So today's announcement is pretty freakin' exciting…

We're off to NYC for Bridal Fashion Week – and we're taking you with us!

Dress,Sareh Nouri, Photo by Millie B Photography via Bridal Musings

Bridal Market, or Bridal Fashion Week is a biannual celebration of bridal style, when the world's wedding industry, from designers to journalists to buyers, descend on New York to unveil their newest creations.

This weekend, Elizabeth and I (Claire here BTW, hello!) will be crossing the Atlantic, to bring you guys the very latest collections from some of the most talented designers in bridal.

Along with the gowns we'll be sharing fabulous shoes worthy of your wedding day feet, the most stunning (and sparkling!) bridal accessories, and the very hottest hair and beauty trends to inspire your big day look.

And we won't just be schmoozing with designers and sipping Champagne at parties (though we will be doing a little of that!) we'll also be taking you along for the (yellow cab) ride, with regular updates from across the collections on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and Snapchat.

Yep, we'll be pretty busy.

Dress by Galia Lahav via Bridal Musings

Dress by Galia Lahav via Bridal Musings

The Collections

So far our pretty rammed itinerary means will be taking in over 15 fashion shows and viewing almost 30 collection showcases (and counting!) over our few days in NYC.

It's going to be a serious wedding dress inspiration overload, but even if you've already found your dream dress, we'll also have some very exciting accessory collections to share with you guys too.

Among the catwalks we're most excited to see are Marchesa, Claire Pettibone, Berta, Galia Lahav, and Jenny Packham for David's Bridal. As for the collections we can't wait to see (and feel!) in the flesh, are Rue De Seine, Daughters of Simone, Sareh Nouri, BHLDN, Katie May and Temperley. (Eeek!)

And we won't be forgetting your leading ladies too, as we check out bridesmaid dresses at Jenny Yoo, Joanna August and Donna Morgan.

As for the accessories, Freya Rose, Twigs & Honey, and Enchanted Atelier by Liv Hart (have you entered her amazing giveaway yet?) are among our top picks!

Dress by Galia Lahav via Bridal Musings

Introducing Aisle Society

Another reason we're counting down our sleeps to this weekend, is a little something exciting we've been keeping under wraps over the last few months… Aisle Society!

Aisle Society is a pretty incredible collaboration of 30 of your favorite wedding bloggers from all over the world, each one an inspirational female entrepreneur. 

We’re coming together to create a brand-new experience, a Grand Central Station of wedding inspiration if you will, and it's going to be pretty epic!

To celebrate, we'll be launching Aisle Society with a big bash in New York on Friday night!

Watch the video below to find out more about what Aisle Society is all about… 

Dress by Pronovias (See the full collection here)

Dress by Reem Acra, Photos by Abby Ross via The Lane (See the full collection here)

How To Follow our NYC Escapades

So, we know looking at other people's holiday snaps on Instagram isn't always much fun, but we promise, this will be different!

We want to really bring you along with us, every step of the way. From behind the scenes snaps at showcases and parties, to sharing videos of the look and feel of these designer collections up close, and fielding your questions to the biggest bridal designers on the planet.

All you have to do is follow our hashtag #bmatbridalweek, and keep your eyes peeled to Bridal Musings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope and Snapchat from Thursday.

Dress,Sareh Nouri, Photo by Millie B Photography via Bridal Musings

We're so excited! And we hope you are too!

You don't have to wait until Thursday to start swooning though, check out lots more gorgeous wedding dress collections and accessories while you wait. We'll be sharing our favourite collections on the blog every day once we're back too!

Oh and don't forget to send some love to the ladies at Aisle Society on Facebook and Instagram – they're pretty awesome.

See behind the scenes at past Bridal Fashion Weeks. 

As this low-key Spring continues into Summer, I'm still cuddling on the couch with my blanket (always freezing) & pup while helping all my bridal buddies who just realized, “Holy cow, my wedding is in a matter of months!” Fret not, I'm here to help you cash in on all the massive, clear-out end-of-spring online sales.

