Wedding worthy fashion from The Oscars

A romantic feather ball gown is flirty and elegant.

Get the look: Rivini.

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING A BRIDAL GOWN

The first thing you should do before actually heading to the bridal shop is get an idea about which style of wedding gown you prefer. You will need to get familiar with wedding gown terminology and styles. Here are some general guidelines to help you get started on the road to wedding day bliss.

LENGTH

• Street length - Hem falls just past the knee.

• Intermission (or Tea) length - Hem falls between the knees and ankle.

• Ballet length - Hem falls just to the ankles.

• Floor Length - Hem barely touches the floor on all sides.

SLEEVES

• 3/4 sleeves - End between the elbow and wrist.

• Bell - Long sleeves, flare out toward the wrist creating a bell shape.

• Cap - Rounded sleeves, just covering shoulders.

• Fitted point - Long, fitted sleeves that come to a point over the hand.

• Juliet - Long, fitted sleeves with puffy shoulders.

• Long sleeves - Extend to the wrist and are normally form-fitting.

• Off-the-shoulder Sleeves - Cover the upper part of the arm but leave the tops of shoulders exposed.

• Poet - Long sleeves, fitted to the elbow then flared.

• Pouf - Short sleeves, gathered to create a puffy look.

• Short sleeves - About the length of T-shirt sleeves.

• Sleeveless - Strapless with no sleeves.

• Spaghetti - Thin spaghetti straps with no sleeves.

NECKLINE

• Bateau - Close to straight across from the tip of the shoulder. Gives plenty of coverage.

• Halter - Wraps around the back of the neck to create deep armholes. Often also a backless style, which is very sexy.

• High - Covers most of the neck. Creates a formal, somewhat stiff look.

• Jewel - Similar to that of a T-shirt. Creates a bustier look.

• Off-The-Shoulder - As the name indicates, the top of the shoulders are bare. Showcases your collarbone and shoulders.

• Portrait - A very wide scoop from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other.

• Scoop - Classic U-shaped neckline. Can be cut low for a sexier look.

• Square - Squared neckline, often associated with empire gowns.

• Strapless - Normally straight across. Not recommended for women with small busts.

• Sweetheart - Shaped like the top half of a heart. Emphasizes the cleavage.

• V-Neck - Dips in the front into a V-shape. Can be very deep.

BODICE

The bodice refers to the portion of the dress between the neckline and skirt.

• Corset - A form fitting bodice with boning and lace-up closures.

• Halter - Sleeveless bodice that wraps around you neck, normally backless.

• Midriff - Fits very closely around the mid-section, accentuating your waist.

• Surplice - Sections of fabric cross wrap in the front or back.

• Tank - Sleeveless with wide armholes like tank top.

TRAIN

• Sweep - 8" to 12" in length, just a few inches longer than the gown.

• Court - Extends about 3 feet from the waist.

• Chapel - Extends about 4 feet from the waist.

• Cathedral - Extends about 6 to 9 feet from the waist.

• Royal - Extends more than 9 feet from the waist.

VEIL

• Birdcage - Falls right below the chin, usually attached to a headpiece.

• Flyaway - Falls to the shoulder.

• Blusher - Worn over your face, about 28" long.

• Elbow - Falls to the elbow or waist.

• Fingertip - Falls to the finger tips or just below the waist.

• Ballet - Falls to the ankles.

• Chapel - Falls slightly longer than floor length.

• Cathedral - 9 feet or longer.

WEDDING GOWNS FOR YOUR BODY TYPE

Every wedding gown isn't for every bride. The key is to find a gown that flatters your figure, while downplaying the areas that aren't so perfect. Whether you are short, tall, thin or curvy, you can still be a beautiful bride. We went to Alfred Angelo head designer Michael Shettel for tips on how to find the perfect wedding gown for your body type.

Alfred Angelo really believes the bride is a variety of people, and we consider the all encompassing "American" woman when designing. From different body shapes, heights, backgrounds and sizes. We design a variety of styles, but ultimately want to highlight and accentuate a woman's body so she feels her best on her big day. We want to make all childhood dress up fantasies a reality, no matter what size and shape the bride has grown into.

"Keep and open mind when shopping for your dream dress"

Since finding a gown is so emotionally charged, I absolutely advise brides to keep an open mind when shopping for their gown. When a woman begins her search for her gown, most have their "dream dress" in mind, and they've thought of this for some time. My best advice to brides when I work with them is to try on the "dream dress", but also try on several other silhouettes -- step outside the box. I advise this because trying on several varying styles will really help the bride see what style is most flattering on her. This is your big day, when all eyes will be on you. Instead of hiding what you have, show it off!  It's your time to shine. Embrace the beauty that you are!

