Olga is manager at Best for Bride since 2005. Currently Best for Bride operates 4 bridal stores in Canada (Toronto, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Barrie). Best for Bride sells wedding, bridesmaids, mob dresses and more. http://www.BestForBride.com
We all have a general idea that the bride handles most of the responsibility of planning the wedding, while the groom plays a supporting role. After all, it is always the bride who is super-excited about the wedding, and takes it upon herself to handle the lion’s share of the tasks. But remember, this is not a wedding rule set in stone.
If you want your groom to also be just as interested and involved, here is how you can include him in planning and making your dream wedding a reality.
Discuss your concerns and worries open-heartedly
The best way to spark your groom’s interest in your wedding is to discuss most, if not all aspects of the wedding with him. If there are certain issues you have trouble with, run it by your groom. He may have suggestions to solve it, or help you find a workaround that you hadn’t thought of.
Give your groom a say
Many grooms often feel side-lined and that their brides want them out of the way when planning the wedding. It isn’t unusual, as brides have been dreaming of this day from the time they were little girls. They usually turn to their friends or sisters, who are just as excited about it as they are. So, they go to them for suggestions and advice, instead of asking their groom. If you have been doing this all along, remember that it is your fiance’s wedding too. He will also have opinions and ideas. So, set aside time to ask him for inputs, opinions and suggestions and accommodate them when making your wedding plans.
Give him his share of duties to handle
Encourage your groom to be involved in the wedding planning by asking him what responsibilities he would like to handle. Men usually enjoy planning the wedding music, so give him this task. Whatever be the responsibility you hand over, leave it to him. Don’t micromanage or pester him with details, as this will only kill his enthusiasm. If he has creative ideas, value them. This will make your wedding more interesting for both of you.
Don’t involve him in everything, and don’t frustrate him for his lack of interest
Unlike women, men are usually not bothered with the finer details of weddings. So, don’t be upset if your groom doesn’t share your enthusiasm in deciding between peach and pink for your wedding color palette. Identify what he is interested in, and only involve him in tasks that he should be doing or will enjoy handling. Don’t overwhelm him by pushing him, instead take it easy and he will not feel overwhelmed.
Take a time-out from your wedding planning once in a while, and don’t bring it to the level that all your time together is spent talking about the wedding. Remember that the main reason you are getting married is to celebrate your love for each other. So, don’t lose that excitement in all the wedding planning frenzy.
For more practical wedding planning advice and shopping for your wedding dress, visit us on Best for Bride.
The feeling of being newly engaged! Ah! It is different altogether. If you are like most brides-to-be, you should be feeling ecstatic, nervous, over the moon, happy, overwhelmed, and most importantly, totally in love!
How do you hold on to the fresh memories of being just engaged? With an engagement photo shoot, of course!
Engagement photo sessions are not compulsory. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful experience—capturing pictures of the two of you as a couple, and saving it into your treasure box of wedding memories. There are several reasons why we think engagement photo sessions are a brilliant idea, and here are some of them.
It is a way to document the happiness you feel as a couple
Being engaged and committed to one another is a whole other thing to dating or just being in love. Yes, it takes a lot to decide that you will be spending the rest of your life with this person, who you now are head over heels in love with, and whose proposal you just accepted. This article on the Huff Post puts this point across beautifully. We wholly approve, when the author tells us that the most important reason to have an engagement photo is because your engagement is a historic chapter in your life; one that is priceless and deserves to be preserved for yourself and your future descendants to revisit and remember.
Engagement photos help you keep the window of time you found each other, alive forever
As I mentioned before, the time you got engaged is perhaps one of the most important milestone events in your personal life. Not only does it have to be celebrated, it should also be preserved. Give it the due importance it deserves, by freezing it into a frame for all eternity. If you will be having a long engagement before getting married, your engagement photo will be a fond memory to hold on to and keep that special feeling alive.
