Last Day: Win a $100,000 Dream Wedding!

Time is running out! If you've ever dreamed about say "I do" like the stars do, today is your final chance to enter our dream wedding contest!

Us Weekly and WeddingChannel.com are teaming up for the third year in a row for their annual luxe nuptials contest! One lucky couple will win their dream wedding, worth up to $100,000.

It's so easy to enter! Just tell us a little bit about yourself, your dream wedding and why you should win, and you could be walking down the aisle celebrity-style. Enter to win by filling out the submission form, answering the questions and uploading a picture of you and your fiance.

See last year's winning couple, Van and Eric, whose Washington D.C. wedding was inspired by Eva Longoria and Tony Parker's lavish 2007 Parisian nuptials. The couple's celebrity-inspired vendors included the bride's Vera Wang gown, bridesmaid dresses by Lela Rose, a Sylvia Weinstock cake and the couple's Tacori wedding bands. Check out their photos and don't forget to enter today!

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Get amazing ideas for your wedding day by browsing 100s of photos in our galleries.

Brides Celebrate Barack Obama’s Inauguration With Wedding Keepsake

If you haven’t already sent a wedding invitation to President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife, soon-to-be First Lady, Michelle Obama, you can still jump onboard this week’s inauguration train by including the 44th president of the United States in your wedding planning. While pickings are slim for Barack-related decorations or wedding favors (though you can still get your Obama lip gloss!), we did manage to find this cute Brides for Obama! wedding planning journal for just $14.99.

Inside, you too can follow in the footsteps of our next great president; documenting the many changes in your life, as well as the your favorite recession-busting methods and high-priced bridal bailouts.

Rethinking Your Wedding Cocktails

They say presentation is everything, so why is it then that most couples don't think outside of the champagne glass? When it comes to serving cocktails at your reception, cool and creative packaging definitely goes a long way. Case in point: Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson played up their Alice in Wonderland theme by serving tequila shooters in these quaint little glass bottles ($18.96-$28.80, www.save-on-crafts.com).

We love that idea, but if you're looking for something a bit more dramatic, there's Horchow's Conical Base Stemware ($65-$85) that creates automatic height with any of your table settings.

Are you a modern bride who can't imagine setting aside her traditional glassware? Dive into it instead! Master mixologists are creating everything from edible fruit caviar to gourmet jello shots in the hopes of making your wedding day an event no one will ever forget. Cheers!

Halloween Weddings Done Right

You're cool, you're kitschy, and you're looking for a way to make your special day stand out.  Theme weddings are always an option, but there's a fine line between creepy chic and "oh-my-god-what-was-she-thinking?"  We love the idea of a Halloween affair, but we'd rather leave the trick-o-treating to our ten-year-old cousin. Instead, try channeling the gothic elegance exemplified by recent newlyweds like Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson and Good Charlotte’s Billy Martin and his wife, Linzi Williamson.

Color Scheme: Avoid orange – instead focus on black with rich textures. While the Wentzs' opted for a dark red and black color palette, we love the stark contrast between black, white, and rust. Pottery Barn's black feather garland ($29 - $54.00) adds a dark-yet-sexy touch, while this outdoor pumpkin tree holder from Neiman Marcus ($350) is sure to amp up your event’s earthly appeal.

Decorating: Think ghoulish but gorgeous. Your guests shouldn't feel like they're stepping into a haunted house. Instead, accent your space with low-key scare tactics with chic accents. This metal wire spider bowl  from Crate and Barrel ($19.95) is the perfect holder for black dahlias, black magic roses, or a simple moss and vine arrangement. Hoping for something a bit more seasonal? We love the spooky aesthetics of Gradin Road’s Spooky Pathway Trees with Mini-lights ($59-$79.00), as well as the simple fall accents offered by FTD's Todd Oldham’s Harvest Moon Wreath ($89.99).

Favors: Skip the candy corn and caramel apples and opt for something a bit more exotic. We adore the gorgeous Mexican folk art style personified by these Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) sugar skulls. They’re bright, exotic, and absolutely cool enough to keep as a memento of your special day.

Bridal Budget: Cutting Costs

Looks like stars aren’t the only ones scaling back their wedding days. Last week, we asked you what you were doing to save money for your upcoming nuptials, and here’s what you had to say:

DIY Invites and Decorations: Lots of you chimed in that you were doing your own invitations and adding your own decorative elements to your ceremony and receptions to cut down on costs (flowers being the number one thing most couples were willing to downgrade). "I made my own wedding invitations," says Diana. "I am having an Asian themed wedding and it was difficult to find items that fit my personality. I also made my save the dates. I will be using lucky bamboo stalks in a small vase for place settings -- easy to make with lucky bamboo stalks and a few pebbles. I am also making my own ring pillow with some kimono remnants I found at a local shop. I'm using lots of greens instead of flowers which is less expensive as well."

Friday Night Cocktails Receptions Finger food is in and sit-down meals on a Saturday night are definitely out these days. "We opted to have an appetizer and dessert reception on a Friday night from 7-11 PM," says Renee. While many of you said you had friend and family lending a helping hand with catering and decorating, Mary came up with an interesting registry spin: "We're aiming for under $3,000. We're using my parents' home. We'll have a tapas menu, with guests signing up on our registry to prepare dishes."

