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5 Wedding Decor Hacks That Make a Huge Difference

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Designing your reception space can be one of the most intimidating parts of wedding planning. There's a lot to consider—from the height of your centerpiece down to the lettering on your menus. But while these little details are important, they don't necessarily make the biggest impact. According to event designer Jung Lee, founder of Fête, there are some more basic wedding style elements, that when done right, can transform the entire experience. Below, Lee shares five commonly overlooked big-day design tips that make a huge difference.
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Use Smaller Reception Tables
"A lot of brides use dinner tables that are too large," says Lee. "I always suggest using a narrow table without too much surface area or a smaller round table when possible." A smaller table not only feels cozier, it also makes decorating easier and gives the final look a more polished feel. "A larger tabletop requires a lot more than just a centerpiece, place settings and glasses to fill up," she explains. "And often that can start to look cluttered (not to mention, be a lot more expensive to decorate!)."

Forgo the Linens
Lee is also a fan of an uncovered table. "The truth is, unless you have very high quality linens, some tablecloths—particularly colored ones—can have a sheen to them that looks cheap, especially in photos," she says. If you want to highlight a certain hue in your setting, Lee suggests maxing out the color with other touches instead. Incorporating your signature shade in menus, glassware, napkins or even ribbons are all good options.

Don't Space Your Tables Too Far Apart
"There's a design rule of thumb when it comes to spacing tables," Lee says. "From table to table, make sure there's no more than six feet of space: two feet per chair and two feet of walking distance in between." She continues: "It's the people that ultimately create the ambiance. If the tables are placed too far apart, the space loses that intimate feel and energy that you want. It can make the room feel empty."

Dim the Lights
"Everyone's lights are way too bright!" laughs Lee. "Dim the lights more than you think and use candles. The candles in the room will make the area a lot brighter than you expect." If you're having an afternoon reception, make sure to close all the drapes. "It doesn't matter what it's like outside—you want to control the mood indoors and make sure that it feels warm and inviting. A change in lighting can mean the difference between having a packed danced floor and guests standing around feeling unsure."

Don't Forget the Bar
"The bar is an often overlooked area," says Lee. "But if you think about it, it's the first place most guests go!" Don't forget to give the bar the same attention you do the tables—some strategic candle placement and a floral arrangement can make a big difference in the feel of the space. But even if designing the bar isn't in your budget, Lee offers an important piece of advice. "Ask your bartenders to arrange all the glasses in height order," she says. "The taller, highball glasses and wine glasses should be in the back [closest to the bartender] while the shorter Old Fashioned glasses should be up front towards the guest." This simple design trick instantly elevates and streamlines the look of the space. As an added bonus, the light reflecting off the glasses makes the whole area sparkle and glisten.

—Written by Carolyn Hsu for Brides

What other easy decor hacks have you seen? Will you be trying any of these ideas for your wedding?

More from Brides:
*4 Inexpensive Date-Night Ideas You Haven't Tried Yet but Should
*11 Things to Do After Getting Engaged
*50 Ways to Slash Your Wedding Budget


5 Gorgeous Real Girl Engagement Rings to Ease You Into the Weekend

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It's Friday, ladies. Which means it's time to put aside everything you're supposed to be doing today and get lost in these ultra-pretty engagement rings instead. I promise the work will still be there Monday.


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Erica's boyfriend wanted to propose during a special song, so he brought her to a concert—but they didn't play the right song! He proposed in the parking lot after the show instead.


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Uinniq and her boyfriend live in different parts of Alaska while he's in school. He proposed during a middle-of-the-night phone call, and they both traveled to Anchorage to celebrate and pick out her pretty ring.


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This ring was a submitted by someone named "Chris"—I'm not sure if that's the bride or the groom, but the ring is lovely!


Engagement Ring 4
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Mika's boyfriend proposed with her "the ring of my dreams" during "All of Me" at a John Legend concert.


Engagement Ring 5
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Marisa's boyfriend proposed at one of their favorite restaurants. "He says his knee only 'kissed' the floor because I said yes so fast," 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!

6 Designers to Consider If You Don't Want to Spend Your Life Savings on a Wedding Dress

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When it comes to wedding dress budgets, the sky is pretty much the limit. And it's easy to get sucked in by all the pretty when you see an ad {or—guilty—a blog post } with a $20,000 wedding dress. But the good news is you don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to buy a gorgeous wedding gown. Here are some designers with more reasonably priced options. (One of the dresses below is on sale for $99. $99!)


