. TABLE NUMBERS
Again, there are so many freebies available that it’s almost silly to buy. Here’s a slideshow with 16 table number ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings; most of ’em are as simple as download and print. (The first ones are the ones we used at our wedding, pictured above.)

3. PART (OR ALL) OF YOUR CENTERPIECES
Whether it’s pots for petite plants or standalone candlesticks, Darby Smart has tons of easy-to-manage centerpiece projects. You’ll get concise step-by-step instructions—plus, you can order your supplies in one place. (SO much easier than hunting down random specialty paints, or whatever.)

DON’T DIY…

1. YOUR WEDDING DRESS
There are exceptions, of course: Cynthia Rowley stitched her own bridal shift and wedding dress designer Heidi Elnora DIY’d four wedding dresses for herself. But unless you’re already someone who sews her own clothes—and you already have some intricate gowns under your belt—this job is best left to the pros. Because if your homemade dress is a mess, you’ll have a tough time rustling up another wedding dress at the last minute. (Generally you have to order a wedding dress at least eight weeks in advance, and you’ll need time to have it fitted too.)

2. YOUR WEDDING CAKE
Almost anyone can bake a cake. But pretty much no one should bake her own wedding cake. This, according to my friend Seton, who walked down the aisle with frosting under her fingernails after getting three hours of sleep the night before because she was up making her own wedding cake. Assembling a wedding cake generally involves tiers and dowels. Plus, if you want the whole thing to be fresh, you’ll be stuck in the kitchen in the days leading up to your wedding. You know, when you should be relaxing and enjoying yourself. (Professional wedding cake maker Wendy Kromer served mini pies at her own wedding—that should give you an idea of what a headache it is.)

Will you DIY anything for your wedding? Have you seen a bride suffer a DIY-induced meltdown?

In case anyone’s been hiding under a rock: Indiana Governor Mike Pense signed a controversial law two weeks ago that would allow business to turn away gay and lesbian customers. In response, Memories Pizza, a small restaurant in Walkerton, Indiana, announced it would never cater a gay wedding. (Which begs the question: Who serves takeout pizza at a wedding? But that’s beside the point.) The restaurant was forced to close its doors due to “incessant calls and media aggression,” but don’t fret about its pizza-tossing, anti-gay owners: Almost $850,000 was raised in their support on a GoFundMe page, and they’ve reportedly gone into hiding until all this blows over.

So now what are the pizza-loving engaged gays supposed to serve at their Indiana weddings? Never fear: Zach Braff and Donald Faison are coming to the rescue. In a speed boat, it seems.

If you really and truly want pizza for your gay wedding in Indiana... We will make it for you. @donald_faisonpic.twitter.com/y91qIkVoyt

— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) April 3, 2015

Miley Cyrus and Ashton Kutcher have also spoken out against the law, which would go into effect on July 1. Arnold Schwarzenegger slammed it in The Washington Post. And James Van Der Beek rallied against hate on Instagramand made a FunnyOrDie video with Anna Camp mocking the law.

But really, who’s serving takeout pizza at a wedding? Does the law totally freak you out too? Or do you think business owners should be allowed to turn away bride-bride or groom-groom couples—or any gay customers, as they see fit?

Wedding season's just around the corner—can't you almost feel it in the air? Just in time for all the prettifying to begin, we got some fresh wedding hairstyle inspo from Guido Palau, creative director for Redken. Here are the four party-ready looks he loves most right now, all of which he created for the runways of fall-winter 2015 Fashion Week—plus his key tips and products for re-creating them. Which would you love to wear as a bride, bridesmaid, or wedding guest?

The Uptown Updo

"This Oscar de la Renta style is very elegant and classic—very uptown chic, but there's a sense of ease to it," explains Guido, who prepped the models' hair with Redken Stay High 18 high-hold gel to mousse. "The key here is to secure the French twist at the back of the neck, making sure it's flat and tight against the head, which creates a super-beautiful profile," he notes.

