Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Tradition of White Wedding Dresses

We are used to how it has always been until we encounter evidence to the proof. White wedding gowns has been a traditional for long time. However, do you know what it is before that was true?
The history of white wedding gowns should back to the Victoria era. Queen Victoria was the first woman who wears white wedding gowns which would then have been considered a flamboyant white gown on her wedding ceremony in 1840. This gorgeous wedding gown did not start the tradition immediately; however, many women think this as a symbol of class and style and then they start to wear white wedding dresses in the wedding to copy Queen Victoria. After that, it spawns the interest and popularity of white wedding dresses as we know today.
Prior to this, the normal policy of wedding dresses was to wear good, new dresses, which could be used for formal occasions afterwards. For the nobility, they would like to choose wear very expensive clothes with gold thread. In that era, the length of the train symbolized the degree of influence on the Royals.
Nowadays, women all over the world are dreaming to have pure white wedding dresses for their wedding day. This tells us that the white wedding gowns of today is deep-seated tradition, and for many is worn to signify virtue as well as uphold tradition. We can heard from the marriage handbook that "from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue". Even in the US in the history, it was normal to purchase a good dress for use as a wedding dress.
As Britain is a place where is populated with traditions and legends, so it is natural that the tradition of white wedding dresses was started by the English Monarchy. Until the First World War, wedding dresses grew more and more elaborate in Britain. Women are tending to like simple style and they also led to the abandonment of the corset and shorter skirts.
In the Great Depression period in the US, women will marry in a white gown but dye it into blue or other colors for normal wear. The funny thing you can see is that the collar and cuffs are still in white to show the original use of the dress.
Things have changed in the World War Two. Women gave up the fancy wedding because there is little time for them to plan a wedding. Besides, it is a normal thing that women who are in the service to marry in her uniform. Of course, there are still some women who did not in the service. For these people, they would choose a good and new dress for their wedding ceremony.
Then the prosperity period has coming. In this period, there are lots of special gowns that serve no other purpose than the wedding ceremony. Much like Queen Victoria, Princess Grace of Monaco set a standard of wedding dresses for women in the contemporary era on her wedding ceremony, showing them and those who came after them the criterion of the ideal wedding gowns.
Nowadays, wearing a white, extravagant gown was a sign that you could afford to buy a wedding dress that you maybe never be able to wear again because of its style and color. Of course, there are many colors of wedding dresses. However, white wedding dresses symbolize that this is your first wedding and it also means the virtue of your wedding. So people would choose white wedding gowns in their first wedding. However, if they have a second wedding, the brides would choose other colors of wedding gowns such as pink and blue.
With the time changes, brides in the new century would like to enjoy wedding in the color of their choice. Normal women have injected their own personality and style into the wedding dresses. We can see women are marrying in colors ranging from delicate ivory to deepest red and even black. For the Royalty, they still have favor in the traditional white wedding dresses. But the white wedding dresses can afford by many common people nowadays, so it cannot mark the stature of high society. So they choose something different to distinct from normal people with the most expensive silks, pearls and material possible.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tips For Choosing Your Maternity Wedding Dress

Planning a maternity wedding is extra special because it is planning a celebration for two life changing events. Not only are you and your partner taking your relationship to the next level but you are also bringing new life into the world and expanding your new family.
While it may seem like your wedding will have to be very different than you originally thought, the only thing you really have to change is the style of your wedding dress. Accommodating that adorable baby bump is more fun than you could have ever imagined. There are so many maternity wedding dresses to choose from these days it's no wonder so many women are getting married pregnant.
Since there is such a large selection of wedding dresses for the pregnant bride the decision can be overwhelming. Which wedding dress suits your style is the big question. To help you figure out which maternity wedding dress you may want to try I have briefly explained the different styles available.
Empire Waist
This is one of the most popular maternity wedding dress styles as it works great with the baby bump. The high waist line dresses accentuate your beautiful curves which really help with the transition from your bust to your belly.
Long Sleeves
Whether the wedding is in a cold weather climate or you are looking for a style that hides the weight in your arms, long sleeves are a great choice. You can wear a dress that has long sleeves built in or you can wear a long sleeve bolero jacket over a strapless or spaghetti strap dress.
Short Sleeves
Maternity wedding dresses with short sleeves are great if you have to wear a more supportive bra to hold up the growing bust. They also are more modest than strapless or halter styles dresses if your wedding is in a warmer climate.
Strapless
The strapless dress is very popular for pregnant brides in the empire waist. This waistline helps the strapless dress stay up well as it sits on the top of the belly. The strapless dress comes in a variety of materials including satin, silk and stretchy lace.
Strappy
There are several different styles in the strappy dress category including thick straps, spaghetti straps and shoulder straps. Some of the most popular maternity wedding dresses worn by celebrities fall into this category. While some strappy dresses are more risqué there are plenty of modest ones available.
Halters
A favorite style wedding dress for the larger bust size women, the halter wedding dresses are wonderful for pregnant bides. This type of dress comes in a variety of styles including the scoop, straight, high and V neckline. They look great with an A line or empire waist as well.
Short Length
Some of the less traditional maternity wedding dresses are shorter in length. However, you can find a variety of beautiful short style dresses in empire waist, A line and halter styles made of satin and lace. The short dresses are great if your legs have not started to swell and the weather is warm.
Tea Length
Only a select few of the maternity bridal dresses come in tea length as it can be a hard length to match with swollen calves. It hits below the knee and above the ankle which is a hard length for many women. If you have small calves this is a flattering length and would be a perfect choice.
Long Length
Long length maternity wedding gowns are the most popular these days amongst pregnant brides. The nice thing about this length of dress is that it comes in all the styles available. Long dresses are wonderful because with the right style and material they can slim you down when you are pregnant.
While any of these dresses are a great choice it is important that you choose according to your comfort level and the season of your wedding. Try on the different styles so you know which ones compliment your beautiful figure and ever changing body. Have fun picking out great accessories once you have decided on a dress and good luck planning your big day.

