Wedding Layers

Both bride and groom should be involved in most wedding planning activities. However, the wedding dress or gown and bridal attire purchases are strictly the bride’s domain.

So, here you are, a bride to be with a wedding date and a lot of wedding planning activities to take care of so your dream wedding becomes a reality and your first thought is – your bridal attire.

Shopping for a wedding dress or gown and bridal attire is a lot of fun but can be extremely expensive and rather frustrating.
Guess what! You can reduce both expense and frustration and enjoy the process without sacrificing quality.
To find out how, keep reading.

This is how:

DO SOME HOMEWORK

As soon as your wedding date is confirmed start researching in magazines, on the Internet and by visiting bridal shops and trying on dresses and gowns so that you have at least a general idea of the style of dress or gown you want.

Look for seamstresses who specialize in wedding gowns and dresses and ask for a price range. From $ but no more than $.

As you choose your style, consider the following:

Choose a classic dress or gown. If you opt for a ball gown style be ready to spend more money because the more fabric it takes to make a gown, the more it costs.

Remember that sometimes less is more and opt for no embellishments or with embellishments only on the bodice. Having embellishment on the sleeves, waistline, hemline,and or train, will raise the price of the gown and may actually make the gown over embellished and less elegant.

RETAIL STORES AND SALONS SAMPLE, CLOSEOUT, DISCONTINUED ITEMS AND INVENTORY REDUCTION SALES

Time your gown and wedding attire shopping with samples, closeout, discontinued items and inventory reduction sales.

Bridal stores and salons pay a hefty price for their floor space. They need to make room for the latest new styles.

Take advantage of it and you win! How?

Simply call up the shops and salons in your area and find out if and when they’re having their next sample and inventory reduction sale.

Ask if they will allow you to preview the dresses that will be offered.

Some, especially privately owned stores, will be glad to comply and may even encourage an early purchase. After all, they want to sell the items and reduce their costs and inventories.

Note that samples are usually available in size 6, 8 or 10.

Closeout items come in all sizes.

While you are there, check out about other wedding attire for you and your wedding party.

If you must wait for the sale itself, arrive early and bring a companion.

Wear clothes that’s are easy to slip in and out of. Do not stop to consider every dress you see.

Pick up anything that you think you might like and let your companion hold it.

Once you are done, try the dresses on as quickly as you can as time is short and competition may be great and have your companion look at other brides for more possibilities for you.

She may pick up dresses other brides tried on but did not choose, yet have the exact features you want.

Once you have narrowed your choice to one two or three dresses, unless they fit you perfectly, lucky you!, check out if the store offers alterations the costs and the time frame. If the cost seems too high, contact the seamstresses you have already interviewed.

DEPARTMENT STORES CLEARANCE

Do not stop there. You do not need to wait for a special sale, check all of the clearance racks at the bridal sections in department stores frequently. You’ll be favorably surprised at what you can find.

The only drawback is that what you see is what you get. You purchase any sale item as-is.

Though you can have a gown altered to a smaller size at an additional cost and risk, it cannot be made larger.

You cannot add sleeves to a strapless gown.

The color and designs are set so you may have to compromise.

Also, take into consideration that you may need to dry clean a dress or gown that has been sold as sample, discontinued or inventory reduction sale.

CHECK OUR THE INTERNET

Do not disregard the power of the Internet.

Go to google and search for wedding gown or wedding dress.

Visit as many web sites as time and patience allows.

You’ll come across bridal shops that have web sites and see many designers names their styles, colors and price ranges.

You’ll also come across online only shops.

The online only shops are not saddled with the huge overhead that brick and mortar shops pay and often pass their saving on to their customers by offering lower prices.

It is important that you are aware that for some reason, most wedding gown sizes run small (A small 6, a small 8 etc…) So, unless you are sure of your size and have an alteration seamstress available, you may be better off ordering the next larger size.

If you plan to shop on the internet, be sure to provide the vendor with the following measurements:

Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware

There are many online wedding dresses – gowns retailers on the Internet.

Some offer actual designer products and others offer replicas or gowns designed to look like, but with moderations, while others have their own designs.

So before you order a dress or gown, check the web site thoroughly.

Look for an address, and a phone number and by all means CALL the owner personally and interview him or her.