Naturally Chic

Not into wedding hair that's heavily styled? Guido's loving the idea of embracing luxe, rich, natural texture for formal events this season. On the Ralph Lauren runway, he let models' hair air-dry, then used a curling iron to put a bit of bend in the hair and sprayed Wind Blown 05 dry finishing spray all over to add texture. "This hair has ease, richness, and shine with just enough body to get that feeling of luxury," he says.

A Bejeweled Chignon

The same dry finishing spray was used in creating this feminine upsweep at Dolce & Gabbana, to achieve that soft, airy texture. But the real star of the look was the hair jewelry, a concept that translates beautifully as a novel wedding hair idea. "Try placing various broaches, pearls, and diamonds throughout the hair to instantly add charm," Guido suggests.

Boho Baby Braids

Here's a simple, pretty twist anyone can DIY to make wedding hair feel special. “This look from Valentino is classic, feminine, and romantic—perfect for weddings," Guido says. "I took two small pieces of hair from underneath on each side of the face and pulled them back into two little braids." He used Redken Braid Aid 03 braid defining lotion to add grip and texture.

Are you loving any of these wedding hairstyle ideas, as chosen by Guido Palau? Or is there another idea you think you'll be into for the upcoming wedding season? Share below!

How many things have you done to mess up your engagement ring today? Probably at least two. Assuming you wear your engagement ring morning, noon, and night, it’s probably taking quite the beating. Here are three things you likely do every day that could lead to damage—or just disgusting build up—over time.

Berkeley Ring from Trumpet & Horn, $10,250.

1. Slathering on Lotion. If you do a head-to-toe lotioning post-shower, even if you’re careful, your ring is probably getting smeared. Best-case scenario: Your lotion contains only moisturizing ingredients (like shea butter) that will gunk up your setting and dull your diamond’s sparkle, but can be soaked away pretty easily. (Drew Barrymore and I soak our engagement rings in vodka to clean them.) Worst case: Your lotion is made with exfoliating ingredients (including glycolic or alphahydroxy acids), which can wear away the metal over time.

2. Going to the Gym. This probably isn’t a huge problem if you’re strictly a cardio girl. I can’t think of any way running or elliptical-ing with your ring would damage it. (Although if your ring is a little loose it could fly off if your fingers start to sweat.) If you’re hitting the weights, however, beware of banging your ring against metal; doing so repeatedly could knock the prongs out of place, which could lead to a lost stone. And definitely take your ring off if you’re swimming: When your fingers shrivel, your ring could easily slide off.

3. Scrubbing Tough-to-Clean Spots. You’re probably fine to wash the dishes* and dust the shelves, but when you’re scrubbing a pot with a rough sponge or pad, you’re risking scratches. And if you’re using chemically abrasive cleaners (say, in the bathroom or on the floors) they can eat away at the metal or damage weaker gemstones.
*If your ring is even a little loose, it’s a slip-off risk with all that soap in water. Take it off to be safe.

Some wear and tear to your ring is definitely normal, and to be expected over time. Any metal will eventually show scratches, and white gold, especially, develops a patina that will change its color. (You can have your ring re-dipped to restore the metal, but I like the burnished look of worn-in white gold.) What’s not normal: a bend in the band, chipped or missing stones, or twisted prongs. If you notice any of those, get your ring to a jeweler immediately.

Are you good about taking your engagement ring off? Or do you wear it all the time?

I almost never take mine off, and as a result, it’s generally filthy.

engagement rings, rings

Superstar wedding planner Colin Cowie and I probably don’t see eye-to-eye on everything wedding-y: He’s splashy where I would be subdued. He’s over-the-top where I would take it down a few notches. {How many chandeliers does one tent need, sir?! } And still when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of wedding planning, like basic etiquette, it seems we agree.

In a recent Ask Colin post, someone asked him the No. 1 wedding etiquette DON’T. His answer—don’t ever keep your guests waiting—would be mine, exactly.

Your bridesmaids don’t have to be picture-perfect at the crack of dawn.

