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How to tackle wedding day dress disasters

via Best for Bride

As much as we hate to tell you this, wedding day dress disasters can and do happen! A white dress with delicate details on expensive fabric is an invitation for trouble in the form of stains, tears and more.

The best way to stop worrying about a wedding dress mishap is to be prepared for every likely scenario. If you have a wedding planner, she will be equipped to handle most situations. If not, don’t worry. With this handy guide, you will be set to tackle most wedding dress disasters yourself. So, prepare yourself for the worst, and then hope with all your heart that you will not need it.

Prepare your emergency bridal kit in advance

When you put your bridal kit together, include not only your makeup and face towels, but also all the items to fix likely wedding dress disasters. Your kit should contain

  • safety pins
  • transparent tape
  • fabric glue
  • extra buttons
  • emergency sewing kit with threads and needles
  • tissues
  • talcum powder
  • Q-tips and
  • white chalk

Or you could purchase a ready-made emergency bridal kit, that contains all these supplies and more, if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.

Removing stains

Attack any stain on your dress immediately, so it doesn’t settle. But, make sure you use the right stain remover, or you may end up doing more damage. It is a good idea to find out what will take out stains from the fabric of your wedding dress, and keep it handy.

Attack ink stains with hairspray and make-up stains with club soda. Cover up the color difference with white chalk and it will not be obvious. Should you notice an oil mark over your dress, quickly spray talcum powder over it and let it soak up the oil. Then dust it off. If marks remain, it can be taken out when you send your gown in for preservation.

Rips or tears

Attend to any rip or tear promptly with your emergency kit supplies. Get someone who knows their way with threads and needles to do it for you. Whether it is to darn the tear quickly, or stick a piece of fabric beneath it, make sure this last-minute repair is done without making the existing rip any bigger. Try to camouflage the spot by holding your bridal bouquet over it, or bunching up your veil over the spot.

Hem your dress to the perfect length

A little extra length is all it takes to have you trip over your dress and fall on your pretty face. Since we aren’t used to wearing long-flowing gowns and maneuvering our way through a maze of tables, we should prepare ourselves ahead for it.

Get your wedding dress hemline correct, by wearing your wedding shoes to the alteration sessions. This will allow your seamstress to get the length right. Also, practice walking in your bridal gown before you wear it on your wedding day, so you are accustomed to it. Ask your bridal consultant to teach your MoH how to bustle the train, so it doesn’t pose a problem during the reception.

You are now covered for most wedding disasters and let’s hope that despite all this preparation, you will need none of it. For more wedding day tips, shopping needs and advice, or to buy your wedding emergency kit, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Before you meet with your Wedding Planner

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Did you know that there are some important things that you need to decide before you meet with your wedding planner for the first time? While it is common to think that your wedding planner will be able to help you with every aspect of your wedding, there are some basic things that need to be addressed before your first appointment. So, before you visit with your wedding planner for the first time, make sure that you have made the following decisions.

Budget

You should always have a budget planned before you meet with your wedding planner. Since weddings can be extremely expensive, your wedding planner won’t even know where to start if they don’t have a budget. You should also break down your budget rather than simply offering a final number to go with. This will help your wedding planner know where they can make some changes to help save you money or where you have a strong opinion about another area.

Guests

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One factor that will determine a major part of your budget is the number of guests that will be attending your wedding. While you don’t need to have a full guest list of guaranteed people who will be attending at this time, it will be necessary to know how many people you plan to invite. This will help your wedding planner discuss with you things like whether your budget is realistic.

Chosen Vendors

If you have already entered into an agreement with other vendors, it is important that you fill your wedding planner in on the details. This will help your wedding planner to determine areas that have already been taken care of as well as the areas that still require attention. This will also help your wedding planner learn more about how you would like your wedding to turn out as well. If you haven’t chosen any vendors yet, this is also fine. You simply need to let your wedding planner know what’s already been taken care of.

Your Wedding Plan

Every bride has a plan for her wedding and the person who has been chosen to help this wedding dream come true is the wedding planner. Don’t be afraid to bring pictures of your perfect wedding as well as samples of flowers and colors that you are considering as well.

Decision Makers

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While it is most often left up to the bride to make the decisions, sometimes the parents of the bride wish to be involved as well, especially if they are paying for or partially paying for the wedding. It is best to discuss with your parents up front regarding who is making the decisions so that neither of you are faced with a surprise.

Your wedding planner is a great asset to have and can help you plan your wedding from start to finish. But, you need to make sure that you are prepared for them by deciding these items before you meet with the wedding planner for the first time. In addition, make sure that you stop by Best for Bride in order to find all of your wedding day attire and décor needs.

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Wedding Planning : The 3 things brides worry about the most and how to handle them

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You’re in love and just engaged – how romantic and dreamy everything looks and feels! But, not for long. Once wedding planning enters the picture, the excitement can quickly take on a new form called Stress!

