Photo: Courtesy of PinkClouds

Vintage-loving brides rejoice! Online vintage shop PinkClouds is launching a curated bridal section on May 21. Offering a stunning selection of dresses that span the decades, you're sure to find a gorgeous one-of-a-kind gown that speaks to your personal wedding style. "Depending on the era and the silhouette, brides can achieve a variety of looks," said Jennifer Collins, founder of PinkClouds. "If you want a flowy look, try dresses from the 1970s. If you're looking for something more body conscious, try a bias-cut gown from the 1930's. That's the beauty of vintage."

From her early days in her mother's closet admiring her "breathtaking" pieces from the 70s and 80s (including a gold and opal ring given to her then mother when she was in her 20s, that Collins wears today) to her college days spent scouring London's Portobello Road for the perfect vintage find, Collins has always been motivated by the thrill of the sartorial chase. After starting her career in luxury retail consulting for major fashion brands, the vintage collector felt the natural next step was to launch her own vintage shopping site.

Photo: Courtesy of PinkClouds

The mission of PinkClouds is to "bring back inspiration and the feeling of discovery to the shopping experience," which Collins accomplishes by offering one-of-a-kind dresses and jewels with a unique history. After three years of success in vintage ready-to-wear, PinkClouds Bridal will go live next week on May 21. "We started with a focused collection of dresses that we felt spoke to a variety of brides. Vintage shopping is such a personal and emotional buying experience, and there is no better time to have a one-of-a-kind gown then on your wedding day."

Photo: Courtesy of PinkClouds

Tips for pulling off a vintage wedding dress? "It is definitely all about the styling. I would say the more retro your dress feels, the more modern you should be with your hair and accessories. Pair your vintage gown with some extravagant Jimmy Choos or Manolos. Since most bridal wear is vintage inspired as it is, you have to be conscious not to look like you are wearing your grandmother's dress."

Asked about her own wedding day look, Collins isn't entirely sure (though she counts jewelry designer Pamela Love's bohemian wedding in Montauk and all 8 of Elizabeth Taylor's gowns as inspiration)—but she's confident that the look will include a vintage corset, with lace details that are "just impeccable," and vintage jewelry, "that's a definite!"

—Catherine Smith

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Photo: Courtesy of Somewhere Splendid

Every week we round up some of our favorite blog posts from around the web.

This petite floral arrangement costs around $20. We're not kidding! —Somewhere Splendid

Is it tacky to toss your garter at your wedding? Our etiquette expert weighs in on the popular tradition. —Brides.com

Care to see how bridesmaid dresses have evolved over the past century? Let's just say we've come a long way since shoulder pads and wide-brim hats. —PopSugar

Even if you have a ring on your finger, this slideshow of our favorite engagement rings with pave settings is highly addictive. It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite piece! —Brides.com

This couple took their engagement shoot to new heights. —Brooklyn Bride

We found the best places to honeymoon in the US if you're into wine tasting, adventure travel, surf, sand and sun or all of the above. —Brides.com

This couple, who met on Match.com, let their bridal party pick their own wedding attire. Talk about leap of faith! —Merci New York

To celebrate the premiere of The Great Gatsby, here is a roundup of Art Deco wedding stationery. —Oh So Beautiful Paper

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Photo: George Chinsee

This stunning Marchesa wedding dress mixes some of my favorite trends: three-quarter length sleeves, loads of lovely lace, and a fresh, high-drama silhouette. I'm loving the voluminous, silk taffeta skirt—it's statement-making, very Victorian, and perfect for making a grand entrance as you down the aisle. Then, when it's time to dance—presto, it's detachable.

View the entire Marchesa 2014 collection and other looks from Bridal Fashion Week.

—Jacqueline Gifford

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Photo: M&A Photography

There are countless wedding traditions to pick from: feeding each other wedding cake, incorporating something blue, and, of course, donning a white wedding dress. These rules have relaxed over time (hello, pink wedding dresses!), but what happens when a couple wants to skip a tradition altogether? Our etiquette experts are here to answer your questions about wedding traditions in our daily post.