It gives you the opportunity to test the skills of your wedding photographer
Moving onto more practical details, wedding planning begins almost immediately after your engagement. One of the crucial planning tasks is finding an ace photographer to shoot your wedding. You may have chosen the person for the job based on recommendations from friends, after looking at their portfolio and holding lengthy discussions. Nonetheless, we suggest having an engagement photo session done by the same photographer to personally find out how talented he is. This will give you an actual idea of how well he does his job, and if you like how he shoots the two of you.
It gives you a test run of what you will go through on your wedding day
Wedding photography is entirely different from all the other photos you’ve taken in your life. While you can always just go with the flow, remember that you will be investing quite some money in it. Preparing for your wedding photo shoot with a trial session will help you get a better idea of what to expect on your D-day, and how to make the most of it so your photos end up great. You can understand your photographer’s style of work and it allows you the opportunity to make suggestions if you want something extra or different.
Get your first proper couple photos done professionally
Nowadays every moment is instantly captured as selfies on our phones or hand-held devices. But, just think of how nice it would be if you could have a few photos where you aren’t straining your necks and smiling at the camera from close contact? Your engagement photos will be a beautiful and unique presentation of yourselves looking your best, one that can be framed and made a part of your home décor forever.
It gives you the perfect picture to personalize your wedding stationery with
Wedding invitations with a picture of the couple are a growing trend. Make the most of it, by having a great engagement picture added to your wedding stationery. You can also use the same picture on wedding favors like coasters, photo mint tins and Christmas tree ornaments. This personal touch will make your favors and invitations very endearing.
In short, we can say that engagement photo shoots are fun and something you shouldn’t miss. Now that you know why you should consider an engagement shoot, let’s get down to more serious business. Here are the tips we promised you.
How to nail your engagement photo session
1.What to wear
The best engagement photos are those in which the couple look natural and relaxed. So, choose outfits that you are comfortable in. It is a good idea to make sure that your outfits complement each other, but skip the perfectly matching combination unless that is the look you will still love when you look at your pictures five years later. You can also consider having pictures taken in more than one outfit, as it can spice up the imagery. If either of you chooses a bold solid color or vivid and bright patterns, make sure that the other complements you by wearing a neutral or softer shade in the same color palette that goes with it. Clashing colors can look wild and some patterns may look dated in few years.
2.Get the details right
One important factor to consider is the location where your shoot will be organized. How well will your dress work in this location? Since your photos will be shot from different angles and in both wide and close-up style, make sure that you get all the details including jewelry and accessories like shoes and belts right. Since the focus is to be on both of you, it is best to avoid flashy accessories that can distract. Simple accessories that just enhance your overall style are the best choice.
3.The style to wear
You can save the professionally dressed hair and face for the actual wedding. Even if you choose to get your hair and makeup done professionally for your engagement shoot, make sure you still look natural and like yourself. I like this suggestion on the Every last Detail blog that suggests you make use of the engagement photo shoot to give your wedding makeup artist a trial session. This way, you can see if you are happy with your makeup artist’s skills as well as look great in your pictures.
4.Casual, candid or posed?
This is a decision that you and your partner have to make, prior to your engagement shot. It depends on how you like to see yourselves in pictures. Formal shots can be done in a studio, while casual shots are best taken outdoors. Also think of where you will be using these pictures to decide the style you want to opt for. If you want to share it with your parents and relatives, properly posed pictures with the focus on your faces will be ideal. For your wedding stationery and your own homes, turn to your general decorating style. Is it casual and eclectic, or serious and perfect? Candid photos look best in casual settings while posed photos are a better choice for serious interiors. You may also like consider the color of your outfits or whether you want the actual shots framed or converted into black and white, to find the ones that will look best on your walls.
5.Plan the backdrop
In continuation to the previous point, the backdrop for your picture impacts the overall effect you get with it. You should find a comfortable location, whether it is indoors or outdoors, to get the perfect pictures. If you feel uneasy posing in an outdoor location, but still prefer a natural background, consider having it taken at a good spot in your own backyard. If you want a monochrome background where it’s just the two of you in focus, your pictures can be shot in the studio itself. You can also consider having your pictures taken at a place that is meaningful to the two of you—like the place where you were proposed at, where your first met or where you always hang out.
