A few months ago I wrote a post about maternity wedding dresses, but what if your bridesmaid or maid-of-honor is pregnant?  Many bridesmaid dress companies make a maternity version of their popular designs, but today with many brides giving their bridesmaids the freedom to select their own dress your ‘maids may be at a loss of where to go shopping.

If you are just dictating the dress color and formality, you may want to also give your girls an idea of where to start looking – local dress shops, department stores, etc…  But if one of your bridesmaids is pregnant, she may need some extra help in finding a gown that is not only comfortable, but also fits the look and feel of your wedding.

I attended a press preview for the maternity clothing stores – A Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity and Motherhood.  Each store has a line of evening wear gowns for moms-to-be.

The two dresses featured above are from A Pea in the Pod.  Here's a link to their evening wear collection.

And if you are a pregnant bride, they also carry maternity wedding dresses:

If you find other great designers that carry maternity dresses for brides or bridesmaids please let us know!

The majority of brides want to get in shape and lose weight before their wedding day.  According to a Fitness magazine survey, 1 in 3 brides purposely buy a dress that doesn’t fit them - buying a dress too small (and hoping that they’ll fit into it by their wedding day) or buying a dress too big for them.

When shopping for a wedding dress, you can tell the salesperson that you are thinking of/planning to lose "X" amount of weight by your wedding, but don’t order your dress to fit that size.  Order a dress that matches your current measurements.  No matter what size you order, you will have to have alterations and it’s much easier to take a dress in if you lose weight, than let it out.

Here are some expert fitness tips from the editors of Fitness magazine to help you get in shape for the big day:

1. Consider your back-side. You may be worried about your abs, but guess what all those guests you invited are going to be looking at? That’s right, your back. To get it looking super-sexy by the big day, try these three easy moves.
   
   
2. Arm yourself. No matter what dress you choose, chances are you’re going to be showing off your guns. Focus on toning your biceps, triceps and shoulders with this workout.
   

3. Boost your calorie burn! The only way to shed those few extra pounds is to up your cardio. If you find yourself coming up with a hundred excuses at the end of the day as to why you should be working on wedding stuff and not working out, plan on getting your cardio fill in the a.m. Set your alarm 1-hour before you usually get up five days a week, and to keep things interesting (aka - not boring) mix it up—take a kickboxing class one morning and go for a run the next. Here are a few other ways to get creative with your cardio and blast major calories.
   
   
4. Take care of yourself. It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the planning and forget about what you really need for an amazing wedding— feel-good energy! Take a yoga or Pilates class once a week. Not only will it help take your mind off of everything else, but it will also help tone your arms, core and legs. Plus, less stress means a tighter tummy! The stress hormone cortisol often causes unnecessary bloating in the middle, and who needs that on their big day?!
   
   
5. Save time! If the clock is ticking and you’re still worried about fitting into your dress— incorporate total body exercises into your routine that target everything from head-to-toe. Try doing biceps curls with lunges, shoulder presses with squats and triceps dips on a BOSU ball (for added instability- to help work your core). For cardio, do intervals that get your heart rate up, blast major calories and help tone at the same time. Try this routine for fast results in just 4 weeks.

For brides getting married during the winter months, or in a chilly climate, it’s important to find a dress and/or accessories that will keep the chill away.  No bride wants to run around her reception in a beautiful gown accessorized with her new husband’s rented tuxedo jacket, right?

The two wedding dresses featured above are from White Chocolate Label, a new couture line of wedding gowns that has just hit the market.  The designer, Scott Corridan, used warm, luxurious cashmere as a key fabric in the collection.  The complete line of five gowns was inspired by Hollywood glamour and each one is prettier than the next.

The line was recently picked up by Kleinfeld Bridal in New York, and Scott will be at the store in June for a trunk show.   You can visit the White Chocolate Label Web site for updates on other bridal salons that will be carrying the line.

