The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings - Page 220 of 417

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 4 Comments

10 Must-know Survival tips for the Winter bride

Cool wedding accessories for the winter bride

I can think of so many reasons why winter weddings are a good idea. They are budget-friendly, romantic, unique and not to mention, festive. With the holiday season bringing on a merry mood, this is the perfect time to be wed and enjoy the fun and jovial spirit in your own special way. Almost everyone gets married in summer or spring, and so winter weddings have an air of mystery and intrigue to them. This rarity of winter weddings makes it more memorable than weddings in the warmer months.

Nevertheless, winter weddings require a lot of planning, perhaps even more than spring or summer weddings. After all, the chances for the unexpected to happen is several times greater. So, here are ten winter wedding survival tips that are bound to help you when you plan your wedding in the cold weather.

1.Prepare for the dark days

We all know that the days are shorter in winter, and it becomes dark very early. The lighting at your venue plays an important role in contributing to the overall impact of your wedding day. Make sure that you are well-equipped for the dark day, by choosing a well-lit venue which is nicely warmed before it becomes dark. This factor is even more important when you think of how your wedding photographs will turn out. Work with your photographer to find out when and how your photos should be taken, so you achieve the desired effect. Make sure that your photographer will be carrying necessary equipment, like a tripod, that will light up the shots even if the venue may have dim lighting. It may also be better if you can have the wedding ceremony early, so you can make the most of the daylight when taking your pictures.

2.Choose a picturesque venue

When choosing your venue, it is necessary to choose a pretty and picturesque one so you can get good shots even if they are taken indoors. Remember that there is little scope for taking outdoor photos during a winter wedding. Although you may be able to capture a few, you will have to take most of your group photos and portraits indoors. So, make sure your venue will cater to this requirement. An attractive venue with plenty of stylish spots with a variety of interesting backdrop elements would be ideal. You can also customize the spaces to contain interesting elements that can add a special touch to your photographs. A venue with a lot of warm accents and whites would be the perfect choice for your winter wedding, as it will be welcoming and fresh. With the whites working against the naturally dark elements of the weather at the time, your photos will also come out much better.

3.Find the right photographer for the job

When choosing your photographer, make sure he has had good practice shooting photos in winter. If his wedding portfolio doesn’t contain many examples, you can ask to look at the other shots he has taken in winter to get a fair idea of his expertise.

Winter weddings are really not the best time to ask your budding photographer friend to do your wedding photography, for one obvious reason—he won’t have the necessary equipment to handle the lighting requirements for good photographs. A camera with a flashlight is certainly not the right choice, as it can leave long shadows that will make your pictures dark and gloomy. A professional would have the necessary equipment to light up the shots appropriately. If you want warm and glowing photos, discuss this idea with him early, so he can plan the shots accordingly.

4.Keep yourself warm, while looking stylish too

As romantic as winter weddings are, there is the definite problem of it getting too cold. Nonetheless, you can always prepare for it, so it doesn’t stand in the way of a fantastic wedding day. Plan your wedding outfit, so it is suitable for the cold weather. Wedding dresses in thick fabrics like velvet or satin will keep you warm. It may also be a good idea to choose a dress with sleeves, so your shoulders and arms aren’t too exposed to the natural elements. If you decide upon a strapless or sleeveless dress, at least get a stole, wrap or bolero to cover up your shoulders when you begin to feel cold. Since you will mostly be taking at least a few outdoor shots, carry a jacket that matches your outfit. It will help you stay warm between photos. To make sure you are entirely comfortable, don’t forget your feet. Either choose closed shoes or else change into a pair of warm boots for your outdoor pictures. Remember that you can find very stylish dress choices, even when your wedding is in winter. Add some extra luster and sparkle to your look by choosing accessories with crystals and bright stones. You can even play with textures by choosing accessories with feather and fur.

5.Make sure your guests are warm and comfortable too

Your guests will also appreciate a little warmth, especially when they come indoors from the bitter cold. Make sure your venue is heated in advance, and you leave some blankets around the seating space, for those who want to cozy up in it. If it has been snowing lately, have the driveway to the venue cleaned and free from ice. Also place a few umbrellas at the venue, just in case it snows or rains at the time. You can consider making arrangements for hot cocoa or coffee for your guests, and this can help them feel warm and settled in no time. Do this and you can be certain that there will be no chattering teeth, and that everyone will be focusing on you during the ceremony, instead of feeling to cold to enjoy it. It doesn’t really hurt to tell your guests that the ceremony is a little earlier than actually planned. This real bride, Robin, on Wedding Wire, tells us how she informed her guests that the wedding would start 30 minutes earlier than the actual plan, just so nobody missed it by arriving late. This also allows them to relax, settle in and be warm by the time the actual function starts.

