Brides Maids Bag

Every bride needs beautiful wedding jewelry to complete her look, and there are many great options out there. Some of the most fabulous styles are classic looks that brides have turned to for many years. Whether your style is simple or more ornate, there is a timeless piece of bridal jewelry that will be perfect for you.

The most timeless look for a bride is pearl bridal jewelry. Brides from all eras and all walks of life have loved the elegant simplicity of a lustrous strand of pearls. The soft glow of pearls is a beautiful complement to the lovely fabrics of wedding gowns. There are other great classics beyond the basic strand for brides looking for something that is still timeless, but also a bit different.

Teardrop shaped pearl bridal jewelry is one such look. A nice big teardrop shaped pearl makes an elegant pair of earrings, whether it is allowed to take center stage, or if it is paired with sparkling crystals. The combination of crystals and pearls is a fabulous look that will work with any style of bridal gown.

Pearls and crystals also make a gorgeous classic statement in a necklace. Look for necklaces that either have one single drop as a pendant, or fancier necklaces that feature a series of graduated drops. It can also be nice to add in a dash of color, such as a few pale blue crystals for your “something blue”.

Often brides will think about finding the right necklace or earrings, but will forget about bracelets. An elegant wedding bracelet can be just the finishing touch to make your bridal ensemble feel complete. It is also a great way to cover up tan lines from your watch! Look for styles such as strands of pearls, or strands of crystals and pearls mixed together, especially if you are not accustomed to wearing a bracelet. Women who love the feeling of bracelets jingling on their wrists can try to mix up a variety of bangles and other bracelets.

There are many great modern or cutting edge jewelry styles available, but there is something to be said for the classics. You will find that the timeless styles that brides have always loved will be a beautiful addition to any bridal ensemble. Enjoy the classic elegance of crystal and pearl bridal jewelry on your wedding day, and for many years to come.

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If you are anything like most brides, you want lots of sparkle for your wedding day! There are lots of ways that you can use sparkle throughout your wedding, but the best place to start is with you. You wedding gown is the perfect way to set the tone, so make it as sparkly as you want.

Sparkle can come in different forms. One of the most popular is beading done with Swarovksi crystals. When used on a wedding gown, they are typically clear or ab finish, but you can also add some crystals in your wedding colors for that extra punch.

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If you choose a gown with crystals, you will want to accessorize it with crystal wedding jewelry to coordinate. Because crystal beading on a gown shows as sparkle, but not as much as a bold design, you have the freedom to choose crystal wedding jewelry that is as ornate as you like. Of course, a simple strand of Swarovski crystals glittering at the throat is also fabulous, if your style is more streamlined.

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When creating a super sparkly bridal ensemble, don’t forget about your veil. You can add a row of crystals to the bottom edge of a straight cut veil, or all around a shaped veil. Larger crystal briolettes look absolutely stunning when they are dropped onto a long veil. However, even if you like the silvery look of rhinestones for your gown, you should stay away from them on your veil; in photographs, the rhinestones will look like dark spots. Best to stick to the crystals.

Your wedding day is your time to shine! Make this come true by choosing a wedding gown with lots of sparkle, or by adding crystals to a plain gown. When you walk down the aisle all a-glitter, the effect will be spectacular.

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Country style is always comfortable, never stiff or formal. When planning a country style wedding, keep that in mind when selecting your reception venue. Instead of a fancy ballroom or a generic hall, consider places like meadows, rustic barns, and country inns. These are places where you can create the welcoming sort of atmosphere that epitomizes the country.

Food is an important part of a celebration. For a country wedding, plan a menu with foods that are familiar and unfussy. They don’t need to be fancy – just delicious! Ideas include down home favorites like country ham, homemade macaroni and cheese, and fresh berries.

For drinks, big glass jugs of lemonade would be the perfect refreshment. Iced tea would be another good drink to have on hand – sweetened if you live in the South or unsweetened if you are a Northern bride.

