Ripped hems, accidental red wine stains and stiletto-induced blisters; what's a bridesmaid to do?  Luckily, armed with this thoughtful Bridal Party Survival Kit, your bridal party will be prepared for any minor bumps that come their way on your big day. It only takes three steps to make these kits, so even the most DIY-challenged brides in the bunch can come off looking like a pro without having to devote three weekends in a row to crafting.

(Full disclosure: The BG editors stockpile bridesmaids' kits like these in our desks, so that we're ready in case of any beauty or migraine emergencies before we hit up bridal events!)

We found this ingenious idea from 100 Layer Cake, an excellent resource and the very same blog where we swooned over this bubble chandelier.


Materials Needed:

Bridesmaids, the hilarious movie from Knocked Up producer Judd Apatow starring SNL breakouts Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, is now available on DVD/Blu-ray! Here, our top five reasons why you should watch this movie with your bridal party.

Also: Enter for your chance to win a copy of the movie!

      Courtesy of Universal Pictures

You'll Get Ideas for the Bachelorette Party
Rita: What are we doing for the bachelorette party?
Becca: What about like, a princess theme?
Helen: Versace meets The Gold Rush.
Rita: I'm thinking tanned gentlemen that swallow fire and wear sarongs.
Megan: Female fight club. We grease up - surprise! Beat the crap out of her.
Rita: I don't hate it—
Helen: Vegas it is. 

Since my recently-engaged sister is planning a New Jersey wedding from Virginia, my mom and I decided to attend a bridal show yesterday at The Imperia in Somerset, NJ, a venue she's interested in visiting. My mom and I are old pros at bridal shows now after attending several during my planning process. Here, our top tips for getting the most out of a show:

Choose Your Show Wisely
There are basically two types of shows: large expos held in convention centers, and smaller, localized shows held in wedding venues. Both have their pros and cons. At a larger convention-type show, you'll encounter many more vendors. I think expos are best if you're just starting out with the planning process, since there's such a plethora of information. 

This season designers looked  to classic Hollywood for inspiration. Adding a fresh spin to the high shine glamour of yester-year, designers added modern architectural lines and clean finishes giving the impeccable style of the 40's screen siren a modern update.

Beauty Tip: The perfect counterpoint to the impeccable look of these clean designs would be a loose natural updo with great texture.

—Naima DiFranco