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The Sweetest Gift to Give a Newly Engaged Friend. (Or Your Newly Engaged Self)

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This popped up in my Instagram feed the other day, and I just have to share:


From an event floral studio based in Utah, the caption reads: "Product for the retail side of the new studio is starting to come in. One of our products that will be available in store and can be ordered here and now is a perpetual calendar from @1canoe2 You may not be entirely familiar with this type of thing but we are here to tell you it's genius! Audrey has been practicing this type of journaling for years! Journal your life one line at a time and see what you have been up to year after year. Next year you'll be able to see that on this day last year you planned your wedding floral. Or your baby walked for the first time! As you move each card to the back the year will cycle through, and just like that your life is documented. Set includes: wooden berry box. 380 cards. Tabs for each month. $52 Email us to order yours now! info@studiostems.com"

I adore this as a gift for a newly engaged friend, since she'll have so many happy memories happening in close succession. I love that she could jot a quick note—"Drinks with friends at a rooftop bar to celebrate our engagement."—one day and on the same page a few years later she could be writing—"Baby boy was born!"

So great!

Would you give this gift to a newly engaged friend? Is it something you'd like to receive?

I love it!


Jordana Brewster's Engagement Ring: An Up-Close Look at Her Classic Emerald-Cut Sparkler

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While entertainment-correspondent all-star Jessica Radloff was rounding up gossip on the ESPY Awards red carpet, she took a moment to snap a photo of the gorgeous Jordana Brewster and her almost-as-gorgeous engagement ring for me. Check it out:

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Of course we're going in for a closer look:

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In case it's not abundantly clear, that's an emerald-cut center stone flanked by emerald-cut side stones on a plain band. So classically gorgeous. (Her beaded leather dress is by DSquared, if you're wondering!)

Jordana met her now-husband, film producer Andrew Form, on the set of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. They announced their engagement in November 2006 and were married in May of the following year.

Thoughts on Jordana Brewster's engagement ring? Would you want something similar?

Jessica Simpson's Golden Wedding Manicure—Plus, Her Mega-Sparkly Wedding Ring

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I like Ballet Slippers as much as the next bride, but I'm loving how Jessica Simpson upped her manicure game for her wedding day. To match Jessica's shimmering Carolina Herrera wedding dress, Tom Bachik, her manicurist, told People that he mixed four shades of gel polish to make a nude-ish taupe topped with "a custom blend of pearlescent gold shimmer that gave it a champagne luminosity and some depth and sparkle."

Click your way over to People to see Jessica Simpson's golden wedding manicure. And while you're over there, check out her brand-new Neil Lane wedding ring, which features alternating round- and marquise-cut bezel-set diamonds.

Would you copy Jessica Simpson's golden manicure for your wedding day? And would you want a similar wedding ring?

I think the new ring perfectly matches her engagement ring.

12 Brides Reveal What They Wish They Could Have Told Their Maids of Honor

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Sometimes, it's hard to say exactly what you feel—especially when it comes to your maid of honor. We asked real brides the difficult—and even sweet—things that they would like to have said to their MOHs during or after the ceremony. Who knows? Their words may inspire you to work through potential issues with your best girl before your wedding. [Ed note: Names have been changed.]

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"Make sure I actually eat!" —Sarah

"This is my wedding, not yours, so stop trying to take over my day!"—Jenny

"My daughter will be my maid of honor. I have nothing but respect for my munchkin!" —Amanda

"Not to drink as much." —Claire

"That I love her just like a sister." —Terrie

"You should have told me when my bra was showing!" —Lauren

"Maybe my whole family didn't need to know about that incriminating incident from college. I wish you hadn't put that in your speech." —Julie

"With her by my side, anything is possible!" —Alex

"Of all the guys you could have hooked up with at the wedding, he was the worst."—Lindsay

"Run interference with my family!" —Alyssa

"Nothing! She's just perfect. I love her. That's why she's my best friend and maid of honor." —Claire

"Honestly, I would have chosen someone else. My maid of honor was my husband's sister. I did that to keep the peace in the family. I wanted my best friend up there with me, but when you marry your husband, you marry his family. Not what I wanted, but, oh, well." —Molly

—Written by Joléne M. Bouchon for Brides

Anything you wish you told your maid of honor?

