Sophisticated Ballgown Wedding Dresses

Ballgowns are one of the most popular styles of wedding gowns every year. Though many brides love the fairy tale princess look, not every bride who likes a full skirt wants to look like Cinderella on her wedding day. Happily, there are some gorgeous ballgown wedding dresses with a sophisticated style that will suit the bride seeking the perfect balance between chic and elegant.

A great way to get a sophisticated edge in a ballgown is to choose one with an interesting neckline. One of the most dramatic is an illusion neckline with a heavily jeweled band around the neck, which is almost like having jewelry built into the gown. Paired with a simple silk satin skirt, this style is fantastic for a bride who wants a full and formal wedding gown, but does not want to look like a young ingenue. Add a dazzling pair of Swarovski crystal earrings and sweep the hair up into a chic chignon studded with crystal hairpins to keep the effect chic and grown up (avoid a tiara at all costs if you seek to avoid the princess bride look).

A layered skirt can be a dramatic feature on a ballgown wedding dress. Look for lots of flouncy layers in an asymmetrical tulle or organza with a raw edge to achieve a more edgy style. A bridal gown with an origami layered skirt in a crisp fabric like gazar would also be very distinctive. With these very contemporary wedding gowns, unique accessories are a must. A bold feather headpiece tucked into a low bun would hit the perfect note of modern elegance.

Since most of the princess style wedding gowns are strapless, varying the neckline can be an easy way to get away from the fairy tale look in a full skirted dress. Necklines which are plunging without being overly revealing can be very sophisticated. A great design is a spaghetti strap or narrow tank style with a V-neck which plunges into a wide cummberbund sash at the waist of the bridal gown. This type of gown looks especially fantastic in silk taffeta or silk satin. Allow the neckline of the gown and the full gathered skirt to make a statement, without the distraction of a lot of extra embellishment. A classic pair of pearl and Swarovski crystal earrings with a matching pendant necklace add some sparkle to the simplicity of the wedding gown.

Classic Spring Wedding Bouquets

Spring has some of the loveliest flowers of any season, so it is no wonder that it is such a popular time for a wedding. There is no need to do anything exotic with your wedding flowers, as the ones in season are so exquisite all on their own. These are some of the most classic spring wedding bouquets.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to be a spring bride is to have the chance to carry a delicate bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. The tiny white or pink blossoms are an emblem of spring, and are in season in early May. In fact, lily-of-the-valley is the birth flower for those born in the month of May. Its meaning is “return to happiness”, making it a very appropriate choice for wedding flowers. Allow a lily-of-the-valley bouquet to be very simple; all it needs is a satin ribbon around the stems to become the height of bridal perfection.

Peonies are another gorgeous spring flower, and they are very popular for bridal bouquets. Typically used in shades of pink or in white, the lush full blossoms of peonies are fantastic for creating larger bouquets. They work beautifully with classic bridal style, such as a lace gown worn with a pearl tin cup necklace. Peonies are also wonderful for garden weddings, as they have a fresh-picked appearance.

Of course, it would not be spring without tulips, and no bride could go wrong selecting this classic symbol of spring for her bouquet. Tulips look amazing when arranged in single color bunches, and you can create a different feeling depending on which color you choose. For the most traditional effect, an bouquet of white tulips is gracious and elegant. Tie them with a white ribbon if you want to maintain a traditional style, or add a black and white striped ribbon for a touch of modern elegance. Red tulips are fun and festive, yellow are cheerful, pink are feminine, and purple a bit more sophisticated. There are so many pretty spring wedding flowers that that may be enough reason to set a spring wedding date!

Make Your Own Save the Date Cards

Save the date cards are a wonderful way to give your guests advance notice of your upcoming wedding. They are also a great chance to give your family and friends a hint about what your wedding will be like. Since they need not be very formal, many couples like the fun of designing and possibly even making their own save the dates. Use these ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

The save the date cards are the first glimpse that your guests will have of your wedding style, so why not take the opportunity to make a great first impression? Let’s say that you are planning to have very formal wedding, and will be using lots of sparkly elements, such as crystal wedding jewelry. A cute idea for your wedding notices would be to embellish a heavy card with a silver chandelier motif to give the hint of the elegance that is to come. Or make your save the dates sparkle just like your crystal wedding jewelry by dipping the edges in glitter. Use a pretty script for the lettering, in keeping with the fancy motif.

