Monday, April 4, 2011

Shopping For A Wedding Dress? Here Are 12 Tips To Follow:

Shopping For A Wedding Dress? Here Are 12 Tips To Follow:



Sheath/ Column Halter Court Train Chiffon Wedding Dress

Sheath/ Column Halter Court Train Chiffon Wedding Dress
When it comes to shopping for your perfect wedding dress it can pay to be aware of the potential pitfalls you may encounter. To help you with such a big decision here are 12 tips which should make you dress shopping experience easier & more enjoyable.

1. Set a price limit on how much you’re willing to spend on a a gown.

Wedding dresses come in a broad range of prices, from just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. So it is always a good idea to set a budget before you start looking. When you first approach bridal boutiques, quote them a figure around 10-20% less than your intended budget. Sounds crazy, but sales personnel will often try to tempt you with more expensive gowns at prices slightly higher than the figure you have given them.

2. Know your figure shape.


When you look through bridal magazines you are presented with images of glamorous, ultra slim models who look amazing in anything. Remember that in the real world we can’t all look fabulous in every style of wedding dress. Take some time to research your body shape & the styles that will suit you. A good bridal boutique should be able to guide you, but it is always a good idea to know yourself which shapes will flatter you & which ones won’t.

3. Ask for bridal shop recommendations.

Word of mouth is vital to any business & people will talk about good & bad experiences they have had with vendors. If you know someone who has recently got married, talk to them about the bridal boutiques they visited & the service they encountered. Another optionis to do some research online. There are a lot of websites out there that will offer consumers the chance to rate businesses they have used & wedding forums maybe able to gleam you some information about certain vendors in your area.

4. Shop during the week.

If you can choose a weekday to go shopping for your gown. Weekends are always busy & you could find it impossible to get an appointment when you want one. Having the full attention of the sales assistant for as long as you need it is important. Another choice would be an evening appointment as some bridal stores will stay open later on some days.

5. Fib about your wedding date.

At some point you will be asked when your wedding date is. It is a good idea to lie & give a date about 4 weeks prior to your real wedding day. This will give you some time to ensure the gown arrives & all alterations can be completed satisfactorily.

6. Bring a buddy with you.

Taking a friend or family member with you is always a good idea. They can give you their opinion on what suits you best & stop you from blowing the entire wedding budget on a deisgner couture dress. It is all too easy to get carried away or be coerced by the sales assitant into spending more than you have or into buying a dress which is simply hideous on you. Make sure whoever you take has a cool sensible head on them!

7. Take your time when choosing a gown.

Your wedding dress is a vital purchase. Every time you look back at your wedding photographs & video your will see it. Each time you do you should be as blown away by it as you were the first time you saw it in the shop. With this in mind it is important not to rush into a purchase but take your time & make sure you pick the right gown. Remember the dresses in the shop are samples & the one you choose will be made especially for you to your size. So unless you are buying a sample sale, you will not miss out because someone else got there first. Try to narrow your choices to 2 or 3 gowns & then take some time to review your notes & even compare them online. When you think you are ready, go back & try them on again.

8. Ask the store lots of questions.


Bridal stores can have many hidden fees & policies that you may not be aware of until it comes to purchasing a gown. Make sure you ask lots of questions about how they operate & how you will get the gown of your choice. Here are some important things to find out:

* 1. Who’s the manufacturer of the dress?
* 2. How long will it take to get the dress in?
* 3. What kind of payment policies does the shop have?
* 4. How much of deposit is required? Can you pay by credit card?
* 5. What is the store’s refund & cancellation policy? (get it in writing!)
* 6. What are the costs of alterations? (get a written estimate)
* 7. Are there extra shipping fees? Size fees for extra large sizes or petites?
* 8. Are their rush order fees? (if you have to have your gown sooner)

9. Bring a vinyl tape measure with you.

You will need to be measured at the bridal store & you should check that they measure you with a vinyl tape not a cloth one. Cloth tape measures will stretch giving inaccurate measurements. Take a vinyl tape in your bag just in case. The measurements they should take will be your bust, waist, hips & from the hollow of your throat to hemline (for length).

