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Expert answers to 7 tricky bridesmaid situations

Bridesmaids are the women who share the stage with you on your wedding day. This is a position that you should confer after thoroughly thinking it through. This is because they have an important role to play at your wedding; it is one where they will have to handle several responsibilities.

However careful or calculating you may be when choosing your bridesmaids, you can still end up with unexpected surprises or awkward situations in this area at different stages of the wedding planning process. Sometimes, the issues may crop up right from the time you start choosing your bridesmaids, at other times it may be an issue that suddenly popped up when you thought everything was progressing beautifully.

Here are some issues that brides have had to tide over, and let us look at the best way to handle each of them.

Q. Who to choose when you have more than one Bestie?

Enter Friends, with Monica who had to choose between Rachel and Phoebe, or Jules on Cougar Town with Ellie and Laurie! This is a situation we’ve seen time and again. If you have always been certain of who to choose as your Maid of Honor, and its been mutually agreed upon, lucky you! If not, do not worry, we have a few solutions for you to consider.

Leave it to the girls to decide among themselves, if you think that is the best approach. Of course, be prepared to go with whoever they decide to choose, if you take this route.
Ask them both. There is no problem with having two Maids of Honor, and it can perhaps be easier on them too as they can share the responsibilities and you needn’t feel guilty about your decision. This is the easiest and most practical approach, especially if you seem to be getting nowhere with making a choice.
If you have a sibling who you trust to take care of everything well, it is best to ask her and avoid stressing over it further. This will also save you from the problem of choosing between friends.
When considering your choices, give priority to responsibility, availability and organizing ability. Remember your maid of honor should be available and able to make things easier for you, and not just someone you choose so she is happy.

Q. What to do if a bridesmaid is pregnant or a new mom at the time of the wedding

Since you’ll be engaged for a long time, don’t expect all your bridesmaids to be in their current situations at the time of your wedding. They may or may not! However, having a bridesmaid who is pregnant or a new mom doesn’t have to change too many things. The best approach in this situation is to ask her what she would be comfortable doing. If your friend would still love to continue being your bridesmaid, trust her with it. If she is nervous and would prefer to back out, it is best to go with her choice. If your friend would like to continue in the role, make sure you do all you can so she is comfortable. You may have to make a few changes to plan when ordering her dress. It may have to be altered or you may have to choose it closer to the wedding. So, plan the logistics accordingly. Also, entrust her with light responsibilities, given her situation. She will already be handling a hundred extra things of her own, so don’t stress her out with more than she can handle. Just talk to her and find out all you can about how you can make things easy for her, and we are sure it will all work out well for both of you.

Q. When your bridesmaids hate the dress you chose

It is impossible to make everyone happy, and yes, it is your happiness that ultimately matters. So, if your choice for the bridesmaids dress doesn’t find favor with the girls, you can still stick to it. All the same, remember that there are several ways in which you can work around this and find a choice that they can be happier about.

Many brides make the mistake of choosing bridesmaids dresses in unusual colors, that many girls find unappealing. The mix and match bridesmaids look is one of the best ways to tide over this issue and get you what you want, while your bridesmaids are also happy. You can keep two or three factors uniform, like the color, neckline, hemline or designer collection, and allow your girls to choose any dress they like as long as these factors are met. Find out how to do this right, by checking out this previous article of ours. The other way is to go with a neutral color or universally flattering pattern and step up the style with colorful accessories or bold fashion items. Here are some suggestions for some colors that work this way in this post.

Spend some time researching your options and be open to ideas that fit in with your wedding aesthetic. You may not only find a choice that everyone adores, but it may also give you something unique that sets your wedding apart. Also ask your bridesmaids if they have any suggestions and then make a choice that nobody can totally hate. This way, you’ll be happy and so will your bridesmaids.

Q. Your bridesmaids think they are paying too much for everything

When a bridesmaid agrees to be one, she knows she signs up to spend some money for your wedding. So, it is part of the deal. Nevertheless, it is up to you to be reasonable about what you choose, so you don’t make your friends regret their decision later. This bridesmaid voices her concerns, in this post on Apartment Therapy, and she tells us how difficult it is for her to cough up all the money she is expected to spend for her friend.

