I found this wedding gown on DIY Trade from Kelly’s Bridal. I like this one because it has a rustic feel to it. I can imagine a bride in this gown walking through the country of Italy, perhaps in the lake country just outside of Milan. This gown would work in a backyard barn wedding or a Cathedral wedding.
You can find a complete checklist of things to do from engagement to wedding day at the Designer Events website www.designerplanning.com but here are a few things you’ll want to know. First, expect to have all your planning done by two weeks before the wedding. This will give you time to fix all those little things that will present themselves last minute and you’ll be busy those weeks anyway.
Get your hair cut and colored a week to two weeks before the wedding and have a trial run for hair and make-up a few days after that. Remember to take your tiara, veil, headpiece, jewelry and anything that might make a difference in how your hair is done. Take many pictures, upclose and far away, and from all angles when you have your trials done in case your stylist or make-up artist can’t remember just how you liked it.
Spend time with friends and family during these two weeks. Leave a couple days between the bachelorette party and the wedding day. You don’t want puffy eyes and a red nose in your wedding pictures.
Drink half your weight in ounces for several days before the wedding to ensure glowing, healthy skin. Do NOT do anything drastic to change the way you look right before your wedding. Don’t color your hair something that you haven’t done before and don’t try a new self-tanner that you haven’t tried before. A few months before is the time to experiment with these things. Stay away from facials or scrubs for about a week before, because this could cause breakouts or redness.
Block out those last two weeks as the fun and games weeks! After some long months of planning and preparation, you finally get to relax a little and have some fun. And it’s all leading up to that very special day you’ve been waiting for.
Chances are you will spend a lot of time looking for the perfect wedding gown. Before you even get out there, make a list of the places you’d like to visit. Put them in order, geographically so that you go to all the ones in the same area at once and you aren’t wasting gas and time driving around town. Then, make a list of the things you do and don’t want in your dress, including price, fabric, shape, neckline, length, compatibility with accessories, etc. This way, you will know what to tell the attendants at the dress shop when you get there. If you’re choosing from the rack, tell the people you bring what you want so they can help you look.
Don’t worry if you never get the “this is it!” moment. Not everyone does. Finding a wedding dress is not a magical moment. Sometimes it feels like it is, but really, just get what you love and think looks great. It’s a good idea to watch the reactions of both the people you brought with you and others in the store. This will give you a good feel for how it really looks.
Every groom should look fabulous on his wedding day. Here are some ideas to make that happen.
I love this dramatic splash of color. It’s fun to draw colors from your wedding into the groom’s attire. Just be sure your boutonniere matches perfectly.
Available at After Hours Formalwear
Brown is everywhere right now. Brides are realizing that they aren’t stuck with black. Brown has a softer, more comfortable look. But, how does a groom get away with wearing a black tux to a brown wedding? Solution:
At London’s National Wedding Show, there were two trends for the groom–white tuxes and top hats with tails. The white tux, especially coupled with a brilliant color is so clean and modern. Notice the matching sash the bride has in the background.
I have always loved kakhi at weddings. But, it isn’t reserved for beach weddings.
What are some unique ideas you’ve seen on grooms?
It’s fashion week here at Aisle Talk! Let’s start with a look at some gorgeous, not-so-traditional gowns:
Reverie by Melissa Sweet
Reem Acra via Martha Stewart Weddings
I particularly like the flirtiness of the short wedding dresses. If you don’t have the cash to get a designer gown, but you want something unique that people will remember, get a dress you can afford, with a few bucks to spare, and use the extra to add to the dress. Add your own texture. Get a fun accessory like a hat or a sash, or a jacket. Get some gloves for a chic look. Or, take your cue from the first picture here and get some bold jewelry to accent a somewhat plain dress. Have fun!
There is a certain trend I have been noticing all over the country recently, and I love it! Unique headpieces, instead of the traditional veil/tiara. Birdcage veils are coming back in style and I admire the bold woman who wears this classic piece.
Photo by Fidelio Photography
Another type of flair that’s making its way onto the aisle is flora. Whether it’s a headband or a pin, flowers have always been beautiful in women’s hair and, here, they add a feminine touch to the bride’s look.
Headpiece designed by Miss Florence
and another by Miss Florence
What other brilliant headpieces do you like?
This week, we have discussed skin care, make-up, and hair. Today, we will finish beauty week by talking about body types and how to find the right gown. First you must know what body shape you have. A pear is small on top and wider around the hips and bottom. The triangle shape is wide in the top and smaller on bottom. The hourglass is a large bust, small waist, large hips. Finally the willow is basically slim all the way down with little curve.
The four major dress silhouettes are full skirt (ballroom), A line (princess), sheath and mermaid. Full skirst and A lines are very helpful in hiding flaws. The form fitting bodice shows off everything you’re proud of and the way the fabric flows off the waist covers the hips and makes the waist appear smaller. Sheath and mermaid dresses are good for those who have nothing to hide. They are very form-fitting all the way down. The mermaid has a flare below the knees, like a mermaid tail.
