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!

Brides in the New York Metro Area are in for a very special treat this weekend. Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and The Wedding Library are hosting a wedding planning event this Saturday at the Carlyle.

Enjoy breakfast at 11am with Darcy Miller, Preston Bailey, Reem Acra and other top wedding professionals, and then walk over to The Wedding Library to meet with dozen of vendors — including bakers, photographers and florists.

Tickets are $45 and include a champagne brunch as well as access to the vendor showcase. You can purchase tickets here.

If you go, let us know what you learned and who you met!

Speaking of wedding movies, remember the scene in Father of the Bride (the remake, not the original) where Annie, George and Nina Banks go to meet the wedding planner? They squeeze onto a loveseat and flip through an album of wedding cakes. The “fabulous” one has a sticker that reads “1200” and George asks if that’s 1200 dollars - his first car didn't cost $1200.

This scene was played out when I took my parents to meet Ron Ben-Israel, my wedding cake baker. I was having a kosher wedding so it was either the cake the schul caterer baked (no way), Ron or Sylvia Weinstock. I went with Ron because I felt that he could design the cake I was envisioning, and I loved his chocolate cake.

The style and price of my wedding cake was a bone of contention between me and my dad throughout my engagement. I still don't think a 7-tiered tower is too outrageous, do you? Finally at the wedding he saw how amazing it looked, and when we cut the cake my dad, mom and sister all came up to taste it, and dad gave it 2 thumbs up. I have video and a photo to remind him how much he enjoyed it.

Anyway, as Frank the wedding planner explained to the Banks family, the cake can dictate the style of the wedding. And that’s possible if you fall in love with a wedding cake and choose your theme and colors based on the cake you want.

I received a copy of the new book, Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes, a compilation of over 100 beautiful wedding cakes that have been featured in the magazine. My wedding cake didn’t make the cut, but there are some amazing cakes included. If you're not sure what you want your cake to look like, or still mulling over your colors and theme, these cakes will inspire you. They range from classic white tiers to modern cupcake towers and cakes with fruit or flowers to cakes in almost every color of the rainbow.

I pulled a few images of some of my favorites and will feature them over the next few weeks with tips on how to shop for a baker and choose your wedding cake. So stay tuned...

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.

Did you hear the one about the lawyer bride suing her florist?

A recent bride who says the flowers at her wedding were not what she expected is suing her New York City florist, Posy Floral Design, for $400,000. The lawsuit states that the flowers used in the centerpieces were the wrong color and cheap looking, and did not match the color and look she wanted for her wedding. She spent almost $30,000 on her wedding flowers. Click here to read the entire article.

I’m not sure what I think about this. On the one hand, if the wedding flowers were nothing like what they discussed and what was stipulated in the contract than then couple has a right to a refund. But to sue for more than 10 times the amount of money spent seems extreme and just plain greedy.

What do you think? Does this story give brides a bad name, or is she right to sue for damages? Would you sue your wedding vendor?

Looking for great ideas and inspiration for your big day? From October 18th through November 15th, you can get expert wedding advice from the editors of Brides, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride magazines.

The Dream House, located at 112 East 73rd Street, will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm with special events featuring some of the leading New York area wedding experts – including iVillage bridal fashion blogger, Julie Sabatino. Bridal events include beauty tips, fashion advice and reception style ideas.

Tickets are $10 per person and include access to one of the many seminars or activities. Each additional event you want to attend is an additional $5.

Have you ever noticed that many people can’t finish an entire cupcake? I know Dave and I always split them. Either there’s too much icing, or the cake is too dense. When I came across mini-cupcakes, I fell in love with them. They're less expensive than the regular size and I can easily it a whole one or two without anyone's help.

If you’ve been talking to your baker about ordering wedding cupcakes, ask him or her about making them minis. They're a great alternative and definitely something new that not many brides are doing. You'll be a trendsetter!

The minis pictured above are from Eleni’s bakery in NY.

If you’re looking to do a little more for Mother Earth on your wedding day, and you’ve already ordered recycled paper invitations and organically & local grown flowers for your arrangements, here’s another item to add to your eco-chic wedding.

Instead of reserving a limo or Rolls Royce for your trip from the church to the reception, put an eco-friendly car on hold. Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation is now offering environmentally-friendly hybrid cars to customers in Boston and New York.

If you’re not getting hitched in or nearby the northeast, call your local transportation company and ask if they have any hybrids available with a chauffeur on your wedding day.

If not, you can always opt for a horse and carriage or a bicycle rickshaw which would be much better for the planet than any automobile.

When selecting music for your ceremony processional, think outside the music box. There is no rule that the bride must walk down the aisle to Here Comes the Bride.

You and your fiance should pick songs that mean something to you, and reflect your relationship. You can choose all love songs, songs by your favorite musician or you can select a potpourri of songs. If you are getting married in a house of worship make sure non-religious music is allowed to be played in the sanctuary.