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

Skip Traditional Bridesmaid Dresses and Try This Instead. (MAJOR Wear-Again Potential Ahead!)

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Here's a fun idea for your bridesmaids: Instead of picking mix-and-match dresses, how about mix-and-match skirts and tops—SO much wear-again potential! Here are four skirts from Frill that come in more than a dozen colors. I like the navy.

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Carolina Bow Skirt, $110. Charlotte Skirt, $100. The Sydney Skirt, $90. The Scallop Shirt, $95.


The company also sells a white lace top that's cute, but I feel like that looks a little too casual for most weddings.

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White Lace Top, $20.

How 'bout this lace top instead?

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French Connection Poppy Short-Sleeve Lace Tee from Off 5th, $55.99.


Here's some truly horrible Frankenstein-sytle Photoshopping.

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Could be cute, right? I mean, if all the limbs were intact.

Would you put your bridesmaids in a skirt-and-top combo over a dress?

I think it has great potential.

Braids for 'Maids: 5 Tricks for Creating a Formal Updo as Cool as Kate Bosworth's

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Since being a bridesmaid often means shelling out $$$ for a fancy dress and professional hairstyle, the latter might as well be one you really love (especially if the former is not). If formal updos aren't your thing, consider braiding instead—it looks just as dressed-up but with more of a bohemian vibe. Here's a brand-new red carpet braid to use as inspiration: the one Kate Bosworth wore to an event this week.

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"Kate's braided hairstyle was intricate and romantic to match the scenery at the Chateau Marmont and her gorgeous Valentino dress," says celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, who created the look. Here's her how-to:

1. Generously apply a volumizing styling product. "I started by giving her hair a good douse of Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray, roots to ends."

2. Rough-dry the hair. "To set in texture and add thickness, I blew her hair dry using my hands, really concentrating on lifting the hair away from the scalp and up off of her head, especially around the hairline."

3. Create a not-too-perfect deep side part. Bridget calls this one "disheveled".

4. Braid. "Starting at the crown, along the part, I began braiding forward so the braid would fall towards her forehead concealing her hairline, which is what gave way to a soft romantic feel. Then I started a second and third braid at her temples, braiding back on each side."

5. Add these finishing touches. "Using Kevin Murphy Easy Rider pomade to tame fly aways and add a bit of shine, I loosened the braids to make them billowy and voluminous. To get the detail in the back, I wove the braids together and pinned them low to give a halo effect. To finish, I sprayed a light coat of L'Oreal Elnett hairspray and allowed any bits to fall as they may—and she was set!"

Would you wear a braided bridesmaid hairstyle? Do you like this version on Kate Bosworth?

New Marchesa Wedding Dresses: 5 Gorgeous Gowns That Might Have Inspired Behati Prinsloo's

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Details are scant, but we know Victoria's Secret Angel Behati Prinsloo wore a custom Marchesa wedding dress when she married Adam Levine over the weekend. Since custom gowns are often based on existing designs, I thought today would be the perfect time to review the latest Marchesa wedding dresses and place a few bets. Here are five that I think are in the running:

Wedding Dress 1
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Wedding Dress 2
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Wedding Dress 3
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Wedding Dress 4
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Wedding Dress 5
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Which of these dresses would you pick for Behati Prinsloo? And which would you wear?

I'm guessing she chose something like 2 or 3.

The Cool Groomsmen Gift Your Guy's Guys Will Love. (It's So Inspector Gadget Chic)

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If your guy's groomsmen wear button-front dress shirts to work every day, here's a cool gift they'll use again and again:

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Say what?

They're Swiss Stays, fancy collar stays (the thing-a-ma-jammies that hold a guy's collar in place) that flip around to fit 24 different styles of collars. And they come in a cute (but, you know, totally manly) carrying case, so they're not floating around loose in a toiletry bag.

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Titanium Collar Stays, $50 for 3.


Is it the sexiest groomsmen gift? Nah. But I think the Inspector Gadget-ness will appeal to dudes—plus, they're endlessly useful. And they start at just $8 for three, so you could include them in a bag with a fancy bottle of booze or a cool pair of sneakers—two gifts we know groomsmen love.

Would your guy's groomsmen like super-fancy collar stays? Or are they less buttoned-down? What's the worst bridesmaid gift you ever received?


