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10 things you should NOT do at your wedding

We have often spoken about wedding etiquette on our blog and discussed various lists of “Do’s” that you should follow at your wedding. However, we haven’t given much thought to all the things that you SHOULDN’T do!

Not doing certain things on your wedding day is just as important as doing other things. Only then will your wedding progress smoothly and things be fine as they should. Here is a list of things that you should avoid doing on your wedding day! Keep these in mind, and you will save yourself a lot of trouble.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many responsibilities

From making sure that your bridesmaids are ready on time, to setting up wedding favours and following up with vendors, there are hundreds of tasks that you may have to handle on the wedding day. Pay close attention to this—Don’t do anything more than what you absolutely must, on your wedding day.

You should relax and enjoy your wedding, and even the smallest task that you handle yourself can affect you adversely. So, free yourself up during the day, and delegate most of the responsibilities to those who are capable of handling them. After all, this is why you have bridesmaids, family and friends. This is also why we think every bride should at least have a day-of planner, if not a wedding planner. Trust them to do the job well, and only supervise their activities. Don’t overwhelm yourself with last-minute responsibilities. Save your attention to what is happening at the moment, as this is the best way to enjoy your wedding to the fullest.

Don’t test anything out for the first time on your wedding day

Whether it is brand new make-up or your wedding shoes, don’t ever make the mistake of trying it on for the first time on your actual wedding day. When you experiment on your wedding day, you run the risk of things ending up disastrously. The worst part is that there may not be time for corrections if you do not like what you see. So, prepare for your wedding day in advance, so you know what you will get. Make sure you do the following ahead of time:

  • Have a trial makeup and hair session, so you can comfortably plan your wedding day look and make changes if you aren’t happy with your original idea.
  • Try on your wedding dress after your alterations are done, so you can attend to any last-minute changes if required
  • Break-in your wedding shoes by wearing them regularly for small amounts of time during the days leading up to the wedding. This will help you get used to the shoes and will make all activities on the day, including dancing, a lot more fun.
  • Use your rehearsal dinner to discuss, distribute and organize the entire wedding day activities in a planned fashion.

Don’t be too busy meeting and greeting your guests

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Wedding guests despise couples who are aloof and too busy to spend any time with them. Appreciate the effort of every one of your guests who come to attend your wedding. Even if you aren’t particularly interested in meeting guests you don’t know, (perhaps they are from your parents’ or in-laws’ guest list), be courteous and make an effort to chat with them.

All the people who are at your wedding have spent time and money to be there, and they deserve to be acknowledged. Only then will your guests remember your wedding fondly. So, set aside time and make sure you smile, wave and talk to every one of your guests. This article on the Wedding Wire gives more valuable advice on some of the other things that wedding guests hate at a wedding. It may be a good idea to check it out and plan your wedding accordingly.

Never go hungry or thirsty on your wedding day

There are many things to keep you busy from dawn to dusk on your wedding day, and this is precisely why you shouldn’t be thirsty or hungry while coping with all that strain. The last thing you want is to feel light-headed, parched or dizzy because you didn’t get the nutrition you needed for this hectic day.

Although your schedule is tight, factor in breaks to hydrate and munch on something. Choose no-fuss, easy to eat and digest foods that will neither create a mess nor be too difficult to eat, when you are pressed for time. Have a healthy breakfast to kick-start the day on the right note. Plan simple small meals and snacks for the rest of the day, so you aren’t hungry. Also, choose clear fluids to hydrate yourself, so you don’t have to worry about staining your dress.

Don’t forget to plan your important photo shoots well

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Some wedding photos, like those that have to be taken at sunset, have to be timed perfectly. Don’t just assume that it will happen as intended. If you miss the moment, you cannot claim it back, and that would be a huge disappointment.

So, if there are shots that you want to take when the lighting is just right, or before you change your outfit or accessories, plan them in advance. Discuss these with your photographer, so you both know when it is time. Also delegate the duty of reminding you about it, to one of your efficient and punctual bridesmaids, and you can worry less about it. With a little foresight and systematic planning, everything about a wedding will progress smoothly and with no hassles.

Don’t lose your cool

You may be worried, anxious and irritated by the way things progress or by how some people behave on your wedding day. This may be a jealous bridesmaid, an inefficient vendor or even a guest. Whatever be the case, never react in the heat of the moment and do something you may later regret. Even if you are fully justified in blowing your top in such a scenario, remember that it is a happy occasion and everybody becomes uncomfortable when things go berserk and an argument or fight ensues.

