One of the bigger decisions I had to make before our wedding is what type of "girl time" celebration to have. I knew immediately that I didn't want the traditional bachelorette party: A long (and potentially wild) night of drinking and dancing didn't really appeal to me. Instead I decided on a lingerie shower that would be cost-effective and enjoyable.

Two of my best friends, Maria and Patty, excitedly volunteered to throw the event in my honor. I was involved with choosing the invitation and creating the guest list; after that, it was all up to them to make it happen. My friends decided to involve my fiancé Rigo in the planning process so that he would be able to provide personal information about our relationship and my preferences for entertainment. Together the three of them worked on games, made the food, and prepped the house for the party.

Bridal Shower Food
The girls decided to go with finger foods for the shower since they're practical and affordable. They allowed me to approve the final menu selections and I made a few minor suggestions. The food was absolutely amazing: Guests enjoyed taco salad cups (made by Rigo), shrimp cocktail, bruschetta, chicken wings, a cheese and cracker tray, a vegetable tray, and meatball sandwiches all made by the girls. 

Photo Credit: Evermore Photography

Q. What’s considered the right amount of money for a wedding gift? I’ve recently been laid off and can’t afford to give as much as I had originally planned, but I don’t want to come across as cheap, either.

I recently tagged along to my sister's wedding hair trial at Dolce Vita Salon & Spa in Flemington, NJ. While watching owner Nicole Maxcy work her magic, we chatted about how brides can best prepare for their own hair trials and get the most out of the experience. Here's what she shared:

Allow enough time
Start searching for your stylist at least three months before the wedding; six months if you're getting married in peak wedding season. For your trial, you’re going to need at least an hour. And don’t be afraid to do more than one trial! Many brides do two or three test runs before finding a style they truly love and feel comfortable with.

Prep your hair properly
Wash and blow dry your hair the night before, without using products. If you use a flat iron to tame frizz, it's fine to go ahead and use it. But if your hair is curly, it's better to work with your natural hair texture than to fight it, especially if you're getting married in an area where humidity will come into play.

Oscar de la Renta’s designs have graced countless red carpet events, and his breathtaking wedding gowns have brought tears to the eyes of brides around the world. Now, everyone can have a little piece of Oscar magic with the release of his new stationery line in collaboration with Paperless Post. 

With more than 50 designs, each inspired by his love of beautiful fabric and the sunny beaches of his home in Punta Cana, you can add a touch of Oscar elegance on everything from wedding invites to thank-you notes. 

Take a look at these fabulous designs inspired by the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2013 bridal collection!

Vera Wang has teamed up with FTD, the leading provider of flowers and gifts, for a gorgeous collection of wedding-day flowers! Available exclusively through select FTD member florists in the U.S. and Canada, the designs hits at three distinct styles — traditional, romantic, and modern — with prices ranging from $14.99 for a boutonniére to $1,294.99 for an ultra-luxe bouquet.

Here, check out a few pieces from the collection:

Style: The Traditionalist

White rose boutonnière and spray rose and stephanotis boutonnière, $14.99 each

Bouquet with white and peach roses and spray roses, $109.99

White freesia, white and blush peach roses, and white double lisiathus centerpieces, $282.99

On a beautiful spring day at the luxe Marriott Marquis in Times Square, hundreds of brides gathered for the opportunity to meet with and sample the work of dozens of bridal vendors.The Great Bridal Expo — the nation's premier bridal showcase—has over 30 years experience connecting the best vendors in the industry to brides across the country.

The Great Bridal Expo featured row after row of booths containing everything brides need, from photographers and cake artists to travel experts and registry pros. Here are a few of the top trends from the event:

Flowers 
The hottest flower this year: Hydrangeas. Brides love how lush and full these flowers look in bouquets and centerpieces, and they're great for brides on a budget, since each stem is so voluminous. Other top picks: Splurge-worthy peonies and their more budget-friendly alternative, garden roses.

I chatted with Danisa’s Flowers, a wholesale flower shop from Silver Spring, Maryland. They pointed out that these days, it won't stretch your budget as much if your favorite flower is not in season during your wedding month— flower distributors like Danisa's regularly import hundreds of blooms from carefully-selected farms worldwide, so no flower is ever truly out of season.