Wedding Gowns & Bridal Fashion

Brides probably don’t know exactly why they’re wearing something blue on their wedding day, but they’ve been doing it for so long few want to break with tradition.

Research traces an early printed version of the good-luck poem, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” back to at least 1883. (Back then, there was another line attached to the end: “And a sixpence in her shoe.”)

Superstition, yes, but why take a risk on such an important day?

“I guess I do believe in it — I did it,” says Theresa DiMasi, editor-in-chief of Brides.com, who wore blue toenail polish at her wedding. “There’s something that feels sort of solid about it. But I also believe it’s a personal thing — you can do it your way or not do it all.”

The most common way to add blue these days is a blue garter, DiMasi says, but there are more options than one might think: makeup, flowers, jewelry, a sash, or a little blue lace around the dress’ hem, she suggests.

At the most recent round of bridal fashion shows, there were some lovely pale blue dresses that have a hint of color but maintain the cool look of a true white.

DiMasi particularly liked the Reem Acra blue gowns, but she also acknowledges that it’s easier to incorporate just a splash of blue.

Bianca Alexander, director of makeup artistry for MAC Cosmetics, would reach for blue eye shadow. (Yes, blue eye shadow!) A powder-blue matte shadow works well for a 1960s-inspired, doe-eyed look, she says, and will photograph nicely whether the pictures are in color or black and white. “It’ll just be a pop of color on the lid.”

The rest of the bride’s makeup should be natural and neutral, with just a light color on the cheeks and lips and a coat of mascara — not blue mascara.

A more glamorous look would be a pewter-colored shadow with a blue tone to it. That, she says, could have a bit of shimmer, but a matte shadow with a similar gray-blue eye liner is a safer bet if you’re not used to wearing blue yet still want intense color.

Many women still treat blue eye shadow as taboo, but Alexander says they needn’t.

“Blues that don’t work is any blue that screams ‘trend,’ especially for a wedding,” she says. “For spring, acrylic colors are so hot in spring fashion, but I’d stay away from things that could look so dated in the future. If it looks like true blue on, it will look really blue in a photograph.”

She adds: “Think dark denim blue.”

Bright blue is OK, though, if we’re talking about jewelry. Mixing diamonds with glistening colored gemstones has become more popular for engagement rings and wedding bands. And if blue doesn’t make it to the rings, there are still necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Detra Segar, vice president and general manager of Tiffany & Co., which has its own signature blue box, suggests sapphires, tanzanite, blue tourmaline and aquamarine.

“These colorful blue gems are combined with brilliant Tiffany diamonds in Tiffany Celebration rings,” she said.

For those unwilling to invest so heavily in a superstition, there are the disposable and more affordable blue flowers.

DiMasi herself carried a blue hydrangea in her bouquet simply because she liked the look. She has seen other brides put a blue flower in their hair, wrap a satin ribbon around flower stems or tuck a little blue crystal in the bouquet.

Source: Associated Press

01.HANGING THE DRESS
We recommend that you remove the gown from the bag and that you hang it in a high place so that it hangs straight down. Extend the train. It is not necessary to iron it; the wrinkles usually come out once it is hung up. When getting dressed, put the gown on from bottom to top so that you don’t ruin the dress or your makeup. Then put your petticoat on under the gown.

02.ADVICE FOR THE ACCESSORIES
We recommend that you take the veil out of the bag and that you hang it on its hanger in a high place so that it doesn’t get wrinkled. Try your bridal shoes on a few days before the ceremony to break them in. It is also advisable to have a spare pair of stockings for the wedding day.

03.IN THE CAR
Back yourself into the car and sit on the side where you’ll be getting out. Spread the train out on the other side, so that when you get out it will be you first and then the train. Have someone help you lift the train.

04.DURING THE CEREMONY
You need someone to help you lift and spread the train out when you sit down. If the bench has a back, the train should be spread out to the side opposite the groom.

Moments that highlight many a wedding day is to suffer from nerves. This is not unusual due to the fact that this is the one day in your life when all eyes are upon you. It is the bride that will always will be the centre of attention at the wedding and why not with all the effort put into looking fabulous. Nerves affect many brides mainly due to worry of everything going according to plan. Well if you have planned your wedding day with careful thought then you need not worry.

Before the mention of accessories lets talk on the item we would like to accessorize and that is the wedding gown. Choosing your wedding dress without doubt has to be wonderful experience with so many stunning designs and styles to choose from. We now need to highlight areas that need to be considered when selecting what is going to be the perfect wedding dress.

What you have to keep in mind when choosing your gown, wrong choice - wrong image - wrong you. Different gown styles are not particularly designed with you in mind so all that glitters is not gold meaning, no matter how glamorous some of the gowns are does not mean it is going to be the ideal wedding dress for you. Your shape figure height are important issues that need to be looked into before committing to buy. Take along a member of family or friend to help you pick the dress that will give you the perfect look.

If the wedding dress you see adorned on the mannequin/dummy standing in the bridal shop window catches your eye do not act on impulse. Just because it looks great on the dummy does not necessarily mean it will on you. We can not have you looking like a clown in your gown.

Can dreams come true, yes. You will go to the ball Cinderella. Fairy godmothers do exist armed with needle and cotton to conjure up the dress you may have always dreamed of wearing? All you have to do is to provide the details of the fabric colour and style you would like and with her magic needle you get to walk down the aisle where your prince charming awaits in the gown of your dreams. A good thing by having your wedding dress tailor made is because any alterations to meet the requirements of your comfort level can be done at your own leisure. The seamstress can advise you on certain materials and fabric for your wedding gown.

White/ivory/ beige are favoured colours for a wedding dress. Accessories protrude an air of elegance when worn up against these shades. Neutral/pastel colours are so easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids attire.