Remember that this applies to your bridesmaids too. They have to pay for a dress which they may never wear again, pay for the bridal shower and wedding gift, hair, makeup, accessories, and these things can quickly add up. So, if you value your friendship, it is only right that you are understanding and either stick to reasonable plans where they have to pay only what they can afford, or volunteer to pay for anything extravagant. The best approach is to have options for everything from the dress to the gift, and allow them to pick from the choices based on their comfort. Your wedding shouldn’t leave any of your friends in a financial crunch, and unless you have been on the receiving end with the same friends previously, it is only wrong if you do. If you think the dress price exceeded your idea, or if they have paid more than they expected to, you can always buy them their accessories like shoes or jewelry and take that burden off them. They deserve it for all the hard work (and money!) they are putting in to make your day extra-special.

Q. What to do when one of my bridesmaids just doesn’t get along with the rest

Your bridesmaids are a team, and they do have to spend some time together to plan their roles and responsibilities properly. Having a bossy bridesmaid or one who always seems to disagree with the rest can throw the entire situation into chaos. So, the first step is to recognize the likelihood of any such problems arising, before you pop your question to your bridesmaids. If there is a difficult friend in your list, consider whether it is more important that they be a bridesmaid than avoiding arguments among your bridesmaids. If you think it is, you may have to take on an active role to avoid potential problems. This article on Huffington post gives some practical solutions in this regard. Firstly, avoid tricky situations that can lead to friction. You can delegate responsibilities like the shower to a particular person, even outside the bridesmaid group to avoid arguments. Delegate only specific responsibilities to her, so she won’t have to cross paths with an opponent. Pair her off with those who can handle her with tact. Finally, before your wedding day, sit her down and personally ask her to put aside her differences and cooperate, so your day goes well. If she cares even an ounce for your happiness, she will handle it well and make sure that the excitement of your day is not ruined due to her petty and unnecessary problems.

Q. What to do when a bridesmaid can’t keep the wedding planning details a secret

Whether it is because she is super-excited about your wedding, or simply jealous of what you have, it is simply wrong to tell others your wedding planning secrets. If your bridesmaid does this by mistake, let it go, but make sure to ask her nicely to never repeat it. Despite this, if she continues with gossiping, it may be better if you act immediately. If you wait too long, she can cause your wedding surprises to be ruined by her inconsiderate behavior. Aim for a solution where you involve only those who can keep their thoughts to themselves, in the planning. Don’t make it into a bitter problem and spoil the entire mood by arguing with the person who spills the beans every time. Be discrete and don’t give any details if she keeps asking you for what’s going on. If you want to handle it diplomatically, and not create any unpleasant situations, assign a generic project to her and leave her with it. Make sure it is one that won’t make a difference even if she goes around telling the town what is involved, and it’ll keep her busy from interfering with the rest.

Q. Is it alright if my bridesmaid lives far away and will be arriving just in time for the wedding

This isn’t too rare these days. After all, you may have friends right from the time you were a little girl, who are close to you despite the physical distance. Although it may not be easy to shop for the bridesmaid dress or plan the shower from long-distance, it is still possible. Where dress shopping is concerned, you can simply mail her the options or share links to the collection online, and ask her for her opinions. Once the choice is made, you should order it for her, along with the dresses for your other bridesmaids. For this you need to know her dress size. Make sure that your bridesmaid is measured by a professional seamstress, so you get the measurements right before ordering the dress. Since you will mostly be ordering all the bridesmaids dresses in one go and from the same dye lot, make sure you know this before you place the order. Once the dress arrives, ship it to her right away. This will allow her to get the alterations done, so it is ready to be worn when she travels for the wedding. Where the bachelorette parties and bridal showers are concerned, it is up to your maid of honor and other bridesmaids to plan it. If you would like her to attend, see if it is possible to move these events closer to the wedding date. Since you want her to be involved in the wedding as much as the rest of the wedding party is, you can consider designating some day-of tasks to her. Nevertheless, remember that she may be tired from the journey and so accommodate that factor into the plans as well.

Now that we have most of the tricky questions addressed here, we think you are covered for most scenarios. If you think there are any more likely situations that you want help with, write to us and let us know.

