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Stylish Shoes That Won't Break the Bank

Feeling thrifty? All of these amazing wedding shoes are under $70! You don't need to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks. When selecting your shoes, don't skimp on style to stay in budget. DSW recently created a wedding collection of heels on their site. I browsed the collection and found quite a few heels I love. Here, a few of my favorites. 

dsw wedding shoes

Credits left to right: 1. Audrey Brooke "Easton" platform pump, $49.95. 2. Lulu Townsend satin pump, $49.95. 3. Seychelles floral "just because" pump, $69.95. 4. Audrey Brooke "Jacob" sandal, $49.95. 5. Cara "tropical flower" hair clip from Nordstrom, $36.00 6. Audrey Brooke "Earth" d'orsay pump, $49.95. 7. Audrey Brooke "Candace" sandal, $59.95. 8. Audrey Brooke "Stacey" satin sandal, $69.95 9. Caprarros Luxe platform lace sandal, $64.95. (All shoes available at dsw.com)

Tell us: Which is your favorite? 

Naima DiFranco

The Perfect Match: Kidney Transplant Leads to Marriage

organ transplant donor marries
Photo Credit: Chelsea Clair/Facebook

All of us newlyweds promise to love our spouses in sickness and in health, but one Indiana couple's amazing story was actually born from the ultimate sacrifice: Donating an organ to a stranger.

Chelsea Clair, 26, met Kyle Froelich, 23, at a car show four years ago. He was diagnosed with a fatal kidney disorder when he was 12 years old, and doctors estimated that the then-senior in high school only had one more year to live unless he could obtain a successful kidney transplant. Many of his family members and friends were tested, but none proved to be a perfect match.

That is, until he met Clair, who heard his story through a family friend, and declared on the spot that she would give him her kidney. Froelich had guarded himself from getting his hopes up — according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, only slightly more than 50% of people on the national waiting list receive an organ within five years — but a month later, test results gave them the green light to move forward with a transplant.

Clair told ABC News that her father passed away from cancer having never received the bone marrow transplant that could have potentially saved his life, so she felt a personal connection to Froelich. "I just felt like I would have wanted somebody to step up [for my father], so I just wanted to help him," she says.

What's Hot in Weddings This Week: 10/25

In our new "Friday Favorites" column, we'll share our top five inspirations of the week culled from real wedding submissions, industry events, what's trending in the weddings world and more!

1. Cinderella-meets-Captain America wedding. This has to be one of the most stunning bridal portraits we've seen! The Utah bride says that "Pepper [her photographer] indulged my fairy tale fantasy in taking pictures of me running down the stairs at the state Capitol building with one shoe behind me. I loved every second I spent in that dress [she wore Cotin Sposa], and I wouldn’t have felt anywhere near as incredible in anything else!"

Check out more photos and read the couple's love story on The Bridal Detective.

cinderella wedding
Photo Credit: Pepper Nix Photography via The Bridal Detective

2. Get a headstart on those holiday cards. Minted, one of our favorite budget-friendly resources for wedding invites, save-the-dates, and more, has launched a "Newly Married" holiday collection. It features 43 different customizeable designs — I've featured a few of my favorites below. Aren't they lovely? I'll be adding this to my to-do list once I get all of those wedding thank-yous mailed out.

Pretty in Pink Wedding Accessories

I'm blushing ... over these ultra-romantic pieces — perfect for a dream wedding! Petal soft accessories and confectionery pinks are sure to make your wedding sweet. Here a few of my favorite pieces, sure to charm the girly-girl in you.

blush wedding accessories blush themed wedding blush wedding

Credits left to right: 1. Silk floral headband by Alannah Hill 2. 18k rose gold heart earrings by Tiffany & Co.  3.  Light pink minaudiere by Marchesa. 4. Chantilly lace corset gown with full fishtail tulle skirt by Marchesa. 5. Tulle, lace and organza one shoulder ballgown by Vera Wang. 6. Gianvito Rossi Rhinestone Peep Toe Sandal. 7. Ursula Satin Strappy Platform Sandals by Charlotte Olympia. 8. Alexander McQueen pink flower box clutch. 9. Double bridal comb set with flowers and crystals by Erica Elizabeth Design.

Naima DiFranco

First Look: Kelly Clarkson's Bachelorette Tea Party!

As if Kelly Clarkson's gorgeous Temperley London wedding gown and heart-tugging wedding video trailer weren't amazing enough, now photos have surfaced of her bachelorette party, and it's just as crush-worthy. A 1920s-inspired adult "tea party" was thrown in her honor by The Marvelous Vintage Tea Party Co. in Austin, complete with costumes from that decade.