Looking through magazines to gather ideas will keep you updated with all the wedding fashion gossip.

No bridal gown on a dummy will ever look as good as the real thing nor do the get to walk down the aisle. So there you have it, choosing the ideal dress you have perfection. Now go knock them dead because today the worlds your (oyster) another lovely shade for the gown.

After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kacy_Carr

The little black dress has long been a staple of women’s fashion, as black is slenderizing, versatile, and chic — but is it okay to wear your black dress to attend a wedding? There is some controversy over this. I’m fairly certain my mother would disown me if I ever showed up at a wedding in black, but I’m also fairly certain that none of my friends would care if I came to their wedding sporting the color.

The no black camp argues that you only wear black to a wedding if you disapprove of the union (but then why are you attending in the first place?), and therefore wearing black to a wedding is an insult to the couple. On the other side, the pro black camp says that the rules about black dresses are old fashioned, out dated, and no longer apply.

So which is it?I fall somewhere in the middle. If it were my wedding, I’d tell you to wear all the black you want. The problem is that some people still hold onto the old rules, and even if your updated etiquette says it’s allowed, these folks will still be offended if you show up in the controversial color. To be on the safe side, just pick another color. There are plenty of flattering and fashionable non-black dresses out there.

If you are really attached to your black dress, though, at least run it by the bride and groom first, or check with someone in their bridal party for the thumbs up or thumbs down. And remember, just because the bride and groom are cool with it, that doesn’t mean their grandparents will understand your fashion choice. Add a touch of color to your outfit to lighten them up, like a colorful scarf, shoes, or jewelry. It is a celebration, after all.

What do you think? Is it time to toss out the old rule about wearing black to a wedding, or is this still a definite no-no?

I have a few suggestions below. You may want to present these to your attendants and see which ones they like best. Any combination will work. You’ve chosen a monochromatic color scheme so any lightness or darkness of purple is acceptable.

Dress your bridesmaids in lavender and your Maid/Matron of honor in plum. I did this at my wedding. Our colors were silver and light blue. I wore a white dress with silver and light blue accents. My bridesmaids were in light blue while my Maid and Matron of honor were in a dark silver. You could also, conversely, put your bridesmaids in plum and the maid/matron in lavender. However, it is generally more popular to dress the maid/matron in a darker color so as to contrast the bride better.

Dress them all in lavender with plum sashes or accents. The accents may be shawls, wraps, or ribbons. Many brides who choose this route also have ribbons of the accents in their bouquets and the attendants’ bouquets.

Dress them in plum dresses with lavender bouquets. You may also want to include lavender accents. Since the lavender is on your dress, you definitely want it to be more of a secondary color than the plum. So if you do dress them all in plum, you need to make sure the lavender definitely stands out as well.

I advise against dressing them in patterned dresses or dual-tone dresses. This will make your wedding party look too busy since your dress already has a floral pattern. Stick with elegant but non-ornate dresses for your attendants. I personally would go with either the 1st or 2nd suggestion.

Taffeta is rarely found in bridesmaid dresses, this is because it’s a very luxurious fabric and to be honest, it’s likely to stand out more than the bride!

You’re looking more at high street retailers which only stock ‘fashion’ colors. You’ll be paying a little extra but it’s worth going to bridal stores as they will have the color selections all year round. They usually have all styles available in all colors too, so you should find something you like.

Mori Lee has a stunning chocolate brown which is available now, have a look on their website for the different styles. Forever yours & Romantic also have chocolate brown in their collection. Most designers have bridesmaid ranges these days.

All the designers have stockiest lists on their websites so you can find the nearest store to you. You’ll usually find galleries as well so you can have a browse at some of the different styles they have.

Plum & silver sounds lovely! Silver accents would be lovely on your plum dresses. If you go for another color, it can over-complicate the look. As silver is the ‘accessory’ color (this means its the color used to complement your main color, which is used in hints) then it would be very suitable.

What you have suggested sounds lovely! I can especially picture these dresses in chiffon. Organza can be quite stiff, the cheaper organza has a shimmer to it and it makes it look cheap!

Despite it being the evening, it’ll still be light so the tangerine sounds like s good compromise. Very zesty!

Do be warned - please try this color and T length style on your bridesmaids as it doesn’t suit everyone. Your bridesmaids would really need to be tall for the length as it can stunt shorter ladies.

Tangerine is a lovely color but can wash out some complexions - also if any of your bridesmaids are larger they may well end up looking literally like a tangerine!

If tangerine is too severe then try a more peachy orange instead. It’s softer and kinder to complexions and will look very elegant in chiffon. Lemon or sunshine yellow is a lovely color as well, believe it or not. Along with a golden tan (fake or otherwise!) it simply glows.

Long, flowing drapes and gentle scallop frills are very much in this year and will look super on your bridesmaids. If you have larger bridesmaids then the styles with the folds / roaches across the waist draw the waist in and make for a shapely figure. There is some lovely t-length styles lovely peachy color. This color is really lovely and is one of the colors I’d recommend as an alternative to tangerine.

I had my bridesmaids wear black floor length gowns for my wedding in the middle of May simply because I had my heart set on a very formal wedding!! Needless to say, it turned out looking beautiful. Whatever color of style of dresses you choose for your girls, the pictures will no doubt turn out great. Go with what you imagine being the perfect look or you may regret it down the line and wish you had gone with your tangerine dresses.

Victor Epand is an expert fashion consultant at www.LingerieDress.com/. Visit us when you want the best prices, styles, fashions, and fits of all types of lingerie. We carry a super selection of everyday, as well as bridal and specialty items.

Regan Schultz didn’t intend to go as far as dressing brides when she started Modern Pacific Weddings, but while helping brides coordinate and customize their weddings, she often heard them complain about being unable to find the right gowns.