Friday, May 7, 2010

How to Take Care of Wedding Dresses

Wedding dresses are investment pieces that can be sentimental family heirlooms for generations to come. A wedding dress is one of the most important purchases that a woman can make, and is often one of the major expenses of a wedding. Once a wedding dress has been purchased, special care must be taken to keep the dress in pristine condition. While it is most important to keep the wedding dress in flawless condition before the wedding, most women would agree that they want to make sure that their wedding gown stays in the best shape possible for years to come. It isn't necessarily difficult to keep a wedding dress in good condition, but you do need to keep a few specific things in mind when it comes to hanging, storing, and cleaning the dress.
Hanging Wedding dresses
The materials used in most wedding dresses aren't renowned for their strength, and in order to avoid rips, split seams, and other damage it's important that care is taken when hanging the dress.
Generally, wedding dresses cannot be put on a hanger like regular dresses, as the weight of the gown can cause the dress material to rip or tear near the hanger. Instead, small loops of fabric sewn into the interior of the dress should be used to hang the gown safely. These hanging loops are put in place by the dressmaker on the strongest seams in the gown, ensuring that they will be able to support the weight of the full gown without causing any damage.
Cleaning Wedding dresses
It seems obvious that wedding dresses should be dry cleaned, but care should be taken when choosing a dry cleaner, since some dry cleaning services ship their clothes to another facility and your dress can become damaged by rough handling and the stress of transit. Before picking a dry cleaner, make sure that they process all of their clothes on site and that they do their work by hand instead of using an automated system. If possible, try to find a dry cleaner that has specific experience in wedding dresses and be sure they are familiar with how delicate the material can be; this is especially important if your wedding dress has beadwork or other intricate decorations. Being picky about your dry cleaner will ensure that your gown isn't damaged.
Wedding dress Repairs
Just as you should be picky about the cleaner that you take your wedding dress to, any repairs that need to be done should be from a seamstress who is familiar with the delicate construction of wedding dresses. Some bridal salons will offer repair services for the dresses they sell. But if not, be sure to shop around to find a seamstress or sewing shop that has significant experience in repairing wedding dresses. Choosing someone who knows just how delicate these dresses can be will ensure that the repairs are done with the utmost care and skill.
Preparing Wedding dresses for Storage
Before you store a wedding dress, make sure that it is in the best possible condition so that it will remain that way until you are ready to take it out of storage. Check the gown for any small holes, tears, or other signs of damage, and make sure that it's free of stains or discoloration. Take the time to inspect the seams and any beadwork or decorations that are on the gown, as these are the most likely locations for unraveling and holes to appear. Take the dress in for cleaning or repairs if necessary, and allow it to hang for at least one to two days after a cleaning before placing it into storage. That way, you can ensure that there are no residual chemicals in the dress material.
Storing a Wedding dress
Never store a wedding dress in a plastic container or covered with a plastic bag. Over time, plastic can release chemicals that will cause a white wedding dress to become yellow, and may cause more delicate embellishments to become brittle. Carefully fold the wedding dress and place it into a museum-quality, acid-free storage box; these are sold specifically as wedding dress or wedding dress storage chests. The gown should be wrapped in fabric or acid-free tissue to protect it from the rough cardboard or paperboard of the storage container. Store the box in a cool, dry place where the heat and humidity aren't likely to fluctuate (never in the attic or basement.)
Whether you'd like to hand the dress down to future generations, or simply preserve it as a special keepsake, you can keep your wedding dress looking brand new for years to come by following these simple steps and precautions.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Elegant Wedding Dresses and Accessories

