When it comes to weddings {whether you are a guest or the bride} - the parties before the wedding or the special day itself deserve to have pretty jewelry that matches the dress. Today, I've teamed up with Blue Nile to bring you a fun post where I'm pairing pretty jewelry {with pricing from under $100 to under $500} along with a cute coordinating dress that's perfect for any of your summer festivities.

For under $100 - you could pair this Petite Anchor Pendant with the Line and Dine Dress from ModCloth. Instead of finding a dress that has even more anchors on it {I came across many like this in my searches}, pair this delicate necklace with a complimentary dress. One with navy blue stripes and a red bow at the waist is the perfect way make a nautical statement without going overboard {pardon the pun}.

PS: This Petite Anchor Pendant in Sterling Silver could be yours for FREE

ENTER TO WIN the petite anchor pendant from Blue Nile here

For under $200 - I've paired the vibrant Amethyst Cushion Pendant (on sale for $108) with the jersey knit Callback Confidence Dress in sassy purple from ModCloth. The neckline of this dress is perfect for the two amethyst gemstones to fit between.

For under $300 - I've paired the Lapis Statement Necklace ($220) with the Beguiling Beauty Dress from ModCloth. The striking neckline on this dress is perfect for a statement necklace with the lapis gemstones. I also love the cummerbund-like pleating above the waistline.

For under $400 - I've paired the colorful Peridot and White Topaz Dangle Pendant ($315) with the handmade summer floral sundress from Lovely Melody Clothing. Love how this necklace brings out the pretty green in the dress and contrasts beautifully with the bright pink flowers.

For under $500 - I've paired the Blue Topaz Halo Ring ($425) with the Baby Blue Vintage Style Sundress from Lovely Melody Clothing. Just as a classic round gemstone ring is timeless - so is a pretty little dress with a bow at the waist. Neither type of design will ever go out of style.

PS: This post contains affiliate links which basically means that you as a purchaser see nothing different by clicking the links above. But, when a purchase is made, I will receive a small commission. For example, on a recent affiliate sale that was a total of $112 for the particular shop owner, resulted in me earning $4.48 in commission. It definitely takes lots of sales to add up - but every little bit helps keep my blog running and your support by clicking on my affiliate links means so much to me.

I have to say that I just love shoe clips. They are the perfect accessory for adding a bit of glamour to any pair of shoes. Besides being fun and cute - they are super stylish and can be worn again and again, even on different shoes. Shoe clips, like these from Daisy Days, instantly dress up a pair of bridal shoes and can be worn on the front, clipped on the side or back of the shoe for a more couture look.

top left: Ivory Tulle & Crystal Bridal Shoe Clips
top right: Pave Crystal & Pearl Blossom Bridal Shoe Clips
middle: Vintage Crystal Pave Ribbon Bridal Shoe Clips
bottom: Vintage Silk Flower Blossom & Crystal Bridal Shoe Clips

Guest Blogging with Jessica of A Foxy Wedding

I'm super excited today to welcome Jessica of A Foxy Wedding to the blog. She will be guest blogging and sharing with you her photos and details from her attendance at the many fashion shows this past week in NYC for Bridal Market. So here we go with lots of stunning photos and wonderful trends to keep your eyes on...

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Thank you for inviting me to post about 2010 Spring Bridal Market on Brenda's Wedding Blog! It was my first time at market as press instead of as a buyer for my bridal shop, and it was a vastly different experience.  As a buyer/owner, I was focused on what gowns I thought would be best for my customers and my price point. As press, my attention was geared towards seeing as many collections as I could while keeping track of trends and reporting back. It was a lot of fun talking it all in and seeing the bigger picture unfold over the course of my time in New York.
Design elements I saw consistently included soft color, flowers, feminine asymmetrical necklines, tulle, ruffles, feathers, belts, lush draping, and a return of the ball gown. With the return of the ball gown silhouette, an emphasis on the fit and cut of the bodice was also apparent. Sweetheart necklines, asymmetrical straps, and gauzy shrugs highlight a woman’s silhouette, allowing the proportion of the skirt to the waist to be showcased at its best. For Spring 2010, there is an abundance of it!
Gowns with a slimmer skirts were also shown, but not as dominantly as in past seasons. Often, the narrower silhouettes had an echo of fullness communicated through tulle overlays and additional details like ruffles, feathers on the skirt, or a voluminous train.
Details such as belts, corsages, and detachable overlays that can be used in several gowns within a collection were also prevalent. This increased versatility allows for brides to customize their gowns, making each one unique as well as allowing for more variety within a designer's collection.
Overall, the gowns shown for Spring 2010 had a gracious, uplifting quality that was inspiring, serene, and dreamy. It was a pleasure seeing them all, and I can't wait to see some of those marvelous gowns on brides in the next year!

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A very special thank you to Jessica of A Foxy Wedding for writing today and sharing all the scoop on the Spring 2010 Bridal Fashions for my readers. Jessica Fox is an entrepreneur with over 10 years of small business experience in the wedding industry.  She formerly owned one of the leading bridal boutiques in the Washington, DC area until 2009, and she is now a freelance writer specializing in blogging and social media services. She is a contributing blogger at Wedding Aces and authors Foxy Wedding, her own blog on all things wedding.