6.Plan your décor and flowers sensibly

Your venue prices, catering costs and other prices may all come down in winter, but flowers are a definite budget-bomber in the cold winter. Many flowers may even be unavailable or impossible to get in this weather. So, plan your flower choices well in advance, while keeping the weather constraints in mind. It is best to go with what is seasonal, so you can avoid the risk of last-minute cancellations. The holiday favorites like holly, eucalyptus and mistle-toe are do-able options. Consider planning your décor with items that are available all year around. You can work wonders with candles, metal tableware, holiday decorations, branches, twigs, fruits and fabric to create classic wedding decor that will look both festive and welcoming. When choosing candles, throw in some scented ones and your wedding venue will not only look, but also smell great.

7.Make sure your hair and makeup are warm and welcoming

Winter presents a unique set of challenges for every bride, and the last thing you want is to look pale and washed out in an already all-white wedding scene. Both your skin and hair will have to be prepped very well to stay fresh throughout the day. Warm autumnal colors are a favorite in winter, and will warm up your overall look, however white your wedding gown may be. Dress up your eyes and highlight it with defined make-up to look ravishing and to get noticed. This is the time to have smoky eye-makeup done, and use colors like pinks, browns, maroons, blues and purples. Choose a glossy finish for your lips and add a slight touch of shimmer to your makeup. To keep your hair healthy and refreshed, add a serum to your hair before styling it. Also make sure that you feel fresh and glow from the inside, by staying hydrated throughout the day. Moisturize your skin, and make sure you reapply a touch of moisturizing cream to your hands and any exposed skin, any time you are exposed to the chills.

8.Choose your transportation wisely

You obviously aren’t going to choose a horse and carriage for your winter wedding getaway, but the limitations do not end there. Not all vehicles are equipped to travel on icy and slippery roads. So, this may mean that your vintage car choice may not be the best choice, if you want to make it to your venue on time. Although you can always book a classic car and be optimistic that the weather will be favorable, make sure that the car hiring company will be able to provide you with an alternative if it isn’t. Discuss this before you book it, so you don’t have to worry about it on the day if things do not go as per plan. On the day, allow for extra time and start early for the venue. It is better to reach there ahead of time and relax in your chosen vehicle, than run late and start the day off on the wrong note. You can even reel in your guests to be on the safe side, and have your wedding on time by setting the time on your invitations as half-an-hour ahead of the actual planned time.

9.Make the most of what is in-season

From wedding décor, to flowers and menu options, plan your wedding around what is seasonal and locally available. Trust us, it will make wedding planning so much easier. Since you have no guarantee on what hiccups may arise due to unforeseen weather conditions, it is always best to be on the safe side. And winter does have quite an attractive bounty to choose from, so you needn’t be disappointed. Mulled wines and a variety of cocktails can be created easily and will be appreciated by your guests. Go with the holiday staples in fruits, vegetables and meat, but use them in interesting and different ways in your menu, so it is different from a typical Christmas or thanksgiving feast.

10.Be prepared for every worst-case scenario with an insurance

This is actually a possibility for every wedding, whether in spring, summer, fall or winter. Since you will be planning your wedding several months in advance, and nature is unpredictable in every way, there is only so much you can be certain of. Blizzards and snowstorms can entirely topple your well laid-out plans and leave you lost. While you cannot foresee how things will be on the day, or be entirely optimistic, you can certainly plan for the worst-case scenarios. Make sure that you take out a wedding insurance on your wedding, so you will be able to tide over any such last-minute hassles without too much trouble. You can either opt for a whole package deal that covers every aspect of the wedding in one go, or get separate insurances for the different things that you spend most on. This will at least help you financially if you have to postpone your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances.

With a little organization and foresight, your winter wedding will be over in a breeze, and an experience that will be remembered fondly by all those who attend it.

To transform yourself into a pretty winter bride, who will steal the show and the heart of your Prince Charming, you need a dress that will do part of the magic. Visit our bridal gallery at Best for Bride to make your pick from the extensive collection of designer dresses at the most affordable prices. You can also find your bridesmaids dresses, wedding accessories and dresses for the rest of the wedding party at Best for Bride. Apart from that, also check out our décor options, florists and trusted cake vendors who will help you realize your vision of the perfect wedding. Wait no more, click here to see what awaits you at the one-stop bridal destination: Best for Bride.

Save

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 5 Comments

8 ways to make the most of your wedding cake budget

Most guests will look forward to enjoying that delicious sweet last course of wedding cake at your reception. Wedding cakes are works of art, created with finesse and customized with unique details of unparalleled beauty. Most wedding cakes today are not only a treat for the taste buds, but are a sensationally striking too. However, these masterpieces of sweet indulgence take time, effort and resources to create. It is no wonder that they are pricey and take up a chunk of your wedding budget.