Most women dream of having an elegant wedding dress for their special day from the time that they are young girls. When it comes time to begin shopping for a dress, however, they may feel overwhelmed by the vast selection of wedding dresses and accessories to choose from. How can you be sure that your dress and accessories are the epitome of elegance?
Finding the perfect wedding dress and the right accessories will depend largely on your individual taste. But by understanding the different styles and options that are available, it will be much easier for you to find elegant wedding dresses and accessories that live up to your childhood dreams.
Wedding Dress Silhouettes
There are a number of different dress silhouettes to choose from. A-line dresses provide a classic silhouette that is timeless and elegant, with a flared skirt and a narrow top. Ball gown style wedding dresses feature a fitted bodice and a large, full skirt that brings to mind fairytales and old-world romance. Empire waists cinch close below the bust to allow for a longer skirt, while dropped waists cinch closer to the hips in to create a longer torso silhouette.
When choosing a silhouette, consider your body shape and be sure to try on as many different styles as possible. Generally, pear-shaped women may want to look for dresses with higher skirts, like the empire waist style. Again, since every woman's body is different, it's important to try on a wide variety of silhouettes until you find one that showcases your best features.
Wedding Dress Necklines
In addition to the various wedding dress silhouettes, brides-to-be can also choose from a wide selection of elegant necklines. Off-the-shoulder dresses elegantly showcase the neck and shoulders with a tasteful strap or straps to hold the dress in place, while strapless wedding dresses use a more supportive corset material.
Wedding dresses with full necklines can range from a choker-style to an elegant v-neck design. Depending on the bride's taste, the neckline can be modest and conservative, or bold and alluring. Keep in mind that lace or scalloping can be added to deep, plunging necklines for a bit more coverage.
Wedding Tiaras, Veils and Other Hair Accessories
After finding the perfect wedding dress, many women choose some form of hair accessory to complete their wedding day look. One of the most common and traditional ways to do this is with a wedding veil, though the full, traditional veil is not as popular as it once was.
When accenting an especially elegant wedding dress, some women choose to wear a tiara that complements the design of the dress instead of a veil. And others wear a stylish hat that matches the color and general design of their wedding dress. It's important to remember that the hair accessory and the dress should not compete with each other. Think of the dress as the star, and the hair accessory as a supporting character.
Wedding Earrings and Necklaces
Earrings and necklaces can also provide the perfect finishing touches to a wedding dress. Bridal earring and necklace sets can range from simple pieces that color-coordinate with the wedding gown to more elaborate diamond or gemstone sets that bring an entirely new level of elegance to the bride's overall appearance. While the earrings and necklace often come in a matching set, some women choose to wear only one, or to mix and match jewelry styles to express their unique taste.
Earrings can be small and simple, or large and extravagant. And necklaces can range from simple chains or chokers to large pendants. Again, keep in mind that your jewelry should not overpower your gown. Earrings and necklaces should work together to complement your wedding dress.
Other Wedding Accessories
There are a number of other accessories that can accentuate an elegant wedding dress. Designer
shoes that are created with specific wedding dress style in mind are an excellent option for many brides.
Gloves are another elegant accessory that are popular among many brides. They can range in length from short lace gloves that cover only the hands, to full-length satin gloves that cover most of the arm. Broaches, belts, or sashes can also add small touches of elegance to your wedding day look.
Brides-to-be who are looking for elegant wedding dresses and accessories have so many options. Remember that elegance is in the eye of the beholder. The best way to find an elegant dress and complementary accessories is to keep an open mind and to try lots of different styles and looks. From dress silhouettes and necklines, to hair accessories and shoes, there are lots of ways to make a unique and elegant statement on your wedding day.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Saving Money On A Designer Wedding Dress