Although the owner, Sophie Parrott, was sworn to secrecy, she did tell E! News that "These tea parties are usually for adults, so there are usually liquor-infused tea cocktails. There is always champagne involved and hot teas, as well as cakes, treats, and savories. They are quite indulgent. It is a lot of treats and nibbles and cakes."

Although a tea party might sound tame, the now-Mrs. Blackstock appeared to have a rollicking good time with her besties — one friend posted a photo of some of the more racier gift items that she received. After all, no bachelorette party is complete without some gag gifts and good-natured ribbing.

8 Wedding Trends That Are Still Going Strong

2013 weddings were full of amazing trends, from metallic details to family-style tables to Gatsby glamour. We're getting excited to see what the next year will hold, so we asked wedding professionals from all around the country to predict which ideas will be even more popular in 2014. Check out the growing requests that they're receiving from brides!

1. Camp-style weddings: Lindsey Norton of L. Brook Events says that "weddings at summer camps are popping up more and more because there is ample space to accommodate overnight guests but also multiple venues (all conveniently located on one property) to host different pre- and post-wedding celebrations." Rider Strong of Boy Meets World fame recently got hitched in a camp-style wedding, and so did Matthew McConaughey.

camp wedding
Photography by Emily Delamater // Event planning by L. Brook Events

2. The English garden look: Michelle Hoffner of Paper Antler photography is seeing a switch to more "locally grown wildflower bouquets" than traditional florist bouquets. Some brides are even including bouquet-making as a wedding weekend event!

8 Ways to Use Leftover Wedding Cake

Guest blogger: Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of over 35 wedding books, including The Bride’s Guide to Freebies. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

Kate Middleton has a knack for creating new wedding trends; first, she brought back lace for wedding gowns, and now she’s done something very sentimental with the top tier of her wedding cake.

A Kick-Butt "Girl Power" Workout

Girl power! This weekend was all about the ladies. On Sunday, I trained with Bonne Marcus and had an awesome workout. I trained alone because Rene didn’t want to miss football Sunday for the third week in a row (insert eye roll here). I was upset I had to go alone, but it ended up being amazing — Bonne taught me special workouts to focus on my lady parts (exercises she would not give to Rene) and the parts that are going to show while I'm wearing my wedding dress.

We started with what Bonne calls "The Wedding March" — aka walking lunges — where you start with your feet together, step with one foot into a lunge, step up, and then lunge with the other foot. These were not easy. We also did side kicks, where you rest one arm on the top of a chair, balance on one leg, and kick the other leg out to the side in slow motion, so you really feel it in both legs.

wedding march workoutside kicks workout
Left: The Wedding March. Right: Side Kicks

Kim Kardashian & Kanye West are Engaged!

kim kardashian kanye west
Photo via Clydehairgod on Instagram

Talk about a nice birthday surprise — Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian yesterday on her 33rd birthday! He popped the question in front of their friends and family at AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, which he rented out for the occasion. 

Before proposing, West asked future mother-in-law Kris Jenner for her daughter's hand in marriage. As a 50-piece orchestra played "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Ray, followed by "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson ft. Ne-Yo and Kanye, a message popped up on the jumbotron reading "PLEEEASE MARRY MEEE!!!" West got down on one knee and gave her a 15-carat diamond ring by Lorraine Schwartz, according to E!

Here's a closer look at Kardashian's gigantic ring:

kim kardashian engagement ring kanye west
Photo via Kim Kardashian on Instagram

The couple has been together for about a year and a half and are parents to four-month-old North West. This will be the third marriage for Kardashian and the first for West.

How to Look Your Best in Your Wedding Photos

I truly want everyone to look their best on their wedding day and get the most out of their wedding photos. While I am unable to be at every wedding (the laws of physics being what they are), I am happy to share some of my knowledge and experience with you. Todaym I am going to focus on what you can do to actually look your best. I am not telling you to do anything that makes you feel unnatural or uncomfortable. These are just pointers. And this is not just for the bride or groom; everyone who might have their picture taken on the day of the wedding should take note — so listen up bridesmaids and groomsmen!

casey fatchett looking your best in wedding photos bridal guide

1. Stand Up Straight

Yes, I probably sound like your mother, but people underestimate the power of good posture. Many of us spend so much time hunched over at our desks all day that we have developed a sloped shoulder look that is far from elegant. You do not have to be a ballerina to take some tips from them and imagine a string pulling at the top of your head — your body elongates, your shoulders naturally start to fall back, and you look ten times better in a matter of a few seconds.

2. Chin Up

Double chins can plague even the slimmest among us if their chin is nearly touching their chest. So keep your chin up! It elongates your neck. But remember, everything in moderation — you don’t want to look like a giraffe. If it feels awkward, you have gone too far.

3. Lay Off the Booze!

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