1. Pear or hourglass shapes: I created and introduced new mermaid and trumpet shaped gowns this season to really flatter the figure, in addition to the classic strapless, A-line shapes we are known for. These give women with curves (pear or hourglass) another option to celebrate their bodies.
2. Apple shapes: For brides who carry a little extra weight in the middle, empire or A-line is always a good choice. It helps bring the attention upward, and smooth out the middle. Wrap styles are also good to help trim the mid-section if the bride happens to not want to go with an empire, flowing style.
3. Athletic figures: Boyish shaped brides do well with gowns that really accentuate the waist and give them shape. Brides with broad shoulders can benefit from off the shoulder v-neck and cap sleeve styles. The v-neck helps create a new focal point-the decollatage, and the cap sleeve softens the shoulders. Halter styles can also be a good choice, but they should complement the collar bone.

SELECTING YOUR WEDDING GOWN

Spend some time researching on wedding websites and looking through bridal magazines to get an idea of what type of gowns you like before making an appointment at the bridal shop.

Choose two or three salons in your area in order to find the best one for you.  If you find the gowns are out of your price range, the customer service is poor, or just don't get a good vibe from the salon, it's time to move on.

Your bridal gown may be one of your biggest wedding purchases. Therefore, you should take your time and make sure you are totally satisfied before making your final choice.

Bring your sister, mother or girlfriends with you while shopping for your wedding dress. They'll be able to help you get in and out of the gowns (some gowns are very heavy!), and of course, give their opinion on your selections.

3 Tips for simplifying the wedding registry process

Let’s face it: Planning your wedding is stressful. Even when creating your registry, the endless gift possibilities can be just as overwhelming as they are exciting. Here are a few tips to help you maintain a stress-free and enjoyable registry.

Create an online registry
Registering online is convenient for you and your guests. If you really want that in-store registry experience, find a registry with online and in-store options. Some registry sites offers a Sync & Display feature where members can import their in-store registries from select stores onto their universal registry, which then updates whenever a gift is purchased online or in-store.

Register Together

In the past, wedding registries were primarily created by the bride, but today many include gadgets and power tools along with linens and china. With a universal registry, you can add from the bride and groom’s favorite stores, so take advantage of this. The registry is a chance for a couple to plan their married life together, so it’s best when both parties contribute.

Don’t be afraid to ask for cash

Asking for money is realistic, not taboo! Sites offers a Cash Gift option where you can name your fund ‘Dream Honeymoon,’ ‘Home Furnishing Fund,’ or whatever you'd like. Guests are much more likely to give cash when they know that their contribution is going towards something meaningful.

PICK THE PERFECT BRIDAL GOWN SILHOUETTE

Congratulations, you are getting married! In all the excitement and stress of planning your wedding over the next few months, one of the most important things you will purchase is your wedding gown.

SILHOUETTE

A-line

The A-line or princess dress has no marked waist and the vertical seams flow from the shoulders down to a flared skirt, creating a "A" shape. If you carry your weight in the middle, this silhouette is a nice choice.

Ball gown

These gowns normally quite formal, reminding you of Cinderella. The bodice is fitted with a very full skirt. Ball gowns can be long-sleeved, sleeveless or anywhere in between. The full skirt of a ball gown can hide large hips and thighs.

Empire

Empire gowns have a raised waistline that starts right under the bust, flowing to a skirt that skims over the hips then flairs slightly to the floor. This romantic silhouette is flattering to most body types and is particularly flattering to small breasted women.

Mermaid

As the name indicates, the mermaid dress is contoured against the body then the gown flows out beginning around the knees. This is the sexiest of the styles. If you confident in your body, a mermaid dress can show off your curves.

Sheath

The sheath or column dress has a slim shape that follows close to the line of the body. The straight design doesn't allow for many body flaws. The long lines of a sheath gown can elongate the look of your body. Therefore this type of dress can work well for short brides.

How to manage your registry

Check on your registry

Creating a registry doesn’t guarantee that your gifts will always be in stock. In the event that an item is out of stock, you may want to add it from another retailer or choose a new gift. It is also good to make sure that different price points are still represented on your registry.

Announce your registry

Don’t put all this effort into your registry and forget to tell people about it! If you’re uncomfortable spreading the information yourself, MyRegistry.com offers a great option for one of your bridesmaids to send out customized E-Cards on your behalf.

Send your thank you notes in a timely manner

Don’t forget to thank your guests for their generosity! A month after the wedding or honeymoon is recommended, even sooner for gifts that were received before the event. MyRegistry.com simplifies the thank you note process by saving the purchaser’s information and the item they bought off your registry.

Continue your registry even after the weddingJust because your event is over doesn’t mean it’s time to delete your registry. Keep a wish list for every gift-giving occasion, from birthdays to anniversaries to the holiday season — and someday down the line, a baby shower!