Tag: bridal dress

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Style Tips For The Modern Bride

wedding dress

If you’re not the old-fashioned type who wants a traditional wedding dress and veil, you’re not alone. Many fashion-conscious brides feel uncomfortable with puffy princess gowns and sparkling tiaras.

If you’re the modern type, you may prefer to wear clean lines or riskier, couture-inspired styles on your special wedding day. These sleek, cutting-edge designs can look wonderful, since they are generally quite body-conscious – without being tight or tacky. Any women can look beautiful in modern designs – they streamline a voluptuous figure with careful tailoring, and they also give a leaner build a runway-ready silhouette…

When you’re at the bridal boutique, look for straighter styles, such as sheath dresses. Experiment with shorter gowns – they can be quite chic and they always send a modern message…

Modern style is about looking fresh and polished. You should not appear to be trying too hard to be feminine or sexy…it’s about easy elegance and confidence! To get the perfect effect, you need to find the ultimate white wedding dress, bridal rings, and other important wedding accessories.

With a modern aesthetic, nothing should be overdone…beading and embellishments are generally scaled-down and subtle…if not absent altogether. For the modern bride-to-be, minimalism and spare, arty design elements can be very appealing..and flattering. Here are some tips on creating a chic, modern vibe at your wedding:

Focus On One Detail – You can still have drama while embracing the modern aesthetic…simply choose one detail of your wedding outfit, and go for stand-out style. A simple hairband with an outsize flower attached (such as the one worn by the model at the top of the page) can add charm and whimsy to a sleek, tea-length bridal dress.

When doing your makeup and hair, it’s also good to focus on one special detail for each. For example, consider a sleek modern up-do, with some interesting style details in the back. Tiny braids woven into the bun or chignon, or a hair-wrapped low ponytail can be lovely. Your creative hair elements should not detract from your overall modern look – they should always be subtle and low-key.

When you do your makeup, focus on eyes or lips, but not both. Modern makeup artists only highlight one feature when they do realistic, wearable makeup for magazines and the runway. A wash of sheer color on the eyes, a faint flush on the cheekbones, and a soft, velvety matte-finish lipstick in a fresh color can be great ways to keep things modern.

If you want to highlight your eyes, consider a thin line of silver-blue eyeliner along the top and bottom lashes. Gwenyth Paltrow, known for her modern style, often pairs this eyeliner look with a sleek dress, flat-ironed hair, and wild shoes (her one bold detail). She generally keeps her lip color soft, using a pale pink lipstick or soft, cool pink gloss (try Chanel Glossimer in Charming). Now and then, she will take the focus off of her eyes and do a vibrant, matte red lip with a neutral eye (shadows in taupe and icy champagne work well for this).

Modern colors are often cool in tone – silver, blue-gray, white and black are always chic and minimalist. Using these colors in your eye makeup can give you a modern effect, as long as the finishes are sheer and eyeliner, mascara, etc. is expertly applied. However, so much depends on your natural coloring…for example, a redhead with a peaches-and-cream complexion will look more modern in warm tones that blend with the tones of her skin and hair…

Diamond Luxury Can Be Also Be Modern And Wearable

bridal rings

Your bridal rings should be chosen with care – you will be wearing them every day! Some women are very active, and they prefer a sleeker, flatter engagement ring/wedding band set that won’t catch on things and get in the way. The stunning piece featured above is a stellar example of a modern wedding band that still offers total luxury. Sleek links, crafted from glam 21k white gold, offer a touch of cool, industrial style, while diamond accents provide subtle, elegant shimmer.

This wearable design is meant to be treasured for a lifetime, and it will go with everything in the modern bride’s wardrobe. In general, white gold and silver are more modern than yellow gold. However, you should feel free to break the fashion rules whenever you like – it’s your wedding and you should always make choices that feel right to you!

Adding modern elements to your reception’s table settings, your wedding invitations and wedding flowers, and even your menu (think fresh and local) will be great ways to reinforce your theme on the big day. Guests will love the chic, fresh vibe!

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Crafting Your Circle: Tips to Create the Perfect Wedding Guest List!

wedding dress

Whether you’re planning a small, intimate wedding, or a huge ceremony and reception, you’ll need to decide exactly who you should invite. This seemingly simple task can actually be quite stressful – it can be difficult to make these choices, since they may affect your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.

