Colorful wedding dresses: Why go the conventional way

You may spend months shopping for that perfect wedding dress for yourself. After all, your wedding dress deserves a special appeal. Although you may not wear it again, the care and precision you put in making the choice is nonparallel. The traditional wedding dress can be a universal favorite, but you would not regret having made a different choice (which would be much liked by your grandmother as well).

With some careful observation and knowledge about the current trend, you could choose (or even design) the dress of your dreams. If white or ivory is not on your mind, there are plenty of other choices. But be patient! Shopping for a colorful gown can be frustrating (or completely frustrating if you are not quite fond of it). There are also many online stores available, and if you can do some ‘hard’ browsing, you could find one which suits your need. There can be dresses ranging from $299 to $599 (and there could be no stopping as far as the spending is considered).

You can find one which is pretty, like the princess look (from the vintage collection), or a cool one with a natural fabric, the cap sleeves or the full sleeves, and many more from the market. Some of the designers offer modest wedding gowns in their bridal salons.

The red

This is a traditional colored dress for the brides in many countries. Although the color may not apparently be high on popularity in the United States, countries like China regard it as a traditional color of good luck and auspiciousness. The Chinese weddings feature red décor, including red wedding gowns. The color is also closely related to love, which is one of the most significant expressions at the wedding. Red can also have variations like, deep burgundy, brick red, etc.

The blue

Usually, you do not find blue as the wedding dress color. But it is gaining popularity off late. This can be a bold depiction of yourself, particularly if this is your favorite color. Here also, you may have variations, like sky blue or deep blue.

The black

This can be quite repelling from the conventional one, though! But it can be audacious. Your wedding dress can have new dimensions with the black color. You can have a combination with black to dilute its affect. The black is especially popular in Scandinavia.

There is an interesting reference to the black wedding dress. While Sarah Jessica Parker chose to wear a black dress on her wedding, she later admitted of having regrets not choosing a traditional one.

It is encouraging to have a special appeal on your wedding day. But ensure that you are not doing it just to go against the convention. Some sentiments are attached to specific colors. It is good to be careful (and discuss with your close ones) before choosing a black dress.

A blend

If you want to enjoy your traditional wedding dress with some color dashes, you could go for a colored hemline or even a colored bow. Such a dress can give the versatility of the traditional feel with a modern appeal. You can easily find such dresses from bridal retailers.

Wedding traditions are diverse. You have many like the Western culture “wedding white” from the Victorian Era or the Japanese wedding kimono. The idea is to be special and unique. You can shop for the traditional one or the modern one. Recently, colored wedding dresses have picked up interest. Several bridal salons offer styles and designs to suit the demand.

 

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About the author: Alia Haley is a frequent blogger on the wedding portal. She has covered many interesting topics related to pre and post wedding scenario like wedding cakes, themed weddings, bridal shower, honeymoon destinations and romantic gateways.

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Classic vintage wedding attire makes a perfect bride

You are one of those girls who wish to pose as a perfect bride on your D-Day. But what’s so extra-ordinary about it? For that exceptional look that you are yearning for, you need that transformation into a stunning beauty. But will that happen just day-dreaming about your groom? No way. If you want that picture perfect look you need to go out of your way.

Just looking pretty and sweet on your wedding has become history. Now you need some extra zest, enigma, appeal and of course the true fashion sense to mesmerize everyone. It’s your day so why not hold that aura of a fairy or a damsel? Yes we know that your parlor appointments, beautician, spas all are scheduled but what about your bridal trousseau for that extravaganza?

No time to think and plan, right? Don’t worry, just get-set-go with a vintage-inspired wedding dress. If you are a diva who exudes opulence through your look, then the gorgeous, cost effective and the easy to get vintage pattern is just the right choice for you. But there are other reasons to grab this out-of-the-box apparel as it will take you through a new experience and journey. You can create magic of the Vintage era through your eye-catching couture.

For a different appeal and that ultra-glam look on your special day, vintage dress is a trend. There is hardly any need to dress yourself up with a run-of-the-mill kind. And moreover the fashionistas like you set the trend and not follow them especially when it is the most significant day of your life.

Well, we know girls what apprehensions you are having. You are concerned about your dad’s pocket it seems. Well shoo your worry away. The classic vintage wedding dress is the right choice when it comes to shelling out. Don’t worry babes! These extra-ordinary look will not burn a hole in your pocket. It can be bought in your budget as well. And don’t think that you have to compromise on the best outfit either if you are running low on funds. So chill, the dress is even ideal when it comes to cost.