Be sure that ALL your questions are answered and that you are COMPLETELY satisfied and comfortable buying from that PERSON. Base your decision on the person not on the web site.

IMPORTANT! Never store your wedding dress or gown in plastic. Depending on the material used, it may yellow or become gray and never lay it flat as it may crease. Store it in a cloth bag and hang it in a closet free of heat, dust and other impurities.

SHOES

You need shoes to go with your wedding dress or gown. But do you really need wedding shoes?

Think about it. The difference in price between purchasing shoes at a shoe store or at a bridal salon may surprise you.

Yes, adding the simple term wedding to the description of a pair of shoes may double even triple its price.

GLOVES, VEILS AND TIARAS

These items are much less expensive than a dress or gown. Therefore your risk of purchasing them on the Internet is small.

Yet, you can save a lot of money.

Look for a pair of gloves you saw offered on the Internet for less than $20.00 in a bridal salon and figure out your savings.

The same holds true for veils and tiaras.

Do the math and cash in on the savings.

Article Copyright © Nily Glaser, All Rights Reserved 2007

Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser of A-wedding Day and Gan Publishing

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Nily Glaser, the CEO of A-wedding Day at: http://www.a-weddingday.com She writes important articles, and has presented workshops for wedding professionals all over the USA.
To read more of her articles CLICK HERE Her web site is very popular for its discount wedding gifts, bridal accessories, print your own invitations, favors and the very unique items offered including the exclusive line of wedding Accessories By Nily.

Author: Nily Glaser
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Top Moneysaving Tips to find Cheaper Wedding Dresses 

A wedding dress might be something you’ve been thinking about since you were a child, but there’s still no reason why you should have to shell out a fortune for it.

By being canny, you can still have your dream wedding dress without the debt.

The bridal shops in Central London tend to sell designer wedding dresses and therefore come with a designer price tag. By looking out of town to the suburban shops, you’ll be able to see dresses from cheaper designers and have a means of comparison on cost.

Unworn Wedding Dresses in Charity Shops Charity Shops not only get wedding dresses donated to them by generous ex-brides, but they get given unworn wedding dresses too- donated by Designer Bridal shops who’ve used them in their catwalk shows. These are often in mint condition.

Eleven of Oxfam’s stores have specialist Bridal departments: Bracknell, Bradford, Cambridge, Chippenham, Coventry, Eastbourne, Heswall, Leicester, Poole and Southampton (the address and contact details are below). They are as-new top designer dresses that have been used for displays, modelled on catwalks. The Wedding departments in Oxfam shops are not well advertised and their opening times are quite restrictive, but if you are getting married, want a stunning dress and want to save yourself several hundred pounds (£1500 reduced to £200 would be typical) then check it out. The wedding dresses there sell for roughly 30% of what they would in the actual bridal shops – the average price being £250.

Bargain Wedding Dresses found from Private Sellers Another easy way to save money on your wedding dress is to buy from a private seller – these private sellers are typically brides who are seeking to sell their worn dresses, or back up options that they’ve decided against wearing on their big day. Try specialist wedding dress websites such as Share the Dream or more general sites such as Ebay or Gumtree, but don’t hand over any money until you’ve seen the dress, tried it on and inspected it for marks and tears.

Top tips for buying Wedding Dresses at Sample Sales

1. It’s best not to visit any sample sales at all until you’ve had a good shop around and are aware of the various options out there. Sample sales are typically non-returnable so only buy a wedding dress there if you’ve already had a good shop around and you know that this dress is “the one”. 
2. It’s best to take a trustworthy friend along with you to ensure you don’t get caught up in the moment and make a rash purchase. I’ve seen heaps of unworn wedding dress samples for sale on 2nd hand dress sites – don’t become a statistic!
3. I’d recommend booking an appointment out of sample sale time so you can try on dresses and get a clear idea of what suits you when the shop is less busy. Then when you go back in sample sale time, you can be much more focussed about which dresses you try on (and it’ll be less traumatic when you have to share a mirror with 5 other brides-to-be). Sometimes wedding dress shops can also enforce a maximum number of dresses that you’re allowed to try on, which can be tricky if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. 
4. It’s worth shopping around for a tailor to alter your dress as using the alterations service within the dress shop can be pretty pricey, particularly if it’s a designer bridal store. 
5. You’d be surprised how easier it is to negotiate further discounts during sale time – will they throw in a veil or shoes for free? Will they give you another £50 off if you buy a bridesmaid dress too? It’s never rude to ask for a discount – as long as you do it with a smile on your face!
6. Finally, it’s obvious, but before you buy, double check the dress for any stains, marks and tears. Mums & Aunts tend to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of marks that will come out and those that won’t, so it can be helpful to have them on hand  to advise whether a mark is a deal-breaker or something that can be removed quite easily. Even if it is the latter, you should still ask for some sort of discount – after all, it’s going to be more difficult for the shop to sell it onto anyone else.

