14 Stunning Wedding Dresses Under $500

Amy Hirt
Mar 12, 2015

The day you say “I do” can rack up a ton of pricey purchases, but your wedding dress doesn’t have to be one of them. If you’re cutting costs with DIYs and affordable flowers, then you might want to consider saying yes to one of these gorgeous, affordable wedding dresses. These trendy and stylish gowns prove you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a dress for it to be special. Scroll on for the ultimate wedding dress eye candy.

1. Minimal Maxi ($338): Walk down the aisle in pure white elegance in this strapless gown. Details like a small v-neck and flowy top give this classic piece a modern twist.

2. Long + Lacy ($498): A lace-up back detail is elegant and romantic. We love how the strapless top balances out that beautiful train.

3. Short + Classy ($130): Show off your figure in this form-fitting sheath. Wear with a bright or printed heel for a burst of color.

4. Sequined ($300): Add some shimmer on your big day with some sequins. This glitzy cap-sleeve dress also features an ethereal tulle overlay on the floor-length skirt.

5. ’20s Inspired Tiers ($450): Vintage-inspired lace, beaded details and a dusty-hued underlay make this a unique and stunning gown for any bride. Pair with a jeweled hairpiece to add even more glamour.

6. Flirty Halter ($120): This bright, backless dress has a lot of personality. Made of scuba material, it has a fit and flare shape and is great for a night of dancing.

7. One-Shoulder Chiffon ($80): This goddess-inspired dress has pockets, which adds a chic and fun detail to the flowing skirt.

8. Fit and Flare A-line ($415): Tea-length styles are perfect for a spring or summer wedding. This dress has a crisp, classic look and a pretty sheer skirt overlay.

9. Antique Floral ($118): Try a whimsical, floral lace gown if you prefer a shorter dress. Antique coloring and a three-quarter-length sleeve make this dress a romantic option for an outdoor wedding.

10. Deep V-Neck ($480): This chiffon gown is classic, and would look lovely with a flower in your hair.

11. Effortless Halter ($288): This laid back yet beautiful gown features a twisted neckline and optional belt, just in case you want to define your waist.

12. Beaded One Shoulder ($370): An elegant wedding calls for a stunning beaded dress. This BHLDN rose-blush gown is a steal for under $400.

Do you have any fave budget-friendly wedding planning tips or bridal websites? Let us know in the comments.

Monica Barbaro Says Meeting Timothée Chalamet On 'A Complete Unknown' Was A "Beautiful, Magical Day"

A Complete Unknown finally rolls into theaters on Christmas Day (you know..like a rolling stone?) but the cast is already generating serious buzz. Timothée Chalamet snagged a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Bob Dylan, while Monica Barbaro just won the Astra Film Awards' Breakthrough Performer Award. But when I sat down with the actress, I couldn't help but go all the way back to the first day of filming the December movie.

Here's what A Complete Unknown's Monica Barbaro had to say about meeting Timothée Chalamet and learning guitar for the role of Joan Baez.

Monica Barbaro loved working with Timothée Chalamet on 'A Complete Unknown.'

Monica revealed in a Rolling Stone interview that she met Timothée Chalamet a week before filming — and that he was already more-or-less in character. "The first time we met was a music rehearsal," she tells Brit + Co exclusively. "So we just really launched right into it, which was nice because I admired his work so much from afar and any level of intimidation that I may have had, I could just sort of funnel into music prep, which was great."

"It was a beautiful experience of getting to hear our voices harmonize as these characters and hear the accompaniment of our guitars," she continues. "And we were able to kind of like anchor ourselves in the music and have sort of a meeting of minds that was maybe a little more similar to Joan and Bob because they met in the music scene as already very proficient musicians. So that was a beautiful magical day. And then we like launched right into filming."

Monica Barbaro (who you'll recognize from Top Gun2) stars as musician Joan Baez, and even though Monica had to learn how to play guitar for the role, you'd never guess just by watching the film. She carries herself with such confidence and ease that I'd have believed she'd been playing her whole life. And the fact her voice sounds like a Disney princess is just the cherry on top.

"I'm not a singer, I didn't play guitar," she says. "So there was sort of this introductory level thing going on where I just had to figure out how to form my hands and in some way, I thought about how she might have done that at like 14, I think, when she first picked up guitar. But that was just like an overhaul of everything — I mean, all my time just poured into that training."

