Ballet Inspired Wedding Attire

One of the most iconic ballerina fashions is the tulle skirt. While it might be hard to carry off a stiff tutu walking down the aisle, a soft and floating tulle skirt is a beautiful style for a wedding gown. The ethereal layers of netting will make any bride look as though she is practically floating on air. This is a gorgeous choice for a bride at any time of the year.

When it comes to the bodice of your wedding gown, there are several styles that you can borrow from the ballet. Ballerinas often wear the most delicate spaghetti straps to show off their delicate shoulders, and the effect is equally lovely on a bride. Another idea is to wear a wedding gown with a sheer illusion neckline. It is a very demure and refined style.

The delicate nature of ballerina inspired wedding attire calls for equally dainty embellishments. Tiny Swarovski crystals would look absolutely stunning twinkling on the bodice of a bridal gown or even on a short veil. You can even add a few crystals or pearls as accents on your ballet slippers. Choose the embellishment that will look the best with your wedding jewelry.

No matter what your choice for wedding gown, you may want to consider wearing a pair of ballet slippers with your dress. Simple white or pink leather ballet slippers are both comfortable and very affordable. Get them well before the wedding and wear them around the house so that they can mold to your feet. By the day of your ceremony, your ballet slippers will feel like a second skin – perfect for dancing the night away!

Sparkly Wedding Gowns

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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.

What to Do If Your Bridal Shop Closes

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.

Bridal Gowns for Athletic Brides

Some women love to be princesses. For them, getting dressed up in a formal gown with a long flowing veil and dazzling bridal jewelry is a dream come true. Sportier types of women, however, may have a hard time channeling their inner diva. The key is to find a wedding gown that makes you feel like a bride while still feeling like yourself.

Brides who are unaccustomed to wearing very fancy clothing may find that they are more comfortable in a gown with straps instead of a strapless wedding dress. Nothing is less attractive than a bride who is constantly fussing with her gown, so if you feel nervous in a strapless dress, choose a different style. V-necks are often a very good shape for a bride with strong shoulders, which many athletes have.

Another type of bridal gown to consider is the halter neckline. It can be the perfect cut to show off well-conditioned arms, shoulders, and upper back. A halter style also has a certain sportiness about it, which can make it a great fit in terms of style as well. This makes the halter bridal gown one of the most versatile options.

You accessories are an important part of your bridal ensemble. Brides who are usually more casual might feel overwhelmed by a cathedral length veil, high heels, a big tiara, and elaborate bridal jewelry. There are many simpler alternatives that will make you look polished without feeling ridiculous. Options include: a fingertip length veil, cute flat shoes or sandals, a dainty headband, and a single pearl or crystal pendant for bridal jewelry.

Athletic brides will have many wonderful features to highlight when dressing for their weddings. Choose a bridal ensemble that feels like you, not like a princess bride. As long as you seek the styles that make you feel comfortable, you will look radiant on your wedding day.

Lovely Garden Style Weddings

Gardens are very special places to hold a wedding. There is nothing quite like the soft romance of a wedding in a garden. Whether your wedding will be in an actual garden, or if you just want to have a garden style wedding indoors, there are many ways to make your event beautiful.

Flowers will be the highlight of a garden style wedding. For a soft and feminine look, choose a coordinated color palette for your flowers that you can carry through into the rest of the wedding. Ideas include pale pink with ivory and hints of celadon green, or shades of lavender, lilac, and purple.

Some of the most romantic flowers include: lush garden roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and iris. Flowers for a garden style wedding should be loosely arranged in a beautiful vessel, such as footed urns. Avoid any centerpieces that are too modern or structured.

A garden style wedding dress should be soft, feminine, and very pretty. A very trendy or modern gown would look out of place. Look for fabrics that float, such as organza or chiffon. Romantic floral details will make your gown stand out. Accents that relate to a garden would be especially nice, like embroidered vines or fabric flower elements. Finish the bride’s ensemble with romantic pearl bridal jewelry.

Having your wedding in a garden or creating the feel of a garden inside is a wonderful style for your wedding. There is nothing quite so beautiful being wed surrounded by the bounty of nature. Whether you are blessed with a green thumb or not, you may find that a garden style would be perfect for your wedding.

Should You Buy a Wedding Gown Online?

The internet is a wonderful resource for ideas about wedding gowns. You can peruse tons of websites, and see what is in style as well as get an idea of what type of dress appeals to you. There is no doubt that this has made brides feel much better informed about their decision, well before they even set foot into their first bridal shop.

It is a big leap, though, from looking at dresses online to buying a gown over the internet. There are sites that claim to offer designer gowns at a discount. Be very wary of these offers. Some of the gowns may come from weddings that have been cancelled, but other times they are used, worn out shop samples, or knock-offs. If you are considering ordering from one of these sites, be very sure that the dress can be returned for a full refund if it does not meet your expectations.

For brides who like the idea of ordering a wedding gown online, a safer choice would be to order from a well-known retailer who also carries special occasion gowns. This way, you will have a much better idea about what you are really getting. Be careful, once again, to read the fine print about returns. Sometimes there is a time limit or a restocking fee involved.