I think the garter toss is tacky, but everyone says it's a time-honored tradition and we should include it in our reception. Do we have to do it, or is there an alternative?

Yes, the garter toss is time-honored—it got its start in medieval times. Guests would rip and tear at the bride's clothes to snag a piece of the fabric, which was thought to bring them good luck. Often, the bride would strip off her stockings and garters to throw to the pack so she could escape. (Yikes!) Fortunately, guests have become more civilized through the centuries. Now, the groom strips the garter off the bride to campy stripper music, then tosses it into a pack of salivating unmarried men.

The garter tradition has (thankfully) started to lose favor recently. If you prefer to ax this ritual from your reception repertoire, but still want to do something, you can opt for one of these less titillating alternatives. Make the bouquet toss co-ed. Watch all your single friends battle it out for the big prize. Give the bouquet to your favorite person. Honor your parents or his, a special grandmother or a friend who was such a big help during the wedding planning. Hand it over to the longest-married couple. Have your DJ or band play a special "marrieds-only" song. The band leader or DJ will first ask those married eight hours or less to leave the floor (that means you), then five years or less, ten years or less and so on, until there's one couple left standing. They get the prize—your flowers.

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Photo: Courtesy of Jenny Yoo

Putting your gals in floral gowns doesn't necessarily require you to plan a girly, uber-romantic wedding celebration. The soft silhouette and flirty, ruffled neckline of this Jenny Yoo one-shoulder bridesmaid dress is offset by a bold, geometric floral print in a cool color combo. A shift like this will appease both your fashion-forward and hopeless romantic 'maids. Better yet, your girls can just as easily wear this little number with a cropped denim jacket as they could with sky-high heels at another spring or summer celebration.

"Lulu" knee-length bridesmaid dress with an asymmetrical shoulder with a soft flutter drape, $265, Jenny Yoo

—Lauren Frankfort

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Photo: Rodin Banica

This two-piece wedding dress from Rivini marries my two favorite aesthetics: feminine and modern. I love the scalloped lace neckline and short-sleeves (which create an instant slimming effect for your arms), and the architectural tiered overskirt is perfectly cinched at the waist to cover up any flaws you think you have. Plus, you can show off a bit of leg and show-stopping wedding-day shoes! But the best part? Take off the overskirt for your reception, and you'll see that the lace top turns into a mini dress made for dancing the night away!

View the entire Rivini 2014 collection and other looks from Bridal Fashion Week.

—Beth Swanson

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Photo: Tangled Lilac Photography

Rather than ask close friends to battle it out for the coveted role, the bride's sister is often a natural choice for maid of honor—but what if she's not the best choice? Our wedding etiquette experts are here to answer your bridal party questions in our daily post.

Do I have to ask my sister to be my maid of honor?

There is no rule saying you must ask your sister to be your matron of honor. Rather, you should ask the person you feel most deserves the role.

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Photo: Courtesy of Annie Lee

We are beyond lucky to have Annie Lee, a leading New York City wedding and event planner, join us tomorrow for a Facebook chat like none other. Annie is widely recognized for her contemporary yet classic approach to hip, urban weddings. When asked to dream up her own fantasy wedding day, Annie names The Venice Opera House as her dream venue, sea urchin, squid, cod roe, and seaweed over spaghetti as her desired menu and a "nonwhite" wedding dress as her signature look.

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, May 16th from 4-5 p.m. over on the Brides' Facebook wall for a fun, lively and totally inspiring chat where you can ask Annie questions about your own fantasy-in-the-making wedding day.

The Fine Print:
Who: Annie Lee, wedding planner extraordinaire
Where: Brides' Facebook Wall
Date: Thursday, May 16th
Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m. EST
Hashtag: #BridesChat

Photo: Austin Gros Photography

This free-form bouquet was created by the folks at Nashville-based event-design company Cedarwood Weddings. (FYI: They have a fab barn on a 50-acre nature preserve, for those of you in the area.) What makes this a modern bouquet? For starters, the fact that they've blended what are considered to be more exotic flowers like mokara orchids with garden-variety flowers like zinnias and herbs, and that they've incorporated so many different blooms in a single arrangement. The 10 flowers used here (cream stock, wine dahlias, tulips, mokara orchids, freesia, ranunculus, roses, spray roses, zinnias, and craspedia) are in season in late summer. (Approximate cost, $175)

