Tuesday, February 10, 2009



Is it easy to decide what you want to wear for your wedding?

Choosing wedding gowns for brides is perhaps the most exciting part of planning a marriage ceremony. Even for those who've had an idea of what they want their wedding gowns to look like since they were young, it's still fun to browse through magazines and go to bridal shops to try on dresses trying to find that perfect one!
The two most important things in deciding on a wedding gown are the budget and the bride's shape.

You need to have a wedding gown that fits within the budget as well as one that will complement your shape and will look most appealing on you.

When it comes to budget, there are pros and cons to having a gown custom-made. The con of course, is that custom-fit gowns comes with a custom price tag and that is usually $5,000 and up. The pros are that the gown will fit you like it was made for you, because it was! Even if the bride gains or loses weight, the dress can be altered as there are many fittings up until a week before the wedding.

Another plus to having a custom-made gown is that you'll have input on everything from the idea to completion. For those who choose to go with custom-made wedding gowns, ask the designer to keep track of the costs and to give you updates so you'll know where you are with the dress budget.

The second factor to take into consideration is the bride's shape and what type of dress will suit her best. Here again, there are a few options to take into consideration depending on her body shape.

If the bride's troublesome spot is her bottom, some great choices are a strapless ball gown with a draping bustle. This will draw the eye upward. Things to avoid are sheath-style dresses or any material that will "cling" and V-Neck styles.

If you want to take some focus off your stomach, an empire waist is a great choice. A corset-style top will also be very flattering as it will pull the tummy in for you. Be sure to steer clear of sheath materials, princess cuts, and basque waists.

If hips are your worry area, wedding gowns that draw the eye upward are again a good option. Full-skirted ball gowns will give this effect nicely. Choices to reconsider are sheath, V-Neck styles, and draping bustles.

If it's the arms that you don't want to be the centre of attention, off-the-shoulder wedding gowns as well as short sleeves and see-through lace sleeves are great options. Spaghetti straps and anything sleeveless or strapless should be avoided though.

If you're petite, sheath and A-line wedding gowns will look superb! Be sure to stay away from huge ball gowns that could make you look like you're being swallowed by the dress.

Whatever your shape and whatever the budget, this is going to be a really fun time for you! Many girls do know what they want their wedding gowns to look like from the time they were little or at least, since they've been engaged! Keep it fun and exciting and know that the perfect dress is out there for you!

Disney Wedding Gowns, Cinderella

Disney Wedding Gowns, Cinderella

vintage wedding gowns

vintage wedding gownsvintage wedding gowns

Monday, February 9, 2009

What People say about Wedding Ceremony: Check it out!

A wedding ceremony is something that could be connected with fashion. Just as the ramp updates its yearly collection, so does wedding trends. You might be interested about what's in and out of the wedding aisle and venue for 2009. The line-up of creations and recommendations might help you get an idea for the next in-thing in preparing for your wedding day.

There are different beliefs and practices when it comes to planning for a wedding ceremony. Lifestyle magazines, fashion designers and even wedding reception experts and planners have fused their ideas together to come up with something new for 2009.

Wedding favors the 2009 way

Gone were the days when you have to give wedding favors just to express gratitude for the presence of your intimate friends. On a more practical note, 2009's personalized gifts have taken things a notch higher. Your giveaway already serves two purposes: one for your occasion to be remembered; and two for your guests to make use of your practical gifts.

A lot of ideas have already struck the minds of the bride and the groom when it comes to giving wedding favors. Traditional wedding bells and "couple" figurines no longer come to mind. The modern way of saying thank you to your visitors include delectable desserts with recipes in it or even plants in small pots.

2009 wedding reception

Some choose to have their wedding celebrated outdoors. Many will choose to have the wedding ceremony in a church and the reception somewhere else. Others may opt to have the wedding ceremony and reception held in one location. This is very helpful because the guests do not have to spend time when traveling from one place to another.