Have you heard about the new Patrick Dempsey movie, Made of Honor?  It starts next Friday, May 2nd, and I'll write a review of the film that afternoon.  Anyway, one lucky couple won a free wedding, which will take place on the red carpet - they're actually having a pink one - before the premiere.  I had a chance to get some great planning tips from the vendors supplying the details for this lucky couple.  Here they are:

Hair Advice from OSCAR BLANDI:

1.  For preparation, bring photographs of your dress, any hair piece you will be putting in your hair and photos of what you are looking for.  The hairdresser can work with you to find the style that works best for you and your dress.

2.  Get hair cut at least two weeks early for any up-coming fix or trim for the wedding day.

3.  Don't wash your hair the wedding day, but rather one day early. Let the hairdresser work with your hair for long-lasting style. If you wash your hair the same day, the hair stylist will put a lot of products to let the hair stay and that can create too much build-up which may make your hair static or frizzy.

Cake Advice from SYLVIA WEINSTOCK:

1. Always use a reputable baker, board of health approved, with a good track record for professionalism. 

2. Ask for a tasting and design session. Be sure you get what you like. Be aware that some guests will have food allergies (i.e. nuts and nut products).

3. Bring with you some ideas that you want incorporated in the design of your cake (i.e. colors, floral species, pictures of your gown, architectural elements, etc.).

4. Be aware of weather, refrigeration, air conditioning, and make sure you have a sturdy table for the cake.

Makeup Advice from DAVID EVANGELISTA:

1.  The bride should ALWAYS go for a hair and make-up trial so that she feels confident as she walks down the aisle.  No bride wants any surprises on her wedding day!

2.  If either the bride or groom is going to use tanning cream or get a spray tan, be sure to do it at least 2 days prior to the wedding just in case the color is off or uneven, allowing time to do a quick fix.

3.  When deciding on an overall look, come armed to your stylist and colorist with photos of the dress, hair accessories/veil and any jewelry so the hair and makeup can complete the look.

4.  Consider buying the basic makeup items your makeup artist used (press powder, lipstick/gloss, blush) so you have the right tools for touch-ups.

Wedding Dress Advice from Designer SELIA YANG:

1. Be open minded when picking your dream dress, but don’t loose yourself in it. Remember you are the star, but not starring in a pageant.

2. Don’t be shy; make sure you are completely happy and satisfied with your dress before you pick it up.  

3. Walk around the house in your wedding shoes for at least an hour to test drive them; it’s hard to enjoy yourself when you are in a lot of pain.  Also, you may want to have a pair of flats on hand just in case.

4. Pick a wedding dress that not only flatters you but also, compliments the season and your location.  A big, heavy and puffy, satin dress in the month of July will make you miserable and impossible to feel beautiful. 

5. Make sure you have an emergency kit handy, such as a light sewing kit, bandage kit, double sided sticky tape, scissors, etc.

You can watch this real wedding, which will be officiated by Mary Hart, live on Crackle.com.  I’m planning on being there, so I’ll take pictures and post them next week!

I went to a really fun event last night – well, actually I went to 2, but I’ll write about the other one tomorrow or Friday.  I’m waiting for pictures to arrive.  Anyway, I went to this fabulous event last night for OxiClean.  You know the guy with the beard that yells at you through the TV that OxiClean can clean anything.

Well, they were showcasing their complete line of cleaning products and had a demo to show us how easy and well the product works.  And it really does work, just like in the commercials!   But I had to ask: How can OxiClean help brides?

And here’s the answer:  OxiClean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover.  This travel size bottle ($2.99 in drugstores) is the perfect addition to your wedding day emergency kit.  Now, I’m NOT saying that you should spray OxiClean on the front of your wedding dress, because I don’t know how the fabric of your dress with beading and embroidery will respond, but I think it’s great to have on hand for your groom and groomsmen’s suits and dress shirts, as well as for your bridesmaids and children in the wedding.

If you’re making a hospitality basket for the bathroom, this would be a great addition to it.  (Unless you’re afraid a guest will take it as their wedding favor.)  Or you could throw it in with your luggage for your honeymoon, so you won’t have to worry about finding a laundromat on the exotic island you’ll be staying on.

The photo above is of me and Clinton Kelly, from TLC’s show What Not to Wear.  Clinton was at the event giving us his top styling tips.  Here's my favorite one:  Adopt a European Sensibility to Dressing.  Stop buying in bulk and invest in a few quality pieces that can be mixed and matched with other existing pieces in your wardrobe.  (Excellent honeymoon wardrobe advice.)

