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Q. "I’ve been invited to a bridal shower and won’t be able to attend. Do I still need to send a gift? If so, how much should I spend?"

A. Yes, you should still send a gift even though you don’t plan to be there. As far as the amount to spend, it really depends on your budget and how close you are to the bride. There are no hard-and-fast rules as to what shower gifts should cost, and I’m sure the bride-to-be will appreciate whatever you send her.

Photo Credit: Katee Grace

If her registry is listed on the shower invite, take a look at her gift list. Most brides sign up for a variety of items in all price ranges, so you should be able to find something affordable.

If she is not registered, ask her family or bridesmaids if there’s anything in particular the couple needs for their home. You might also consider giving her a gift that’s a bit more unique such as a certificate for a spa treatment, antique linens or a decorative vintage mirror. Check out 7 Thoughtful Bridal Shower Gift Ideas.

—Diane Forden

When Cody gave his girlfriend Amanda her Christmas gift, he didn't exactly get the reaction that he expected!

He handed her a box that instructed her to solve a puzzle. His unsuspecting bride pulled out cardboard letters one by one, spelling out "W-I-L-L" "Y-O-U" "M-A-R-R-Y" "M-E." However, she couldn't finish because she broke down into hysterics by the time she got to the "Y." We think it's safe to assume that the answer was "yes!"

It's always difficult to pinpoint what defined weddings in a certain year — after all, every wedding (and every couple) is different! But while vintage-inspired weddings have dominated for the last couple of years, 2014 seemed to welcome a more glamorous aesthetic. Here are some of the most creative décor ideas we saw in 2014.

While planning a wedding is something that you may have dreamt about and looked forward to doing for most of your life, it can also be a very stressful and emotional process. As a bride, you will turn to your close friends and family members throughout the engagement to help cheer you along and make the journey extra special. However, sometimes those same loved ones can start to feel a little too comfortable, and say the one wrong thing that at the drop of a hat, changes everything.

Here at BG, we receive thousands of real wedding submissions every year. Our favorite pictures make it into our Photo of the Day spotlight, where we highlight the best wedding photos and ideas.

Guest blogger: Joanne Barken
Joanne Barken is the CEO of The Bach, the first online platform for planning bachelorette parties. Joanne, who lives in New York City — one of the country's top choices for a special night out with the girls — has helped plan over a dozen bachelorette parties before launching The Bach.

Nothing says “Fiesta Time” quite like Cinco de Mayo. So if you and the girls are looking to throw a true party for the bride-to-be, there’s no better theme. Here’s everything you need to pull off a fabulous event.

Send Out Fiesta-Inspired Invitations

Let your guests know the theme in advance so that they can plan accordingly. A fun invitation helps to get everyone excited for the event.

Photo Credit: Etsy

Decorate With a Vibrant Color Scheme

Set the party mood with brightly colored flowers, balloons, and streamers. Think vibrant pinks, oranges and yellows for your decorating pallete.

Welcome to our latest installment of "Ask the Experts," where our contributor team of wedding planners solves readers' most pressing wedding-planning dilemmas! This week, Kristin Alexander from Esoteric Events and Tonia Adleta from Aribella Events decode wedding contract lingo. Do you have a question that you'd like to submit?

The world is absolutely smitten with wedding photography. We post, like, tag, retweet, and pin our favorite wedding photos, but we rarely stop to consider the style behind certain wedding photography ideas until it’s our turn to say “I do.” So, before you start that Pinterest board with all of your favorite wedding photo poses, take a moment to explore the many styles of wedding photography out there. When you think about wedding photography, themes like traditional, contemporary, and modern probably come to mind.