10. Don’t base your choice on dress size.

Clothing manufacturers vary in their sizes, as there is no standard for dress sizes to be uniformly the same. You may already find that you have to buy clothing from one store in a size larger than clothing from a store down the road. The same is true with bridal gowns, that is why it is important to get a gown made up to your exact measurements to ensure a perfect fit.

11. Don’t put your gown on a layaway plan.

Be careful of paying for a gown in installments when you haven’t yet received it. The manufacturer could go out of business or discontinue that particular design.

12. Make your own headpiece.

Bridal headpieces, tiaras & combs can cost your anything from $70 to $200 dollars in a bridal store. But if you are creative you can make your own for under $30. There are lots of books available with designs to copy or which can help you get started. Visit online craft & bead retailers for all the equipment & supplies you will need. An alternative option is to rent one from a resale or consignment store.

Article by: Georgina Clatworthy

Enjoy These Wedding Dress Ideas Below:

Some would be a great beach wedding dress, a second wedding dress to wear at the reception, or just a great informal wedding dress.

Sheath/ Column Sweetheart Chiffon Backless Court Train Wedding Dress

Sheath/ Column Sweetheart Chiffon Backless Court Train Wedding Dress


Sheath/ Column Sweetheart Short/ Mini Lace Weddding Dress

Sheath/ Column Sweetheart Short/ Mini Lace Weddding Dress


Sheath/ Column Strapless Knee-length Satin Wedding Dress With Removable Watteau Train

Sheath/ Column Strapless Knee-length Satin Wedding Dress With Removable Watteau Train


A-line Strapless Tea-length Chiffon Over Satin Wedding Dress with Ribbon

A-line Strapless Tea-length Chiffon Over Satin Wedding Dress with Ribbon


Trumpet/ Mermaid Square Floor-length Satin Bridesmaid/ Wedding Party Dress (HSX133)

Trumpet/ Mermaid Square Floor-length Satin Bridesmaid/ Wedding Party Dress (HSX133)


Trumpet/ Mermaid Off-the-shoulder Sweep/ Brush Train Satin Organza Wedding Dress (HSX1136)

Trumpet/ Mermaid Off-the-shoulder Sweep/ Brush Train Satin Organza Wedding Dress (HSX1136)

SEARCH FOR ANYTHING FOR YOUR WEDDING - CLICK HERE



Sunday, April 3, 2011

Exotic Weddings! Dresses, Cakes, And Decor Oh My!

Exotic Weddings! Dresses, Jewelry, And Flowers Oh My!

Dare to be different!! With some suggestions below for having a most exotic
wedding!

Anyone can make use of any of these ideas below, why not?

Exotic (meaning) Intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange:

Exotic Bridal Gowns:

idea for unusual traditional dress Pictures, Images and Photos
red wedding Pictures, Images and Photos
ONE MORE!
Figura Fashion's , Indian wedding lehenga with heavy zardozi work Pictures, Images and Photos

Exotic Wedding Cakes:
unusual wedding Pictures, Images and Photos

# 328 Pictures, Images and Photos
The Cake Pictures, Images and Photos

Exotic Wedding Flower Idea:
exotic lily bouquet Pictures, Images and Photos
OK, this is not a flower, but it is made to look like flowers, and I might add, pretty darn exotic, and COOL!
Indian wedding Pictures, Images and Photos

Exotic Wedding Decor:
Indian wedding Pictures, Images and Photos
Grand Ballroom Pictures, Images and Photos
Waterfall Lawn Pictures, Images and Photos
(all images added by permissible embedded code provided by a 3rd party source)





Getting The Perfect Wedding Cake! Some Helpful Tips

Getting The Perfect Wedding Cake! Some Helpful Tips



(images added by permissible 3rd party provided embedded code)
How to Choose Your Perfect Wedding Cake

Your wedding cake is an important element to your wedding celebrations. Many couples use their wedding cake as the focal point of their reception, so it will need to look fabulous & taste fantastic. Here is some guidance on choosing your perfect wedding cake.