This past weekend was Bridal Market, where designers show off their latest collection of wedding gowns, headpieces, veils, bags and shoes.

Unfortunately, I was under the weather and unable to attend most of the shows this season, but I have been able to get a quick glimpse at some of the fabulous frocks that were shown through Brides.com's new wedding blog, Wedded Bits.

Click the link above to get a sneak peak at what styles will be hitting bridal salons next fall, and as I start getting photos from designers I'll upload them here.

Speaking of sample sales, it’s important to remember that when you buy a wedding dress at a sample sale, the first thing you do with it is send it to a gown preservationist/cleaner. 

While some dry cleaners – where you take sweaters, slacks and other everyday items – will tell you that they clean wedding dresses, don’t trust them unless you know someone who has used them and they were happy with the outcome.

A gown preservationist/cleaner has a lot of experience handling gowns made with delicate fabrics and adorned with a lot of beading or embroidery.  The salon where you bought the dress will be able to recommend a gown cleaner they work with.

Once you send your gown to be cleaned, get the estimated delivery date (about 3-4 weeks) and schedule an appointment with a seamstress for alterations.  You should ask the salon for recommendations.

When you go for your dress fittings, remember to bring a few different bras with you and the shoes you want to wear with the dress.  The seamstress will not be able to fix your hemline if you’re not wearing shoes.  And standing on your tippy toes will not give her an accurate measurement.

You may also want to bring along a friend or relative and a camera so you can add pictures of your first dress fitting to your wedding scrapbook.

One gown cleaner, who works nationally, that I recommend is Hallak Cleaners.  Though based in the New York area, brides across the country have been shipping their dresses to Hallak for years because of their excellent reputation at cleaning (and preserving) wedding gowns.  Click here to visit their website and get a free price quote. 

Whichever company you decide to use, remember that before the wedding you only want to have the gown cleaned.  After the wedding you want to have it preserved.

Did you catch the Oscars?  Many bridal fashion designers were probably checking out the red carpet looks for inspiration.  And while you probably won’t be designing your own gown, you can still get ideas from the elegant gowns you saw last night.

Just as you would bring tear sheets from bridal magazines to a bridal salon, you can also bring pictures of your favorite actresses in formal gowns. 

So what were some trends from last night:  asymmetrical and sweetheart strapless necklines, sheaths and mermaid silhouettes, floral appliques, bold colors (for you or your bridesmaids) and classic tuxedos. 

I'm sure next week all the weekly magazines will have page after page of the best (and worst) Oscar dresses.  So grab a copy of In Touch, US Weekly or Life & Style and start ripping out pages of what you love.  And don't forget to take them with you to your bridal salon appointments.

By the way, who did you think were the best and worst dressed?

Photos by Getty Images

Worried that your dream dress will blow your budget? Bridal Mecca, Kleinfeld, is holding a one-day blowout sample sale next week!

Tuesday, February 5th from 3-7pm you can find designer gowns - Amsale, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Kenneth Pool, Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra and more! – headpieces, veils and accessories at up to 70% off – and some items are marked down another 25%. You may be able to find your gown for as little as $499!

No appointment necessary. Major credit cards accepted and you will be able to try on dresses.

Here’s an older post on what a sample sale is, how to shop at one and where to get your gown cleaned before you have it altered.

Have fun and let us know if you find anything great!

So by now I’m sure all of you have heard that Britney Spears’ baby sister Jamie Lynn is pregnant. She may or may not be planning to marry her boyfriend, but her story got me thinking. Many brides find themselves pregnant during their engagement and look to find wedding dresses that will flatter their new figure. Many bridesmaids find themselves in a similar situation too.

I typed "maternity wedding dresses" into Google and found this amazing company. Maternity Bride designs and sells gorgeous maternity bridal, eveningwear and maternity bridesmaid dresses. Their designs are lovely and their prices are so affordable. Most of their wedding dresses are well under $1000, and bridesmaid dresses are under $250.

They have a great return policy too, so if you decide that the style you ordered is not right for you, you can return it and get your money back.

