VDP COLLECTION Casual pants

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.

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.

Whether you're already living with your spouse, newly married and merging homes for the first time, or looking for the perfect wedding gift for the happy couple in your life, Macy's is your ultimate one-stop shop — especially during the Macy's Black Friday sale, which has officially kicked off. This year, Macy's Black Friday deals include 20% off with promo code BLKFRI (and an extra 15% off in select departments), doorbuster deals up to 65% off, $10 off purchases of $25 or more in select departments with promo code BLKFRI25, and free shipping at $49 (some exclusions apply). The store's epic home department boasts an extensive inventory ready to outfit any abode from top to bottom — literally — so now is definitely the time to score. Because whose living space couldn't use a little refresh?

Modern weddings can carry on for days and feature multiple events, including the post-wedding brunch. This delightful event is more than an occasion for drinking mimosas and eating eggs Benedict: It's a stress-free occasion that takes place the day after the wedding when the newlyweds have experienced some much-deserved rest. The post-wedding brunch allows for out-of-town guests to say a longer goodbye and it ensures that everyone can discuss what they loved about the wedding.

So, what's a bride to wear to wear to the post-wedding brunch? We love a post-wedding brunch dress that's casual, fresh and lovely. We prefer ivory or white, whether it is a solid white or a white backdrop that features a delicate floral print. White keeps the bridal theme going, but it can have many incarnations, from a breezy sundress to to an elegant lace dress to a lightweight dress featuring embroidery. Here, we've made a list of gorgeous brunch dresses from Anthropologie, ASOS and Nordstrom. They range from casual to sophisticated, and any one will keep you chic during your post-nuptial bliss.

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.