Find your cake style

Traditionally wedding cakes are multi-tiered & covered in white icing. This remains a popular choice today; however the designs & icings get ever more creative & elaborate. Take a look through magazines & online to get an idea of the style that appeals to you most. You may choose a traditional tiered cake with pillars or without, a stunning display of cupcakes, a luxurious chocolate cake or something more novel.

Seek out the talent

When you have an idea of the shape you want your cake to take, start looking for someone to create it for you. As ever recommendations from friends & family is a good place to start or ask your venue if they can recommend someone. Bridal fayres offers you the chance to see cakes in ‘the flesh’ & even have a taste. When you start looking for a cake designer, look for one that specializes in your particular choice of cake, some may be able create fabulous traditional cakes but not a novel cake with intricate decoration.

Choose the flavors

Fruit is the traditional choice for wedding cakes & although still popular, flavored sponge cakes are increasing in popularity. You can choose to have various flavors applied to the plain sponge mix such as lemon or honey. If your have chosen a tiered cake you can have a different flavor for each tier. This is particularly good advice if some of your guests have special dietary requirements. If you choose a sandwich style cake you can also go to town on the fillings such as fruit combinations, cream cheese or chocolate.

Decide on the decoration

The decoration is probably the bit you have given most thought to & will co-ordinate with the rest of your chosen wedding scheme. Traditionally the wedding cake was iced to match the brides dress. Fresh flowers are still a popular choice & you can ask you florist to create to some small arrangements for you cake. Edible flowers can look very impressive & a good designer can make flowers that you will have trouble tell apart from the real thing. A good designer will be able to guide you & come up with a stunning design for your cake, try & furnish them with as much detail as possible about your dress, color schemes & venue.

Top it off

They may have been out of favor in recent years, but cake toppers are making a comeback. The traditional cake topper was a plastic version of the bride & groom, but modern toppers are far more sophisticated. Whimsical toppers, fondant characters of the bride & groom & even elaborate crowns are just some of the options available. Other toppers will match your theme such as snowflakes, or you may go for glamour & have your monogram made up to sit on top of your cake.

Check it for size

You may design a fabulous cake but will it be big enough to feed all your guests? Once the third course is over, hopefully all your guests will be full so you don’t need to serve up large portions. Your cake designer will be able to tell you how big your cake needs to be ensuring sufficient for all & on the portion size. As a general rule a 10″ cake will serve around 70 guests. A square cake is a more economical choice as there is no wastage when cutting, unlike with a round cake. If your budget is tight, have a decorated cake on display at the reception & smaller plain cakes or cutting cakes, in the kitchen for your guests.

Think about presentation

As you will have spent all that effort in designing your beautiful cake it would be a shame to let it down by bad presentation. Place it on a table on it’s own & perhaps add some flower petals or candles to showcase it perfectly. Place it somewhere it can be seen by your guests & not tucked away in a corner.

Save some for later!

Traditionally the top tier of the cake was saved for the christening of your first child. However this only works if the cake is made from fruit & hasn’t been cut into. After the wedding wraps it well & store in an air-tight container. When you come to use it strip away all the icing & ‘feed’ it with brandy to moisten it, and then re-ice. It is worth remembering that after a long period of time your cake may not taste as good as it did on your wedding day & so you may decide to enjoy it on your wedding day & forgo tradition.

by: Georgina Clatworthy

thenightkitchen Pictures, Images and Photos
thenightkitchen Pictures, Images and Photos
thenightkitchen Pictures, Images and Photos
thenightkitchen Pictures, Images and Photos
wedding cake Pictures, Images and Photos
APR Bill Tom Wedding Cake Pictures, Images and Photos



Saturday, April 2, 2011

Flattering Bridesmaid Dresses, Make Your Ladies Look Good!

Flattering Bridesmaid Dresses, Make Your Ladies Look Good!


Over the years, the humble bridesmaid dress has achieved a remarkable reputation for being an ugly monstrosity that assaults bridal party members with beauty-killing gusto.While even this characterization may be a bit of an exaggeration, it’s unfortunate that one of the most essential and potentially beautiful elements of your wedding should receive such a bad rap.