For your bridesmaids dresses, we suggest you take a look at our extensive collection of bridesmaids dresses here on Best for Bride. With exhaustive collections in all sizes and designs from leading designer brands, you are bound to find the right dresses for all your bridesmaids by visiting us.

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Wedding dress styles for bold and daring brides

Lee Bigtree, Fashion director at Oleg Cassini in her interview with The Knot comments, “ In our current society and culture, pretty much anything goes. If it makes you look and feel your very best, and it’s what you want to say, and you can pull it off, it can work.”

I absolutely agree with her, as we’ve recently been seeing this trend at Best for Bride. It is common for us to have brides ask for the most unusual and unexpected wedding dress styles. The modern woman wants to be unique and special on her wedding day, even while she looks and feels important.

Wedding designers recognize this need of the modern-day bride. So, it is only natural that they have come up with impressively bold and daring collections that cater to this requirement. These powerful dresses undoubtedly appeal to self-assured and confident women who want their strong personality show in their wedding trousseau. We feature many such dresses in our vast inventory of wedding dress collections.

I expect you will find enough inspiration here to plan your bridal look. Let me show you some of the popular bold and daring wedding dresses we carry. And don’t forget to let us know which of these is your favorite in the comments section below.

Wedding dress with colored bodice

There is something remarkably intriguing about a white wedding dress with a colored bodice. Despite the look being mainly white, a simple addition of color will drastically alter the overall effect. Whether the bodice has a muted color or a bright one, there is a definite injection of personality into the bridal look. I think this is an attractive new way to incorporate the colors of your wedding theme into the bridal look. Here is a dress from the Sans Pareil collection that features this effect.

This is the Sans Pareil Dress 935 that features a blush bodice with silver and bead embroidery in the sweetheart bodice. It has a heavily layered ball gown skirt, and features an abundance of textures that with a bodice that beautifully complements it. A definite choice for the bride who wants a non-traditional look without making it too extreme.

Wedding dress with deep-dip neckline

Confidence is the middle name of the modern bride, and what better way to show it off than with a dress with a daring neckline detail. Low-cut V-necklines with or without modesty panels on them have been on the scene for a long time now. However, this choice isn’t for the faint at heart, as not all brides want to invite scandal on their wedding day. Nevertheless, there are brides who can carry it off with style and are long remembered for the sexy-and-stunning bridal day look. This ravishing beauty from the Sophia Tolli collection is a perfect example.

The Y21667 Lucia from the Mon Cheri designer collection has a pleated bodice that extends into shoulder straps and frames a deep and wide V-neckline in the center. Illusion details in crystal and bead embroidery embellish the V-neckline all the way from the collar bones to the waist. Although these details add coverage to the entire area, there is no denying the fact that the exposed neckline is mysterious and creates intrigue. The signature neckline detail makes the pleated chiffon dress truly unique. To take a closer look at this dress, visit this link to our website.

Wedding dresses with sheer midriff

Brides do not usually hesitate to try on or choose dresses with strapless necklines, despite the fact that they expose greater part of the shoulders and neckline. Nevertheless, the trend of showing off the midriff is a newer one and less common. After all, it is not something that everyone can carry off. New designer wear collections however, explore the potential of this look. There are a number of designs with lace and sheer bodices that conceal the bust but leave the midriff to view. Take a look at these beauties from the Sans Pareil collection.

This dress features splendid re-embroidered lace appliques that extend all over the sheer bodice. The lace motifs form a necklace detail at the neckline and extend in a sweetheart bodice fashion up to the waistline. You can notice that there are panels that cover only the bust area beneath it. This evidently draws attention to the sheer midriff area which also has an embellished waistband around it.

Here is another dress from the Sans Pareil collection with similar features.

This Sans Pareil 924 has cap sleeves and a sheer bodice formed out of stunning lace appliques. The bust area has solid fabric cups concealing it. However, the rest of the bodice doesn’t have an underlay layer for the lace. Thus it reveals the midriff area, making this a bold design. With a fit and flare skirt as well, the dress highlights the natural body shape of the bride.

Barely-there bodice with 3-D motifs as embellishments

Taking the sheer bodice effect as step further are wedding dresses with barely-visible bodices. The bodice is usually made with sheer fabric. These dresses often feature beautiful but delicate details in the bodice. The most attractive factor about them is their wispy, barely-there effect. Certainly not suitable for traditional weddings and those held in a house of worship, these dresses are nonetheless arresting and unique in their own right. Here is a sample.

