Cheryl Shops

Before I turn into the woman who won't shut up about her wedding, I promise this is the last wedding-related post this week. (And for awhile! Really, I promise!) But this info was too good not to share. So, earlier this spring, Gilt Groupe had a wedding weekend, a series of sales in conjunction with Martha Stewart Weddings (the best wedding magazine, btw), featuring everything from dresses to cufflinks. The good news is that the sale is back and better than ever, and the four-day extravaganza starts tomorrow, 10/20. Here's what to expect:

Day One: For the Bride and Groom
Wedding dresses, jewelry, accessories, lingerie, and suits from designers like Alberta Ferretti, Vera Wang Collection, and Hanky Panky.

Day Two: For the Bridal Party
Bridesmaid, mother of the bride, and flower girl dresses, jewelry, and accessories, plus beauty for everybody, all grouped by color.

Day Three: Honeymoons and Experiences Dream honeymoon packages on Jetsetter, makeup artist and food packages on Gilt City, and diet and beauty packages from Clean and Completely Bare.

Day Four: Home and Registry
This is a bit of a stretch, since you can't exactly register for any of it, but you can at least treat yourself to china, crystal, stemware, candles, and bedding from brands like Frette, Michael Aram, and D. L. and Co.

What's more, Gilt is running a sweepstakes for the next Gilt Bride. To enter, upload your favorite picture of yourself & your betrothed with a paragraph explaining how you'd make your wedding Gilty. The winner will be crowned Gilt’s style ambassador for their next wedding event and, more importantly, will win a dream honeymoon worth $5,000. The contest starts tomorrow, 10/20, and runs through 11/10.

Of course, you need to be a Gilt Groupe member to partake of all this awesomeness. If you're already a member, you can access everything at www.gilt.com/theweddingshop. If you're not yet a Gilt member, join here (it's free!).

I haven't been this excited since the first Alexander Wang sale on Gilt!

Poor Alicia Keys. Normally her wedding to Swizz Beatz* would be big news, but even with Bono, Deepak Chopra, and Queen Latifah in attendance, she got overshadowed by the former first daughter, who walked the aisle in $20k worth of Vera Wang silk tulle on the very same day. The funny thing is, Vera Wang dressed Keys too, and I must say, I like her gown a whole lot better than Chelsea's. (Apparently I agree with Cathy Horyn, who, between this article and her recent Snooki profile, is doing little to disguise her contempt for such reporting.) Which is not to say that Chelsea didn't look beautiful--she did, and, as Women's Wear Daily reports [subscription required], she toned her frame with months of intensive SoulCycle and Core Fusion classes (funny, I never see Chelsea at Exhale Soho--I bet she's an uptown girl). Contrast that with Alicia Keys and her wedding-day baby bump, cleverly concealed by that big bouquet of lilies. Still, Alicia looks relaxed and vibrant and bien dans son peau, as the French say. Chelsea's dress is overall indicative of the current vogue for brides--strapless, accented waist, full ballgown skirt--it's gorgeous and tasteful, but it's not necessarily Fashion. I might just be extrapolating my own desires for a wedding dress, but I'll gladly take looking like a goddess in an asymmetrically draped column over looking like a cake topper trussed up in tulle.

*Do you think Alicia Keys will take her husband's name? Will she be Alicia Beatz? Or Alicia Keys Beatz?