If you are planning a theme wedding, why not have your notices reflect that? The message in a bottle is a popular save the date idea for destination weddings to tropical locations (as long as you don’t mind paying for all that postage); a fun variation on that would be to have labels printed with your wedding date adhered to small bottles of wine for a vineyard wedding. For a garden wedding, send your notices on handmade paper which has dried petals embedded in it, or use heart shaped stationery for a Valentine’s Day wedding.

Calendar save the date cards can be really cute, and there are any number of design possibilities. A simple one is to have your cards printed with the month in which you will be married and then circle your wedding date in red. Underneath the calendar, all that is needed is the names of the bride and groom with the message “save the date”. A variation on this is to have the calendar printed on a magnet. With your wedding date staring them in the face every time they go to the fridge, you can be sure that no one will forget about your special day!

Tips on Finding a Budget Wedding Gown

Believe it or not, there are some truly breathtaking wedding gowns available for under $1000, even under $500. In general, it is far better to go with a simpler wedding gown which is well made from a high quality fabric like silk than a heavily embellished one which is cheaply made from poor quality synthetics. The first will look chic and modern, the second will look, well, cheap.

If you have your heart set on a very traditional full wedding gown, but your budget is tight, your best bet is to search creatively for a quality gown, rather than settle for one which is not well made. Sample sales and blow out sales can be a great way for brides to find a dreamy designer wedding gown at an incredible discount. Search the Internet for both local sales at bridal shops and huge discount gown events like the traveling Filene’s Basement “Running of the Brides” sale.

For brides who seek budget wedding gowns with a modern chic sensibility, a great place to shop is J Crew. In their bridal collection, they feature gowns in luxe fabrics like silk chiffon, taffeta, jacquard, and silk tricotine for under $1000 and in some cases under $500. The gowns tend to have slimmer skirts, either column or a small A-line, and are perfect for a beach wedding, a garden wedding, or a city chic affair. The wedding gowns at J Crew include many fashionable designs and details, from the popular goddess look to the asymmetrical style which is in vogue this year.

Many brides will select an ivory or white dress from a bridesmaid line. When choosing an ivory “bridesmaid” dress to wear as a wedding gown, the right accessories will help to make sure that you look like a bride. A long veil, elegant bridal jewelry, and a pretty headpiece will make sure that no one mistakes you for a bridesmaid in an ivory dress. In fact, choosing distinctive and unique accessories like bridal jewelry is one of the fun things about wearing a more simple wedding gown. It allows you to express your personal style, look gorgeous, and find a fabulous wedding gown on a budget – you can’t do much better than that!

Tips on Choosing a Wedding Date

One of the first steps after getting engaged is to select a date for your wedding. There is a lot than can go into this seemingly straightforward decision, though, and it can be more complex than it initially seems. Let these tips on choosing a wedding date guide you to the perfect date for your wedding.

A couple of basic things to consider when setting a wedding date are the season in which you would like to get married, where, and how long you are willing to wait. If you have your heart set on a destination wedding in the Caribbean, for instance, it would be best to avoid hurricane season. Women who become engaged at a popular time like Valentine’s Day will need to decide if they want to rush to pull together a wedding for this summer, or if they can stand to have a year and a half engagement and put off the wedding until next summer.

If you know that you want to plan an elaborate affair with all of the trimmings, it might be sensible to have a long engagement to allow you to save more money. A farther out wedding date also allows you to spread out both your expenses and your effort over a comfortable time period. Rather than spending every weekend in a frantic search for the perfect wedding gown and bridal jewelry, some brides prefer to have a more leisurely approach to wedding planning. When your wedding is over a year away, you can take your time choosing your gown, bridal jewelry, and other details, without a looming deadline hanging over your head.

Special dates can also be an important factor in setting a day for your wedding. Perhaps you would like to be married on your birthday, or your parents’ wedding anniversary. Maybe the anniversary of your first date would be a great time to get married. Calendar dates with auspicious numbers tend to be very popular, such as 7-7-07 a few years ago, or this year’s favorite, 10-10-10. Conversely, some dates are often avoided due to specific associations. Would it depress you to host your wedding on the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, for instance? In a more general sense, September 11^th remains a less-than-popular wedding date, despite falling within prime wedding season.

