Planning a wedding reception is exciting and daunting at the same time. This is the event that your guests look forward to, which demands you plan it well. When done right, wedding receptions are very memorable, and you do want your guests to remember yours fondly.
If you are a creative person, there is plenty you can do at your wedding reception. People remember unique wedding reception themes best. However, the cost climbs quickly with each idea you implement. Nonetheless, there are certain essentials for a reception that you shouldn’t overlook. Let us look at these wedding reception essentials that you must have to guarantee a good day.
Aren’t you too excited about dressing up in a classic ball gown, with immaculate makeup and a hairstyle with every strand held in place, on your wedding day?
If you answered yes, it is likely that a formal wedding is not for you. Brides with an, easy-going personality cannot always relate to a formal wedding. This is because rules and expectations at formal weddings bind everything. A casual wedding theme at an exciting venue would perhaps appeal better. In this case, you can make and bend the rules. This is more fun and will be more memorable when appropriately planned.
Brides with their hearts set on an informal wedding do not usually want traditional gowns. If this doesn’t reflect the fun and bubbly element of your personality, no rule requires you to wear it. Instead, plenty of dresses are better suited for an informal wedding. This is what you should look at.
Destination wedding dress collections usually feature bold and at times, even daring wedding dress styles. These are good choices for an informal wedding. If not these, you may even find an attractive dress in an evening dress collection. So, look there instead of the traditional wedding dress aisles.
So, how do you shop for your dress when your wedding differs from the rest? Here are some tips from our bridal consultants to help you with this.
1.Identify the venue first
The dress styles that are suitable for an informal backyard wedding will not be good for a wedding on the beach. So, the venue is an important factor to consider when planning your bridal look. Informal wedding venues include beaches and resorts, gardens, backyards and restaurants. Your wedding dress should be appropriate for the venue and comfortable for the weather. Always start your shopping only after you finalize the location of your wedding.
2.Do your research in advance
You shouldn’t skip your dress research because you won’t pick a traditional wedding dress. Informal dresses come in different styles. You have various options, from bridal pantsuits to tea-length dresses and loose sheaths. Unless you know what to wear, dress shopping can drag on and overwhelm you. So, plan your look first. Have an idea of the dress styles that you want to try on. Then find a shop that caters to your needs.
3.Fix your budget
An informal wedding gown can also be expensive. Nonetheless, you should be able to find dresses in different price ranges. Calculate the maximum amount that you can spend on your dress. This will give you a reference point to base your search on. Also include the cost for alterations and accessories when calculating the price. You will incur additional expenses when shopping for your wedding dress.
4.Be flexible
You may have to think out of the box and be open to looking at more than just bridal dresses to find a dress of your choice. Since your search is for something unusual, shopping for a regular wedding gown may not be as easy. So, be prepared to search in other departments to find what you want.
5.Don’t settle for what is available
Like I mentioned earlier, it isn’t always easy to find a dress that satisfies your preferences for an informal theme. Fortunately, you can always customize an available dress if it isn’t exactly your taste. Explore the possibility of dyeing a dress if everything but the color isn’t right. Or you can even have the dress tailored. This allows you to plan your look to even the smallest detail. If you can find a talented seamstress, this is a practical and easy solution to your need.
6.Get alterations done
A dress doesn’t look right unless it drapes correctly and fits perfectly. So, you should alter your dress to your measurements once you purchase it. If the boutique where you shop doesn’t provide this service, look for a seamstress who has the experience to work with dress styles like yours. It can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months to complete alterations, depending on the complexity of the dress. Make sure you do your shopping early so you have enough time for it and don’t incur rush charges.
7.Choose the right accessories
You can dress up or down with the right choice of accessories. Accessories can help you create the look you want. So, choose jewelry, shoes and other accessories that enhance your look. You can mix and match dress styles and accessories to look modern, vintage, classic or boho-chic. Also, think out of the box and try on accessories like birdcage veils, flower crowns and vintage jewelry to find your unique style statement. Also experiment with color to add a pop of personality to your outfit.
Now, let us look at some of the dresses suitable for informal-style weddings. All these dresses belong to our dress collection at Best for Bride. Enjoy your tour!
Style: Tea length dress with lace appliques
With dainty lace appliques in the bodice this dress is very attractive. Lace appliques are also present in the lower half of the satin and net skirt. The waistline is defined by a pleated waistband, which clearly emphasizes the smallest part of the bride’s waist. The dress also has a gentle sweetheart bodice and layered skirt, exuding youthful charm. The exquisite lace details in the dress make it just right for a garden wedding.