“I kept hearing that they’re all the same, and I kept getting requests for Nicole Miller.”

Schultz listened and over the past few months started bringing in designer gowns by the likes of Miller, Jules Bly, Adele Wechsler, Maui’s Tamara Catz, and Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, an instant hit for every “princess” of a bride. Select gowns will be featured during the “Muse” fashion event Saturday at thirtyninehotel.

The dresses are lighter and more fluid than traditional gowns, making them easier to wear.

“The Nicole Miller gowns have a silk lining underneath so they’re comfortable to wear on the big day,” said Schultz. “They’re more casual for those who really are not looking for the typical full wedding gown, and may be wanting something more suitable for beach weddings.”

The simple styling also makes the dresses easy to shorten and wear after the wedding. The same goes for Miller’s bridesmaid dresses, which can easily be re-purposed as cocktail dresses, while embellished and embroidered island styles by Catz can go anywhere.

Gowns generally range from $600 to $3,800; bridesmaids’ dresses, from $210 to $400.

“I don’t want it to seem stuffy or intimidating,” Schultz said. “I want everyone to feel they can come in, no matter what their price range, and try things on.”

It’s important to note that dresses on view are samples, so brides cannot expect to pick something off the rack days before their wedding. Schultz recommends coming in at least two months in advance to order a gown.

“Depending on the season, we can sometimes have a gown here in two weeks, but you don’t want to risk that.”

Schultz gravitated to wedding planning after helping her mother with corporate parties for the family business in Colorado. “My mom’s really into making every party totally spectacular, so I think I got that from her.”

Friends convinced her to start the business after she helped plan their weddings. “I find I love the beauty of all the elements — the stationery, the flowers, the table settings — and how it’s built around this special time.”

Although adding gowns to her repertoire adds another layer of difficulty to her work, Schultz says she’s glad to assist.

“I love it when a bride comes in and is so happy when she says, ‘I found my dress!’”

Source: Star Bulletin

Are you planning on making your own wedding dress or having someone make your dress for you? If so, this will provide you with a few tips on how to choose a pattern for your dress.

Shopping for wedding dress patterns can be just as daunting a task as shopping for a dress off the rack, even more so, if you will be sewing the dress yourself. There are so many things to consider when looking for just the right wedding dress pattern so that you will be the most stunning of brides on your wedding day.

The good news it that since you or someone else will making the dress from scratch, you will have total control over how your wedding dress will look on your most special day. You will have a custom creation that is unique and designed especially for you alone.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for wedding dress patterns.

The first thing to consider is the style of your wedding. Will it be a traditional wedding, or will you being doing something a little more out of the ordinary and have a themed wedding, such as a Celtic wedding? This of course dictates which type of wedding dress pattern you will be looking for.

Another consideration when looking for your wedding dress pattern will be the location of your wedding. Will it be indoors, or outdoors? If you will be having your wedding outdoors, you will want to consider the time of year and season. If it is in the fall or winter you will want to choose a pattern that help keep you warm, if it is spring or summer you will want something that will help keep you cool. The pattern in conjunction with the fabric that you choose will make a big difference as to your comfort on your special day.

You will want your wedding dress to show off your figure to it’s best advantage. Listed below are the 4 basic body types and the goals that you want to keep in mind for yourself based on your body type when choosing your pattern:

Triangle -
your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders. Your goal will be to minimize your lower body and create the illusion of additional upper body width.

Reverse Triangle -
your upper body is wider than your lower body. Your goal will be to emphasize lower body width.

Hourglass -
your bust and hips are larger than your small waist. Your goal will be to create balance.

Rectangle -
your body is long and narrow without a strongly defined waistline. Your goal will be to emphasize width and avoid long vertical lines.

Pick a wedding dress pattern that emphasizes those body features that you want to play up or down.

Since you want your wedding dress to be the most flattering of dresses, there are other things to think about as well, such as the color of the wedding dress.

You want to pick a color that looks the best on you if you are not going with a white or off-white traditional wedding gown. You will want to consider your skin color when picking out your dress color. Your skin color will greatly affect how the gown looks on you. A bride with a lighter skin color has more choices than a bride with a darker skin color.

For brides with a lighter skin color, white or a dress in a darker color will result in a very lovely appearance. Brides with a darker skin color will want to choose their colors while also considering their make up also for the most beautiful appearance. If you have darker skin and do not consider your make up while choosing your fabric and during your fittings, you will not have a true reflection of how you will look on your wedding day.

Since you are making your own dress or having it made, you will be able to embellish it any way you choose. Brides can make fashion statements with fabric. You can range from delicate draping to more dramatic ruffles and fabric flowers. Ruffles, ribbon, ruching, gathering, pleats, fabric flowers, and draping are all special details that you can add to your gown. Just remember to keep your body type in mind when picking your embellishments.

Here are few places where you can start looking for your wedding dress pattern on line.

- Simplicity Patterns has been making patterns for generations. Look them up on the internet and browse through their patterns. They have a large selection of wonderful patterns to choose from.

- Vogue Patterns also offers a stylish selection of bridal patterns. Go to their website and browse through their collection also.

- McCall’s, is another trusted name in sewing patterns. They have a marvelous collection of patterns on their website to go look through.

Searching through all the wedding dress patterns may seem overwhelming at first, but by following the tips presented here you will end up with a stunning dress and you will be the most beautiful of bride’s on your wedding day.

Melinda Barton is an Internationally recognized wedding planner and author of the book Wedding Planning Secrets

She has given several TV and radio appearances and is passionate about helping everyone succeed in their desire to have the best wedding through simple and easy to use wedding planning secrets.

Source:

The most romantic weddings take place in small village churches – providing a picture-perfect setting for beautiful bridal gowns, says Hilary Alexander.

Photographs leaked from the set of the Sex and the City movie, currently being filmed, show that Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, finally gets her ”Big” wedding.

