A popular 2008 trend according to the Knot is changing things up (your hairstyle and dress) from your ceremony to the reception. Think long formal gown and elegant upsweep then a quick switch to a short dress and your hair in romantic waves. Here are some styles that get you from ceremony to reception in a fashion flash.

For the ceremony combine modern elegance and formal style to get simply gorgeous. (Photos from left: Amsale ball gown, the Knot, St. Pucchi Silk Charmeuse dress from Elegant Bride and Reverie by Melissa Sweet from the Knot.)

Perfect party dresses: from left (White kava blouson dress by Kate Spade and Romona Keveza dress both from Modern Bride. BCBG Maxazaria Strapless Applique dress from Nordstrom.)

With the gluten-free movement taking the country by storm, more and more people find themselves getting tested for–and diagnosed with–food allergies. As a member of this illustrious group, I am loving the idea of an allergy-free wedding.

Normally, eating at restaurants and social events is a huge hassle: Do you cook with corn oil? Does that sauce have corn syrup in it? Can you check and see if your powdered sugar is made with cornstarch or flour? The list of questions becomes so tedious after a while that you inevitably settle for a salad, sans dressing, and call it a day. It’s great for a diet, sure, but a wedding is supposed to be a chance to splurge! So when planning your menu, think about those of us who haven’t tasted a gummy bear, tortilla chip or sip of soda in a decade. With adept catering or just a little extra elbow grease on your part, you can host a fabulous allergy-free event that everyone can enjoy.

I ran across this BrideFu post on the topic and, although it fails to mention my particular allergy, I think it has a lot of great insight into allergy-free weddings in general. You might think it’s impossible to cook without the items on the site’s Big Eight list–eggs, milk, wheat and fish in particular–but it’s actually really easy to do with a flexible caterer. You don’t even have to change your entire menu. Just add a few delicious dishes without these ingredients and advertise them to your guests, as The Lovely Scones blogger did for her nuptials.

Creating your own allergy-free wedding is a great way to make sure that no one is fretting over the fritters on your big day. Just don’t be surprised if you find someone like me hungrily hunkered down over a heaping plate of your corn-free culinary creations!

By guest blogger Geeta Sachdeva

Earlier this week, the DVD for ‘27 dresses was released. I decided to finally watch it having missed the 2008 flick on the big screen. While I thought it was quite entertaining, I also realized what a privilege it is to have a bridesmaid who is the epitome of selflessness and always puts your needs before her own! If this is anything like your bridesmaids, take the opportunity to thank them with a party. Whether it’s a traditional luncheon, a night on the town or a weekend stay at a resort, throwing them a party will give you time to relax and unwind and also allow your attendants to meet and get to know each other (especially any out-of-towners) before the big day!

In addition, send them a personal note with our monogrammed thank you card. They are the perfect way to say thanks!

Are you recently engaged? If so, congratulations! Know that being engaged is a tradition that has started as far back as the year 1215. This is when Pope Innocent III decreed that marriages must be publicly known. And the tradition of giving an engagement ring began in 1477 when a royal emperor gave his beloved a diamond ring as an engagement present. Aren’t we lucky that he did?

Traditionally hosted by the bride’s family, couples today are hosting their own parties. A great way to get your families acquainted before the big day, it’s also a good excuse to celebrate your engagement and commitment to one another.

Usually a few months following the proposal, engagement parties should only include guests that you are planning to invite to the wedding. Any way you do it, make sure to make it comfortable, fun and special for everyone! One of my friends had the event at her future in-laws. A lawn filled with friends, family, homemade food, and festive lights decorating huge white tents made the event memorable!

Here are a few engagement party invitations to make your perfect party complete.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engagement