Style: Casual style with High-low hemline skirt
Very simple with delightful, uncluttered details. The simplicity of this dress adds to its appeal, giving it a casual vibe. The bodice features an empire waistline. It is embellished with intricate lace details till here. Soft layers of net flow from the waist to floor length. There are pretty lace appliques in the lower half of the skirt. The tonal strapless bodice features spaghetti straps that support and act as an interesting detail in this area. The high-low hemline makes this dress just right for an informal wedding style.
Style: Fun and flirty A-line dress with hi-low hemline
This dress is bound to take years off age off the bride who wears it. With a lace-bordered hi-low hemline, the dress is casual but fun. Soft scintillating straps support the lace-embellished sweetheart bodice. A crystal-studded waistband defines the natural waistline. This little detail adds a touch of pizzazz to the beautiful dress in white. Exquisite details like the hemline, waistband and pretty lace appliques will ensure the bride stands out from the crowd.
Style:Colored wedding dress with simple details
Here is another dress with all the essential elements for a casual wedding. The ruched bodice and pleated skirt have no fussy embellishments but is very charming. The simple floral detail on the slim waistband complements the simplicity of the dress. This gown is easy to manage in outdoors, and the pale pink color creates a vintage effect.
Style: Floor-length gown with illusion back details
This is a stunning beauty from the Mori Lee bridal collection. The 6836 dress is of floor-length, where the details are concentrated in the embellished bodice. With a V-neckline and beaded satin belt, the dress has bridal charm. However, it doesn’t overwhelm with details. The gathered A-line skirt is universally flattering, which makes it suitable for brides of most body types. It also features an amazing illusion back. This dress would be beautiful for a non-traditional wedding in the warmer months.
Style: Spaghetti straps on sheath-style wedding dress
If your dream dress drapes closely and shows off your natural curves effectively, here is a dress that satisfies your taste. The 6815 Mori Lee dress has an asymmetrically draped bodice in lush crepe. Thin spaghetti straps compliment the criss-cross detail in the sweetheart bodice. The sheath silhouette courses to full length, gently defining the natural curves and creating a sexy effect. The dress is perfect for a destination wedding. It can be chosen for both indoor and outdoor venues.
Style: Pink beauty for the bride who loves color
Let your love for color reflect in your wedding dress choice. This Sans Pareil gown in soft pink is a picture of magnificence, and yet entirely non-traditional. From the fit-and-flare silhouette to the color, this beautiful dress has many unusual elements. The scintillating threads of crystal along the length of the gown create a spectacular effect. Equally bewitching is the low-cut open-back detail and the deep-dip illusion V-neckline. This is a bold choice for a bride, but one that will stay in your guest’s memories for long.
Style:Sexy illusion neckline on non-traditional dress silhouette
You will be remembered as a glamorous bride when you choose this amazing Sophia Tolli gown as your bridal dress. The plunging illusion V-neckline has embellishments that add an air of intrigue. The ruched bodice extends into shoulder straps and is gathered at the natural waistline. The skirt has wispy layers that flutter in the breeze, resembling drifting clouds. The artistic touch of crystal details in the neckline and decolletage are what makes this dress unique. It is a dress that is just right for a beach wedding.
Style: Black and white wedding dress
Be a bride with a difference when you add a touch of black to your wedding day outfit. This dress from the Jasmine designer bridal collection has a trumpet silhouette. From the strapless neckline, the dress follows the natural curves all the way up to the thighs. From here, it opens out into a layered misty skirt. The entire bodice has a ruched criss-cross effect for textural finesse. However, the signature element has to be the black lace appliques that adorn the length of the bodice along the sides. It extends from the bust all the way to the dropped waist, and has a pronounced effect. Classic and sophisticated, yet unusual, this is a dress for the bride who wants to stand out from the rest.
You’ve seen our favorite informal bridal dress picks from our wedding dress collection. One of the other places you should look at is our bridesmaids collection. There are some real beauties in there that will easily pass off as wedding dresses.
One of our customers, Julie Santos, is an example of how bridesmaid dresses can work as wedding dresses. Her pick was a bridesmaid dress from our Jasmine collection. Julie, who was married on the beach, says this was the perfect dress for her big day, and many of her guests couldn’t even believe that the dress she wore wasn’t from a wedding dress collection. Pictures of Julie on her wedding day are available here.
So, you now know that there are plenty of options in informal wedding dresses. Plus, designers are now on a spree to bring out more unexpected dress styles that fit into the wedding dress category.
To see all the dresses featured in this post up close and also search for more options, check out our bridal dress gallery. And don’t forget to tell us which of these dresses you would choose to wear to your celebration. Or do you have another dress in mind? Do share your comments and ideas in our comments section below.