Designers With Wedding Dresses for Less Than $650

GALINA FOR DAVID'S BRIDAL
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Tulle Over Chiffon High Low Dress with Bow Accent (Style WG3619), $99.


CAMILLE LAVIE
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Satin Mermaid Wedding Dress with Beaded Neckline, $649.99.


MELISSA SWEET FOR DAVID'S BRIDAL
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Lacquered Lace Ball Gown with Illusion Neckline (Style MS251030), $499.99.


Designers With Wedding Dresses for Less Than $1,500

ALLURE ROMANCE
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Style 2760.


CASABLANCA BRIDAL
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Style 2162.

STELLA YORK
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Style 5932.


I included exact prices when I had 'em, but designers who sell through boutiques don't give exact pricing info, since the boutiques set the prices.

Obviously $1,500—or even $650—is still a ton of money for a single-use item, and there are loads of great options if you want to buy a white dress that's not a "wedding" dress. Here are 25 wedding dresses (and wedding dress alternatives) that are all less than $300.

How much will you spend on your wedding dress? Which of these dresses is your favorite?

Leighton Meester's Sleek, Chic Tony Awards Dress: Perfect for a Modern Bride. (Also, See Her and New Husband Adam Brody on Their First Post-Wedding Red Carpet!)

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Leighton Meester was positively glowing on the Tony Awards red carpet—and not because she won an award. The Of Mice and Men actress stepped out with her new husband, Adam Brody, for their first post-wedding red carpet, and she looked just divine wearing Antonio Berardi.

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I looooove this dress for an ultramodern bride who wants to wear white without looking like bridal Barbie. Gorgeous.

Thoughts on Leighton Meester's Tony Awards dress? Would you wear it as your wedding dress? And how cute are she and Seth Cohen?!

I Know Exactly Where George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin Are Getting Married!

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Wedding bells will be ringing in Italy come fall: According to Page Six, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin are planning "a romantic Italian wedding in Venice" in September.

The recently engaged duo—who were spotted out and about in Venice in May—are reportedly hoping to marry in a Venetian palace. After news of their engagement broke, there was much speculation that the duo would wed at George's Lake Como estate, but the groom is reportedly concerned about privacy as well as inconveniencing locals and his neighbors.

Read the full story here.

Thoughts on George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin's wedding in Venice?

I've already marked my calendar. (Since we only have a month, not a date, I've marked every weekend booked.)

Also: 11 custom wedding dresses for Amal to choose from!

Emily From The Bachelorette Wore a Pink Wedding Dress and Cowboy Boots—and the First Wedding Photos Are In!

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Always the girly girl, The Bachelorette's Emily Maynard—who married automotive management consultant Tyler Johnson in a surprise ceremony on Saturday—wore a pink wedding dress, which looks just lovely, based on the first photos.

I don't have the rights go the pics (annoying, I know), but you can see photos of Emily's wedding dress over on E!. It looks like her dress, which was by Modern Trouseau, has a pink bodice with 3-D floral details, a lavender sash, and a white skirt. So lovely! I combed the Modern Trousseau site for a match and came up empty, so I'm guessing it's custom. Hopefully the brand or the bride shares more photos soon.

Thoughts on Emily from The Bachelorette's pink wedding dress?

I can't wait to see more!

How Do You Turn Down Being a Bridesmaid? That and Two More Tricky Wedding Questions, Answered

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Are you a wedding guest? Bridesmaid? Bride? We've got three hard-to-navigate questions, answered.

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The guest asks...
What is the rule on gifts at a destination wedding? I’ve already spent so much on a hotel and airfare!—Olga D., Chicago

Bad news first: “A gift is expected, no matter where the wedding is,” says New York City-based wedding designer Marcy Blum. The good news: Sticking to the lower end of the registry is A-OK, as is making a donation (even a small one) to a charity in their name.


The bride's friend asks...
How can I turn down an invitation to be a bridesmaid without jeopardizing our friendship?
—Jeanne E., Waverly, Iowa

“Why are you turning her down?” asks Washington Post advice columnist Carolyn Hax. “The answer to that question is everything. Figure out why you want to say no, then share your reason—or suck it up and say yes.”


