Bella's Brides Wedding Dress Blog

A wedding is one of the most enjoyable social occasions. Most people like to make it a real day to remember and put a lot of effort into its preparation and organization. Because weddings are such a part of our society, tradition over the years has done much to dictate how we approach them. This is not to say that you must create a “cookie cutter” style of affair at all, but it does mean that certain conventions need to be met just to satisfy tradition and expectations. As a bride or groom you may be somewhat unconventional and used to alternative approaches, but the chances are that your parents are not and will be looking for a more sedate affair!

However you structure your wedding, you want to be sure that everyone is happy and that no “toes” are stepped on, figuratively speaking, as you walk down the aisle. In this perspective, a little bit of care should be shown when choosing a dress for the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom. The selection process will require etiquette and attention to style, but if all are aware of where they stand, everything should go off without a hitch.

The mother of the bride should discuss selection of dresses with her daughter a long time in advance. It’s best to start preparing these things at least six months ahead as this will leave plenty of time for all parties to select and order. There will also be adequate time for special features, alterations and so on to be scheduled if necessary. Custom wedding dresses do take quite a while to prepare and you want to be sure that each of the principal figures has a beautiful wedding dress for the big day.

The mother of the bride’s dress  should never be white; this should be reserved of course for just the bride. A black dress is considered to be bad luck and anything with too vibrant a color is simply considered to be too much. Coordinate the mother of the bride’s dress so that it complements the appearance of the bridal party.

The mother of the groom’s dress  should never overpower the mother of the bride’s dress as this is considered to be bad etiquette. A simple coordination in advance will ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises on the day and once again, the groom’s mother should ensure that her dress is complementary to the whole party.

Visit Bella’s Brides Toronto Bridal shop to choose the perfect dresses for the whole bridal party.

A lot of the excitement of a wedding, particularly in smaller communities, is the general “buzz” that is going to be created around the bride’s appearance. Often it will be quite a talking point, especially among the older women in the community and they will certainly be looking forward to seeing the bride in all her finery on the day. Everyone invited to the wedding will also be looking forward to seeing the bride, the focal point of attention after all and as such, each bride, together with her mother of course, will want to be sure that she does her best and appears in sparkling repose on the big day.

A beautiful wedding dress is definitely expected for the actual ceremony itself. Normally this is a very formal affair and selection can require a lot of planning and budget. Nevertheless, the bride of today won’t necessarily stop there as it is now becoming commonplace to choose a second wedding dress – one for the reception as well. You cannot blame the bride after all, as the custom wedding dresses chosen for the ceremony these days can be quite heavy and restrictive. It can be difficult to move around with the wedding train in tow and the veil in place, especially when fatigue sets in during the evening.

Having two wedding dresses can certainly add to the budget, but this is after all intended to be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence and should be as memorable as possible. There is normally sufficient time to prepare in between the ceremony itself and the reception and this should allow the bride, together with the maid of honor, bridesmaids and mother to go back to the hotel room or to the home, as the case may be and change.

It’s sensible for the bride to choose a much lighter wedding dress than the more formal gown worn during the ceremony, but it can be of the same style and color befitting her exclusive presence. There is no reason why the second dress should not have a great flair as well, even though many brides choose a shorter length, especially as it will allow her to dance the evening away with her loved one.

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In Toronto, wedding dresses can be selected for the big occasion and for the reception by turning to the established experts and professionals who have helped many a bride select her options. Remember that you should coordinate between the two outfits for best effect and the other guests at the reception will be suitably impressed when you show up with a modified version of your original spectacular creation.

The wedding day can be a long and drawn out affair and it seems only right that the bride gets a chance to appear at the reception in a more appropriate garb. If you are yet to select your bridal shop, visit Bella’s Brides to find your dream dress.

Visit our store for the new collection of wedding dresses Just For You by The Group

Plus Size? Take Those Worries Away and Look Super on Your Wedding Day With Plus Size Wedding Dresses
 

If you are plus size and are thinking that wedding dresses are only for those with a Size Zero runway figure, then think again.

Today all styles are available for the fuller figure; if you have curves, why not flaunt them! There’s a growing market out there reacting to the skinny model so-called norm. So don’t worry – you can look stunning on your wedding day.

Styles

If you go for an A-line shaped wedding dress this will probably be the most flattering as it takes the emphasis away from the hips and gives you  more balanced look and hide any imperfections.

You probably want to steer away from the ballgown skirt style as this can exaggerate the curves you may want to hide.