Lucy Elliott is a Wedding crunch expert and founder of The Chief Bridesmaid (http://www.thechiefbridesmaid.co.uk). TheChiefBridesmaid offers free moneysaving advice for Brides looking to get married in the credit crunch.

Author: Lucy Elliott
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When you order a new dress if it has beading/embroidery on the hem it should be provided in the exact length to fit you to avoid costly and very difficult alterations. You will need to wear your wedding shoes for the fitting. Ask if the shop assistant is experienced in measuring and fitting. A lot are not!

If you buy a sale dress that has beading and embroidery on the hem and you are too short for the dress you will need to get a definite quote from the shop for the cost of alteration. You could be looking at well over £100 plus for the hem alone and if you are looking to save money by buying a sale gown you do not want to spent a fortune on having it altered.

A tip here if you are ordering a new dress. When yours arrives examine it very carefully as if you were buying a dress from the rail. Check the inside of the bodice for marks and look under the hem for wear and dirt. Unscrupulous shop owners will try to sell as new their sample of gowns that are not getting many orders. This happens a lot in the bridal industry. If a shop has a sample dress that does not get many repeat orders the shop owner will try to get rid of it to the first person you likes it!

Check every inch of your dress and be sure that it is a new dress and not just the shop’s sample. Other signs of the dress having been tried on are a crumpled label, fraying on lacing and scuffed fabric on the hem, especially on the train.

If you are suspicious ask to see their sample (the one you tried on when ordering) If they haven’t got it hanging on the rail the chances are they are selling it to you as new!

Br brave and say that you are not happy with the dress and ask for contact details of the designer who supplied the dress. They will tell you if the shop have actually ordered you a new dress. I know it will be unpleasant but how much worse would you feel if you knew that dozens of other brides had tried on your special gown.

All bridal shops have dresses that are reduced in price. You may find the perfect dress for you in your size and be happy to buy it. Before you do so ask if the shop will have it cleaned for you because many customers may well have tried the dress on. I can tell you from experience that not all brides who try on wedding dresses bother to shower first!

If they refuse then examine the dress carefully, especially on the inside of the bodice and under the hem especially the train. Remember customers may have walked around the shop with the train dragging on the floor. Also look for loose beads or threads and ask to have them sewn on. Look for any marks and if it is not absolutely spotless then ask for a reduction to allow for you to have it cleaned. If the shop agree to have it cleaned ask to see the drycleaners bill because if the dress you buy is satin it can be stuffed into a washing machine and washed very easily!! This is done all the time.

It may cost as much as £80 for a specialist dry cleaner to clean the gown. Remember that silk gowns will cost more to be cleaned than satin. Be prepared to offer less than they are asking for the dress. It should be no more than half the usual price – it has been tried on and as a shop sample is not a new dress.

The wholesale price of the dress will be no more than a third of the retail price so if they are charging more than half price you are being ripped off. It is not a new dress!

The shop owner may try to persuade you that they can take in a dress for you. No wedding dress can be taken in more than two sizes before it shows. Bust seams will be ‘off’ and straps and sleeves will not be in the correct position. Unless the bodice of the dress is totally remade which will cost a lot of money do not accept a dress that is more than two sizes too large. A dress can be let out by a professional dressmaker by up to one size (2″) with reasonable satisfaction.

Another trick played by a few shops is to take out the netting (which holds out the skirt) from the dress and then sell you a hooped petticoat at an inflated price. All full skirted wedding dresses come with netting so if yours doesn’t then ring the designer whose number will be on their website and ask if the dress should have netting in it. Don’t be afraid to ask because this is a very mean trick played by just a few shops.