Her dress, specially designed by our own Vivienne Westwood, is a picture-perfect bridal fantasy of corsetry and crinoline in ivory satin. But glamorous gown aside, the fact that the wedding (whether ”real” or, as has been suggested, part of a dream sequence) takes place in the middle of New York, tarnishes the gloss for me.

I felt the same about Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria’s choice of Paris as the setting for her metropolitan marriage last year – cities simply don’t inspire the imagination or set off beautiful wedding attire in the way that the countryside can.

I have a hopelessly romantic view of the perfect wedding, despite the fact that I have been married twice – on both occasions in a register office.

In my idealised nuptials, however, there is always a stone country church, preferably at least 300 years old and surrounded by meadows, a winding path from the lychgate to the ancient timbered doors, hinged in curlicued iron, and a series of stained glass windows through which the sun streams on to a flagstone floor.

This dream of the perfect country wedding is one that some couples achieve without any trouble, happily avoiding the thunder of traffic as they take their vows, or confetti falling on litter-strewn pavements as they make their first appearance as husband and wife.

Designer Alice Temperley chose the village church in Kingsbury Episcopi, close to her family’s farm in Somerset for her wedding to Lars von Bennigsen, co-founder of her company, in July 2000. She wore one of her own designs.

“It’s just so much more romantic and a little wilder in the country,” says Temperley. “You can have horses and carts, and people feel freer.”

In fact, ancient churches in rural locations have become a fashion pack favourite.

Former supermodel Claudia Schiffer, wearing Valentino, and film producer Matthew Vaughn chose the parish of St George’s, Shimpling, near their Suffolk home, for their wedding in May 2002. Stella McCartney – in an updated version of her mother Linda’s dress – and Alasdhair Willis travelled to the island of Bute, off the west coast of Scotland, for theirs in August 2003.

Fashion stylist Katy England, wearing Alexander McQueen, married Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie in a village church in Staffordshire in July last year, while Savannah Miller, designer sister of actress Sienna, and her eco-builder husband Nick Skinner, wed in Devon. Savannah wore a vintage dress by Jan Marie von Giebelhausen.

Even when the venue is grand, a countryside location is still favoured: Elizabeth Hurley’s Versace dress looked stunning against the splendour of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, where she married Arun Nayar in February; England football captain John Terry and Toni Poole, who wore a Steven Hakes creation, held their nuptials at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, while his team-mate Steven Gerrard married Alex Curran, who wore a £60,000 Elie Saab design, at Cliveden in the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire.

Many of the most atmospheric wedding venues are churches, but sadly, for all their picturesque beauty and traditional charm, such ceremonies are in decline. The 40 per cent drop – to just one in four of all weddings – has caused much discussion among representatives of the Church of England.

Four years ago, it began a promotional drive to market 16,000 parish churches as ideal marriage venues. The regulations that prevented a couple from marrying in any church except one in the parish where they lived or worshipped, unless they applied for a special licence, were relaxed by the General Synod in July.

The new rules simply require the bride or groom to provide a demonstrable connection to a chosen country parish church, such as having close relations living and worshipping nearby.

Well-known and particularly pretty parish churches, such as St Michael’s in Betchworth, near Dorking, Surrey – which featured in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral – and St Mary the Virgin in Turville, Bucks – from the television series The Vicar of Dibley – are likely to become increasingly popular.

Couples seeking a more remote, architecturally unusual or particularly deserving church will not baulk at more erudite research, such as Simon Jenkins’s bestseller, England’s Thousand Best Churches, or Sir Roy Strong’s latest work, A Little History of the English Country Church.

Your dream setting is just waiting to be found.

Country Wedding Tips

•Avoid heels if you are going to be anywhere near grass. Consider jewelled flat sandals, satin ballet pumps or even bare feet with flower garlands at the ankles.

•If your dress has a train, make sure someone sweeps the pathway and entrance, otherwise you are likely to end up trailing leaves and twigs all the way to the altar.

•The rules are generally a little more relaxed than they are in the city, so you will probably be able to scatter sequins and petals.

•Choose a more natural bouquet with ivy, smaller rambling roses and even wildflowers to echo the rural atmosphere, rather than a sophisticated spray of lilies.

•The Designer Wedding Show (box office: 0870 190 9098; designerweddingshow.co.uk) is at Battersea Park, London SW11, October 26-28

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Moments that highlight many a wedding day is to suffer from nerves. This is not unusual due to the fact that this is the one day in your life when all eyes are upon you. It is the bride that will always will be the centre of attention at the wedding and why not with all the effort put into looking fabulous. Nerves affect many brides mainly due to worry of everything going according to plan. Well if you have planned your wedding day with careful thought then you need not worry.

Before the mention of accessories lets talk on the item we would like to accessorize and that is the wedding gown. Choosing your wedding dress without doubt has to be wonderful experience with so many stunning designs and styles to choose from. We now need to highlight areas that need to be considered when selecting what is going to be the perfect wedding dress.

What you have to keep in mind when choosing your gown, wrong choice - wrong image - wrong you. Different gown styles are not particularly designed with you in mind so all that glitters is not gold meaning, no matter how glamorous some of the gowns are does not mean it is going to be the ideal wedding dress for you. Your shape figure height are important issues that need to be looked into before committing to buy. Take along a member of family or friend to help you pick the dress that will give you the perfect look.

If the wedding dress you see adorned on the mannequin/dummy standing in the bridal shop window catches your eye do not act on impulse. Just because it looks great on the dummy does not necessarily mean it will on you. We can not have you looking like a clown in your gown.