Holter wedding dresses or V neckline are very flattering to the woman with a larger bust.

Strapless? Be careful – we don’t want any accidents! Make sure you are well held in but you may find that having your shoulders covered with a plunge neckline looks better than exposing shoulders which may detract from your curves.

Long length of wedding dress can even out the curves, add height and can be more flattering than short dresses or skirts that draw attention to that central area.

Arms can be a problem for the plus size woman. So look at sleeves or at least quarter-length.

Don’t kid yourself

Look. You’re a beautiful plus size figure, so don’t try to squeeze yourself into an outfit you know doesn’t fit. Make sure you have room to move and breathe! You may be lucky enough to get something off the peg, but fitted is better. This is your big day. Make sure you are happy and be yourself.

Materials

These days plus sizes wedding dressses come in every conceivable style and material but you have to know that some styles may not suit you. Usually the less fussy the dress, the better for the plus size woman. You should look at chiffon, satin, maybe lace for sleeves and bodice.

Summing Up

We are all different shapes and sizes. Try to understand what is best for you; what you want to emphasize and what you want to minimize. Don’t think because you are plus size that you have to cover yourself in yards of tuile. Visit Bella’s Brides for a full consultation to find the perfect weddingf dress for your special day.

So you have decided to have your wedding in an exotic location: maybe a beach wedding in the Caribbean or on an island in the Venice lagoon, or even an atoll in the Pacific.

Choosing such destinations brings its own challenges, not least – what wedding dress or outfit to buy for the destination you have chosen.

Before you choose you have to make sure that your choice of destination wedding dress is suitable for the location of the wedding, so:

• Decide whether a formal wedding dress or a more informal one is appropriate. For example, if you are having a beach wedding, think about all that sand. Do sandals work with a traditional wedding dress with a train?
• Climate: do you really want a heavy wedding dress in 100 degree heat? If it’s a winter wedding you don’t want to be shivering as you take your vows.
• How easy is it to transport the dress and its accessories by air or sea?
• Will there be any extra expense and will the dress require laundering on arrival?

If you are in an exotic location you may want to consider a colour scheme which reflects the local ambience and culture. You don’t have to have white! Consider some brighter colours for beach or island weddings or even floral prints for dresses and skirts.

Dress Styles

The important principle in choosing a destination wedding dress is commonsense. Think it through carefully.

Maybe think strapless wedding dress! This is a fashionable destination wedding dress style at the moment.

If you are going for the more traditional look then make sure that you don’t have a long and heavy train; this poses the same problem as a heavy wedding dress. There are many styles available that have a just hint of a train which can be very stylish.

Another possibility is the knee-length dress which is more informal, young-looking, easy to carry with you and suitable for hot climates.

A very classy look is the halter neck with plunge neckline, ankle length and either clingy for a more sexy look.

With a bit more fabric and body you can give a hint of the more traditional wedding dress but without the weight and volume.

In hotter climates you may want to avoid clingy dresses but it very much depends on whether you are outdoors or in, the time of day and the season.

Another popular style is the ‘mermaid’ which is a close-fitting style at the top gradually opening out at the bottom and this gives you that little train too. But you have to be confident about your body shape to carry this one off – mainly one for the taller and slimmer bride.

Fabric Choice

You will need to pack the dress so avoid heavy fabrics or dresses that heavy beading, sequins or are jewelled. Not only does this add to the weight but just imagine the job you’ll have at the other end getting the dress ironed!

A much better idea is a lightweight dress that requires little or no maintenance after unpacking.

The factors for fabric choice for your destination wedding dress are: location, wedding style, practicality.

Clearly, if your destination wedding is tropical you will want a light dress and that means a light fabric such as charmeuse or chiffon. Charmeuse is similar to satin and is quite clingy like silk. Also consider rayon, organza, satin or crepe.

Other lightweight wedding dress fabrics can also be considered but always think ‘low maintenance’; silk, organdie and lace can be considered but modern alternatives may be less expensive and also lighter and more crease-resistant.

Finding the right Wedding Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer depends on a number of different criteria. You need to have a clear idea of what’s involved in choosing a wedding photographer that’s right for you.

Reputation and Experience: these days digital photography has given everyone the power to take good images, but only true professionals with talent and training can provide you with a professional service. A persona recommendation is often a good starting point. You cannot afford a ‘no show’ or a botched job. You only have one chance to get your wedding photography right and you have to be able to trust the photographer.