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Fresh and casual flowers like gerbera daisies, wildflowers, or poppies would be beautiful. You can arrange them in simple glass vases, pop them into galvanized steel buckets, or even loosely arrange them in white pitchers (a basketweave design would be ideal). Another idea is to choose potted flowers displayed in baskets. Tie a gingham ribbon around the basket for a lovely country detail.

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The bride’s attire should also have a less formal look. Fabrics like linen, Swiss dot, or organdy would be lovely choices. The idea is to choose a gown that makes sense in your setting and enhances your theme.

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Your accessories should also look at home in your setting. Handmade wedding jewelry would be beautiful for the bride and her bridesmaids. Look for wedding jewelry that has been handmade with fine details like freshwater pearls and sterling silver. When you find the right pieces, you will have the pleasure of being able to wear them again after the wedding.

Whether you grew up in the country, or are a city girl looking to create a welcoming environment for your reception, you can’t go wrong adding some country details to your wedding. The warm and relaxed feeling of a country wedding will make it a day that everyone will enjoy.

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They say that the best made plans may go awry, and that is certainly true of weddings. You plan and you plan, but sometimes things pop up at the last minute that have to be dealt with. These are some of the things to think about…

One of the main reasons that couples need contingency plans for their wedding is inclement weather. If you are having an outdoor ceremony, you definitely need to have a rain plan. Either rent a tent (and a floor if it is a really soggy day), or have an alternate indoor location. If your wedding does end up being moved at the last minute, be certain to get word to all of the guests!

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The wedding bands are a very important part of the ceremony, so be sure that you give them ample thought in advance. If you will have a ring bearer, you might want to reconsider putting the actual wedding jewelry on his little pillow. Many couples tie a pair of symbolic rings to the pillow, and give the real ones to the best man (who is hopefully more responsible than a young child! If not, give the rings to someone else to hold.).

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What are some other wedding contingency plans that couples should have in place? A big one is a plan in case uninvited guests show up at the reception. If you are diligent about following up the R.s.v.p.s, hopefully you will not encounter this problem, but it does happen more often than you may think. If there are a few guests that you have not heard from that you think might make a surprise appearance, have a plan in place with your caterer.

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Every wedding has a few surprises, and there is no way to plan for all of them. Once you are confident that you have contingency plans in place for the big issues, allow yourself to relax about the rest of it. As the old saying goes, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”!

For children who have never attended a wedding before, preparation is key. This is especially true for the little ones, such as three or four year olds. They likely have no idea what goes on at a wedding, and are probably making up fantasies in their heads about it, which may or may not match the reality. To be sure that they understand what will really happen during a wedding, it is a good idea to talk them through it.

A good way to prepare your child for being a wedding guest is to show him or her books ore movies that feature weddings. Little girls, in particular, will love seeing pictures of brides in their long white gowns, flowing veils, and fancy wedding jewelry. Any of the books that are geared towards flower girls or ring bearers would be appropriate for pre-schoolers. There are also cute little sets of toys that feature a bride and groom figurine.

Make sure that the morning of the wedding is not the first time that your child tries on his or her fancy outfit. The dresses that little girls wear to such occasions often have crinolines or lace collars that can be too scratchy on sensitive skin. If you find this out in advance, you can have a seamstress add a lining or remove any itchy trim.

The final thing to think about when taking your children to a wedding is your exit strategy. If the party is going to be going strong well past their usual bedtime, then either plan to turn the kids over to a babysitter after the ceremony, or to head out from the reception after the cake has been cut. On the other hand, some children have so much fun at weddings, that they are the ones cutting a rug on the dance floor all night! Either way, when you have planned well, you will know that the wedding will be a fun event for the whole family.

Looking for a wedding gown that is both hot off the runway and also very elegant? One of the most beautiful trends in gowns for 2009 is the two tone effect. These gowns have a subtle contrast that makes them look special and unique.

Two tone gowns are a lovely way to take your dress beyond basic, without necessarily doing anything too avant garde. The contrasting tones are usually subtle, such as white and ivory, ivory and champagne, or cream with blush. There are a variety of different ways in which the two colors can be juxtaposed.