One of the primary focal points of every dress is the neckline. Choosing the right neckline will draw focus to the beauty of the natural facial features of the wearer and enhance the overall appearance of the dress style selected. In addition, it will draw attention to the most attractive features or camouflage the less desirable traits when chosen appropriately.
When choosing bridesmaids’ dresses, choosing a single dress is no longer stylish for your entire bridal party. This is because your girls won’t be the same size or have the same body shape. So instead, we suggest you consider a range of options and mix and match dresses to suit the individual traits of each of the girls in your bridal party.
One good mix and match option is to vary the dress’s neckline while keeping the colours or silhouette constant for the entire group. This gives the group a super-stylish and modern look. It is easy, as most collections offer the same shade for several dresses. So you can find suitable silhouettes and necklines for each of your bridesmaids while keeping the colour uniform.
This guide looks at the most flattering neckline styles for different body types. Use this advice to choose the best neckline styles for your bridesmaid’s dresses. We are sure it will help you come one step closer to making your bridesmaids happy with your dress choices.
If you are a bride whose dream wedding vision includes a towering, magnificent and spellbinding masterpiece cake, detailed wedding cake plans are on your list of must-do’s!
Your cake designer is a single person who can bring your perfect wedding cake to life. However, she needs your ideas and inputs to execute the plan to perfection. Although she may have her own suggestions and ideas, it may not meet your expectations unless you provide her the blueprint to plan her cake around. This simply means that you cannot start with a blank slate. You need to first do a list of things before you meet with your cake designer and discuss the cake design. Let us take a look at this list now.
Get inspired
Just like with wedding dresses, there is a whole world of fabulous wedding cakes waiting to be discovered. You will find drool-worthy pages and pages on Pinterest, in bridal magazines, on cake websites as well as on our own wedding cake gallery. Your first step to planning your wedding cake is identifying what you want. Begin by setting up a wedding inspiration board (read all about it on our previous post here), and adding pictures to it. If you find interesting pictures in magazines, collect them too. Begin at random, by just dragging any picture that appeals to you onto your inspiration board. Once you have a number of pictures, edit out the ones that do not seem as interesting as they did initially. As you do this, you should see a pattern emerge, and this will help you identify the factor that appeals to you. It could be the color combinations, style, texture, the decoration used, shape, size, or any other factor. Once you recognize what it is, it will be easier to refine your board and eliminate those that do not feature this factor. This will bring you closer to your final idea of how your wedding cake should be.
Research your options
Once you have narrowed down your choices to just those that would be ideal for your cake design, it is time to research and identify what would work. For this, consider the various details about each of the cakes you’ve shortlisted. Some questions to help you in this direction are
what are the ingredients used in the frosting—fondant, buttercream, etc?
What techniques may be involved in making the design?
Is there any special work involved?
How are the special touches done?
Are the accessories you like ready-made or custom-created by the baker?
Why do you think you like a particular detail?
What would be the features you could eliminate if required?
Match it to your wedding
Your wedding cake, as much as it is an entity on its own, still has to belong to the wedding. For this, you should match it to the wedding theme. This would be in terms of colors, features, style, and size. Where cakes are concerned, your options are numerous. You can have a wedding cake with as many layers as you want, without all the tiers actually being “cake.” Or, you can have a couture cake that is impressive and serves for the cake cutting, while the guests are served with sheet cake slices in the same flavor. This brings down the cost, which is a very important factor in making your final cake decisions.
Determine your Budget
The quantity of cake you need depends on the number of guests at your wedding. Before meeting with your cake designer, you should compile information on the guest count, and calculate your cake budget. This will help you decide on the possible options, so you have enough cake for all your guests, while also meeting your expectations. Once you know the maximum you can afford to spend on a cake, it will also put you in a position to shortlist a suitable cake designer who will do the job for you within your set budget. This also gives you a general idea of the little extras that you can afford to have, without eating into other aspects of your wedding.
Consider aesthetic aspects
The main factor that influences your choice for the cake is how it will finally look. Here are the aesthetic factors that you should consider.
Wedding theme: There are different ways in which you can integrate the cake into the wedding theme. This could be using the colors or similar details that are part of your décor.
Wedding colors: A talented and experienced cake designer should be able to create your cake in any color of your choice. She may also be able to suggest colors that work together, or tell you if something you suggest will not look good when executed. While all colors are possible, it is best to remember that appetizing cakes are usually done in light, breezy colors. So, you may like to stick with the lighter colors in your palette, for your cake.
Shape and Size: This article should help you understand the different cake shapes you can have at your wedding. This includes both traditional and contemporary styles, so you know about all the choices you have. If you have a limited budget, remember that simple shapes like round and square cost less, while the topsy-turvy shape or irregular ones will usually cost more. Where the size of the cake is concerned, you can have a huge-tiered cake, with faux tiers in between as a budget-friendly option. Or, if this is one area where you don’t mind splurging, go with the real thing all the way.
