Wedding News and Advice

As you may have read in one of my previous posts, the Knot teamed up with Eight O'Clock Coffee for the "Gr8 Wedding D8" contest to give away a dream wedding that will take place on one of this year's most talked-about wedding dates -- 8/8/08.

Last week, The Knot introduced the contest's lucky winners, Vikki Capparelli and Mike Bonick, two kindergarten teachers from Palm Beach, Florida. This week, they need your help! You can cast your vote for your favorite hot-off-the-runway dress that Vikki and her bridesmaids will wear at the lavish outdoor ceremony in Southampton.



Choices for the bride include:

- Melissa Sweet trumpet-style wedding gown - This strapless, taffeta gown with a ruched, asymmetrical waistline evokes old Hollywood glamour, and the floral corsage detail at the waist gives it a trendy edge.

- Priscilla of Boston ball gown - Priscilla of Boston's silk, strapless gown would make any bride feel like a princess. The crystal-encrusted, lace Empire waistline offers a touch of sparkle while the back-button detailing and extra-full, dropped-waist skirt give this fairy-tale design an updated look.

- Platinum for Priscilla of Boston A-line bridal gown - This sophisticated, strapless, silk cotton gown by Platinum for Priscilla of Boston has a simple yet elegant design with its pleated back train -- the regal, silver-beaded waistline also gives this dress an unexpected twist.

Choices for the bridesmaids include:

- Melissa Sweet Bridesmaids knee-length dress - This shorter, satin dress by Melissa Sweet is a great option for an outdoor wedding. The gathered fabric on the waistline and large bow detail in the back add a sophisticated, sassy touch to an otherwise demure design.

- Priscilla of Boston Bridesmaids pleated, full-length dress - This satin gown by Priscilla of Boston features a fashion-forward bubble skirt hemline, a draped, pleated bodice, and a classic, full-length silhouette -- perfect for an elegant wedding in the Hamptons.

- Vineyard Bridesmaids ruched, full-length dress - The boho-inspired design on this full-length dress by Vineyard is so pretty, especially when combined with a strapless neckline and ruched bodice. It's laid-back, elegant, and ideal for a summer wedding.

To view the gown choices and to vote your favorite wedding and bridesmaid dress, visit The Knot's website at http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=A80702162242&keywordID=156&keywordType=2&parentID=527

Labels: bride, bridesmaid, contest, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:34 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Shoes are the finishing touch to every outfit - including a wedding gown. Every bride takes time to find the perfect pair to complete her dress, and her bridesmaids do too!

Shoes can show a piece of your personality - high fashion, traditional, comfortable, casual. The great thing about shoes is that you can choose a style that fits you. There are no rules that say you have to wear 4" stilettos or satin covered heels.

Many brides opt for dyeable fabric covered shoes. One nice reason to choose them is that after your wedding you can always dye them. Dying them black is a great option because it can go with almost any outfit. Many bridesmaids also use dyeable fabric shoes so they can find a perfect match for their bridesmaid dress. Dyeable fabric shoes do not have to cost a fortune. In fact, Payless Shoe Source carries them.

Are you in to high fashion? I found great resource that includes bridal shoe styles from Vera Wang to Stuart Weitzman at http://www.onewed.com/bridal-shoes/. You find the style and they link you to the seller. Don't look for a deep discount though. These are top quality and priced selections.

A new trend in bridal shoe wear are flip-flops. Now, I have to say that I personally do not find these attractive. I think a bridal gown deserves something a bit more formal. But flip-flops seem to be popular, especially with outdoor weddings. Check out www.savvysneaks.com for some creative flip-flop and sneaker style shoes for weddings.

Whatever your style, here are a few tips when choosing shoes for your wedding:

• Don't wear heels that are higher than you are used to. This is not the time to go from flats to 4" heels. You want to actually be able to walk down the aisle on your wedding day.
• Break in your shoes! So many brides don't do this and the end up with sore feet on their wedding day. Just stick them on your feet while your walking around the house for a week or two before the wedding.
• Try them on before and after you leave the store. Keep your receipt and try them on inside your house so you don't wear on them. This way you can still change your mind and return them.
• Try them on with your wedding dress - especially when you get it hemmed. You want to make sure you like them with your dress and that your wedding gown falls to the right length with them on.

