One of the wedding accessory trends we’re most excited about this year is gloves. They’ve never exactly disappeared from the bridal fashion scene, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen brides playing them up, and we think they add the perfect extra “something” to big day attire—not to mention kind of being perfect for photos.

Martha Stewart Weddings picked the SIBO Designs pair pictured above ($55 US) as their choice, but you can click ahead to see our five favorites.

Vintage Short Mother of Pearl Accented Gloves from Luv Stone Vintage, $17.00 US

These wedding gloves are the classic. Simple and stylish, they’re an obvious hit with any dress that features 50s styling (think cocktail length or high boatneck), but can be worn just as well with something slinky and modern. Not bad for less than 20 dollars.

Cable Twist Glove by MICHAEL Michael Kors, $48.00

For rustic winter and spring weddings, we love these warm, long cable knit gloves, which not only fit a cozy cabin feel, but serve a practical purpose too (you can only handle frigid temperatures for so many photos).

Hamilton Tartan Gloves by Pieces, $19.70 US

Tartan has been a longtime favorite for winter weddings, but we love the idea of foregoing a sash or kilt for something more subtle, like these Hamilton Tartan Gloves, which have a serious “royalty in the countryside” vibe going for them.

Unabashedly Beaded Glove by BHLDN, $60.00 US

It’s hard to beat BHLDN for looks-like-vintage pieces that are destined to get attention on your wedding day, and these tea-stained crocheted and beaded bridal gloves are no exception. Perfect for the bride who’s not afraid to really play up her accessories.

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend Crystal Gloves by Moschino, $94.90 US

Last but not least, if you’re feeling a little cheeky, these statement gloves from Moschino are kind of perfect for the situation. I mean, we know he’s your best friend, but the rock is up there.

ONE FINAL NOTE ON WEDDING GLOVES

While we’re big fans of wedding gloves, it’s important to plan their timing because they will cover up your brand new wedding band. It’s easiest to skip them for the ceremony (or remove them after you walk down the aisle) and you’ll want to make sure to take them off for some of your staged photos.

More than half of engaged couples now use wedding websites with their invitations, and when you consider how much easier it is to keep your whole guest list in the loop about event details (and last minute changes!) it’s no surprise. In fact, we’re kind of impressed with the couples who can get away without it. But as popular as wedding websites have become—and as many options as are available now—there are still a lot of templates that make us shudder.

Before you settle on something standard, head over to the new site The Perfect Couple, where couples can submit their wedding websites for users to vote on, and, more importantly, where you can find plenty of inspiration for your own wedding website.

The Perfect Couple site is sponsored by Dessy Group (one of the biggest names in bridesmaid dresses), and the company will be offering up prizes to some of the best wedding websites, which adds a little incentive for you to submit your own website once it’s up.

You can check out—and vote for—the website of one of our own B.C. couples here.

Okay crafty brides, get out your paper punch. The gals at Ruffled have wrangled one of our very own Vancouver stationary superstars, Uniquity, for a save the date DIY that’s unique and fun. Head over to Ruffled for step-by-step instructions (with photos!) on how to make your own save the date wheel and, while your at it, take a little time to check out the Uniquity website too. Vancouver graphic designer Tammy Lyon started the DIY invitation stationary line to make great wedding stationary affordable and we love her well-laid out printable wedding invitation designs (CrossStitch would be perfect for a sweet spring wedding).

Depending on what stage you’re at in your wedding planning, it can be hard to believe it could ever get boring, but trust us, eventually you’ll feel like you’ve seen every invitation, dress and guestbook under the sun. And that’s when you’ll want something—anything—that breaks the “traditional wedding” mold.

Enter Indie I Do, Vancouver’s alternative wedding show. Now in its fourth year, Indie I Do features vendors that are truly unique, and just attending is bound to leave you feeling more inspired. Even better, you could come away with a perfect solution to almost any wedding need (thanks to more than 30 vendors): Bling that isn’t boring, bridesmaid dresses that don’t make your maids squeamish, inventive decor, and more.

The Indie I Do show is this Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm at the Heritage Hall on Main Street, and you’ll want to get there early to snag one of the swag bags they’re giving away to the first 30 people through the door. You can buy tickets for a discounted rate here.

As most brides know, shopping for wedding cakes can incite sticker shock (“It’s HOW much?). Problem is, making your own cake is no piece of cake. It is, however, a little easier when you’ve got a great guide showing you the way, and that’s why we’re so excited about Annie Dam’s new book Cake Couture.

The Edmonton-based baketress will take you from basic steps that every wannabe-baker needs to know to full elaborate cake projects that you could steal for your own wedding, all with plenty of pictures that will keep you on track (and drooling).

Dam, who perfected her craft in France and Spain, even covers details like transporting your cake (trust us, it’s crucial information if you DIY it).

If nothing else, you can gift the coffee table-worthy Cake Couture book to a friend with baking skills…and try and convince them to take over cake duties. Order it here.

Do you watch Say Yes To The Dress and wish you could be a Kleinfeld bride? We can’t offer you a ticket to New York, but we can point you in the direction of this year’s Style & Strut show at the Sutton Place Hotel, where you’ll be able to check out a plethora of pretty wedding dresses from designers like Oscar De La Renta, Monique Lhuillier and Jim Hjelm, and, more importantly, get a little dress advice from the Say Yes To The Dress guru himself, the say-it-like-he-sees-it Randy Fenoli.

