What to Wear Under Your Gown

One of the most puzzling aspects of the wedding attire puzzle can be what undergarment to wear with your gorgeous gown. You want something comfortable but pretty, hidden but flattering. There are a dozens of options for bridal lingerie — the trick is finding a great bra that will complement your dress and your body type. Here, we've come up with a few wonderful, affordable options.

For a Backless Dress

bra for open back dress
Dress by Sophia Tolli

A strapless, backless adhesive bra is a must. We love the Intimates Nu Bra ($50). Because these bras are completely backless, they are not ideal for large-chested women, given their lack of support. But, when comparing all the backless, strapless bras out there, the Nu Bra is our favorite.

For a Slinky Sheath

bra for a slinky sheath
Dress by Mark Zunino

Eco-Friendly DIY Ideas for Your Wedding

Guest blogger: Kate Harrison, creator of greenbrideguide.com.
After planning her own green wedding in 2007, Kate wrote 
the best-selling green wedding book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks, 2008). In 2009, she founded greenbrideguide.com to help couples use their weddings to promote social and environmental change while supporting the local green economy. Kate has a JD in Environmental Law and a Master's from Yale in Environmental Policy.

Many brides take a hands-on approach to their wedding details, but it's easy to become overwhelmed in the process. If you decide to DIY, make sure that you pick and choose your projects wisely, keeping your skill set in mind, and focus on details that take center stage in a small but memorable way — without breaking the bank. In keeping with the old less-is-more maxim, here are five stress-free (and eco-friendly!) DIY projects for your green wedding.

1. Chalk it Up to Creativity

Fresh Start: New Registry Ideas

Spring is just around the corner, so it’s a great time to start thinking about giving your home a lift with new bath and bedding options. And if you’re looking for some fantastic registry ideas, take a look at the following collections that are perfect for the two of you; the colors are neither too feminine or too masculine.

I love the serene colors of this DKNY Urban Space bedding collection:

dkny urban space bedding collection

For those who prefer a more neutral palette, the Donna Karan Essentials Urban Oasis bedding in Ocean is ideal:

donna karen essentials urban oasis in ocean

This Kate Spade New York Spring collection in fresh cream (shown with the Charles Street coverlet) is equally chic and can be easily accessorized with a mix of pale and vibrant colors:

kate spade new york spring street collection in fresh cream

Or, go a bit more muted with the sophisticated DKNY City Rhythm in cobalt:

dkny cityrhythm in cobalt

February 20th

Photo Credit: Kim Kalyn Photography

Tip of the Day: Overwhelmed with bridal plans and rushing to beat the clock? Telltale signs of stress overload: moodiness; irritability; difficulty concentrating; sleep disturbances; loss of appetite and humor. Dive into a creative endeavor that will change your focus for a while. Try scrapbooking, putting old, loose photos into albums or baking cookies — these activities are easy and low stress. (Note: Making wedding favors and stuffing invitations into envelopes don't count.) Check out more relaxation techniques here.

Then, when you're ready to tackle wedding plans again, make sorting out the details a high priority, because it can give you a sense of control and make you feel less overwhelmed. Create file folders for each wedding element, like flowers, food, bridesmaid dresses, the cake and so on, in which you can store tear sheets from magazines, brochures and catalogues (as soon as you decide what you want, you should toss what you no longer need). Next, compile a master contact information list—preferably on your computer (keep a hard copy in case of an emergency)—so you never have to search for anything. 

Use our wedding countdown calendar to stay on track and mark your progress!

How to Tie the Knot: A Groom's Guide

Let's face it — these days, most men don't wear a tie every day and probably haven't put on a bow tie since prom (and that was likely a mock bow tie anyway). To help out your groom, we asked custom suit tailor and fashion expert J. Toor for step-by-step instructions for the various tie options, from a classic Windsor knot to a unique Eldredge knot to an unexpectedly casual ascot. 

The Full Windsorhw to tie windsor knot

The full Windsor knot is one of the most common knots in the tie world. While most men perform a half Windsor, simply adding an additional knot creates a fuller, wider knot. Pro tip: When tying a tie, never flip up your collar — flipping the collar can damage the perfect crease. Instead, slip your tie through the collar and slide it up.

how to tie windsor knot

Tried & Tested: Designer Wedding Shoes

designer wedding shoes

When it comes to shoes, I’ve been that girl at the party. I'm the one in the sexy red-soled stilettos who has to take breaks from dancing after only two songs, grinning through gritted teeth, just one step away from face planting (my fiancé’s always there to catch me). At only five-foot-two-inches tall, I’ve come to accept that beauty involves a little sacrifice.

But after one too many nights limping home, I swore that my wedding would be different. I want to float down the aisle, dance my heart out, and kiss guests goodbye with sure-footedness. True to my promise, I took the newest shoe styles for a whirl around the BG office to see which ones could stand up to the big day. I wore each one for a full workday from eight-fifteen to five o’clock. (As you can imagine, I was quite the sight with my business-casual attire and twinkle toes!)

It was worth the sheepishness: The 10 pairs below passed the test of a full day’s wear, including jumping, dancing and sitting. (Important note: Nothing will ever be as comfy as these flats, so I went into this with the realistic expectation that my knees would be a little sore by the end of this experiment.)

Thank you to my lovely colleague Kristen O'Gorman Klein for shooting all of the photos below!

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