As seasons change, most retailers begin clearing out their unsold Winter & Spring styles, and if you do your due diligence there are hidden timeless pieces perfect for all seasons! We went through the virtual bargain bin and found a number of Summer & Fall wedding-ready gowns, bridesmaid dresses & accessories.

Given that my own wedding is over, I have to share all the great wedding-ready deals I've found with you beautiful brides & grooms (please, someone buy this $199 wedding dress!)

Here's our curated list of things we love on sale you can buy for your wedding.

1. The Perfect Bridal Jacket

Nicki Jacket by Jill Stuart $120 (on sale from $415)

2. Minimalist Flutter Sleeve

Avie Gown by Sachin & Babi via BHLDN $199.99 (on sale from $895)

3. Uhh, Valentino (Need We Say More?!)

Crepe Mini Dress by Valentino $1,100 (on sale from $2,200)

4. Dainty Bridal Flats

Aella Flats by Bella Belle Shoes $226 (on sale from $325)

5. Floaty Ballgown

Chrysa Gown by Wtoo by Watters via BHLDN $700 (on sale from $1,595)

6. Gifts for Your Girls

Pearl Monogram Pouch by BHLDN $20 (on sale from $38)

7. Boho Babe

Lilah Gown by Daughters of Simone via BHLDN $1,200 (on sale from $1,800)

8. Ocean-faring Bride

Dolce Pearl Fingertip Veil by Twigs & Honey $300 (on sale from $420)

9. Romantic Heels

Alsace Heels by Bella Belle Shoes via BHLDN $234 (on sale from $335)

10. Blush Beauty

Orchidee Dress by Mywony Bridal via Etsy $818.40 (on sale from $1,364)

11. Couture High Low Skirt

Dress by Jurgita Bridal via Bridal Musings

Akvile Lace Wedding Skirt by Jurgita Bridal via Etsy $1,154.57 (on sale from $1,443.21)

12. Modern Sandal

85mm Katie Sandals by Alexandre Birman via Shop Bop $416.50 (on sale from $595)

13. Flirty Fun

One Shoulder Cocktail Dress by Marchesa Notte via Shop Bop $247.50 (on sale from $495)

14. Beach Beads

Tassel Earrings by Deepa $39.95 (on sale from $58)

15. Juliet Cap Veil

Amelia Cap Veil by Jurgita Bridal via Etsy $400.57 (on sale from $500.71)

16. Floral Whimsy

Embroidered Gown with Floral Chiffon Flowers by Marchesa Notte via Shop Bop $657 (on sale from $1,095)

17. Playing Dress-up

Sorrento Overskirt by Emilia Wickstead $802 (on sale from $2,005)

18. Pretty Peplum

Peplum Hem Slip Dress by Marques'Almeida $370 (on sale from $740)

19. So Glamorous

Cowl-neck Charmeuse Gown by Marina Moscone via MATCHESFASHION $782 (on sale from $1,564)

20. Lovely Lace

Lace Panelled Dress by Mr. Portrait via MATCHESFASHION $315 (on sale from $630)

Still shopping? Here are our favorite places online to buy your wedding dress, where to put together your bridal party looks, online shops for veils & accessories and even your groom's attire.

Thankfully personal shoppers and stylists are not just for celebs and the richest of the rich anymore. They are accessible to people of all budgets and can help with everything from wardrobe overhauls to finding that perfect outfit for a special occasion. And is there any occasion more special than your wedding? I think not.

Westfield London (my favourite UK mall) has recently opened a luxurious new styling suite called The Fashion Lounge where shoppers can connect with a stylist on a one to one basis, as a couple or in groups – which makes it the perfect destination for bridal party styling. 

Got 8 bridesmaids? Enough groomsmen for a football team? No problem, bring them all along!

The Fashion Lounge is the ultimate, stress-free shopping experience for the bride, groom, mothers (or fathers) of the bride/groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen and wedding guests ahead of the big day. Expert stylists are on hand to help find the perfect little white dress, best bridesmaids dresses or chicest wedding guest outfit from over 700 retailers.

When you're considering outfits for one of the biggest days of your life, it makes sense to have an expert eye, unbiased opinion and someone who knows all the shops in Westfield inside out, on hand to narrow down your choices and help you find the perfect fit.