If you are a willow, you might look fabulous in a sheath dress. The tightness puts emphasis on what curves you have, creating the illusion that they are bigger. Women with large busts should avoid sweetheart (looks like the top of a heart) and strapless necklines. On the other hand, if you have a smaller bust, a sweetheart will give you a visual boost. Large shoulders also need to steer clear of halters, as they will make your shoulders look even wider. A particularly tall bride might want to go for a dress with just below the knee length or two pieces.
When you are looking for a dress, consider what kind of wedding you will be having. My husband and I are swing dancing fanatics, so I knew I would be doing some of that at my reception. So, I got a swishy chiffon dress that flowed well as I moved. My husband even lifted me upside down in the air and my dress didn’t fall down to show too much. Morning weddings are generally slightly less formal than night weddings and you should choose your gown accordingly.
The best advice I can tell you is to watch the reactions of people when you walk out of the fitting room. That includes the people you’re with, as well as other women in the store. If you get a double-take or ooohs and aaaahhs, you know it’s a good fit. Happy shopping!
When you are planning your wedding hairstyle, take into account the formality of the event.
Black-tie weddings are the most formal and call for an elegant updo. Sleek and structured will serve you best.
Formal or semi-formal weddings allow for a loose updo or a professional-looking half-up, half-down style.
The bride at a casual wedding should wear a loose, unstructured style that is still polished. Have a professional do your usual style so it looks a little more glamorous. Consider a sleek pony tail.
A beach wedding needs a style that can handle the sea breeze. Perhaps loose waves or tussled curls cascading over bare shoulders.
When you have your hair trial run, leave it in for at least a few hours, if not all day so you can be aware of any problems that may occur later on (frizz, uncurling, hair dropping, flat). Avoid washing your hair on the wedding day so it’s easier to manipulate. Don’t forget to wear a button-up shirt to your hair appointment so you don’t ruin the do as you change into your dress.
My first piece of advice concerning wedding day make-up is get a professional. You or a friend can hide flaws, but a professional make-up artist can bring out your best features, making you look naturally like a model. If you just can’t bring yourself to go over your budget any more than you already have (the average American bride goes 50% over her budget), here are some tips on how to look glamorous. First of all, realize that you will probably need to wear more make-up than you do on a daily basis. However, this does not mean just cake it on, haphazardly. Be sure that you are using a foundation that matches your skin tone. If you don’t know, ask someone. Some skin has a yellow tint to it, others are more pink and still others have more brown. Be aware of what colors are in your skin tone. Then, apply your foundation all around your face, concentrating on blending, especially in the creases and odd shapes, like around the base of your nose. Be sure that there are no lines near your hair line or chin, because cameras tend to pick those up very easily. Next, use a concealer that is slightly lighter than your foundation to hide impurities and dark circles under the eyes. Don’t forget the outer corner under your eyes! Be careful not to use a concealer that is too light, as that will frame your eyes, instead of blending the circles with your cheeks (Note: concealer goes on after foundation because you want it to stay right where you put it and not get smeared around).
When applying blush or bronzer, follow the natural line of your cheekbone. Always apply in strokes from beneath the middle of your eye toward the top of your ear. Never start at the ear and go toward the nose. If your blush looks too strong, wait a few seconds for the skin to adjust after being manipulated and, if it still looks intense, give it a light layer of foundation or powder to make the red glow look like it’s coming from beneath the skin. Always follow with powder to avoid shiny glares in your pictures.
You should be using several shades of eyeshadow. First, use a light to mid-tone or shear shade from the lash line to the brow. Then, using a flat eyeshadow brush, apply a slightly darker tone along the crease line, or slightly above. This will give your eyes shape and dimension. Lastly, use your darkest shade to create a small ‘v’ that sits on it’s side, from the crease to the outer corner to the lash line. Follow this with eye liner from corner to corner on the top and from outer corner fading to inner corner on bottom. Feel free to add a colored liner on top of this on the outer corners. Finish with two layers of mascara. Use a waterproof mascara in case of wedding tears. Start at the base of the lashes and follow them out as you move the brush in horizontal strokes to separate lashes. Go easy on the bottom lashes.
To get kissable lips, apply a liner along the natural edge of your lips (don’t put it on the skin tone outside of your lips, or you will get a chapped-lip look) and follow with a lipstick that matches. To complete the look, add a subtle gloss. Be sure to take lipstick and gloss with you on your wedding day for touch-ups. If your maid of honor carries a purse, that’s the perfect place to keep them.
Final thoughts: Blend, blend, blend! To successfully make your make-up look natural, blend all lines and all boundaries between different colors. Stay away from too much glitter or shine, as this will reflect the flash of cameras.
