Christmas is coming – if you’re considering a few fun gifts you’d like Santa to bring to you, you’re not alone. While no one wants to seem greedy or too acquisitive during the holidays, it’s only natural to want presents that bring happiness and please the senses.

For brides-to-be, certain gift ideas can actually help to make wedding planning (and related stress!) easier to handle. If you’re going to be walking down the aisle in the coming months, consider asking Santa for goodies that will help you to prepare for (and enjoy) your upcoming nuptials!

If you’re not celebrating Christmas, you may still want to check out these fun gift ideas – all are viable gift options for any special occasion during the lead-up to  your own wedding day!

Cutting Machines for Paper Crafts -

Are you interested in making your own place cards, menus, and other cardboard wedding favours? If you are, a cutting machine, such as a Cricut die cast machine, will give you incredible creative “powers”. These laser-cut, die cast cutting machines allow brides-to-be to create incredible layered and artistic effects.

A series of different cartridges are available for different purposes – some fun choices for weddings might include hearts, doves, bells, wedding cakes, or initials. If you’re “crafty”, a cutting machine will undoubtedly thrill you, as it will give you results that are straight out of Martha Stewart Living.

Different types and models of cutting machines are available – from budget to super deluxe. If you’d rather leave wedding invitations and wedding planning to the experts, you might prefer our next suggestion…

Aromatherapy – We’ve all seen Bridezillas in action…these self-obsessed, stressed-out stereotypes are never ladylike, calm, or composed. To avoid the diva label as you plan your wedding, stay as cool as a cucumber with soothing aromatherapy that balances the mind, body and spirit.

Essential oil burners from the Body Shop are one great Christmas gift idea that will give you months of pleasure before you marry. Certain essential oils used in aromatherapy have different effects on the system – for example, lemon or orange energizes and stimulates. To calm your system, opt for lavender (this scent helps you to fall asleep, or just to chill out) or vanilla.

Experimenting with aromatherapy is great fun, and it’s also a wonderful way to manage stress as you prepare to walk down the aisle in your white wedding dress…

Home Fitness Equipment -

If, like many women, you often feel too tired to drag yourself to the gym before or after work, you may be a prime candidate for  home fitness equipment. If you’d rather break a sweat in the comfort and privacy of your own home, and you have the self-discipline to use treadmills, Exercycles, elliptical machines, and other equipment faithfully, you may find that in-house exercise machines have a life-changing effect on your mind and body.

Just 30 minutes of cardio exercise each day will streamline your shape (an hour is even better), and it will also help you to cope with stress. With regular hard exercise, problems are processed more easily – you just don’t “sweat” the small stuff. Do yourself a favour this Christmas – ask Santa to bring you a nice recumbent Exercycle that you can ride while you watch Food TV…by your wedding day, you’ll be in excellent shape, both mentally and physically.

The main advantage of home fitness equipment is the way it saves you the hassle of driving to the gym, parking, packing and unpacking a gym bag, waiting for free machines, showering in a communal setting, etc. However, to get the benefits, you must work out at home several times per week.

Best for Bride Is Here to Help

There’s more to planning a wedding than staying fit and de-stressed beforehand – although both of those things help enormously. Most brides-to-be need expert guidance as they search for the prettiest wedding dresses, wedding bands, bridal rings, and wedding invitations. Luckily, our team of experienced and compassionate experts is here to help you every step of the way.

Our bricks-and-mortar bridal boutiques are located in Ontario, Canada, and they are the perfect place to find wedding dresses Toronto and bridesmaid dresses in Mississauga. For brides-to-be in other provinces (or countries!), we offer a convenient online bridal store that allows you to shop from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Contact our team today, and begin this important journey with some professional backup and advice. Happy Holidays from Best for Bride!

Today, many brides consider the environment while they plan their wedding ceremonies and receptions. Avoiding waste , ordering planet-friendly supplies, and conserving energy at a grand celebration can be tricky, but it’s not impossible.