If you know of a great maternity line for brides or bridesmaids, please post it below.

Still looking for your wedding dress? If you'll be in the NY Metro Area this Saturday, December, 15, swing by the Vera Wang Bridal Collection Sample Sale at the The New Yorker Hotel (481 Eighth Ave., b/t 34th & 35th Streets). Doors open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. but you should defintely get there earlier - the line starts in the middle of the night. The designer gowns will be marked 30-70 percent off retail prices.

I went to the sale when I got engaged in 2001. We got there at 6am and we were like the 200th person there. They let us in in shifts, so we didn't get in till about 10 a.m.

Wedding Planning Tip: Remember that when shopping at a sample sale you have to be 100% sure that it is the dress you want. You can't return or exchange it and they won't hold it for you. Bring your mom, sister or friend with you - someone whose fashion opinion you trust. Don't buy a dress just because it's discounted. Buy it becasue it's the dress. You do not want to get stuck with a $2,000 dress that you don't want to wear to your wedding. And reselling a dress is not easy. You will probably lose money on it.

Let us know if you find something!

Still looking for your dress and live in the New York Tri-State Area? Saks Fifth Avenue’s Wedding Gown Sample Sale is on this week!

Starting today, November 28th, and running through Wednesday, Dec 5th, you can browse through hundreds of gowns, including designs by Vera Wang, Reem Acra and Monique Lhuillier. The sale is on the 3rd floor. (The photo above is a stock image, and does not reflect what will be available.)

The savings is huge – up to 70% off the original retail price. I bought my $10,000 Vera Wang ball gown there in 2002 for $2,500! So if you know what you’re looking for it’s definitely worth checking out.

And remember, they will not hold a dress for you, and you can’t return it, so before you buy a wedding dress make sure you are sure because even though $2,000 is better thank $10,000, it’s still a lot of money.

If you don’t have a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card, ask the sales consultant if you can signup for one and get an additional 10% off the price of the dress.

Wedding Tip: If you buy your dress at a sample sale have it cleaned by a professional BEFORE you take it for alterations - I recommend two companies - J. Scheer and Imperial Gown Restoration.

**Saks will not offer you alterations if you buy your dress at their sample sale, however you may be able to get a recommendation from them.

In addition to being your something blue, these heart shaped “band aids” by Bristols 6 will make sure no one knows that you’re cold, and they can be a sexy surprise for your groom on your wedding night.

If you're not into hearts, the company also makes star, butterfly and "x" shaped nippies.

Take your mom, sister, a bridesmaid or your maid of honor to a few of your dress fittings so she can learn not only how to get you dressed, but also practice getting you dressed. By having someone prepared, you’ll save time getting ready and have one less thing to worry about on your wedding day.

The same advice goes for your bustle. Have the salon show one of your friends or relatives how to bustle your train so you can get right out on the dance floor.

You may want to ask your bridal salon if someone you can hire to help you get dressed the day of the wedding. The seamstress that did your gown alterations may be able to come to your home, or wedding location, to dress you. While this may not be in your budget, it may be worth the expense.

Photo Credit: Jenny Ebert

Bridal salons across the country will start getting shipments of the latest designer gowns next month! Before you start making appointments, flip through some bridal magazines to get an idea of what the latest dresses look like and find out if your favorite designer has a trunk show in your area.

Here are a few shopping tips:

1. Make appointments at several salons. Pick salons that sell different designers and stores that have a different feel to them.

2. Choose salons that carry low, moderate and high-end priced gowns. You never know which dress you will pick. The gown you fall in love with may be expensive, inexpensive, a designer brand or a sample gown off the rack.

3. Bring a friend or relative to your appointments whose fashion sense is similar to yours, or whose fashion opinion you trust.

In addition to gowns by Oscar de La Renta, Kenneth Pool, Ulla-Maija, Judd Waddell and Elizabeth Fillmore, Hitched also carries several bridesmaid dress lines - Amsale, Simple Silhouettes and Thread.

To help you get hitched, they also sell wedding invitations, bridal accessories - veils, Spanx, jewelry - and offer vendor recommendations to help you locate the best vendors in the area for your wedding.