Westfield London kindly offered me the chance to test drive The Fashion Lounge with one of the UK's top stylists, Elin Mai of Style Doctors. So, in need of some chic outfits for Barcelona Bridal Week, I jumped at the chance!

My Personal Styling Experience At The Fashion Lounge

I filled out a Q&A before meeting Elin and we also had a chat over the phone about my personal style, my budget, what I was looking for, the types of clothes and colours that I like to wear as well as the shapes, colours and styles I avoid (body-con dresses anyone?). So before my shopping trip had even begun, I was feeling relaxed and excited about what outfits Elin would select for me.

On arriving at The Fashion Lounge I was greeted with a welcoming smile from Elin and the offer of a drink, then we sat down on one of the plush couches for a brief recap about what I hoped to get out of the session. Elin then showed me some of the outfits she'd selected for me, which were presented on a rail with jewelry choices draped over each outfit along with a selection of shoes and bags that could work with all of the outfits.

There was a spacious changing area sectioned off with a curtain, and a huge mirror where I tried on each outfit on in privacy and comfort, then would step out from behind the curtain to show Elin.  We also went to a few shops in Westfield where Elin had already put aside some items and outfits for me to try on.

(Elin and I in The Fashion Lounge)

I felt immediately at ease and comfortable with Elin, who was just as warm and friendly in person as she was over the phone. In some ways it was like I was shopping with a friend, but the best part was that I got expert, honest advice on styles and cuts to flatter my figure and achieved what would have taken days (or perhaps even weeks) of shopping in just a couple of hours.

I left our two hour session with some truly lovely pieces and, amazingly, I managed to stick to my budget. Which is pretty much unheard of for me!

I was so impressed with Elin's passion and enthusiasm for styling – she seemed to genuinely care about finding me the perfect outfits. And went above and beyond to ensure I got everything I wanted from our session. As I was trying on shoes, I'd mentioned to Elin that I was actually looking for some new wedge trainers. Later that day, hours after our session, she texted me a photo of the perfect pair she'd spotted in Aldo. I went and bought them immediately and absolutely love them!

Thankfully, with styling sessions in The Fashion Lounge, there's no minimum spend which means there's absolutely no pressure to buy anything. All the items you consider buying, are placed on hold till the end of the day in the various shops, where you can then choose to buy them or not.

With prices ranging from £130-£240, for a two hour session (depending on the stylist you work with) I realise, it can seem hard to part with money that could be spent on more clothes and accessories. But, as someone who finds shopping for special occasions rather stressful, I personally think it's well worth the investment.

I learnt so much from Elin so I thought I'd pick her brain on all things wedding style for you lovely lot too! Read on for her super helpful tips.

Wedding Styling Q&A With Elin Of Style Doctors

What's your approach to personal styling?

My approach is knowing that every single person you meet is different and that that you have to tailor each personal styling session to suit your client. I like all my clients to have fun and feel like they’re shopping with a friend but that they’re also learning as they go along. The personal styling experience we offer at StyleDoctors and Westfield’s, The Fashion Lounge is just that, ‘an experience' rather than just a simple shopping trip.

What are your do's and don'ts for wedding guest outfits?

Don't leave it until the last minute. This is something we always see and people end up spending way more than they had hoped and buy things that are the wrong colour and shape as they haven't spent time getting it right.

Photo by Jose Villa

It's not simply all about ‘the wedding dress' anymore as brides feel under pressure to buy lots of formal outfits for bridal showers, hen dos, rehearsal dinners and even reception dresses. Do you have any tips for mixing and matching items to keep costs down?

Always think of at least three ways of being able to wear something when you buy it.

If a groom, or father of the bride/groom/best man is looking for an off the peg suit or tuxedo, how can you help to bring his look together?

Off the peg is fine, it's all about the fit. As long as you have a well-fitting suit, you can style it up. It's about the accessories such as a pocket square, socks, the right shoes and shirt. Fit is everything though, we see too many grooms wearing ill-fitting suits. It's well worth investing in a stylist for even an hour to make sure you get the perfect suit.