In fact, planning a “green” wedding can be a wonderful experiment that most guests will really appreciate. There are plenty of ways to ensure that your wedding is as environmentally-conscious as it can be; here are some excellent tips to help you get started:

Choose A Local, Sustainable Menu

Supporting local farmers and local businesses can be an excellent starting point when planning a planet-friendly wedding. After all, so much fuel, energy and packaging is wasted when food products are imported. Choosing local, sustainable ingredients is a perfect way to support your community and protect the environment. Look for fresh produce in season, and choose a menu that celebrates the hard work of local farmers.

Buying food products grown in your locality can be a great way of making sure that everything served at your wedding is as fresh as it can possibly be. While certain types of food, such as wild-farmed salmon, organic beef and chicken, and organic fruits and veggies can cost more, they are free of harmful pesticides, hormones, and other nasty additives. Your guests will taste the difference, and you will support environmentally-conscious local businesses. Make sure your friends and family know that you’ve chosen a fresh, local menu – they’ll love the idea!

Use Recycled Paper For Save-The-Date Notes, Invitations, Place Cards, and Menus

There are plenty of excellent ways to use recycled paper and cardboard to create gorgeous wedding invitations, place cards, and menus. If you’re outsourcing these items from a local designer or printer, be sure to request the materials you want – any reputable printer or artist will be more than happy to comply with your wishes.

To create lovely decorations, invitations, place cards and menus from recycled paper – get creative! Use appliques, ribbon, stencils and rubber stamps to give your work a chic, homespun vibe. A hot glue gun can be a great way to add embellishments to planet-friendly recycled wedding favors and invitations. You might also want to look for envelopes made from recycled materials…

Keep Things Simple And Old-Fashioned

A low-fi, old-school approach to wedding entertainment can give your reception a lot of charm. Instead of a noisy rock band or cheesy, loud wedding singers, consider a folk-rock musician who only needs a single mike, a couple of amps, and an acoustic guitar. Even a string quartet can provide amazingly beautiful music during a wedding ceremony, and they won’t need much “juice” to do it. You may also want to conserve power by planning a simple, outdoor ceremony that takes advantage of bright sunlight. Candlelight can be a romantic, planet-friendly option for your wedding reception. Votives and natural beeswax candles can be fragrant, flattering, and lovely to behold.

Plan A Natural Bridal Look That Reinforces Your “Green” Theme

Looking pretty, natural and fresh-faced will complement your wedding’s healthy, planet-friendly feel. Look for a bridal dress that is simple and not too sexy.

If you love funkier, edgier style, express yourself with an unusual gown, such as the cool bridal dress style shown above. Be yourself by choosing a white wedding dress that really reflects your personal taste and sensibilities.

A pretty laurel of flowers in your hair will be lovely choice – this style has been worn by brides since the Middle Ages. Keep your hairstyle soft and natural – avoid hairspray and a lacquered, fussy look. To highlight your bridal gown and hair, do natural makeup that focuses on soft, neutral earth tones – pinky-brown lip glosses, such as MAC Lust, will add just enough color and shine. Glowing cheeks can be achieved with a simple swipe of peachy blush, such as the popular Nars Orgasm. Foundation should be used sparingly, and it should be designed to create a soft, dewy effect. Almay’s lightweight, sheer bases are a great choice for this kind of look.

Your bridal rings should be carefully chosen to reflect your overall style – in general, the type of woman who wants a “green” wedding won’t need a lot of bling. Subtle Feri jewelry and a small bouquet of wildflowers can be more than enough to set off your natural beauty as you walk down the aisle in your wedding dress. If you’ve overspent setting up your green wedding, consider shopping for cheap bridesmaids dresses to save a little money; online bridal boutiques, such as our Best For Bride wedding emporium, offer high quality designs for a reasonable price.

