Wedding Gowns In Christian Marriages

Wedding is the most celebrated event in the journey of life for any person. Choosing the right dress for this occasion is the biggest issue for any bride. The bride comes across a dizzying selection of choices while she goes for buying wedding gowns. The brides also choose the color, style and type of bridesmaid dresses that her bridesmaids are going to wear during her special occasion. There is a lot of importance of wedding gowns during any Christian marriages. The wedding gowns that a bride wears during her wedding are expected to be white in color. The white color of the gown symbolizes innocence, happiness, virginity and purity. Also the wedding gowns are regarded to be a treasured heirloom for any bride. This is because the brides pass down their wedding gowns to their daughter or granddaughter.

There is a difference between wedding dresses and wedding gowns. Wedding gowns are considered to be a more formal dress which is worn during the wedding. Dresses are informal or formal attire, which are mostly one piece garment. It is usually worn with a skirt of any length. Settle down to buy wedding gowns as also bridesmaid dresses much ahead of your wedding date. This would provide the time for any kind of alterations that need to be made. 

 

Also if you and your bridesmaids are plus sized women then the wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses should be custom-made, which requires suitable time. The time of the wedding is also very important to order for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. If you are looking for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses during an off-season then there are very less chances for you to get one. So it is quite wise to look out for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses much ahead of the wedding.

There are different styles of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses available in the market. The formality of the wedding ceremony would help people to decide about the kind of wedding gowns or bridesmaid dresses they choose to wear. Also the time of the day would be an important factor to help deciding the right wedding gowns or bridesmaid dresses.

Weddings can be classified into formal evening or day time event, semi-formal event or even informal event. Generally for formal weddings the bride chooses to wear lighter formal wedding gowns. The semi-formal wedding gowns are much less elaborate than the formal ones. They are generally made out of chiffon sans any lace or beading. Also these are long or short sleeved ones which extend up to one or two feet from the hem. Informal wedding gowns are the ones which are generally shorter dresses and suits. The hemline of informal wedding gowns runs from the knee up to the mid-calf and looks more like a cocktail or party dress.

The color of wedding gowns is very important. Generally white color wedding gowns are preferred over others. Red and black color cannot be used for wedding gowns since it is the sign of prostitution and mourning respectively. The bridesmaid can choose to wear bridesmaid dresses of any color. But the bridesmaid dresses should certainly match wedding gowns of the bride. Wedding gowns need to be preserved in a good manner so that you can pass it down to your daughter or granddaughter.

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Get Your Gown Without Busting The Bank

You really don't have to go far to find budget wedding dresses. You don't have to have a "wedding club" membership. You don't have to "know the right people". And you don't have to travel to a different state or country. Truth be told, you just need to follow these simple tips if you want to find budget wedding dresses that look beautiful & elegant.

Getting a Wedding Dress for Less...

1. Ask Mom. This is the easiest way to get a wedding gown under the budget. Chances are your mother, grandmother, or some other female relative has a dress which you could wear. Ask her if she'd grant you the "honor" of wearing the gown for your wedding. Also, ask if it would be okay to make a few small changes to the dress as well
2. Shop During the Off Season. Oddly enough, the prices on wedding dresses skyrocket during the late spring and summer months. To avoid this "out of nowhere" price hike, try searching for that perfect wedding dress in the fall and/or winter months. Chances are you'll save big bucks if you do.
3. Be Thrifty. There's no shame in visiting thrift stores in search of budget wedding dresses. Such places tend to have a wide selection of clothing choices; which will likely include an area filled with nice dresses and other formal attire. Browse around and see if anything catches your eye.
4. Don't Dent, Rent. If you want a beautiful, new wedding dress yet wish to avoid "denting" the budget too badly, the most logical option for you is to rent. Renting is a very wise option, as you'll be able to wear the dress you want for a price you can very easily afford. The only drawback to this particular method -- if you can even call it that -- is you won't be able to keep the dress afterwards.

These are 4 of the easiest and quickest ways of acquiring budget wedding dresses. If you refuse to follow these simple tips, well, then you're likely not going to save money with this part of the wedding planning.

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Wedding Gown Shopping

There is no doubt about it: shopping for a wedding gown is one of the best parts of being a bride. Nothing is quite as fun as getting to try on all of those fabulous dresses in your search for the one dress that will truly make you feel like a bride. In the excitement, many brides will want to invite everyone they know to join them for the adventure. But before you do, stop and think carefully about who you should bring wedding gown shopping.

You may be surprised to hear that when it comes to finding your dream gown, having more people does not mean having more help. Did you ever hear the old expression, "Too many chefs spoil the soup"? This is exactly what usually happens when a bride brings along a whole entourage. Everyone will have a different opinion, and in all of those voices, it is often the bride's that gets drowned out. Forget about picking a wedding dress by committee or trying to please everyone: it doesn't work.


The ideal number of friends or relatives to bring gown shopping is one to three. (And three can even be pushing it if they are all highly opinionated ladies!) Although it can be fun to try on gowns for all six of your bridesmaids and have them ooh and aah over you, remember that the point is to find your wedding gown, not just to try on lots of dresses. You are better off choosing a couple of friends who will be able to remain focused on you and on what you really want.