Although Bridezillas aren’t very uncommon, remember that nobody likes being around one. When you sort things out by getting angry, nobody including you feels good about it. So, control your temper, and mentally prepare yourself to be calm and happy, irrespective of what happens. If you are certain that something wrong is bound to happen, consider your options and think of a solution in advance. If you expect a wedding vendor to do a shabby job on the day, warn him in advance. If a guest is bound to kick up an argument, find a sensible solution like arranging a distraction, that will avoid such a scenario. If things still go wrong, hush it up and settle it silently. The fewer the people who know about it, the fewer the chances of it becoming a topic of conversation.

Don’t complain

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Even if things don’t go as per plan or you are unhappy with certain arrangements, try to focus on the positives and be happy on your special day. If you have a genuine reason for complaints, save it for later. This is not the time to secretly bemoan your in-laws or express how disappointed you are with your bridal party.

Remember that your complaints are not going to change anything, except maybe irritate a few people. Also, you will spoil your own mood, when you dwell on the negatives instead of enjoying the good things going on. And think of what would happen if you were overheard by the wrong people? How would it be if your complaints were to reach the person you spoke about. This would only irritate them and make them unhappy about being at your wedding. Try to be positive, and brush off things before they get to you, and your wedding day will be a lot more fun.

Don’t be unprepared for wedding day emergencies

Wedding day mishaps happen, and often when you least expect it. The best way is to be prepared for any likely scenario. Depending on your wedding details, there are chances for different things to go wrong. If you have an outdoor wedding in summer, nature may surprise you with a quick shower. Your wedding dress may end up with a stain or a button may come lost. You or someone in the bridal party may suddenly feel dizzy or nauseated with all the excitement. So, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong.

As optimistic as you may be, it doesn’t hurt to be ready for the worst. Pack your emergency kit for any wedding day disaster, or even buy it online, and you should be ready to tide over most emergencies. Find out all about what should go into this kit by checking out this previous post of ours.

Don’t get drunk

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We know it is a happy occasion and merriment goes with booze, but don’t drown yourself in it. Things can get ugly if you go overboard with the drinks, and it can ruin your entire memory of the happy event. You do not want your guests to see you drunk and doing things you wouldn’t want them to see. Plus, they will always remember your wedding because of how drunk the bride was.

No matter how well you plan your wedding, if you or your husband create a scene after getting drunk, this will be in your guests’ memories years later. Also, you may miss out or have clouded memory of several details of the special day, if you are soaring on alcohol. So, enjoy the champagne from the toast, and maybe an extra drink or two. But stay away from any more than you really need.

Don’t forget to enjoy yourself

We think this is the most important of all of them. Don’t get so caught up with wedding etiquette, meeting and greeting, managing vendors and planning and organizing everything, that you forget to truly live and enjoy every moment of your wedding day. This is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion and one that you deserve to remember every detail of.

So, while you chat with your guests, don’t get caught up in long conversations that will keep you away from all the fun. Delegate as many responsibilities as possible, and try not to micromanage every last detail, or you will have no time for fun. Your wedding is a day that you have planned to perfection, and if anyone deserves to enjoy it, it has to be you. Take brief moments to look around and capture those memory snapshots, dance like you mean it and enjoy your first kiss so it becomes a fond memory.

This brings us to the end of the lengthy list of what you shouldn’t do on your wedding day. Didn’t we tell you, it isn’t as bad as it sounds? With a little planning, you can steer clear of trouble. Do you have any more to add to this list? We would love it if you could share your insights with us in the comments section.

Best for Bride is all about making bridal dreams come true. From the perfect wedding dress to the entire ensemble, décor and other aspects of wedding planning, we can help you organize your wedding to the last detail. Check out our online website to find out all you need to find out how we can help you. Our exciting offers, referral bonuses and special sales will make it easier for you to come one step closer to having your perfect wedding.

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10 cool colors for your winter bridesmaids

Today’s post is on bridesmaids dresses, and is for the bride who has her wedding planned in winter, and seeks inspiration for the colors and patterns suitable for her winter palette.

With your wedding dress, you may have a tough time discerning which fit and style is best for you, but the trouble ends there. We know that it isn’t an easy task. Nevertheless, it is not a task as Herculean as choosing the right color for your winter bridesmaids dresses. There are many factors that affect your choice of bridesmaids dress colors.

  1. It should go with the color palette that you have chosen for your wedding
  2. The color should look good on most, if not all your bridesmaids
  3. As far as possible, you should choose bridesmaids dresses in colors and patterns that can be used again.
  4. Since your bridesmaids will be a major part of the wedding scenery, you should choose their outfits in colors that will contribute to the visual impact of the wedding scene.
  5. You will be sharing space with your bridesmaids in many wedding pictures. So, their dresses should complement your outfit and it should all come together cohesively and look as beautiful as it can possibly be.