That means:

• Don’t make your bridesmaids’ hair and makeup appointments at 8 A.M. if your wedding is in the afternoon. If you want to start getting ready at the crack of dawn, great. Just don’t expect anyone else to.
• Don’t walk down the aisle at 3 P.M. if your invitation says the ceremony starts at 2. You get a 15-minute window—that’s it.
• Don’t pick ceremony readings that are 10 minutes long. Here are The 10 Best Wedding Readings From Books, TV, and Movies—all short.
• Don’t plan a long stretch between your ceremony and reception. Best-case scenario: Your ceremony flows seamlessly into cocktail hour.
• Don’t allow for long lines to form at the bar. That might mean having two bars, or setting up serve-yourself-stations. (Ice-filled buckets, bar-side, with beer, water, soda, and mini bottles of champagne.)
• Don’t tell everyone to sit down 20 minutes before dinner starts. Ask your caterer to have bread and salads on the tables, so guests can go from cocktail hour right into dinner. Speeches can happen while everyone’s eating salad. And on the topic of speeches:
• Don’t let more than three people speak. The maid of honor, best man, and either one set of parents OR the bride and groom—that’s it. (Anyone else who wants to can speak at the rehearsal dinner. And don’t let anyone speak for more than five minutes. [Less is always better.])

Is there anything worse, as a wedding guest, than sitting through endless wait after wait after wait?

Essie just released its new wedding collection, starring six brand-new nail polish colors—so there’s one for every bride. To find the one that suits you best, first pick your wedding style. (Hint: It’s probably like an amped-up version of your everyday style.) And then, voila, your perfectly paired wedding dress and polish, at the ready.

YOUR STYLE: CLASSICYou’re not trying to make fashion waves.
YOUR DRESS: All clean, timeless lines with a dash of whimsy. Carolina Herrera. YOUR NAILS: A sheer floral pink. Tying the Knotie.

YOUR STYLE: UNEXPECTEDYou want to turn heads—without being too wild.
YOUR DRESS: A hint of fun color, like lavender. Monique Lhuillier. YOUR NAILS: A sheer candied lilac. Hubby for Dessert.

YOUR STYLE: UNDERSTATEDYou want to look pretty, but you don’t need your look to make a statement on your behalf.
YOUR DRESS: A low-key silhouette with minimal embellishments. BHLDN. YOUR NAILS: A coral-kissed pink. Worth the Wait.

YOUR STYLE: EDGYYou’re here to break a rule or two—this isn’t your grandma’s wedding.
YOUR DRESS: A little bit daring. Oscar de la Renta. YOUR NAILS: A soft-spoken caramel. Brides to Be.

YOUR STYLE: MODERNWho cares what the wedding magazines like? Your look is going to be fun.
YOUR DRESS: A lot of sassy with a hint of sweet. Angel Sanchez. YOUR NAILS: A bright pink. Brides No Grooms.

YOUR STYLE: BOLDYou’ve always been unapologetically sexy—and your wedding day won’t be an exception.
YOUR DRESS: Look-at-me lines with ALL the bling. Inbal Dror. YOUR NAILS: A radiant red-orange. Happy Wife Happy Life.

Which wedding style best matches yours? Which polish-and-dress combo do you like best?

Look, the ukulele take on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is super cute and “What a Wonderful World” always makes me smile, but if I hear either one more time… I mean, it makes sense to pick either for your first-dance song—they’re insanely popular for a reason. But for brides who’d like a first-dance song that haven’t been on wedding-DJ repeat for the past decade, here are three newer songs to consider.

A photo posted by ALLAN ZEPEDA PHOTOGRAPHY (@allanzepedaphotography) on Oct 8, 2014 at 5:20pm PDT

(1) “Bright” by Echosmith

(2) “Nothing Without Love” by Nate Ruess

This one came out last summer, but I don’t think it was big for weddings like it will be this year. (It’s probably the next mega-huge song, so if you want it to be your song, hurry up and get married.)