My advice would be to work in person with a bridal shop for your wedding gown, and look for things like your accessories and gifts of wedding jewelry online. There are numerous internet retailers who create great jewelry gifts for your attendants, as well as fabulous pieces for the bride. With accessories, you don’t have to worry about size and fit, so it is much easier to buy something based on a picture.

The internet is a great tool for wedding planning. If you choose to order a gown online, just be sure to do your research first. Every bride deserves to have a great experience with her gown purchase.

Wedding Planning for Aquarius Brides

For a fun source of inspiration when planning your wedding, turn to your astrological sign. Brides born from late January to late February will be considered Aquarius. This sign is known for its’ quirkiness and eclectic style, so your wedding is sure to be completely unique.

It is often said that an Aquarius marches to the beat of her own drummer. Express your unique taste by choosing an offbeat wedding venue. The Aquarius bride is unlikely to be happy with a country club or a reception hall for her site. She will feel more at home in a place that is less conventional and buttoned up. Outdoor sites are one excellent possibility. The Aquarian might feel right at home on the top of a mountain.

You will certainly not find an Aquarius bride replicating the look of a princess or a socialite. Her gown will need to be more unique to suit her eccentric taste. Look for a bridal gown with interesting features such as large handmade flowers, or a flowing beaded 1920s flapper shift. Handmade wedding jewelry will be just right for the bride who likes unique things.

People born under the sign of Aquarius are known as dreamers. It could be fun to turn your reception into an otherworldly place of dreams. Transform the space with special lighting, flowing floral displays, and beautiful decorations. Since Aquarius is represented by the water-bearer, a fountain or other water element would be ideal.

The Aquarius bride will have a very individual outlook on life. You can harness that eclectic point of view and turn it into a unique and unconventional wedding. Allow your quirky side to shine through, Aquarius, and your wedding will be unlike anything that your guests have ever seen before.

Surprise Your Wedding Guests

Every couple looks for ways to make their wedding feel personal and unique. Why not create a fun surprise for your guests that will allow you to show your personality? There are a lot of great ways that you can give your guests a better idea of the real you.

What are your hobbies? What inspires or delights you? This can be a place to start when looking for fun ideas to incorporate into your wedding. If you are an excellent ballroom dancer, delight your guests with an impressive first dance routine.

What other talents do you have? If you are a terrific singer, then serenade your new spouse with a special song written just for him or her.

Sometimes the surprise can be something simple that reveals a new side of you to your family and friends. Does everyone think that you are a tomboy (I once knew a bride whose friends all expected her to wear a pair of khaki pants to her own wedding!)? Surprise them by showing your feminine side in a romantic wedding gown with fabulous crystal bridal jewelry.

The element of surprise will make any special touch that you add to your wedding more memorable. Be sure to keep your surprise a secret until it is time for the big reveal. It will make the wedding more fun for everyone in attendance, and your guests will get to see a side of you that they never knew existed.

Planning a Wedding at an Historical Site

The location that you choose for your wedding will really set the tone for the entire affair. There are countless choices: parks, clubs, hotels, beaches, museums, and the list goes on. One interesting idea is to have your wedding at an historical site.

When choosing such a special location for your wedding, you will want to tailor your wedding to fit with the site. If your wedding is in a Victorian mansion, for instance, you would not decorate with flowers like gerbera daisies. It is not necessary to plan a period wedding, but your general scheme should work with the historical location instead of clashing with it.

As with any wedding, the bride will want to select a wedding gown and bridal jewelry that fits in with her site. An old fashioned reception venue would be complemented best by a gown that is romantic, not modern. This is not to say that you have to wear a vintage gown. Just look for a wedding dress that is soft and feminine, rather than very modern or cutting edge.

When you have opted for a wedding site with a lot of character, it only makes sense to take full advantage of it. Explore ways to highlight the special features of the historical location. You will be sure to create a wedding that is beautiful, unique, and absolutely charming.

Wedding Planning for Libras

Libra is the sign of brides born from late September to late October. Libras love beauty, art, luxury, and entertaining. In other words, they are born wedding planners!

It is only natural that Libras love weddings; after all, the ruling planet for this sign is Venus, named after the goddess of ideal love. Libras are born romantics. They also seek balance and harmony in everything that they do.

Libras absolutely adore fashion and shopping. This means that the bridal gown will be one of the central parts of her wedding. Do not be surprised to find the Libra bride poring over stacks of bridal magazines, searching for that one perfect gown.

A Libra bride will have discriminating taste, and so custom bridal jewelry will be ideal for her. By combining beautiful elements like freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and sterling silver, she can design custom bridal jewelry that suits her wedding gown exactly.

Planning a wedding can be so much fun if you know where to start. Work with the natural tendencies of your star sign, and you will find the whole process to be that much more enjoyable. For a Libra bride, this means having a wedding that is refined, romantic, artistic, and above all, beautiful.