Labels: bride, bridesmaid, shoes, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:30 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

“I’ll pick a style that you can wear again,” says the bride to her bridesmaids. Her intentions are good, but that’s not how it works out is it? Why are bridesmaid dresses a style that we can only wear in a wedding?

Thankfully, today’s styles are not what they used to be. It used to be puffy sleeves and enormous butt bows, Why on earth would you stick a huge flower right in the center of the bust line? Today, most styles are more sleek and flattering. A-line skirts and flowing fabrics look great on almost any figure.

Bridesmaid dress colors are more flattering now too. In the 80’s it was all about colors like teal, peach and hot pink. Then came the iridescent phase where fabrics were used that had metallic thread in colors like purple, green or gold mixed with black thread for a color-shifting look. Now, popular hues are deep chocolate browns, sage green, red or even black or white.

But even with today’s better styles, bridesmaid dresses are rarely worn again. Thankfully, author Cindy Walker has written “101 Uses for a Bridesmaid Dress”. Her unique ideas include making everything from hair scrunchies and shoe bags to hammocks or a bee keeper outfit. So take those old bridesmaid dresses out of the closet and recycle them into something new. You can tell your friend that you have been able to use that dress again after all!

Cindy Walker’s book is available at Amazon.com.

Labels: bride, bridesmaid, dresses, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 3:24 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Your best friend calls to say she’s getting married.

Then she pops the big question, “Will you be my bridesmaid?”

You’re honored, but a little unsure about what comes next. And unless you’re like Katherine Heigl’s character in the film “27 Dresses” — who has been a bridesmaid 27 times — you probably don’t know exactly what’s expected of you.

The romantic comedy is opening Friday. In the movie, Heigl, of “Grey’s Anatomy” fame, plays a woman who struggles with her “always a bridesmaid” lifestyle.

But what if you’re new to the bridesmaid’s game? We talked to local wedding experts to get the lowdown.

Becky Nunnelly, owner of the Belmont Village on Hay Street, said bridesmaids’ duties aren’t as clear-cut as they once were. Today, the role of a bridesmaid varies from wedding to wedding, she said, depending on the bride’s needs.

“Every wedding seems like it’s unique and different,” said Nunnelly, whose business is a one-stop shop for weddings.

One obstacle for many brides, especially in a military town such as Fayetteville, is having out-of-town attendants. That will determine how much a bridesmaid is capable of doing if she and the bride don’t live in the same place.

“Some brides don’t get to see the bridesmaids until the day before the wedding,” Nunnelly said. “It makes it hard for the bride, especially if she chooses all out-of-town friends.”

Make it easy for her from the start by accepting her proposal with some immediacy. Let her know in a timely manner whether you will appear in the wedding.

The sooner, the better, said Elizabeth Caro, owner of Lola’s Special Occasions in Fayetteville. That way the bride can pick an alternate in case you’re unable to be an attendant.

Remember, bridesmaids are responsible for buying their dresses and shoes and paying to get their hair done. If the wedding is out of town, be prepared to pay for your own hotel and travel expenses. So before you say yes, be upfront with the bride about how much you can afford to spend. If time and money doesn’t allow it, then you may want to consider sitting in the audience instead.

Also keep in mind that this is a happy time for your friend, and an honor just to be asked to participate in her special day.

“When you are asked to be a bridesmaid, the bride really considers you a special person,” Caro said. “It means you’re special to them.”

Fayetteville resident Madison Deal has been a bridesmaid about four times over. Deal will appear as the maid of honor Saturday at the wedding of her friend, Meagan McKinney, at the Belmont Village.

“This is my first time as a maid of honor,” Deal, 21, said. “It’s a lot different than being a bridesmaid.”

The maid of honor traditionally has more responsibilities than the other bridesmaids. Deal said she has been busy planning the bridal shower, making the party gifts and helping the bride run errands.

She and McKinney are roommates, so Deal asks her friend how she can pitch in to help with the planning. The two have been friends since they were babies.

Deal said she’s looking forward to seeing “27 Dresses” because she can relate to the character.

“It seems in the movie she’s always a bridesmaid and never a bride,” she said. “I’m the only single one right now.”