There are so many things that go into picking the perfect date for your wedding. From religious factors to work obligations to your favorite flowers, there are any number of reasons why some dates will be more appropriate than others. In the end, the perfect wedding date ends up being a personal decision that only the bride and groom can make for themselves.

Pink and Gray Wedding Colors

Pink is always a popular color for weddings. For the last several years, pink and brown have been an especially hot color palette, but this year, a new neutral has replaced brown as the top companion to pink. Take a look at these great ideas for using pink and gray wedding colors.

Bridesmaid dresses are a great place to begin planning your wedding colors.  For an elegant evening wedding, try floor length charcoal gray dresses in a soft silk chiffon. It is one of the most chic bridesmaid dress styles of the season, and your ladies are sure to look graceful and sophisticated. If your wedding is in the daytime hours, think about opting for a pink bridesmaid dress. Something with clean lines would work best with the chic gray accent color, rather than a dress which is very frilly. To bring in the gray accents, try sets of pearl bridal jewelry in a dove gray shade.

Naturally pink flowers will be the ideal choice for a pink and gray wedding. Elegant pink roses, exotic orchids, lush peonies, and unique ranunculus are among the flowers which would be especially beautiful. Bring in your signature shade of gray with special bouquet wraps, such as a charcoal satin ribbon binding the stems. A fabulous accent idea would be to pin a pewter and crystal brooch to the handle of the bride’s bouquet, or ask your florist about incorporating some gray pearls in amongst the blossoms in the bouquets.

When the wedding flowers favor the pink, more gray can be used in the table linens at the reception. Choose carefully, as too much gray can bring down the energy of the room. Tablecloths with a hint of shimmer will ensure that the gray is elegant, rather than dreary. Charcoal gray silk dupioni or an embroidered pewter organza would be beautiful reception linens that would provide the perfect backdrop for pink floral centerpieces. The upscale and elegant pink and gray color palette is an excellent option for any bride.

Romantic Illusion Neckline Wedding Gowns

Are you looking for a wedding gown which is elegant, romantic, and timeless? Something different than the typical strapless bridal gown? Then take a look at some of the latest illusion neckline wedding gowns, which have a special ladylike charm.

An illusion neckline is one which is created using a sheer fabric, usually either organza or a fine net or tulle. The thing that is so wonderful about a bridal gown with an illusion neckline is that it allows the dress to have real straps without looking too heavy or covered up. For brides who are uncomfortable wearing strapless or who simply want something a bit more modest, a sheer neckline can be the perfect answer. It allows you to have a bit more coverage and structure in the gown, yet does not look too covered up or conservative.

One of the most intriguing things about illusion neckline wedding gowns is that they can also be quite dramatic. The sheer fabric can be used to provide structure over a plunging back or daring low cut bodice. On a gown which would otherwise be very tricky to wear, the stability of the sheer organza or net makes it structurally practical. This is an effect frequently used in the world of figure skating, and it works just as well for a wedding gown. It allows a bride to have fun trying a style which is daring, yet not scandalous!

Oftentimes, an illusion panel will be embellished with light beadwork. It can be absolutely breathtaking to see a sheer fabric which twinkles and sparkles with the glow of many tiny crystals. The effect against the skin which is visible through the illusion material is just gorgeous. Play up the crystal detail with fabulous crystal bridal jewelry to match. The overall effect will be a truly sophisticated and elegant bridal ensemble.

Lush Peonies for Weddings

One of the most gorgeous wedding flowers is the peony. Feminine, gracious, and charming, peonies are one of the favorite flowers for spring brides. These are some ideas on how to incorporate lush peonies into your wedding bouquets and centerpieces.

Peonies work beautifully for round bridal bouquets. Their full and ruffly blooms are ideal when a lush bouquet is the goal. A mass of peonies makes a fabulous wedding bouquet all on its own, or it can be combined with other flowers with a similar shape for a bouquet which looks like it was handpicked from an English garden. Some of the prettiest blooms to combine with peonies are garden roses, sweetpeas, and French tulips.

