Katherine Heigl gave the trend a huge boost when pictures of her December 07 appeared in OK Magazine spotting a stunning, chic birdcage veil with gorgeous pear shaped drop earrings!

Want the look, on a budget? Of course you do!! Take a look at what we found!

Birdcage Veils on Ebay, including the one shown above, sell for between $32-$60 ($38 for the one shown). You can also find a variety of colors including white, ivory, pink, red and black.

But – it’s more then just the veil that makes Heigl’s look pop – the stunning pear or teardrop shaped diamond earrings are amazing as well! So – we thought we better get some options for that as well:)

This first find is from Blair- a $126 pair of CZ earrings currently on for $59.99.

Then, I found a little jackpot over at Emitations – check out these amazing styles!

Prices, in order shown: $35, $119, $59, $65, $65, $89, $49.95 and $22.50

The Miaarte has these three gorgeous sets, each $23/pair.

Enjoy:) I anticipate another post on this look later this week, just don’t want to throw to much at you at once:)

Watters & Watters Style #5299

Candlelight with violet trim, size 10. This dress is brand new, and the seller includes photos of the actual dress as well. It is currently listed at $110!

Watters & Watters Size 12 Gown with Jacket

This dress retails for $925 and is listed for $100 with a $225 Buy It Now option! It is listed as new with tags, and the photos are of the actual dress, not just an ad pic:) That’s always something to look for – so you can see what exactly you are getting.

Watters & Watters Style 3061B

This gown retails for $1185 and this particular gown was a store sample. It is listed with a Buy It Now price of only $149!! It is ivory Silk Organza with Swarovski Crystals in a size 10.

Those are just a few of the gowns we found for under $200! Check out eBay for more Watters & Watters Bridal Gown.

There is a common belief today, that designer gowns cost more because they are better materials, better quality and better workmanship. As a designer myself, I can vouch for the fact that this is not necessarily true. For example, there is a well known designer in the US who uses the same manufacturer as I. Her dresses are made from the same materials, by the same seamstresses as mine. Her gowns retail for $3000 – $5000 across North America. Yet I can sell the sell similar styles made by the same manufacturer, for under $1000 and still make a nice profit! Starting to wonder what all the extra money pays for? It’s not the quality or the material obviously. It’s the label – or to be precise – the name on the label!

With wedding budgets that can get so quickly out of hand, many brides are already starting to recognize the benefit of a designer inspired or replica gown. Some designers are adding designer inspired gowns to their own collections!

Have another design in mind? Of perhaps you want a combination of 2 or more styles? When picking someone to make your custom gown, here are a few things to look for:

- past experience with replicas, including pictures of replicas they have done

- experience with wedding gowns in general

- some sort of satisfaction policy – for example, at Chrys Cross Bridal, pictures are provided prior to shipping in case adjustments need to be made.

Benefits of a replica

- customize it to suit, if it isn’t perfect, have adjustments made

- get a plus size designer style (most designers only make to size 16 or 18)

- save a great deal of money and use it somehwere else

There is no reason why your budget needs to determine your dress style! If you have a designer style in mind, but don’t have the budget, then a replica is the perfect solution. Even if you did have the budget – think of all the other things that money could do! After all, you are the only one who needs to know what the label says. Well, you and hubby, but I doubt he’ll be looking at the label:)

If you loved the Crystal Drop accents on Carmen’s elegant wedding cake – you can easier steal the look and make them yourself! These could be used to accent your wedding cake, bouquets, centerpieces and more.

All you will need is some sturdy silver wire and “crystal” drops – you can find both at a local craft store. If you can not find wire that is sturdy enough and silver – use another color and spray paint them with silver paint.

Cut the wire into strips, each a little longer then you need them to be. Then, slide a crystal drop onto the end, fold the end over and twist to secure the drop.

VIOLA

That’s it, that’s all – insert them into the decor were ever you want a little sparkle! Bend the wires to a suitable curve if needed.

Lockets are making the scene again and this goregous heart shaped locket, inspired by Gwen Stephani – would make a lovely bridal accessory. Rhondium plated sterling silver locket with cubic zirconia and a triple train makes a unique, elegant statement. Priced at $81 – you can get an extra 20% off this peice or any locket using coupon code EM706.

Vera Wang has been a fashion icon for as long as I can remember, and each new collection she releases is better then the last. Her popular jewelry collection is not different. Full of stunning styles, elegant designs and precious stones – each peice is a statement every bride dreams of making.

Those brides one a budget will be pleased to know that even jewelry can be replicated. There are many Vera-Inspired peices available that will give you that stunning designer look without breaking your budget! Here are a few that we found for you:)

This sexy, sleek pair of earrings is available from Sparkles Forever. The cz pave pair, with dangling pearls is only $42. A matching necklace is also available for $33!