She was doing her own research, but also worked with vocal coach Eric Vetro, who's also worked with Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Shawn Mendes. "He encouraged me to consider what the lyrics of songs meant to her," Monica says. "Because the best musicians are storytellers and that's one of the best things about he renditions of these folk songs is you feel the story of the song."

And because of that, focusing on the lyrics "was also a part of the character development. So there were sort of siloed things like voice, guitar research, and then her speaking voice," she says. "And then all of those things started to just kind of like meld, you know. You have to play and sing at the same time and tell a story and do it from the perspective of Joan. And so so they just sort of over time kind of like bridged."

But no matter how much prep Monica, Timothée, and Elle Fanning (who stars as Sylvie Russo) did for the film, they still had to film in the middle of New York City, which came with its own set of 2024-specific challenges. "It was interesting to be filming and have people sneaking videos and posting them on the internet," she says, admitting that she "really just tried to turn all of that off to the best of my ability."

The film highlights the tension between celebrity and fame, considering we meet Bob Dylan right before he becomes, well, Bob Dylan. "It's a privilege to have to have so much attention and excitement on a project and I appreciate the intent, but you kind of just sort of turn it off a little bit and disengage," Monica says, "especially when you're talking about just a very different kind of fame in the sixties."

Read up on 23 Hilarious Tweets About The Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Contest That Timothée Crashed for a good laugh.

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14 Press On Nails You'll Be Glad You Skipped The Salon For

I can't always make it out to the salon when it comes to my nails — and I definitely don't have the time to give myself a full-blown manicure at home — so I'm always looking for cute press-on options to wear. From almond-shaped to abstract designs, there are so many sets I can't get enough of.

But I have a secret: I've also figured out how to make them last a little longer. I mean, that's always everyone's gripe with them, so why not share what I know? So scroll on to find all my favorite press-on nails you can find right now — plus the best glue to use to make them stay!

Find all the best press-on nails that'll save you a trip to the salon!

Olive and June

Olive and June Pink Checker Party Press-On Nails

This one's for the girls who love a little mix-and-match nail art and don't want to wear anything unless it's festive or bold. These easy-to-apply nails are the quickest way to achieve nails you'll be proud of without sitting for hours at the salon.

SALT

SALT French - Merlot

Content Editor Haley Sprankle says these nails are the realest looking press-ons she's ever used. Honestly, she feels like they look more real than some full sets she's had done at the salon! And with clear glue, you don't have to worry about having a bunch of white glue all over your fingers once you're done applying them.

Lilac St.

Lilac St. Seeing Stars Press-On Nails

These short and sweet almond nails are the classic French manicure we love to see, but there's also a bit of sparkle to them. They'll take you from your 9-5 to dinner with your friends without feeling like they're making too much of a statement.

Olive and June

Olive and June Linear Hearts Press-On Nails

Valentine's Day has come early with these short and sweet press-on nails. They have a minimal feel that'll also work with all of your winter outfits. I love the cute little hearts because they're not overly stated, but still manage to hold their own!

Amazon

KISS imPRESS No Glue Mani Press-On Nails

If you've finally sifted through Christmas dresses to find the perfect one to wear to that holiday party you've been waiting on, wear these cute press-on nails to complete your look.

P.S. Wear the sparkle design on your ring finger if you suspect you may get a surprise proposal.

Ulta

OPI Feelin' Capricorn-y xPRESS/On Big Zodiac

These press-on nails are strictly for Capricorns who are patiently waiting for their birthdays. Everyone you know will be green with envy when they see you wearing them, but that won't be your problem.

Amazon

Chillhouse Sea Siren Press-On Nails Kit

Are you waiting for the day you'll be able to take a dip in your pool or the ocean during vacation? I hear ya and know just what you need to hold you over until summer: reflective sea-inspired press-on nails.They may not completely cure your longing, but they'll look cool against your skin and outfits.

SALT

SALT Butterfly Press-On Nails - Red

Isn't this design so adorable? Content Editor Haley Sprankle wore these for her birthday this year, and she'd never gotten more compliments on her nails before! Definitely grab these to make a darling statement!

Amazon

Glamnetic Press-On Nails

No one ever needs a reason to wear super girly nails, but I'll give you one anyway: you deserve to wear something that feels carefree and quirky every once in a while.

Amazon

PaintLab Press-On Nails Manicure Kit

Tortoiseshell nails are such a vibe in my eyes. They're the moody accessory you'll fall in love with and can apply at home in no time!

Amazon

Chillhouse Fruit Hoops Press-On Nails

Ah, more fun abstract nails! They also remind me of summers in the sun so I'm sure I'll personally be stashing them in my beauty draw until the beginning of spring.