This dress is again from the Sans Pareil collection. Almost fully see-through floral lace in dainty wisps covers the entire bodice of this wedding dress. While solid cups conceal the bust area, the rest of the upper torso is fully exhibited in this bold design. The dress also features a beautiful pink embellished waistband and a gently pleated skirt. It has a striking overall effect. The unusual top balances out the simple details in the skirt. The exquisite bodice design stretches into shoulder straps over a corset in the back.

Full-open back detail

Many a modern bride has the confidence to carry off daring wedding dresses with intriguing features not only in the front, but also in the rear. The safer option is to choose an illusion or sheer neckline. However, nothing compares with the attractive style of a back that opens all the way up to the waistline. It is a perfect dress feature for a bride who wants a wedding dress with a touch of glamour. This Alfred Angelo gown will show you what we mean!

This breathtaking dress is the Alfred Angelo 2547, that features all-over lace and cap sleeves. The fit and flare gown however, has its signature element in the full-open back detail that reveals the well-toned back of the beautiful bride in it. The shoulder straps have lace embellishments. This lace continues along the edges of the back, and frames an almost V-like shape. It adds a touch of elegance to the open-neck design in this part of the dress.

Non-white wedding dress

When we think of a bride, the image that comes to mind is of a lady in a ravishing gown in white. Today’s brides however step away from convention without a qualm, when they embrace colors in their wedding day ensemble. From colored bodices and all-over colored dresses to bridal gowns with colorful prints, embellishments and embroidery, we’ve seen it all. Here are two of our favorites. They are bound to make a statement on your special day.

This flattering feminine pink gown from the Sans Pareil collection is both elegant and enchanting. Shimmering strands of crystal embellishments add shine and sparkle to the entire length of the gown. The fit and flare gown features a dainty sheer neckline and T-shirt sleeves over a deep-cut sweetheart bodice. The deviation from traditional pink is what first captures our eye. However, the soft muted color is both classic and romantic. I think this dress is a spectacular masterpiece that is perfect for a bride.

Princess-like and perfect for the bridal look, here is another muted pink wedding dress from the Sans Pareil collection. And, this is one that is sure to turn heads. The tiered skirt detail adds a special effect to the already elaborate design. Signature lace details in the tier balance out the beautiful lace motifs along the neckline and sleeves of the gown. It has a fitted bodice and a beautiful sheer neckline. Overall, this romantic wedding dress is simply stunning and the perfect choice for the bold bride.

Extravagant ball gown

The ball gown is the traditional wedding dress silhouette. However, it doesn’t really have many takers these days. Often described as meringue-like, many brides feel it is too over-the-top for their liking. The adventurous bride however finds this an interesting dress style to make a statement on her wedding day. With additional features like ruffles, tassels and lace, the elaborate ball gown can look striking and attractive. Here is a dress from the Mori Lee collection that does just this.

The Mori lee 2815 is a dramatic wedding gown in a ball gown silhouette. It has thick and tiered ruffles adding to the overall impact . Frothy waves cascade from the waistline all the way down to full-length, and create a big impression. A stunning embellished bodice with a flourish of crystal embellished details adds further impact to the beautiful design. Although heavy and elaborate, no bride has to worry about being overlooked in a dress with these details.

Caped beauties

Accessories are a must-have for every bride. We have seen brides experiment with various options, from belts and sashes to veils and jewelry. Capes are a recent entry on the scene. These continue to be the accessory-of-choice for the bride who wants a unique look on her special day. This is an accessory that flows down from the shoulders to floor length. The cape magically transforms any dress. Take a look at this dress from the Disney collection.

The snow princess from the movie Frozen is the inspiration behind this dress, the 259 Elsa. The signature icon in this dress is it’s cape attachment. This quickly changes the effect of the dress from good to stunning! The cape attaches to the off-the-shoulder neckline and flutters to full-length. It eliminates the need for a veil, the traditional accessory of choice. Yet, it yields an impact that beats a veil any day. The scattering of golden sparkle along the bodice culminates in an embellished waistband that separates both halves.

