Well, the bad news is, Zac Posen is apparently a vampire. How else would he design dresses for half the red carpet, his regular Zac Posen label, ZAC Zac Posen, a wedding line for David’s Bridal, and, you know, eat and sleep? Total vampire. The good news is, since Zac apparently doesn’t need to sleep and designs at lightening speed {We’re all picturing Edward from Twilight here, right? } he was also able to turn out a line of engagement rings, Truly Zac Posen, with Blue Nile. And the first collection is gorgeous gorgeous. Here are my favorites:

Engagement Ring 1

Baguette Sapphire Bezel-Set Diamond Engagement Ring, $2,000 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 2

Bezel-Set Pave Halo Diamond Engagement Ring, $4,500 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 3

Trio Diamond Engagement Ring, $1,800 (setting only).

Engagement Ring 4

Ribbon Diamond Engagement Ring, $1,900 (setting only).

I know a lot of you are into the idea of bling-y diamond bands as engagement rings. These were meant as wedding bands, I assume, but they’d do the trick nicely.

Engagement Ring 5

Baguette Braided Diamond Ring, $2,480.

Engagement Ring 6

Leaf Diamond Ring, $3,650.

Click here to see everything from Blue Nile’s Truly Zac Posen collection.

Which of these engagement rings is your favorite? And do you like Zac Posen more or less, now that his vampire secret is out?

I love No. 5 as a right-hand ring, or to wear on my left hand when I wanted something lower profile than my e ring.

I tend not to wear anything on my left hand, other than my wedding and engagement rings. I always felt like more accessories would push me into “overdoing it” territory, but Kate Bosworth just rolled into prove me SO wrong.

Gorgeous @ambyrchildersjewelry #ComingSoon #love #excited

A photo posted by Kate Bosworth (@katebosworth) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:47pm PDT

Go ahead and count ’em: That’s an engagement ring + a wedding ring + three other rings. And it looks awesome. One ring Kate isn’t wearing here? Her other wedding band. (She has two, both from Ocappi.) I guess SIX is the number of rings that pushes a girl over the edge.

Do you accessorize your left hand? Or is that for wedding and engagement rings only?

A wedding dress doesn’t get more easy-breezy than this: Actually, it’s not so much a dress, it’s a camisole and skirt combo. I just can’t imagine anything more comfortable for your wedding day. And—bonus—you could wear a regular bra with this top. Which you could then wear again with jeans. Did I mention the whole she-bang is just $660? There’s just so much to love.

Wedding Dress 1

Natori In Perpetuity Camisole, $160. Catherine Deane Anika Skirt, $500.

I really like the black-and-white lookbook photo, but here’s a full color one to give you a better idea:

And here are four more fresh looks from BHLDN’s new Iconic Collection. (I included a full-color photo with the black-and-white one that was a little too artsy. For color pics of the rest, click through.)

Wedding Dress 2

Catherine Deane Zahara Gown, $2,000.

Wedding Dress 3

Catherine Deane Zoe Gown, $1,600.

Wedding Dress 4

Tadashi Shoji Nova Lace Gown, $1,000.

Wedding Dress 5

Watters Barletta Dress, $960.

Which of these wedding dresses is your favorite?

Sure, different songs mean different things to different people. But when the lyrics are blatantly about liking big butts or two-timing your man, one has to wonder, how in the world did you choose that? We asked a few wedding insiders to dish the dirt on the strangest first dance song choices they've ever heard.

My ���� Photo by @elizabethmessina

A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Feb 2, 2014 at 9:41pm PST

"She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5
"There was a time that I saw Maroon 5's 'She Will Be Loved' as a very popular first dance song," a wedding planner explains. "Of course, the music video features two couples: one in an abusive relationship and one where the boyfriend obsesses over the girlfriend's mother. Given that context, it's a very odd choice for a couple just starting out their married lives together!"

"Lyin' Eyes" by The Eagles
"A couple years ago I filled in for a planner at a wedding, and I swear the entire room danced in a circle and sang 'Lyin' Eyes' by the Eagles," another planner explains. "The song is about adultery. I asked why this song was so important to sing and dance to at a wedding, and it was some longtime family tradition. Yikes!"