The obvious choice for a person to bring gown shopping is the mother of the bride. For many mothers and daughters, it is an experience they have dreamed about sharing for years. If this sounds like you, then by all means, bring your mother. Make a whole mother-daughter day of it with lunch in a nice restaurant after the appointment (hopefully it will be a lunch to celebrate finding your dream dress!).

Not all mothers and daughter see eye to eye, however. If you know that your mother will not be able to keep your personal taste in mind, then you would be better off doing your gown shopping with one of your bridesmaids. You need someone who you can really trust to help you make the right choice. After you have chosen your gown, you can invite your mother to help you pick out your veil and bridal jewelry. Shopping for jewelry and other bridal accessories can also be a good way to involve your future mother-in-law.

So who should a bride avoid bringing to shop for a wedding gown? For starters, if you have a jealous sister, leave her at home. Nothing spoils the mood faster than having your sister shoot down your favorite gown. If she is not going to helpful, don't ask for her opinion.

The other thing that might not occur to many brides is that money is going to be a consideration when choosing a bridal gown. For this reason, it is best not to invite anyone that you do not wish to know either your budget or how much you spent on your wedding gown. (In some cases, this may include the bride's father, even if he is the one paying the bills!) If you are going to be sticking to a very tight budget, you might not want to bring along a friend who will try to steer you towards the latest designer looks. On the flip side, many brides worry that their fiance's family would find them to be overly extravagant if they find out that the wedding gown was very expensive.

Your bridal gown is the most special item of clothing that you will ever purchase. Nothing else that you wear will ever have quite the same emotional significance. When you are shopping for your wedding dress, be sure to bring along only those that you know will be able to help you find that one perfect gown.

By Bridget Mora

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Choice Bridal Gowns Perfectly

Bridal gowns, or better known as Bridal dresses, have been the one thing that has not taken on a dramatic change in terms of how weddings have evolved over the last 50 years. They have stayed on course of being the same colour, white. No one has been brave enough to want to tamper with this symbol of purity and it is with that symbolism that we focus on what has changed however, involving wedding dresses.


A dress, is simply a combination of all its pieces brought together-bodice, silhouette, fabric, trim, etc.-and to truly see how beautiful a wedding dress is, you have to look very closely to see the detailing on the dress. However, with the modern day era ushering new trends to a wedding, a wedding dress has taken on some transformation, not a lot mind you, however, changes that are not dramatic, however, ones that are noticeable.

Some of the areas that the changes have been implemented are the Silhouettes. They are narrower, and this trend is done so to make he bride look slimmer and sexier on her wedding day. Another area is the A-line (also known as princess line). This dress remain very popular, because they are slimmer than most, a trend that is very popular. Sheaths with detachable trains are a very traditional dress; however the newer sheaths are designed with part of train make into the silhouette, for a trendier look and feel.

A new style of wedding dress that is gaining in popularity is the bias-cut wedding dress. They have gained interest these dresses are cut in such a way that they hug the contours of the body and ultimately flare out. In regards to necklines, designs such as square and curved necklines have become very trendy as well as v-necks. These neckline designs offer a new look without making the bride look "sleazy and cheap".

As you can tell, wedding dresses continue to maintain their elegance and beauty by simply being what they have always been, a symbol of purity and gracefulness. Wedding dresses were made white to embody the bride as a princess that wants the world to know that be is as beautiful as she is innocent and that the groom that will be lucky enough to spend the rest of his life with his new bride has to understand that the bride should be treated as the dress is indicated, innocently and gracefully.

So in conclusion, wedding dresses are the one thing that have remained the same in a time when it is trendy to have themes at weddings, to match a certain pair of colours to resonate across the entire reach of the wedding ceremony and wedding reception. Wedding dresses are a symbolic measure of purity, elegance, and the fact that the colour white tells everyone that the bride is as beautiful and pure today as ever, the need to change the dynamics of a wedding dress are not needed. It has gone over a certain look the accommodate the bride of today, however the beauty of a wedding dress will remain forever!

By Rafi Michael

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How to Preserve Your Wedding Dress for Years

wedding gown holds beautiful memories in all its folds. For most brides, it is a thing to be preserved and possibly even shown to their own children when they grow up, recounting all those beautiful moments which it witnessed on that special day.

Much time is spent in selecting the perfect and affordable wedding dress for the big day in your life. Hence, it makes sense to keep the wedding dress that added so much color to your wedding in proper condition.


A wedding dress, preserved in good condition, can be passed on to the coming generations as a family heirloom. This is why you must know how to take care for your beautiful wedding dress - both before and after the wedding.

• Buy a clean, undersized, unbleached and non-dyed cotton sheet. This type of cotton sheet is easily available in the market. However, while buying make sure the cotton sheet has very little synthetic fiber.
• Before using it, wash the cotton sheet in hot water so that any extra dirt gets vanished. Never use any type of detergent.
• After the wedding ceremony is over, the gown should be wrapped in this cotton sheet. Avoid using a plastic gown to store your wedding dress as plastic can cause rapid oxidation of the fabric which might lead to accumulation of acid residues on your dress causing serious damage to it.
• Store the gown in a flat position and it must be protected from direct sunlight and damp areas.
• Within two weeks of the wedding, the wedding gown needs to be dry cleaned. If there is some sort of stain on your dress and you know about how you got it, be sure to alert your dry cleaner.
• Select a dry cleaner that specializes in preservations of wedding gowns.