Most brides and grooms-to-be must consider their wedding budgets when they plan their nuptials. Weddings can get very expensive, and it’s a rare couple that doesn’t have to worry about the cost of catering, alcohol, music, renting a venue, etc. For many brides, one of the most important parts of wedding planning is choosing the right bridal gown. In most cases, this white wedding dress is incredibly meaningful for the bride-to-be – therefore, it should probably not be a budget item.

In fact, brides-to-be tend to regret buying cheap wedding dresses after the ceremony and reception are finished. Of course, there are exceptions, but quality does show in wedding photos and videos. So, in general, it’s smart to save on other aspects of the wedding, so that you can enjoy getting the dress you really want. It still doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but it should fulfill your fairytale dreams for your special day – you deserve to feel like a queen when you walk down the aisle.

Luckily, there are lots of ways to economize if you’re smart and organized. Planning well in advance can be key – give yourself time to comparison shop on everything from catering to wedding flowers to wedding favors – if you’re rushed and under pressure, you’ll end up buying overpriced items out of desperation. Instead, use the months before your wedding to research deals and plan your strategy.

You’ll be glad you didn’t move too fast when you consider the overall cost of your ceremony and reception. By putting some energy into finding lower-priced items and services, you’ll be able to enjoy your wedding more – after all, no one wants to return from the honeymoon to be confronted with a mountain of debt. Debt creates stress, and it take a lot of romance out of the blissful newlywed state.

Here are some practical tips on saving money at your wedding:

Rent His Tux – Unless you have a lot to spend, you should consider tuxedo rental for your groom-to-be. Most men don’t really care too much about whether or not they actually own their tuxedo. If he’s not particularly obsessed with fashion, he’ll probably be glad to rent something nice and return it afterwards. You can outfit him in style when you choose to rent instead of buying. Good tuxedos are actually incredibly expensive.

Make Your Own Invitations And Wedding Favours – Many women enjoy making crafts – they watch Martha Stewart and other skilled crafters and feel inspired. Today, there are ways to get a completely charming and polished result when you make wedding invites, place cards, menus, and wedding favours yourself.

Scrap booking stores will usually have everything you need to do the job yourself. You can use stencils, pretty colored card paper, and stick-on embellishments, such as tiny “crystals”, to make your work look really special. If you’re seriously into crafting, consider investing in a die cast personal cutting machine, such as a Cricut. This type of computerized device can be loaded with cartridges that include pretty borders, letters, hearts, flowers, or whatever you can dream up! Then, you just feed in the paper and the machine creates perfect cutouts.

Choosing a cartridge with a wedding theme can be a great way to make your own decorations, wedding invitations and wedding favours, If you really like making crafts, a machine like this will pay for itself in terms of the pleasure it brings you through the years. It can definitely save you money as you prepare for your wedding.

Keep Things A Little Less Formal –

in general, the more formal and elaborate a wedding is, the more it will cost to plan it and to carry out that plan. By loosening up your wedding ceremony (or perhaps your reception) and keeping it more casual, you can be more creative with cost-saving techniques.

Food will be a huge expense at your wedding, so consider sharing some of the work with your caterer – perhaps the caterer could provide entrees, and you could prepare side dishes, salads, and other foodstuffs yourself. If you’re planning something fun like a beach wedding, consider outdoor grilling and buy great cuts of meat wholesale. Then, hire a cook or chef to take care of things while you celebrate. Look for recipes that are glamorous and high-impact, but don’t contain pricey ingredients. Be a frugal gourmet to save money as you feed your guests.

Brides-to-be who follow these smart tips and use their ingenuity to plan a cheaper wedding can reward themselves by choosing the wedding dresses they’ve always dreamed of wearing.

FREE Wedding Planning Seminar
Special Show Discounts
FREE Cake Tasting
Enter to win a 4 days/3 nights Gourment Inclusive Romantic Getaway on the Riviera Maya, Mexico

Best for Bride is proud to present GRAND OPENING with Special Discounts and Absolutely FREE Wedding Planning Seminars. It’s your opportunity to meet vendors that will help you to plan a Wedding of Your Dreams.