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
"The strangest song I've had a couple dance to was 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston," reveals one planner. "This song is a classic, yes. Whitney sang this song beautifully, yes. It is a breakup song, yes! I couldn't believe that the couple chose a breakup song for their first dance as husband and wife."

"Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot
"This particular couple looked like they had stepped right out of a bridal magazine. Their hair and wardrobe was perfect. The venue was decorated and looked romantic. The couple asked if we could start off with a slow song, and then we sprung 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix-A-Lot on the crowd," a wedding DJ says. "They jumped into step with a perfectly choreographed dance that lit the place on fire. The bride's mom looked like she had just seen a ghost, and then the grandma stood up and shook her finger at the groom, which only added to the crowd's excitement. It was one of the most classic moments of my career. And yes, it was a lot like the video that went viral years later."

"Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor
"This was a wedding for two people that had been married multiple times. They were a beer drinking, rowdy couple that didn't want to get married but did it for the party," another DJ says. "Their friends were standing up and cheering and applauding, and the couple was playing along for the laughs. I was in utter shock and had never seen anything like it before."

Have you heard any crazy first dance songs?

—Written by Elizabeth Mitchell for Brides.

More from Brides:
*50 WAYS TO SAVE $500 on Your Wedding
*The Best Celebrity Engagement Rings
*50 Mistakes Every Bride Makes

There’s no point in registering for fancy china if you’re never going to host a shmancy dinner party—and you can't serve a decent protein shake in a dainty teacup. If you and your groom would rather do bicep curls with a waffle iron than indulge in a lazy brunch, here are Target wedding expert Brit Morin’s five health and fitness registry picks for you:

“Did you know that friendly competition makes you work out harder?,” says Brit. “Register for a Fitbit for you and your partner (they’re available in every color under the sun!) and let the games begin.” Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity & Sleep Tracker in Violet, $99.99.

“These headphones are sweat-resistant and designed for athletes,” says Brit. “Meaning they won’t fall out every time you go out for a run together.” Beats by Dre PowerBeats In-Ear Headphone in Neon, $149.99.

“Perfect for a cruise around the neighborhood or to the beach together,” says Brit. Schwinn Women’s Legacy 26" Cruiser Bike in Yellow, $129.99. Men’s Legacy 26" Cruiser Bike in Blue, $129.99.

Who needs cable? You’re too busy getting buff to keep up with a Kardashians marathon. And still, it’s nice to have a way to stream movies on your rest days. “Apple TV is the best way to get all of your favorite movies and videos on your big screen,” says Brit. The New Apple TV in Black, $99.99.

“It’s pricey, but this is the ultimate cooking gadget,” says Brit. “It can juice fruits and veggies, puree soups, blend smoothies, and so much more. Plus it is crazy easy to clean.” Vitamix Professional Series 500 Blender in Brushed Stainless, $599.99.

I’m sure some of you are cringing at the thought of a $600 registry gift, but it can’t hurt to put it on there if it’s what you really want. And a group of friends might love to chip in for it—especially if you’re making smoothies for the crew.

Which of these would you add to your wedding registry?

Health and fitness not your thing? Here are the rest of Brit’s picks:

• 7 Stylish Registry Picks for the Minimalist Bride and Groom
• 6 Fun Wedding Registry Picks for the Bride and Groom Who Like to Entertain at Home
• 8 Alternative Registry Picks for the Outdoorsy Bride and Groom

The Brit tradition of dressing your wedding party in white is definitely here to stay stateside. In fact, when Solangeswapped vows with Alan Ferguson yesterday, she asked ALL of her guests to wear shades of white or ivory, including her maid of honor, sister Beyonce. (That’s mom Tina Knowles on the other side of the bride.)

A photo posted by Beyonc�� (@beyonce) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:27pm PST

Here’s a crowd shot from Questlove, who DJ’d:

Elegance.