Cake accessories and decorations: You can dress your cake up easily, using suitable accessories and decorations. You have plenty of options, including fresh blooms, sugar flowers, plastic figures, and other accessories. Think of what you would like to have on your cake. Would you prefer elaborate embellishments, ready-made cake decorations, or ones made from fondant or sugar?
Taste options—what should you consider?
Just like with the aesthetics, the taste of your cake is equally important. Do this correctly by paying close attention to the following factors.
Shortlist the flavors you like
You will be overwhelmed with the flavor options available. Avoid confusion by shortlisting a few of your favorites, before you even visit your designer. You can then look at these flavors and anything similar that may suit your palette. Once you narrow down your choices, your cake designer can arrange for the chosen flavors at your tasting session. Although you can always go with a bold and unusual choice, remember that if you stick to common flavors, it will most likely be liked by all. Your cake should also be soft, spongy, and moist.
Discuss your filling choices
The overall taste of the cake will depend on the filling that you choose for it. So, decide whether you want something fruity, creamy, or chocolate. You can make this decision based on your personal preferences, or by looking at what is easily available and budget-friendly.
Choose your icing options
The icing will not only determine the finish of the cake, but also the taste. Some bakers specialize in fondant, while others are experts with buttercream. It is best to choose a vendor who has enough experience in working with the medium you prefer, for best results.
Check with your venue for any restrictions
Some venues have restrictions on what you are allowed to serve at your wedding. Some of them require you to use their in-house bakers itself, while others allow you to bring your own cake designer for an additional fee. Considering health and safety requirements, it may be necessary to go with a licensed professional for your wedding day. So, you should check for this factor with the venue manager in advance, before scouting for a vendor.
How will the cake get to the venue?
Getting your cake to the venue without damage is very important. If your cake designer will not be working onsite, you will have to check for the transport arrangements to get the finished cake to your venue. Will your baker arrange for this, or will you have to make transport arrangements yourself. If it has to be transported, the size of the cake will determine whether it will have to be transported in one piece or, if it will be assembled on-site. An experienced baker will normally have the provision to supply your cake to the reception venue. If this isn’t available, and you have to transport it by yourself, make sure you will be able to do it efficiently. Discuss the details about how it has to be transported as soon as you settle on the design.
The flexibility factor
Cakes in magazines and pictures may not always be easy to replicate. Each baker will have a unique style. As creative artists, they will appreciate a certain level of freedom, so they can contribute in their own way. If you are very particular about replicating certain aspects of a cake, make sure that you look for a cake designer who is equipped and experienced in working on that aspect. Moreover, replicating a picture entirely doesn’t make the design your own. So, we suggest you keep your options available to discuss what can be done to make a cake design that is your own. Also, keep the actual logistics in mind when you choose to go for a cake design you pick from a picture. The replication may look different in color, or the details may differ to a certain extent. Your cake designer will give you a correct idea of the extent to which your ideas are practical, and what changes would give you better results. Be open to such suggestions, and it will be a lot easier for both of you.
Create your list of preferred cake designers
Based on reviews, recommendations, and your own research, you should shortlist the vendors who would be good candidates for your job. Make sure you have more than just one option, in case the person you want is booked already, or you aren’t satisfied with what they have to offer when you actually meet. In all cases, it is advised to first start visiting with vendors you like most. So, if you find a cake designer who you like, you can immediately finalize the deal without having to check on any more vendors.
Discuss your plans with your fiance first
Unless your fiance doesn’t really care about how your wedding cake looks, it is necessary to gather his inputs as well, before you come to a final decision. Before you meet a cake designer, discuss the design together and come to an agreement on what you both like. Both of you should be happy with the design, flavor, and other details.
Once you have a clear idea of all the above-mentioned factors, you are ready to visit your cake designer and discuss your ideas. It is much easier for a cake designer to give you what you want when you have a very clear idea of what you would like. Nevertheless, be open to ideas and suggestions, as your cake designer is an experienced professional, and can give you valuable inputs on making the cake that is just perfect for your big day.
For more inputs and great inspiration for your special day, visit our online cake gallery at Best for Bride. Apart from delicious and great looking cakes, we also offer brides many more wedding services. With an impressive inventory of dresses for the wedding party and an exquisite designer wedding dress collection, we are the one-stop destination for everything a bride needs when planning the event of her lifetime. You can also find wedding stationery, wedding favors, décor accessories, and beautiful accessories on our website. Visit us online today, to see what we can do to complete your wedding day.
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