Wedding Dresses, Bridesmaid’s Dresses or Mother of the Bride Dresses… you can’t go wrong here:

        

This is one area I feel pretty strongly about. It has become common for bridesmaids to be asked to purchase their own gowns. Frequently, the bride (being overly concerned that everything match the exact shade of green or purple or whatever color she wants her wedding theme to be), selects dresses for the bridesmaids that they will only be able to wear on the occasion of the wedding. They are being asked to spend up to and over $100.00 for something that will hang in their closet until it is eventually thrown away. That makes for some expensive trash…

There are many complimentary colors that are more neutral in color and fabric that the bridesmaid will feel happy to wear to a cocktail party of special date or event. Dresses in the brown, beige or black or even red may work with your colors and be a much better selection for your bridesmaids.

Also, all bridesmaids are not built alike. Not everyone is a size 6 with a perfect body. What can you do about the overweight bridesmaid? You can be aware of some of her concerns about the dress. Very few overweight women can carry off a strapless dress and not have to worry about “the girls” popping out all day. Upper arms may be a concern so sleeves that cover this area would make her much more comfortable. She needs support.

Do all of your bridesmaids have to look exactly the same? Or can each bridesmaid take a fabric swatch and pick out a gown within the limits you have set? Perhaps you will want to say, “It should be black crepe, not too short or too tight. Feel free to select something that will work well with your style and body shape. Please make it a bit conservative if the wedding will be in a church and ask, ” I’d like to see a picture of what you are selecting so we are all on the same page.”

That, my dear, is a perfect bride who is kind to her bridesmaids.

        

The latest huge trend with wedding dresses are sleeveless, bustier style dresses. That style may work well for some of you (I will

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discuss boning a bit later…). There are quite a few of us who look just plain ol’ silly in a strapless gown. Perhaps our shoulders are too broad, our busts too large or small or we may just have a long torso that makes the top of the gown fit you in a way that gives the impression the girls are going to pop out at any moment. Constantly pulling at your gown or adjusting the boobies will make for some awkward wedding photos and a lot of stress on a day you just do not need added stress. There are many other styles of gowns out there though you may have to look a bit to find alternative style dresses. There are lovely v-neck gowns and gowns with lace across your shoulders that give additional support. I will be showing samples of these dresses over the next few weeks as we discuss the types of brides and the gowns that would work for them.

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If you are set on a strapless gown, however, pay attention here. You will need to know this info about boning. Strapless gowns MUST have boning. Boning runs vertically in the bodice of a gown and is generally sewn into the inside seam so it is not extremely visible from the outside.

There is a trend, recently, for boning to show and be covered by very sheer or lace fabric giving the look of an old fashioned corset and showing some of the assets of the bride to full advantage. It takes a certain type of outgoing, flashy woman to pull these off.
Standard boning is ¼ to ½ inch wide. One half inch is considered the best in my opinion.
Boning should go from the top of the bodice to the waist or the top of the hip bone in order to give good support. Boning supports vertically, not horizontally. It is meant to hold you up – not to hold you in like a bra or girdle.
Gowns with low, plunging backs will not support a strapless dress even with lots of firm boning.
A bodice must not be too tight or it will work against the boning nor too loose as it will gap and permit unflattering movement of the breast.
There is no particular size of breast that looks best in a wedding dress. Very heavy or large “girls” may need the added convenience of a strap. There are very many v-necked or dropped shoulder gowns that will help give extra support and still be very attractive and stylish.

We are not all 20 year old brides with perfect bodies. There are some issues we may want to consider for a more mature bride.

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Let’s start with the upper arms. Some of us could lift weights for 2 years and still not get the firm, perfect arms that we’d love to   see in our gowns. There are many smart gowns with sleeves (3/4 to long sleeves). If you see a gown displayed with a bolero, do not assume it comes with the dress. Most bridal companies sell lace, satin, fur and even feather boleros to finish off a plain dress, for outdoor or cool weather weddings and for the woman with a bit of (let’s just say it here – flab) in her upper arms.
As you may be able to tell by now, I am going to give it to you straight. There are things your best friend or even your Mom won’t tell you. They probably wouldn’t say, “That looks terrible. Go take it off! Right NOW!” My intention is to give you some issues to consider when buying your gown for one of your most important days. You will learn things here that will help you trust your own opinion. Next we will talk about dresses for your bridesmaids then we’ll start discussing various types of personalities and gowns that should work well for each type.

        

Now that you are engaged, it’s time to start planning your wedding. There are many details to take care of to ensure that everything goes smoothly on your big day. This wedding planning guide will walk you through the steps you need to take to make your wedding day the most perfect day of your life.

Make the Big Decisions First

Setting the date is more complicated than just looking at a calendar and pointing. You should start narrowing it down by thinking about what you’d like the weather to be like on the day of your wedding. Once you have a month or season in mind, call the places you are considering holding your ceremony and reception to find out what dates are available. You need to do this at least six to twelve months in advance. If you wait too long, you may end up having to choose less desirable locations because your chosen venues are already booked.

Decide Who Will Be Involved

Once you have your date and location set, you can start contacting service providers. If there is a certain person you want to perform the ceremony, you should contact them before the date is set in stone. Otherwise, your approach will be to find someone who is available on the date you have chosen. You will also need to arrange for a photographer, florist and caterer during this stage of wedding planning. Also consider whether you will need to hire entertainment for the reception.