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:47pm PST

Here are 12 ways the white-on-white bridesmaid trend can translate for your own wedding. (A few dresses are technically wedding dresses, so they’re more expensive, but there are several under-$100 options!)

TOP ROW FROM LEFT: Chimerically Yours Dress from ModCloth, $94.99. Chloe Dress from BHLDN, $250. Ivory Clara Dress in Silk Chiffon from J.Crew, $295. (25% off with code SHOPNOW) BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT: Tea Length Dotted Organza Wedding Gown from David’s Bridal, $349. Aisle Be There Dress in Lily from ModCLoth, $164.99. Sophie by Donna Morgan, $194.

TOP ROW FROM LEFT: Evangeline Dress from BHLDN, $260. Short Mesh Dress With Illusion Sweetheart Bodice from David’s Bridal, $99. Twirling at Twilight Dress from ModCloth, $159.99. All Neutral Dress from ModCloth, $99.99. Laura by Donna Morgan, $230. Celia Dress from BHLDN, $220.

Thoughts on Beyonce’s maid of honor dress? Would you dress your wedding party in white? Which of the bridesmaid dresses above is your favorite?

If anyone’s going to pull a “Goldie and Kurt” and never marry her longtime partner, it’s going to be Goldie’s daughter, right? Matthew Bellamy proposed to Kate Hudson back in April of 2011 with this hefty emerald-cut diamond. (The pair welcomed son Bing that July.)

Almost four years later, Kate was just spotted on the red carpet with an entirely different engagement ring on her left hand:

Looks like an Asscher-cut stone—either a sapphire or emerald—in a diamond halo with more diamonds on the band. Seriously gorgeous.

Thoughts on Kate Hudson’s upgrade engagement ring? Would you swap out your engagement ring before you got married? Or would you wait for a major anniversary to upgrade your engagement ring?

You'd think the biggest story out of Solange's wedding this weekend would be about her seemingly endless supply of chic white costume changes or that Beyonce, Jay Z, and Blue Ivy were there—but the buzziest moment right now is her adorable choreographed dance with her son, Julez, at the reception.

The two grooved to Rae Sremmurd's "No Flex Zone," and it's amazing. Watch:

Solange and Julez NO FLEX ZONE from Charlotte Hornsby on Vimeo.

Six years (and two kids) out from my wedding, the whole day kind of seems like a blur. (Possibly because of the two kids. Mom brain is REAL.) I don’t remember my mom zipping my dress—although that happened, I have the photo!—or even our first as-husband-and-wife kiss. Here are the four weird things I really do remember.

Hayley. her dress �������� #boweryhotel #newyork

A photo posted by Samm Blake (@sammblake) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:50am PST

1. All the pre-wedding stuff. Someone recently said to me, “Having a wedding isn’t really about the DAY. It’s about all the days leading up to THE day.” I couldn’t agree more. I remember rounding up my friends to help make paper wedding flowers and my friend Betsey trying to shove me in a dryer during my bachelorette weekend. (Long story.) And I remember wedding dress shopping and visiting 2,000 venues and the day my friend Leslie and I spent 20 hours straight making 200 mini jars of lemon preserves as wedding favors—and broke her in-laws’ stove in the process.

2. Everything that went wrong. We forgot our vows during the ceremony (yikes!) and the venue temporarily lost half of our seating cards. Neither proved to be a disaster—a groomsman made a mad dash for the vows and the seating cards eventually turned up—but I very clearly remember both mini fiascos unfolding. (And guests asking, “Do you remember what table you seated me at?" (No! There are 196 of you!))

3. Awkward conversations with guests. I’m sure people told me I looked happy and beautiful and the party was a blast {Right? You said all that stuff guys, right? } but I don’t remember any of it. I do remember one of Rory’s relatives asking for my branch-by-branch family tree so he could merge the two and another talking about how sad it was that I (*I*!) didn’t invite her kids to the wedding.

4. The “forced” take-it-all-in moments. Everyone tells you to “take a minute to step aside and take it all in.” I didn’t think I’d need to force those moments, but I very clearly remember the times we did step aside and separate ourselves from the crowd to just, well, take it all in.