Her advice for other bridesmaids: “Just go with whatever the bride wants.” Because, after all, it’s her day.

www.fayobserver.com

Labels: bride, bridesmaid, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I came across this article on bridesmaid dresses and thought it had some handy tips. I'm posting only the tips from this article. To view the entire piece, click on the link at the end.

ScrippsNews.com
By RACHEL LEIBROCK
Sacramento Bee
Friday, January 11, 2008

Alicia Correia was ahead of the curve when, back in 1994, she let her bridesmaids pick which dress they'd like to wear.

Part of it was based on expediency. The 35-year-old Elk Grove resident's pals all lived in different cities, so she mailed them photos of three possible dresses.

"Lucky for me, they all chose the same dress, but in different colors," Correia says of the velvet, tea-length winner.

"So I figured, why not let them have the dress they loved? To this day, people talk about my rainbow of bridesmaids."

Correia's approach and attitude is part of a growing national trend, agrees Kathleen Murray, deputy editor for The Knot, an online wedding portal.

"Brides are trying to create an overall look, and the bridesmaid dress is not just an afterthought," Murray says.

And most brides now understand that one dress does not fit all, she says. In fact, the current vogue is to pick a color and let the bridesmaids select the style.

"It lets the bridesmaids choose something flattering and helps them to be more comfortable," Murray says, on the phone from her Manhattan office.

Which, you know, kind of helps when you want a stress-free wedding.

"If your friends are uncomfortable, it's going to show," Murray says. "Their frowns in the (wedding) photos are going to be very evident."

Keeping that in mind, here are a few other things to remember when picking out a picture-perfect, friendship-preserving bridesmaid dress.

Keep it simple, sweetheart

Conable, the perpetual bridesmaid, says her favorite bridesmaid dress among her seven is stylish and versatile.

"It's black, long and strapless, with a mermaid fit," Conable says. "I've worn it several times to cocktail parties and other formal events. The key is its simplicity. The black just makes it very elegant."

So, just say no to excess taffeta and tulle, busy patterns or froufrou designs.

Think sleek and sophisticated.

"I went to a (bridal) fashion show and the bridesmaid dresses coming down that runway were so chic," Murray says. "They looked like cocktail dresses (I would) wear to a party."

Also big for 2008? Warm colors such as chocolate or plum; copper, gold or pewter metallics; plus classics like navy or white.

Yes, white.

Used to be that tradition frowned on anyone but the bride donning the pure hue, but that idea is definitely passe, Murray says.

"The bride is getting so experimental with her wedding dress, she's getting fashion-forward with the bridesmaid dresses," she says.

Conable, whose collection also includes a sad little iridescent-beaded periwinkle number cut in an unkind clingy fabric, offers this tip: Splurge for something a little nicer.

Quality doesn't have to break the piggy bank, either. A well-made dress can be bought for about $150, Murray says -- although those coveting styles by designers such as Vera Wang or Badgley Mischka should plan on paying between $300 and $500.

Kind of pricey -- so clue in your friends.

And speaking of those friends ... it never hurts to get by with a little help from your BFF.

Simply put: Let at least one bridesmaid in on the process.

"Don't take all your bridesmaids out on that initial shopping trip -- that could be chaotic," Murray says. "Instead, go out scouting with your maid of honor. Take pictures of her in various dresses and e-mail them to everyone to poll them on the choices."

Start by staying away from polyester, Sommerfield says -- it doesn't fit well, it doesn't breathe well and, frankly, it looks cheap.

Instead, look for dresses in silk, soft cottons or -- for an outdoor event -- a crisp linen.

"A good material really makes a difference," Sommerfield says. "Synthetics don't do that. They don't lay well or compliment the body.

"You might as well just wrap a garbage bag around you."

In the end, however, a wedding is, ultimately, about the bride (oh, OK, and the groom), and if she wants what she wants?

Tough luck, bridesmaids.

"It's her dream, it's her big day, it's her choice," Conable says. "You just have to suck it up."

And plan to hit Goodwill the next day.

www.scrippsnews.com

Labels: bridesmaid, dresses, planning, wedding

Posted by Invito Cards at 8:19 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post