Can dreams come true, yes. You will go to the ball Cinderella. Fairy godmothers do exist armed with needle and cotton to conjure up the dress you may have always dreamed of wearing? All you have to do is to provide the details of the fabric colour and style you would like and with her magic needle you get to walk down the aisle where your prince charming awaits in the gown of your dreams. A good thing by having your wedding dress tailor made is because any alterations to meet the requirements of your comfort level can be done at your own leisure. The seamstress can advise you on certain materials and fabric for your wedding gown.

White/ivory/ beige are favoured colours for a wedding dress. Accessories protrude an air of elegance when worn up against these shades. Neutral/pastel colours are so easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids attire.

Looking through magazines to gather ideas will keep you updated with all the wedding fashion gossip.

No bridal gown on a dummy will ever look as good as the real thing nor do the get to walk down the aisle. So there you have it, choosing the ideal dress you have perfection. Now go knock them dead because today the worlds your (oyster) another lovely shade for the gown.

After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kacy_Carr

Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, selected gowns by Monique L’Huillier, Melissa Sweet, Lela Rose and Reem Acra for lucky “Today Throws a Martha Stewart Wedding” winner, Jessica Mapel, who is allowing viewers to decide which of the four designer dresses she will wear to her televised wedding in New York on Oct. 5.

But, for those of us who don’t have Darcy on hand to short-list the perfect dress, she gave us 10 tips to narrow down the right look.

1. Give yourself enough time. Finding the right gown and allowing for fittings and alterations can take several months.

2. Know the location and time of year of your wedding before you choose your dress, so that you can pick styles that suit both the setting and the season.

3. Take pictures of dresses that you like to the bridal salon, but be open to advice from the experts. It’s impossible to know how a style will look until you try it on, and you may be surprised to discover new styles that suit you.

4. Be honest about your budget. Don’t go to Vera Wang if your budget if $500. Remember to factor in the cost of accessories, shoes, a veil and underwear in addition to the dress.

5. Check out fashion magazines in addition to bridal glossies. It’s a great way to get a sense of your own personal style, which will help in choosing the right dress.

6. If you’re not sure about a dress, keep trying. Women often know when they’ve found the right one.

7. Bring your mother or a trusted friend along for advice, but keep it small. Advice from too many people will confuse you.

8. Word-of-mouth is a great way to find a hair and makeup person, but take a trial run way before your wedding in case you don’t like their work.

9. Save money by finding someone who can do both hair and makeup and is based close to the venue so you don’t have to cover travel expenses.

10. Carry an emergency kit of makeup. Make sure you get the same products your makeup artist will be using.

Source: DailyNews

Wedding in the life of any person is of great significance since through this social institution one crosses the threshold and enters into a new life. To commemorate this very incident through centuries wedding dresses have been specially designed and more and more expensive and gorgeous designs are brought to the fore.

Well, it is to be kept in concern that by and large wedding dresses happen to be a matter of personal choice and for that reason are specially ordered with the requirement of a minimum order period of twelve weeks. Now you may ask what is the reason of such a long time. But before reaching any decision commit to memory that wedding dresses are regarded as icing on the cake on every bride’s wedding day.

The situation being thus the choice of the best one should be done with great care and patience. Since the tradition has been going on for centuries till now there have been several innovative designs to cater to the needs of generations of women. It has been found time and again that many brides prefer to consider different dresses for their wedding. Now days there happens to be great demand for the informal wedding dresses and are becoming extremely popular. Indeed if you even inspect it shall be found that all types of bridal dresses are both fashionable and acceptable. But the ultimate choice entirely depends on you since there are many like the informal beach wedding dresses, informal short wedding dresses, discount informal gowns along with others.

The traditional white or ivory is still the most popular choice for informal wedding dresses, but more and more brides are opting for special colors that suit or become special to them. No matter what it is, whether it matches your personality should be the greatest priority. Wedding dress is the finest expression of your personality, so don’t hesitate and allow your imagination to run wild.

It’s no secret: I am not a fan of black. That is to say, while black can be useful, it’s not the only answer to every dressing question. (Perhaps I’m a bit rebellious, although I prefer to think of myself as creative!)

When in the past I have mentioned the idea that some people consider wearing black to a daytime wedding a breach of etiquette, I get the impression that for most that is a new idea. To which I respond, but never aloud, “didn’t your mother teach you any manners?”

Sorry. You know I love you guys.

Erin at A Dress A Day says it much better than I could, in her wonderfully thorough Rules for Dresses at Weddings:

One: do not wear black. I can hear somebody whining that she only has one nice dress, and it NEEDS to be black because she has to wear it on New Year’s Eve, and besides, black is slimming. I am not listening to you. You do not wear black to weddings. You do not wear black to weddings because wearing black at weddings means you disapprove of the marriage. You do not wear black to weddings because someday, god forbid, you might actually WANT to wear black to a wedding in order to show your disapproval and your deep grief over somebody’s ill-advised nuptials, and no one will know that this is what you intended because there will be a roomful of women in LBDs dancing barefoot to “We Are Family” and your grand gesture will be for naught. MARK MY WORDS. (Besides, black is BOR-ing. And not as slimming as you might think.) Black and white prints are allowable if they would be unsuitable for a funeral.

To prove I am not utterly heartless, I will “allow” the following exceptions:

1. The bridal party. Often the person disputing the long-standing tradition of not wearing black to a wedding will use the new fashion of having bridesmaids in black as an example. There’s no connection. Bridesmaids wear what the bride chooses for them. Guests must police themselves.
2. The visibly pregnant. If you can only find one maternity dress and it’s black, the bride will understand. If not now, some time later when she’s looking back at the wedding pictures because she’s so big she can’t convince her pregnant self to get up off the couch.
3. For an evening wedding.

Admittedly most etiquette experts now call the prohibition against black antiquated, but fashion experts The Budget Fashionista and Angie at youlookfab still advise color as a better option.