Walmart

Salon Perfect Glazed Press-On Nails

Give yourself the gift of metallic press-on nails that feel on par with the holidays. They're short enough to allow you to do everyday tasks, but have the right amount of shimmer for date nights.

Walmart

KISS imPRESS Holiday Press-On Nails

Need more Christmas inspo? These press-on nails are going to give you that and then some. They remind me of the sweet treats I see at my local bakery, but I don't suggest anyone try to see if they taste good.

Walmart

Paintlab Reusable Gel Press-On Nails

Sometimes you just want to wear nails that feel like your niece or young cousin could've designed them. Actually, I'm sure my niece drew something similar this year.

Ulta

OPI Nail Heart xPRESS/On Nail Art Press-On Nails

These nails have a hint of color that'll match your rosy cheeks this winter. The more I think about it, the more I feel it's a great idea to use them as beauty inspo for your next makeup look.

Amazon

Here's what to use if you want your press-on nails to stay put

Most press-on nail kits include a standard nail file/buffer and nail glue, but I've recently discovered something that makes sure nails don't budge: brush-on nail glue.It's easier to make sure the glue doesn't spill over the sides of the nails when you press down on them and it seems like they're made of the strongest ingredients that makes your temporary manicure last longer!

Glamnetic Super Strong Brush-On Nail Glue

Amazon

Makartt Super Strong Nail Glue

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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The Most Shocking 2025 Golden Globe Nominations & Snubs

It's the most wonderful time of the year: awards show season! We're getting closer to seeing the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes celebrate the best movies, music, and TV shows of 2024, and we finally know who's up for the Golden Globes. The program will air on CBS and Paramount+ January 5 at 8 pm EST.

Even though this awards show is usually an indicator of what the Oscar nominations will look like, my group chats aren't so sure — some of these nominations (and snubs) are such wild cards!

Keep reading to see all the 2025 Golden Globe nominations — and snubs.

The Most Shocking Snubs & Surprises Of The 2025 Golden Globes Nominations

Netflix

To no one's surprise, The Bear led amongst its competition with 5 nominations, followed closely by four nominations for both Shōgun and Only Murders in the Building. And Selena Gomez's Emilia Pérez got 10 nominations!

Some notable snubs of this year's Golden Globes include leaving Wicked's Jon M. Chu and Dune 2's Denis Villeneuve out of the director category (which baffles me even more after Greta Gerwig's Barbie snub at the Oscars), Sing Sing in the screenplay category, and Saoirse Ronan in the acting categories even though the Oscar-nominated actress was in both The Outrun and Blitz!

As far as surprises go, September 5 is nominated for Best Picture, despite the fact it hasn't been released yet. And, okay I know Wicked already announced they'd be submitting Cynthia Erivo for a lead actress and Ariana Grande for supporting, but my group chats STILL can't believe it! Also Zendaya being nominated in lead actress in a comedy/musical for Challengers...since when is Challengers a comedy?!

Golden Globe Nominations For Movies

Searchlight Pictures

Best Motion Picture – Drama

  • The Brutalist
  • A Complete Unknown
  • Conclave
  • Dune: Part Two
  • Nickel Boys
  • September 5

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

  • Anora
  • Challengers
  • Emilia Pérez
  • A Real Pain
  • The Substance
  • Wicked

Best Motion Picture – Animated

  • Flow
  • Inside Out 2
  • Memoir of a Snail
  • Moana 2
  • Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
  • The Wild Robot

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

  • Alien: Romulus
  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
  • Deadpool & Wolverine
  • Gladiator II
  • Inside Out 2
  • Twisters
  • Wicked
  • The Wild Robot

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language

  • All We Imagine as Light (India)
  • Emilia Pérez (France)
  • The Girl with the Needle (Denmark)
  • I’m Still Here (Brazil)
  • The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
  • Vermiglio (Italy)

Universal Pictures

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

  • Pamela Anderson for The Last Showgirl
  • Angelina Jolie for Maria
  • Nicole Kidman for Babygirl
  • Tilda Swinton for The Room Next Door
  • Fernanda Torres for I’m Still Here
  • Kate Winslet for Lee

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

  • Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
  • Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown
  • Daniel Craig for Queer
  • Colman Domingo for Sing Sing
  • Ralph Fiennes for Conclave
  • Sebastian Stan for The Apprentice

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

  • Amy Adams for Nightbitch
  • Cynthia Erivo for Wicked
  • Karla Sofía Gascón for Emilia Pérez
  • Mikey Madison for Anora
  • Demi Moore for The Substance
  • Zendaya for Challengers