Already married girls: What do you remember about your wedding?

It’s hard to see past newlywed Lauren Conrad’s choppy new bob in this picture, but if you look a little lower, there’s something else fun going on.

Just stopped by @kristin_ess' for my weekly chop ����

A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:43pm PST

Right above her shirt collar, there’s a new necklace from Lola James, which reads “Mrs. Tell.” So cute! Here's a better look:

Mini Me Necklace from Lola James, from $90.

This is also super-cute, if you’re not changing your name:

Mini Me Necklace from Lola James, from $90.

Would you wear a necklace with your new last name? Or the bottom necklace if you’re not changing your name?

I would totally wear the second.

I love, love, love a winter wedding, but let’s face it, there’s a pretty high potential for weather disasters. Snow storms, ice storms, power outages, black ice—any one of those could cancel your wedding before it begins. And of course there are other disasters, unrelated to weather, that can strike any wedding, regardless of the season: Your caterer bails, your mom lands in the hospital, your venue burns down, the airline loses your groom’s custom suit.

But there’s a fairly easy way to prevent disasters (weather disasters included) from ruining your wedding day: buying wedding insurance. It’s not as sexy as hunting for your wedding dress or as much fun as visiting venues, but it could mean the difference between the day of your dreams going off without a hitch and, well, not going off at all.

More from Jenna & Dino's real winter wedding.

Insurance will cost between $150 and $1,000, depending on whether you get a basic policy or add on liability and how much you’re spending on the day. Before buying you should get a copy of your vendors’ insurance policies in writing, so you don’t pay for double coverage.

Here’s the 1 percent of disasters wedding insurance won’t cover:

• cold feet


• jewelry, including the jeweled embellishments on your dress


• your engagement ring (that needs its own policy; your wedding rings (and their loss) should be covered though)

Will you get wedding insurance for your big day? Or just cross your fingers and hope for the best?

Let me go on the record as saying that, until five minutes ago, I was happy with my two kids. But then Beyonce had to go and share this picture from Solange’s wedding of Blue Ivy with the bride and groom, and I’m all, “THAT FACE! That sweet little arm! I want ALL THE BABIES.”

A photo posted by Beyonc�� (@beyonce) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:17pm PST

I mean, could you just DIE? Also, where’d you pick up that tiny dress, Bey? I’d like it for my baby girl. And the six other daughters I’m now planning on having.

Are you having kids at your wedding? If you weren’t planning on it, does this pic of Blue Ivy kind of change your mind?

Did you know it was below freezing in ALL 50 states yesterday? (Yes, including Hawaii.) Not so wedding-friendly. Assuming no one wants to battle sub-32-degree temps in chiffon and tulle, winter brides might want a wedding dress with a little more heft. Here are three mega-cozy knit options to say “I do” in.

Wedding Dress 1

I’ll Be There Wedding Dress by Ivy & Aster.

Wedding Dress 2

Erin Wedding Dress by Theia.

Wedding Dress 3

Kushi Wedding Dress by Theia.

I know you guys will appreciate that all three dresses can be worn with a regular bra. But here’s the best part: Dresses 1 and 2—and the top of No. 3—are cashmere. One-way ticket to Cozy Town.

Would you wear a knit dress for a winter wedding?

I’d be ALL over No. 2.

Speaking of winter weddings, here's 1 Easy Way to Prevent 99 Percent of Winter Wedding Disasters.

I come from a long line of divorce. I didn’t realize how long the line was until I started to write this post, but here it is: My parents are divorced. My dad’s parents were divorced. Both of my parents’ siblings (they each have a sister) were divorced. (Although my mom’s sister re-married her husband. LONG story.) I have five cousins, all have been married, and four have been divorced.

I didn’t go into marriage thinking, “Hey, I can always get divorced!”—in fact, as the child of divorce, I desperately don’t want that, especially now that I have kids—but my family’s history of divorce never quite leaves the darkest corners of my mind. Is it something that’s passed down, like my grandmother’s too-wide grin or my dad’s tone-deafness? (Both of which I inherited.)