Bridal pant suits

The final, but most unconventional bridal dress is the bridal pant suit. This is often chosen by brides who aren’t comfortable in dresses. It is also the choice of dress for mature brides. It is also often spotted at lesbian weddings. Bridal pant suits aren’t technically dresses. Even so, it is a fresh alternative that is just as impressive as a regular wedding dress. Designer wedding bridal suits come in all shapes and sizes. They can be well-tailored, fitted designs or even loose bridal jumpsuits. Accessories like veils and bouquets pair well with this wedding dress style, and often complete the bridal trousseau in style.

The Alfred Angelo 2516 is a bridal pant suit that never fails to impress. The loosely flared divided skirt resembles a dress, with pleated details and a wide hemline. However, it is convenient and comfortable. It is definitely an unexpected take on a bridal pant suit. The dress also features a textured halter-neck bodice that makes it an amazing choice for a casual-theme wedding or a destination event.

All the dresses featured here belong to the bridal dress collection at Best for Bride. Find all of them and many more at our bridal dress inventory here. Now tell us which of these do you think is the best for your wedding day? Or do you think they are all too unconventional for your taste? Let us know your thoughts and comments!

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Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 8 Comments

12 wedding favors perfect for Winter weddings

Wedding favors are one of the things that deserve special attention in weddings. These are the items that your guests will take home from your wedding, and so, you should put in some thought when selecting them. Although there are hundreds of options out there, not all of them equally strike a chord with wedding guests. Unless you make sure that the favors you choose are unique and interesting, it is likely that it will simply be tossed away soon enough or forgotten abut entirely.

Since this is now the season for winter weddings, we think it is only appropriate to look at favors which are great for weddings this time of year. After all, no longer are weddings confined to the warm, sunny months of the year. With more and more couples choosing to tie the knot in the cooler fall and cold, cold winter, everything from wedding dresses to wedding favors need to be defined for these weddings. So, join us, as we take a look at what is hot in wedding favors and make your pick.

1.Cocoa in a cup

Who wouldn’t love to sip on good quality hot cocoa in the cold winter months? Gift your guests a sachet of great quality hot cocoa in a beautiful mug or cup, and it will be a wedding favor that they will definitely use at least once. To make sure that your gift is entirely unique, we suggest choosing an interesting mug or cup for your favor. Either customize it to match the theme of your party, or add your initials or message line to the gift. Otherwise choose a contemporary design, like this beautiful Swish cup and saucer set from Best for Bride, which is bound to impress anyone. The unusual design makes it an attractive display piece that is also practical.

2.Snowflake wine stopper

Snowflakes are one of the most delightful icons of winter, and snowflake designs never cease to impress. With your wedding being during the holiday season, your guests will love this snowflake wine stopper that they can use to cork up their favorite wine bottle. Don’t you think it’ll make an interesting display element, when they place their wine bottle with this interesting stopper on their table? The chrome and aluminum metal plating gives it a sleek and flawless finish, while the rubber gasket makes sure the contents of the bottle are airtight and fresh. Although a small gift, it is one that your guests will undoubtedly appreciate. You can be certain that this beautiful stopper will find its way to your wedding guests feast tables every Christmas.

3.Wedding Carriage Candles

As the days grow shorter and the nights darker, you can never have enough candles to warm your homes. So, this is the perfect time to gift candles as everyone will love them this time of year. And when it is one that is as exquisitely crafted as this Cinderella wedding carriage candle, it will be particularly favored. A beautiful design in white and silver, it is a perfect icon that reminds us of the nostalgic love story of the fairy-tale princess Cinderella and her Prince Charming. This candle favor will be a whimsical gift perfect to be displayed at your guest’s homes during the holiday season. Whether you have a fairy-tale theme castle wedding or a traditional style vintage wedding, this is a perfect wedding favor that will easily match either of them.