6.Do you practice for the session?
This reminds me of Monica’s and Chandler’s engagement photo session in the sitcom Friends! Unless you or your fiance has trouble like Chandler and freezes in front of the camera, practice isn’t really necessary. Just follow your photographer’s suggestions and all will be well. If you have any favorite poses, that highlight the best of both of you, you can share that with your photographer and adapt your shots to match this idea. Given that your photographer is a professional, he should ideally be able to identify your best angles and shoot accordingly. When you look at the photographer’s portfolio, make a note of the poses you really liked, and ask if you can do the same. Or if you have your own ideas, bring pictures along, so your photographer knows what you are after.
7.Chalkboards, signage and other props
Not necessary, unless you are particularly fond of them. Remember that in a few years time, these may look cheesy and you may not appreciate the funny engagement photo that you love today. So, while you may want the bushy mustache and tiara now, make sure you take a few pictures without any paraphernalia, so you have a safe bet for the future, should your tastes change with time. One prop you shouldn’t however forget, is your engagement ring. That will be a valuable addition to your pictures.
8.Get creative
This goes for all the factors, from poses to outfits to using your pictures. Make the most of your engagement session by breaking free and finding yourselves. Strike a few poses, but if it doesn’t seem to work out, be yourself. You may even set a new trend that way! Try an unusual location or a dress style that you may not wear otherwise. Draw all the inspiration you want from Pinterest and the beautiful pictures floating around on the internet everyday, but ultimately let your engagement photos be a reflection of who you are as individuals and as a couple.
9.Have fun
Don’t worry too much about how your engagement photos will turn out. Just make sure you have the best time you can, and trust the rest to your photographer. A good professional will know how to make the best of what is available, and will make sure that your pictures reflect the best. Or, if you have a friend who is an amateur photographer with exquisite photography skills in the outdoors, ask him to do your pictures instead. Ultimately all that matters is getting a few fabulous photos that are perfect for the frame. Plan your photo session for a time when you are relaxed, calm and free from stress. This will allow you to enjoy yourselves to the most, and capture the best photographs you can possibly get.
So, what do you say? Will you be having an engagement photo session?
To help you understand what type of photography would best suit your personality, we suggest you take a look at this article on Best for bride on the different styles of wedding photography.
At Best for Bride we offer brides-to-be a range of photography options and specialized package deals to cater to every requirement of yours. Check out the samples we have online, and you can easily identify the style of photography that suits you, and the photographer who can accomplish it. Or you can get in touch with us and we can help you identify the best choice for your taste as well as customize the available packages to suit your specific requirements.
Our team will make sure that your photographs are a befitting addition to your wedding package, and will help you relive the biggest event in your life, through these memories captured digitally. Whether you have a modern or traditional wedding, and whether it is held indoors or outdoors, we will make sure that you get the best choice, and that your wedding memories live on forever, in style.
There is no doubt that your wedding day will be one of the most unforgettable days of your life. However it needn’t be the same for the hundred or so guests who will be attending it. After all, weddings are regular fare and there has to be something unique that sets your wedding apart to make it memorable. This is what we will look at today. Read on to find out how you can make your wedding one of a kind, and one that will be remembered fondly by everyone for a very long time.
Pay attention to the details
When choosing your wedding invitations, reception venue and even flowers, pay specific attention to details. Customize it to reflect the tone of your wedding and let all the specifics at your wedding be a true representation of your personality. Although you may be tempted to copy what you’ve seen at another wedding, make sure to add your own personal touches to it and make it your own. This will give the impression that you’ve put in time and effort to make sure everything is perfect.
