If you're in the New York City area this weekend, grab your girlfriends and stop by our White Hot Style Shop at 477 Broome Street in Manhattan, where you can enjoy manicures, cake tastings, Q&A sessions with wedding professionals, and much more. Admission is free. (Being a BRIDES bride sure has its advantages!)

You can also get a huge discount on the wedding gowns featured in our October issue! All proceeds from the sale of the dresses will go to Operation Smile and Dress for Success. There's only one of each, though, so hurry and get to whitehothope.com/buy before your favorite look is gone!

—Beth Swanson, BRIDES magazine

Our industry-wide shopping event, WHITE HOT HOPE, kicks off for the second year on Oct. 1 with a month of freebies, discounts (including exclusive flash sales from ideeli), deals, and events with designers and stores across the country. Here in NYC, our Soho style shop will be popping up Oct. 13 for four days of free makeup and hair trials, cake tastings, and cocktails. But, don't worry, plenty of other cities are serving up their own cocktail nights—in Atlanta, Dallas, DC, and San Francisco, Macy's and Waterford will be hosting WHITE HOT Mixology events with two hours of open bar and hors d'oeuvres. Better still, when you shop with one of our participating retailers during the month, a portion of the sale price will go to the charities Operation Smile and Dress for Success. Visit whitehothope.com for more details.

Photo: Courtesy of Ashley Morgan

Boston brides take note! If you haven't yet selected your wedding accessories, be sure to stop by Bloomingdale's in Newton this Friday and Saturday to view a selection of Ashley Morgan jewelry and meet the designer, Ashley Berman. Her stunning collection of earrings, necklaces, and rings has a delicate, organic vibe, that easily lends itself to bridal. Still looking for your dream ring? Ashley can work with you to create a custom design. Pre-shop the collection on the Ashley Morgan website and get all the event details under the jump. Read more ››

Photo: Jeff Cassuto

It's almost here: BRIDES' second-annual White Hot Hope bridal bash is going down October 13-16 in New York City. Don't live in the Big Apple? Now's your chance to enter the VIP Style Shop Weekend sweepstakes that would let you and a friend attend the event and get the star treatment.

One grand-prize winner will receive a trip for two to BRIDES' White Hot Style Shop, including round-trip airfare and four nights accommodation at The Westin New York at Times Square. The winner and her guest will also receive a complimentary VIP Style Pass (which means preferred beauty appointments at the BRIDES Style Shop, a White Hot Hope bracelet, VIP gift bags, and more)—plus the opportunity to sit runway-side with a BRIDES editor at the Rivini fashion show!

To read the full rules and enter the sweepstakes, head to condenastdirect.com/weekend.

Photo: Fred Marcus Studio

One of New York City's biggest bridal shows, The Wedding Salon, is going down tomorrow, Wednesday July 20th, from 4-8 p.m at Capitale (above). In addition to the usual smörgåsbord of top NYC vendors (Sylvia Weinstock, Shawn Rabideau from Bethenny Ever After, Ariston Florist) and hefty swag bags (filled with products from the likes of Philosophy, Smashbox, and Urban Decay), The Wedding Salon will also be celebrating the passage of gay marriage in New York with a same-sex couple fashion show featuring couture looks from designer Matthew Williamson. Register for tickets by clicking here. —Lauren Matthews, Brides New York

Obviously, we're big fans of using online resources to help you plan your wedding—but there's still nothing quite like meeting experts in person to soak up their advice, inspiration, and expertise. The Georgia Bridal Show on June 26 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth is a perfect opportunity for all of you Southern belles to make some crucial decisions about cakes, calligraphers, limos, photographers, and everything in between. The event starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m., but be sure not to miss the fashion show at 3:45 p.m. (check out the preview above). To purchase tickets click here, and enter the promotion code FALL2011 at checkout to knock $2 off the price of your ticket. —Louisa Bilbrough