Someone who will fit in: You need to shop around and meet the wedding photographer. There’s nothing worse than hiring someone whose personality or style does not fit the occasion. Most wedding photographers try to be as unobtrusive as possible and behave like and look like a guest.

Will they take photographs we actually like?  Take a look at their work and decide if this is the style for you.

Do they offer a wide range of packages to provide choice to meet our budget? Always key to choosing the right wedding photographer: they have to fit your budget with no hidden costs.

When Should You Book Your Wedding Photographer?

The sooner the better. 9-12 months before is a good rule of thumb. Why so long? Well, like a wedding venue can get fully booked, so can a wedding photographer. Most only work at weekends and there aren’t that many weekends in a year. And while you are at it, make sure you are not being provided with an assistant rather than the main man or woman.

What Are The Different Styles of Wedding Photography On Offer?

These days there is much greater choice than just the traditional wedding photographs. 

A wedding as an exercise in photojournalism

This approach turns the wedding experience into a story with a beginning and end and covers a number of styles which can be very individual to the photographer. It will usually employ a number of locations which are pertinent to the bride and groom’s ‘story’.

The style is usually described as ‘candid’ and shot using available light. If any of your family hankers after traditional planned shots of family groups, the ceremony etc. then be very careful about this style.

Traditional wedding photographs:

The complete opposite of the photojournalistic style, this is the one we all know. It means endless poses of the bridge and groom, the best man, the bride’s parents, the groom’s parents, everyone together, cute page boys – you get the idea. Usually a wedding photographer in this style will have done the same prepared set of shots with the same camera positions and lighting, even at the same venues, dozens of times. It isn’t exactly spontaneous or original but it does record the event and people for posterity.

Artistic wedding photography style:

This is another planned and posed style but makes uses location, composition, unusual angles and digital rendering to produce something between candid and traditional. But beware: some artistic photographers can be a little ‘off the wall; – make sure you see several examples of their style before choosing.

What Should I Pay For A Wedding Photographer?

Answering that question is like answering ‘how long is a piece of string?’ You must make a decision based on your overall budget. Decide what percentage of your budget is required for professional wedding photography.

What you must ensure is that you get value for money. This means you have to do a bit of research, ask friends what they paid and look for recommendations.

A typical price range is from $1000 to $3000. It could be a lot more but not a lot less unless you just want the photographer to show up and leave you to.

To decide what you should pay means you have to understand what you want and the service you require,

Some questions to consider:

• Do you just want the negatives/digital files to ‘do it yourself’ or a complete professional service?
• Type and style of albums?
• The final number of photographs required?
• The range of photographs: is it just the wedding ceremony, or will it cover the whole day including reception?
• The reputation and previous work of the wedding photographer.

Summing it all up

Like everything else, wedding photography has changed and the digital age has offered many new opportunities. Make sure you plan ahead and make the choices you and the families involved will be comfortable with. You only get one chance to create a wedding album which you will cherish for a lifetime.

Tradition has it in Western cultures that the groom does not see what the bride is wearing until the wedding day. This makes it rather difficult for the groom to have any say at all!

The groom will, however, have some idea of the sort of wedding that is being planned; he will know if it’s traditional or modern.

Time was that the groom didn’t have a chance either to see or to say anything about the wedding dress and offer his view on what he wants his beautiful bride to look like on their wedding day. Today’s bride is definitely more concerned about the groom’s opinion and tries to balance her decision by including his views in the process to make her wedding dream become a reality. Some brides even allow the groom to go with them when they choose a wedding gown, and listen to his opinion.

The options for a wedding dress are endless; some grooms wants to see their bride more conservative, some simple, others sexy, elegant, or even like a Hollywood star. The wedding dress is a very important part of the overall picture where the bride has the main say, but there are other aspects of the wedding where the groom can participate and help out and offer his opinion.

Before going out there to find your perfect wedding gown the best idea is to have a little chat and come up with the decision on how much would you like to spend for your wedding dress as well the budget for the whole wedding. From this point on it will be easier for you and your groom to plan that unforgettable wedding.

Just how much do men think that the bride should be paying for that dress? This only becomes an issue if the bride and groom are paying for it. If the brides parents are stumping up the cash, what the heck!  The amount also depends on the budget, of course: some folks can just afford more than others, so it’s not an easy one to answer. Prices range from a couple hundred US Dollars to a couple thousand and more. The important thing is that the groom has to be happy with how costs are portioned out and it’s not unreasonable that more should be spent on the bride than on the groom even in these days of equality.