The bride asks...
Do I have to let everyone bring a date?
—Ashley G., St. Louis
“Any couple—married, engaged, or living together—should both be invited,” says Lizzie Post, coauthor of the new, sixth edition of Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette. After that, it gets tricky. “Be consistent,” Post warns. “If you decide to invite even one pair who is ‘solid but not living together,’ you’ll need to apply that criterion to your entire guest list.”

—Lauren Waterman

Got any other wedding etiquette questions? Add them to the comments and we'll try to help you out!

Don't Freak Out, but Courteney Cox Is Wearing a HUGE Ring on That Finger. So Are She and Johnny McDaid Engaged?

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Ladies, please remain calm as we direct our attention to Courteney Cox's ring finger, which is currently sporting something massive and sparkly. Here she is chatting with Minnie Driver and her boyfriend, songwriter Johnny McDaid, at a book reading last week.

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Let's go in for a closer look:

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Hmmmmm. Could it be an engagement ring? It looks pretty cocktail-y from this angle, but plenty of brides opt for nontraditional rings, especially for a second marriage. (See: Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilera.) Courteney and Johnny have been a couple only since December, but they reportedly moved in together in April, so I have to say I wouldn't be shocked.

My call: The jury's still out, but I promise I'll be keeping a close eye on her ring finger.

Do you think Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid are engaged?


All the Details on Jessica Simpson's Co-Ed Bachelorette Party. (Sad News: No Strippers or Penis Straws)

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Jessica Simpson's bachelorette party went down on a Sunday night—without a single X-rated detail. The bride—who is reportedly set to wed Eric Johnson over July Fourth weekend—celebrated her impending nuptials with her groom and the couple's bridesmaids, groomsmen, Eric's former football teammates, and her parents at the Warwick in Los Angeles, according to People.

"They didn’t want a traditional bachelor-bachelorette, where they go off and do their own thing, because our group of friends is so close we just wanted to all be together," Jessica's longtime friend and bridesmaid Stephanie Terblanche told People. "This is what we would do anyway. We would all go out, and I think that this speaks for the group. If we are not going to be at someone’s house hanging out playing beer pong, this is the closest thing to it." The evening reportedly included "fun toasts at dinner and dancing."

Read the full story here.

Thoughts on Jessica Simpson's co-ed bachelorette party?

Sounds like a fun time, but I am partial to a girls-only night or two. Possibly because I so rarely get one. (And the "sad news" in the headline is joke, in case that wasn't abundantly clear.)

Sneak Peek: RHONJ's Lauren Manzo Tries on Wedding Dresses With Glamour—and Her Mom!

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You guys know I love a real bride, a Watters wedding dress, and the state of New Jersey. So I went ahead and asked former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Caroline Manzo and her recently engaged daughter, Lauren, to spend an afternoon trying on the newest Watters wedding dresses in a Garden State boutique with me and Petra. And I was thrilled when they said yes. (The bride tried on the wedding dresses, not her mom, obviously.)

I have to wait a while to share the official pics, but of course you're getting an exclusive sneak peek right now. (And, since I'm sure you're all wondering: No tables were flipped in the making of this photo shoot.)


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A huge thanks to the gorgeous Jaehee Bridal Atelier in Englewood, New Jersey, which we commandeered for the day, as well as the always wonderful Maria and David from Watters, the crazy-talented JoAnn Solomon, our one-woman glam squad, and photographer Vanessa Joy, who snapped all of these pretty pics. And of course the bride and her mom, who will appear in the RHONJ spin-off Manzo'd With Children this fall. (And her aunt and bridal party, who also joined us.)

Are you a RHONJ fan? Are you excited to see more from the shoot?

Petra and I are both wearing dresses from Rent the Runway, since we both work from home and neither of us has a proper wardrobe. More on those later.

Diamond Bands as Engagement Rings: 10 Bands That Are So Blingy, You Don't Need a Center Stone

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Traditional engagement rings generally involve some sort of center stone, sometimes a standalone stone and sometimes a stone surrounded by more diamonds. But who says you need a center stone? Here are nine diamond bands that could totally work as engagement rings, no center stone required.


Engagement Ring 1
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Bar-Set Round Brilliant Diamond Band Ring from Harry Winston, price upon request.