There are a lot of pitfalls for the bride to be who is unsuspecting of the many sneaky tricks which some unscrupulous shop owners will use. Of course many bridal shop owners would never dream of trying to cheat their customers but it is not easy to know which are the good and bad shops since no one knows if their dress was new or just a tried on sample.

http://www.princesssparkle.co.uk

Author: Sarah Hamilton
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I never realised how difficult it will be to choose a wedding invitation card until I had to do it all myself for my wedding. I did not realised that it will be any different to the selection of birthday invitation, anniversary cards or other routine forms of greeting for special occasions. Although people ideally only have one wedding, a lot of aspect of it are still a routine. You hire a band, decide on the wedding dress, selection of food and the location.

Some may decide by consulting the wedding planners to help them find exotic destination and themes. These are probably the extravagant celebrations. In all most of the weddings are pretty well set the traditions. Since that is the case why it is difficult to select a wedding card?

In reality, wedding cards are very difficult to select. To begin with we have lot of designs to select. Next comes the color and wordings, its font etc. It is bit easier if you decide in the beginning whether you card look like formal or modern laid back appearance? Do you want them extravagant or with simple design and look. The how about the wedding thank you card. Should it match the invitation or different one. Do you need a thank you card to be simple and elegant wording or a blank card where you can personalise response to each gift giver?

Even though you have lot of confusion on the design and colors. It is always better to take time in selecting the wedding cards. You might probably spending even a whole day in the card selection but it worth the time. Selecting a right card of your choice will show your taste and you will feel proud. These are the small fun activities forming part of your marriage and everyone should do this themselves without assigning this task to other.

The fond memories will live forever.

Christopher M.Jones provides more free and extremely helpful information in his content rich Wedding Top Tips [http://www.weddingtoptips.com] site. To search through other helpful articles on the website, explore Wedding Top Tips sitemap [http://www.weddingtoptips.com/sitemap.html]

Author: Christopher M Jones
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Most women have dreamed about the day they would walk down the aisle since they were girls. Now they are engaged and the wedding day is approaching, it is time to start looking for the perfect wedding dress.

The first step is to start your search at least six months ahead of time. Remember, if you have to special order a wedding dress then it could take months not including the time for alterations. Just give yourself plenty of time just in case something unexpected comes up.

Step 2 is to make a list of all the wedding dresses you like from magazines, stores, websites and any other place you have looked. The best way is to create a folder and keep pictures of all the dresses and keep notes on the dress with the picture. If you like a dress but you would change something about it then keep notes so you won’t forget.

Step 3 is to start narrowing down your choice of wedding dress by choosing a style that is appropriate for the ceremony. Depending on your wedding style you might want to go with a formal evening wedding dress that is floor-length, in an ivory, white or cream color, a semi-formal dress that is without the train, or a less formal dress that may be shorter or even a two piece suit. There are many styles and colors to choose from and the sooner you choose the style the quicker you can start choosing the dress and doing the alterations.

The next step, step 4, is to start searching for the dress. Don’t rule out department stores as they have a wide variety of styles to choose from. Make sure you take an honest person you trust with you to give you the feedback you may not want to hear but you need to hear. Sometimes the wedding dresses you try on will look great but be unflattering on you. The dress must be comfortable and you must be able to move around in the dress easily. Try on a few dresses and a few designer gowns so you recognize the quality of the dress and then you can choose a dress in your price range of good quality.

Step 5 is to set a budget for your wedding dress now that you have tried on and seen many dresses. You can buy a wedding dress off the rack starting at about $250 and spend as much as $10,000 for a designer dress. Check with bridal stores that are having sales or may have a discontinued styles or overstocks.

The final step in choosing your wedding dress is to put down a deposit on your dress. Make sure to get an itemized invoice stating every detail of the dress and the services to be performed on the dress such as alterations. Specify a due date for your dress and state that the deal can be canceled if the dress isn’t delivered by a specific date.

Get more information from Cynthia at Wedding-Reviews.com She has listed great wedding speeches in the Wedding Speeches section.

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Let’s face it: Your wedding is going to cost more than you thought it would. You were lucky to find that reception hall. You could have chosen the cheaper wedding dress. But the one you bought was perfect. Making your own invitations might seem like the way to make up for that.

