Mar 30

You have spent plenty of time to plan for your perfect wedding. You have found the most perfect wedding reception hall, made your unique and elegant wedding invitations. You have also got the best wedding favor in the world. Besides, you went through all the stress involved successfully. Now the day has came and it is really the most memorable day in your life.

However, you have probably not thought about what to do with the wedding items after your big day. It is especially true for your gown. You may have spent thousands of dollars on it and it seems that it is now useless, after your wedding. You may not want to just throw it away since it is your gown and it is not environmental friendly either. In fact, you have a few choices apart from the worst idea of throwing it away.

If you are not going to throw the gown away, that means you will keep it at least for a short period of time. The first thing you need to do is to keep it in good condition. You should find a good place at home to store your gown.

If you can store your gown well, in the case that another member of your family is going to marry, you can let her wear your gown in her wedding. It will be more perfect if your gown is a simple one. A simple and classic design is more timeless. It is also true for wedding gowns. As a result, a simple gown means that it will not be considered old fashioned and the bride will be more than happy to take your gown.

There are always cases that a daughter wears her mother’s gown on the wedding day. It is really an excellent idea since the gown posses a really special meaning when it is worn by the daughter. You may also consider this idea to keep the gown for your daughter. Of course the key is still to keep it in a really good condition. It will be a pity if you find it not wearable when your daughter tells you she decides to get married.

There is another choice if you do not opt for the idea of keeping your gown and keep it for your family members and daughters. You can consider selling your gown after your wedding. It is a good idea in a sense that you can get some money back after your wedding. You can consider it a way of saving money on your gown. It also provides you a little source of money when you start your life after marriage.

Again, you need to store the gown well before you sell it. No one will be willing to buy a used gown which is in a very bad condition. Keeping the gown well increases the chance of selling it out. Besides, a gown in good condition can surely mean a better price.

Some experts will also advise couples to donate the gown so that they can help the others. However, my idea is that a gown can be something luxury for people who need others help. In this case I would rather suggest you to sell your gown and donate the money instead.

Jerry Leung is a wedding invitation designer with great interest in Chinese Style Wedding cards. He designs unique Personalized Wedding Invitations. Besides, he runs a blog on weddings to share his ideas on items such as Wedding Cake. You can also find lists of wedding vendors from his Wedding Directory Websites.

Author: Jerry Leung
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Mar 30

How Long Does It Take to Plan a Wedding?

Have you heard the expression that a task takes the time allotted to it? Wedding Planning is exactly like that. It can take weeks to years, depending on… well, that is what this article is about:

When Is Your Wedding?

Assuming you do not have a shotgun pointed at your head, you will take some time to plan your wedding – even if it is an elopement. Once you set a date, you can calculate how much time there is between now and then; alternatively, you can do it the other way – which is to decide how long you need to plan the wedding and then set a date.

Set Your Priorities

The closer the date, the fewer choices you get to control because fewer resources are available. Pick the most important item(s) to you and your future spouse to lock in first. It could be the date, the ceremony location, the reception, the attendance of someone who lives far away, the time required to obtain a specific wedding gown, or perhaps the availability of your favorite vendor: the officiant, florist, photographer, videographer, caterer, a wedding singer, band or DJ, or wedding coordinator.

What Is Your Style?

Planning a wedding is about creating several different events to happen in a short period of time.

  • Are you a lone planner or do you work better as part of a team?
  • How much can you do in a day with or without getting stressed?
  • Can you make many decisions on the spot, do you need to have someone with you or do you need to “sleep on it” so that you do not change your mind?
  • How much research do you want or need to do before you start planning?
  • Will you rely on the experience of a family member or friend?
  • Will you hire a wedding coordinator and use their experience to shorten your learning curve and use vendors with whom they have proven successes?

How Close Do You Live to Your Wedding Location?

If you do not live near the location of your wedding, how many trips to your wedding location will you make before the wedding? Are you depending on family members, friends, or local vendors and strangers to help make decisions? Will you have other events and responsibilities when visiting this location, i.e.: how much time will you have for wedding planning when you are there?