Princess Bride: The Super-Pretty Wedding Dress This Reporter Wore When She Married Royalty

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What does one wear to marry a prince? Especially when the prince in question—Prince Amedeo of Belgium—kind of looks like Orlando Bloom? Here's what his bride, Elisabetta Maria Rosboch von Wolkenstein (a Bloomberg arts and culture reporter), picked:

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Here's another angle:

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I like how it's princess-y without being crazy-poufy. So lovely.

Thoughts on Princess Elisabetta Maria's wedding dress?

I love it. Swiss-dot fabric—what's covering her illusion neckline, sleeves, and veil—was HUGE at bridal market last season.

Exactly How Much Money to Give as a Wedding Gift: Here Are 11 Factors to Help You Decide

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In short, there’s no exact go-to dollar amount when you’re giving money as a wedding gift. (Sorry.) But there are a bunch of factors that can help you decide. Here are the 11 that matter, in my book.



1. Salary If you make more, you give more. So I’d give more now than I would’ve if I were right out of college. Unemployed guests give what they can—and a kind bride or groom will mention to anyone who’s majorly cash-strapped, “We know you’re struggling. Your presence is present enough.”

2. Attendance If you’re not going, you can get away with giving less. But if it’s a close friend or family member, don’t go too low. Especially if they attended (or will attend) your wedding and gave a gift.

3. Plus-One Status You don’t need to double the amount if you’re double the guests, but I think multiplying your base number by 1.5 is about right. (So if you generally don’t go lower than $100 when you’re solo, don’t go lower than $150 if you have a plus-one.)

4. Relationship There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but in general, your bestest bestie gets more than your coworker.

5. Wedding Number If you’ve already been to a wedding for the bride or groom, you can give less—but not too much less if it’s the first trip down the aisle for the other person.

6. Other Gifts The general rule is you spend 20 percent of your gift budget on an engagement gift, 20 percent on a shower gift, and 60 percent on the wedding gift itself. Engagement gifts seem to be more of an East Coast thing, while bachelorette party gifts are popular elsewhere, so adjust the numbers to suit the number of gifts you’re giving, but keep a majority allocated for the wedding gift.

7. Other Contributions If you hand-calligraphed 150 invitations (been there) or your husband designed and printed their programs (done that) you can consider that part of your gift. But don’t dock them for easy, expected tasks, like assembling favors as part of a group.

8. Wedding Party Status In general, the wedding party gives more, but if there were above-and-beyond expenses—say, a super-spendy bridesmaid dress and a bachelorette getaway in Mexico—you can give less.

9. Wedding Location If you and the bride and groom live in a major city (NYC, L.A.) you give more. Especially if the wedding is being held in that city. But if you’re from the Midwest and still live there and your city-dwelling friend hosts her wedding in your hometown, I don’t think you need to bump up the amount.

10. Travel Distance If attending a wedding requires a plane ride and a hotel stay, I’d skip the cash gift and buy something less expensive off the registry—unless the bride and groom are chipping in for your travel expenses. In that case, I’d give something a little more substantial.

11. Their Gift to You I don’t think you go tit-for-tat, writing a check for the exact amount you received—especially if, say, the groom in question attended your wedding solo five years ago. But I also think it’s awkward if you’re overly generous when someone who got you a salad tray and tongs.

The old rule of thumb used to be "You give enough to cover your food and drink." But I take issue with that for two reasons: 1) You shouldn't know how much the bride are spending per guest. If you do, there have been some serious breeches of etiquette. And 2) The amount you can afford shouldn't fluctuate based on when they can afford.

How do you decided how much to give as a wedding gift? What’s your go-to dollar amount?

P.S. If you are giving money, opt for a check over cash in case your card gets—Yikes!—lost or stolen.

Olivia Palermo’s Engagement Ring: At Long Last, Here’s a Clear Picture

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Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl got engaged on New Year’s Eve and were married last month, but we still didn’t have a clear picture of her engagement ring. Thankfully, when she stepped out for lunch with a friend yesterday, a fast-fingered photog managed to snap a pic. Here it is:

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Obviously we’re going in for a closer look:

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Looks like a cushion-cut yellow diamond—I’d say three carats, max—with trapezoid-shaped side stones on a plain band. I give it two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Thoughts on Olivia Palermo’s engagement ring? Would you want a similar engagement ring?