After your wedding dress has been dry cleaned, special care should be taken to ensure flawless preservation.

• First of all buy a vacuum-sealed storage box along with archival-quality, acid-free tissue paper.
• Use buffered archival paper for preserving a synthetic fiber gown, and for natural fiber gown, non-buffered archival paper will do.
• Store the fabric-covered metal buttons, pins and sponge padding of the wedding gown separately as after some time metal can get oxidized and leave stains on the fabric.
• Fold the wedding gown by putting top-quality tissue papers in between the folds to prevent it from getting permanent wrinkles.
• And finally store the wedding dress in the vacuum-sealed storage box and make sure that it is kept in a cool dry closet, away from impurities and smoke.
• Inspect the gown from time to time by taking it out from the box.

In today’s Internet savvy world it is not difficult to find an affordable wedding gown online but keeping it in mint fresh condition is tough. Follow the above tips and you will be able to keep your beautiful wedding dress full of memories intact for years.

By: Cynthia Ford.

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Perfect Plus Size Wedding Gown

Preparing for your wedding day is stressful, to say the least. You have to shop for the wedding gown, pick out flowers and coordinate the decorations, choose the time and location and even decide the seating arrangements. This can turn out to be more of a headache than the joyful occasion you think it should be. Being a plus sized bride can add to the frustration as there is a smaller selection of gowns. But the gown selection process doesn't have to be a hassle. Following these tips will help you find the best wedding dress out there. Before you know it, you will be celebrating your big day in the gown of your dreams.

Shopping for a wedding gown is more difficult than shopping for everyday clothing. You should know your body shape as well as your size. A size 12 wedding dress will not fit the same on every woman. If you carry more weight in your chest, or have an apple shaped figure, you'll want something to minimize the bust. If you carry more in your stomach, hips or behind, you are considered pear shape and might want to look at an A-lined dress rather than a ruffled and fluffy ball gown. Every woman wants to look like a princess on her wedding day, and picking a gown that fits your body type is the best way to feel like a million on your special day.

Even a size 5 bride will need at least a month to find her perfect wedding dress. For a plus size wedding gown, you'll want to be sure to start your search as early as possible. Giving yourself extra time to look allows you to find the right size and color at the best price possible. You'll be able to fully appreciate all the options available to you. Finding that one gown that will make you look and feel truly amazing for your wedding day is well worth starting ahead of schedule.

Most wedding dresses go through an alteration or two, and this doesn't just apply to plus size wear. Altering a dress doesn't mean that you happen to have weight issues -- it simply means that the dress can be made to fit you better. Go to your local tailor and ensure that your dress fits you in the best way possible. Whether it's taking a bit in, or tucking a bit there, an experienced tailor can make that dress look stunning on you for very little money out of your pocket.

While it's not easy to find a plus size wedding gown, women of all sizes have trouble shopping for wedding dresses. Make sure to take the time needed to find the dress that's right for you. If you follow these tips, you will look and feel wonderful at your wedding.

By: Andrea Dilea

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Tuxedo Tips for Groom

The wedding couple has many decisions to make concerning formal wear. Several are based on outside factors. For instance a groom's choice of dress depends on the time of day of the ceremony, his bride's dress, the season and their wedding's level of formality.

According to the International Formal-wear Association the timing of the wedding makes all the difference. In their formal wear guide weddings are described as either contemporary or traditional. Within each group there are sub-categories including very formal evening, formal daytime and second and later weddings.

The guide recommends the appropriate attire for the groom, ushers, and groomsmen, father, ring bearer and guests under each type of affair. For example, according to the IFA at a traditional formal evening wedding the groom is advised to wear a black tuxedo with a pleated white formal shirt a bow tie and a vest and cummerbund to match the tuxedo lapels. A white dinner jacket with formal trousers is acceptable for summer or tropical climates.

For a very formal daytime wedding the groom should wear an updated cutaway, usually gray with striped or matching trousers a white shirt with a striped tie or ascot; or a tuxedo or an all gray cutaway outfit with a wing or fold collar formal shirt and a striped gray ascot or a four-in-hand tie. Also, traditionally every man in the wedding party (groomsmen, ushers, fathers, and the ring bearer) dresses alike.

Formal wear rental is the responsibility of each groomsman although the groom or his parents may offer to underwrite the expense. If special accessories, ties, ascot or gloves are selected the groom pays for them.

If a man will need to wear a tuxedo three or four times in the next few years purchasing one is a good investment. It only takes two or three rentals to equal the purchase price - so with one hanging in your closet you can always step out in style; there's no longer any reason to demur over those invitations with Black Tie printed in the lower right-hand corner. The price of a new tuxedo (including only the jacket and trousers) starts around $175 and rises to the $300-500 range and higher. A formal shirt, studs, cufflinks, tie and cummerbund are purchased separately. Formalwear stores sell used tuxedos at reasonable prices and many stores hold sales once or twice a year. It's probably wisest to purchase a basic conservative tuxedo, changing accessories to complement the occasion.

How should a tuxedo fit?

• The coat should allow free movement of the arms and shouldn't feel snug in the armholes.
• The coat should lie smoothly across the back.
• The hem of the coat should reach to the curl of the fingers when arms are held straight down at the sides.
• The coat sleeve should reveal a 1/2-inch of the shirt cuff.
• The trousers should be hemmed even with the top of the heel of the shoes in back and in front they should barely break resting on the top of the shoes.