Most brides will be planning a wedding for the first time. So, it isn’t unusual to feel overwhelmed. If you are a perfectionist, who wants everything to go exactly as you dreamed it to be, be prepared to watch your stress levels soar. All this can take all the fun out of your wedding.

Here, we shall look at three factors that drown most brides in worry. Fortunately, we also know what will help you with them, so let’s find out.

1. The wedding budget

Everything related to a wedding boils down to money. Every vendor and service you require for your wedding will have to be paid. Add to it the additional cost of planning your honeymoon and getting favors for your near and dear; get ready to say goodbye to your bank balance.

The way to handle this is to plan your wedding budget sensibly and realistically. Determine the maximum you can afford to spend, and divide it amongst the different factors. Remember that you can plan a wedding for any budget, big or small. So, fix your budget first and then shop around for what fits it.

Don’t forget to factor in the extras when you book a vendor or go shopping. This would include the alteration charges when buying a wedding dress, tips and taxes for vendors and similar charges which may or may not be included with the original rates.

2. Handling help

Announce your wedding, and you will find many people rushing to your aid to plan the perfect wedding. Their advice may be well-intended, but many brides often find their own ideas slipping through when an overbearing friend or relative steps in to help.

If you are faced with this situation, just remember this. Wedding planning has a dark side to it; you cannot have everything perfect, while pleasing everyone. If someone tries to force their ideas on you, tell them that you will think over it, but don’t commit unless you are convinced.

Delegate small tasks to those who are eager to help, but not any of the bigger responsibilities that you cannot take chances with. If your parents or in-laws are paying, you have to make allowances for their suggestions. Work to find a compromise that both of you can live with.

3. Getting it all done on time

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When you first make a list of things to do, you may be worried by how long it is. From shopping for your wedding dress, to buying accessories, setting up the guest list, planning the wedding theme and finding the venue, there are several more things to be handled.

Don’t worry, it’s all manageable if you plan everything systematically. Before you begin with anything, first split up the tasks and assign dates to each one of them. Divide it into those you will handle and those you can delegate. If you can afford it, book a wedding planner to do all or some of the work. Do your research before you begin anything, and you will be better equipped to handle all the details. Keep the big picture in mind. If what you worry about doesn’t matter too much, don’t lose sleep over it.

For more wedding related advice and tips, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Tips to help you Relax and De-stress before your wedding

woman-387510_1280Your engagement is an exciting time, but it can be very stressful too. Wedding planning can leave you feeling overwhelmed, tired and anxious. Before the stress wreaks havoc and turns you into a Bridezilla, stop and take control. Here are some simple tips to help you relieve yourself of wedding planning stress, and make the process easy and manageable.

Plan wisely

It may seem that there is no end to the tasks you have to handle ahead of your wedding, but it isn’t that bad. All you have to do is take it easy and come up with a good plan that can be executed within the available time. Think of the whole wedding planning as a series of small projects, and divide it into small tasks.

Spend some time sorting all that you have to do into lists, and determine the best time to work on each list. Allot the tasks in these lists to each day, week and month. Set reasonable time limits to complete each one. Also set aside some extra time with no designated tasks, so you can use this time for anything that you complete as per plan.

Enlist help

Don’t worry about doing everything yourself. If your parents, friends or relatives offer help, accept it graciously. Can you afford a wedding planner? If yes, enjoy the privilege. Else, consider delegating certain tasks to “part-time” planners, who can expertly handle these jobs. This may be drafting your wedding invitation, decorating the venue, or finding the right vendors to cater to your event. While they do charge a fee for their service, it is worth it. You can supervise the job, but step away from micromanaging as this will again cause unnecessary stress.

Plan your deadlines well-ahead of the big day

This particularly relates to getting your wedding dress, accessories, invitations and bookings done. Draw up the vendor contracts well-ahead of time, book your band or DJ as early as possible and get your honeymoon tickets quickly. While signing contracts, remember to check for what their back-up plan is in case of an emergency. Knowing that there is a Plan B will reduce your anxiety, especially if any aspect of the wedding worries you excessively.

Set aside time to relax and pamper yourself

Make sure that you enjoy this time before your wedding, and prioritize your well-being and health. Treat yourself to a facial or massage. Attend a regular workout or yoga class to get in shape.

A well-rested bride is a happy bride, so don’t skimp on sleep. Also, find time to get together with the people you love. Enjoy your wedding shopping, and don’t rush through things that are important to you. If you feel overwhelmed at any time, pour out your worries to your mother or friend. It’ll help you relax, and they’ll probably have suggestions that you never thought of.

In all the frenzy leading up to the wedding, don’t miss out on the excitement of being a couple in love. Make time for each other, and not let it be entirely about the wedding. Relish every moment, and tackle every situation with a clear head. Look forward to a wonderful wedding day, and it will be just what you dreamed it to be.

For more bridal advice, as well as for all your wedding shopping needs, visit us at Best for Bride.