(3) “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran

What will your first-dance song be?

Ours was “Baby I Love You” by Aretha Franklin, which was pretty awesome. Hear it here.

Apparently I was off my Instagram game on New Year’s Eve, because I missed this photo, which Kaley Cuoco shared to commemorate her one-year anniversary with husband Ryan Sweeting. Thankfully I was just scrolling through Kaley’s feed for another post (stay tuned) and stumbled across it, just in time for #tbt:

A photo posted by @normancook on Dec 31, 2014 at 11:35am PST

Um, guys. Could that picture just about make you cry? I was already obsessed with her pink Vera Wang wedding dress, but the pink flower-trimmed veil takes the whole look from pretty to over-the-top perfection.

I’m wondering at what point in the day she wore it, since it’s not in any of the ceremony or reception pictures that we’ve previously seen.

A photo posted by @normancook on Jul 3, 2014 at 12:37pm PDT

A photo posted by @normancook on Jan 1, 2014 at 7:34pm PST

A photo posted by @normancook on Jan 31, 2014 at 4:38pm PST

A photo posted by @normancook on Jan 1, 2014 at 1:08pm PST

Even if she just wore the veil for pictures, I’m glad she had it. It’s so lovely it almost hurts.

Thoughts on Kaley Cuoco’s pink flowered veil? Would you wear something similar? Or are you skipping the veil thing entirely?

I like the idea of keeping your wedding date close to your heart. Here are five stylish necklaces that help you do just that.

We’ve seen this one, which Kaley Cuoco wears to commemorate her New Year’s Eve wedding anniversary, but I don’t think we’ve seen it in rose gold. (Yes, I know it’s super-spendy. The sterling-silver version is $150, but we know I have no control when it comes to rose gold.) Speaking of Kaley Cuoco: Let’s #tbt to Kaley Cuoco’s Wedding and the Picture You Missed: Her Perfect Pink Floral Veil

The Calendar Necklace in Rose Gold from Dalla Nonna, $995.

Save the Date Necklace in Gold from Emma McKinstry, $55.

I like the idea of Roman numerals, which have an “it’s our little secret” feel.

Roman Numeral Wedding Date Necklace from Etsy seller NinaKuna, $35.

Roman Numeral Wedding Date Necklace from Nina Kuna, $43.

And here’s a vertical version with non-Roman numbers, if that’s more your thing:

Custom Wedding Date Necklace from Etsy seller stampsandletters, $24.

Which of these wedding date necklaces do you like best?

Rose gold gets my vote, but No. 3 is a close second.

While Kim was at Charleston Bridal Week, she took a few minutes to dash through the backstage area and snap photos of the most promising new wedding hairstyle ideas being created there—and I'm here to show you a few of our fave updos of the bunch (well, one's actually a braid). Which would you most like to wear to an upcoming wedding (your own, or one you're attending/being an attendant in)?

1. A French twist update

To make that notorious old formal hairstyle more modern and 2015, keep the twist lower and looser like this one, and add a bump of volume up at the top back. A couple super-soft wisps like these look just-right; don't go overboard and leave more noticeable tendrils down.

2. The braid-and-roll

This updo combines two updated twists on your standard wedding hair—a chunky accent braid, and a rolled bun (vs. the usual twisted kind). I especially love this as an option for bridesmaid hair, when you're often paying a bunch to get your hair done at a salon, and you'd prefer to end up with something a little unique and fun.

3. This Blake Lively-inspired braid

img src="http://www.glamour.com/images/weddings/2015/04/wedding-updo-ideas-3-w540.jpg" data-dam-id="2200000000057930" alt="wedding-updo-ideas-3">

Don't we all recall the time Blake wore a braid like this so memorably? It makes a gorgeous and super-wearable wedding hairstyle idea too, especially for someone with long, thick hair at a hot summer wedding.