Now, we think you know why we say this isn’t easy. We think every bride needs all the inspiration she can get to plan any detail of her wedding. The more options you look at, the more likely you are to have that “Aha!” moment when you know you’ve finally found the right one. So, here are some of the coolest bridesmaids dresses from our latest collections, and we are sure you will find your pick from this splendid list. These beautiful colors are particularly stunning in the winter scene, but you can use them for your wedding any time of the year. So let’s get going!

1.Serene and sexy in gray

A color that is the perfect neutral, this is a fail-safe option for any palette that you may have chosen for your wedding day. For winter weddings, where you want to focus on classic themes, gray is a shade that will do magic in balancing out any color scheme. Not only does it look great with metals like silver and gold, it is also the perfect background for deep, jewel tones and rich shades like navy, green, purples and reds that are perfect for the wintry scene. The biggest advantage of choosing grey for your bridesmaids is that it is one color that allows them to reuse the dress again and again, as it is a color that most women don’t mind wearing.

Here is a stunner from the Alfred Angelo Saphire bridesmaid collection. The 8110L bridesmaid gown features many attractive details including a ruched criss-cross bodice with a wrapped waistline detail and an A-line skirt that flatters almost all body types. The sweetheart neckline of this pretty chiffon gown is supported with embellished straps that add a dose of glamour from their scintillating and sparkling details. Pair this dress with a bouquet of reds, whites or purples, and you have the ideal bridesmaid look for a classic theme wedding.

2.Charismatic and captivating navy

Navy is a regal color, and needs few accessories to look classic and cool. This is a shade that can be carried off by most women, and looks stunning when featured in full-length gowns. Unlike the other blues that are influenced by shades of grey and yellow, this is a sober color that has an almost neutral-like effect. This makes it just right for any color palette, and it can add that balance to a combination, since it can be used in place of black.

Featured here is the 8108L from the Alfred Angelo bridesmaids collection, and it is a dress that is as beautiful as a picture. The halter illusion neckline is accentuated with crystal beading, eliminating the need for an additional necklace. This dress allows your bridesmaids to show off their toned shoulders and arms, making it a beautiful choice for those slender women to look great on your wedding day. From the gathered natural waistline, the fabric flows gently into a floor length pleated A-line skirt that will flatter almost every body type. This is a dress that your bridesmaids will instantly fall in love with, so check it out.

3.Soft but striking salmon

When the rest of the world is bleak and white, small pops of vibrant color can liven up your wedding scene, bringing in gushes of joy and happiness. Add the sprightly happiness of spring into your cool winter wedding, by dressing your bridesmaids in soft but striking salmon colored bridesmaids gowns. These colors look great when paired with grays, blacks, blues and metallics in your wedding palette. The only thing you need to look out for, is the choice of fabric, as it has to be in chiffon or lace for that wispy delicate feminine look.

This bridesmaid dress is the Mori Lee 124 in lace and chiffon, and you can see what a mesmerizing beauty it is. The sleeves and illusion neckline look bewitching, with the finest details etched in lace on the bodice. Separating the skirt, is a waistband fashioned out of chiffon, and from here the soft fabric glides all the way down to full-length. This is a dress with a touch of sophistication, and the pattern, being modest and offering suitable coverage, will ensure that your bridesmaids are warm and cosy on your big day.

4.Captivating champagne

Match your bridesmaids to the winter scene in an elegant and soft color like champagne, and they will look like scintillating divas beside you, on the altar. The lack of color will be a beautiful choice, especially when it features lovely lace work and similar details. Metallic colors have been hot on the wedding scene for several years now, and this is why we think champagne tousled with shimmer in just the right doses can be a trendy choice for your bridesmaids colors. It is also the right choice if you wish to experiment with the mix ‘n’ match look, as champagne goes with almost every other color, creating the right balance necessary when mixing up various styles.

This bridesmaids dress from the Mori Lee Tulle affairs collection, showcases beautiful lace details on a snug sleeveless bodice with a dashing V-neckline. A soft satin waistband separates the bodice from the skirt, and the skirt in itself is a rippling tulle beauty with a texture that contrasts wonderfully with the subtly sparkling bodice. The fact that this dress has two universally flattering features—the V-neckline, and A-line skirt, makes it a great choice for all your bridesmaids, however different they may be in body shape and height. So, if you want one dress for all your girls, you know you have found it already.