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11 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

1. Begin shopping early. A special order could take three to six months. Custom dresses can take up to six months. And allow time for a final fitting before the big day.
2. Get it all in writing – the cost and everything the store and seamstress will provide, including all alterations.
3. Ask the store to keep the wedding dress for you until you need it. That way the gown won’t get wrinkled, and your honey won’t see it ahead of time.
4. Don’t buy a dress that’s more than one size too big. It’s too difficult to effectively alter anything bigger than that.
5. Silk is the most popular type of wedding dress fabric. But read the clothing label carefully. Yes, soie means “silk” in French, but peau de soie is actually a synthetic, and its quality varies considerably.
6. To save money, consider buying used. (They’ve been worn only once!) Buying a designer pattern and fabric and going to a seamstress can also save you about 50 per cent of the price of the designer-made gown.
7. Don’t shy away from trying on many different styles. We can’t tell you how many women we know who chose styles they weren’t initially considering.
8. If you’re full figured, try ball-gown styles.
9. A-line dresses are great for hiding heavy thighs and legs. We also like strapless dresses on pear-shaped women. This style draws the eye upward.
10. Sheaths are best for the slim. If you’re very petite, avoid anything that has too much material. You could get lost in all that fabric!
11. To enhance the bust, look for an empire-waisted or A-line dress. Also, if the style permits, you can get the seamstress to sew in breast pads.

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Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

The pre-wedding task most Brides look forward to is choosing a Dress. You may have fantasized about the creation from the moment he popped the question, but the chances are you probably haven't yet considered the practicalities of actually finding your Dream Dress.

So, whether you have a clear idea, or your spoilt for choice and don't know where to start, get loads of inspiration from Wedding Magazine fashion pages and use this guide to ensure that what should be lots of fun, is lots of fun.

Spend a day shopping for ideas, set a budget and then make sure you stick to it.

Allow plenty of time to find your Dream Dress - it may take you a while and most shops expect you to order at least three to four months before your big day.

Try on as many styles as you can. Lots of dresses have zero hanger appeal, but look great once you put them on.

Its a good idea to start out with a general idea of the kind of dress you like: traditional, straight, empire line, princess line, etc.

Remember to look at your rear view! Your Guests will have an uninterrupted view during the ceremony, so it's got to look good.

Think about whether you want a theme to your wedding (color, period, style) as this will make your choice of dress easier.

Be practical - a huge skirt will be hard to maneuver in a tiny Church.

Consider the season of your wedding. Late Spring or Summer Ceremonies call for cool silk, chiffon, pure cotton or lace. Late autumn and winter weddings demand warm, heavier fabrics such as brocade, velvet and duchess satin.

Don't dismiss man-made fabrics - a good quality dress is a cost-effective option which travels well (synthetic fabrics crush less) - important if you've a long trip to the ceremony or are getting married abroad.

Generally, a pure white dress looks better on brunettes, while ivory and cream flatters the traditional English Rose.

If your budget is limited consider hiring you dress. You can pay about the same to hire a designer dress as you would to buy a mass-produced frock.

You could recoup some of the cost of a designer dress by selling it after the wedding (if you can bear to part with it). There are several agencies and exchanges that will help but your gown must be in pristine condition.

Make the most of your natural assets. Tall, slender brides look stunning in long, lean silhouettes, while shorter brides should avoid full skirts and trains, opting for smaller details and trims. A V-shaped waist makes you look taller, you can emphasize a neat waist with a sash, show off good legs with a short skirt, hide plump arms under long sleeves and bony shoulders under high necks. Finally, bustles are a definite no-no for the pear shaped!

Always take at least one other person with you (two is best) when shopping for your dress, so that you know what your wedding finery looks like from every angle.

Ask to try on a veil with the dress so you can get an idea of the complete look - a short veil may well turn a dress from ordinary to special, while a long veil might not work at all.

Choose your Bridesmaids' outfits to match detail or color on your dress. And if you have a theme, make sure you tie in with your maids.

Think about the style of your shoes: whether or not you want a heel may affect the whole look of your dress.

Consider any other accessories that you may need to set off your wedding dress - jewelry, gloves, bags, scarves etc. will all add finishing touches and complete your look, but will they bust your budget?

After the wedding, preserve your dress by having it expertly cleaned and boxed.

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Wedding Trend in 2008: a Predictions

We talked now about the 2008 wedding predictions. Well I looked the some favourites and popular bridal publications - but you know what is HOT on the coasts...does not necessarily trickle down to us....so some of my predictions are based on local experience.

1. AFTER PARTIES - couples are wanting to keep the party going way after midnight by going to a secondary location with their guests. They may not sponsor the party, but they will plan for it.

2. BANQUET/FAMILY STYLE - is coming back here to the Tri-State. We are also seeing more and more people using the square tables (two banquets bumped together). Mix and match at the reception with the table sizes!

3. HOT COLOR -They said that pink is the hot color for 2008. I think it is beautiful, but I foresee it not being as popular until later this year. Instead, I prediction the color chocolate to continue on from last year and start showing up earlier in the year (not just in the fall).