Some other don’ts:

* Don’t wear red. This one also comes from Erin, the reason for it is because red is such an attention-grabber.
* (I’m sure you all know this but) never wear white to a wedding, in order not to compete with the bride.
* No sequins for day weddings and nothing, nothing revealing.

I once attended a wedding where the groom’s step-mother was wearing a turquoise sequined mini-dress. Believe me, no matter how good she looked in it, she was the object of pity not admiration.

Source: Rebecca Mielke

Every bride would agree that her wedding dress should be perfect - not only does she want to look her best, on her special day, but her wedding dress also is the center of everybody’s attention. But how would you select the best one for you? Here is advice about selecting the best dress for your wedding.

Your wedding dress style should match the wedding style
Do you plan a very formal wedding in a cathedral or is it going to be an informal beach ceremony? Before deciding on the dress, you should decide how formal your wedding is going to be. A long and puffy princess style wedding dress is no longer your only option - informal weddings and beach weddings are progressively becoming more popular. So now you can find all kinds of wedding dresses - short or tea length dresses, colored wedding dresses and even white sarongs, for a Hawaiian wedding.

One advantage to an informal wedding dress is that it is much cheaper and more comfortable. Also, while a formal wedding gown almost always needs serious alteration, an informal dress is much easier to fit. So if you don’t have that much time left before you wedding, an informal dress could be a good choice.

How to chose the right bridal salon
If you want to find the best dress, you will need to spend a couple of days visiting different salons. However, before you visit a bridal shop it is a good idea to call them and ask a few questions - this will save you trips to places that would only waste your time. When ringing a bridal salon you should ask:

* Can you just come to the shop or is an appointment required?
* What dresses styles do they have and what is the price range?
* Are alterations free and, if not, how much do they cost?
* If they don’t have dresses in your size, can one be ordered?
* Do they also carry bridal accessories, like hair decorations, veils and shoes?
* Can they hold a dress you like for a couple of days?

When you get to the shop, try as many dresses as necessary, until you find the perfect one. Don’t listen to the sales person, when they say that the first dress you try on is great and you should take it. Remember they want to sell the dress and it is their job to say it looks great, even if in fact it is hideous.

When you finally find the dress that you always dreamed of, ask them to put it on hold; don’t let them convince you that you should buy it straightaway. Return to the shop the next day and look at your dress again - you would be amazed how often something that seemed perfect, after trying on 10 different dresses, won’t impress you when you see it with a fresh eye. However, if you look at your dress again and feel “yes this is the one”, than it is time to buy it.

Tanya Turner is a fashion expert and a founder of http://www.Cheap-Wedding-Dresses.info where you can find unbiased information about wedding dress styles, what is in fashion and how to get your wedding dress at a reasonable price

Source: Ezine @rticles

This is very important advice for those brides when choosing a dress!

It is important that you do your homework. All bride don’t want to waste time running into the wrong stores and boutiques and find out at the end of the day that you have achieved nothing. Keep reading if you want to make your next run-around a success.

The most important thing should be taken care of first. You obviously would like to know how much to pay for your wedding dress. The prices of wedding dresses vary. They can range from as little as £500 to as much as £50,000. This also depends what you get for your money. For instance, you can buy a perfect dress from well-known bridal chains and pay a measly £300. Keep in mind that a dress at this price is probably shipped from the Far East. Also, it will be unlikely that these dresses are silk and unique.

Don’t let this put you off. There are also well-known brand dresses for £3000 and more. These dresses are also manufactured in the Far East, but they are altered to fit. There are top end bridal stores that is better and there you can expect silk, but remember that if you are paying for a dress that has to be altered to fit you, you are just paying for a name, and this name costs you £3000.

If a bride is prepared to pay £3000 for a dress, it should be “made to measure”. Purchasing a dress and then having it altered to fit is sometimes not successful. There are stores that charge you anything from £1800-£4000, but this means that the wear is handmade to fit the princess.

Altered to fit dresses and made to measure dresses have a huge price difference. If you think about, you would probably think that you are been over-charged. Here are the reasons why this is not true:

Made to measure dresses are individually, handmade and labor will cost you. Overheads are higher than dresses that are being manufactured in the Far East. Bridal stores offer a high service level and also have an investment in many sample dresses for the brides to try.

Another reason is that brides are experiencing what designers have, and what they have acquired in the business over the years. You are dealing with professional designers that design and make their own dresses, and with this, brides should feel confident knowing that at the end of the day the dress is going to fit and when the time comes it will be ready. This is not the case with dresses from the Far East. These dresses have to be altered once you put it on.

There are cases where brides decide to use a dressmaker to copy the design of a designer dress to budget what is in the pocket. Dressmakers can cut a designer’s price in half because of the low overheads. The brides should first ask for a few references before considering this option, because this can prove disastrous.

Neil MacLeod writes for Johanna Hehir, who has one of the largest selections of different wedding dresses in London and is one of London’s top wedding dress Designers. Specialising in made to measure designer wedding dresses and evening wear.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Neil_MacLeod

Moments that highlight many a wedding day is to suffer from nerves. This is not unusual due to the fact that this is the one day in your life when all eyes are upon you. It is the bride that will always will be the centre of attention at the wedding and why not with all the effort put into looking fabulous. Nerves affect many brides mainly due to worry of everything going according to plan. Well if you have planned your wedding day with careful thought then you need not worry.

Before the mention of accessories lets talk on the item we would like to accessorize and that is the wedding gown. Choosing your wedding dress without doubt has to be wonderful experience with so many stunning designs and styles to choose from. We now need to highlight areas that need to be considered when selecting what is going to be the perfect wedding dress. What you have to keep in mind when choosing your gown, wrong choice - wrong image - wrong you.