So far, no. Six years after my wedding day (which, as I recently mentioned, I barely remember) I’d say my marriage is in pretty good shape. It’s been bumped and bruised, but it’s never felt broken. It’s not what it was right after we swapped vows—spoiler alert, the honeymoon ends—and it’s certainly not what it was before babies. But it still feels right.

And Susie Orman Schnall’s essay reflecting on her 20th wedding anniversary has me hopeful for the next 14 years, and beyond. Here’s the gist: As my marriage (and your marriage) grows, love won’t always feel like “falling in love.” But the shift doesn’t mean that your marriage is over—it can mean the best is yet to come. Here’s my favorite part:

“There are times when I worry that maybe I don’t love my husband anymore. But, when I analyze those feelings I realize that’s because I don’t love my husband like I used to. I don’t love my husband the way they make love look in the movies. And I don’t love my husband by the more-popular definition of love that society ascribes to: hearts and burning arrows, intense making-out instead of watching the movie, reservations on Valentine’s Day.

“I love him like two people love each other when they’ve loved each other for almost 25 years. And though that’s different from new love and it won’t cause me to lose my appetite, match my bra to my underwear on a daily basis or present my husband with silk boxers on Feburary 14, it will cause me to realize something true and fundamental.

“That mature love is different than new love. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it might even be better.”

Click here to read the entire essay, and to check out all 10 essays in The Nest’s relationship series.

Do you worry about divorce? What do you think your marriage will look like after 20 years?

After filing for a marriage license, Charles Manson (yes THAT Charles Mason) and his bride did the next sensible thing: They started a wedding registry. At Bed, Bath & Beyond. You know, just like you did.

The couple (presumably the bride, since I don't think prison has WiFi) followed the most important registry rule, choosing gifts at every price point, including six sets of bamboo chopsticks ($1.99 each) and a chip-and-dip tray shaped like a cowboy hat ($99.99). The most expensive item on the list is a five-piece sterling silver place setting ($999.99; they’re asking for 16 sets).

This Waterford Lismore Cobalt Ships Decanter ($594.99) is also on the list.

Obviously the whole thing could be fake. There are 20 woman on The Knot right now who have created wedding registries with Justin Timberlake, after all. And I can’t imagine the future Mr. and Mrs. Manson will be doing that much entertaining at home. (40 crystal wineglasses seems excessive for any couple, no? Although I’ll be damned if we still have any of our wedding wine glasses. Those suckers are NOT durable.) But the date on the registry is wrong (it’s already passed) and it lists the bride’s last name as “Manson.” (Her maiden name is Burton.) But what kind of weirdo creates a fake Charles Manson registry? (See “Justin Timberlake registries, above.) And if you’re going to go through all that trouble, wouldn’t you at least add a few knife sets?

What’s the verdict on Charles Manson’s wedding registry? Real or fake? And what gift will you be sending?

Dibs on the fondue forks.

Wedding invitation designers have upped the ante for 2015 brides and grooms: The invites are getting SUPER fancy. Here are the top three trends for the coming year.

Trend 1: LASER-CUT

Laced Together Wedding Invitations in White, Wedding Paper Divas, from $3.39.

Woodland Pretty Laser-Cut Invitations, WeddingStar, from $4.50.

Trend 2: FOIL-STAMPED

Rose Garden Foil-Pressed Wedding Invitations, Minted, from $2.60 each.

Everlasting Gem Wedding Invitations in Rose Gold, Wedding Paper Divas, from $1.89.

Trend 3: BOOK-STYLE

Fireflies Wedding Invitation Minibook, Minted, from $3.44.

Library Theme Wedding Invitations, Etsy seller LotsofLittleLines, from $4.

Of course some of these options are super-spendy; I imagine as more designers hop on the bandwagon, the prices will go down. Here are two ways to save for now: Wedding Paper Diva invites are 20 percent off through 11/25 with code WEDONOV20, and Minted invites are up to 15 percent off through 11/24 with code WED2014.

Which of these trends are you most excited about? Which invitation do you like best?