Enjoy the Process

You want a put together event. Hopefully, you only have to do this once. Create and use a team to help you. If you can afford it, do not reinvent the wheel and use experienced wedding professionals. (They have already made their mistakes on someone else’s event.)

Take a break and for some comedy and light entertainment [http://www.brideandgroomthankyougifts.com/romance-and-wedding-dvd-movies]. There is a nice list of wedding planning movies you can watch with your intended or planning team.

Summary

Wedding Planning is about research, preferences, priorities, trade-offs, budget, compromise and decisions.

  • Who is on the planning team, who is on the implementation team, and what are their assignments?
  • Who controls the budget and who is the final decision maker?

You can focus on your wedding planning and get it done it a short time or you can take the same amount of time or longer and stretch it out over weeks or months. How long will it take to plan your wedding? It is up to you.

Where to Shop

Go to [http://www.brideandgroomthankyougifts.com] for wedding presents, wedding gifts and wedding favors. We know what it takes to plan a wedding… Look around our website to find most wedding day accessories, wedding thank you gifts, and traditional wedding day items associated with events of a wedding. Find wedding bubbles, bridal party gifts or wedding thank you Gifts for All your wedding day guests.

We have been in this business for more than 15 years! You will find what you are looking for here, and if by chance you don’t, please let us know so we may find it for you! We have more helpful information and additional articles which may assist you as you plan for your special wedding day. Our expertise is providing you creative, tasteful and memorable gifts to thank everyone who is involved in your wedding. Sign up today for our exclusive offers.

Copyright 2007 – Marketing Good Stuff, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article.

Author: Elizabeth Hamilton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Mar 27

Style, colour and ceremonial importance of the bridal gown worn by the bride during the wedding ceremony depends upon the culture and religion of the couple getting married.

White is the preferred color of the bridal gown among the westerners. Creamy shades such as ivory, ecru and eggshell are also used in making bridal gowns.

Queen Victoria of England, wore a white bridal gown when she got married to Albert of Sax-Coburg in the year 1840. Since then the white bridal gown became the norm in all marriages. In the earlier years, bridal gowns were made in any colour except black. Innocence of the childhood and purity of heart was symbolized by the white bridal gown.

A bride to be can spend weeks and sometimes even months looking for a perfect bridal gown because of the variety of designs and styles available. Determine three things – theme of the wedding, time of the year the wedding is held and the budget – with these three things finalized, picking up the correct gown will become easier.

Choose a gown style depending upon the style and formality of the wedding function. In a formal wedding it is better to wear a formal bridal gown. Besides a white bridal gown, another appropriate choice is ivory which is also considered as a formal wedding gown. Bridal gowns in pink, peach and ice blue are also becoming very popular. Find more info at http://www.perfect-wedding-dress.info

The average retail cost of a bridal gown is around $700. Prices of designer and premium gowns start from $2000.

Maggie Sottero, Mon Cheri, Marisa, Pronovias, Mori Lee, Davinci, Demetrios, Bonny, Eden Bridals and Mikaela are some of the popular designer bridal gowns.

When selecting the bridal gown, take someone close to you and who knows what is best for you. This will help in getting a gown which is not radically different from the usual style suitable for you.
It is better to ensure the bridal gown is comfortable and it is not restricting your movement.

Getting a bridal gown can be a demanding process so initiate the process well in advance. Compare the designs from various fashion magazines and also go through family photo albums to know which will be the most suitable style. Prior to committing yourself on a particular design, try different types and designs. If the bridal gown is custom made, allot six months for the making of the gown.

Too many friends accompanying you during the shopping for gowns will only confuse you and you may end up making an incorrect selection.

Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here [http://financeandlegalportal.info/]. For more info visit Bridal Gowns or Discount Gowns [http://perfect-wedding-dress.info/cheap-bridal-gown.html]

Author: Lucy Bartlett
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Mar 24

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:

  • Size
  • Bust
  • Waist
  • Hip
  • Hollow to Waist
  • and Hollow to Hem. Hollow to Hem is the measurement from the hollow of your neck to the floor, taken while you are wearing the shoes and slip you plan on wear at the wedding.
  • 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
    Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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    Mar 21

    Probably the most harrowing experience for any future bride is finding the infamous, perfect wedding gown. When should you purchase the gown? Which gown to buy? How do I find one that I love? Calm down. This article will answer all those questions and more.