This is a good time to think about choosing bridesmaids and groomsmen as well. These people need to be asked well in advance to allow them time to plan for the cost of their dresses and tuxes. The decisions you make about who will be involved in the wedding and who will help with the various tasks required should be made by about six months before the wedding date.

Order the Things You Need

Between four to six months before the wedding, you should make decisions about the bridesmaids’ dresses, groomsmens’ tuxes, menu, invitations, flowers and other items that are going to be needed for your wedding. Now is the time to order these things. You need to allow time for the dresses and invitations to be made, and your caterer and florist will need time to prepare. Now is a good time to register for gifts as well.

The Final Details

By the time your wedding is about two months away, you should have all of the wedding planning details ironed out. Everything that needs to be ordered is ordered, including the cake and your wedding rings. You have purchased gifts for your attendants and planned your ceremony and reception. This is a good time to mail out your wedding invitations so they reach your guests in time for them to make plans to attend your ceremony.

Make sure you need to check the requirements for a marriage license. Most places require you to get the license a certain amount of time before the ceremony. The final fittings for your wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses will have to wait until a week or two before the wedding date in case anyone gains or loses weight. At this point, your wedding planning is pretty much done. You have done everything you can to ensure that your wedding day goes smoothly and is full of memories that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

        

Author: Carlo Nicora

Your wedding rings are a symbol that will last long after the wedding day, as they represent the love that is felt for another person, to the point where you want the entire world to know. What kind of love is yours? Fun, romantic, bold, different…? Whatever it is, it can be defined by the message that you inscribe on your wedding rings.

What should you inscribe on your wedding rings? Usually the choice falls upon the date, the initials or names of the bride and groom… but the truth is that there are so many original messages that can be inscribed on wedding rings. Get inspired by these ideas:

1. I chose you
2. It was worth the wait
3. Good morning love!
4. Better than chocolate
5. WOW! I got married!
6. I kissed you first
7. May our ups and downs always be in bed
8. I found love
9. I’ll grow old with you
10. Give me a million kisses (her)
11. And I’ll give you a world of love (him)
12. Yours forever
13. I smile for you
14. Forever yours
15. I’ve waited my whole life for you
16. My secret: I love you
17. Your baby loves you
18. I overflow with love for you
19. Come in and give me a kiss
20. The perfect pair
21. The perfect couple
22. Don’t wait, do it
23. A daily sunrise
24. A commitment is a commitment
25. For all our lives
26. Love of my life
27. Nothing else matters
28. I’ll run away with you
29. My gracious love
30. We’ll grow old together
31. Always be unique
32. The places we’ll go!
33. I’ll always be by your side
34. I’ll stand by you
35. Love machine
36. You’ll always be mine
37. I’ll go to the moon and back for you
38. My glorious wife
39. My fabulous husband
40. I caught you!
41. The answer to my prayers
42. I’ll love you forever
43. You’re my reason
44. Today and forever
45. You’re still so special
46. Sweetie, you’re mine!
47. With all my love
48. United as one
49. From this moment on (…/…/…/)
50. You own my heart
51. You are the owner of my heart
52. You hold the key to my heart
53. My soul mate!
54. Someone to love
55. The best thing in the world is you
56. Amateurs wait, you did it!
57. Today, tomorrow, forever
58. I love you so much
59. I love you
60. Finally happy
61. I found love (her)
62. Love is you (him)
63. To love, protect and cherish
64. You are my meaning
65. From this day…
66. Thank you for waiting
67. My love, my life, my friend
68. My solemn vow
69. Forever in love
70. You are beautiful
71. Let’s kiss
72. Mine, all mine
73. I married my best friend
74. Love until eternity
75. You’re my star (her)
76. You’re my comet (him)
77. I made a wish
78. For a thousand reasons
79. You’re my world
80. My teddy bear
81. My doll
82. Every day and twice on Sundays
83. Kiss of love
84. 999,999 years of love
85. My heart’s treasure
86. I found you, now you’re mine
87. Today is only the first day
88. As long as there are stars in the sky…
89. Happiness is a choice
90. XOXO
91. A deal is a deal!
92. A fire that burns without being seen
93. I always knew…
94. You are my blessing
95. Happy forever
96. They lived happily ever after
97. Forever feels like this
98. The first day of our journey
99. Forever
100. ex amore vita
101. I will always dance with you
102. My true love
103. Forever young (her/him)
104. Forever together (her/him)
105. I will dream… (her/him)
106. … of you (her/him)
107. Good or bad, happiness or sadness
108. Two souls, one heart
109. We’ll never say goodbye
110. Yes, I still love you
111. Legally yours
112. To love, respect and nag
113. Us against the world
114. I love you even more
115. When you look, remember
116. I finally found you
117. Me too
118. We got married! Can you believe it?
119. The sky is lovely today (her)
120. But I’d rather be with you (him)
121. Love is the greatest adventure
122. I found you, I kept you
123. I made a secret wish
124. I love you more than sugar
125. Do you remember when…?
126. A million words…
127. Two wishes came true
128. Everything I’ve always wished for
129. We are love
130. I love you more than M&Ms
131. Jessica loves Peter
132. Yes, Yes, Yes
133. Dreams and kisses
134. A bond for life
135. My inspiration
136. The path of love
137. A love story