Seven years after Jay Z and Beyonce swapped vows, he just shared the most intimate peek at their wedding we’ve seen yet—a quick video snippet that he posted to Instagram:

A video posted by Jay Z (@officials_c_) on Apr 7, 2015 at 11:24am PDT

We’d seen a glimpse of Beyonce’s major fit-to-flare wedding dress in a video they shared during their On the Run tour over the summer, but this is the first we’re seeing of the bride and groom standing with their officiant under the branch-draped awning and the newlyweds walking up the aisle as husband and wife.

After watching the clip for five minutes straight, I just realized that Beyonce’s blue nail polish must’ve been her something blue.

I just want to see more, more, more.

Thoughts on the latest peek into Beyonce and Jay Z’s wedding?

ICYMI: Watch Beyonce Serenade Jay Z With a Romantic New Song, "Die With You"

While Kim was at Charleston Bridal Week, she took a few minutes to dash through the backstage area and snap photos of the most promising new wedding hairstyle ideas being created there—and I'm here to show you a few of our fave updos of the bunch (well, one's actually a braid). Which would you most like to wear to an upcoming wedding (your own, or one you're attending/being an attendant in)?

1. A French twist update

To make that notorious old formal hairstyle more modern and 2015, keep the twist lower and looser like this one, and add a bump of volume up at the top back. A couple super-soft wisps like these look just right; don't go overboard and leave more noticeable tendrils down.

2. The braid-and-roll

This updo combines two updated twists on your standard wedding hair—a chunky accent braid, and a rolled bun (vs. the usual twisted kind). I especially love this as an option for bridesmaid hair, when you're often paying a bunch to get your hair done at a salon, and you'd prefer to end up with something a little unique and fun.

3. This Blake Lively-inspired braid

Don't we all recall the time Blake wore a braid like this so memorably? It makes a gorgeous and super-wearable wedding hairstyle idea too, especially for someone with long, thick hair at a hot summer wedding.

Considering I had a secret wedding Pinterest board before I even got engaged, you would think that I would have been fully prepared with ideas for my wedding dress. Well...not quite. I knew going in what I didn't want: no strapless dresses (I'd be uncomfortable + I have a weird fear of looking naked in photos), no ball gowns (not my style), and no white white (I'm too pale). I thought having the instructions of "must have straps, must be simple, elegant, and vintage-y, and must be in an off-white color like pale pink, champagne, or ivory" would be enough.

In some ways it was: Both shops I visited (Lovely and BHLDN) on my first-ever wedding dress shopping outing, the consultants could not have been more helpful and they completely understood my style and what I was going for. Right away, we realized that a sheath dress with a defined waist was the best fit for my shape. (Here's an example, though this isn't a dress I tried on. I wish! It's lovely.) Once we had that down, we just had to round up all of the vintage-y, off-white dresses in my budget and narrow down to a core group of dresses that all seemed perfect for me.

But that's when I ran into a problem: Turns out, you can determine what fit, style, and budget you want, but then there's the whole issue of what feel and atmosphere your wedding will be—something I hadn't even thought of yet.

For context, my mother came to New York to visit about a month after my engagement. Since I'm still a year plus from my tentative date, I didn't have a venue yet and it was fairly early in the process to go dress shopping—but I wasn't sure when my mom would be back in New York, so wedding dress shopping we went! As I mentioned above, I found several that all would have been perfect, but each had its own personality, so to speak. One dress would have been amazing for a black-tie, fancy affair. One would have been the dream dress for an outdoor, floral-crown ceremony. And another was very traditional—soft and romantic.

Because I didn't have a venue or even a fully formed idea of what atmosphere my wedding would be, it was hard to choose a dress that matched the right vibe. I couldn't have that aha moment and know this is the one because to be honest, they all kind of felt like the one—depending on the situation.

So, that's my advice. The good news is that I think I know what I want now—but for the time being, I'm keeping it a secret.

What issues did you face when you went wedding dress shopping?

We know it’s expensive to host a wedding—$31,213 on average, according to the latest numbers from The Knot—and if you’ve ever been a bridesmaid you know that’s an expensive gig. (With the bachelorettes, bridal showers, and bridesmaid dresses alone, it’s no wonder I often ate popcorn for dinner in my 20s.)