If you need a little help planning out your numbers, you’ll enjoy this quick guide to creating the perfect guest list for your wedding. With our expert tips, it will be easier to make decisions that feel right to you – you’ll also be better prepared to stay on schedule and on budget. Here’s are some things to think about:

Small, Medium, or Large?

bridesmaid dress

 

Your wedding size, the amount of people in your wedding party (bridesmaids, best man, ushers, etc.), and the number of guests you’ll invite are usually closely linked to your wedding budget. Therefore, knowing how much money you can spend on your ceremony and reception is priority one.

Today, many brides-to-be opt for smaller weddings that don’t cost a fortune – typically, as few as 15 or as many as 100 guests will be invited to watch you walk down the aisle in your white wedding dress! A medium-sized wedding will have 100+ to 300 guests, and a large wedding will have a list of 300+ to 500+ guests.

In order to set the right budget, you need to decide on the scale of your wedding – when you set up a budget, you should consider the cost of renting a venue, the price of catering and liquor, decor, your wedding dress, bridal rings, live musicians or a DJ, etc. You must also consider the cost of flowers, invitations, wedding favors…there are a lot of things to think about here. Sitting down and plotting things out will allow for a more accurate estimate.

If you’re working with a wedding planner, you must also think about the costs of their services…a wedding planner may actually save you money by finding affordable floral arrangements and decor, etc. Their expertise and connections can help you find deals during the planning process…

When you sit down to make a wedding budget, be generous with your estimates – it’s a rare bride-to-be who brings the whole thing in on or under budget…in other words, prepare yourself for overages and plan accordingly so you don’t run out of money. Using Excel software to make a wedding spreadsheet is a great idea – it lets you see the big picture every time you open your document. Any good accounting software package, such as Quickbooks, may also be useful.

If you’re not software-savvy, make your own ledger in a notebook – the important thing is write down every single anticipated expense, and to balance your ledger as you write checks regularly, pay for wedding-related costs, and see what’s left to buy or rent.

Once you’ve decided on small, medium, or large, it will be easier to begin crafting a guest list.

Look At Your Relationships

Everyone will tell you that it’s your wedding, and that you should invite whomever you want to…however, life is not really that simple. You must consider your relationships, past and present, when deciding who to invite. You must consider the “political” implications of including or excluding certain people – will they be offended? Will your choices have negative consequences? If your wedding is small, it’s often easier to explain the decision to invite only close family and friends. However, some feathers may still be ruffled by your choices.

Many couples find the selection process very draining, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by reviewing your contacts in Outlook email, “black books”, and social networking sites. Think about who you really connect with on a regular basis – you should honor the friendships and relationships that are nurtured every day. Aside from immediate family (who should always be invited, unless there is a lot of family drama or issues at play), these close friends who make an effort to connect with you should be second on the list.

Next, think about your career – are there any colleagues, such as a boss or partner, who might be offended if they don’t receive an invitation? It’s often better to include such persons on your guest list – after all, we spend so much of our time at work, that it just makes sense to keep our work relationships as healthy as possible!

Now that you have a master list of immediate family, close friends, and colleagues, add up your numbers. Can you make your “magic” number work with your size of wedding? If you have space left over, consider inviting more distant family members…or allow guests to bring a date. If you’ve got too many people for your scale of wedding, you need to narrow your choices down…or plan a larger wedding.

If someone else is helping you pay for your nuptials, you should be very sensitive to their desires, as they relate to the guest list. Yes, it’s your wedding, but they are spending lots of money to make your day special! In light of this, it’s a great idea to consult with your parents or whomever is paying for wedding dresses, venue, catering, and all of the bells and whistles, before you finalize the guest list. It’s all about diplomacy and showing your gratitude.

Stand Behind Your Choices

Once you’ve carefully considered your vision for your wedding, and how it can be realized with the ideal guest list, you should be confident with your choices. In the end, you’ve done your best to think of everyone. Now, it’s time to move on to the “fun stuff”! Choosing a bridal dress, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding accessories can be much more fun than planning the guest list. Stand behind your choices, and truly enjoy the romantic special occasion that lies ahead!

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Suited in Style: Guiding Your Groom to the Perfect Tuxedo and Accessory Selection!

Some men just aren’t into fashion…they may find the task of choosing the perfect tux, tuxedo shirt, cummerbund and boutonniere a little bit daunting! Luckily, as his bride-to-be, you are there to help him select the most flattering combination of colors, fabrics, and styles. You can help him choose a wedding ensemble that makes him feel handsome, pulled-together, and perfectly dressed on the big day. Here are some things to consider when you’re helping your groom-to-be buy or rent the ultimate tuxedo:

His Tuxedo Should Coordinate With Your Own Bridal Gown

Creating an overall theme for your wedding is important – often, this begins with wedding outfits that coordinate. Your white wedding dress will go with many different types of dress suits and tuxes – however, certain styles will look more appropriate with certain bridal gowns. For example, a bridal dress with vintage appeal will look best with a more old-fashioned tuxedo, such as a morning coat and tails. Conversely, if you’re dressing in a modern, trendy wedding dress, you should look for a sleek, polished suit for your groom-to-be.

