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Shopping for my wedding dress was exhilarating, confusing, and addictive (my heart sank when the two-hour appointment was over). Even after over a year of working at your favorite bridal magazine —scouring our entire gown gallery —I was still surprised by the range of emotions that overtook me. I haven’t said yes to the dress (yet!), but would love to share my experience at Kleinfeld with you, in the hopes that someone out there can relate.

First, here was my inspiration, courtesy of my personal Pinterest board:

Dress by Oscar de la Renta. Photo credits: Erin Hearts Court Photography.

Dress at left by Romona Keveza, shot by Kate Stoops Photography; dress at right is "Scarlet" by Monique Lhullier, shot by Paul Johnson Photography. 

To celebrate the eighth season of TLC's hit show, Say Yes to the Dress, Kleinfeld launched an online gift shop featuring fun t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and more. Check out some of our favorites!

Just for BG readers: Get 10% off, plus free shipping, with the coupon code YESBG

For the morning of the wedding:
This cozy zip-up hoodie is perfect to wear while you're getting ready on the big day. Plus, you won't have to worry about messing up your hair and makeup when it's time to change into your gown ($40, available in black and white). 

For the bachelorette party:
For a casual night on the town, this cute t-shirt sends the message loud and clear: You're taken! ($19, available in black, white, and pink).

For an engagement gift:
How cute are these "his and her" mugs? Gift these to your favorite newly-engaged friends ($15 each).

When Jonathan Salama took out girlfriend Zuleth Telleria on June 10, she was in for the ride of her life.

Salama created one of our favorite proposal moments with the help of friends, family and a proposal planning service, The Yes Girls. And a helicopter, of course.

Check out the amazing video — we admit, we teared up a bit!

Boffo Video shot the couple as they flew over Huntington Beach, CA — the spot where they first became official three years prior. We especially love how Salama included his and Telleria's loved ones in the proposal while still having a romantic moment alone in the air. And how sweet are his hand-written signs?

We’re sure the duo must be flying high!

—Paulette Safdieh
 

There's something about Disney that feels oh-so-magical, even as an adult. In honor of Lillian & Walt Disney, who tied the knot on July 13, 1925, we've highlighted our favorite photos of couples basking in Disney joy on their big day. Starting with...

Lillian & Walt Disney

The Disney founders celebrated their 30th anniversary in Disneyland a few days before the park's grand opening. Since Disney Fairy Tale Weddings first launched in 1991, another 40,000 couples have celebrated their nuptials in the parks.

Amber & Frank

Photo courtesy of Disney Fine Art Photography and Video

 "We love Disney and fell in love at Disney so I cannot think of a better place to start our lives together," said Amber. "Oh, and the families did not mind the vacation either." We love how they stayed true to the playful theme of their wedding with matching, bright blue sneakers!

Guest blogger: Rosanna Casper, co-founder of Idojour.com, a new wedding website where brides, grooms, family and friends can purchase a stylish and affordable mix of beautifully curated pieces. Designed to make wedding planning all the more inspiring and enjoyable, Idojour offers accessories and apparel for your wedding weekend, complemented by both inspirational and practical content. Rosanna oversees content, among many other things, and makes sure that everything comes together beautifully on the site.

Here, Rosanna discusses how to find the perfect veil.

Wearing a veil is one of the oldest wedding traditions — and a fun one, too! A few weeks ago, we looked at short and sweet veils, and today, we're sharing some options for brides who prefer longer, flowy veils.

Keep in mind the following when shopping for your veil:

► Your veil should complement your look, not compete with it.
► Simple gowns will offset any intricate lace or beadwork on your veil.
► Heavily beaded or laced gowns look best with sheer or transparent fabric veils (silk chiffon, voile, or organza).
► A blusher, a single layer worn over your face during procession, can be added to any veil.

Now, onto the long veils!

For most couples, the first year of marriage is usually wedded bliss. As your lives begin to intertwine and mesh into one, it’s not uncommon to see the glow on a newlywed’s face, long after the honeymoon’s over. Although we did have one short week together after getting married, my husband Michael and I have had to experience the aforementioned bliss over the phone, not in person. Like many other military couples, we have to think of creative ways to keep the romance alive.

We talk as often as our schedule allows. However, it's difficult to find time because of our packed schedules and the nine and a half hour time difference (between New York and Afghanistan, where Michael is deployed). We try to talk about twice a week, but we send Facebook messages more often, almost every day. There’s nothing like seeing his number and hearing his voice, even if we have to deal with a three-second delay and lack of privacy on his end.

We’ve only seen each other once since he’s left. I learned more about his deployment during those two weeks we shared in New York than I had in six months of back-and-forth phone calls. There's something about being face-to-face that fosters a special type of intimacy where you open up and say things you just can’t during a 30-minute phone conversation. I won’t experience that again until he comes home for good in November.

We real brides are constantly planning ahead, painstakingly plotting all the grand details of our big day. One thing you definitely don't want to forget: The exit. I honestly don't know what Corey and I are doing for ours, because as a fun surprise, my mom is coordinating it! I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve. Sure, it'll be tough to top a dramatic, long walk down the aisle for your entrance, but if you plan it right, the exit from your ceremony or wedding party can be just as memorable. Here are some romantic, funny, unique exit ideas we love.

What could be better than boarding a plane with your new hubby and jetting off to a breathtaking locale, where you can (finally) spend some romantic time alone? But travel — whether for your honeymoon or anytime thereafter — often comes with out-of-this-world price tags. Peggy Knipp, a honeymoon expert and the Senior Travel Specialist at Honeymoons Galore travel agency, says her clients spend anywhere between $4,500 to $20,000 on their honeymoon (not too far off from the cost of an average American wedding). Here's how to plan an incredible post-wedding trip for less, no matter what your budget is.

Photo courtesy of Kamalame Cay

In the latest issue of InStyle, Jessica Biel opens up about her engagement to Justin Timberlake. 

"I had no say whatsoever [in the ring]. I don't micromanage," she told InStyle. "He is fearless in his choices and has a real eye for design. And I'll be honest: He has better taste than I do."

I'll be honest, too: I told my husband exactly what I wanted for my ring — a round-cut solitaire with a white gold band. I think I even drew him a picture at one point. And he was so grateful that I did — ring shopping can be overwhelming for a guy who doesn't have JT's "eye for design," and the last thing he wanted to do was present me with a ring that wasn't my style. 

Tell us: Did you and your fiancé talk about the ring beforehand? Or did he pick it out by himself (or with some help from a little birdie like your mom or BFF)? 

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

Photo Credit: Josh Shearer/iStock