Photo by CJ Williams Photography via Bridal Musings

I love the thought of treating the mother of the bride and/or groom to a personal styling session at Westfield's Fashion Lounge so that she can feel pampered too! I remember my mum was constantly worrying and talking about her outfit before my wedding – it's a big deal for parents too. I bet she would've loved some expert help from you!Do you have any tips for finding the perfect mother of the bride/groom outfit?

It's important to know your colour palette first and think about how you will look next to the bridesmaids. Never wear yellow in your everyday wardrobe? Don’t wear it for your son or daughter's wedding! Think about your outfit as a very special extension of what you'd wear to a really nice party. Too many people try to go so far removed from what suits them because of the enormity of the day that they simply get it wrong. Try on everything together; dress, shoes and all the accessories. This makes such a difference to see the whole outfit together – which is obviously what we facilitate in The Fashion Lounge (you'd be surprised how many people don’t do this).

During our session, you talked a lot about the importance of accessories and how they can really pull an outfit together. What are your top tips for choosing occasion wear accessories? What items do you recommend splurging and saving on?

You can save or spend depending on your budget. Think about the style of dresses you're buying and then think about whether you need a big statement piece or a smaller, more dainty necklace. For budget necklaces Westfield retailers, Forever 21 and H&M are great. Coast is also great for more dramatic jewelled pieces.

Photo via Donna Morgan

Mismatched bridesmaids dresses have been growing in popularity these past few years but shopping for more than one dress (2, 4 or sometimes even upwards of 10 dresses!) can be quite a daunting task. How would you go about helping a bride and her maids of all different shapes, sizes and skin tones find the perfect combination of dresses/looks?

It's all about the colour palette. Once you have a theme, it's easy (well, for a stylist) to put together a selection of dresses that all work within a range of colours. Some can be plain, some can be printed. There just needs to be one thing that ties them all together such as a certain tone. Having different dresses will allow your bridesmaids to all have shapes that suit their figures and ultimately make them feel good and that will come across in pictures (we've seen plenty of unhappy bridesmaids that weren't happy in their dresses). Don’t leave accessories until the last minute either. Make sure your bridesmaids are all perfectly accessorised. Having a mixture of prints and plain dresses will also ensure that your pictures have much more depth and won't look flat.

Westfield London is full of amazing occasion wear shops, from designer stores like Ghost to wedding guest favourites Coast and budget friendly options like H&M and New Look. Sometimes it's hard to know where to begin. How can working with a personal stylist help make finding your dream outfit that much easier?

Working with a stylist like StyleDoctors at The Fashion Lounge takes the stress away completely and your bridal party will look perfectly put together and expertly styled. It's well worth the investment whatever your budget to ensure that everyone looks and feels their very best. The most stylish weddings are always those where the whole party looks great together and that the attention to detail is impeccable and those are the things the stylist will make sure are just right. Sure, everyone wants great food and great wine and even good music but pictures of the outfits will be there forever and that's why it's worth investing in getting it right.

Photo by Brian LaBrada Photography via Bridal Musings

And finally, what should you wear/bring with you for a personal stylist consultation?

Always come in a good bra. Everything else can be done in The Fashion Lounge. Please make sure your hair is neat and make-up done too. Why? Because you're going to be looking at yourself all day and you want to feel your best.

I'd also like to add, wear clothes and shoes that are easy to get on and off – think dresses/leggings and slip on shoes as you'll be getting changed a lot!

Thanks so much to Elin for sharing her tips, I hope you've found them helpful.

Visit The Fashion Lounge page on the Westfield website for more info about working with Elin, or one of the other Westfield stylists.

Want to work with Elin but not based near Westfield London? Check out Style Doctors for more info (Elin and her team also offer personal styling online) and, even if you can't quite stretch your wedding budget to include a personal shopping session, Elin's fabulous blog features a wealth of helpful advice on fashion and personal styling.

Disclaimer – I was gifted an appointment at the Fashion Lounge but, as always, all opinions are my own and Claire and I will only ever share products and services on Bridal Musings that we love and that we think our readers will find helpful and/or inspiring too. 