4. REMOVING TRADITIONS - Couples are opting to plan their reception, their way. That may mean: less speeches, no garter/bouquet toss, and multiple desserts offered (instead of just the cake).

5. DETAILS ON THE WEDDING DRESS - Very popular around here is the wedding dress that gets bunched up and tucked. Also - look for more details on the back of the wedding dresses....

Whats about yours?

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Getting Fantastic Deals on the Wedding Clothing

If you are planning to have a full wedding that includes bridesmaids, and groomsmen etc. it could run you a great deal of money to cover your gown as well as the other women and men’s clothing as well.

Bridesmaid’s dresses get more and more costly with every extra woman in the wedding party. When you are deciding how much money you can afford to spend on the wedding clothes, you have to consider the fittings and the flowers or accessories as well.

If you can, you might do better to allow for casual wear for the bridesmaids so that they can wear less expensive dresses or skirts. This is particularly good if you are planning an outdoor or beach wedding.

The less formal the ceremony, the less money that you are required to spend. Perhaps that is why outdoor ceremonies are getting more and more popular these days.

You can also save money on the ladies dresses by purchasing them off season from a bridal store. You can always shop for out of season or discontinued dresses as a means of getting great discounts on gorgeous dresses. If you really want to, you can ask that your bridesmaids forget about the wedding shower gifts in favor of buying their dresses. That is a common compromise that is made these days.

If the cost of the dresses is really going to be a matter of stress for you, just reduce the bridesmaids to just having a maid/matron of honor and a best man only for the groom.

Many couples opt to forego the extras all together and simply do not have anyone standing up with them at all. After all, there is no law that states that you have to have a maid of honor or best man present during the ceremony.

When it comes to the tuxedos for the male participants and the groom, you can often find good deals when renting if you just shop around. It helps is you limit the number of participants if you must in order to reduce costs or if the men involved have their own tuxedos already.

Either way, research and comparison shopping really is the best chance.

You can also choose to rent the ladies gowns as well as the tuxedos. Not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress that they will wear once. Or spend that much money on many dresses that you will never be worn more than once.

Many bridal shops will let you rent a dress rather than buy one. The only difference with rented dresses is that you have to take it as is. They are not custom fitted to you. Other than that, you can save hundreds of dollars doing this.

Wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress is also an option; especially if your are choosing a period theme where the dress was used. For example, if you are wearing your grandmother’s dress and the dress was worn in the 40’s, you can make the 40’s your wedding theme.

If the dress is your mother’s from the 60’s or 70’s, you can do the same thing. It will save you money and provides you with a fun theme.

You can also opt to make your own dress from scratch. Many women are choosing to go with home made pieces because they can get truly original in the make of the dress and the style.

It can be made in any fashion that you like and of any material also. Making your own dress is a good way to save money and it is also guaranteed to make sure that no one else has the same style as you.

When you make it yourself, you are guaranteed a custom fit without paying a custom price.

Finally, you can save bundles on your whole wedding party clothing, including the wedding dress by dressing according to your theme.

For example, if you choose a Hawaiian theme, you can wear island clothes. As part of your theme, you can dress in costumes to make the festivities more fun and as an added bonus; you can make the guests and wedding party dress in costume too.

You can also get a good deal by buying your wedding items at vintage or used stores. Many people bring back their wedding clothing after they have used so that they can recoup some of their money later.

This is a great way to save money for you and the rest of your wedding party. Used clothing items can also be found in bridal shops or tuxedo warehouses because the average person doesn’t wear these items more than once and because of this they will return it to the store that they got it from later.

When you are not afraid of vintage clothing, you can find some truly beautiful designer clothing for great prices. Some of the stores that offer used items will not force you to buy them, but they may request that you pay a bit of an extra fee for dry cleaning etc.

Either way, you will still be saving yourself a great deal of money that you would spend if you bought your items outright.

by: Mike Lindsey

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Wedding Dresses – The Latest Trends!

Wedding dresses are such an opportunity for any bride to show their unique sense of style and to really make a fashion statement. Gone are the days of the plain ‘meringue’ style wedding dresses with a little cute well-placed bow; now we are daring to be different!

In fact, one of the latest trends is to offer wedding dresses that can be used again. Not only is this a great idea from a budget point of view, but it is also reflective of the simple lines that are part of the modern trend in wedding dresses. Arguably, this fashion is due to the ever increasing age of first time brides as well as the large number of second weddings.

Wedding Dresses for the Winter Wedding
Whenever we think about wedding dresses, we automatically think of a warm, summer’s day, with a crisp, wafting white dress to match. However, there is a growing trend towards winter weddings. Winter wedding dresses may not be pure white and are often the preferred choice for second time brides.

Trends in winter wedding dresses include deep red colored dresses or dresses that include a large amount of black. Another great idea is to include a fur collar, or long fake fur coat. If you love a touch of luxury and you want something a little different, then winter wedding dresses may just be the thing for you!

Wedding Dresses for the Summer Wedding
The key to summer wedding dresses, this year, is color. Many wedding dresses are now using substantial amounts of colored fabric to add a classic touch to an otherwise traditional white or cream dress.

Weddings are becoming much more sophisticated; generally, brides will select a theme that they will maintain throughout all aspects of their wedding. Wedding dresses must, of course, fit into this theme and as such colors and accessories are vital. Popular, seasonal colors for wedding dresses include lilac, pink, blue and yellow. Often, brides will choose a half-color theme where the bodice is colored or the skirt is colored, but the other half of the dress is kept in a plain cream or white.