The 19 Most Gorgeous New Wedding Dresses, Hot Off the Runways. (You're Going to Dream About These Gowns, Guaranteed!)

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If you want to make a lasting impression on your wedding guests, try any of the dresses below. Bridal market wrapped ages ago, and I'll still dreaming about all of 'em. These 19 wedding dresses are my absolute favorites from the spring 2015 runways:


Wedding Dress 1: Alfred Angelo1-best-new-wedding-dresses-bridal-market-spring-2015-0722


Wedding Dress 2: Alvina Valenta2-best-new-wedding-dresses-bridal-market-spring-2015-0722


Wedding Dress 3: Amsale
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Wedding Dress 4: Hayley Paige
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Wedding Dress 5: Ines Di Santo
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Wedding Dress 6: Ivy & Aster
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Wedding Dress 7: Jenny Packham
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Wedding Dress 8: Kelly Faetanini
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Wedding Dress 9: Lazaro
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Wedding Dress 10: Marchesa10-best-new-wedding-dresses-bridal-market-spring-2015-0722


Wedding Dress 11: Monique Lhuillier
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Wedding Dress 12: Naeem Khan
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Wedding Dress 13: Oscar de la Renta
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Wedding Dress 14: Reem Acra
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Wedding Dress 15: Romona Keveza Collection
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Wedding Dress 16: Sottero & Midgley
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Wedding Dress 17: Theia
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Wedding Dress 18: Vera Wang
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Wedding Dress 19: Watters
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Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Naya Rivera’s Wedding Dress: 3 Gowns Inspired by the Long Lace Dress She Wore in Her Surprise Wedding

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I’m pretty sure Naya Rivera’s Monique Lhuillier wedding dress was a custom design, possibly based on this gown, from Monique’s fall 2007 show. (The Glee star swapped vows with actor Ryan Dorsey last weekend, if you missed the news.)

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If you’d like to look similarly lovely in lace, here are three wedding dresses that copycat her look:

Wedding Dress 1: Alvina Valenta
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Wedding Dress 2: Romantique by Claire Pettibone
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Wedding Dress 3: Reem Acra
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Thoughts on Naya Rivera’s wedding dress? Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

5 Stunning Real-Girl Engagement Rings That Will Wow You More Than Naya Rivera’s Surprise Wedding

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Not much could distract me from today’s big Naya Rivera news, but these to-die-for engagement rings might just do the trick. Every last one is SO majorly gorgeous. Enjoy!

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When Melvin proposed to Rashidah, first she called all her friends and family members, then she couldn’t wait to post her pretty ring on Facebook.


Engagement Ring 2
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Allison’s always enjoyed checking out Save the Date’s real-girl engagement rings. “So of course after my boyfriend proposed to me under ‘our’ tree, the only natural thing to do was to submit a picture of the gorgeous ring he proposed with,” she says. (Obviously!)


Engagement Ring 3
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Tracey’s rose-gold ring—pictured here on her finger in Oklahoma, where she lives—was crafted by Ken & Dana Designs in NYC, where her fiance lives.


Engagement Ring 4
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Kyle proposed to Kate with this pale-pink sapphire ring first thing in the morning on their seventh anniversary, then announced he had a whole day planned for the two of them. The day included a surprise engagement party with 40 of their closest friends and family members, followed by dinner out with her best friend and her best friend’s husband. “It was one of the happiest days of my life,” she says!


Engagement Ring 5
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Jess’s guy proposed on Earth Day on their collage campus, because they met in environmentalism class. So sweet!

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite?

Eeps! Does This Sweet Video Snippet Show Blake Lively Right After Ryan Reynolds Proposed?

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were so cloak-and-dagger about their engagement that we didn’t even know Ryan had put a ring on it until after the two were married. But now I’m wondering if Blake gave us a little glimpse of her proposal story.

Blake launched her lifestyle site, Preserve, yesterday, and it included a video with just two seconds of this very Blake-looking moment.

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Blake is definitely featured at other points in the video, but I just cannot figure out if that’s her and her new engagement ring. She’s definitely been spotted in a slouchy winter hat or two, and her engagement ring is a monster solitaire. Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but it’s such a sweet, normal girl moment that I had to share.