When I got a glimpse of the neutral-yet-twinkling eyeshadow that Leighton Meester wore at the Life Partners premiere the other day, I just had to know exactly what it was. Luckily, it turns out that the makeup artist behind the look was Kayleen McAdams—we happen to obsessively follow each other on Pinterest—and she obliged me and shared all the details behind the look. It would be just be gorgeous to wear for a wedding—whether you're the bride, in the wedding party, or attending as a guest. It's also pretty much perfection for holiday party season.

Picture it with or without the statement red lip; with a more muted lipstick, the effect becomes subtle yet still very festive and special. Here's a close-up of the eyeshadow action.

"I wanted to give her makeup a '70s disco feel, so I chose pinks and purples on the eye to complement the fluorescent red lip," McAdams shares. "The key to making this feel modern is to blend the shadows and soften any harsh lines. Even if you think it's blended enough, blend it just a little bit longer." The other trick: subtle pink shadow, and contouring powder on the lids. Here's the how-to:

1. Apply purple eyeliner all along the upper and lower lash lines. Then use a flat shadow brush to blend this up toward the crease. Here, McAdams used CK One Color Double Ended Eyeliner in Poison.

2. Buff a shimmery pink shadow (the more shimmer the better!) onto the center of the lid and the inner corner of the eye. The exact shade used here: L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Always Pearly Pink.

3. To contour the eye, use a dark brown shade (she used the dark nude from the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow contouring palette) in the crease and along the bottom lash line. "This is where the blending needs to happen, to make all the colors combine seamlessly," McAdams says.

As for those lashes: no falsies here! McAdams skipped those red-carpet staples and just applied three coats of black volumizing mascara instead—CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black, to be precise (my fave!).

If you're digging the lips, too, here are the deets: McAdams used CK One Color Pure Color Lipstick in Bite Me and Lipstick Queen Lip Liner in Red. "I like to apply the lipstick first, applying it straight from the tube and pressing the lips together to distribute the color to the edges," she notes. "To finish the look I applied the lip liner along the outside, cheating the outer edge a little to make the lips look full. Applying the liner last keeps the lipstick in place all night."

What do you think of this wedding makeup idea/holiday makeup inspiration on Leighton Meester? Would you copy this eyeshadow sometime soon?

Lauren Conrad might be the latest celeb to chop her hair after walking down the aisle—but she’s certainly not the first. Does anyone else remember Friends fans freaking out when Jennifer Aniston got a major cut shortly after swapping vows with Brad Pitt?

HERE'S JENNIFER ANISTON ON HER WEDDING DAY…

…AND THREE MONTHS LATER

LAUREN CONRAD ON HER WEDDING DAY…

A photo posted by LaurenConrad.com (@laurenconrad_com) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:26am PST

…AND TWO MONTHS LATER

A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:43pm PST

Here are three more celebs who went #shorthairdontcare after getting wifed up:

KALEY CUOCO ON HER WEDDING DAY…

A photo posted by @normancook on Jul 7, 2014 at 12:37pm PDT

…AND FIVE MONTHS LATER

A photo posted by @normancook on May 5, 2014 at 9:18am PDT

HERE'S KELLIE PICKLER ON HER WEDDING DAY…

…AND FOUR MONTHS LATER

KIM KARDASHIAN ON HER WEDDING DAY…

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Sep 9, 2014 at 3:38am PDT

AND THREE MONTHS LATER…

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Aug 8, 2014 at 5:07pm PDT

Ashley Tisdale kept her long locks—but she dyed the ends purple post-wedding!

ASHLEY TISDALE ON HER WEDDING DAY…

A photo posted by ashleytis (@ashleytisdale) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:27pm PDT

…AND ONE MONTH LATER

A photo posted by ashleytis (@ashleytisdale) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:34pm PDT

Will you chop your hair after the wedding? Or is long hair always your thing?

You can read up like you're trying to cram for an exam or read a bridesmaid survival guide, but the best—and really the only—way to figure out how to be a bridesmaid is to do it over and over again—and make some mistakes along the way. Whether you're doing this for the first or the 14th time, here's a list of common bridesmaid mistakes to avoid.