These classy earrings are sterling silver with Swarovski Crystals and ivory pearls. They are $30 from Cafe Au Fait. A matching necklace is also available for $30. 

Most of us would love to walk down the aisle looking like a celebrity – but our budgets are just not going to let us have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bling bling to finalize our perfect look. Thank goodness for celebrity knock offs! Now, you can get that same celebrity look without breaking the bank!

My newest find for celebrity inspired jewelry is Sparkles Forever – with a large selection of celebrity inspired jewelry suitable for the bride or the wedding party – at affordable prices:) The Jessica Alba’s Earrings above are: $75 and the ones below are: $75.

Other peices – in the order shown: Eva Longoria’s Oscar Earring’s $45 (matching pendant – $47), Natalie Portman’s Earrings $59 , Barbara Hershey’s Earrings $150

Budget Friendly Tip – they have a contest were they give away $50 in jewelry each week!!!! And even if you don’t win – you get a 10% discount coupon just for signing up! It’s a Save/Save situation, lol.

EDITORS NOTE: We get a lot of inquiries about this dress/coat. It is Snowdrop from the Aspera Collection by Swedish Designer, Alicja Eklöw.

I read an interesting article today on designer, couture wedding gowns and I wanted to discuss some of the myths and truths behind some of what was written! As someone who sells both private label and designs my own Haute Couture label, here is my thoughts on the article.

“Nothing beats designer bridal gowns when it comes to workmanship and uniqueness.”

This may, or may not be true. Some no name labels are poorer quality. But, I have worked with some suppliers for years who also work on brand name lines. For example, one company that I worked with also did a well known designer line which retailed for $3000 – $5000 and yet I could have similar styles, with the same fabrics and made by the same staff members, for $200 – $800! Yes, designer can mean quality BUT high quality affordable gowns do exist as well.

“Designer bridal gowns are made with natural fabrics that let your skin breathe, which is not always the case with off-the-rack dresses.”

Not true at all. Take a look at the designer specs – it it says SATIN that is the same satin as the off the rack dresses (and lots of designers have $3000+ dresses made from satin!) Likewise, silk is silk, chiffon is chiffon. You can find the same fabrics in off-the-rack dresses at lower prices.

“And unlike ready-made gowns, a designer bridal gown is molded to flatter your figure. You can be fitted for the right trim, silhouette, and length. The gown can therefore highlight the areas you want to show off, and hide the areas you want to conceal.”

Also not necessarily true. Yes, if you buy an off-the-rack gown, you will need alterations in order to get that same custom fit. But – this is still a lot cheaper then buying a designer gown! Also, most bridal salons include professional alterations and MANY online boutiques offer custom made to your measurement service for no additional charge!

“When you choose to buy couture bridal wear, you will likewise get to personally pick out the fabric and dictate the detailing. The dress will be one-of-a-kind, causing you to feel extra-special on your wedding day.”

Again – this service is also available from many smaller companies and designers who do not charge a ton extra for the label on the back of the dress. In fact – I did one custom design for a bride recently, in the fabric, color and design of her choice for just over $300! Even on a budget, it is possible to get a unique, perfect gown made just for you.

“Keep in mind that a wedding is no reason to go broke. Don’t buy an expensive gown if you cannot afford it. Instead, buy your gown from specialty stores that offer ‘designer-inspired’ versions which look just as good as the original designs, but are made with less expensive fabrics. “

First, yes a wedding is NOT a reason to go broke, lol. As for designer-inspired versions using less expensive fabrics, this is not always true either. I have done replicas of $4000 dresses, for $800 or less – using the exact same fabrics. Some brides may choose to use a different fabric to save even more. For example, a dress that is $400 in silk maybe only $450 in satin, a large savings if you are on a tight budget. But again, that is a choice.

Of course, this may be a stupid thing for me to post-as much as I like the idea that my label might make the a dress worth more – I think brides should not be taken advantage of. Demand can raise prices – but a designer label is not necessarily a better dress: it may very well be just a tag on the back of the dress that only you will ever see.

UPDATE: A lot of readers have been asking about the gown shown here. I had originally had a link to the dress maker but the link no longer works and I have been unable to find the gown. I have debated about removing the picture but since it is so popular, I will leave it up. If ANYONE knows who the designer is, please let me know. What I do know is that it is European and there was only one US distributor. If you want this coat, feel free to take the photo to your seamstress and see if they can make a replica for you.

If you are a BRIDES Magazine addict, you may recognize these shoes. They are the sleek knotted slides featured on page 52 of the July/August 2006 issue. These designer silk-satin shoes are from Hollywould and retail for $385. A bit much for your budget? Right now, the designer shoes are on sale right now for only $231!

For those of you who would never spend $200 on a pair of shoes, wedding or no wedding, check out Target's Palmer Knotted Slides by Mossimo. The white and bronze versions sell for $19 and the black version is $25.