One of the simplest two tone concepts is to have a contrasting sash on the wedding gown. This is a very easy way to add a bit of interest to a clean silhouette. A very pretty look is to pull out the color from the sash into your accessories. For instance, if you have chosen a gown that is ivory with a blush colored sash, then look for pearl bridal jewelry in gentle shades of blush or rose.

A very pretty two tone wedding gown style is the double layered dress. In this style, there is one solid piece of fabric, either a sheer or a lace, layered on top of the second color. This is a great option for the bride who is afraid of cutting up her silhouette with bands of contrasting colors (particularly true for petite brides). It allows you to have the depth and interest of two tones without any distracting breaks in the dress.

When choosing your veil, what usually works the best is to match the color of the tulle to the main color of the dress, and any trim to the deeper shade on your gown. So if you are wearing a silk white wedding dress with a contrasting blush sash, choose a veil that is also diamond white, perhaps with a blush satin bias trim around the edge.

A two tone gown is a great way to indulge in a current bridal trend without looking trendy. It is a subtle enough effect that it will stand the test of time. This allows brides the wonderful feeling that their wedding day look is both current and classic.

Your wedding gown is the most special garment that you will ever own. You want to make sure that you are getting a good one, but it can be difficult at times to know. There are a few things that you can look for to ensure that you are getting a fine quality bridal gown.

The best bridal gowns are created from natural materials, primarily silk. Beware of dresses that are use the word silk in their description, but do not clearly state that they are made of silk. Designers will often use terms like “Italian silk” to make a silk blend or even a synthetic fabric sound more luxurious than it really is. When in doubt, look for the tag inside the gown that lists the contents. The more silk, the better.

On a well made gown, all of the outside seams will also be nicely finished. You should not see any puckering along the bust or side seams. If there is embroidery or beadwork, it should be well aligned over the side seams. Even better, it should be on a ribbon stitched onto the dress, or stop before the side seams so that the dress can be properly altered.

Once you have found a wedding gown that was lovingly made, you will want to finish it off with equally beautiful accessories. Look for quality pieces like handmade wedding jewelry. Just like your gown, it is great to know that a real person took the time to carefully create wedding jewelry handmade just for you. When choosing a veil, make sure that any trim lays flat, and that it is neatly secured to the comb. All of these small details will add up to a perfectly polished bridal ensemble.

When you put on your bridal gown on your wedding day, it should make you feel like a million dollars (even though hopefully you didn’t have to spend that much on it!). A gown that is a fine quality will go a long way towards helping you achieve that feeling. After all, when you know that your gown looks great, you will feel even more beautiful.

Your wedding is one of the happiest times of your life. It is kind of a bummer, but you do have to consider a few practicalities, even as you plan for your magical day. Here are a few things that every wedding host needs to keep in mind…

The biggest potential headache when planning any type of party is alcohol. Even at a wedding, where people are all dressed up in their finest clothing and wedding jewelry, there are going to be a few guests who over-indulge. (Depending on your circle of friends and family, it might be more than a few! You know best.)

There are several steps that you can take before your wedding to ensure that things do not get out of control during it. The first is to plan for adequate food during the cocktail hour. There is no better recipe for a bunch of drunk guests than serving too much liquor and not enough food. Order more appetizers than you think are called for, especially if you know that your friends like to get into the spirit of a party.

One thing that many couples do these days is to provide transportation from the reception back to the hotel where most guests are staying. This actually achieves a few things. It eliminates the concerns (both human and legal) about intoxicated drivers; it also will help you end the reception at a certain time, which is useful if your venue charges overtime fees.

Alcohol is not the only thing that a responsible host should plan for. If you are having a winter wedding, make sure that all walkways and steps to your ceremony and reception sites will be completely cleared of any snow or ice that may have accumulated. And don’t let the venue get away with just throwing down a bunch of salt – it will ruin the hems of long dresses and silk shoes!