Style & Strut has lured Fenoli in to talk about his top tips and offer up suggestions on what to look for when you’re shopping for you gown (while filling everyone in on his own life story).

You’ll have to pony up an extra $55 to hear Fenoli’s advice, but it could be well worth it if his wise words help you find what you’re looking for. And, when you’re not living out your Say Yes To The Dress fantasies, you can sip on sparkling wine and hit up the brand new Style & Strut Show Style Lounge to test out lash extensions and other big-day beauty treatments.

You can get tickets here.

Squelch any impending uncomfortable silences by picking up a pack of Ice Breaker Wedding Reception Cards by Magpie Paper Works. Each set contains 50 cards with questions like “If you could wake up tomorrow morning as any member of The Brady Bunch, who would you choose to be and why?” and “What is your best bad boss story?” that are easy for any guest to answer. Plus, the cards themselves are handcrafted from eco-friendly high quality cardstock that won’t bring down your table decor.

Set a stack on each table and you’ll be doing your part to ensure your guest have a good time before the dancing even gets going.

If you’re on the hunt for a wedding dress that won’t blow your entire wedding day budget but is every bit as unique as you are, you have to get a little more creative. Bridal shops will be dominated with satin sheaths, thrift shops can be wildly hit or miss (we’re always envious of those brides who find the perfect frock for under $50), and custom dresses—although a great option—sometimes just don’t fit the time line.

Your best friend in the hunt for your budget-friendly gown? The internet, of course. You just have to broaden your search and avoid judging a web page by its design. Some sites won’t be the most impressive or have the flashiest photographs, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a dress that could be a perfect fit for you. Case in point, this antique style 1930s-esque dress from Unique Vintage. Price tag ? $258 USD. You’ll pay a little extra for Canadian shipping ($28) but it’s less than the tax on most dresses you’d purchase here at home.

The prom gowns and some of the other slightly over-the-top creations on the  not-actually-vintage site might scare you, but this vintage dress is a diamond in the rough. There’s beautiful bead work, floaty layers at the bottom, and a neckline that’s both demure and sexy. It’s as far from being a satin sheath as it is from blowing the bank.

We love the idea of pairing this gown with an updo full of soft curls and some perfectly applied lipstick (in deep red if you’re bold enough).

Not only is Jessica Zais totally deserving of cross-the-pond interest, the wedding shoot she was featured for is one of the most amazing we’ve seen…and it was shot right here in B.C. To make things even better, working on this wedding shoot alongside Zais were Stage Right Etc. (they do Okanagan wedding planning and decor) and fellow Kelowna photographer Simone Wittenberg (check out her photos from the day here).

The mock wedding set up has all the perfect Canadian countryside details: Barn, vibrant green field, small stream and even an antique tractor. But don’t take our word for it, check out all the fabulous photos here.

Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the Vintage Wedding Mockup that Zais and Stage Right Etc. collaborated on recently too—it’s every bit as gorgeous and has a totally different feel.

~ image by Jessica Zais ~

Before you worry, no, we’re not advocating you fake your feelings on your wedding day…we’re talking about your tan. A natural tan picked up from lounging on the beach is appealing, but the days before your wedding aren’t the ideal time to work on it (in fact, according to health experts, there’s really no ideal time). But you can still be a bronzed beauty if you’re willing to fake it.

Self tanning does possess its own set of risks, though, and no bride wants to experience the Bride Wars orange-skin scene firsthand, so it’s worth it to take a few extra steps to ensure that everything comes out gorgeous and glowing. Keep reading below the jump for our favorite tips.

Try a Little Glove Love

If you’ve been slapping on self tanner with nothing but your bare hands, you’re missing out. Applying tanner with a tanning glove means skipping the streaks of fingertips and evenly covering large areas of skin faster. We like the Velvotan Tanning Mitt (pictured above and available at Shoppers Drug Mart) because it’s less than $10, has a nice soft texture, and is easy to wash after use (just throw it in the washing machine and hang dry).

Choose Wisely

Self tanners are sort of like wine in that there are many varieties all with subtle differences, and, like with wine, personal preference will vary. The best way to figure out what works for your skin is to try a few and pick your favorite. Get an idea where to begin with the Consumer Search list of best tanners (we like Alba Botanica Tanning Lotion for its less noticeable scent and lack of streaking—you can find it at most natural food stores).

Everybody Makes Mistakes

Self tanning is definitely a little tricky, and that’s why you should be prepared for less than ideal results at the beginning. This means testing out your methods well before you wedding and doing your self tanning at least a couple days before your wedding day. If something happens, however, and you end up with streaks or an orange tone right before your wedding, don’t panic. A lemon juice and salt scrub (just blend the two to make a paste) will do wonders to lighten larger areas and astringent can work well for a smaller stain. In a true emergency where you only have a few minutes and limited supplies, try and even things out with bronzer.

Trust the Experts

Self tanning at home is unquestionably cheaper and it can even be more convenient if you’re swamped in the weeks leading up to your wedding (don’t be surprised if you’re tanning at midnight). That said, if you’ve got doubts about your self tanning skills, you should consider leaving it to the experts. You can get a spray-on Mystic Tan for about $30 in most tanning salons or an airbrushed tan in the spa for about $100. It’s more than a bottle of self tanner will cost you, but not a huge expense compared to many wedding costs.