5.Merry in berry

Berries, violets and plums are all winter colors, which makes these shades just perfect for your wedding palette. These colors are associated with winter scene, and look magnificent in most indoor settings. The berry color can be acessoried with gold or silver for enhancing it’s charm, and it also works well with neutrals like gray, white and black. Depending on the amount of black in it, the effect can range from serious to soft. It is also a color that looks good on most skin tones. So, your bridesmaids are least likely to complain about your choice of color, when this is what you have in mind.

Here is a chiffon and lace beauty from the Mori Lee Bridesmaid collection. The sweetheart neckline is sexy, as it gently follows the natural curves of the bust. The bodice is embellished with a luxurious spilling of the finest details in lace, further adorned with glitter in just the right doses. This ends at the natural waistline, where it gives rise to a soft exuberance of chiffon, as the texture transforms into one that is simply stunning. The A-line dress style drapes well on most body types, and the dress is slimming in its choice of color and design details. This is a dress that will look beautiful when paired with whites, yellows or reds in bouquets and accessories, and it can be used for both formal and informal ceremonies by choosing the right accessories to dress it up.

6.Pretty in pink

Pink is a color that is eternally a girl’s favorite, and this makes it perfect for a wedding, irrespective of the season that it is held in. Pink can be played up or down, by varying the intensity of white in it. While the softer shades are suitable for the warmer spring and summer months, the darker shades look arresting in the winter scene. It is also a color that can instantly liven up the atmosphere, when everything around is cold and lifeless. Hence it is a perfect color for your pretty bridesmaids to don on your wedding day.

There are many reasons why we love this dress from the After six collection. The single-shoulder drape of the gown gives it a goddess-like appearance, and your bridesmaids will undoubtedly look glamorous in it. The ruched detailing on the bodice and waistline, continue into the skirt, giving it a casual and feminine feel. The fabric is chiffon, which is sheer to the right extent, and this makes it very appealing and pretty, so your girls will feel pampered and stylish when they wear this dress to your big day.

7.Light and lovely lavender

Some colors have the special ability to conjure up whiffs of flowers and fields, and lavender is one of them. This delicate shade of the softest violet is a fantastic color that can add personality to any scene. The soft sheen is luxurious and scintillates with a lovely effect. This is a color that captures the exquisite beauty of winter, and looks stunning with its almost silver-like appearance.

Featured here is a gorgeous bridesmaid dress from the Angelina Faccenda collection from Mori Lee. The sweetheart neckline is supported by sheer straps, and the entire bodice, neckline and straps are adorned by little glittering details that make the dress impressive. The texture of the skirt is entirely different from the bodice, with it flowing softly to full-length, in gentle ripples. The added beauty of this dress is that it also features a keyhole cutout at the back, which makes it a materpiece from not only the front, but from the back as well.

8.Rocking red

Winter is when Christmas and the holidays come, and it is just the right time to use these colors as the inspiration for your big event in life as well. Red as your bridesmaids dress color can instantly make your wedding scenery festive. This is a color that can be mixed with any other, to create dramatically different effects. Red with tropical colors like yellow and orange, transform any scene into a casual and fun-filled ambiance. On the other hand, when paired with black or grays, it has a classic elegance. The only thing to pay attention to, when using red is to keep the palette balanced with plenty of neutrals, as this is a color that can quickly overpower.

This beautiful bridesmaid dress belongs to the Tutto Bene collection at Best for Bride. The halter neckline ends in a V-shaped opening, and continues into a criss-cross ruched bodice with a slender belt that distinctly defines the waistline. The softly pleated A-line skirt continues to glide down towards floor length. The simple design and elegant details complement the rich color of the fabric, and overall this dress is one that will most likely be used many times again by your bridesmaids.

Most of the dresses featured here are available in several shades, and not just the one featured here. Contact our Best for Bride store to learn of the options you can have, if you liked any of the patterns you saw. Also, don’t forget to check out our Bridesmaids dress gallery at Best for Bride to see the thousands of different designs from the various designer collections we carry at our shops. Find all this and anything else you may need for your big wedding day, by checking out our website at Best for Bride.

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Ringing in Romance: 5 Compelling Reasons to Choose a New Year’s Wedding!

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We are already counting down to an exciting New Year! A New Year heralds new beginnings, new expectations and most of all, hope for a better and brighter future. Quite similar to what we hope for when we get married, don’t you think?

With the entire atmosphere so cheerful, jolly and festive, this is in fact a great time to get married. We simply love New Year weddings, and here is why!

