The LulaKate label is a favorite among Southern brides, and starting today, brides (and bridesmaids and wedding guests) everywhere can score their cute designs on the super-cheap at the just-launched online sample sale. (Brides in Charleston, South Carolina, should visit the flagship store in person!) Here are some of my favorite picks from the sale:

WEDDING DRESSES If you Google Image search the brand and the style name, you'll find prettier pictures of each gown.

Gardner (size 2), $300. Angela (size 10), $300. Westwood (size 0), $300.

BRIDESMAID DRESSES These would be great if you have just a few bridesmaids (there aren't a ton of offerings).

Bridget in Raspberry (size 6), $40. Gretchen in Ice (size 8), $40. Maggie in Petunia (size 8), $40.

DRESSES FOR WEDDING GUESTS

Bud in Orange (size 0), $40. Bluff in Multistripe (size 8), $40. Sillivan Dress (size 2), $40.

Would you wear any of these dresses?

I'm loving the third wedding dress, the third bridesmaid dress, and the first guest dress.

About to live out your dream of getting married with your toes in the sand? Then you need to do some very specific strategizing when it comes to your skin and makeup—for starters, check out these beach-wedding tips we got from top editorial makeup artist Misha Shahzada.

Lighten up your makeup. "Caking on makeup is a big no-no with bridal makeup in general, but when it comes to tropical weather, thick foundation and heavy concealer spell disaster," Shahzada says. Instead, start with a lightweight primer, like Avene Mattifying Fluid, followed by a matte, light-to-medium coverage foundation like the new Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation. Use a Beauty Blender to apply it sparingly and seamlessly. To cover dark circles, opt for an orange-based concealer like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, which is lightweight yet pigmented specifically to brighten up the undereye area.

Nix the bright-pink blush. Give your face a more summery flush by applying a coral blush. Apply it on top of your cheekbones, away from the apples of the cheeks, so you have color where the sun naturally hits. Nars Blush in Orgasm and Tom Ford Beauty Cheek Color in Flush are two of Shahzada's favorites. Pair them with Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour in Light Rose or Pink Twist, both of which will last from the first kiss to the last dance.

Swipe some topcoat onto your lashes. As always with all weddings, waterproof eye makeup is a must. "However, I’m not a fan of most waterproof mascara formulas. Instead, stick with your favorite mascara and top it with Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat," Shahzada says. "Just make sure you pack an eye makeup remover formulated for waterproof makeup, like the Klorane Floral Gel Eye Makeup Remover, to avoid tugging your eyes excessively."

And, of course: Don't forget to apply plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen, before and during the wedding! "If you do happen to get a little too much sun, or your skin is red from stress and anxiety, don’t worry. Calm and soothe excess redness by applying Avene Antirougeurs Calm Soothing Repair Mask for 10 to 15 minutes at night. Remove the mask with a cotton pad and spritz Avene Thermal Spring Water all over your skin. In the daytime, use Avene Antirougeurs Day Redness-Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25. It has a green tint to mask redness on the skin, and works well as a hydrating primer."

Are you planning a beach wedding right now? How do you plan to adjust your usual beauty routine for the occasion?

We're still waiting to see if The Bachelorette's Andi Dorfman scores a proposal—and an engagement ring—this season. So while she's narrowing down her collection of suitors, I thought it would be fun to check out some engagement rings from The Bachelorette seasons past. Here's the bling from seasons five through nine, all designed by Neil Lane. (I'm saving pics of the earlier rings for a future #tbt post!)

Season 5: Jillian & Ed

Neil Lane.

Season 6: Ali & Roberto

Neil Lane.

Season 7: Ashley & J.P.

Neil Lane.

Season 8: Emily & Jef

Neil Lane.

Season 9: Desiree & Chris

Neil Lane.

And while we're on the topics of The Bachelorette, Neil Lane, and rings, season one Bachelorette Trista's original engagement ring (featuring heart-shaped prongs) was designed by Tacori. When she and Ryan renewed their vows to celebrate 10 years of marriage, he presented her with this Neil Lane ring:

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

Obviously lush flowers and a gorgeous venue are some of the elements of a beautiful wedding, but picture-perfect decor doesn't ensure an epic party. Score a 10 out of 10 for overall experience by following these simple yet effective tips that will have your guests talking about your wedding for years to come.

1. Ask for Song Requests
To ensure everyone is having a great time and dancing the night away, have your guests request a song via the invitation response, recommends Key Largo wedding planner Lynn D'Ascanio of Dasignerevents.com. "Give this list of songs to your DJ, along with the name of the person who requested each song. That way, if the dance floor starts to thin out, the DJ can play songs off of the request list." This pretty much guarantees that the person who requested the song will get up and dance and encourage others to do so as well.