4.Winter Finery Chocolate bar

Who doesn’t love chocolate? This beautiful winter finery chocolate bar is nut-free and features a beautiful snowflake design on the cover in the color you choose. Personalized wedding favors have an added charm, and these winter chocolate bars can be customized with the name of the couple as well as their wedding date on them. An additional attraction is that the chocolate wrapper color can be chosen to match the color of your wedding palette, and this makes sure it blends well and adds the perfect punch of color to your dessert buffet. You can also choose to display them at each place setting if you do not have a dessert bar. It is an edible wedding favor that will be enjoyed by your guests and since it is nut-free, it is suitable for almost everyone. The younger guests at your wedding, will be especially thrilled. The wrapper design emphasizes the seasonal element at your wedding, and this in itself will make sure it is noticed.

5.Fancy Popcorn

Perfect for a casual wedding, your guests will love to munch on freshly popped corn at your wedding ceremony. Set up a fresh pop corn machine at your reception venue, and serve flavored and plain pop corn to your guests in these custom-created novelty pop corn cartons. The design is unusually attractive, spicing up the overall look of the tasty treat. If you have young children at your wedding, this is bound to be a favorite with them. A separate section that is set up to entertain kids would be a lot more attractive with the simple addition of a fresh popcorn machine. Why, you can even expect to see the adults queuing up to pick a popcorn carton! After all, popcorn is a perfect snack for any weather, and is specially welcoming in the colder months. If you would rather have your guests save the popcorn for munching on at home, you can have filled cartons wrapped in plastic and sent home, so they can enjoy it on the way back or after they are home from your wedding.

6.Mini-pie packaging kits

If you want your guests to take some sweet indulgence home from your blessed wedding, pack them off with individual mini-pies packed elegantly in these adorable mini-pie packaging kits. Small bite-sized pies that are just perfect for one person, these pies will be the perfect snack to enjoy at home after a long drive in the cold weather. Ask your baker to whip up the delicious pies in the flavors that you love, and share them with the guests who made your wedding day so special. These packaging kits come with the boxes, twines and tags that will allow you to easily assemble your party favors within no time.

7.Mini marmalade or preserve bottles

Holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in good-quality marmalade and preserves. So, you can be certain that a mini jar of tasty preserve will be well appreciated by your winter wedding guests. Serve it up in style in beautiful glass bottles with wire snaps to secure it and keep it airtight. These mini glass bottles from Best for Bride make the ideal choice for this type of wedding favor. You can personalize it to perfectly match the theme of your wedding party with wedding stickers and tags created for your special day. Wrap it up with a silk ribbon or tie a pretty twine around it for the finishing touches. Add a sweet thank you note with your initials and wedding date, and it is all set to be taken home. To order this for your wedding, check out this link. You needn’t look elsewhere for the essential stationary to dress up your gift.

8.Rustic wood pencils

As the weather becomes chilly, everyone dreams of bundling up in front of a roaring fireplace. Too bad that there are few log fires burnt these days. Nevertheless, you can bring forth the memories of piles of logs stacked up to burn and warm the entire house, with the next best thing possible – rustic wood pencils. Perfect little gifts that can be used to play paper games or even sign your guest book with, these unusual looking pencils will definitely be loved by every one of your guests. Their rough and authentic look make them a beautiful addition at any winter wedding, although they are specially suited for a vintage theme or nature-inspired wedding theme. Each pencil has been created from neem and comes pre-sharpened in standard size.

9.Personalized glass globes

The possibilities of personalizing these glass globes to make them unique and well-received wedding favor are endless. Either fill them up with beautiful flowers, feathers, crystals or candles and use them as part of the centerpieces on your reception tables. Otherwise, pack them in plastic wrap for a wonderful takeaway gift. Your guests can either place them on their mantels or tables as a decorative display, or hang them up as an attractive ornament in their home. Either way, it is a gift that is just perfect to be used in their home décor at Christmas time, and will be a regular at their homes once they receive it. Don’t forget to add a short and sweet thank you note on your custom created wedding stationery to complete the effect.

10.Mini lovebird snowglobes

Another ornament that will easily be a part of your your guest’s regular Christmas decorations, these lovebird snow globes are elegant and interesting. A pair of pretty white love birds snuggling together make a meaningful gift for your wedding, and it will also serve your guests well as a paperweight for all times or a festival ornament every year. The beauty of this wedding favor is that the snowy white color is ideal for any winter wedding theme and color palette. And don’t forget the little dose of magic that it will add to your reception tables.

