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Weddings offer a rare opportunity to gather all of one's favorite people -- his and yours -- into one room for a fabulous time. Far before the wedding day arrives, you'll have chosen your most intimate friends to take their positions within the bridal party as bridesmaids and groomsmen. Thanking these special bridal party members with a gift is customary. You can do so before the wedding at various points: during the bachelor or bachelorette weekend or at the rehearsal dinner, for instance. Others do it while getting ready for the wedding, especially if the gift is something the guests might use to spruce themselves up, such as earrings or cuff links. Below, we've gathered an affordable selection of wedding party gifts. Believe it: For $10 and under, you can offer your bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts they'll use and enjoy for years to come from Amazon, Etsy, Walmart and other popular online stores.
Celebrating one's nuptials by the sea provides ample opportunity to choose from an array of effortlessly chic bridal gowns. Luckily, there are nearly as many alternatives to the traditional ball gown as there are grains of sands on the beach. More casual beach wedding dresses make use of sheer panels, openwork lace and ruffles. Simple beach wedding dresses include those with midi lengths that feel easygoing, yet sophisticated. Boho wedding dresses are another choice: romantic and dreamy like a tropical island. Meanwhile, short beach wedding dresses feel cheerily free-spirited while providing wedding-friendly frills.
Look for lightweight materials for your beachfront or destination wedding dress. Silk, cotton blends, crochet, chiffon and lace make for breezy beach dresses. While not explicitly bridal, many white or ivory cocktail dresses will work wonders in a beach wedding, plus they can be worn afterward on the honeymoon. Below, check out 15 alternatives to the heavily embellished wedding gown that instead are easy, breezy and downright gorgeous. Post-wedding, you can relax poolside, confident you were a thoroughly beachy bride.
Cyber Monday is a great day to stock up on discounted holiday gifts for family and friends, but it's also an opportunity to score stylish honeymoon necessities for yourself. And the online destination that should serve as your starting point to prep your for your first trip as newlyweds? Why Nordstrom, of course. The department store's sales are the stuff retail legends are made of, and the Cyber Monday sale is certainly no exception. Last year, Nordstrom offered online shoppers an additional 20% off select sale items — which means this time around you've got the potential to scoop up a whole bunch of essentials that make for a chic honeymoon (without having to overpack). From cozy plane-worthy pants to sunglasses you'll wear long after you return home, these are the deals we think are worth keeping an eye on (and adding to cart) this Cyber Monday.
Luggage is a purchase you only make once every few years (hopefully), so it's important to shop wisely. While you're of course looking for quality travel gear that's durable and roomy, you don't want to go broke before you've even gotten to the airport. Wedding and honeymoon planning is expensive enough — so avoid spending a small fortune by shopping luggage from stores like Kohl's and Walmart. The luggage sets ahead are functional, fashionable and, best of all, affordable — they're all under $150.
Every bride breathes in a deep sigh of relief on her wedding day. It may not go smoothly, and that's fine. But between now and then, getting the wedding prepared is a bit of a marathon, and it can't hurt to be physically fit. Sure, there's a lot of pressure on brides to look as good as possible in that wedding gown, and many women find themselves "shedding for the wedding." Whether you're looking to drop a few pounds, simply want to stay toned or are trying to tame your inner Bridezilla with some stress-relieving yoga, we've found 20 high-tech performance leggings to wear in your pursuit of health and happiness. They'll keep you comfy and dry as you work toward your goal, and most importantly, you'll look and feel fabulous on your special day.