The best part is that the vintage style is available in all the sizes, shape designs and patterns that can suit your body type. If you are stick-thin or a little bloated type stop sulking. Here you go with the most ideal and sophisticated costume.

Well the classy and urbane look is incomplete without the jewelry. The ornaments are something you just can’t miss on. With the jewelry of a different era you can look matchless and elegant. The right piece of sparkling stones or shining crystals for your attire – be it an earring, a stud, a neckpiece or a bracelet – will affix a royal taste to your entire appearance.

Adorned in pearls and diamonds of the vintage style you are the noticeable princess of the day. If you are trying a big hairdo to adorn your look, don’t forget a tiara. But try to stay away from those bulky large pieces that can distort your complete appearance. Don’t focus on those big and tacky jewelries.

The brides-to-be, now you can make your guests know what marriage was like in 1960’s. The conservative style of that period can alter your look to the modern and chic bride. Now you can flaunt a great style statement on your nuptials and make it the most outstanding day of your life.

About the author: Alia Haley is an avid writer and blogger on wedding and different aspects associated with it. She writes frequently on Wedding Portal and is at present on a look out for new trends related to wedding seasons.

Do I Have to Wear a Traditional Wedding Gown?

A bride was moaning to me the other day about the high cost of buying a wedding dress and how she wished that she didn’t ‘have’ to buy a traditional wedding dress. I questioned her as to why she ‘had’ to buy a wedding dress, because you ‘have’ to wear a wedding dress was her reply. I disagree. I don’t think that a bride needs to buy the traditional wedding gown. In fact, I think that a great deal of money can be saved by purchasing a gown from a non-wedding store.

I think these days when it comes to weddings, the norm is, do whatever makes you happy. Once you accept the fact that it’s your wedding and you are free to make choices that make you and your partner happy, you will have a huge weight lifted from your shoulders and will be able to actually enjoy the wedding planning process.

Don’t Buy a Wedding Dress That’s Too Small

When choosing a wedding dress, avoid buying a dress that’s a size or two smaller than what you would generally wear, as if you fail to loose the extra weight, it will cost you a lot more to add extra  material to your gown than to have it removed. Don’t get into the mindset that if you a buy a smaller sized gown, you will become motivated and you will loose the desired weight, as it is just a gamble and an added stress that you don’t need.

Who Pays For the Bridesmaids Gowns?

After the initial excitement of being asked to be bridesmaid is over, then comes the inevitable question, do I need to pay for my own bridesmaid gown? The general answer is yes; when you accept the invitation to become a bridesmaid you are expected to pay for your own gown. Once upon a time, the bride used to pay, but that is no longer the norm. However, bear in mind that this differs depending on what part of the world you are from. For example, in the USA and Australia the bride doesn’t pay, but in the UK most brides provide and pay for all the gowns.

When you start shopping around for gowns, it is a good idea to have a casual discussion about how much you can afford to spend on a dress. It’s not fair for the bride to pick out a lavish dress that will cost three weeks worth of pay if you cannot afford it. On the other hand, you should be realistic in your budget and set aside enough money for a nice dress that the bride would like.

You will find that if a bride has her heart set on bridesmaid gown that is over your limit, she may offer to pay the difference. The vital thing is to be upfront early on about how much you can realistically spend.

 

 

 

Should I Buy My Wedding Gown on eBay?

I often get emails from soon-to-be brides asking me all sorts of wedding questions. One of the most reoccurring questions is whether or not one should buy a wedding dress from eBay. Let me just start right off by saying there is no right or wrong answer to this question. To help you make up your own mind, we will go through some pros and cons on whether buying a wedding dress on eBay is a viable option and let you make up your own mind.

Reasons For Buying a Wedding Gown on eBay
Wedding dresses are one of those things that go down in value as soon as you buy it. For that reason, it makes sense that a second hand gown will cost considerably less
Wedding outlets buy their gowns for significantly cheaper than its retail price via Chinese wholesalers. Some of these wholesalers sell their gowns direct to the public via eBay. So if you play your cards right, you could end up with a designer gown for considerably less than you would find in a bridal store.