Planning a wedding is an expensive affair. The expenses can easily skyrocket if you don't have a set budget to follow. With all the money you'll be shelling out, does this mean you should settle for a subpar wedding dress? Our answer: a big, resounding no!
Picking out the perfect wedding dress is one of the most important wedding-related decisions you have to make. Your wedding is a momentous time in your life and your dress should be equally memorable. Since you're already spending so much, you may feel disheartened and rather inclined to scrimp on your gown to save money.
You may already have your heart set on a gorgeous designer wedding dress, but alas, your budget won't permit it. Well, there's a way for you to get a designer wedding dress that fits your budget, and it doesn't involve robbing a boutique!
Find a Fabulous Designer Wedding Dress for Less
If your heart is set on going designer, then you can get a great designer wedding dress even with modest finances. The following are some tips and ideas to help you find a fabulous designer wedding dress for less.
Tip 1: The number one rule when picking a reasonably priced designer wedding dress is to pick one with a simple design.
Instead of going for a frivolous and unnecessarily extravagant designer wedding dress, opt for a simple and basic wedding dress instead. Remember, the more frills and fabric, the more expensive the gown. A sheath wedding gown or a mermaid wedding dress is more financially advisable than a beaded and ribboned ball gown.
Tip 2: Pick a wedding dress that fits you well and flatters your body shape.
You're bound to look a thousand times better in a simple designer sheath wedding dress that fits well and flatters your figure, than in a frilly ball gown with a heavily beaded royal train. Remember to choose a dress with an excellent fit and that works well with your body shape to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on alterations.
Tip 3: Keep in mind that less is more.
Instead of picking a designer wedding dress with an incredible amount of embellishments, choose a gown with few embellishments and decorations. The more intricate the gown, the greater your expenses. A minimalist approach to designer wedding dresses ensures that you get a wonderful designer dress with an excellent price tag.
If your heart is set on having a designer wedding dress with embellishments, then pick a dress with embellishments where people can see them. What's the use of having expensive beading on your dress if it's hidden on the hemline instead of showcased on the bodice?
Tip 4: Know when to shop.
Once your man pops that question and you have the engagement ring to prove it, you can start looking for the right designer wedding dress. When designer wedding dress hunting, timing can be everything. The best time to shop for your designer garb is when there's a sample sale.
If you shop during this time, you'll find that most bridal boutiques cut the prices of their lovely designer dresses to get rid of excess inventory. Take advantage of this situation, and stop worrying about fashion trends. Believe us when we tell you that your guests won't know or mind if your wedding dress was from last season.
Tip 5: Know where to shop.
While bridal boutiques allow you to try on their designer wear, you'll save more money staying at home and buying your designer wedding dress online. There are numerous online dress shops that offer designer wedding dresses at discounted prices. Another advantage of shopping for your designer garment online is that you get to compare prices from different providers.
If you're making your purchase online, just make sure you get the right dress size. You may want to get your measurements taken in a bridal boutique or by your seamstress to help you figure out your actual size before you place any online orders.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Perfect Wedding Dresses for Your Wedding Party

Wedding is a special moment for couples who fall in love. From first meeting and first to looking intently arouse which deepens impression, including the wedding once for couples to get married.
That is why wedding moment has beautiful and impressive for guess particularly for married couples. Each wedding planning have nice piled and perfect, so that wedding to go on nice and fluent.
Are not only one of the well planning like wedding vow, reception place, food, or ride. But other things must be planned, for example invitations souvenirs, guest chairs, comfortable rooms, and wedding dresses.
To choose beautiful wedding dresses is a little difficult, dress is important thing in wedding, but it's one of successful factor from wedding vows. Choosing the right and nice wedding dresses must be suitable with wedding theme that we choose, if couples choose right wedding dresses to get married they will have a harmony and synchronize wedding situation, because the spirit from the dresses will not directly shines a beautiful scene for the guess.
So that for couples who want to get married must follow some tips to choose well wedding dresses, they are :
  1. Wedding dresses must be suitable with the wedding theme it self, for example, what is a traditional wedding ? or a modern and a classic wedding.
  2. Wedding dresses must be suitable with the place / building is used for wedding vows, for example : a unique building, a conventional home, or a hotel room.
  3. A wedding room determine what kinds of dresses must be used, it's an indoor or an outdoor room ?
  4. Choosing wedding dresses must be suitable with the wedding theme, just choose some colors which are compounding.
  5. The cleanliness of dresses must be considered
These some tips to find wedding dresses suitable with your personality and character, they are :
  1. Classic Bride. Good for classic type of people that don't like experiment and always conservative. Classic bride likes an insignificant, simple but elegant dress and to fit the body.
  2. The Diva. This type is designed for people to want always be eyed catching whereever she goes. Diva type does not a like conservative or an unattractive but dare to show her neck, beauty of the shoulders and sexy hands. Tube choice, backless, which dominated by colors and special details very good for this type.
  3. Natural Bride. This bride doesn't like over detail, much style, and too modern. Natural bride wants a simple impression, sweet but neat. This style inspiraties an elegant and a simple dress. Simple soft chiffon material, A-Lined waist and clean white color will represent the impression of this dress.
  4. Romantic Bride. A romantic type have a soft personality, romantic, dreamer, and feminine. Satin and chiffon material and other soft material can be good choice for them. Use corsage and addition laces give a romantic impression such as "Georgia Style" or party dress style for princess in the period of conservative England Kingdom.
  5. The Fashion Plate Bride. This bride type likes fashion. The suitable dress for her is a dress made by her favorite designer. For model and style of the dress usually arranged by the designer, so must go with trend style, elegant and reflects her personality
Beside the tips on how to choose wedding dresses and also tips to find wedding dresses suitable with your personality and character, we also give some tips for couples who want to get married.
Below we also present some tips for couples who want to get married :
  1. Choose suitable colors that compound with the wedding theme decorations. It's better if we choose the neutral colors for our wedding theme.
  2. Choose a suitable bride bouquet that fits with the posture of body and the height of body. Make sure your body posture when you order the suit and ask for the best bouquet to your bridal.
  3. Ask how many bride bouquet which they make in our wedding day.
  4. Make sure all the orders are ok a week before the wedding.
  5. Ask the florist who makes that bouquet and ask them if they have a certificate from a professional school.
Hopefully the tips above can give an inspiration and planning in arranging the wedding party, wedding reception, and wedding dresses. Usually an excellent wedding party will reflects a nice impression for both groom and bride and the guess.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Wedding Dresses