But is it? Will you save money?
Or will you simply invest in needless aggravation?

Before deciding to make your own invitations ask yourself these five questions

#1 Am I willing to spend entire days putting together invitations?

An invitation made out of three different papers looks gorgeous. But is it worth it? Making even simple invitations takes time. Picture hours of tedium.

This is on top of the time you spend addressing the things.

Remember, whatever time you spend on invitations is time taken away from other parts of your wedding.

#2 Do I hate all the ready made invitations I’ve seen?

Do a lot of research before you answer this. Hundreds of companies make invitations. Check out at least half a dozen before you give up.

If you absolutely hate everything you’ve seen, see the tips under ‘Making your own Wedding Invitations’ below.

#3 Do I have a crew of reliable people who have agreed to help me?

This answer can make or break you. Please don’t try to make 200 wedding invitations alone. It’s a good way to drive yourself nuts.

Or it can add unnecessary stress if you make invitations as a couple.

A reliable crew will turn invitation making into a social occasion instead of a blood bath.

#4 Is my budget so small that this is my only option?

Then that’s just the way it goes. See ‘Making Your Own Wedding Invitations.’

#5 Am I having a small wedding?

If you’re only inviting 10-20 people, go for it. You’ll still be at it for hours if you make complex invitations. But they’ll be beautiful.

30-80: The upper limit of sanity.
Try to have enough invitation makers on your team to keep the ‘invitation to person’ ratio at 15:1.

80+: Frustration here we come.
If you must do this, forget the multiple pieces of paper. Put the ‘please RSPV by’ at the bottom of the invitation. See ‘Making Your Own Wedding Invitations’ below.

Provide liquor and/or chocolate to your invitation-making crew.

Making Your Own Wedding Invitations

–Go to a specialty paper store and finger the samples.

Even if you end up buying online. You need to know what 60-85 pound paper feels like.

Hint: it has to do with the thickness. Printer paper is somewhere around 20-25 pounds. Invitations typically weigh in at 65-85 pounds.

–Keep it simple.

Extra layers mean extra hours. And extra expense.

Invitation ‘kits’ (which include blank invitations, envelopes, reply cards, etc.) will make your life easier.

Be sure to buy paper that’s compatible with your printer. If you have an ink-jet, for example, don’t buy laser-jet paper.

–Automate.

Consider purchasing an invitation making computer program. You’ll get some nice fonts. And customizable templates.

Three Ways To Save Money

–Watch your weight

The post office charges extra for heavy and/or oversized invitations. Check with them before you make your invitations.

–Bulk Up

Buy fancy paper in bulk. Save even more by printing two invitations on one 8 1/2 X 11 sheet. Each invitation will be a long rectangle. Very modern.

–Mooch

Don’t buy specialty equipment to cut those invitations. Go into your local copier store like you own the place and use their equipment. Bring a few sheets of something to photocopy if they give you the hairy eyeball.

These questions and your answers will help you decide if making wedding invitations is right for you. And help you avoid common mistakes if the answer is yes.

Happy planning!

Amy Lee Johnson is a freelance writer who often contributes to Wedding-Vows-4u.com a site that gives useful hints and tips such as buying wedding invitations or writing wedding vows.

Author: Amy Lee Johnson
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Planning a dream wedding could be an extremely stressful affair. As the bride, you have to make decisions about your wedding theme, the ceremony and reception decorations, the catering, your wedding dress and even the dresses of your bridesmaids.

You may be wondering why bridesmaid dresses are so important; after all, they’re not the ones getting married. Well, whether you like it or not, you have to invest quite some time figuring out how your bridesmaid dresses can fit in with your wedding’s overall theme.

A great bridesmaid dress should complement or provide a great contrast between your wedding dress, the invitations and even the flowers you’re using to decorate your chosen venue. In short, bridesmaid dresses should match or, at the very least, complement your wedding’s color scheme.

Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses

The following are some tips on how you can pick out your bridesmaid dresses:

Tip 1: Pick something simple that will make your bridesmaids look chic, feminine and sophisticated.

You’re the bride, so it’s only fitting that you be the center of attention on your big day, but it’s equally important that your bridesmaids look their best as well. Simple but elegant bridesmaid dresses will keep eyes on you without making your closest female friends and family members look like complete eyesores.