Engagement Ring 2
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Vintage Collection Diamond Wedding Ring With Rose Cut Diamonds from Kwiat, $4,250.


Engagement Ring 3
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Garland Diamond Eternity Ring from Blue Nile, $4,910.


Engagement Ring 4
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The Una Ring from Brilliant Earth, $3,450.


Engagement Ring 5
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The Cristina Ring from Erica Courtney, price upon request.


Engagement Ring 6
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Delicate Pave Diamond Band from A.Jaffe, $2,275.


Engagement Ring 7
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Nak Armstrong Rustic Cut Diamond Band from Twist, $5,400.


Engagement Ring 8
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Emerald-Cut Diamond Partway Band in a Half-Bezel Setting from Kwiat, price upon request.


Engagement Ring 9
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Sylva & Cie Rose-Cut White Diamond Caviar Band from Twist, $4,250.


Engagement Ring 10
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Ceremony Collection Signature Diamond Band from Greenwich Jewelers, $4,075.


Would you want a diamond band as your engagement ring? Which of these rings is your favorite?

7 Things Your Wedding Needs From BHLDN—Plus, an Exclusive Free Shipping Code

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There's so much pretty happening over at BHLDN right now—and loads of gorgeous stuff is on sale. AND until midnight tonight (East Coast time) you can get free shipping with code BHLDNGLAMFREE. How fast can you click "Add to Cart"?


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Faye Gown, $650.


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Starlight Bracelet, $200.


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Queen Anne Dress, $440.


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Parlour Cake Stands, from $48.


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Rosalie Dress, $120.


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Dancing Heart Shoes, $60.


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Le Petit Drops, $80.


Just to be clear: Your wedding doesn't technically need any of this. But you know I love a dramatic headline.

Do you want any of this for your wedding?

I adore those shoes!

New Melissa Sweet Wedding Dresses: So Lovely I Almost Want to Get Married All Over Again

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I have loads of awesome new David's Bridal gowns to show you guys, but I wanted to give Melissa Sweet's latest wedding dresses for David's a post of their own. They're just so lovely, they'd distract you from all the other dresses. To prove my point, here are three of my favorites:

Wedding Dress 1
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MS251074, $1,250.


Wedding Dress 2
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MS251092, $1,350.


Wedding Dress 3
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MS251073, $1,350.


Which of these wedding dresses do you like best?

I'm kind of obsessing over No. 2, which is weird since I'm generally not into high necks. It's just SO pretty.

4 of the Craziest Maid-of-Honor Stories We've Ever Heard

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She's your BFF, your partner in crime, and the girl who will always be by your side long after the wedding is over. Or so you thought. Because a wedding wouldn't be a wedding without a little bit of drama, we're sharing four of the most ridiculous maid-of-honor stories we've ever heard straight from the mouths of brides.

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"My maid of honor gleefully said she'd be my MOH when I asked her and then never did another thing. I ended up having to cancel my bridal shower because I didn't have time to plan it myself. I almost cancelled my bachelorette party, but my other 'maids came together and threw one for me. My husband even picked up my wedding dress for me! While we were having our hair and makeup done on the wedding day, my MOH was off in the corner taking selfies and uploading them to Facebook. She kept making catty comments to one of my other bridesmaids, and we finally had to separate them. Another bridesmaid took her aside and told her she needed to step it up, and her response was, 'I love you, but I want to slap you.' Needless to say, I didn't talk to her again after the wedding." — Sandra, 35

"I think I had the worst maid of honor in history. She didn't offer to host or plan the bridal shower, and she didn't even RSVP. My friend had to follow up with her to see if she was planning on attending—the same thing happened with the bachelorette party. But she did help me find a wedding dress. In fact, she asked the woman who worked at the bridal salon if she could try on wedding dresses (including the ones that I was considering!) to see how she would look in them!" —Andrea, 36

"My maid of honor brought her fling to the wedding and her live-in boyfriend to the morning-after brunch. Her boyfriend had to work the night of the wedding, so she brought the guy she was sleeping with on the side. Yes, people noticed!" —Emily, 33

"My MOH had so much to drink while we were getting our hair and makeup done that she never made it down the aisle! She slept through the entire ceremony and most of the reception." —Rebecca, 30

*Names has been changed

—Written by Elizabeth Mitchell for Brides

Yikes! What's the worst maid-of-honor story you've heard?