Topic: It’s YOUR Day and WE Want to Help

Date: Sunday, February 21th, 2010
Time: 11am – 5pm
Location:
Barrie Store Location:
303 Dunlop St. West (at Highway 400)
Barrie, ON, Canada, L4N 1C1

Wedding planning is a lot of work and can be a disconcerting task. With the average wedding eating up to 250 hours; So many choices, so many decisions, a strenuous timeline and a budget that can quickly get out of hand. This is your opportunity to learn everything you need to know to plan a Wedding of Your Dreams.

Seminar is presented by a Certified Wedding Planner Debbie Savic.

Topics of Discussion:
Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses by Denise from Best for Bride)
Wedding Cakes by Dianna from Yours to Savour (http://www.yourstosavour.com/)
Destination Weddings by Dan from American Express Travel Services (http://www.onthekingsway.com/)
Invitation Wording & Etiquette
Budgets by Debbie Savic from Fresh Occasions (http://www.freshoccasion.com/)
Flowers & Decor
Photography & Videography
DJs & Entertainment
Catering
Trends…and much more! by Debbie Savic from Fresh Occasions (http://www.freshoccasion.com/)

Bridesmaids complement the bride. Similarly, the bridesmaid dresses complement the wedding dress. You have already figured out every detail of your unique wedding — down to your unique wedding dress to your unique wedding invitations. However, you still haven’t figured out what to do with your bridesmaid dresses.

The initial step is actually so obvious. Take down your gorgeous wedding dress, analyze it’s style, it’s cut and it’s theme, then go from there. If you have a luxurious Grecian wedding dress, then start from there. Search for Greek-inspired bridesmaid dresses online. There are actually a few extremely reliable web sites who can offer you a wide variety of designs to choose from. These Web Sites also feature wedding invitations and wedding favors, among others. If your wedding dress is Hawaiian-inspired, then what logical reason is there other than to have Hawaiian themed bridesmaid dresses? If you are wearing a princess cut wedding gown, you may also opt to have princess-cut bridesmaid dresses.

Consult your bridesmaids on the designs which they like. Most women know what cut and style suit them most, so a consultation would be a safer route. For those with more than one bridesmaid, let them debate on a style and cut which would work well for all of them. Or, you may let these bridesmaids wear separate styles so as to enhance their assets and to make them feel comfortable wearing the clothes of their choice on your wedding day. You could also give your bridesmaids a few magazines to leaf through. These wedding catalogues and magazines could be a huge factor in helping the bridesmaids come to an agreement on their bridesmaid dresses.

It would also be advisable to seek the help of a professional designer. These designers know women’s body types and they could design clothes to perfectly suit each body type. Remember, there are some things that clothes designers can see that the mere mortal’s naked eyes don’t.

Remind your bridesmaids that there are no slinky numbers allowed in weddings. That rule should be strictly enforces. So, if they want to change the style and cut of their bridesmaid dresses, the better make sure to stay away from embarrassingly suggestive clothing. Otherwise, threaten them that you are going to personally drag them through the threshold.

When it comes to the color, the bridesmaids actually have very little say about this. You should follow the wedding motif. Green bridesmaid dresses would look awful if your theme is lavender. Similarly, fuchsia pink bridesmaid dresses would totally seem out of place if your wedding color theme is yellow. You can choose bridesmaid dresses that may be just a shade or two darker or lighter than your wedding motif. However, you should never a totally different shade.

All in all, the important elements in choosing your bridesmaid dresses can basically be summed up as these: Your wedding dress style, your wedding color motif, your theme and venue, your bridesmaids personalities and preferences, and of course, your bridesmaids’ comfort.

After finalizing the guest list to your wedding, and conveniently forgetting to list some people, it’s time to send out the wedding invitations. Your wedding invitation will set the stage for your special day. Invitations come in all shapes and sizes there are a lot to choose from if you go pre-made, and even more if you go custom. What’s In The Envelope?