Different gown styles are not particularly designed with you in mind so all that glitters is not gold meaning, no matter how glamorous some of the gowns are does not mean it is going to be the ideal wedding dress for you. Your shape figure height are important issues that need to be looked into before committing to buy. Take along a member of family or friend to help you pick the dress that will give you the perfect look.

If the wedding dress you see adorned on the mannequin/dummy standing in the bridal shop window catches your eye do not act on impulse. Just because it looks great on the dummy does not necessarily mean it will on you. We can not have you looking like a clown in your gown. Can dreams come true, yes. You will go to the ball Cinderella. Fairy godmothers do exist armed with needle and cotton to conjure up the dress you may have always dreamed of wearing? All you have to do is to provide the details of the fabric colour and style you would like and with her magic needle you get to walk down the aisle where your prince charming awaits in the gown of your dreams.

A good thing by having your wedding dress tailor made is because any alterations to meet the requirements of your comfort level can be done at your own leisure. The seamstress can advise you on certain materials and fabric for your wedding gown. White/ivory/ beige are favoured colours for a wedding dress. Accessories protrude an air of elegance when worn up against these shades. Neutral/pastel colours are so easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids attire. Looking through magazines to gather ideas will keep you updated with all the wedding fashion gossip. No bridal gown on a dummy will ever look as good as the real thing nor do the get to walk down the aisle.

So there you have it, choosing the ideal dress you have perfection. Now go knock them dead because today the worlds your (oyster) another lovely shade for the gown. After hours of research I found this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kacy_Carr

GONE are the days when the second time bride known as the “encore bride” has to settle for scaled down ceremonies with fewer guests.

With over 45% percent of all weddings today involving one or both partners who have been married before, it’s difficult to tell from the attire whether the modern bride is marrying for the first or umpteenth time. In fact, the modern bride who is lucky enough to find love again is trampling on the old traditions. Now their wedding is based on their taste and their budget. With the motto being: “This is the last time, and it’s got to be the best.”

The “encore bride” is in a different place than when she had her first wedding. They are confident, they have more money to spend, and they know what they want. Their focus is on “simple elegance”.

Whether it is your first, second or third wedding the focal point is still the wedding dress. These brides are seeking dresses that are tailored rather than poufy - a sexy, sophisticated look with the emphasis on quality fabrics.

Today’s trends in bridal gowns are all about you. Your second wedding gown should reflect your personal style, your fashion sense and what kind of wedding you want to have.

When shopping for that perfect dress it helps to know your body type so you can choose the gown that highlights your best features and downplays the areas you wish you could forget.

Here are some of the latest fashion trends to help get you started:

Trains are fine, but keep them simple, again matching the formality and style of the wedding.

Show some skin: At this year’s runway shows, many designers decided to go bare. Creations featured mostly strapless gowns that place the emphasis on the bodice: gently weaved, beaded, or simple with demure jeweled straps.

Body-Conscious: Designers are very body conscious these days, with shape taking precedence. This is good news for any bride: most of these dresses have a slimming effect. The ever-popular A-line (also known as princess) is a long cut that draws the eye downwards, and often has a built-in train. This does not mean that designers have abandoned the classic traditional gowns…the skirts still float but the cut is meant to flatter the body.

Embroidery and Lace: These two mainstays of bridal fashion never go out of style and let’s not forget beading. Today’s bride wants the opulence in beadwork with many designers choosing crystals over glass beads.

Color: This component of a gown has never been so popular. Brides are actually thinking outside the box these days choosing jewel tone gowns in gold, silver, and a variety of pearl tones. However, second time brides still are confident enough to wear white, after all “white symbolizes commitment and faithfulness” so why not!

Where to Look: Magazines are the traditional way a bride begins her gown search, but why not look for a gown online? Most designers now have WebPages, and a collection of name gowns can be found on a number of websites. And if you’re wondering, “Will the gown of my dreams fit me right?” there’s help to be found on a multitude of websites which determine your body type and then suggest the dress type that is best for your figure.

Finally Hit the Runways! The latest fashions needn’t remain a trade secret. Bridal shows, which feature live runway presentations of the current trends and designers, are an excellent way to view a variety of gowns.

A wedding is a celebration of love so indulge and take your time finding that perfect gown. The number one comment I receive from second time brides is…”this is definitely it, I’m not getting married again”.

Gail Young is a co-founder of The Bridal Chalet, an online bridal boutique selling designer style couture and traditional wedding gowns and bridal accessories. A second time bride herself, Gail combines her extensive knowledge of the industry with her passion for designing couture bridal fashion. The Bridal Chalet has a collection of exclusive designer wedding gowns geared to the second time bride – the Sara Houston Collection.

Visit her website at: http://www.bridalchalet.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Young

Any colour is fine — just don’t compete with the bride.

Even if you’re not the one getting hitched this wedding season, chances are you know somebody who is.

Choosing an appropriate outfit isn’t always as easy as it seems: the evening dress you might wear to a lavish reception probably isn’t going to cut it at a barefoot beach ceremony and vegan buffet.

It’s true that many of the rules set by those slightly antiquated etiquette guides can be more easily bent these days (translation: it’s no longer necessary to wear hats and gloves to a daytime wedding), but a few still hold true.

It’s generally still frowned upon to wear white since it competes with the bride, but dress-shop owner Sharon Packman says just about every colour is wedding-appropriate — even black. “Most of those taboos are gone now,” she says.

In addition to dressing appropriately for the ceremony, comfort is key as weddings can often be long events. Most importantly, follow your common sense: consider the venue, consider the type of ceremony, and consider the time of day. Or, just follow this guide to putting together a look for six common weddings.

- Beach wedding: This is the most casual of weddings. Think bright colours, pretty pastels, wrap dresses, light materials like linen, and cute tropical-inspired sundresses. Keep jewelry simple — no bling required. As for shoes, avoid heels as they will sink into the sand. Go for flat-soled sandals or even a pair of bright flipflops.