Subtle is the name of the game with modern wedding dresses.

Wedding Dresses – Standing Out From the Crowd
Today, wedding dresses are all different; no-one wants to look the same as the next bride and, naturally, brides go to extreme lengths to make sure that they stand out from the crowd. Of course everyone wants to do so in a classy and not trashy way! It seems that individually designed wedding dresses are the way of the future. By commissioning a made to measure dress you can make sure that it fits perfectly, is exactly what you want and above all, is unique.

Wedding dresses are an expression of your personality, so don’t hold back; let your imagination run wild!

by: Elsie Gilbert

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Dressing, the Mother-of-the-Bride

So you are getting married. You are so excited infact your whole family is so excited! What do you want as a present? What will your hair be like? Are you really going to wear that color of dress? All questions that may be fired at you during the course of the next few months. But one question can strike fear and trepidation into the strongest of brides. What is your mother going to wear?

The mother-of-the-bride outfit is probably the most talked about outfit other than what the bride is wearing. Not even the grooms choice of morning suit, kilt or sneakers and jeans will be talked about as much as what the mother-of-the-bride will be wearing.

Even if bride and mother-of-the-bride have a fantastic relationship outside of wedding planning, when it comes to what your mother is going to wear on your wedding day things can go horribly wrong!

She will have dreamt about this day from the moment you first opened your eyes and stared into hers. She will have planned and re-planned her outfit several times, over each decade that has passed, hopefully moving with the times!

She will have a definate idea of the image she wishes to project and how she wants to look on this wonderous day and hopefully that will coincide with your own ideas.

If you are lucky she will co-ordinate with the rest of the bridal party and your photographs will be a riot of harmonious color. If you fall into the not so lucky catergory then the photographer may experience diffculty placing her beside someone she doesnt clash with or horror of horrors the mother-of-the-groom turns up in the same dress!!!

If your parents have divorced and re-married then this situation can actually get worse. You only have one mother and she carries the mother-of-the-bride mantle but people, and its just human nature, will be looking at your fathers second wife's oufit almost as closely as the mother-of-the-bride's.

I did hear a story where a bride in this situation suddenly realised that the two women in question had indeed bought the same dress. Approaching her mother tactfully she mentioned that it might be an idea to take back the dress as she would have no other appropriate celebration to wear it to. Her mother smiled and replied that of course she would get another dress for her daughters big day but would be wearing the original dress to the wedding rehearsal dinner!

When is comes down to it the main thing is that everyone is happy and it would be foolish to let a disagreement over a mother-of-the-bride dress get in the way of your wedding. Always remember girls one day you may be the mother-of-the-bride!

by: Lorna Mclaren

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Affordable Wedding Jewelry

Finding the right wedding jewelry is an extremely important aspect of the ceremony because the wedding bands in particular will be worn by the bride and groom forever. Wedding bands have gotten to be a great deal more ornate than they used to be. Diamond wedding bands have reached a peak in recent thanks to the celebrities who proudly display theirs.

Wedding bands have even surpassed the usual gold and are now moving into platinum and titanium bands. It used to be that 10k gold rings were the “in” thing to buy and these days they are looked down upon by most couples who would prefer to buy their gold in 14k or higher.

Simple diamonds are still a popular buy, but colored diamonds are gaining momentum thanks to J-Lo’s pink princess cut diamond ring with Ben Affleck. Other popular diamond colors are yellow, blue and aquamarine.

With the ever growing popularity of platinum rings, many couples are looking to shining silver and white gold as a cheaper substitute. White gold has a similar look of platinum, but is a fraction of the price. It is a great alternative.

In the past, the men’s ring was often of little concern to either as long as the woman’s ring was attractive, but these days, men want a nice ring or diamond studded ring almost as much as the women do.

Beautiful ring sets can be found from nearly any source. If you can afford it, you can locate good deals on sets at jewelry stores.

For the most part, the entire wedding ceremony is completely symbolic and that symbolism reaches its peak the moment the rings are exchanged.

Knowing this, can it really be a wonder that the chosen rings are just as important as the chosen couple?

You can virtually choose to go with any type of ring from any source. These days even department stores are offering great knock offs to the popular celebrity rings at extreme discounts.

The popular ring worn by J-Lo; which was a platinum pink diamond ring with a princess cut and accented with two white diamonds on either side can now be purchased at Wal-Mart in a white gold setting with zirconia’s and pink topaz stones.

Wedding bands still look better in a plain band style, but some people might prefer to accent the bands with diamonds. Whatever your taste is, you can pretty much find the right bands for you and your spouse to be anywhere.

All you really need to do is decide what look you want; what style that you want; and how much money you can afford to pay and then go on your search.

In order to get the best overall deals, you should comparison shop online. If you do it soon enough, you can have the bands ready way before the ceremony.

by: Mike Lindsey

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20 Wedding Tips You May Never Have

20 Wedding Tips You May Never Have
Church and Reception Reservations -- Consider any events they have booked earlier in the day, so that there is enough time before your wedding to arrive, get ready, decorate and take pictures.

The Church and Reception -- You may have some special requests that are not mentioned or are prohibited that are in print within the information packet. Ask anyway; they may make an exception or their policy may have changed.