11.Lip balm with custom covers

Chapped lips will no longer be an issue for your guests this winter, with your thoughtful wedding favor in the form of these lip balms. Choose the lip balm cover in the color combination you like, from the available wrapper choices, and customize it further with your initials and wedding date. The chap sticks have an attractive vanilla scented flavor, and will be favored by one and all equally. Just the right size to easily fit into a pocket or purse, your guests will find it practical to carry it around and use at all times.

12.Mason jars packed with goodies

The humble mason jar is one of the most versatile wedding favor carriers you can come across. Whether you choose to fill it with preserves, candy or other goodies, it will look beautiful and be useful to your guests. For your winter wedding, how about filling it with holiday candy or treats? Or for a special pampering touch fill each jar with scented sugar scrub and your guests can indulge in a sweet bath on their next day off. With so many options to choose from, you will not have trouble finding the perfect filler for your wedding theme. Top it off with a sticky cover label in your color theme and add a thank you note to the side, tied on with twine or ribbon, and you have a beautiful and practical favor to gift.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. At Best for Bride, we have hundreds of wedding favors for you to choose from. Browse through the immense variety of options we have, by clicking on this link and you are bound to find every wedding favor you could possibly imagine. What is more, with customization options and all DIY stationery essentials as well, you will have no trouble planning and making your wedding favors come to life. For more wedding tips and advice, keep visiting us at Best for Bride.

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Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 7 Comments

Getting your hair wedding fit – Advice from one of Sydney’s best hairdressers

Advice from one of Sydney’s best hairdressers, Jules Peacocke, Director, Lily Jackson Hair & Makeup, Sydney, Australia

As soon as you’ve set the date of your wedding, deciding on your hair and makeup should be as high on the list of priorities as your wedding dress.

Having dealt with many brides over the course of my career, I am still amazed at how little attention many brides place on the “fitness” of their hair for the big day. Getting your hair “wedding fit” probably takes even longer than getting your body in shape to fit that gorgeous dress you’ve chosen.

Many women are acutely unaware that their hair health is actually severely compromised. It is impossible to create beautiful wedding hairstyles if the hair is damaged, lifeless and is not receiving the right at home care.

So here’s my list of top things to do to make sure your hair is as fit for your wedding as your body or mind is!

Check your hairdresser’s credentials

Not all hairdressers are able to style hair for wedding events. They might be good at colouring, cutting and blow drying but they might not have received the right training to create beautiful up-do’s or editorial looking styles. To check whether you like their style of creating wedding hair, you should arrange to have at least one if not two wedding hair and makeup trials. More on this later.

Check your hairdresser’s availability

There is nothing worse than finding out that your hairdresser is on holidays when you are getting married. Alternatively, your hairdresser might not be willing or able to travel to your hotel or location. So what do you do then?

My recommendation is to seek out the best hairdresser in the area you will be located and start a conversation with them about jointly managing your hair direction with your regular hairdresser.

Do I have my hair done in salon or at the hotel?

It is generally more cost effective to have your hair done in the salon by a hairdresser than having them leave the salon to come to you. You will be paying for travel time for them and any assistants they require. But it’s a matter of personal preference. Being in a salon ensure that all the products and tools are at your stylists disposal but leaving the “safety” of home or the hotel to travel to get their hair done could be the worst thing for some brides.

If you do an internet search for “wedding hair and makeup” you will get pages and pages of results for mobile hair and makeup artists.

Beware! Most of these “artists” are not qualified hairdressers and have only completed one-day hair styling courses, if that. They are generally offering this service part-time on weekends and have regular day jobs like you and I. If they have assistants, it is likely that they are unqualified as well.

The other thing is that from my perspective as a master stylist who has put years into their craft, they generally take shortcuts like using tongs to achieve updo’s. Once you see photo’s of classically designed hair using traditional methods like curl sets and/or pin curls, there is no comparison with tong curls. The resulting hair styles are absolutely stunning, but I am biased.

Using a qualified hairdresser to style your hair on the day is your safest option. If this is not possible, then ensure the best hairdresser you can afford takes charge of the overall colour and cut and arrange to have multiple trials with mobile hair artists to ensure they can create a style that you are happy with.

Get a timetable of who is working on whom and when.