#1 It is holiday-time and everyone is in the mood to party

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Plan your wedding on New Year’s eve, and you don’t have to worry about your guests having to accommodate your wedding schedule into their busy plans. With schools on holiday and almost everyone on holiday, none of your guests will have issues with being available. So, if you want maximum attendance at your wedding party, there couldn’t be a better day to host your wedding. Plus, the holiday season inspires a party mood, and your guests will be in full form to rock your party.

#2 New Year Weddings are the perfect occasion for glitz and glamour

Think of New Year, and sparkles, champagne, glitter and confetti all bombard our senses. You won’t have to work too hard to make your wedding a grand experience. Champagne towers are a huge hit, as are glamorous photo booths and shimmering table settings. New Year is one of the most luxurious and glamorous nights of the year, and your guests will be delighted to dress their best for your wedding, and this applies to you too.

#3 You have your resolution not just for the year, but for an entire lifetime

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Everyone has a resolution for the New Year. Mark yours with a meaningful resolution, when you ring it in with the promise spend an eternity with your partner, never to allow any hardship deter your commitment to each other.

#4 The drama of the New Year countdown is unbeatable

Most couples explore ways to make their wedding day exciting and memorable. A spectacular countdown at midnight would achieve this! Announce the countdown, and have a big balloon drop with plenty of party poppers for a thrilling effect. Top it off with a killer music track that plays into the wee hours of dawn, and your guests couldn’t have a better New Year Party, or wedding as memorable!

#5 It is your chance to dress like a celebrity

Although a stunning white wedding dress is always right, New Year is the best time to sport an ultra-glamorous look. How about sticking with the traditional white gown for the wedding, and then changing into a glittering gold gown for the reception? Or you could choose a Hollywood-inspired wedding gown with extra embellishments and decorative features, that works for both. This is the occasion to dress up in full-style, as you could never go over-the-top, in whatever you choose to wear! It’s New Year, after all!

Visit us at Best for Bride, and get ready to look at bridal dresses that are just right for a New Year wedding. So, what do you say? Would you like to be a New Year bride?

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Wedding dress guide: Which white is right?

We look great in certain colors, while some colors just don’t look right on us. This is the concept that seasonal color analysis is based on. It allows us to recognize the colors that best flatter our skin tone, and thus enables us to tailor our wardrobe to contain these shades. By doing so, we eliminate the colors that do not enhance our natural charm. Instead, we focus on dresses that the seasonal color analysis specifies for our skin type.

This analysis is based on a four-season color palette, where every woman is assigned one of the four seasonal groups depending on her complexion. So, every woman would fall into one of the four categories—winter, summer, spring or fall. There are specific colors designated to each group, and the colors that belong to your group should suit your compleion.

The season you fall under is based on your skin undertones and how your complexion and hair coloring go together. Wedding dresses are usually availale in different variants of white, such as ivory, champagne, diamond and off-white. If you know your season, it is easy to choose the right white for your wedding dress, so it will best enhance your natural features.

The right white for each season

If you are a winter, your features are characterized by a striking contrast between your hair, eyes and skin. Dresses in white with blue undertones look best on you. Stark white is the ideal wedding dress color.

via Best for Bride

Women in the autumn group have golden or copper skin tones. White with yellow or gold undertones, such as Ivory and Champagne are suitable for these women.

via Best for Bride

Ladies in the spring group will have bright clear skin with a peach tone. An off-white shade or those of ivory and cream look best on these brides.

via Best for Bride

The last group, summer, has low contrast coloring between their skin, eyes and hair. Soft, grayed white such as diamond white is the ideal choice for these brides.

via Best for Bride

When you don’t know your season

If you don’t know your season, you may not find it so straightforward to determine the right white for you. In such a scenario, here is some extra help.

The darker your complexion is, the crisper and brighter your white should be. Choose stark white with a sheen, such as seen in fabrics like satin and silk. Don’t opt for stark white if you are very fair, as it will make you look pale.

Ivory and champagne are whites with yellow undertones. So, they look slightly off-white, but not too yellow or cream. These are the colors that you should choose if your skin has yellow or olive undertones. This will also suit women who are very fair.

For those of you who are unsure of which white to choose, a safe bet is natural or diamond white. This looks pretty in the wedding photos, but isn’t as pale as stark white, nor cream. So, it looks good on almost anyone.

Most wedding dresses are available in more than one shade of white. So, once you have chosen a particular design, choose the white that suits your complexion, and you will have found the best choice.

For more valuable wedding dress shopping tips, visit us on Best for Bride.