Fortunately, there are creative ways to have your dream wedding cake without breaking the bank. This is what we will look at today. Read on to find out ten different ways to slice your wedding cake budget, and still get what you want.

#1 Choose a simple cake

It is the time and effort that goes into creating your wedding cake, that translates into a higher cost. Agreed that hand-crafted details look fabulous, but they will cost you accordingly. Fine lace-like details and intricate motifs will cost more than plain designs or those that are easy to do. Almost every design that you want on your cake will have an equally appealing alternative that costs less. Just make sure you ask your baker and find out.

For example, instead of individual sugar flowers that have to be made one-at-a-time, and perfected to the last detail, you can choose flat flowers of a single solid color. This saves your baker several hours of time, and you will get it at a much lesser price. Similarly, consider stencil prints or monograms instead of hand-piped details. Accessories like satin ribbons in a chosen color can instantly dress up a cake, and are easy on the pocket.

#2 Check out the budget-friendly options if you must have sugar flowers

Flowers are a trending favorite, and most brides choose to have at least few flowers or floral motifs on their wedding cake. Sugar flowers resembling real ones are very expensive, as your talented baker has a difficult job perfecting it. Each flower that is a replica of a real model involves several details, and depending on the complexity of the design, can take hours to do. Luckily, you have some equally attractive options to obtain the same effect for far less. Here they are:

Choose real flowers: Check with your florist for seasonal flowers that are non-poisonous and can be used on your wedding cake. It will cost less, and it will look splendid. All it takes is a little planning and organizing to get the flowers on time and set them up right.
Choose flat flowers or painted flowers for a similar effect: Flat flower designs without many layers, or those that are painted on to the cake cost far less than sugar flowers. So, this may be the way to go, to help your budget.
Choose simple designs: If you still want sugar flowers without the outrageous price, choose simple designs like lilies that are easier to make, than roses or orchids.
Keep it to a minimum: To avoid the hefty price tag for decorating your entire cake with it, choose a design with a cluster of flowers on just one tier instead. You could restrict the flowers to just the top tier or use it as a stem along the side of the cake, and decorate the rest with other inexpensive accessories.

#3 Opt for the economical option in frosting

Fondant cakes are a delight, with their clear and remarkably soft texture, but they can be expensive. Fondant is considered the best cake decoration material for creative designs like ruffles and little figurines, with the added advantage that it has a marshmallow taste that almost everyone enjoys. If you choose a complicated design, or want the cake to look smooth and polished with a glazing finish, your baker may ask you to go with fondant. Although fondant gives the cake a refined finish, and it is easier to work with for precise measurements and details, it can cost several times that of butter-cream. This is why—to create a fondant covering for your cake, your baker has to first slather layers of butter-cream on the cake surface. It is to this that the fondant adheres. So, this means that you will be paying for both the butter-cream layer and the fondant topping.

Another factor is that fondant, whether made by the baker himself, or bought, is always costlier than butter-cream icing. The soft butter-cream is usually made from scratch, and is easier to do, and so the lesser price attached to it. Don’t think that you will lose out on taste or look by choosing it. It has been the traditional choice that has never disappointed. It can also be done in different colors, and a skilled cake-maker can design it to look as attractive as a fondant cake. Another budget-friendly option is to go with the current trend of naked cakes. Here, the cake layers are not frosted, and it is sparingly decorated with cream, fruits and berries for a natural, refreshing look.

#4 Make friends with faux tiers or choose a smaller display

If you always wanted a big cake, you can have it without paying for all those extra tiers. After deciding how many tiers are actually needed to serve your guests, you can ask your baker to do some extra tiers that aren’t made of real cake. It will still be iced and decorated to match the design you have chosen for your cake, and nobody will notice the difference. As long as all your guests get a slice, who cares whether the rest of the tiers are real or not. Let it be your own little secret!

The other option is to choose a spectacular, but smaller display cake with one, two or three layers that look great. Couture cakes done on small scale are fantastic, and can look sophisticated and stylish. Keep this for the display at your reception. For the actual cake service, order kitchen cakes that will not be decorated, but will taste exactly like the original. This will be cut and served to the guests. This way, you will have to spend less, but your guests will still get a fantastic dessert. This article on the Bridal Guide website suggests that you can save up to fifty per cent by going this way, than choosing a big cake.

#5 Opt for smaller servings

Have you ever noticed how many of the guests leave a lot of cake behind on their plates, especially if there are other desserts too? Avoid wastage by asking your caterer to size the slices to three-fourth or half the original serving size, and serve it along with the other desserts. You can also have the cake slices placed in a buffet, instead of serving it at the table. This way, only those guests who actually want cake will take it. When you choose to do so, you can place the order for less than the actual head count, as it is pretty certain that not all your guests will want cake. The answer to this reader’s question on the cost of wedding cakes on the Knot suggests that for 300 guests, you can order just 150 slices of cake, and serve all your guests half-slices. Again, if your wedding reception is for 300 guests and you are serving cake in a buffet setting, you can place the order for just 250 guests and it will most likely be enough.