Now, Vera Wang has launched her much anticipated Fall collection which includes bridesmaids dresses and shoes…hurrah!

Here's what Vera had to say about her new collection:

It gives me great pride to be able to bring my designs to more women through White by Vera Wang. With the addition of bridesmaid dresses and shoes, I am excited to provide an array of romantic, classic and whimsical fashion for the entire bridal party.

The gowns are stunning and have all of Vera Wang's signature style, romanticism and classic beauty…

See for yourselves:

This delicate v neck tulle gown with organza hip corsage is beyond beautiful ~ I can't believe it's only $600!

{Images via Wedding Inspirasi}

The White by Vera Wang collection also includes bridesmaids dresses for under $200!

Just check out these glamourous numbers:

Perfect for a chic, stylish city wedding.

{I can't decide whether I like that moss coloured dress ~ I love the style, just not sure of the colour. What do you think?}

And finally, Vera Wang shoes for under $100.

That's right, the shoes are cheaper than the Vera Wang Barbie doll!

I couldn't resist sharing a peek at some of the other accessories in the White by Vera Wang collection too…they're just so lovely!

Here are my favourite pair from the collection ~ the platform bootie with organza flowers.*

Just divine and a steal at $98!

To see more of the White by Vera Wang collection and to find details, pricing and availability visit David’s Bridal website.

* By the way, this post started out as a Tuesday Shoesday post but somehow ended up a Vera Wang love fest! Can you blame me though?

If you're looking for shoes, shoes and more shoes why not check out these blogs' Tuesday Shoesday loveliness:

{postcards & pretties,beyond beyond, blush printables, demoiselle, life in the superburbs, landlocked bride, swatchbook weddings, magnolia rouge, marry you me, brancoprata, merci new york, the unreal bride, enchanted dream weddings and savvy deets bridal}

His glamorous, curve enhancing designs are favoured by the likes of Naomi Campbell,  Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Bilson and Michelle Obama. And come awards season his gorgeous gowns always seem to find their way onto the ‘best dressed' lists.

So you can imagine the ripples of excitement running through the wedding world when news spread of Zac Posen creating a bridal collection for David’s Bridal.

And oh my does it deliver.

Take a peek at the video below to get a look at the alluring new collection in all it's glory and click to see see the full collection.

The new Truly Zac Posen collection has arrived online & in select David’s Bridal stores. Shop bridal gowns, social occasion dresses, and accessories in this ultra-romantic collection based on Zac Posen’s signature soft and sculptural volumes.

With bridal styles ranging from $850 to $1,350 and special occasion dresses from $195 to $225, this is affordable glamour at it's very best.

Images via Vogue

Wouldn't you just feel like a red carpet goddess in one of these exquisite creations?

I love that even happily married readers can still enjoy this new collection too!

That LBD is absolute perfection and I envision the grey lace dress adorning the chicest of bridesmaids or the chicest of wedding guests. (Just not at the same time…that would be awkward.)

– This is a sponsored post –

As someone who loves clothes and accessories but isn't quite as big a fan of shopping (the crowds, the fitting rooms, the sifting through racks to find your size), I just love shopping online, and getting to try things on at home at my leisure.

And ASOS is always my first stop when it comes to finding something to wear for an event/night out/standard Monday.

So, as you can imagine, I was pretty excited when I heard about the launch of the ASOS Wedding Shop.

Ever since I started at Bridal Musings, I've been waxing on to brides to check out ASOS, and the highstreet in general, for alternative wedding dresses, cool guest attire, and not-too-bridal bridal accessories.

Lots of brides and bridesmaids had been already wearing ASOS' white, cream, or pastel dresses, so it was only natural that they developed a dedicated wedding collection, with all the affordability and current style of their standard stock.

I went along to see the Occasionwear Collection in person, (it was a fabulous party with wine in the water coolers!) and the dresses and accessories were just as gorgeous as it looks in the pics.