2. Don't Let Your Friends and Family Talk Forever
"Many fun events have been driven into the ground by deathly long speeches," points out Lynn Jawitz, owner of Florisan Wedding and Event Design in NYC. To keep the party popping, ask your speech givers to keep their toasts short and sweet.

3. Remember to Thank Your Guests
Speaking of speeches, it's important to let your guests knows how much you personally appreciate their coming. "It's hard to believe how often this simple step is overlooked," notes Jawitz. "Bite the bullet, make a speech (keep it short, of course), and just genuinely thank your guests for dropping their lives that day to share it with you."

4. And Keep Them in the Know
According to D'Ascanio, the best weddings are the ones that are organized and follow a timeline. "When the events of the day unfold in a timely manner, and the bridal party and guests alike are not left standing around wondering what's next or where they should go or what they should be doing, the entire day seems flawless."

5. Add in an Element of Surprise
Who doesn't love a special surprise at a wedding? "You could hire a group of singers or dancers disguised as wait staff to break out into song or dance during dinner," suggests D'Ascanio. Or you and the groom could perform a practiced dance routine yourselves for the first dance, offers Greg Jenkins, founder of Bravo Productions. "A 'wow' factor can be memorable and will ensure your guests have a blast."

6. Opt for a Short Ceremony
If possible, try to keep your ceremony simple and short in length. "A long, drawn-out ceremony takes away that guest energy level at the onset, and sometimes it cannot be recovered for the reception," warns Jenkins.

7. Give Birthday Shout-Outs
Does your BFF have a birthday on the same day as your big day? Or is it his parents' anniversary too? "Have your MC acknowledge any birthdays and/or anniversaries with a dedicated song during the reception," advises Daniela Grafman, wedding and special events coordinator at Vision Entertainment Group LLC. People love attention. Plus, it's just a sweet gesture.

8. Hire a Great Band or DJ
After all, they can, in fact, make or break a party. Florida wedding planner Aviva Samuels of Kiss the Planner, recommends looking for a high-energy performer while being careful not to choose an annoying personality to be your MC. "Great vocals, great dance moves, and great spunk will have everyone up on their feet until it's time to go home. Seamless song transitions and the ability to read the crowd when they want to hear more of the same sound or a desire to switch to a different sound is where a DJ's talent also comes into play."

9. Provide Transportation
If you're hosting a destination wedding or your wedding is in a remote location, be sure to provide transportation for guests from their hotel to your wedding and back, says Lauren Randolph, founder of My Hotel Wedding. "This way people don't have to worry about driving home drunk, which guarantees that they can party harder."

10. Allow Your Guests Plenty of Free Time
This is particularly important if you have a destination wedding or a bunch of guests in from out of town, says professional wedding planner Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques. "Back-to-back activities after a long trip will run them into the ground. Let them have some time and space to explore and they'll be refreshed and excited at all of your events." We concur.

—Written by Elizabeth Mitchell for Brides

Fun ideas, huh? Any others to add to the list?

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

I shared a sneak peek from White by Vera Wang (Vera's line for David's Bridal) earlier this week, and today I'm psyched to show you the rest of the collection. Here are eight more wedding dresses—including two fun short options. So great for dancing!

Wedding Dress 1

Wedding Dress 2

Wedding Dress 3

Wedding Dress 4

Wedding Dress 5

Wedding Dress 6

Wedding Dress 7

Wedding Dress 8

Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

I love the waistline on No. 6—plus, pockets!

Olivia Palermo didn't throw on any old frock when she swapped vows with Johannes Huebl, of course.

Instead she pieced together an ensemble by Carolina Herrera, which included a cashmere sweater, white shorts, and a full tulle skirt with a high slit. Her groom rocked a white Marc Anthony Hamburg suit.

Check out the newlyweds:

Thoughts on Olivia Palermo's wedding ensemble?

I *adore* it.

Lena Dunham took a break from her everyday awesomeness over the weekend to stand as a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding, and she was kind enough to share a bunch of pretty pictures.

Second bridesmaid from the left, if you can't tell. Here's a close-up of Lena's lovely updo and the bride's floral hair perfection:

The ladies wore mix-and-match gray bridesmaid dresses from Reformation's new wedding collection. Here's what the rear view on the cap-sleeve dress looked like:

And here's a better look at the halter version:

A commenter on one of the pics mentioned that the dresses didn't seem bra-friendly, and someone (either the bride or another 'maid) replied that the girls whose, um, girls needed support were wearing NuBra adhesive bras, which I can personally vouch for.

Thoughts on Lena Dunham's bridesmaid look? Which dress would you opt for as a bridesmaid?

I totally would have picked the cap-sleeve! So cute!

From one fashion icon to another: Olivia Palermo's wedding-day ensemble (which included shorts—click here for details!) wouldn't have been complete without the perfect shoes. And she opted for the same pair that Carrie Bradshaw wore to marry Mr. Big.