But here’s a number that will really make your retirement account cringe: Wedding guests will spend a shocking $673 on average to attend a wedding in 2015—per the latest numbers from the American Express Spending and Saving Tracker—and that’s up from $592 last year.

Of course it doesn’t cost that much to attend every wedding, but of the three weddings I have this summer, one will involve cross-country flights and two will involve hotel stays. And the chances of my buying (or, knowing me, renting) at least three dresses is high. Plus, there’s the not-so-tiny matter of the wedding gift.

And the $673 doesn’t include what you spend on the events leading up to the wedding: those showers and bachelorettes. So, popcorn for dinner, anyone?

What’s the most you’ve spent to attend a wedding?

We went to a wedding in Mexico at a not-all-inclusive resort where I drank many (too many) pina coladas by the pool. That set us back a few bucks. All totally worth it. Viva Mexico!

Jaimie Alexander got her venti with a side of sparkle: The actress was running errands in Los Angeles today, where she picked up a beverage that perfectly showcased her new engagement ring from Peter Facinelli.

Obviously we’re going in for a closer look:

Looks like cushion-cut diamond—maybe 3 carats—in a halo setting with more diamonds on the band.

The pair were engaged last month following Peter’s proposal at the top of the Empire State Building.

A photo posted by Jaimie Alexander (@jaimiealexander) on Mar 16, 2015 at 3:17pm PDT

Thoughts on Jaimie Alexander’s engagement ring from Peter Facinelli? Anyone else craving a latte now?

What does a wedding dress designer wear for her own walk down the aisle? An amazingly gorgeous wedding dress, of course. Here, four fantastic wedding dress designers share pictures from their wedding days.

Kelly Faetanini

Sareh Nouri

Pnina Tornai

Katherine McDonald

SO much pretty!

Which designer’s wedding dress is your favorite?

If you’re a bride marrying into Brunei royalty, you have to go big: And when the Sultan of Brunei's youngest son, Prince Abdul Malik, swapped vows with 22-year-old data analyst Dayangku Raabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah yesterday, she certainly did.

The bride and groom both wore custom gold wedding garb, and according to E!, they were both “dripping” with diamond-and-ruby accessories. The bride also wore a massive diamond-and-emerald crown with a matching necklace and brooch, because #royals.

A photo posted by HRH Prince Abdul-Malik Bolkiah (@hrhprinceabdulmalik) on Apr 12, 2015 at 2:20am PDT

The bride’s bouquet was reportedly made up entirely of gemstones, too. You can glimpse that here, along with her jewel-encrusted Louboutins. SO MAJ:

A photo posted by rudolfportillo (@rudolfportillo) on Apr 11, 2015 at 11:06pm PDT

And look at how she looks at him—so sweet.

A photo posted by HRH Prince Abdul-Malik Bolkiah (@hrhprinceabdulmalik) on Apr 12, 2015 at 1:05am PDT

I can’t get enough of the golden lace on her veil, which looks like it’s flecked with diamonds too. The wedding celebrations started April 5 and will reportedly last 11 days, so I’ll be on the lookout for more jewel-encrusted gorgeousness.

Thoughts on the wedding getups from the Brunei royal wedding?

I’m feeling sorely lacking in the jewels department now.

Ladies, it’s bridal fashion week, so it’s about to get ALL wedding dress-y up on this blog. But before I start showing you wedding dresses as they head down the runways, I thought you’d enjoy a sneak peek—meaning, you’re about to see some dresses that editors won’t see until Hayley Paige’s show next Monday. Here’s a sketch of a dress from the upcoming collection.

Hayley said Kendall Jenner and those cut-to-you-know-where slits provided a little inspiration for this collection. Clearly we can see that here. More inspiration came in the form of “the street-chic girl sitting across from me on the subway in a fabulous floral trench coat, and my intern, working three jobs, attending design school, and still making it to the Hayley Paige office two days a week.”