    When is the perfect time to buy your wedding gown? Usually, when a woman gets engaged, they want to rush out and find that perfect dream dress. But wait. Not so quickly. You can look for the dress years ahead of when you have to purchase it of course, but that is not the wisest thing to do. First of all, the dress that you see in the bridal shop today, will not probably not be available a year from now. So with timing, you should look to get an idea of where you want to purchase your gown and what style you like. Other than that, you really not make this purchase until 9-12 months before and sometimes even less.

    Many brides to be want to save money when buying their gown. If you are a person whose weight does not fluctuate more than 10 lbs. one way or the other, then there are several ways you can save tons of money.

    Remember, just like every day clothes, wedding gowns are seasonal. And the best time of year to get the biggest savings is late summer and/or early fall. That’s the time that the new year styles come out, so the wedding gown boutiques are trying to sell off last year’s trends. So if it doesn’t bother you that you are wearing this past year’s styles, then you can save more than half of the original price. And honestly, can you tell last year’s wedding gown style?

    Also, getting a gown at a wedding gown trunk show is a way of getting a designer gown at a very affordable price. Designers will advertise and set up in a hotel or store and literally pull gowns out of trunks that are part of their collection. If you have the cash and the gown fits, you can save 80-90% of the gowns original cost.

    Lastly, don’t forget that you can rent your wedding gown. If you are not the sentimental type and do not have visions of your own daughter wearing your gown someday, then this is a real possibility which is becoming more and more popular. It is very possible that you can rent a gown that is worth thousands of dollars for about 10% of its cost.

    Now that you have the answers to all of your questions, perhaps you can now relax. Allow yourself the enjoyment of looking for a gown without stressing over it too much. Before you know it, you’ll be married 10 years and looking back, you’ll wish you enjoyed every moment.

    Delora O’Brien is an expert in the area of wedding designs and products. She is the resident consultant at Designs to Remember. Designs to Remember is a unique online store that carries designer wedding favors, bridal gifts and accessories. Delora also oversees the extensive line of unique wedding favors, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding invitations. Many of the wedding gifts she has purchased for Designs to Remember, have been featured in well known bridal magazines.

    Author: Delora O’Brien
    Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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    Mar 21

    So congratulations, you’re ready to start planning that very special day in your life that the memories will last a life time!

    Not only can this be the most memorable day in your life, but possibly the most expensive one! Did you know that the average cost of a single wedding is around $27,000 for first time marriages? Average cost of second marriages runs around $12,000!! What does that tell you? Quite possibly that those second timers learned a lot the first time around!!

    Regardless of what amount your wedding budget is going to be, the more you can get what you want for your dream wedding for less, the more you’ll have for other things like the honeymoon, or more importantly, purchasing your first home. Sure you can pay $2000 for your wedding gown, or if you’re a shrewd shopper and know where to look, you may be able to get it for $200!!

    There’s tons of planning to do, which can be a real challenge! Now, you can go out and hire a wedding planner and probably pay some hefty dollars for their services so you don’t have to stress about every detail (I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut that you will anyway :D ), or you can do your own planning. There’s tons of resources out there on the Internet from free checklists to in-depth videos. Of course, as you and I know, nothing is free! Most, if not all, of the free checklists sites will try and sell you a full blown version of the abbreviated one they will give you free.

    There’s as much planning and precision that goes into planning a wedding as there is in planning a detailed military operation! What has to be done, when does it have to be done, who is responsible for doing it, who is checking to make sure things are getting done, where is it going to happen, who is going to be there, who is going to be where, what are the costs, what is left in the budgeted account, what is going to be “plan B” if some part falls in the crack, etc……..

    Don’t despair – insure you have the best wedding planning tools or best wedding planner, and follow-up on things! If some one in your family or best friend, is experienced in planning and delivery time sensitive projects, ask them to be your quality control person. As I said above, if at all possible, have a Plan B just in case something beyond your control occurs! Say for example, you’re planning to have wedding outdoors, have a back-up location/plan in case in rains that day.