In these enlightened times, if the groom does, indeed, get a chance to choose the dress with the bride, or at least see some photos, catalogs or visit some websites, then we have to admit that times have changed; the groom will as often as not nowadays want to have some input; after all, the bride will surely want to have a say in what HE is wearing, won’t she? The key to this is to discuss and come to an agreement on style and price BEFORE the bride goes off looking. That way, the marriage will begin as it’s meant to go on.

Not so long ago, the word ‘wedding’ would conjure up images of a bride in white with a dress in a heavy fabric with elaborate decoration and a flowing train held by similarly dressed bridesmaids. She would be holding a bouquet of flowers, wearing a tiara and a veil. The groom would wear a morning coat with a top hat. This is the traditional wedding, still seen, still popular. In the 21st century, however, there are many alternatives to this vision in terms of style.

Today’s brides have a choice. The modern wedding has arrived and is well established. Whereas in the past the non-traditional wedding was confined to a secular ceremony outside a place of worship, now all styles of dress can be seen inside the church or temple as well as at civil weddings.

Let’s look at some ideas that you may want to consider for your upcoming wedding.

The first and most obvious change to white is to wear colour. By using colour this gives you enormous scope for styling and theming the whole wedding day from flowers to table cloths and, of course, all your accessories.

The next consideration is likely to be the style of dress or even considering a suit. Lengths of wedding dresses and bridal wear are changing. Today’s bride has an almost bewildering set of choices. There is a definite shift toward higher hemlines below or even above the knee.

Traditional wedding dresses use a lot of material, are often heavy with copious amounts of sateen or tulle with the bride disappearing beneath mountains of material: think Princess Diana.

Modern styles are now more fitted and sexy but also stylish and simple. These can often be strapless, halter necks or spaghetti straps.

Material is a fun part of choosing a wedding gown. For example, you can now find dresses made from taffeta, organza and silk and many other modern fabrics which are lighter to wear but still stylish. The traditional heavy materials such as sateen and tulle are still available, but today you can be conservative AND modern.

Modern wedding gowns can still look back to the traditional but with a huge variety of styles which provide a modern look whilst maintaining a traditional feel.  The choice is yours and there is a huge variety of dresses and styles now out there.

 Summary

Winter weddings offer you an opportunity to turn a potentially cold, damp and dreary occasion into a magical one. You may still prefer a traditional summer wedding, but if, for whatever reason, you have to marry in winter, do not despair; think outside the box and your wedding will be just as memorable, maybe more so, than a summer one.

Why a winter wedding?

While most of us revel in the possibility of snow turning the festive season into a magical winter wonderland, the idea of getting married during the winter months would appear to be a strange idea to a lot of people. Why should you want to have your wedding when it’s cold, the days are short, the weather is bad?

Well, maybe you just can’t wait for the spring or summer because you are so in love. Perhaps there are pressing family reasons. The happy couple might be skiers who want a honeymoon on the pistes!

Themes for winter weddings

For an adventurous minority, the idea of dressing up in furs and mufflers, arriving at your wedding by sleigh and somehow combining the excitement associated with the festive season with the wedding itself can all be very appealing.

Your theme could be winter itself with lots of snowflakes, fairy lights, open fires, a log-cabin reception.

Clothing

Colours should be white or creams and light blues suggesting snow and ice.

In winter you have the opportunity (and, unfortunately the expense) for wearing additional clothing that would be unthinkable at other times of the year.

The bride and groom will need coats. Here’s your chance for some tasteful furs (real or artificial according to your conscience and pocketbook). Even his and hers matching outerwear would look great as you set off for the reception or the honeymoon. Think white fur trim, three-quarter length or full length. It could easily be raining or snowing, so it’s sensible to plan some headgear.

Keep the winter theme: diamonds, opals and topaz for accessories such as necklaces, brooches, bracelets and tiaras. For the groom, a beautiful tie-pin set off by an appropriate stone. And don’t forget the cufflinks.

Location

Location is important for any wedding, but in winter you have to consider a number of other factors:

The comfort of your guests is paramount. If you are inside ensure that there is adequate heating.

In summer you want it bright and airy. In winter most of the scenery looks bleak and if you are at higher latitudes then the chances are you are going to have an evening or night time ceremony and reception. So the attention turns to the inside location itself and this should be decorated in a way to bring warmth and cosiness.

Food

Food is very much determined by the sort of reception you are having and your budget. Try to be creative. You want hot drinks as well as hot food. Think soups and hot chocolate. Avoid making a Christmas-style (or Thanksgiving) dinner but maybe try to work on some unique variations on seasonal fare. Ditch the ice-cream for some hot, steamy puddings, coffee with white chocolate truffles.