Manolo Blahnik Hangisi Satin Pumps in Cobalt Blue from Bergdorf Goodman, $965.

Here's how Carrie wore them with her wedding suit:

And you can click your way over to Olivia's blog to see how the real-life bride paired them with her high-low Carolina Herrera skirt.

Would you wear bright blue shoes as your "something blue"?

Can you tell what makes these five engagement rings—all from Single Stone, one of my favorite jewelers—a little bit different?

Engagement Ring 1

Style NLR12-25-16: Rose-Cut Yellow Diamond in Yellow Gold.

Engagement Ring 2

Style NLR12-71-13: Old-European-Cut Diamond in Rose Gold.

Engagement Ring 3

Style: NLR12-13-3: Old-European-Cut Diamond in Yellow Gold.

Engagement Ring 4

Style NLR12-5-6: Cushion-Cut Diamond in Yellow Gold.

Engagement Ring 5

Style NLR13-2-6: Old-European-Cut Diamond in Yellow Gold.

All the settings feature oxidized metal, which makes them a little more visually interesting than a ring with shiny new metal. Here are some side-by-side comparisons (from Single Stone's Instagram), if the difference isn't already abundantly clear.

Engagement Ring 6 (This is the same as ring 5.)

Engagement Ring 7

Engagement Ring 8 (This is the same as ring 4.)

Would you want an engagement ring with oxidized metal? Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

Here's a fun way to help your bridesmaids stand out from the crowd: polka dots! I mean, just look how lovely they look in this real wedding snap by photographer Ben Harrison:

Want to copycat the look for your own wedding? I'm not sure who designed the dresses above (although Ivy & Aster makes similar styles), but here are six off-the-rack polka-dot dresses that offer similar pop.

Would you put your bridesmaids in polka dots? Which of these dresses is your favorite?

Jenny McCarthy mentioned a while back that she's considering wearing an Amsalewedding dress when she marries Donnie Wahlberg. Based on the stunners that went down Amsale's most recent runway, I can see why:

Wedding Dress 1 (There's no zoomed-out version of the front—sorry! )

Wedding Dress 2

Wedding Dress 3

Wedding Dress 4

Wedding Dress 5

Which of these wedding dresses can you picture Jenny McCarthy wearing? Which is your favorite?

Writes Save the Date reader Abi:

My twin sister and I grew up in Bermuda, and in October she's getting married there. I'm SO EXCITED for her. I'm her maid of honor, and she has six other bridesmaids, all of whom are our mutual friends. (It's a lot, but it was a, "If I ask one, I have to ask them all" situation.) My sister is traveling from Switzerland, where she now lives, for the wedding, three of the bridesmaids are coming from the States, and the rest of us still live in Bermuda.

So here's my problem: The three bridesmaids who live in the States aren't taking their bridesmaid duties seriously. Two aren't arriving until the night before the wedding, which is on a Saturday. I've tactfully reminded them that there's a bridal shower/bachelorette on Thursday and rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday, but none of them seems to care. I also mentioned that the wedding is happening during hurricane season, so it would be smart to leave some extra time for travel, but...nothing. I don't know how to say, "Hey, this is important. You are a bridesmaid. Please come to the bridal shower, etc." without sounding like a maniac. I'm just incredibly sad that our mutual friends aren't taking their bridesmaid-ing seriously. I assumed that if they agreed to stand up for my sister they would attend those events, as etiquette dictates. I hate being the middle person, and I don't want to upset my sister, but this is ruining my friendships with these girls.

Here are my thoughts:

I understand why you're frustrated. You're working really hard on your "job," and you want your friends to step up too. That said, the only things a bridesmaid HAS to do are buy the dress and show up for the big day. A while back, in this list of all the duties bridesmaids are responsible for, I said bridesmaids are expected to "attend the bridal shower, bachelorette party, wedding rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner, unless there are major constraints." In this case, I think living far away—and having to pay for two extra nights at a hotel—counts as a major constraint. While it would be great if everyone could be there for all of the events, in this case, having four of her seven bridesmaids is going to have to suffice for your sister. (And you. It almost sounds like you're more upset than she is.)

If you want to make a last-ditch effort, you could send a quick email giving the absentee bridesmaids ideas for low- or no-cost accommodations. ("My grandmother's staying with us, so you can crash at her condo.") After that, it's safe to assume they know what you want—but they're choosing to do what they want.

Ladies, what do you think? Should Abi go MOH-zilla on the absentee 'maids? Or does she have to back off?

Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!

Setting up your wedding registry can be overwhelming. There's so much stuff in every store, so it's hard to narrow down your picks without being distracted by all the other shiny objects. With that in mind, I asked Target's wedding expert, Brit Morin, to help craft registries for different couples based on their taste and lifestyle. Kicking things off, picks for the minimalist bride and groom. "Try pairing neutrals with pops of textures and patterns to turn your home sweet home into a home chic home," suggests Brit. Here are seven things she loves.