Smaller Venues It may be fall, but that's not stopping a lot of you from having your own backyard wedding. "To save money on the venue, my aunt and uncle let us use their wonderful backyard," says Rachelle. "We set up the tents the night before. By the time we were done, the yard looked beautiful." Other brides are choosing to have less control over the details in favor of all-inclusive packages. "We opted for getting married on a cruise ship in port," says one August bride. "It's a great all-around money saver, plus they take care of a lot of the details so you don't have to worry about them -- they make/serve cake, provide a cocktail reception with an ice sculpture and open bar, and they provide the reception space / DJ and a ceremony space! All in one, easy-breezy, and much more cost effective than planning a traditional wedding!"

Simple Wedding Details: Let There Be Light!

You know how they say less is more? Well, I can honestly say they're right! I had the pleasure of attending a good friend's wedding this weekend at the beautiful Wadsworth Manor near Middletown, CT, and I was really impressed with the simplicity of the sunset candlelit ceremony, and the flickering touches that were added to the mostly outdoor reception.

Superman star Brandon Routh held a similar ceremony for his wedding at El Capitan Ranch in Santa Barbara, CA, that was decorated with tall white candles. In my friend's case, it was votive lanterns lined up down the aisle (the couple assembled them themselves to save on decorating costs)and DIY planters (created by the bride's father) decorated with small battery-powered candles that were used for both the ceremony and the reception. It was simple, chic, and added an elegant touch to the overall beauty of the rolling lawns, Grecian statues, and flowering trees and plants that dotted the estate.

While traditional brides might be tempted to overcompensate by using flowers for an entire outdoor event, keep in mind simple decorative additions like these only work to enhance the beauty of your wedding day.

A Ceremony Idea For the Birds

We love hearing about all the intimate details Hollywood brides and grooms employ for their wedding day, and we were especially smitten when we read that Numbers star Diane Farr found a charming way to incorporate a bird's nest into her wedding plans. Farr actually carried the wedding bands down the aisle in the nest and then handed it over to guests during the ceremony.

"Our officiate said that you invite a group of people to watch you wed because they are the ones you go to for support and advice," Farr told InStyle. "We passed around the nest with the idea that our marriage is in the hands of our friends and family as much as it is in ours."

It’s a lovely sentiment that deserves an equally beautiful aesthetic, and as always, it's Etsy to the rescue. This Muscari Bird Nest Ring Cushion is not only a steal at $27.00, you also have the option of selecting from several different colored birds and ribbons to ensure that your personal ceremony twist will give your guests something to chirp about.

Open the Green Door

You're hip, you're hot and you're looking for the ultimate A-list spot to host your reception. If you're planning a Southern California wedding, it's time to sneak past the velvet ropes and check out Green Door, the latest hot spot for Hollywood's "It" crowd.

Inspired by a 1950's song (as well as an adult movie), the club (a favorite for Hollywood stars like Heidi Klum and Jennifer Connelly) boasts an R-rated vibe with a 19th Century Parisian aesthetic. Antique red velvet couches, iron tables and chandeliers set a "Toulouse-Lautrec-meets-young-Hollywood" tone for your visit.

The expansive space includes two bars, a lounge and European-style salon where stars like Ryan Gosling have been spotted spinning. The menu is just as eclectic and includes steak frites, crepes, and truffle mac n' cheese.

Sure, rumor has it you may encounter some attitude when you call to make a reservation or inquire about a rental, but isn't it a small price to pay when it comes to hosting a party at the hottest venue in town?

Las Vegas Wedding or Bust!

Ok, so not every Las Vegas Hollywood wedding ends in happily-ever-after (Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thorton, Britney Spears and Jason Alexander, and Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon are just a few of the ill-fated Sin City couplings that folded like a deck of cards). But how can you blame Ole’ Blue Eyes’ second favorite town for what really comes down to poor planning. Even if you want to take a gamble on love by getting married at the Little White Chapel, it doesn’t mean you can’t win big by taking the time to find some chic elements to add to your special day.

You’ll look you’ve had a lucky hand after you send your guests these cute and kitschy slot machine Invitation Consultants Love in Vegas wedding invitations. Prefer to just say “I do” and then immediately hit the (reception) tables? Gift your guests with these eye-popping dice favor boxes from FavorsandFlowers.com. Oh, and if luck be a lady tonight then treat your own special girls right and give your bridesmaids a gift that show’s you’re a high roller – delicate from Poker Chip Girl

Hey, it may cost a little extra, but just remember the old gambler’s saying: “You gotta spend big to win big.”

Lucky Wedding Date: 08-08-08

Feeling lucky? Join the club! While stars like Eva Longoria and Tony Parker (07-07-07) and Jay-Z and Beyonce (04-04-08) have embraced lucky dates for their weddings, millions of real bride and grooms around the world are making 08-08-08 out to be one of the biggest wedding days of the year!

Thanks to its extremely lucky leanings (Chinese cultures believe the number eight is supposed to bring confidence, money, and luck, while traditional medieval religion cites the number eight as blessed and a symbol of eternal love and life), you have plenty of ways to make this day special:

Ceremony: Some brides and grooms are opting for eight groomsmen and eight bridesmaids in their bridal party. Strapped for cash? Make The Beatles “Eight Days a Week” your wedding processional.

Flowers: Certain wedding flowers like delphiniums have eight petals. Ask your florist how you can incorporate them into your ceremony or reception.

Reception: Serve eight courses, offer eight different deserts, or have a V-8 Bloody Mary as your signature cocktail.

Favors: We love cafepress.com’s fun 08-08-08 t-shirts, but Magic 8 Ball keychains are just as cool. Looking for something a bit more subtle? Give your guests octagon-shaped favor bags or simply gift them with eight-sided coasters or tea tiles.