If you are not yet entirely sure what should be on your wedding invitations, there are many sites that will show you around the basics with helpful hints, along with many samples that can be viewed online, or if you should choose, you can get a free actual sample. For example, a good invitation will answer all the FAQs: who’s getting married (of course), where, and when. The details on what to wear, what to expect and what is expected may be left to be placed on the reception cards. Make sure that the printer you choose has the answers for the what and how, so that all you have to worry about is whom to send the invitations to.

There are also some people that seek the formality of being sent a solid and tangible wedding invitation, for whom verbal invites or general statements of “hey, I’m getting married, be there” will not do. When it comes to wedding invitations, there are many options to choose from, in classic or modern designs that are also good have as keepsakes.

There are many wedding stores that could provide for everything on your wedding, from wedding invitations to wedding cakes in Mississauga. If you’re pressed for time, this is always a good route to take.

Counting The Days

You should be able to send out the wedding invitations at least two weeks before the event, to be considerate and for practicality’s sake. A good printer will ensure that you get to send your wedding invitations as fast as you want it, and at a reasonable price. You can get quotations at the site. Wedding invitations are often hand carried, but if this is impractical, so at least go through registered mail or local courier, for your peace of mind that your invitation was received. The time allowance will allow guests with to make arrangements. If you have the time, or know someone who does (like your maid of honor or bridesmaids), call up the guests to confirm if they are coming. Not only will such a practice make you sensitive to your guests convenience, you also get to prepare for your receptions headcount so you don’t end up budgeting for too much, or worse, too little.

Tit For Tat?

Avoid the politically incorrect in guise of practicality trend of putting in cards with wedding invitations that say “in lieu of gifts, the couple for reasons stated herein would rather receive cash” that will often be read as “we invited you to give us money.” More important than your wedding invitations’ design is your etiquette. Know propriety for a successful wedding.

Toronto’s premier wedding boutique is excited to announce the opening of a beautiful second location in Etobicoke. Best for Bride specializes in the sales and rental of wedding supplies and accessories, including designer bridal gowns, bridesmaid’s dresses and jewellery. The luxurious new location is sure to make every bride feel like a princess as she shops for her big day.

Etobicoke, Ontario – Best for Bride, Toronto’s premier wedding boutique (http://www.bestforbride.com/) has opened a second location at the corner of Dundas and Kipling in Etobicoke. The new convenient location is easily accessible by public transit, as it is right by the Kipling subway station. The new store’s lavish decor will certainly make brides and bridesmaids feel rich and pampered as they browse through the huge selection of gorgeous wedding dresses and accessories. Pictures and map of the new location are viewable here http://www.bestforbride.com/store-location-etobicoke-mississauga.php.

Best for Bride sells top quality wedding and formal wear at reasonable prices. Their gowns are made of designer fabrics and feature fancy embellishments. Best for Bride’s dresses are created to fit every bride, from petite to plus-size and come in a variety of sizes and colours. Aside from offering dresses for sale, Best for Bride also rents out wedding wear and accessories, allowing brides to have a wedding of their dreams regardless of budget.

 

 

Presently, Best for Bride is offering an amazing special for the rental of bridal accessories (veil, crinoline, tiara, jewellery set, headpieces, gloves, fur cape and shawl) at the price of only $100. More information about this special, as well as prices for the rental of individual items is available here: http://www.bestforbride.com/rental.php.

Recently, Best for Bride has begun selling wedding invitations and wedding favours to fulfill all wedding needs for their clients. Now, brides and grooms-to be are able to get their wedding outfits, bridal party wear, wedding cakes and invitations and accessories and favors all in one convenient location. 

“We are thrilled to be opening our new store in Etobicoke,” said Olga Pomeransky, owner of Best for Bride Bridal Boutique. “This location is spacious and beautifully decorated and we are looking forward to serving our customers here.”