Photos: Courtesy of The Fairmont

On June 18, The Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC, will debut its "Wedding Belles Package," a luxurious weekend for brides-to-be and a guest. The package includes an overnight stay in one of The Fairmont's spacious rooms, as well as complimentary admission to the nearby Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, which features an impressive collection of Russian imperial art and 18th-century French decorative art and furnishings. The museum was founded by American collector and heiress to the Post cereal empire Marjorie Merriweather Post; fashion lovers and history buffs will enjoy the exhibition of her family's collection of bridal gowns dating from 1874 to 1958 that's currently on view at the museum. The Wedding Belles Package is valid through January 1, 2012, giving even the busiest brides enough time to plan a weekend getaway. To learn more and make a reservation, go to fairmont.com/washington or call 800-441-1414. —Louisa Bilbrough

Photo: Courtesy of Weddings by Couture Consulting

Listen up, Colorado brides: The upcoming Summer Solstice Wedding Inspiration Party in Denver on June 21st is sure to be an excellent source of wedding inspiration. The lavish event will feature a round-up of stylish gowns from Marie James Dress Boutique, floral arrangements from The Perfect Petal, and cake designs from The Four Seasons Vail's catering team—the creative juices (and the Champagne) are guaranteed to be flowing. This free event begins at 6 p.m. at the Marie James Dress Boutique (747 South University Boulevard). For more information, visit weddingsbycc.com or call 720-261-3568. To RSVP, e-mail weddings@weddingsbycc.com. —Louisa Bilbrough

We assume you may have a few things to buy for your wedding. Actually, you have a lot to buy for your wedding, so why not use that experience to benefit others? That's why we created an industry-wide shopping event, WHITE HOT HOPE. When you shop with one of our participating retailers during October 2011, a portion of the sale price goes to the charities Operation Smile and Dress for Success. So it's a win/win for all. We're setting up freebies, discounts, deals and events with designers and stores across the country, and if you're in NYC, our pop-up shop will be open once again for free makeup and hair trials, cake tastings, and cocktails. We'll keep you posted as things develop, but mark October on your calendar as a great time to go shopping. Visit whitehothope.com for more information. —Julie Raimondi

Photos: Courtesy of Thomas Pink

London's luxury shirtmaker, Thomas Pink, is celebrating the year of the Royal Wedding with an offer for dapper grooms. So listen up, all you would-be Prince Williams. The "Tie the Knot" shopping event creates a tailored experience for groomsmen parties starting with a glass of Chandon Rosé and includes advice on shirt-and-tie pairings, a master class on different ways to tie a tie and bow tie, and tips on how to fold and wear a breast handkerchief. Oh, and for those of you still sending your shirts out for a press, the Thomas Pink team will also instruct grooms on the proper way to iron a shirt. For every five ties purchased, grooms will receive a complimentary tie—perfect for a party of six, no? To schedule a shopping event, contact the nearest Thomas Pink store. —Phillip B. Crook

Photos: Courtesy of Enchanted Atelier

A trunk show? Like...with trunks? Because industry terminology isn't always intuitive, we asked Liv Hart, creative director of Enchanted Atelier Couture Accessories, to shed some light on what a trunk show is and how to get the most from your shopping experience:

More often than not I hear "What is a trunk show?" from my bridal clients—probably because the options available to you are uncharted territory and can be a little overwhelming. So let's look at why a trunk show is an option that should not be missed.

Extensive Collection
These events, hosted by bridal stores throughout the year, feature a more extensive collection of a designer's work. Stores typically carry a selection of a line, but a trunk show allows you to see designs that would otherwise not be available to try on. We typically have 15 to 30 designs in a store, but a trunk show brings in around 50 to 75 options. The event usually lasts two or three days, so be sure to make appointments early.

Meeting the Designer & Custom Options
The designer or designer's representative is often available to meet with you at the trunk show. This is a particularly wonderful opportunity because they can offer tips about custom options or the fit of the gown and suggest ideas for accessories.