Click here to check out Preserve and see the video in its entirety. (This moment is at the 1:25 mark.) And click here to see Leah’s under-$100 picks from the site.

Is that Blake Lively in the shot? Or do I need glasses?

The only thing that’s throwing me is the bangs. I don’t know if Blake’s ever had ‘em, but that girl seems to.


Statement-Making Bridal Jewelry That You Might Love More Than Your Wedding Dress

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I’m just floored by the overwhelming prettiness of Australian designer Samantha Wills’ new bridal accessories collection. These pieces won’t be available until August, but they’re so striking I just had to give you a sneak peek. Here are some of my favorites:

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I love how, outside of maybe the headpiece, they’re all infinitely wear-again-able after your wedding day. So fun to slip on your wedding earrings on date night for years to come.

Which of these wedding-y accessories is your favorite?

Naya Rivera’s Engagement Ring: The First Photo of Her Bling-tastic New Sparkler Is In

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Since we didn’t even know Naya Rivera and new husband Ryan Dorsey were dating, I’m not sure when they got engaged. But one thing’s for certain: She has a big ol’ new engagement ring to show off.


The ring, which totals about four carats worth of diamonds, features a large oval diamond in a double halo; the band showcases pave diamonds set in rose gold and platinum. Click your way over to People to check out Naya Rivera's engagement ring, then get back over here to discuss.

Thoughts on Naya Rivera's new engagement ring? Would you want something similar?

3 Tricks for Getting Dewy Wedding Makeup That Won't Go All Greasy

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I don't think many people dream of wedding makeup that's totally matte—that sort of goes against the whole glowing-from-within look that we aspire to as brides. But matte makeup is the most predictable when it comes to staying put.

So, if you want your face to stay looking gorgeous for 12-plus hours with minimal touch-ups, how can you make dewy makeup work? Here are three dewy-makeup tricks we've covered on Lipstick.com that'll help you get a wedding-day look that's luminous and lasting.

1. Try mixing your foundation with a dab of moisturizer. This helps keep it from going on too heavy and dulling your skin's natural radiance. Play around with your foundation-moisturizer ratio until you get a consistency that works just right with your skin's texture and level of dryness/oiliness (and your coverage needs). You can even add a drop of liquid luminizer for all-over skin glow.

2. Highlight your cheekbones. Even if your foundation is more matte, adding shine atop your cheekbones will help your complexion gleam, and since this area tends to be less oily, the highlighter should last for hours (after which you can always dab a little more on—especially before crucial photos!). My favorite nongreasy, no-budge highlighter: Benefit High Beam.

3. Switch to shimmering cream blush, like the Mark Touch & Glow Shimmering Cream Cubes (which Jordana Brewster made look gorgeous on the red carpet recently). It's a perfect compromise between long-wearing flat powder blush and glowy/sheer gel blush (which might not stick around so long). Another option: Try Nars Highlighting Blush, which comes in a colorless version that you layer over your favorite powder blush to add some sheen.

Are Charlize Theron and Sean Penn Engaged? Her Ring Finger Says Yes

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A sparkly new ring on Charlize Theron’s left hand has people speculating that she and Sean Penn are engaged. (Not that Save the Date readers would be surprised. I predicted last month that their engagement was imminent.)

Charlize walked through LAX yesterday with a jacket casually draped over her left hand, but an eagle-eyed photographer spotted some hardware underneath it when the actress used the jacket to shield her face. Click your way over to the New York Daily News to examine the evidence for yourself. If you zoom in on the second pic, you’ll see there’s definitely something on her finger, but it’s impossible to say whether it’s an engagement ring or just a random pretty bauble.

Obviously I’ll be stalking her left hand until we know for certain.

Do you think Charlize Theron and Sean Penn are engaged?

If I were a betting woman, I’d definitely bet yes.

12 Breathtaking Photos of Real Brides and Grooms That Will Get You SO Excited for Your Wedding—Whether It’s Happening in 2 Days or 20 Years

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I was never the girl who was sooooo excited to plan her wedding, but still, a really gorgeous wedding picture has always given me goosebumps. So I figured we’d start our countdown to the weekend with 12 super-gorgeous pictures from some of my favorite wedding photographers. Any girl could get lost in these, right?


This is an engagement shoot, but the pic’s so cute I had to include it:

Which of these pictures is your favorite?

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