Mother-of-the-Groom -- You more than likely will want to have her involved in the wedding plans to some extent. It may be best to gracefully discuss in the beginning how you would like to have her participation and let her know that you do appreciate her input, but, you will want to be sure the final decisions are in line with what you and your fiance want for your special day.

Pre-Marital Counseling -- Be prepared that you will need to talk about private, sensitive issues (like money, sex, kids, weaknesses) with the counselor or couple-mentors.

Pamper Yourself -- Let the day of your wedding be slow paced and an enjoyable time with your mother and bridesmaids. Don't cram every moment with something that has to get done -- even if that is hair, nail and makeup appointments. Plan in the day some down time, power nap, or relaxing with a cool refreshment.

Both Mothers -- In addition to you eliminating any special responsibilities on your wedding day, make sure that your mother and the groom's mother also have delegated all of their responsibilities to others, so they are free to enjoy the day.

The Weather -- Your ideal dream wedding may be outside, but, for the enjoyment of your guests (especially the seniors), make accommodations for them to be comfortable should it be a hot day, a wet day or a cold day. Your venue should have a place for them to relax within a shelter until minutes before the wedding.

Your Guests -- This day is about you and your husband, but keep in mind the enjoyment of your invited guests. You are their hostess -- so having "Hostess-Helpers" or a "House Party" taking care of special requests will allow you to have an opportunity to enjoy your guests. Be sure to have instructions about the kind of help you would want them to provide. Generally 1-2 nieces, nephews, cousins or friends of the family (male or female) per 75-100 guests will be suitable, depending on how much and what kinds of tasks they will be doing.

Service Provider's Attire -- All of your family and guests are dressed exquisitely for the occasion. It is okay to ask everyone that is providing a service on site for your wedding to either be in a clean uniform or in wedding appropriate attire so that you have no surprises.

Delegate, Delegate -- everything you possibly can. Have your friends and family asked "Can I help you with anything?" You may not at the moment have an idea of how they can be of help, but assure them you really appreciate their offer. Keep their name and any ideas of what they enjoy doing (cooking, calling, physical work, baking, crafts, errands or even the one who will organize all of the helpers). The less you have to do, the more you are able to enjoy the time anticipating your big day.

Nourishment -- Have light nutritious snacks available during the time the girls are getting ready for the wedding (and the guys will want to have a snack tray also). This is a great item that your volunteers can contribute.

Bride's Special Entrance -- Assign someone to make sure the path is clear of guests from where you leave the bridal suite to where you walk down the aisle so your special appearance is grand.

The Guests at the Wedding -- Be forewarned that the church will be filled with people when you prepare to walk down the aisle -- but focus on your "True Love" and any anxiety should wash away.

Photographer -- Make sure she/he has the order of service, and also the timing that each part of the service will take so that they know just when to be at the right place for those key pictures. Also, it may not be necessary to have a picture taken of every combination of all of the relatives with the bride and groom. In ample time before the wedding, discuss the specific pictures that you would like to have taken.

Wrist Corsages -- They seem to be fragile because of the movement and bumping they receive on an active wrist. Attaching the wrist corsage on the wrist that is not the dominant hand is recommended.

Carrying Your Bouquet -- It is easy to tense-up when you walk down the aisle to your husband-to-be (and also when you walk back down the aisle with your husband). The inclination is to pull your arms up toward your chin. OOPS! You are hiding your beautiful gown. Take a deep breath, get calm and let your arms relax on your hips.

Eat During the Reception -- It may be easy to stay busy during the reception and never take time to eat -- especially if there is a buffet. One of the Hostess Helpers can be assigned to make sure you and your Husband try some of the food and have some refreshment from time to time during the reception, so that you do not have a low spot between the wedding and your final destination that evening.

Wedding Goodbyes -- If you are imagining a big farewell by your guests, be sensitive to when family and other guests will want to leave in the evening, and plan your big Get Away before the attendance winds down.

Wedding Planner -- There are many details to tend to concerning a wedding. You can liken the experience to training for a new occupation. If you think you could use some help, consider the services that a wedding planner can offer. Often she knows the best service providers and can pass on to you special pricing she has negotiated with them. The wedding planner can be secured for the entire planning process or just for 'The Wedding Day'.

It's Your Wedding -- It is okay for you to eliminate a tradition or to add a new tradition. Expect that some may be dismayed about your selections, but, making your wedding unique for you and your fiance is more valuable.

Posted with permission from The Bloomin' Texan, March 2007 issue, Texas State Florists' Association, P.O. Box 140255, Austin, TX 78714 www.tsfa.org

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Wedding Dresses: What Not to Wear

So you've set a date with the man of your dreams? The only thing, well one of the many things, you have to do to get ready is choose the perfect dress. If you want help with that, you're reading the wrong article. This advice is to keep you from choosing the WRONG wedding dress. Below are practical ideas to keep you from making a very expensive mistake (no, I'm not talking about your fiance).

• It's gotta fit. This might seem obvious to you, but many brides swear they are a size six and cram their bodies into dresses much too small for them. This unflattering approach to wedding dress shopping can make for bad pictures, not to mention discomfort on your big day.