Discounts Often Available
During a trunk show weekend, discounted prices are usually made available— a rarity for bridal accessories and gowns—so you should take advantage of savings in your wedding budget or upgrades that may have been slightly out of reach.

Lastly, I would suggest spending time familiarizing yourself with gown and accessory designers you admire and visit their websites for upcoming trunk show dates. Attending a trunk show is a great way to see the designer's extensive collection samples and spend your time and money wisely during your wedding-planning process!

Browse trunk show listings in your area here.

Photo: Courtesy of Hanky Panky

You already personalize your cocktail napkins, your wedding favors, and your thank you stationery—so why not your honeymoon underwear? If you like the idea of DIY panties, Hanky Panky has you covered. Literally. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of its Original Lace Thong, Hanky Panky is releasing a Do-It-Yourself Kit on June 6 with ribbons, bows and flowers to sew onto white lace panties. For the hardcore DIY-ers out there, the company is also launching its "Make The Original Your Original" competition on the same day, where you download a thong template and create your own design. The worthiest panty-maker receives a $1,000 cash prize and a Hanky Panky Limited Edition 25-Thong Box. Need design ideas? Check out our lingerie gallery for inspiration. —Phillip B. Crook

Photos: Mel & Co.'s finest, Allan Zepeda

Executive editor Amy Elliott and I had a fun evening out in Brooklyn the other night at an intimate, vintage-inspired parlor dinner hosted by Elan Artists, katflower, Radish, Brooklyn Winery and Mel & Co. Amy sat next to Mel and wedding planner Marcy Blum, while I got to know Carlos Andres Varela, whose photography is currently featured in our Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Brides New York. Everyone looked great in their bespoke attire, which was well-suited for Williamsburg's chic, funky aesthetic (though Amy and I had to make do with our office attire, plus a few accessories scavenged from the fashion closet). The dinner took place at oenophile hotspot Brooklyn Winery, which 100LayerCake's Jillian Clark had styled for the evening by incorporating charming vintage details into our place settings and vignettes. To match the fête's fun, artisanal feel, Laura and Amy of Radish prepared a fabulous family-style menu featuring their signature, market-driven fare—my favorite courses were the roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine and thick cut pasta with English peas, pea shoots, and pistachios (both excellent choices for a rustic wedding menu). It was great to get a chance to catch up with one of our favorite florists, katflower (pictured with us, above), whose gorgeous centerpieces had us gushing the moment we walked in the door. Elan Artists showcased talent that kept in style with the retro-modern vibe perfectly, like the 1920s New-Orleans inspired jazz act Hot Sardines (pictured, middle left), the folky sound of Ambient Dulcimer and indie rockers Freak Owls.—Leigh Bond

Photo: Sean J. Rhinehart, Pink Door Productions

If wedding-planning stress has you feeling like it's time for a play night, join the Northern New Jersey Wedding and Event Professionals this Thursday and get the best of both. Sip on cocktails with Pink Door Productions at the upscale and trendy 46 Lounge and catch up with other brides, network with vendors, and scout out ideas to style to your ceremony (think candy buffets, wedding favors, and one-of-a-kind stationery). The first 30 brides get a free drink with their online RSVP, so mark your calendars for Thursday, May 19th from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at 46 Lounge, and check out their website for more details. —Leigh Bond

Photo: Kyle Ericksen

Nicole Miller, known for her modern, glamorous wedding dresses, invites brides to view the latest additions to her collection at a trunk show May 13-15 at her boutique in South Beach. The newest designs from the spring collection will be available to preview and purchase, and are surprisingly well priced, ranging from $1,200 to $3,200. Fabrics from her line include heavy silk, crepe de Chine and hand-beaded lace. Aside from selecting your wedding gown, you can also accessorize with Nicole Miller evening bags, headpieces, shoes and jewelry. The trunk show is by appointment only, so RSVP by May 10 by emailing NMMiami@NicoleMiller.com, and don't forget to view Nicole Miller's latest collection in our runway gallery.—Mary Beth Somich