Alfred Angelo Bridesmaid Dress 6453

Alfred Angelo Bridesmaid Dress 6453

With a bit of diligent searching, elegant bridesmaid dresses that will please each and every one of your attendants while complementing your own gown can be found without breaking the bank. Get your ideas flowing with this quick primer on some eye catching and figure flattering gown models that will keep your entire bridal party smiling through the whole ceremony.

A-Line Chiffon Dress

The perfect bridesmaid dress for a semiformal spring or summertime wedding, this gown is also a great example of a dress that will please most of your attendants. Featuring a sleek A-line silhouette, this dress will look especially great on petite women, since it naturally elongates.

However, this dress features a cut that is flattering to nearly any figure, since its high waist and subtly flared skirt will work to draw the eye upward while camouflaging potential trouble areas, including the hips and waist. This chiffon dress is available in a wide range of wedding-appropriate colors and achieves an understated elegance with its pleated strapless neckline and hourglass-inspiring waistline.

Long Chiffon Dress with Removable Flower Detail

Another great example of a figure-flattering A-line gown, the Long Chiffon Dress will keep your entire wedding party looking beautiful for the ceremony, photos and beyond. This loosely flowing gown again draws the gaze upward with its sleek strapless ruched neckline and the very traditional bridesmaid flourish of a removable flower detail.

Made of imported polyester, this lovely number is fully lined and hides any areas your bridesmaids may want to conceal with the utmost in style. This eye pleasing dress is available in 12 colors to make coordinating simple and is sure to be worn again and again even after the wedding is over by your grateful attendants.

Satin Ball Gown Dress

For a more traditional or upscale ceremony, this style provides an appealing alternative to more casual dresses. The ball gown silhouette of this striking number provides a formal elegance while its stark simplicity is the source of its attractive beauty and power.

Marked by a fitted bodice and full, sharply flared skirt, the ball gown silhouette is one of the most form flattering styles of gown available. This particular model features modern smooth satin construction, providing an elegant canvas to add standout accessories or shoes. One of the most tried and true styles for bridal party gowns, this versatile style is available in 43 unique colors, making coordinating a cinch.

Bridesmaids Separates

In lieu of more traditional gown styles, many brides pass up the more contemporary style of separates when choosing bridesmaid dresses. This is unfortunate, since many of today’s models make for extremely elegant options that stand up next to even the most traditional of dresses.

One great example of this is illustrated by a sleek fitted bodice piece that features graceful shoulders strap adorned with pleated details that draw the eye upward. The top’s pleated princess seams provide both interest and a slimming effect for bridesmaids concerned about their figures.

The matching satin A-line skirt continues the sleek fitted look while making the wearer appear slimmer with its straight, simple lines. This attractive skirt can be combined with a sash for extra coverage and increased interest if you deem the design to be a bit too simple on its own.

Halter Ball Gown

Finally, this breathtaking yet subdued gown combines the ball gown look with a fashionable and eye grabbing illusion halter strap to flatter nearly any body type and keep your bridal party looking their absolute best on your special day.

Designed from smooth satin, this dress conveys classic stylistic sensibilities while maintaining a decidedly contemporary look. The gown’s intriguing halter strap stretches over a solid chest piece and wraps around the body just below the chest, creating a high waist look that elongates the body and provides an hourglass figure. A breathtaking gown that looks gorgeous on its own, your bridesmaids are sure to reuse it again and again.

As these styles show, bridesmaid dresses need not be the horror story that culture seems to have deemed them. With a mix of contemporary and classic elements, these examples provide elegant yet understated looks that are certain not to detract at all from the bride. Take a moment now to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses for your ceremony.

Article by: Lucy Jennings


Alfred Angelo Bridesmaid Dress 6132

Alfred Angelo Bridesmaid Dress 6132


Venus Bridesmaid Dress D286

Venus Bridesmaid Dress D286


Venus Bridesmaid Dress D385

Venus Bridesmaid Dress D385


Mori Lee Bridesmaid Dress 370

Mori Lee Bridesmaid Dress 370

Alyce Designs Bridesmaid Dress 1212

Alyce Designs Bridesmaid Dress 1212

SEARCH FOR BRIDESMAID DRESSES - CLICK HERE