Peonies are usually seen in pale pink, hot pink, a pinky-red, and white. Pale yellow peonies are also available, as are double peonies, which are two toned. The pinks tend to be the most popular for weddings. They are great for both the bride and her bridesmaids. A pink peony bridesmaid bouquet is perfect for a preppy style bridesmaid dress with the attendants in simple strapless dresses and pearl bridesmaid jewelry. Hot pink peonies are a great contrast to more richly colored bridesmaid dresses such as charcoal, navy, or brown.

There are many fantastic centerpiece designs which are based on peonies. The flowers themselves are so beautiful that they look incredible in even the simplest arrangements. For DIY wedding centerpieces, a lush bunch of peonies in shades of pink can be stuffed into short tin pails or white pitchers. If you prefer a more formal effect, the same flowers would be stunning in a tall footed urn. Just remember that peonies look best when they are packed together to be very full and rich looking.

From garden to ballroom, preppy to romantic, the peony is the perfect flower for so many styles of weddings. Always gorgeous, this luscious spring flower is sure to become one of the favorite things about your wedding decorations.

Should You Pick Your Own Engagement Ring?

Should you pick your own engagement ring or is it better to be surprised? This is a look at the pros and cons.

Pro: When the woman helps to pick her own engagement ring, she is absolutely sure to love it. And that is really important, because along with her wedding ring, this is the one piece of jewelry which she will wear every day for the rest of her life. It would be a shame if she secretly disliked the style of the ring for all those years (because of course she would never say so!).

Con: Obviously if the couple has been engagement ring shopping, the woman will have advance knowledge that her boyfriend intends to propose. Or he can go the route of a surprise proposal without a ring, and then the newly engaged couple can go wedding jewelry shopping together. In that case, though, you lose that iconic moment when he drops to one knee and pulls out a tiny box while popping the question.

Pro: It can be less stressful for the man if his fiance is involved with the ring selection. Many man just plain hate shopping, and the idea of shopping for something so expensive without any input from the woman who will be wearing it can be positively nerve-wracking. Will he wonder forever if she truly loves the ring or is just pretending so as not to hurt his feelings?

Con: Sticking to a tight budget might be more challenging with the bride-to-be in tow. Some women can’t help but gravitate to the biggest, most fabulous engagement ring in the store! Saying no to her favorite is a really awkward position for a man to find himself in, and not the least bit romantic. On the other hand, splurging on a ring which is way out of his comfortable price range will not leave the man feeling so great, either.

In the end, each couple is unique, and it is up to them to decide if these practical concerns are worth losing the element of surprise at the moment of engagement.

2010 Wedding Cake Trends

Do you know what the most stylish wedding cakes will look like this year? Are cupcakes still in? Is fondant still king? Here is everything you need to know about 2010 wedding cake trends.

A new simplicity is ruling the bakeries this year. Overly ornate and precious cakes are taking a backseat to those which are simple, elegant, and above all, delicious. After seasons as the hot wedding trend, brides are finally cooling towards cupcakes, and instead opting for a real wedding cake, usually with three tiers. Very elaborate frosting made to mimic the wedding gown and bridal jewelry is less popular than frosting which looks like…well, frosting.

No longer reserved for the groom’s cake, rich dark chocolate has made its way to center stage on the main wedding cake. It is being used in elegant cake designs which feature architectural detailing, fresh flower accents, and a swanky use of ribbons.  Chocolate cakes are one wedding trend which your guests are guaranteed to love!

Streamlined geometric wedding cakes are also in style for 2010. A three or four tier cake with square layers will look chic this year. Motifs with clean lines suit this modern cake design, as do bands of horizontal stripes. Emphasize a minimalist chic by keeping the cake itself pure white. Festive touches of color in the motif will keep the cake from looking too plain. Symmetry is also in, by the way, so stack those square tiers with the same orientation; none of that topsy-turvy stuff that was popular a couple of years ago. The Dr. Suess look is definitely out this year.

They say that three is a magic number, and that is true for wedding cakes in 2010. A pretty way to make a statement with a simple cake is by making it in multiple. Make one medium sized cake with several tiers as the centerpiece, and then flank it with two matching mini-cakes, one on each side. This is a great idea for brides who want to keep the design of their cakes clean and modern, yet want to have a cake display with some “oomph”.