More from Brides:
*4 Inexpensive Date-Night Ideas You Haven't Tried Yet but Should
*11 Things to Do After Getting Engaged
*50 Ways to Slash Your Wedding Budget

These New Pictures From Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's Wedding Are Breathtaking


And Now, New Photos from The Bachelorette's Emily Maynard's Wedding

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Wedding photographers are going bananas today: A few minutes after I shared new photos from Chrissy Teigen and John Legend's wedding, new pictures from The Bachelorette's Emily Maynard's wedding (courtesy of wedding photographer Corbin Gurkin) popped into my Instagram feed. (Emily married automotive management consultant Tyler Johnson in a surprise ceremony last weekend in South Carolina.)


Such a happy (and cute!) bride and groom!

Thoughts on these photos from Emily Maynard's wedding?

Love 'em!

Are French Pedicures a Wedding Do or Don't? Vote!

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Nothing gets our editors riled up like the topic of French pedicures: to say they are not well-liked around here would be quite the understatement. However, we realize that when it comes to weddings, many people still view them as a classic beauty staple. And lately, I'm actually spotting them again on celebrities; witness Mindy Kaling's feet from a couple weeks ago.

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Could French pedicures possibly come back into favor in the fashion world? I'm not quite ready to make that prediction (say it ain't so!—they just make me think "trim your toenails!"), but I would love to know what you, our readers, think about them as a wedding beauty choice these days. So let's do a poll: Would you wear a French pedicure to a wedding this spring, whether you'll be the bride, a bridesmaid, or a guest?


Cast your vote, then explain your choice in the comments below. Because we just love a good French mani/pedi-related debate!

Pretty in Pink: The Exact Blush-Colored Dress Eva Longoria Wore as a Bridesmaid This Weekend

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Here's Eva at Barack Obama's inauguration, not as a bridesmaid.


Eva Longoria headed down the aisle to celebrate the wedding of friend Bonnie Rodezno in Los Angeles on Saturday. Here's the exact Dessy Collection blush bridesmaid dress she wore while helping the ring bearer carry a "Here Comes the Bride" sign. (Click here to see Eva wearing the dress.)

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Dessy Collection Style 2905 in Blush, $270.


Eva was one of six bridesmaids and was joined at the wedding by boyfriend Jose "Pepe" Antonio Baston, according to Us Weekly. Bonnie was a bridesmaid when Eva married Tony Parker in 2007.

Thoughts on Eva's blush bridesmaid dress? Would you want to wear something similar as a bridesmaid? Would you ask your bridesmaids to wear this dress?

New David's Bridal Wedding Dresses: 7 Gowns That Are So Gorgeous, You'll Cry Happy Tears

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The first stage of planning a wedding is sticker shock. You start tearing "just a little inspiration" from glossy wedding magazines, and then quickly realize your dream wedding dress costs more than your dream car. The next stage is anger ("It's ONE day, damn it!") followed by bargaining ("I can eat ramen for dinner for the next two years to get the BEST wedding band."). But instead of bargaining your health or your first born, how 'bout you just score a bargain on a wedding dress, like these seven from David's Bridal's latest collections:


Wedding Dress 1
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Galina Signature.


Wedding Dress 2
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Oleg Cassini.


Wedding Dress 3
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Oleg Cassini.


Wedding Dress 4
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Galina Collection.


Wedding Dress 5
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Truly Zac Posen.


Wedding Dress 6
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Truly Zac Posen.


Wedding Dress 7
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David's Bridal Collection.


Click here to check out all of the current offerings from David's Bridal.


Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Here's a First Look at Eve's Wedding Dress. (It Has a High Neck—and a Slit!)

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I'm loving Eve's wedding dress! (The rapper-actress married Maximillion Cooper, CEO of the British Gumball 3000 motor rally, in Ibiza, Spain, on Saturday, if you missed the news.) And the bride just shared this wedding snap on Instagram:


She paired her custom Alice Temperley wedding dress with and a cathedral-length veil. I really like how the top is pretty covered up while the bottom shows some leg.

Thoughts on Eve's wedding dress? Would you wear something similar?

It's nothing like my wedding dress, but I'd totally wear it!

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