Considering the design features of your wedding gown, and just how formal it is, will help you find important clues about how your groom should be dressed on your special and romantic wedding day. You don’t want to wear a fabulous, embellished gown and walk down the aisle to a groom who’s dressed too casually. Your ensembles should be coordinated and balanced!

If you’re wearing a colorful sash with your wedding dress, look for ways to bring that color into your groom’s outfit. You can add pops of color to his suiting by choosing a matching cummerbund, bow tie, or boutonniere. Shop around at an online bridal store to get ideas!

Accessories should also adhere to the theme you’ve chosen for your wedding. Men should have an easy time finding beautiful cotton ties that coordinate with their bridal gown and that of the groomsmen, as well. Further, a beautiful pair of cuff links can also add an extra touch of elegance to their attire.

Examine His General Coloring

Your handsome groom-to-be will look even more dashing in his tuxedo when it is chosen to highlight his best features and gel with his hair color, eye color, and skin tone. The principle of “seasonal beauty” come into play here. You may have heard about seasonal beauty – it works for women and men. For example, if your groom has dark hair, bright, jewel-like eyes (amber brown, sapphire blue, emerald green, jet black) and a cool skin tone (no orange or yellow undertones), he will probably be a Winter. Winter grooms look best in royal blue, true red, emerald green, and pure white accents. Black will always be a great choice for a Winter man’s tux!

If your groom-to-be is a redhead with freckles, he’ll need the right colors to look great at your wedding. Most redheaded grooms fall into the Spring or Autumn seasons – for them, colors like Kelly green, taupe, honey brown, warm yellow, and deep orange will flatter their coloring. Consider adding touches of these sun-kissed shades to his outfit, or your own bouquet, sash, or bridal rings.

While it’s nice to coordinate, you should beware of choosing tones that fight your own coloring. If you’re a Winter, and he’s a Spring, it’s better to avoid wearing “his” colors in order to coordinate.

The Summer groom will usually have soft blue-gray or pale blue eyes – he may also have brown or ash-blond hair with no golden tones. His skin may be translucent porcelain white or pale beige. This sort of groom will look best in dusty tones, such as dusty rose (British men often wear pale-pink shirts that aren’t too bright, and many British men are summers – Hugh Grant is one famous example!), pale blue, pale cream, and navy. For this type of groom, warm tones like golden yellow will fight their coloring and wash them out. Delicate Summer coloring looks best in subtle, toned down and refined pastels. Shoot for sophistication by adding touches of blue or pale green to his outfit.

Look At His Body Type

Husky

Some grooms feel self-conscious when they shop for tuxedos or dress suits – they know they don’t have six-pack abs and all the lean definition of male models. If your guy is on the husky side, he’ll need your help to overcome any body issues and to feel like a million bucks in his wedding ensemble.

Great tailoring can make anyone look slimmer and more attractive on their wedding day. Look for dark fabrics without any shine – a matte effect is most slimming for him. Then, consider the cut of a suit. A classic three-piece suit or tuxedo featuring a vest can be an excellent way to make the most of his physique – the vest should be the same color as the jacket and pants. Often, a vest adds a bit of coverage where it is needed – in the midsection! He’ll feel great in a dark vest that takes the focus off his stomach. Consider a three-piece suit with a colorful tie that suits his skin tone. You may want to avoid colorful cummerbunds or frilly shirts if he’s a little heavy or self-conscious about his body.

Normal Build (Average)

Dressing the medium, or average body type doesn’t offer the same challenges as the husky or very slim body – you can be more creative here, as long as your guy is comfortable with that. Instead of focusing on body type and how to flatter, you can concentrate on capturing the essence of his own personal style on your wedding day. Is he casual, or formal? Does he love bright colors, or subdued tones?

Look at his wardrobe choices and find a way to bring a little of his personality into his tuxedo, dress shoes, cummerbund, vest, and shirt. Use color theory to be certain everything you choose will work for him. If you’re shopping for wedding bands, you should know that silver or white gold will flatter Summer of Winter men the most. If he’s warm (Spring or Autumn), he’ll look better in yellow or rose gold.