- Eco wedding: Thanks to stylish clothing lines like Passenger Pigeon (passengerpigeon.ca) and Ecoganik (ecoganik.com), environmental fashion has finally shed its crunchy-granola image. Check out stores that carry chic dresses made from fabrics like tencel, bamboo, or organic cotton suitable for a green wedding. The best part? These types of fabrics will breathe easily and leave you cool — perfect for a summer wedding.

- Traditional or formal wedding: Church ceremony followed by a sit-down dinner? Then you’re in luck — now that prom season is winding down, you can find fantastic bargains. Two points to remember: avoid anything overtly sexy (or wear a jacket or shawl during the ceremony part of the wedding), and black and white can be worn anywhere, any time.

- Outdoor wedding: These can skew towards formality, depending on the venue, so check the invite carefully. An outdoor wedding at a posh country club can be very different than a low-key ceremony held in a friend’s backyard. As a general rule, wear light colours for a summery look. Anything from a skirt and co-ordinating top, to a pantsuit, is generally appropriate.

Urban Chic
These luxurious affairs are the best place to go all out. If you can afford it, go for a designer dress, a fierce evening bag, and even fiercer stilettos.

- Hipster wedding: Usually held someplace quirky, like an art gallery, industrial loft, or out of the way restaurant, hipster weddings are pretty much anything goes, from visible tattoos to funky accessories. (Though you might want to leave the opera gloves at home — unless they are ironic vintage.) Feel free to experiment with colour and shape.

Source: Canada.com

White silk, lace, embroidery, petticoats… what does your dream wedding gown look like? Have you found the person who will make it for you?

When you ask around the first name that usually comes up is Vera Wang. This creative and talented artist often went with her mother to fashion shows in Paris. She got frustrated with the lack of fashion in bridal wear and decided to create her own shop. Today she is the hottest name in this industry, dressing such glamorous ladies for their nuptials as Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Williams and Sharon Stone.

Another name to watch out for in bridal fashion is Monique Lhuillier. This lady always wanted to be a fashion designer. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising but didn’t go into designing wedding gowns until after she designed her own wedding dress and then she decided to get into this business. Today she designs gowns for such celebrities as Britney Spears, Christine Baumgartner (wife of Kevin Costner), Natalie Imbruglia and Charlotte Ross.

Now, you may be saying to yourself that you can’t afford the price tag of these designers. You may be surprised. While it’s true that to ask these designers to make a gown specifically for you would be expensive, you can get their designs off the rack, so to speak in places like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus. You can also check out the online stores for wedding gowns made by these wonderful designers.

Quite a number of brides don’t wish to waste their gowns, sitting in their closets, just mouldering. That would be a shame. Their generosity, your find, an absolute treasure. Check out the bargains to be had from purchasing used wedding gowns created by these very same designers. They are absolutely beautiful and can make you feel absolutely glamorous on your wedding day without breaking your bank.

Lesley-Ann Graham runs WeddingTrix.com - a valuable wedding planning resource with articles, tips and advice to help you plan your perfect wedding. Visit Lesley-Ann’s wedding blog for more free wedding planning help and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lesley-Ann_Graham

Have you ever seen an ugly bride? Probably not. No woman intentionally goes out of her way to plop down more than $887 (the national average, according to the Fairchild Bridal Group’s American Wedding Survey, 2005) to find an unattractive gown that does little to enhance her assets. Why have a wedding if you’re not going to look like the queen you are, right?

No, brides are much smarter. They shop early - frequently a year in advance to find the perfect gown. They bring along friends and relatives to offer soft critiques, and they try on a variety of styles before making the critical choice.

But how do you wade past the fluff and stuff often found in gargantuan bridal guides to discover your own true bride inside? Very carefully . . .

Dress color
Chastity no longer determines bridal gown colors. A woman’s choice is often due to how she thinks a dress looks against her skin. And retailers say the jury is split. Brides, they say, buy as many ivory and champagne-tinged gowns as they buy of the more pristine white ones.

Furthermore, WeddingChannel.com editor-in-chief Rosanna McCollough says September has emerged as the most popular month for weddings, which might account for the more avant-garde bridal offerings seen in powder blue, iridescent pink and even blood red.

Dress style/silhouette
For more than a couple of seasons, strapless has been strong, regardless of the time of year or the bride’s size. And it continues to be the most pervasive dress style found at many bridal boutiques, although halter-neck gowns and capped-sleeve ones have gained momentum.

And, thanks to noted bridal designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier and Angel Sanchez among others, more attention is being brought to a bride’s sweeter sensibilities. Now you’re likely to find sweeping looks that incorporate draping overlays, velvet waist ribbons and sashes, lots of chantilly lace and bows that are thin and wispy or big and bell-like.

Some gowns are full and full-length this season while others are tea-length and fit closer to the body. Drop-waist, natural-waist and empire-waist gowns are all accounted for, too, although trains appear to be going the direction of the dinosaur.

One reason for this, some say, is the onslaught of destination weddings, which are held out of town, on a beach or cruise ship far away from one’s familiar church or synagogue. Such venues often mean that the bride must tug along her dress; thus, the simpler the dress, the better.

Bridal hair
Soft and romantic is what’s in this bridal season when it comes to hair, area stylists say. You might see a slicked-back chignon under a veil or two, but chances are it will include a few petal curls on top, says Bob Pitts, who co-owns Studio 703 in Chesterfield, Mo.

Loosely tousled waves are most popular for brides with longer hair, he says.

‘‘Most hairstyles are a little bit more retro,’’ he says, and most start thinking of a plan to grow out their hair shortly following their engagement.

But don’t look for too many flowers in the hair. Pitts says hair is kept fairly plain, with the exception of possibly a tiara.

Source: The Pueblo Chieftain