Reception decor

Think snow, ice, low lighting and candles (safely contained by lamps) on each table. Tableware should also be white or light blue. This is where you may want to add holly and ivy, winter-flowering plants to table arrangements.

Author Resource:-

You will look gorgeous on your wedding day with our winter wedding dresses collection. (http://www.bellasbrides.ca)

Whatever you do, don’t leave the choice of bridesmaids’ dresses as an afterthought to your wedding dress.

Choosing bridesmaids’ dresses is just as important as choosing the bride’s dress. Why?

Well, some people think that the because the bride is the most important female the bridesmaids should sink into the background and do as they are told and wear what they are told to wear. Wrong!

Firstly, your bridesmaids are your friends and relatives. They deserve some consideration. But, actually, they deserve a lot more than that. Bridesmaids and bridesmaids’ dresses should complement and enhance the bride and the whole occasion. Just because the bridesmaids look beautiful doesn’t detract from the bride. In fact, if your bridesmaids’ dresses are not up to scratch, it will spoil the whole effect.

So how do you go about making the right choice for a group of your friends and relatives who, traditionally, have to pay for their own dresses?

Price and who pays is the first thing you have to decide and only you will know the answer to that. It may be that you have decided that you will pay for the bridesmaids’ dresses. In that case don’t be a dictator. Sit down with your girls (or their mothers if you have very young bridesmaids) and look at some websites (hey! Why not look at Bella’s Brides or catalogues. Go out with your bridesmaids and look and feel, try on some styles. Try to make a joint decision so no-one feels left out.

The question of payment need not be a vexed one. But if your bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses you have to have the diplomatic skills of Condy Rice. If they are paying, they will naturally want to have a bigger say in the choice. This makes it even more important that you get together and discuss.

Whatever the situation is regards who pays, you will all have to agree on the following  factors:

Price; Color; Style.

Price

You must agree a price range first because whoever pays must be comfortable with the decision. Be sensitive to those who may feel they have to go along with the other bridesmaids but may be stretching their resources.

Price will determine what your range of options are and where you go to buy your dresses. You may be able to do a deal with the maker of your bride’s dress if you are also shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses.  Shop around; maybe have the bridesmaids appoint a representative to go with you. Come back with some ideas of costs.

Color

You have a range of options: same color as bride; different but complimentary; contrasting. This is a matter of personal choice but unless you are having some New Age affair in the woods, it is recommended that all the bridesmaids are dressed in the same color. It is a good idea to take with a sample of the dressing dress and then try it with different colors. The bride should insist on the final color scheme but it is important to reach agreement. Depending on your bridesmaids and your relationship with them, it may be a good idea to have a firm idea in advance what you want. It is your wedding after all!

Before you decide on a different color to the bride you have to consider the overall look, and think of flowers, corsages or other accessories. Will I work? Get some advice. The best people are the ones with experience; dress shop owners, family and friends who have made their own weddings. Take advice and make a decision.

One last word of warning: don’t forget the poor groom and best man. You need to know what colors (all the poor dears will have a limited choice compared to you) they are wearing so you don’t clash with them.

Style

This is very much a matter of taste and fashion. It is also determined by the bride’s dress. Your bridesmaids’ dresses really must compliment the bride’s dress. Contrasting styles can look disastrous. Depending on the formality of the occasion you do not have to insist on all bridesmaids’ dresses being exactly the same style but they should ‘match’.  Again, it’s very much a matter of how you want your wedding.

You can see some of the current fashions in bridesmaids dresses at with the Mori Lee and Atelier Alyce ranges. You will be surprised at what bridesmaids are wearing these days if you are used to a ‘traditional’ look. These days bridesmaids’ dresses come in a variety of styles which will make your bridesmaids drop-dead gorgeous and turn the aisle into a catwalk!

Strapless dresses are very popular now as are spaghetti straps. Lengths vary but be sure to go for one length for all to look co-ordinated.

You might also want to consider that today’s bridesmaids wear dresses that can be re-used as evening wear, cocktail dresses, suits and so on. So when choosing, bear in mind that whatever the expense and whoever pays it is a nice thought that your girls will be able to wear their outfit many times in the future.

And finally…

As they say, this is the most important day of your life. If your bridesmaids are happy with their dresses and look stunning they will give you and everyone else a lot of pride and pleasure and a wedding day to remember.