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It gives me immense joy — and yes, even some trepidation — to think about my first wedding dress appointment in July (check back for the full recap!) At last, I will put on a veil and see the bride version of myself, fulfilling a secret fantasy I've had ever since I was a little girl. Hours of gown gallery and Pinterest browsing await so that i can narrow down my eye candy collection. (Being a BG editor actually makes shopping for a gown that much tougher, since I'm blessed with the "task" of looking through hundreds of new styles each season.)

But aside from the obvious preparations — inspiration clippings, wedding-worthy undergarments, a box of tissues for Mom — what should brides know before buying their gown? In the latest installment of our "10 Questions to Ask..." blog series, we got the scoop from Mara Urshel, the co-owner of Kleinfeld, and Cristina DeMarco, the vice president of Bridal Reflections.

1. How far in advance should I start shopping for a gown and when should I order it by?

"Start shopping nine to 12 months prior to your wedding date. Designer gowns should be ordered six to nine months in advance to ensure that there is enough time for delivery and alterations," said Mara Urshel. 

The hard work doesn't stop once you find the perfect dress. Now it's time to scout out the right shoes to accent your gown. We’ve picked out four of the hottest footwear trends this season, with both splurge and steal options for each. And, of course, they’re all wedding-worthy.
 

Glitter

Kate Spade's take on the trend will have your feet sparkling from the start of the aisle, and Steve Madden's platform toe will keep you comfortable throughout the celebration.

Splurge: Kate Spade New York Pumps, $325.Steal: Madden Girl Sookiee, $49.95.
 

Vacuum cleaners. Who even thinks about them? For one thing, my husband does the floor stuff when it comes to household chores (lucky me). For another, we acquired our vacuum cleaner years ago. It still works— end of story. Or so I thought, until I was given the chance to test-drive a brand-spanking new Dyson DC39 Animal.

Husband and I took it out for a spin on both bare wood floors and vintage oriental rugs with stellar results. Our rugs in particular looked brighter and more richly colored — shockingly so. (It’s scary to consider how much filth had been embedded in the fibers.)

If you happen to be an appliance nerd, you’ll be interested to know that this is Dyson’s first canister model (as opposed to an upright). But unlike our cranky ‘90s canister, this one maneuvers with ease and doesn’t rely on bags — you just empty the dust container and start again. As for the ease of use, chalk it up to Dyson’s signature ball design, along with an “articulating chassis and central pivot point.”

I really don’t know what any of this means — only that this is one monster of a clean machine that will make quick work of every last dust bunny in your house. It's a bit pricey at $499, but it's certainly worth putting on your registry list. For more info, visit dyson.com.

—Mary Clarke

Whether you want to tug at your guests’ heartstrings or rock the dance floor, the Boss always delivers. With classic songwriting, heartfelt lyrics and his signature Americana sound, there’s a Bruce jam for every wedding moment.

Sentimental Wedding Moments

► “If I Should Fall Behind”
This beautiful ballad is a tribute to commitment and makes for a unique first dance song.

Without tooting my own horn too much, I feel like it’s safe to say that I’ve been ahead of the game when it comes to booking wedding vendors—or, at least I was. With only three months to go until the big day, I recently had a minor freak-out and decided that my fiancé Corey and I needed to hire a videographer. Here’s what happened...

Originally, we both decided that we didn't need a wedding video, so we focused our efforts on finding an outstanding photographer who would capture the emotion of our wedding day, instead. But then I had an epiphany: The wedding would be the only time I would get to hear Corey recite his vows.

This sad realization hit me one day when Corey and I sat down on the computer and typed out our entire ceremony together. It was the first time we had talked in depth about the ceremony wording, what to include and how long it would be. Sure, there will be pictures of us during the ceremony and I could re-read our vows (we're including both traditional and written vows), but it wasn’t quite enough. The idea of possibly forgetting the sacred words we'll speak to one another at our wedding was devastating to me.

Also a friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that she was enjoying her one-year anniversary by cozying up on the couch with her husband and watching their wedding video. I was instantly jealous of that moment I would never have. That’s when I decided that one way or another, we’d have a videographer. Now to tell the fiancé…

The one-shoulder trend is the perfect combination of modern fashion-forward style, modest appeal and sensual allure. For all these reasons, I love this trend. With the one shoulder, you won't be pulling your dress up all night, but you also don't feel completely covered up like a grandmother—it is still youthful and sexy. With this style, consider a sleek modern up-do that complements the asymmetrical neckline.

—Naima DiFranco

I've never related to “They’re Just Like Us” photos of celebrities— the ones where paparazzi catch Hollywood’s elite sans makeup, dressed in sweatpants and pushing a supermarket cart. But when I woke up to news of Miley Cyrus’s engagement to actor Liam Hemsworth, I couldn’t help but think—she’s just like me!

I can’t relate to her fame and fortune, incredible set of pipes and Neil Lane engagement ring. But I do know what it’s like to get engaged at 19 years old to a 22-year-old man. (Err, boy.)

I met Irv at the engagement party of mutual friends just one week before I started college. I was 17 years old, dressed in a polka-dot dress from Zara and Jessica Simpson heels. I noticed his thick, jet-black hair and dentist-approved smile from across the room. I turned to my friend and asked, “Imagine waking up to that face in the morning?”

And for the last two years and seven months, I have. (That’s right, ladies. If you want something, just go for it.) It’s been wonderful, but I should warn Miley of the roadblocks that await her. It’s not easy getting married young. You'll be denied piña coladas on the honeymoon, endure bewildered looks from manicurists who notice your left hand and have to circle the “Mrs.” option on doctor’s forms. Yikes.   

Escort cards are a fun way to show off your wedding theme and personalize your décor. The cards are usually the first thing your guests will see at the reception, making them the perfect way to set the tone for your event. Check out 10 creative ideas from some of our favorite real weddings.

Starfish
For Andrea and Ariel's destination in the Florida Keys, starfish-adorned escort cards placed in a sandbox were the perfect fit. See more from this wedding.

Photo Credit: KT Merry

Leaves
Jean and Michael carried a leafy theme throughout all aspects of their wedding day, from the leaf-print invitations to the tea leaf favors. Appropriately, they used leaf-shaped escort cards and strung them above a collection of bamboo, moss, and rocks. See more from this wedding.

Inviting friends and family members to be in your bridal party is an honor, so get creative and "propose" to them in an unforgettable way. Back in November, we told you about this sweet "Be My Bridesmaid?" keepsake, but now grooms can have their own big reveal by customizing their brewski of choice. Imagine the look on their faces when you invite them over for a casual barbecue and they pull out a cold one, putting two and two together. I wish I had known about this clever idea from the graphic designers at MyOwnLabels.com when my fiancé Jason and I shared the happy news with our group last year.