We plan our wedding hair and makeup sessions with military precision and we work backwards from the time the bride needs to leave the salon or commence the process of getting dressed.

Whomever is doing your hair and makeup and potentially your bridal party’s hair and makeup, get a timetable from them and make sure they have allowed sufficient time for each of your wedding party’s hair type, preferred hairstyle, and travel time.

If they are not able to meet your bridesmaids before the event, then it helps the stylist to get some selfies of your friends so they know the hair type they are dealing with. There is nothing worse than the wedding party running behind because someone has very thick long hair that takes longer than average to style.

Getting wedding fit is a journey

Each bride should ask herself:

What am I thinking in terms of hair & makeup? Do I have an idea or am I at a loss?
Where am I now? What is the “true” and current state of my hair?
Where do I want to be? How far from the ideas I am thinking is my hair right now?
How long have I got? Do I have enough time to get from where I am now to where I want to be?

Your wedding hair style

Generally speaking, your wedding dress and potentially wedding theme (if any) will lead the journey to creating your personal style for your wedding day.

I’ve had clients who were getting married in the tropics and were opting for a “beachy theme”. The dress was a simple strapless design in lace. We did hair trials and created a long beach wave look complemented by a simple flower wreath on the head. We took plenty of photo’s and then arranged to have a local hairdresser recreate the style. It could never look the same but my client was happy and that’s what counts the most.

I always say that a “red carpet dress needs red carpet hair”. That doesn’t mean the hairstyle has to be an updo, just that the hairstyle looks absolutely fabulous and complements the fabulous dress and you feel comfortable in it.

Just keep in mind the likely weather conditions on the day and potentially have a Plan B hairstyle. Many styles that look great in photos like the beautiful waves reminiscent of the 30’s, don’t actually hold up that well exposed to movement or any weather condition.

Hair Length: I want or need longer hair

If you need or want longer than 6 inches of extra length and you have 8 months or more, then growing it might be an option. If not, you might want to consider hair extensions or hair pieces depending on the style you are going for. Tape hair extensions can be very cost effective, quick to apply and easy to remove after your big event.

The most important thing is to have the hair extensions or pieces colour matched to your own hair once you have decided on the colour.

Great hair colour and great hair health go hand in hand

Getting great hair colour is strongly dependent on having healthy hair. If your hair health is compromised then you should not be thinking of drastic colour changes (for example going more than 2 shades lighter).

You should be putting your hair through a “fitness” regime of having hair treatments both at home and at the salon, and potentially keratin treatments to help the hair along. As I mentioned previously, it is difficult to style hair that is damaged and lifeless, and get a good result.

Hair Colour:

I know it sound obvious but you should get your colour done about 1 week before your wedding. The number of wedding photo’s I see of women with regrowth is astounding. Not a great look.

Settling on colour.

I could go on for days about the problems and dangers of using boxed colour from the supermarket or drug store. Of course I am biased but there are some real issues. You might like to read this article Super hair colour is not supermarket hair colour.

One thing is certain, if you’ve been using boxed at-home colour for many years, then you should probably keep doing what you’re doing. Trying to lift or change the pigments from these types of colours can be very difficult and results can be variable to say the least even with the most experienced hairdresser.

Depending on whether you’re looking to make a statement with strong creative colour, elegant highlights or beachy balayage, you should be “testing” the colours and looks at least 6 months in advance. Seek out the best hairdresser you can afford and the one that has the best reviews or recommendations. Don’t hesitate to stop people in the street!

Wedding Hair and Makeup Trials

I mentioned earlier that you should at least have one, if not two, wedding hair and makeup trials. I ask my clients to give me at least three and a half hours of their time where we explore and try out different styles and looks. We change things incrementally, take lots of photo’s and discuss the pro’s and con’s. There is often a lot of texting of photo’s to bridesmaids and mothers of the brides too!

It’s a great advantage to be able to go home and try on your wedding dress with your styled hair and makeup.

Don’t be afraid to have a second trial and be forthright about what you liked and didn’t like.

Final words

Despite all my advice regarding forward planning, the most beautiful brides are the relaxed ones. Hopefully my words of advice will help you be sufficiently prepared so that on the day you can sit back and enjoy a glass of champagne while being pampered and getting ready for one of the most special days of your life!