Slim

Skinny guys can be just as self-conscious as husky guys – they may have grown up feeling too thin or frail-looking. Men with this build often look for bulkier garments that give the illusion of more body weight and size. If your guy is thin and you want to find a suit that makes him feel comfortable and confident, you have plenty of options. Pleats are unfashionable these days – in general, pleated pants will appeal to an older generation.

No matter how old your groom is, you should avoid pleating – it will make him look even thinner than he already is. Instead, look for modern, flat-front pants for his suit or tux. Look for subtle shoulder pads in suits and jackets – these will add a little definition to his shoulders by making them appear broader. The padding should be expertly sewn, and it shouldn’t be obvious. Don’t buy him a tux shirt or dress shirt that is too fitted – instead, find something a little looser and go for a white color or pale pastel that makes him look larger.

Planning Ahead Is The Key To Success

With these tips, you can go into a wedding boutique and know exactly what’s right for you. You’ll make it easier for him to narrow down his choices and enjoy his wedding outfit. Taking care of him before the wedding at a great, full-service wedding boutique is just part of being a caring girlfriend. When you put on your gorgeous wedding dress and see him waiting for you at the altar, you’ll know your hard work was well worth the effort.

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How To Be A Truly Traditional Bride

Classic beauty never goes out of style – if you’ve always longed for a traditional wedding with all of the bells and whistles, you’ll need a wedding gown that is truly timeless.

Traditional brides keep it classy – nothing is too flashy, bodices don’t dip too low for good taste, and wedding shoes, veils, and accessories are simple and elegant.

If you’re looking for tips on becoming the most classic, lovely bride you can be, you’ll enjoy our quick guide to timeless beauty for today’s traditional brides:

Rituals And Traditions Will Add Meaning To Your Wedding

Today, traditional brides always choose white bridal gowns – this ritual began in Victorian England, and it was instituted by Queen Victoria, who believed in the purity and angelic symbolism of pure white.

Other early 19th century rituals were also taken into account before brides-to-be selected their wedding dresses – for example, it was considered unlucky to marry in a gown you made yourself. The truly traditional bride will always choose a bridal dress created by someone else…

If you dream of a very traditional wedding day, the charming custom of wearing “something old and something new, something borrowed, something blue” should also be a part of your wedding rituals.

Something old symbolizes your old life as a single woman…and something new illustrates your journey into a new life as a married woman.

Something borrowed echoes the influences of your friends and family…something blue is derived from ancient Jewish wedding traditions…this soothing color is believed to be a symbol of faithfulness in love…

English brides in the Victorian Age also put a silver coin (sixpence) in their shoe…this tradition was believed to bring good luck and material success to the new couple after their wedding…

Traditional Beauty Is Simple And Feminine…Never Overdone…

Creating traditional beauty in your wedding ensemble can be as simple as wearing a circlet of wildflowers in your hair…brides in the Emerald Isle followed this ritual for centuries.

If you prefer a classic veil, you may enjoy knowing that it is symbolic of chastity! The first wedding veils worn in ancient Greek ceremonies were yellow – in Rome, they were red!

Simple makeup and soft, touchable hair are the hallmarks of the classic bride – whether you hair is worn up or down – both styles are quite traditional – it should be classic and feminine.

Don`t wear too much powder – keep your skin youthful and dewy with a great moisturizer…blotting papers are a cute, and very traditional, way of cutting shine without adding more powder!

Look at works of art from online gallery tours – women of previous centuries were always captured while showing off flowing curls, luminous skin, and natural beauty.

A fake spray tan may look great at the beach, but it won’t really evoke classic beauty at your wedding. It’s all about making the most of your natural hair texture and your God-given coloring!

Embrace your own beauty with a classic wedding gown, elegant veil, and dainty wedding bands.

Other Fun Wedding Traditions To Enjoy

Today, many brides also follow the ritual of not being seen by their groom-to-be before the wedding – being spotted by your future husband before you walk down the aisle is thought to be bad luck.

In certain cultures, a ritual bath is practiced by brides before they are dressed in their wedding gowns – this cleansing ceremony is believed to purify the bride-to-be before her marriage.

Plan Your Trousseau

This fun tradition is French in origin – the word trousseau mean “bundle”. Your trousseau is a special set of clothing and accessories, designed to be worn on your honeymoon. If you’re interested in wedding rituals, you’ll truly enjoy filling a trunk or suitcase with a “bundle” of new items! This may not be as wonderful as finding perfect wedding dresses, but it can still be very fulfilling! Traditionally, the bundle may also include some new items for the home…

We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at traditional bridal rituals. Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life…if you value the rituals of the past, add in some of them to your own wedding day. You’ll connect with history and symbolism as you prepare to start a whole new chapter in your life!