• Style is a must. Not every woman has the desire to be current with wedding dress fashions, but there are some definite no-nos. Stay away from halters, giant puffy sleeves, and mermaid style skirts (tight around the hips and knees and flared at the ankles). Also avoid any dress that you saw in a wedding more than 5 years ago.
  

• Consider the setting. Don't choose a dress for a different wedding, even if it's been your dream since you were a little girl. Long sleeved dresses should NOT be worn at an outdoor wedding in August. (I knew a bride once who did this and put a ziploc bag of ice down the back of her dress) Conversely, don't choose a sleeveless dress for an outdoor reception in November. (Again, the bride who did this turned into the Wicked Witch of the West during pictures) Lastly, and this is a little known fact, don't wear lots of tulle for an outdoor event. This one I learned personally. The fabric attracts bees like crazy. I had those flying pests in between all 12 layers of my tulle skirt.
  

• Love it. Don't buy a dress that you don't absolutely love. You only get one chance to have your perfect day. Choosing the cheapest, or the most sensible, or even the one that your best friend likes the most will not cut it for your wedding. If you don't love it, leave it.

Hopefully this advice will keep you from making a mistake when it comes to your wedding dress. This is one of the only elements of planning a wedding that is almost entirely in your control. You may order flowers that come in silk instead of fresh. Perhaps your invitations spell your parents names “Joan and Jill.” Maybe your caterer had a death in the family. Well, you won't have all of these things happen. At least, probably not. But, at least you will have not picked a bad dress.

Wedding Hairstyles

How you wear your hair at your wedding is important. Above all else you Wedding Hairstyle has to be comfortable. It should compliment not only your face but your dress as well.

It does no harm to have your regular hairdresser practise on you a few times. By doing this you may decide that the particular Wedding Hairstyle you have dreamt about having since you were a small child actually does nothing for the shape of your face!

If you want a wedding updo and you have relatively short hair then although with many grips and much hairspray it is possible, do remember that your hairdresser can do the impossible but miracles are outwith their reach!

Try to get a rough idea of what sort of style you are looking at for your wedding hairstyle as far in advance as possible. This gives your hair a chance to grow to a length that is more manageable for your hairdresser. After all long hair can easily be cut but it is harder and more expensive to add to your hair.

Always remember it is you that is getting married and not some fairytale image of you that you have held in your imagination since you were six! You dont want to walk down the aisle to your beloved and have him not recognize you because you wedding hairstyle is so different!

Try not to go for something very different. Chances are you will get fed up with it. If an updo requires a lot of help to stay up then as a wedding hairstyle it probably isn't right. Your wedding hairstyle has to stay in place for up to 10 hours, a lot to ask of any hairstyle but particularly difficult when a veil is shoved in, you are being swung around the dance floor and everyone wants to hug you!!

If you decide to opt for flowers or a tiara amongst your wedding hairstyle then make sure that they are securely attached but not hurting.

I would suggest go for elegance and comfort. Something that suits you and brings out your best features. If you can mange a wedding hairstyle that looks just as good down as up then you grab it with both hands, a comb and some grips!!

by: Lorna Mclaren

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Wedding Dresses – The Latest Trends!

Wedding dresses are such an opportunity for any bride to show their unique sense of style and to really make a fashion statement. Gone are the days of the plain ‘meringue’ style wedding dresses with a little cute well-placed bow; now we are daring to be different!

In fact, one of the latest trends is to offer wedding dresses that can be used again. Not only is this a great idea from a budget point of view, but it is also reflective of the simple lines that are part of the modern trend in wedding dresses. Arguably, this fashion is due to the ever increasing age of first time brides as well as the large number of second weddings.

Wedding Dresses for the Winter Wedding

Whenever we think about wedding dresses, we automatically think of a warm, summer’s day, with a crisp, wafting white dress to match. However, there is a growing trend towards winter weddings. Winter wedding dresses may not be pure white and are often the preferred choice for second time brides.

Trends in winter wedding dresses include deep red colored dresses or dresses that include a large amount of black. Another great idea is to include a fur collar, or long fake fur coat. If you love a touch of luxury and you want something a little different, then winter wedding dresses may just be the thing for you!

Wedding Dresses for the Summer Wedding

The key to summer wedding dresses, this year, is color. Many wedding dresses are now using substantial amounts of colored fabric to add a classic touch to an otherwise traditional white or cream dress.

Weddings are becoming much more sophisticated; generally, brides will select a theme that they will maintain throughout all aspects of their wedding. Wedding dresses must, of course, fit into this theme and as such colors and accessories are vital. Popular, seasonal colors for wedding dresses include lilac, pink, blue and yellow. Often, brides will choose a half-color theme where the bodice is colored or the skirt is colored, but the other half of the dress is kept in a plain cream or white.

Subtle is the name of the game with modern wedding dresses.

Wedding Dresses – Standing Out From the Crowd

Today, wedding dresses are all different; no-one wants to look the same as the next bride and, naturally, brides go to extreme lengths to make sure that they stand out from the crowd. Of course everyone wants to do so in a classy and not trashy way! It seems that individually designed wedding dresses are the way of the future. By commissioning a made to measure dress you can make sure that it fits perfectly, is exactly what you want and above all, is unique.

Wedding dresses are an expression of your personality, so don’t hold back; let your imagination run wild!

About the author:
Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. From traditional to the exotic she makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now www.weddingfinery.com.
by: Elsie Gilbert
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