—Denise Penny Shepard

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eStationer Paperless Post has just unveiled a gorgeous collaboration with Oscar de la Renta. Inspired by runway looks and fabric samples from the atelier, this line of digital and fine printed stationery (engraved and letterpress options available) channels the designer's colorful collections and vibrant entertaining style. Send a digital bridal shower invite inspired by Mr. de la Renta's fuchsia and gold brocade gown, and follow it up a traditional wedding invitation adorned with the same hydrangea lace seen in his latest bridal collection. The collaboration includes over 30 original wedding invitation styles, and will expand into entertaining, children's and personal stationery later this year. Check out some of the stylish designer stationery, below!

Photo: Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

Browse Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2014 collection.

—Catherine Smith

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Photo: John Aquino

There was something effortlessly ethereal about Christos' Spring 2014 wedding dress collection. Our favorite dress, a silk chiffon gown with a hand-embroidered floral bateau illusion neckline, floated down the runway with grace and ease. The lightweight fabric makes it perfect for a ceremony in the sand while the floral appliqués give it a pop of personality. Any bride would beam in this goddess-worthy creation.

View the entire Christos 2014 collection and other looks from Bridal Fashion Week.

—Lauren Frankfort

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Photo: Getty

While it's usually the maid of honor or bridesmaids' responsibility to organize the bachelorette party, it's less clear who should pay for the festivities. Our wedding etiquette experts are here to answer your party planning questions in our daily post.

Who pays for the bachelorette party?

The bachelorette party is one event where the hosts aren't necessarily expected to foot the bill for everyone. In fact, the hosts are often more "organizers" than traditional hosts; they take charge of getting a group of friends together for a night out. Typically, everyone chips in to cover the cost of the bride's food and any drinks, since she's the one being honored. Any arrangement you come up with for funding the evening is fine—just be sure that everyone knows what to expect before the night begins.

If the event is more of a classic party being hosted by one or a few people at a single venue, then the traditional rules of hosting apply: the hosts covers all of the costs: food, drinks, decorations and any party favors.

While gifts aren't usually given at bachelorette parties, it is popular to give the bride an inexpensive little something to commemorate the evening—usually a token like a T-shirt (or perhaps a more intimate garment) saying "Bride-to be" or "Taken." In this case, the group usually either decides on a gift together and all chip in, or one person takes the initiative and pays for it herself.

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Photo: Courtesy of Gemy Maalouf

If you're like us—completely obsessed with mint green wedding details—you'll love this lace appliqué bridesmaid dress by Gemy Maalouf. Equally party-ready and polished, your girls will look pressed going down the aisle and still be able bust a move on the dance floor. All in all, this fun little frock is a stunner that your girlfriends can (and will!) wear over and over again.

Style LPS 13 3390, short lace dress in blue, $1,150, Gemy Maalouf

—Lauren Frankfort

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Photo: Rodin Banica

It was nearly impossible to pick a favorite dress from Reem Acra's Spring 2014 collection. But amongst the glistening lace appliqués and effervescent tulle this silk crepe gown stood out. A striking, simple silhouette with a sparkling neckline, this gown takes a cue from the current Art Deco and Great Gatsby craze. While it certainly channels old Hollywood elegance it also speaks to a modern bride with its slim-fitting silhouette and on-trend illusion neckline. Plus, those bedazzled cap-sleeves? Fit for a 21st century princess.

View the entire Reem Acra 2014 collection and other looks from Bridal Fashion Week.

—Lauren Frankfort

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Photo: Deyla Huss Photography

You may be dreaming of satin wedding dress, but if you're getting married in the sweltering summer months, is it your best bet? Our wedding etiquette experts are here to answer your wedding dress questions in our daily post.

Is satin too heavy a fabric for a summer wedding? I'm getting married in June.

A satin gown is best for a fall to early-spring wedding. Since you'll be marrying when temperatures will be balmy, choose a dress made from a lightweight, airy fabric like silk-organza, tulle or chiffon.

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