If you live in the New York Metro area I recommend Curtis Music for your pre-ceremony, ceremony and cocktail hour. Gael Curtis will work with you to ensure that you choose beautiful songs for your walk down the aisle.

PS - Our wedding processional was to Broadway love songs, coincidentally my parents did to 30 years earlier. What are you thinking of walking down the aisle to?

When I was a little girl, and even after I got engaged, I dreamed of getting married at the Plaza Hotel. It was so beautiful and romantic.

Before I our engagement, my mom bought me a book on weddings held at the Plaza - it featured celebrity and society weddings - with a note that one day we’ll plan my own "Plaza wedding". When Dave and I started dating we would go to the Palm Court for tea and desserts, and he proposed to me in room 417 almost 6 years ago. So it was a very special place for me (us).

I was very upset when the hotel closed to be converted into condos, but then I read a story today in the Times that the ballroom will reopen this fall (only months away) after the developers restore and renovate the space.

I can’t wait to see it! And if you’re not quite engaged, or still looking for the perfect place, I’d wait to see what the room will look like when it opens in a few months. I’m sure it will be breathtaking. And I only wish I had an excuse to throw a party there.

Though we didn’t end up getting married at the Plaza, I was still very happy with the place we chose.

Wedding Tip: When you’re looking for a location, make sure you take a good look around and checkout every part of the space – cocktail room, reception space, bridal suite, bathrooms. You want to make sure that the entire place looks how you want it to look. You don’t want to spend money re-decorating the space, you just want to enhance the look. So, if you want to get married in a ballroom, don’t choose a loft. And vice versa.

Lets face it, the groom only has so much say in the details of the wedding. So why not surprise him with a cake just for him?

The groom's cake is all about the groom. It should resemble his favorite pastime and taste of his favorite flavors. Remember the red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias"? That cake is the perfect example of a groom's cake - his college team mascot combined with his favorite flavor.

Is he a sport fanatic or food lover? Does he have a hobby or special interest? Bring some ideas to your baker and view their sculpted cakes portfolio to learn what his or her strengths are.

And when it comes to taste, the wedding cake is usually a traditional flavor like chocolate or a white cake. So make the groom's cake something complimentary as well as your fiance's favorite. You can make it passion fruit, red velvet, cheesecake or even strawberry shortcake.

The camera cake pictured above was created by Duff Goldman at Charm City Cakes in Baltimore. The Philly Cheese Steak cake on the right was sculpted by Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes in New York City.

I happened to be on East 55th Street earlier today and decided to pop into Mark Ingram's Bridal Atelier. I hadn't been to the salon since Mark moved there last year.

And in addition to seeing the beautiful space, I stumbled upon a sample sale. So if you are in the New York area, you have till tomorrow, June 14th to stop by and find gorgeous dresses at unbelievable prices. The salon is located at: 110 East 55th Street, 8th Floor in the heart of Manhattan. They also have a number of veils on sale too.

Mark Ingram is one of, if not the most, fabulous person in the bridal industry. His taste in gowns is impeccable. The Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier carries exquisite gowns by Monique Lhuillier, Angel Sanchez, Le Spose Di Gio, Anne Barge, Peter Langner and Jenny Lee. (Mark carries over a dozen lines.)

I interviewed Mark some time ago and here are his tips on shopping for a wedding gown:
1. It's important to have an actual wedding date and venue. Your sales consultant will help you select a gown that is perfect for your setting.

2. Bring tear sheets, photos and downloaded web images of styles of gowns you wish to try on. Our consultants will make additional style recommendations based on your initial conversation.

3. Before scheduling an appointment, make sure the salons you have selected feature gowns in your price range.

4. In general, limit your shopping companions to the one or two people whose opinions mean the most.

You don't need an appointment for the sample sale, but if you plan to go during regular hours, you will need to schedule one. Here's the number: 212-319-6778.

Happy Shopping!

The best thing I ever did for my wedding was force my fiance, now husband of 4 years, to take dance lessons.

Like most grooms, Dave was not interested in learning the fox-trot, but after a few classes with a private instructor we weren't all that bad.

Your first dance doesn't have to be the traditional hug and sway. You can tango, swing or waltz your way across the floor and impress your guests with your new moves.

Visit a local dance school and talk to an instructor about what you want to dance to. Take at least 6 lessons to make sure you won't be stepping on each other's toes, and practice, practice, practice. Don't forget to practice while breaking in your wedding shoes - there's no superstition about seeing the bride's wedding shoes before the wedding - and get comfortable dancing in them.

Wedding Tip: Have your dance teacher score the bottom of both your shoes and the groom's so your first dance goes off without a slip.

PS - That's me and my hubby dancing to "It Had to be You" by Harry Connick, Jr. We took private lessons with Teddy Kern at Dance Manhattan in New York City.