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

  • Jesse Eisenberg for A Real Pain
  • Hugh Grant for Heretic
  • Gabriel LaBelle for Saturday Night
  • Jesse Plemons for Kinds of Kindness
  • Glen Powell for Hit Man
  • Sebastian Stan for A Different Man

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Selena Gomez for Emilia Pérez
Ariana Grande for Wicked
Felicity Jones for The Brutalist
Margaret Qualley for The Substance
Isabella Rossellini for Conclave
Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Yura Borisov for Anora
Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce for The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice
Denzel Washington for Gladiator II

Amazon MGM Studios

Best Director

  • Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez
  • Sean Baker for Anora
  • Edward Berger for Conclave
  • Brady Corbet for The Brutalist
  • Coralie Fargeat for The Substance
  • Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light

Best Screenplay

  • Emilia Pérez
  • Anora
  • The Brutalist
  • A Real Pain
  • The Substance
  • Conclave

Best Original Score

  • Conclave
  • The Brutalist
  • The Wild Robot
  • Emilia Pérez
  • Challengers
  • Dune: Part Two

Best Original Song

“Beautiful That Way” forThe Last Showgirl
“Compress / Repress” for Challengers
“El Mal” for Emilia Pérez
“Forbidden Road” for Better Man
“Kiss The Sky” for The Wild Robot
“Mi Camino" for Emilia Pérez

TV Show Golden Globe Nominations For 2025

Patrick Harbron/Disney

Best Television Series – Drama

  • The Day of the Jackal
  • The Diplomat
  • Mr. and Mrs. Smith
  • Shōgun
  • Slow Horses
  • Squid Game

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

  • Abbott Elementary
  • The Bear
  • The Gentlemen
  • Hacks
  • Nobody Wants This
  • Only Murders in the Building

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television

  • Baby Reindeer
  • Disclaimer
  • Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
  • The Penguin
  • Ripley
  • True Detective: Night Country

FX/Hulu

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama

  • Kathy Bates for Matlock
  • Emma D’Arcy for House of the Dragon
  • Maya Erskine for Mr. and Mrs. Smith
  • Keira Knightley for Black Doves
  • Keri Russell for The Diplomat
  • Anna Sawai for Shōgun

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama

  • Donald Glover for Mr. and Mrs. Smith
  • Jake Gyllenhaal for Presumed Innocent
  • Gary Oldman for Slow Horses
  • Eddie Redmayne for The Day of the Jackal
  • Hiroyuki Sanada for Shōgun
  • Billy Bob Thornton for Landman

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

  • Kristen Bell for Nobody Wants This
  • Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary
  • Ayo Edebiri for The Bear
  • Selena Gomez for Only Murders in the Building
  • Kathryn Hahn for Agatha All Along
  • Jean Smart for Hacks

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

  • Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This
  • Ted Danson for A Man on the Inside
  • Steve Martin for Only Murders in the Building
  • Jason Segel for Shrinking
  • Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building
  • Jeremy Allen White for The Bear

Miya Mizuno/HBO

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television

  • Cate Blanchett for Disclaimer
  • Jodie Foster for True Detective: Night Country
  • Cristin Milioti for The Penguin
  • Sofía Vergara for Griselda
  • Naomi Watts for Feud: Capote vs. the Swans
  • Kate Winslet for The Regime

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

  • Colin Farrell for The Penguin
  • Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer
  • Kevin Kline for Disclaimer
  • Cooper Koch for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
  • Ewan Mcgregor for A Gentleman in Moscow
  • Andrew Scott for Ripley

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Liza Colón-Zayas for The Bear
  • Hannah Einbinder for Hacks
  • Dakota Fanning for Ripley
  • Jessica Gunning for Baby Reindeer
  • Allison Janney for The Diplomat
  • Kali Reis for True Detective: Night Country

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Tadanobu Asano for Shōgun
  • Javier Bardem for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
  • Harrison Ford for Shrinking
  • Jack Lowden for Slow Horses
  • Diego Luna for La Máquina
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The Bear

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

  • Jamie Foxx for Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was
  • Nikki Glaser for Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die
  • Seth Meyers for Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking
  • Adam Sandler for Adam Sandler: Love You
  • Ali Wong for Ali Wong: Single Lady
  • Ramy Youssef for Ramy Youssef: More Feelings

Did any 2025 Golden Globe nomination (or snub) surprise you? Let us know in the comments!

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