Tip 2: Choose bridesmaid dresses that flatter everyone’s figure.

Bridesmaids, just like bridesmaid dresses come in different shapes and sizes. Though you want uniformity, it is possible that your chosen bridesmaid dress design won’t flatter everyone. If you really want uniformity between the bridesmaid dresses, then choose universally flattering dress shapes and styles for your bridesmaid gowns.

Empire waists, princess skirts and A-Line dresses all flatter different figures; pick the style that will suit all the female members of your wedding entourage.

Tip 3: If you’re after diversity, then you can ask your bridesmaids for their desired dress styles and colors.

Some brides prefer a little variety when it comes to bridesmaid dresses. If you’re okay with having bridesmaids dressed in different colors or styles, then save yourself from the headache of having to choose dress designs for each of your bridesmaids. Ask your bridesmaids to pick out their preferred dress styles themselves.

Tip 4: Work with a budget.

Let’s face it: weddings are expensive affairs. Unless you have a massive bank account, you have to work with a wedding budget. It’s unfair for your bridesmaids to pick out extremely pricey designer bridesmaid dresses. If you have a budget to follow, inform your bridesmaids. You have to do what you can to make sure all the other aspects of your wedding are financially taken cared of.

Tip 5: Choose between one-piece dresses and separates.

Although traditionally, all bridesmaid dresses consists of one-piece gowns, choosing separates over gowns may make it easier for you to find a style that suits each of your bridesmaids.

Tip 6: Consider the season when picking out your bridesmaid dresses.

The weather and the time of the year are helpful factors when it comes to determining gown styles and fabrics. For summer or spring weddings, go for lighter fabrics, short hems and even strapless styles. For winter weddings, you may want to go for floor-length dresses, sleeved gowns and shawls for the bridesmaid dresses.

Tip 7: Keep things simple when it comes to accessorizing.

Less is more when it comes to bridesmaid jewelry. Since it’s customary for the bride to give her bridesmaids gifts, why not give your bridesmaids matching jewelry pieces to wear to your wedding?

A lovely pair of earrings, a necklace or a brooch is enough to make your bridesmaids appear chic, sleek and fashion-fabulous.

If you’re going for an ultra-formal look, then nice gloves and shawls are always great bridesmaid accessories.

Tip 8: Keep things comfortable when choosing footwear. To keep your bridesmaids looking and feeling their absolute best, keep their comfort in mind when you pick out their shoes. Think about it: they’ll be standing for long periods of time and will probably dance the night away during the reception; you wouldn’t want them tripping and feeling uncomfortable in impossibly high heels, right? Low-heeled, strappy sandals are always comfortable and stylish options for your bridesmaids’ footwear.

Another option is to ask your bridesmaids to provide their own shoes for the event. Simply specify your desired shoe color, and you’re good to go.

Keep your bridesmaid dress-hunt hassle-free by following these simple tips.

All women have been waiting for this memorable day, and to have the grandest wedding you need the best Wedding Tips To help you with this, please visit fancyweddingattire.com

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There are many terms bandied about in the wedding industry designed to both ease the pain and add to the excitement as we part with our cash. ‘Bespoke’, ‘Couture made’ and ‘Designer dress’ are three of the most common.

Most of us probably have a fairly good idea as to what they mean, but taking a look at what they do not mean will help us to arrive at a more accurate definition.

There are not many bridal shops that do not use the term ‘designer’ somewhere in the description of the dress they are presenting to us. All things we use in this life have a designer. Even a paper coffee cup had to be designed by someone. Try convincing the average buyer that the paper cup is a ‘designer’ cup worth ten times more than an ordinary paper cup and you might have some problems.

Yet effectively that is exactly what is happening in the case of many of the ‘designer’ labels we see in our high streets as well as the designer wedding dresses we first spoke about. Mass-produced dresses made (and often designed) in the Far East are being presented to us in this way. I don’t know about you, but this to me, seems to weaken the whole ‘designer dress’ ethos. Why pay more if it’s nothing but a mass-produced clone?

So what makes for a true ‘designer dress’?

Firstly, there has to be an exclusive element to the design. Admittedly high prices are in themselves a way of making a dress more exclusive, but there has to be more to it than that.

What about the dresses that grace the Hollywood red carpets and the latest catwalk shows? What makes them a designer dress?