For 2009, an environmental concept is integrated in the celebration. Aside from incorporating biologically and ecologically-friendly materials in the fabrics worn by the bride and the groom, garden weddings are always regarded. One may choose to give plants as gifts to their guests.

The Myth’s Behind The Designer Wedding Gown




I read an interesting article today on designer, couture wedding gowns and I wanted to discuss some of the myths and truths behind some of what was written! As someone who sells both private label and designs my own Haute Couture label, here is my thoughts on the article.

“Nothing beats designer bridal gowns when it comes to workmanship and uniqueness.”

This may, or may not be true. Some no name labels are poorer quality. But, I have worked with some suppliers for years who also work on brand name lines. For example, one company that I worked with also did a well known designer line which retailed for $3000 - $5000 and yet I could have similar styles, with the same fabrics and made by the same staff members, for $200 - $800! Yes, designer can mean quality BUT high quality affordable gowns do exist as well.

“Designer bridal gowns are made with natural fabrics that let your skin breathe, which is not always the case with off-the-rack dresses.”

Not true at all. Take a look at the designer specs - it it says SATIN that is the same satin as the off the rack dresses (and lots of designers have $3000+ dresses made from satin!) Likewise, silk is silk, chiffon is chiffon. You can find the same fabrics in off-the-rack dresses at lower prices.

“And unlike ready-made gowns, a designer bridal gown is molded to flatter your figure. You can be fitted for the right trim, silhouette, and length. The gown can therefore highlight the areas you want to show off, and hide the areas you want to conceal.”

Also not necessarily true. Yes, if you buy an off-the-rack gown, you will need alterations in order to get that same custom fit. But - this is still a lot cheaper then buying a designer gown! Also, most bridal salons include professional alterations and MANY online boutiques offer custom made to your measurement service for no additional charge!

“When you choose to buy couture bridal wear, you will likewise get to personally pick out the fabric and dictate the detailing. The dress will be one-of-a-kind, causing you to feel extra-special on your wedding day.”

Again - this service is also available from many smaller companies and designers who do not charge a ton extra for the label on the back of the dress. In fact - I did one custom design for a bride recently, in the fabric, color and design of her choice for just over $300! Even on a budget, it is possible to get a unique, perfect gown made just for you.

“Keep in mind that a wedding is no reason to go broke. Don’t buy an expensive gown if you cannot afford it. Instead, buy your gown from specialty stores that offer ‘designer-inspired’ versions which look just as good as the original designs, but are made with less expensive fabrics. “

First, yes a wedding is NOT a reason to go broke, lol. As for designer-inspired versions using less expensive fabrics, this is not always true either. I have done replicas of $4000 dresses, for $800 or less - using the exact same fabrics. Some brides may choose to use a different fabric to save even more. For example, a dress that is $400 in silk maybe only $450 in satin, a large savings if you are on a tight budget. But again, that is a choice.

Of course, this may be a stupid thing for me to post-as much as I like the idea that my label might make the a dress worth more - I think brides should not be taken advantage of. Demand can raise prices - but a designer label is not necessarily a better dress: it may very well be just a tag on the back of the dress that only you will ever see.

UPDATE: A lot of readers have been asking about the gown shown here. I had originally had a link to the dress maker but the link no longer works and I have been unable to find the gown. I have debated about removing the picture but since it is so popular, I will leave it up. If ANYONE knows who the designer is, please let me know. What I do know is that it is European and there was only one US distributor. If you want this coat, feel free to take the photo to your seamstress and see if they can make a replica for you.

Wedding Dress Gown - White Bridal Gown by Sean Collection (B8000) White

Wedding Dress Gown - White Bridal Gown by Sean Collection (B8000) White

Product Description
Simply Gorgeous! Long sleeve duchess satin long sleeve satin bridal gown with hand beading. Illusion detail. V back. Full satin skirt with cathedral train. See size chart and check bust waist measurements for accurate fit.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009