Of course, they don't have quite the same detailing and fabric quality of a £3000 designer dress, (these beauties start from £120), but they would be perfect for a destination or city wedding, laid back bash or for any bride, either on a budget, or not wanting to spend big bucks on a one-wear dress.

As I said in my post on finding my own wedding dress, you'll (ideally) be the only one at your wedding in a big white dress, so no one's going to know the difference!

The dresses also go from UK sizes 4 to 18, with Curve collection designs available too up to a size 28 – and as you know, we're big fans of collections that are accessible to almost every bride.

And the new ASOS Wedding Shop isn't just about the white dresses.

It's got everything you could need for your big day look, from cute shoes and pretty cover-ups, to clutches, lingerie, jewellery and hair accessories.

A dedicated suit section for grooms and guys has some really sharp separates for men who want to create a custom look, or go for a suit that's modern and stylish for their wedding.

For bridesmaids, ASOS has lots of gorgeous dresses in its spring/summer collection for your girls to be inspired by, along with some fab mix-and-match bridesmaids dresses.

And not to be forgotten are the guests, for chic mothers of the bride and groom, ASOS have really fab styles that can be adapted for any age or style.

Okay, so enough of me gushing about my fave shop on the internet – seriously I have a good 200 items in my saved list at any given time and our local post office knows me by name for all the deliveries – let me show you my favourite picks from the ASOS Wedding Shop.

I bet you'll find something you love, whether it's for you, your groomsmen, your bridesmaids, or your mum.

Apologies in advance though, if your debit card takes a hit!

The Lookbook

The Wedding Dresses

The Accessories

The Groom & His Guys

The Bridesmaids

The Mothers of the Bride & Groom

What do you think of my picks? I just love it when clothes this gorgeous don't have to cost you mega bucks.

Those skinny pant suits for grooms are so cool, and aren't the wedding dresses just beautiful – you'd have no idea they were so affordable, right?

Don't forget to pin your favourites to show your mother/bridesmaids/groomsmen and visit the ASOS Wedding Shop for more chic ideas for your big day style.

See more Gorgeous Budget Wedding Dresses. 

Every bride should feel gorgeous on her wedding day, from the very start when you're popping the first bottle of bubbly over breakfast, to the very end when you're kicking off your heels on the dancefloor.

And that goes for your crew of bridesmaids, too.

This is why we've been loving the trend for bridal robes to get ready in. And in 2022, the selection of pretty dressing robes extends to oh-so-chic kimono robes, full-length dressing gowns, badass bodysuits and fashion-forward kaftans. You'll be ready for pretty pre-wedding photographs with your girls. (No old grey PJs!)

But, as with most things to do with weddings, the choice can be overwhelming.

To help you put together a stylish mix and match bridal party robe set for your leading ladies (the perfect bridesmaid gift to pair with these bridesmaid proposal cards, FYI!) or to select your dream sexy bridal cover-up that will take you from your pre-wedding prep to the lazy mornings and late nights on your honeymoon, we've come up with our curated picks of some of the best bridal robes on the internet.

Scroll down to shop our favorites!

Romantic Lace Robe with a Train

Vintage Lace Bridal Robe
Shop Now →

Vintage-inspired Lace Robe Duster

Margot Duster
Shop Now →

French Lace Robe

Swan Queen French Lace Robe
Shop Now →

Gorgeous Organic & Sustainable Robe

Ruma Belted Crinkle Silk & Bamboo Blend Robe
Shop Now →

Pearl Embellished Bridal Robe

Angel Faux Pearl-Embellished Stretch-Sillk Satin Robe
Shop Now →

Luxe Lilac Robe

Belted Chantilly Lace-Trimmed Silk-Satin Robe
Shop Now →

Sweet Dotted Bridal Robe

Showstopper Charmeuse Robe
Shop Now →

The Statement Bridal Robe

Birdie Robe
Shop Now →

The Fashion-forward Silk Bridal Kaftan

Very Ross Fringe Satin-trimmed Crepe Kaftan
Shop Now →

Flirty Feathered Bridal Robe

Blanc Mini Kimono
Shop Now →

For more places to shop for bridal robes & lingerie check out our list of favorite bridal accessory designers.