Last year bride Hannah Kovacs spent a mere $180 on a wedding gown, that includes postage and insurance from a manufacturer on eBay. The same dress retails for $1500 in Australia. (source: Poll finds ‘average’ wedding costs $49,000

Reasons Against Buying a Wedding Gown on eBay
You will find some eBay sellers are actually based in China selling gowns through the auction website. They custom make dresses to the bride’s measurements. Although many brides have reported successes with using Chinese based eBay sellers, it can be difficult to address problems if complications occur. It’s one of those situations where if everything goes according to plan, you may end up with a good outcome. However, if the dress ends up differently to what you wanted, you may run into problems sorting it out in due time due to shipping times and language barriers.

Fake wedding gowns are rampant on eBay. Be wary if you find someone selling a designer wedding gown and offering to make it for you in any colour and size. Do your research. It’s probably a fake.

Things To Consider
If you do decide to buy a dress on eBay, use the following pointers to ensure you have a smooth transaction.

Ask to see the wedding gown from all angles. It’s no point just seeing the front of the gown if you don’t know the back looks like.

Ask what alterations have already been made to the dress.

Ask if the photograph is a current one of the dress, or if it is merely a display product image. This is an important one. If a wedding gown isn’t looked after, the quality of it may deteriorate. So you want to make sure that the seller is using current photographs to represent the gown.
On the other hand, if the seller is a manufacturer, they may be using a stock product image and could actually be selling an imitation dress. Ask to see photographs of specific detail on the dress.

Read through the sellers feedback rating to learn about other buyers experience with the seller. Through the feedback you can also learn how a seller deals with negative feedback, such as offering exchanges or refunds.

Pay with PayPal as this way you will have better protection if anything goes wrong.

Always contact the seller via the eBay website and never personal emails. If any disputes occur, eBay will have a record of all correspondence.

“The Edible Bride”

Just had to share this photo I stumbled across on the internet. It’s a wedding dress made out of 1500 cream puffs! It was created by pastry cheff Valentyn Shtefano for his bride Viktoriya to wear to their wedding reception. Looks pretty stunning!

Source: source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003302229_weddingcake13.html

Pick Up Cheap Bridesmaids Gowns

You can find discounted gowns for the bridesmaids to wear after the formal season has ended (usually around late November/December) Don’t think that these dresses are just for high school seniors, as they are not. The styles and sizes are accommodating .

Heirloom wedding veils

One way of cutting the cost of your wedding attire is to receive or borrow a veil or tiara from a family member.

Have a look at old family wedding photographs and see if any of the veils worn by the women in your family would compliment your gown.

Politely and tactfully ask them if you could wear it. Chances are they will feel honoured that they have helped you on your day.

Save Money by Hiring Your Wedding Gown

One option to get a wedding dress for significantly cheaper is to hire your gown rather than buying one. The first thing you need to do, is to truthfully consider whether this is the right option for you. If you have any strong notions of preserving your wedding gown for an heirloom, then obviously hiring  a gown is not for you.

Another major consideration when hiring a gown is allowing yourself enough time to source and book a dress in advance. Obviously there are far less gowns available for rent than for sale, so you need to ensure that you have adequate time to find your ‘dream’ gown and more importantly that it is available on your wedding day

Many rental places can also provide you with packages that include all your wedding gown accessories, such as shoes, veils and jewelery. If you are renting the gown anyway, it is ideal to hire out the entire ensemble and the store would have matching accessories on hire.

As with any aspect of your wedding planning, ensure that you have thoroughly read the contract (and fine print) before signing. Make sure that you are familiar with the renting terms, such as when the dress will be available to you and any associated fees. Find out whether the gown cleaning fee is included in the price of the gown or whether you are expected to pay an additional fee for this. Make sure that you get a copy of the signed contract. If you and the rental outlet make any verbal amendments to the renting terms such as picking up the gown a day earlier than the usually store policy, make sure that this amendments is added to the contract. This is extremely important, as from the time that you make the verbal agreement, to the date of the gown pick-up, months could have passed and words can easily be forgotten and staff and management could have changed.

There are some cases when hiring a gown is not always the most financially beneficial option. You need to do all the sums. If you are comfortable wearing a used gown, you may even find that buying a second-hand dress could end up being value for money, as the gown would have had less usage out of it than a rental one and consequently would be in better shape.

At the end of the day, what’s important to remember, is that as a bride, there are plenty of choices available to you. Whether you decide to buy or hire your gown is a purely personal choice that only you can make.

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