The excitement behind the wedding dress phenomenon is something most women undergo. It is the one special day of their life they have been waiting for and as such, when the time is right they go through great measures in order to be able to find wedding dresses that they have always pictured themselves in.
When it comes to choosing between wedding dresses, two things play an important part. One being, the visionary sense you have and what you have always imagined your wedding dress to be and the other being what suits your body type. This of course is the more realistic approach, and being able to combine your thoughts with what's available will certainly ensure that your wedding dress is truly unique. The idea behind selecting a fine wedding dress is that it should make you feel, that this particular design and fit was meant specifically for you, let it be unique in every aspect.
Wedding dresses are available in varied colors, patterns and lengths. What you select is certainly a matter of personal opinion. One thing you should be attentive towards when it comes to selecting wedding dresses is that you shouldn't always depend on a second or third opinion entirely. When selecting through wedding dresses ensure that you take along a really close friend or relative who understands just what you need, because eventually it's your big day, so choose just as you please.
You can look for patterns from scores of magazines or even online. There are zillions of pattern available and even cutting and stitching tips. You can use these tips to get yourself just the pattern you have been contemplating. If you are working with a renowned designer, you can let them know just what you have been thinking of and let them do the professional bit. The good part being, professionals know a lot more in this field and will be able to give you just the right advice.
Armed with your specific design, it's truly like conquering the world. It's not necessary that you need to go the traditional white dress. Times have changed and there's no stigma attached to wearing a colored wedding dress. It's not like earlier wear specific shades of wedding dresses denoted an underlying meaning. This included pronouncing that it's your second wedding, or a pregnancy status. If you are fond of the color pink, or lemon yellow, maybe even sky blue, you can happily wear your preference.
You can pick up your wedding dress from the numerous wedding dresses stores itself. Here you have an added advantage of actually trying out many dresses. There are so many designs and patterns on the racks, so you can take a good look at each of them and try the ones that you think are nice. This way you can finalize, just what you like and if you want make alterations to a particular design itself. The good thing about trying on the dresses gives you a real feel of the wedding dress rather than counting on wedding dress concepts.
Once you have picked and finalized a design, the store can create just what you need, and you'll certainly need to make a few more trips in regards to alterations and last minute touch ups. Wearing sample-wedding dresses gives you a real picture of the weight of the dress too. This will help you determine how much layering and frills you would want because you surely don't want to be weighed down by the dress.
Once you have finalized amongst the wedding dress at your disposal, you can start looking for a well matched, veil, gloves, shawls and tiara. All of these accessories are not an absolute necessary when it comes to wearing a wedding dress, but it certainly compliments your dress. You need not have to head to a wedding dresses store if you have a family member who is in the wedding business because they would surely be able to tailor your needs perfectly. If you choose to order your wedding dress from exquisite high end stores located at remote facilities, make sure you have adequate time in hand between the big day and the date you receive your dress on. This will give you enough time to make alterations if need be.
If you are not in the mind frame to buy a new wedding dress, then you can approach a wedding dress store regarding wedding dresses rentals. Along with the dress you can even rent jewellery and accessories. This is a great option because on a realistic note, your wedding dress is a onetime affair and it certainly costs money. Whatever your wishes are for this big day, you never have to compromise on your wedding dress needs, be it a new purchase or rental option. So go on and look like the pretty princess on your big day and feel the real happiness.