The answer to that is individuality. Most of these dresses have been drawn by a designer and then made by a small, elite team of seamstresses, who are working the movie star or model’s actual measurements.

This is often a ‘bespoke’ dress in the true meaning of the word i.e. a ‘one off’ garment made for the individual.

The word ‘couture’ has in recent years come to mean a garment that is made to an accepted high standard by a skilled designer and sewing team. Originally the term could only be used in certain regions of France. Even today the term ‘Haute Couture’ can only be used when referring to ten current fashion houses based in Paris and three other correspondent fashion houses.

Is it possible to buy true bespoke, couture made designer wedding dresses in the UK? Yes of course, but you have to look for them. Many designers have to a certain extent ‘sold out’ to the enormous wedding dress factories based in China, and who can blame them?

In the wedding trade it is quite usual for a wedding dress ‘designer’ to walk in to a Chinese design room, choose from a range of fabrics, bodice patterns, embroidery styles, sizes required and then effectively leave them to it. The factory under-write the fabric required for a reasonable run of dresses and label them for the ‘designer’.

In fairness to the Chinese manufacturers, the quality is often excellent, but in the fullest meaning of the term ‘couture’ they do not qualify and you will normally have a dress ordered roughly in your dress size that will then be altered to fit you. They certainly are not ‘bespoke’ dresses.

To be sure that you are truly purchasing a couture made, bespoke wedding dress, even by a respected designer, it is best to ask whether it will be made in the designer’s own premises.

You should expect to visit the shop or design studio on more than one occasion, as it is customary to be measured for a toile (calico mock-up) of the dress to ensure a perfect fit. At least another two or three visits will be necessary.

Generally (though not always) if a dress is ready-made when you arrive for your very first fitting, it is not, repeat not a bespoke dress.

If you choose an existing style and ask for it in your size, it may be a couture-made, made to measure dress, but it is not a bespoke dress.

In conclusion, probably the simplest way to express the type of wedding dresses that are available to the UK bride is to sum up the three basic groups: Ready to wear wedding dresses (off the peg), made to measure wedding dresses (often altered to your size from an existing style), and bespoke wedding dresses (these are unique dresses made to fit you perfectly).

When all is said and done, the most important thing is that you are happy with the dress you choose, just be aware that some bridal shops are claiming their dresses to be something that they are not.

David Keffen writes for several UK style magazines. http://www.societybrides.com

Author: David Keffen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Once upon a time, several decades ago, I spent more for my wedding dress than I’d ever paid for a single article of clothing in my entire life. Including tax, it came to a whopping $200.34! Back then, it seemed extravagant for a dress I knew I would only wear for a few hours. Today, according to the Conde Nast Bridal Group, the average price for a wedding gown is $887.00, with designer wedding dresses reaching into several thousands of dollars.

No wonder the cost of getting married continues to spiral upwards. And no wonder many smart brides are opting to buy a pre-owned wedding dress. If you think about it for a minute, it really makes good sense. Why do women feel the need to own their wedding dress when it’s not only acceptable, but downright expected that men will only rent their wedding day garments?

Perhaps this made sense ‘back in the day’ when a wedding dress was passed down from mother to daughter, over and over again. But in today’s society, how often do you see a woman wearing her mother’s wedding dress? Even three decades ago, when we still chiseled on stone tablets, I didn’t want to wear my mother’s wedding dress. It just looked ‘old’ and I wanted something new to wear as I started my new role as a wife.

Today’s bride to be has many options not available to brides of yesteryear. Today’s bride can choose to rent her wedding gown, or buy one gently worn by a previous bride. And thanks to the internet, even brides in remote areas have access to a multitude of gorgeous pre-owned wedding gowns, or in some cases, new gowns that were never worn at all. Sadly, not all weddings actually take place.

I even heard a story of one bride who ended up with four wedding dresses because she couldn’t make up her mind and didn’t want any of them to get away from her before she had time enough to decide. She knew she could turn around and sell the ones she didn’t want! There are a number of online wedding sites that will post your wedding dress for sale at no charge, taking a small fee only if and when your dress sells.

Shopping for your wedding dress online, while very convenient, does have a few guidelines you need to remember.