DINING ROOM

"Every couple needs a classic white dinner set, and this is one of my favorites," says Brit. "Once you've got the staple set, feel free to mix it with dishes and linens in different colors. But know you can't go wrong with white staples." Threshold 16-Piece Dinnerware Set in White, $59.99. Threshold Wellsbridge Semi-Porcelain Salad Plate in Aqua, $3.99. Threshold Kilim Placemat, $19.99 for four.

KITCHEN

"The mixer is timeless, works like a powerhouse, and comes in so many delightful colors that will pop against minimalist decor," says Brit. "What's not to love?" KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer, from $299.99. Threshold Stripe & Grid Kitchen Towels in Green, $5.99 for four.

BED AND BATH

"I love the modern geometric feel of these towels," says Brit. "And the sheets are simple yet eye-catching." Nate Berkus Arrowhead Towels, from $6.99. Threshold Performance Sheet Set, from $29.99.

Are you overwhelmed by the prospect of setting up your registry? Which of these items would you add?

The best part about getting an engagement ring? You're pretty much guaranteed a wedding ring—another shiny bauble—just a few months later. (That 'til death do you part partner's not so bad, either.) Here are five wedding rings from Dana Rebecca Designs that I'd gladly say "I do" to:

Engagement Ring 1In white, yellow, and rose gold.

Engagement Ring 2

Engagement Ring 3

Engagement Ring 4

Engagement Ring 5

Which of these wedding rings is your favorite?

I adore No. 2!

I'll try not to go all fangirl on Sarah Seven, but once again I want to yell about her wedding dresses from the rooftops. The latest designs—with classic shapes and sexy, sparkly details—are the perfect way to wow your wedding guests without risking a wardrobe malfunction. So you can look like a grown-ass woman but still dance with your dad without blushing.

Damn, I think I crossed into fangirl territory. Well, when you see six of my favorites from new newest collection, you'll see why.

Wedding Dress 1

Wedding Dress 2

Wedding Dress 3

Wedding Dress 4

Wedding Dress 5

Wedding Dress 6

Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Clearly the best way to celebrate our nation's independence is with a patriotic manicure—and nothing goes better with a fresh mani than a bling-tastic engagement ring. Here are six I spotted on Instagram:

Engagement Ring 1

Engagement Ring 2

Engagement Ring 3

Engagement Ring 4

Engagement Ring 5

Engagement Ring 6

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

Happy anniversary, Beckhams! To celebrate 15 years of marriage, Victoria Beckham just shared two fantastic photos from her big day with David Beckham. We've seen that tiny tiara, but I had never even heard about their matching head-to-toe purple cake-cutting ensembles. So fantastic! (Please note, they're cutting the cake with some kind of sword. Perhaps it's being knighted?)

Thoughts on David and Victoria Beckham's wedding pictures?

SO excellent.

Jessica Simpson just walked down the aisle in a Carolina Herrerawedding dress, according to People! (She and Eric Johnson were married earlier today, if you missed the news.) The designer's name should be fresh your memory: She also designed the recently married Olivia Palermo's wedding ensemble.

Jessica's wedding dress was custom, but here are six striking gowns from Carolina's Spring 2014 collection.

What do you think Jessica Simpson's wedding dress looked like? Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Unsurprisingly, Jessica Simpson made a lovely bride. Here's the first official picture from her wedding to Eric Johnson. (The two were married over the weekend, if you missed the news.) In the portrait, Jessica's wearing a custom Carolina Herrera veil to match her strapless golden gown. (Carolina also designed Jessica's wedding dress.) Neil Lane diamond earrings completed her look.

"It was a labor of love," Nicole Chavez told People of putting together Simpson's wedding day look.

But perhaps my favorite thing to come out of the wedding so far is this detail, from E News!: "When the groom began to recite his vows, he choked up and had to start over again. And, according to sources, Jessica was just as nervous when she said hers. In fact, she was so overwhelmed that instead of addressing Eric, she said her own name! Luckily, she laughed it off and started over again."

It's just so perfect that the girl who gave us "Tuna or chicken?" said her own name instead of her groom's. (I find it very endearing.)

Thoughts on Jessica Simpson's first wedding picture?

I think she looks great. I can't wait to see more of that dress!

David Arquette explored his darker side when he was engagement ring shopping: The actor picked up a super-size black diamond engagement ring to propose to entertainment reporter Christina McLarty. The two were engaged last week, if you missed the news, and when they stepped out to celebrate Aspen Peak magazine's 10th anniversary at Bootsy Bellows Aspen in Colorado, Christina was showing off her new bling.

Obviously we're going in for a closer look:

Thoughts on the engagement ring David Arquette proposed with? Would you want a black diamond engagement ring?