Attention, BG brides in the NYC area: Kleinfeld is having their biggest sale ever! Save up to 70% on select sample bridal gowns, headpieces, veils, and accessories during Kleinfeld's Anniversary Blow Out Sale on Tuesday, August 9 from 3pm to 7pm. Designers include:

Let's take a quick questionnaire: Have you had The Big M. Talk with your SO but are still waiting anxiously for them to propose? Searching for that shiny once-in-a-lifetime engagement ring or wedding band? Looking to swap out an heirloom setting for something that's more "you?"  Do you live in NYC?

If you answered A, B, or C + D, you've come to the right place. Head to Michael C. Fina on August 3rd and 4th from 11 am - 8 pm for their Third Annual Sample Sale! This swanky 5th Avenue establishment just celebrated its 75th Anniversary, and is every diamond girl's dream—all of their sample designer engagement rings and wedding bands will be up to 70% off.  One draw: The sale items will be featured in-store only and it is for items that are in stock—nothing can be ordered.  

Here in New York, hundreds of same-sex couples celebrated their long-awaited weddings yesterday as the law came into effect. In honor, here are some vendors offering special deals:

For the Reception

                                         Photo Credit: InterContinental New York Barclay

The InterContinental New York Barclay's "Worth the Wait" (aww!) package includes: One-hour cocktail reception with passed hors d'oeuvres, four-course sit-down dinner, champagne toast, open bar, rainbow wedding cake, a reception serenade by New York's famous Stonewall Chorale, and a complimentary specialty suite for two nights. Packages start at $175/person (40 guest minimum), and a percentage of the wedding cost will be donated to GMHC, which provides HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy (intercontinentalnybarclay.com)

It's not often that we get to see a TV star's wedding invitation, so we were extremely psyched to see the invitation that Ceci Johnson, of Ceci New York, designed for Reshma Shetty (actress on "Royal Pains") featured in this week's CeciStyle Magazine. We couldn't wait to share it with you!

Reshma, who is of Indian descent, wanted her wedding (and invitations) to reflect that strong culture. The peacock is the national bird of India, making it the perfect focal point of the stationery. Ceci also incorporated the lotus flower, which symbolizes purity of heart and mind; it also represents long life, health, honor, and good luck. Such a perfect fit for a wedding day!

And we are definitely swooning over her wedding pictures. Such an amazing venue, and the décor is absolutely jaw-dropping.

Check out the incredible stationery below:

Venue-hunting? Before you sign the contract, here are some factors you should consider!

1. DON'T rule out venues automatically. 
It's tough to guesstimate how much a potential venue is going to set you back based on the photos alone. Give yourself free reign to visit any and all wedding locations that pique your interest — whether they're must-sees or just maybes — if you have the time and aren't getting hitched in 6 months or less. When we walked into The Palazzo Room at The Venetian, a venue in Garfield, NJ, my now-husband Jason nearly passed out when he saw the sky-high ceilings and glittering chandeliers. But when we started to comparison-shop and crunched some numbers, we realized it matched up with many other venues in price. In fact, it offered more food options and amenities than the others.

The Venetian: The venue we ended up booking!

We've seen a lot of weddings lately that incorporate photos into the table number cards — typically showing the bride and/or groom at the same age as the number of the table or incorporating photos from the engagement session.

Here's a creative idea that takes it up a notch: Have a photo shoot with your fiancé holding up a sign with each number! Alison and Brian, pictured below, did a different fun pose for each of their 17 tables while holding up the number on a chalkboard.

You can work this into your engagement session so that you don't have to book (and pay for) an extra shoot. Or just have a talented friend or family member take the photos. Alison's sister Jill snapped the great photos below one afternoon in her backyard and a nearby park. The couple had a few ideas in mind before heading out, but most of the poses were improvised while shooting.  "Brian wanted some to be funny, so we made sure to just have fun with it and act as natural as possible," said Alison.

Then, print out your photos and glue onto card stock. Don't be surprised if you catch your guests roaming around the room to check out all of the pictures!

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

You'll probably take more pictures on your wedding day than you will on any other day of your life. And with any luck, you're going to have dozens that you love. Here's a great way to make your favorite photo an instant focal point of any room—turn it into a custom piece of art!

AllPopArt.com doesn't just print your photo on canvas—their artists add brushstrokes that transform your photograph into a one-of-a-kind painting.

Check out how this great moment was converted:

Another option: Turn your photo into a LichStyle comic-style print!

We took a quick poll of our dear Facebook and Twitter followers the other day asking: Are fake flowers a do or a don't? 60% of you said they are a do!

But we have a feeling the naysayers didn't have these in mind... One of our Facebook fans recommended Keepsake Blossoms (thanks Becca!), and now we're totally obsessed. These gorgeous flowers below are made entirely out of clay.

Isn't the attention to detail here just incredible? As you can imagine, it's a time-consuming process—making just one flower can take seven days. So if you're planning on ordering bouquets, centerpieces, or even all of your wedding flower needs, it's recommended that you place your order at least a month and preferably up to six months in advance.

The best part: The cost for a bridal bouquet isn't much more than you'd pay for a floral bouquet—prices start at $300 and depend on the kinds of flowers, colors, size of the arrangement, and complexity. But it's well worth the cost, since it also gives you a beautiful keepsake after the big day. Also available: Hair flowers for around $25 and hairpieces for $50.

What do you think: Would you consider using clay flowers?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

As founder of the fabulous trip-of-a-lifetime exclusive Ever After Honeymoons travel agency, Katie Frederick has planned more than 150 unique romantic getaways. She recently started working with Mindy Weiss, celebrity wedding planner to the stars. Katie gave us her tips on how to use a travel agency and spilled the secrets on her favorite destinations.

Bridal Guide:  Why should a couple use a travel agency, such as Ever After Honeymoons?
Katie Frederick: With so much information available online, it can be really overwhelming to decide where to go and where to stay. I make that process much more simple by providing custom options to fit a couple’s needs and desires. I streamline the decision-making and provide them with the best pricing options. I also create individualized itineraries. So, for example, if a couple says they want to be completely secluded and just relax, or if they want to be super active and adventurous, I will suggest the best destinations that fit what they want. Ever After Honeymoons is known for helping clients select the right destination, the right hotels, and is always available to help couples anytime before, during or after their honeymoon.