1. Not all pre-owned wedding dresses are ‘used’. As I mentioned earlier, some dresses were bought, but for whatever reason, were never worn. You may find the biggest savings on those dresses that were actually worn for a few hours.

2. Unfortunately, not every pre-owned wedding dress advertisement online is 100% completely honest. Have an idea about the retail value of the dress you’re considering to determine if you’re getting a true bargain.

3. When shopping for a pre-owned wedding dress, be sure there are numerous pictures of the dress from several different angles. You’ll want to at least see the dress from the front and back and if there are close-ups of intricate lace patterns or beadwork, even better!

4. Be careful about size. Wedding dresses, for reasons I cannot fathom, tend to run small. If you’re in between sizes, the safer option is to get the larger size. Remember to ask the seller if the dress has already been altered, and how much, to better gauge whether the dress is suitable for your body type.

5. Be sure to ask the seller if the dress has been cleaned and about any stains that may be left on the dress. Brides tend to be a little careless at times, knowing they’ll never wear the dress again, and you don’t want to be surprised with dirt or grass stains around the hem…or anywhere else. Tip: Don’t forget to ask about underarm perspiration stains!

6. If alterations or cleaning will have to be done on your part, consider those costs when determining if the dress you’re considering will still be a great deal. Depending on how much altering needs to be done, it can become pricey and cleaning can run as much as $100.

7. Finally, be smart with online shopping. Make sure it’s a secured site before entering any credit card information. You can tell by looking for ‘https’ in the address bar, instead of the usual ‘http’. Another advantage of using your credit card is in the event you never receive your dress or it looks nothing like the pictures, you can dispute the charges. If you’re dealing with an individual seller, consider paying with PayPal; they have a dispute resolution center to help resolve any issues you may encounter.

Buying your pre-owned wedding dress online has many advantages and can save time and money, precious commodities when you’re busy planning a wedding. Keeping these guidelines in mind as you shop can help make purchasing your wedding dress online a pleasurable event.

Why spend thousands of dollars when there are beautiful wedding dresses online for a fraction of the cost? Plus size wedding dresses, designer wedding dresses, new, used and pre-owned wedding dresses are just a click away at Curvy Brides, along with veils, tiaras, gloves and other wedding necessities… including honeymoon lingerie!

Author: Vy Bridges
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Before a couple can truly begin planning their wedding, they must decide on a wedding location or at minimum narrow it down to a couple of venues. Attempting to plan a wedding without knowing the location is equivalent to a bride shopping for bridal jewelry without having a wedding dress. When it comes to choosing a wedding location there are many things to consider. There are two questions that you should ask yourself before settling on a wedding venue.

How does the location make you feel? Can you imagine your wedding actually taking place in this location?

If you can answer “yes” to each of these questions then you should definitely consider this particular site for your wedding day. However, if you say “no” to any of these internal questions then you should move on to the next place on the list. A bride is better off getting married at home in her wedding gown and bridal jewelry rather than wasting tons of money on the wrong wedding site.

Before you settle on a wedding location there are a few considerations that must be made.

Size

If you plan to invite 500 people to your wedding you should not choose a wedding location with a maximum capacity of 150. After you have decided on the number of guests that you plan to invite you should research two or three wedding locations that will accommodate that amount of people.

Decor

Most brides have specific color schemes in mind as well as ideas for decorations. Unfortunately, some churches do not allow extravagant accessories such as overly elaborate bridal jewelry, flowers, or decorations. As such, if you have your heart set on these things then you need to consider places that will allow it.

Lighting

Another factor to consider when searching for a location for your wedding is lighting. If you desire a bright and vibrant ambiance to reflect the glow in your eyes, the sparkle in your bridal jewelry, and the hue in your dress, then consider whether the places on your list will meet your needs. It would be in your best interest to visit each location at the time of day in which your wedding will take place. This will give you the opportunity to test the waters before you make a final decision.

The above suggestions are important topics to think about and should not be taken lightly. Just as you might debate for hours or weeks over what bridal jewelry looks best with your wedding dress, you should give your wedding location the same consideration.

Nicole Lindsey writes about fashion, jewelry and weddings for Silverland Jewelry and gifts. http://www.silverlandjewelry.com

Bridesmaids jewelry of Swarovski crystals and pearls make unforgettable gifts.

Author: Nicole Lindsey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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