    Of course, you’re going to be planning for your shower and reception after the wedding. Your shower will probably be the easiest and less worry for you as I’m sure your family/friends will be taking care of that – but make sure folks are aware of your overall plans/schedule so nothing conflicts! Your reception – again we have the who, what, when, where and how. If you’re on a tight budget, some if not all of the reception can be provided by family and friends. For example, your aunt Mary makes a super cake; your sister Sally loves doing arts and crafts for decorations; or, your cousin Bill is a volunteer fireman and can get the banquet hall at the fire station for a 50 percent discount. If you really want to save money, call “in any and all favors”!

    In closing, if you’re on a tight budget or large budget, I’d like to wish you the happiest day of your life on that very special day!

    You can call me: JJ, Jacque J Johnson, Jacque, but if you want help planning your wedding, visit me at: http://www.amazingweddingplanning.com

    Author: Jacque T
    Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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    Mar 9

    A wedding is a wonderful occasion where two souls are united while taking vows to be together and for each other for the rest of their lives. This is why everything has to be done in ensuring that the wedding is as memorable as possible. And one that needs lots of thought and consideration is the selection of the bridal gown.

    1. The complexion of the bride is the most important point to consider when choosing the bridal gown. Women who are on the fairer side should wear dark colors while women who are more on the dusky or dark side should use light colors. This is because a contrast in the color of the bridal gown tends to enhance the beauty of the bride.

    2. Another point to look out for when choosing the wedding gown is to choose a gown that matches the color of the bridegroom’s attire and your hairstyle. This is because since both of you will be the center of the show, it proves to be wiser on your part to collaborate your colors so that you look both harmonious and stand out from the crowd. In addition to this, the color of the bridal gown has to match the jewelry you intend to wear for the wedding.

    3. Of course, your budget is an important factor in choosing your wedding gown. If you have a tight budget, make sure that you first allocate a certain amount of money for the bridal gown and choose the gown that falls within this range. However if you have money to spend, you can always go in for any designer wear. There is a huge collection of designer wear available for you to choose from in malls and designer stores.

    4. Instead of choosing a plain bridal gown, you can make your gown more special by choosing wedding gowns having traditional wedding embellishments. Examples of such embellishments are a bell shaped skirt with a lace skirting or perhaps a modern wedding gown made of satin and decorated with lots of frills. It is up to you to choose the right bridal gown for the wedding.

    5. If you are having a theme wedding, you will also have to keep the theme in mind when choosing the bridal gown. This is because different theme weddings call for different types of bridal gowns. It will not look right wearing a modern fitting bridal gown at a traditional church wedding; so keep this point in mind when choosing your bridal gown.

    6. If you find it a bit difficult choosing your bridal gown, you could use suggestions from friends and family. This is because some bridal gowns may look great on a magazine, but will not look good on you. In fact, if you can afford it you could contact a consultant who will be able to decide which gown fits your body and age.

    7. Take the fabric of the bridal gown into consideration when choosing your bridal gown. It is better to wear light weight clothes in summer while silk or satin are preferable for winter season. Choose necklines that suit your figure too as the neckline and your jewelry are the center of attraction when you walk down the aisle.

    Once all these 7 points are taken into consideration, you will end up with the perfect bridal gown for your wedding, which will make you the center of attraction in the function.

    Jhong Ren owns an authority wedding blog and he aims to provide 1 million wedding couples relationship commitment problem and wedding planning help. His Wedding Blog is at Romance-Fire.com

    Jhong Ren is the best selling author of the Plan Your Fabulous Wedding Series. Need help planning my wedding? You can find it at PlanFabulousWedding.com

    Author: Jhong Ren
    Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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    Mar 6

    You are about to indulge in one of the most enjoyable yet most frustrating experiences of your life; buying that all so infamous bridal gown! And, if you’ve been engaged for even longer than 10 minutes, you’ve already scoured every bridal magazine, leafing through the pages saying to yourself, “Nope, not like that” and “Yes, that’s what I want it to look like!” So at this point, you have an idea what direction you’re going to go in regarding style. But there are so many more factors so consider which I will cover to help the process.

