5 Ways to show your bridesmaids some love

You know, the gals who have kept you going through thick and thin, held your hand in the bridal salon when the dress was (way) too tight and listened as you sobbed about your mother-in-law. Show these amazing ladies how much they mean to you.

Here are five ways to show your bridesmaids the love!

Say thank you
Sounds obvious, right? In the flurry of wedding planning, it can be easy to forget to show your maids how grateful you are. Next time they’re helping out, be sure to add a simple, “Thanks so much. I just want you to know I really appreciate all you’re doing!” Trust us, a little gratitude goes a long way (and has the added benefit of just being polite!).

Give them a gift
When it comes to the wedding day, your maids will probably feel like they've run a marathon (a sparkly, lace-edged marathon, but a long haul nonetheless!). Make them the stars of the show with a gift at the rehearsal dinner (some cute robes to wear on the day are a super option that they’ll be able to use again). Present their gifts to them as you make a toast to their fabulousness!

Take them out on a date
Treating your maids to a girls-only date (without any wedding talk) is a great way to make them feel appreciated. A fun night out or a coffee at your favorite haunt will give you all a chance to reconnect (there’s a reason they say that laughter is the best medicine!).

Say it with flowers
If one of your maids has gone above and beyond for you, why not let her know how appreciative you are with a little posy of flowers? Attach a note thanking her for her help. We guarantee she’ll be misty-eyed!

Ask them how they’re doing
Make sure to check in with your maids to see what’s going on in their lives (you may have been so preoccupied that you've forgotten to ask). A simple email with “Hi! Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing!” will mean the world.
Keep showing your maids the love and we guarantee that they’ll be smiling (as in actual, real smiles) come the big day.

10 Ways to keep the romance alive

All that's missing is the sand
Turn your bedroom into a romantic island getaway. You don't need to go out of the house to get in the mood. Bring Back Desire offers these home romance experience tips.

Nakedness
Cook your partner his favorite meal in nothing but an apron, heels and a smile.

Lights, camera, action
Create a "naughty video" of yourself an present to him.

Play a game of Hot/Cold
Write down five sexy things you'd like to do to your man or that you know he would love for you to do on five separate pieces of paper. Hide the pieces around the house. Your man will have a ton of fun playing this adult version of Hot/Cold.]
8
Strike a pose
Take a pole dancing class and show your man everything you've learned.
9
Play Truth or Dare
Remember this game when you were younger? I'd always get butterflies in my stomach before choosing dare and hoped that I'd be dared to do something ridiculously cheesy with my crush. Bring back that nostalgic feeling with your partner. As for truth questions, keep them sexual like, "Would you ever [insert sexual act here]?" You can use said sexual act in your next dare if they answer yes!
11
Couples yoga
Get in the mood by becoming closer through a more soulful relationship. Forget the game of Twister! Use these yoga moves for couples for some great laughs and revitalization. 
12
Kind notes
They're kind of like the Advent calendar, but without the weight gain! Kind Notes are jars of themes or personalized messages enclosed in mini envelopes for your partner to open every day for a month. Let's bring back the old fashioned love letters with these little guys!
13
Get married!
Yea, you heard me. If you've always known you're going to have a small (or non-existent) wedding, why not plan a quick getaway to Vegas and elope?
14
Surprise!
When your man (or woman) comes home from work, greet him or her completely naked and get ready for some action.

2013 Wedding Dress Trends

Blush wedding dresses

Shades of blush—whether peach-hued or outright pink—were big on the Fall 2013 bridal runway. Traditional white wedding dresses don't flatter everyone's skin tone, so it's a lovely option to have, as well as soft and feminine. "It's an alternative to white, but still looks like a wedding dress," says Brides Fashion Director Rachel Leonard.

Elegant, Victorian-inspired wedding dresses

Inspired by the Victorian look—covered up, yet still somewhat structured and sexy—this elegant trend is bringing back the high-neck wedding dresses of years past, incorporating lady-like details such as peplums. "We've been moving away from strapless gowns for a while," says Leonard. "There are a lot of other options out there."

Trend: Sleek, minimalist wedding dresses

The sleek, minimalist look is a major fashion trend outside the bridal runways: This season, it's enhanced by subtle details such as high-low skirts and waist sashes. "There's always a girl out there who wants a clean and classic look—well-tailored," says Leonard.

Trend: Floral wedding dresses

Fun and feminine, the floral trend is a mainstay on bridal runways—though this season it's more about textured flowers than flower prints. "Floral is just one of those perfect motifs for a wedding—it's especially perfect for an outdoor garden wedding," says Leonard.

Trend: Old Hollywood-inspired wedding dresses

With plenty of beaded details and high drama, glamorous brides are choosing Old-Hollywood inspired gowns for their formal affairs. "We did see a lot of sparkly gowns this season, and it's perfect for an evening affair," says Leonard.

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.