Spend extra on the factors that matter
You needn’t get every detail right, but make sure that you spare extra attention to those factors that matter most to you. A single spectacular element at a wedding is all it takes to make it memorable—this could be the surprising décor, the excellent performance or the band, delicious food or even a unique looking bride. Make sure that you have at least one, if not more of these factors at your wedding, so your guests will take note of it.
Be hospitable and appreciate your guests
It certainly is your big day and you have a lot on your mind, but the people who take the time to be part of it expect you to acknowledge their presence. Ensure that you set aside some time to greet each guest personally and thank them for attending. Everyone remembers a good host, and just a few minutes with each guest is all it takes to convey the message that you appreciate them. Also spend some time to select customized and unique wedding favors that your guests will cherish and remember your wedding every time they see it.
Keep the entertainment classic and enjoyable
The easiest way to have your wedding remembered is to provide excellent entertainment. Two types of parties are remembered by wedding guests—those that are super-duper fun, and those that are terribly boring. With a little effort you can avoid the latter, but with a little more effort you can have a party that is superb. Make sure you find a talented band or DJ for the reception and that you choose tunes that will keep everyone on their toes. Also see to it that all your guests are seated with the right company that they will enjoy. Add a few surprises, including a dramatic entry or exit, and it will be difficult to forget your wedding.
For all this and more, visit Best for Bride as your one-stop destination for everything bridal. Whether it is a stunning wedding dress or the perfect accessories, don’t forget to choose from our bridal shop at Best for Bride.
Quniceanera has historically been celebrated in communities of Latin America on a girl’s fifteenth birthday, and signifies the transition from childhood to womanhood. The wiki on Quinceanera mentions that this tradition that can be traced back to ancient Aztec culture, still continues to this day under various names like “Festa de debutantes” in Brazil and “Fete des quinze ans” in the French Caribbean.
via Best for Bride
On this day, the birthday girl is the center of attention, and deserves a dress that allows her to steal the limelight. If your Quinceanera celebration is soon to be celebrated, here are some tips to help you find the right dress for your big day.
Recognize your body type to find the right silhouette
You may have fallen in love with a certain dress, but remember that it needn’t look as great on you as it does on the model. This is because the beauty of a dress is enhanced when it is draped on a figure it is designed for. So, your first step in preparing for your gown shopping is to identify your body type and what features you would like to emphasize or hide. If you are heavier on the top and have broad shoulders, you may prefer ball gowns to balance out your figure. These dresses also suit girls who are straight with very few curves. For girls with a small chest and wide hips, empire silhouettes or dresses with asymmetrical pleats would look good. If you have an hourglass figure, you can carry off almost any dress, including fit and flare gowns.
Fix your budget before you go shopping
Quinceanera gowns are available in various price ranges. Know your maximum budget, so you do not look at gowns that are out of your reach. When planning your shopping budget, also put aside an amount for alterations and accessories. Some girls choose more than one gown, and change after the reception. A more budget friendly option is to choose a dress with a removable overlay skirt, so you can sport a traditional look for the ceremony and easily transition to the stylish shorter hemline for the reception by removing the outer layer.
Pick your colors carefully
There are two things to remember when picking your dress color; it should match your complexion and it should go well with the colors at your party. If your party has a specific color theme, make sure that the color of your gown blends well with the theme. While some colors will bring out your best, others can leave you looking pale, fat or sick. If you like a particular design, but the color isn’t nice, check whether the gown is available in other colors and make your pick from them.
Make sure it is comfortable
Quinceanera gowns involve layers of fabric, and can quickly weigh you down. When choosing your dress, look for those that don’t feel too tight or stifle your movements. Walk around, sit and move in it to make sure it is one that you will be comfortable in, prior to purchasing it.
Get it altered to your measurements
If your dress doesn’t fit your like a glove, you will not look or feel good in it. After you select, get a professional seamstress to alter the gown to your exact measurements. This will make all the difference between looking good and great. So, don’t skip this step.
At Best for Bride, we have an interesting variety of Quinceanera dresses, perfect for your big celebration. Check it out today and make your pick.
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