    First big question: how much can you afford to spend? Considering that wedding gowns can run between $100 and upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, this has to be your first consideration. And don’t forget, there is more to buy than just the gown. You’ll need to choose a headpiece, shoes, lingerie and jewelry as well as factoring in the alteration costs.

    Once you have the top figure you can afford, now the hunt for the perfect gown begins. If you are on a tight budget, you may want to check out some of the bridal discount centers. These places specialize in beautiful gowns at bargain prices. How do they do it? They buy over runs or last year’s styles at a fraction of the cost which they pass along to you. Will anyone know that it is last year’s design? Of course not! And the savings can be as high as 80% off the gown’s normal retail price!

    Keep in mind, that the more ornate, beaded and lacy that the gown is, the higher its price. And as you’re shopping, keep an open mind. Many of the most beautiful gowns look terrible on the hanger. When I went looking for a gown with my daughter, she kept passing this one gown that looked like a rag hanging there. She kept going back to it, because it had the beadwork on the bodice that she loves. I finally convinced her to try it on, and that ended up being her dream dress.

    The next step in the hunt is to narrow the field down to 3 dresses. You must do this or you will never make a decision. Go back and try them all on again, even if you have to travel from shop to shop. Look at each one closely. How would you feel walking down the aisle in that dress? If your answer is that you’re not sure, then move on to the next. This is your day! You need to feel like the most beautiful woman in the room. Go with your gut when choosing your gown. It will not lie to you.

    Now that you have the gown, look at the tag, and mark down the manufacturer and style number. If it isn’t on the tag, then ask the salesperson for it. If they won’t give it to you, move on. You don’t want to do business with them anyway. Once you are armed with that piece of information, call many different bridal shops in your area and ask them if they carry that gown. If they don’t have it in stock, ask them if they could order it. Most will say yes. Then ask the price. It works. You will save a lot of money. I’m living proof. I can remember just last year what happened to my son’s fiance and purchasing her wedding gown. She found a dress that she loved and wanted to purchase it right then and there. Note: once you put money down on a gown, most places will not refund your deposit if you cancel. I got the designer/manufacturer and the style number. I called many bridal stores. About 25% of them would not give prices over the phone. The rest all gave me a figure. In the end, she saved 60% off the original price in that first shop. I was stunned along with her. Never saw a savings like that. Just proves that markup is different from store to store. Do your homework!

    When you’re about to order your gown, the salesperson will take the measurements of your bust, waist and hips. Unless you have a perfectly proportioned body (yeah right) then you’re going to end up needing some alterations. Every manufacturer has a way of measuring that cutting their gowns. So don’t get upset if you’re a size 10 and they order you a 14. It means nothing. Have the salesperson show you a sizing chart and check that your measurements line up with the sizing. People are human and make mistakes. The last thing you need is to have your gown arrive in the wrong size! And don’t forget to ask how long it will take for your gown to be shipped, making sure there’s enough time to allow in case something does go wrong.

    When the gown finally arrives and you go for your first fitting, have the undergarments and shoes that you will be wearing on your wedding day with you. Honestly, if I was to splurge on one thing, it would be on the undergarments. You’re going to have them on for probably 10-12 hours. Make sure they fit right and are comfortable and are closest to your skin color. Many bridal stores will tell you white, but if your gown has even the littlest bit of transparency, it will look too opaque.

    You’re ready to go. The hunt is on. Enjoy this time. Don’t get too stressed over this. You’ve got an entire wedding to plan. And don’t worry, you will look beautiful. After all, it is your day.

    Delora O’Brien is an expert in the area of wedding designs and products. She is the resident consultant at Designs to Remember. Designs to Remember is a unique online store that carries designer wedding favors, bridal gifts and accessories. Delora also oversees the extensive line of unique wedding favors, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding invitations. Many of the wedding gifts she has purchased for Designs to Remember, have been featured in well known bridal magazines.

    Author: Delora O’Brien
    Article Source: EzineArticles.com
    Provided by: Benefits of electric pressure cooker

    Mar 4

    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
    Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker

    Mar 3

    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
    Provided by: Digital Camera Information

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