1. Prematurely accepting to be a bridesmaid
Just because you're asked to be a bridesmaid doesn't mean you have to say yes. Do it only because: that person truly means a lot to you, you have the time and extra cash to do it right, and because you want to.

2. Bringing the wrong gift to the wrong place
When the wedding adventure first begins, map out each event that you plan on bringing a gift to—that way, you won't make the rookie mistake of bringing lingerie to the bridal shower.

3. Not listening to the bride
When the bride says she wants a quiet and simple bachelorette party, somewhere with bottles of wine and cucumbers over her eyes—don't go off and plan a night out at the hottest club in Las Vegas. Listen to her, even if it's not what you want to do—or what you "think" she really wants.

4. Not saving the drama for the maid of honor
Planning a wedding is stressful. So if you're not happy with the dress she picked out or the time the bridal shower starts or how another one of the bridesmaids is treating you, chat about it with the maid of honor or another member of the bridal party.

5. Spending too much money
Yes, being a bridesmaid is expensive. Sometimes more money than you'd like to actually spend. Set budget expectations early on with the entire wedding party.

6. Leaving the essentials behind
Clean out the travel-size toiletries section at CVS. Throw all those items into a tote bag or a fanny pack. They will come in handy. They will save your feet, your mind, and your stress sweat from leaking out all over the place when the bride desperately needs eyelash glue.

7. Speak now or hold your peace
If you're speaking during her reception or at her rehearsal dinner, leave out the part about how on your spring break cruise to Cozumel she spent 60 percent of the trip with her head nearby the toilet and the other 40 percent with her lips on a shot glass. Save that for the bachelorette party.

8. Shots, shots, shots, shots
Speaking of shots, leave them off your drink menu the night before the wedding. Waking up hungover won't feel or look so great.

9. Wedding is done—so am I!
Just because the couple said "I do" and you danced the Hora and the Macarena with them until 2 A.M. doesn't mean your job as a bridesmaid has come to a complete stop and you can exit your role. The days after the wedding, the bride may turn to you for help with picking out photos for her album, helping her sort through gifts, and even just calling you to chat.

Are you guilty of any of these mistakes? (Or were any of your bridesmaids?)

—Written by Jen Glantz for Brides. Jen is a "Professional Bridesmaid" and the founder ofBridesmaid for Hire. She's the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

More from Brides:
*50 Ways to Save $500 on Your Wedding
*The Best Celebrity Engagement Rings
*50 Mistakes Every Bride Makes

There was no shortage of ultra-low-cut wedding dresses on the runways this season—see Exhibits A, B, and C, below. And it’s certainly more acceptable than it was even five years ago for a bride to flash some skin when she walks down the aisle.

Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C

FROM LEFT: Ines Di Santo, Rivini, Vera Wang.

But I worry that designers are laying out all these potentially scandalous wedding dresses without setting up some ground rules. I’m all about a bride wearing whatever she feels beautiful in, but a cut-to-there neckline just doesn’t work for every body type. Here’s why Dianna Argon—at last night’s Museum Gala at American Museum of Natural History—is pulling it off, IMO.

1) She’s got small boobs. If you’re bigger than an A cup (maaaaaybe a small B cup) you’re treading WAY too close to “wardrobe malfunction” territory in a dress like this. A quick turn in either direction and one of your C’s is on full display.

2) There’s something holding the dress up. I don’t know if you can see it clearly, but the illusion neckline on Dianna’s dress goes almost to her collarbone. Assuming she has some fashion tape in the middle, the bodice is probably pretty secure. I wouldn’t trust a dress without some built-in support—and the backup of fashion tape.

3) The rest of her look is demure. From minimalist makeup and the sweet, head-banded updo to the flowy skirt and its calf-grazing hemline, the rest of her look is low-key. If you do short and tight with vampy lips and sexpot hair, the ultra-low neckline is part of a way-too-sexy-for-a-wedding package.

Would you wear a wedding dress with an ultra-low-cut neckline? Or is it always to scandalous for you?