For additional information on the news of this release, visit http://www.bestforbride.com/, or email sales@BestForBride.com

Best for Bride Bridal & Evening Wear Boutique is a one-stop bridal store, with two locations in the Toronto, Ontario area to serve and advise their clients.  

Best for Bride Bridal Boutique
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1
Phone:  (416) 233-3393
http://www.bestforbride.com/
sales@BestForBride.com

You invitation is a reflection on the type of wedding its going to be weather it be formal, informal or themed this will be transparent in the invitation. The invitation is the only essential stationary required everything else is optional.

Save the date

This card is sent several months in advance to guests that have a long distance to travel, it is simple courtesy to let them know your plans so they can start making their own. These cards only need the Bride and Grooms names and the date and location of the wedding. It’s a good idea to include “Invitation to follow” so they don’t keep calling for the details that are not available yet like reception location and time.

The Invitation

As before these will reflect the type of wedding to come so chose the style accordingly. Most people spend between 1-2% of the budget on the stationary. When ordering your stationary remember to include 10 extra to provide for mistakes and late invites. This will be cheaper than having to reorder a new batch. It a good idea to let another person check the invites before they go out to make sure all is in order and spelled correctly. The invitation will include the names of the hosts; the brides name the grooms name, the ceremony location, date and time, the reception location and the RSVP address. If children are being invited include on the invitation if not leave out.

Reply Card

The reply card is an optional but efficient way of getting the guest list finalized. You can also include a menu option so that guest with dietary needs can be catered for. Don’t for get the stamp so that guest can reply promptly.

wedding Service Programme

Similar to mass booklets but contain more information. They may include the whole wording of the ceremony, which will provide for a lovely memento of the day especially if the couple has written their own vows. This also offers the scope to mention deceased loved ones or to give a little background on the wedding party or to explain any unfamiliar rites. You can even go further by including poems, photos etc.

Place Cards

These are traditionally small cards engraved with guests name and each seating place. Now more couples are finding creative ways to replace these. One option is to carve the names into small pebbles or stones and offer to guests as a memento you imagination is the limit with this so don’t be afraid to let it run riot.

Thank you cards

These are absolutely essential to thank each guest for his or her attendants and gifts you received. You can opt to match these to the invitation cards or pick up a pack of pre-printed cards from your local card shop. Take time to write a hand written note to each on the card to each guest as it is only courtesy and will be remembered.

Special Touches

Besides the choices of text, type, paper and design there are lots of ways to personalize and add that special touch to your cards. Trimmings can range from feathers to pearls, shells flowers or ribbons each design can be unique. Another option can be the original watercolor of the church where the ceremony is taking place or the coat of arms of the bride and grooms family branded on the invitation. Photogenic designs and laser cut monograms of the couple’s initials on the front of the card is a hot new trend.

Information packs

In addition to the invitation itself you can include directions to the church and reception, local tourist attractions for distant relatives and even details of the wedding list. Such details will be appreciated by the out of town wedding guests who will be unfamiliar with the place your getting married and be interested in favorite bars, restaurants and tourist attractions if any.

DIY Stationary

One way to save money and add that personal touch to the stationary is to make your own. This is more popular than ever and there is an abundant choice of card paper and trinkets to choose from including high quality hand made and floral paper. You can add organza ribbon, feathers, shells the options are limitless all you will need is a printer to add the script or why not try your hand at some DIY calligraphy to add a definite personalized touch. Although this method of creating your own stationary takes time it can be highly rewarding.

About The Author
declan tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of wedding Dresses which includes wedding gowns, Designer wedding gowns, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests. http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com
Copyright Declan Tobin – http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com

Thank you for visiting the BEST FOR BRIDE web site! Please take the time to browse our web site thoroughly and do not hesitate to Contact Us with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Best for Bride Bridal Boutique Team
566A Sheppard Ave West
Toronto, ON, M3H 2R9
(647)898-6504
sales@bestforbride.com