Here are two real-life dresses getting ready for Monday’s show. Can you even stand how pretty that bodice is?

For more sneak peeks, follow Hayley on Instagram.

And here’s more back-and-forth with Miss Hayley:

+ What’s totally new for this collection? Gorgeous geometry and Marrakesh mosaics. Architectural lines. And a novelty fabric with a cool graphic burnout.

+ Fantasy bride? Maybe Ariel from The Little Mermaid so I could make a literal rendition of a fishtail silhouette.

+ Engaged celeb you’d love to dress? Lady Gaga—she’s stylistically enchanting and dauntless. Her gown would be equal parts badass and beautiful. Perhaps we should use this as an opportunity to publicly ask her: Lady Gaga, call me? Let's play dress-up!

+ First dress you ever designed? Around age three or four I cut up one of my mom’s nightgowns and made into a hot pink minidress with lace and fringe—design elements that I’m still using. Some things never change!

+ Most favorite dress you’ve ever designed? Guindon gave me that gumption to take risks creatively. But I also love Dori. She’s a magical dress—a showstoppah!

That’s Guindon on the left, Dori on the right. (Dori went down the runway as a crop top!)

+ Who is the Hayley Paige bride? Magnetic. Thrower-of-confetti. Style-savant.

Click here to check out the current offerings from Hayley Paige.

Thoughts on the dresses that are about to head down the runway? (I can’t wait to see more!) And are you listening, Gaga?!

Another dress I’m dying to see: Hayley’s own wedding dress—she’s getting married in July!

Not every wedding venue is going to look super pretty when your guests pull up, but here’s a fun way to make even the most ho-hum-from-the-outside space a little more glam:

A photo posted by Jessica Carew Rauseo (@caruiner) on Apr 6, 2015 at 3:16pm PDT

Sidewalk chalk!

This popped up in my Instagram feed this morning, courtesy of Brit bride magazine You & Your Wedding:

A photo posted by @youyourwedding on Apr 14, 2015 at 3:08am PDT

SO cute! And you don’t have to be an artist to pull it off. I searched #sidewalkchalk on Instagram and found all sorts of sweet inspiration. A walkway lined in hearts:

A photo posted by Mary Lane (@nyccliche) on Apr 12, 2015 at 4:25pm PDT

A short quote about l-o-v-e:

A photo posted by Hannah Lynn (@hannah.banana.16) on Apr 7, 2015 at 2:03pm PDT

Or a plain old cobblestone path, colored pretty:

A photo posted by Jen Miller (@jenmillerphotography) on Apr 6, 2015 at 1:39pm PDT

I also love the idea of doing something like this, maybe with heart-shaped balloons. Just not too close to the street, since obviously your guests will be tempted to lie down and strike a pose.

A photo posted by Taylor Phillips (@taylorlphillips22) on Apr 12, 2015 at 1:09pm PDT

You could also do it on a wall, but I think the sidewalk makes for cooler pictures.

And of course you need to run the whole idea by your venue and perhaps offer to have someone hose it off the next day.

Would you dress up your wedding venue with sidewalk chalk?

I just adore this idea.

In the lead-up to her own wedding with Bryan Greenberg later this year, Jamie Chung has three more weddings get to, as a guest. Here are her wedding guest picks from Revolve’s new Wedding Shop, which features dresses, shoes, and accessories for brides, ’maids, and attendees.

Beach Wedding in Mexico

A watercolor maxi dress. Parker Grady Maxi Dress, $297.

New England Garden Wedding

Long sleeves—for a chilly night—and a flash of skin. Mason by Michelle Mason Longsleeve Wrap Dress, $627.

Black Tie Wedding

Sexy but not too sexy, with room to dance. TFNC London Phoebe Dress, $115.

Here’s a little video with her explaining these three selects:

Click here to shop all of Jamie’s picks for wedding guests.

Which of these dresses would you wear as a wedding guest?