Filene's Basement buyers work to assemble a collection of more than 1,500 wedding gowns for each sale. These designer wedding dresses normally carry hefty price tags in the thousands of dollars, but for the sale, most are priced at $249, $499 or $699.

The next Filene's Basement Bridal Event will not be held at the store in Boston, located at 426 Washington Street (Downtown Crossing), because it is closed for renovations. However, the famous wedding gown sale will be held instead at Boston's Hynes Convention Center on Friday, August 21, 2009. For information, call 617-348-7848.

Wedding dress sales will also be held this summer and fall at Filene's Basement stores in Chicago (July 24), Washington, DC (July 31) and Cleveland, Ohio (October 16).

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Here are 10 tips for finding a bargain bridal gown at a Filene's Basement wedding dress sale:

1. Arrive at Filene's Basement (Hynes Convention Center in 2009) very early, as the line starts forming hours before the store opens at 8 a.m. for the wedding dress sale.

2. Bring a team of at least two helpers with you. While it may be tough to talk a guy friend into joining you, if you can, you'll be glad for the help, as wedding gowns can be heavy!

3. Devise a way to keep track of your team once you're in the store. You might all wear bright colored sweatshirts or hats, carry flashing light sticks, don silly headbands with springy antennae or wear whistles around your necks.

4. Visit a bridal salon or study bridal gowns in magazines and on the Web to decide in advance what type of gown you prefer. White or ivory? Simple or elaborate? Sheath or full-skirted? Be sure to show your team pictures of what you have in mind. Also be sure your helpers know what sizes to look for, keeping in mind that most bridal gowns run small, so you'll need a size larger than what you normally wear. A good seamstress will have little trouble altering a gown that is too large, but you should avoid gowns that are too snug.

5. Wear comfortable shoes and a bodysuit or bathing suit under a sweatsuit. It's not likely that you'll find a dressing room, so you'll have to try on wedding dresses in the midst of the chaos.

6. When the doors open, be prepared to grab up as many wedding dresses as you can in the first several minutes. Once the racks are emptied and brides begin trying on wedding gowns, bartering begins, so the more dresses you score up front, the better your chances of swapping for "the one."

7. Don't be afraid to try on a dress that isn't exactly what you had in mind. You may be surprised once you see the gown on you instead of on a hanger.

8. Bring along a small mirror, as it may be difficult to get a place in front of the store's full-length mirrors. It won't be ideal, but it will give you a sense of whether the gown's neckline is flattering and help you decide whether to hold onto a dress or pass it along.

9. Be patient. As more brides-to-be either find their perfect dresses or give up, there will be additional gowns to try.

10. Keep in mind that no dress is a bargain if you don't love it. Filene's Basement won't allow you to return a wedding dress purchased at the sale, so save your money if you don't think you'll be completely satisfied. That said, if you do find a spectacular dress, run straight to the registers. Filene's Basement's wedding dress sale is a one-day event.

Sign up for reminders for the sales event here at FilenesBasement.com.

courtesy of About.com

Beyonce and husband Jay-Z

A-List Inspiration: Last year, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z were married in a lavish all-white spring wedding at the groom’s New York penthouse. The intimate evening reception was held in the living room, and more than 70,000 white dendrobium orchids were flown in from Thailand to make the space look heavenly. Before sitting down for a seven-course meal, guests (who were also asked to wear all-white) enjoyed caviar, shrimp, and fried chicken appetizers.

At Your Wedding: Are $100,000 worth of dendrobium orchids a bit over your budget? No problem! You can still get that elegant, ethereal feeling. Here’s how: Fill out the corners of your space with lush pairings of white peonies (stick with a single flower type to get more for your money), all-white Chinese paper lanterns, and twinkle lights. Choose champagne or silver ribbons or bows to accent your all-white table linens and place settings. For the centerpieces, skip the flowers and place varying arrangements of small white votive candles and large white floating candles in glass cylinders to make your tables glow.

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images,

courtesy of TheKnot.com

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Here are some of the items that were mentioned above.

Garden Rose White Jenne Moreau - 72 Stems for $189.99

Instead of the Peonies, I suggest using these roses instead since they are much cheaper but have a similar look and feel.

Paper Lanterns 12" White Paper Round Lantern $1.99 each




Set of 72 White Unscented Votive Candles and 72 Holders

100 Indoor / Outdoor Clear lights with white cord 26' $7.29

Personalized Wedding Autograph Frame

"Better than a guestbook, this wedding autograph frame is a wonderful way to remember a special day. This Personalized Wedding Autograph Frame has room for one 5" x 7" photo and dozens of signatures. We beautifully engrave the silver plate beneath the photo with any message on two lines, up to 20 characters per line.

Personalized Wedding Autograph Frame:

• Use the frame instead of a guestbook at a rehearsal dinner, shower, anniversary party or wedding reception, then display it in a very special place in your home for years to come
• Photo and signatures rest under glass in a 11" x 14" black wood frame"
• Wall mount

Jessica Simpson Women's Hardy Peep Toe Slingback