Wedding planning should be a very fun thing, and you hate to have to spend time on the less glamorous aspects of it. Keep in mind that a little advance planning can go a long way towards having a more perfect wedding. By being a responsible host, you can ensure that all of your guests will have only wonderful memories of your special day.

If you are planning a wedding, or just enjoy them, you may think that you know quite a bit about weddings. Chances are that you do! But do you know all that there is to know? Take this quiz to find out…

1. In the United States, brides typically wear a white gown. Chinese brides, however, have another favorite color. Is it:

a) Blue

b) Red

c) Yellow

2. The first bride to popularize the wearing of a white bridal gown was:

a) Cleopatra

b) Grace Kelly

c) Queen Victoria

3. Pearl bridal jewelry has long been a favorite of brides. Did the wearing of bridal jewelry created from pearls become standard in the Victorian era or was it earlier?

4. Why did brides begin wearing bridal veils?

a) To confuse the evil spirits who were out to harm them

b) Because it was done in the Old Testament of the Bible

c) To hide their tears as they walk down the aisle

5. True or False: You have a year after the wedding to send a thank you note for gifts received.

Now for the answers:

1. b) Chinese brides wear red, because it is considered a lucky color in their culture. Many brides in China will wear a traditional red gown for their ceremony and then change into a typical Western white wedding gown for the reception.

2. c) It was Queen Victoria’s 1840 all-white wedding to Prince Albert that made the white wedding gown the color of choice. Before that time, brides generally wore their best dress in any color, or wore a color like blue to symbolize fidelity.

3. Although pearls were certainly beloved by brides in the Victorian era, their use as an adornment for brides dates back to antiquity.

4. Trick question! The answer is actually a) and b). The tradition of brides wearing veils is linked to both ancient beliefs that brides were vulnerable to evil spirits and to the Bible.

5. False! Wedding guests have up to a year to send out a gift to the newlyweds. Thank you notes should be completed immediately after returning from the honeymoon, if not completed as gifts were received. Bring a nice box of stationary and your address book with you on your trip; it will give you something to do on that long plane ride home from Hawaii.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that sometimes businesses will go out of business. When it is your favorite coffee shop or newsstand, it is a disappointment. When the shop that closes is the bridal shop from which your ordered your wedding gown, it can be a crisis.

The way that things are usually done at a bridal store is that you leave them a deposit to order your gown (normally 40-60%), and then pay the balance when the gown arrives from the designer. This is done for the shop’s protection, to ensure that brides are serious about their order, and so that the store will have at least covered their cost if a dress is not picked up for some reason.

There are a few ways that a bride can protect herself when she is ordering a dress. First of all, get a contract in writing, and be sure that it lists your down payment. Many credit cards offer some sort of consumer protections, as well, so if yours does, use that for your deposit instead of writing a check. This way, in the unlikely event that the store does go out of business, you will have a better chance of recovering your deposit.

If your gown has already been received at the shop, you are in a better position than if it is still on order. At least all you have to do is find someone to let you in so that you can pick up your dress. Many bridal shops will allow brides to leave their accessories at the store with their gown as a convenience; normally this is just fine. If you have anything irreplaceable, such as a piece of bridal jewelry that was handcrafted just for you, then it is safer to keep it in your possession.

For brides who are in the very unfortunate position of having a bridal shop close before their gown arrives, your best bet is to go straight to the vendor (this is one reason that you want to have a detailed contract). Let them know the situation, and find out if a) your gown was in fact ordered, b)if it is ready, and c) how you can get it. A designer will rarely ship directly to a client, but they might be willing to send your gown to another nearby bridal shop. The only problem is that you if you were not able to recover your original deposit, you may very well still end up having to pay the full price for the dress to the second shop.

It is rare that a bridal shop suddenly closes, but it can happen. To try to make the best of a bad situation, do all that you can to put yourself in a good position beforehand. Hopefully, you will never need this advice, but if you do, at least you will be prepared.