#6 Choose the shape and flavors wisely

The most budget-friendly cake shapes are square and round. Square cakes are easy to section into equal portions without wastage. It is also comparatively easy to make. Most bakers can easily frost square cakes, just like they would with round cakes. So, that shouldn’t be a concern. If you choose any unusual shape for one or more of your cake tiers, you will have to spend more on it. Topsy-turvy cakes are the most expensive of the lot, since it not only takes a lot of effort to create, but there is a lot of wastage in setting up the tiers. So, either go with the square or circular cake and decorate it to meet your vision. Use options like varying the heights of the various tiers to obtain an equally interesting effect. Cakes that are shaped like real-life objects, like cars or books can cost extra. The alternative is to make the cake in a standard shape, and have the picture of the object printed on it in edible ink. It may not look the same, but neither will it be as expensive.

The other thing that can make a difference is the flavor. Standard flavors like vanilla and chocolate are loved by all, and cost much lesser than gourmet choices like carrot or cookies ‘n’ cream. Similarly, sponge cake is cheaper than fruit cake, but delicious. If you must have a premium flavor for your tiered cake, consider doing it for the smaller tiers and choosing standard fare for the larger tiers.

#7 Be creative with your decorations and display

Remember how we suggested ribbon and fresh seasonal flowers for quick, efficient and attractive decoration? There are several other similar options that will help you have a beautiful cake at a budget-friendly price. Here are some of them:

Chocolate covered berries are delicious and look tempting, while the cost is almost insignificant
For a vintage theme, you can use ribbons and a decorative brooch for the cake decoration
Simple criss-cross designs on the cake surface with tiny edible silver dots are inexpensive, yet classic
Instead of fondant figurines, choose plastic figurines as cake toppers, and it will serve as a keepsake for the future as well
Choose inexpensive cake toppers like the butterfly toppers featured in the cake in the picture above, or try your hand at making a cake topper yourself, for a fraction of the cost of doing it in sugar
Instead of a tiered cake, you can have the separate tiers placed using pillars. This is usually much cheaper than a single tiered cake. It is also easy to set up and distribute

You can also cut a few corners with the way you set up your dessert table. Have a dessert station set up and spread the different desserts out for maximum effect. By varying the size and height of each platter, it will look abundant and interesting. Also space the desserts to look as though there is more than you actually have. Many couples splurge on an attractive cake stand, but you can get creative with this as well. If the venue has wedding cake platters and stands, use them creatively. Dress up the table with an attractive table cloth, interesting food labels and an interesting backdrop or buntings, so the focus is not on the cake stand. You can also go with unusual choices like distressed and weathered wooden crates for relevant themes. Just let those creative juices flow, and you will find several ideas that won’t cost you too much.

#8 Book early and get your cake at a better rate

Don’t delay your cake choices till last-minute. Start your search early, and you will most likely be able to snag a bargain or make use of a discount. Check if you can get a better deal if you make a full payment, or if you place your booking early. If your wedding day is after several months, booking your cake early may even allow you to lock the price at the current rate, before any price increase takes effect. It will also be one task off your list, so don’t delay. If there are any bridal shows in town, try to attend them and check out whether there are any cake makers offering attractive offers. Lastly, don’t forget to check if your venue or caterer offers a discount package on the cake, if you order it from them.

Now that you know all about how to get the best from your wedding cake budget, all you need to do, is to get started. Check out our list of cake vendors and their fantastic designs on Best for bride for some valuable inspiration or to place your orders, by clicking on this link.

Save

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 4 Comments

Cost-cutting tips for your wedding invitations

Your wedding invitations offer the first sneak peek into your wedding, and it is a reflection of your taste and personality. Hence, you should make sure you choose well.

Wedding invitations involve a lot of stationery, and this can quickly add up to quite an amount of money. There are DIY kits, which allow you to customize and create your own signature style invitations. However, you may not have the time to do it all. So, here are some tips to help you get the best for the money you spend, when choosing your wedding invitations.

Start early and find great deals

As with everything related to weddings, the sooner you start, the more chances you have at finding better offers. If you do not rush your wedding invitation supplier, you are more likely to get a good deal. Also, you will have time to search around and compare vendor prices, and choose the best on offer.

Opt for thermography, instead of engraving and embossing

Engraving and embossing are traditional styles of invitation printing. They are classic, but very pricey. If you cannot afford the huge price tag accompanying them, look at thermography instead. The print looks similar to embossing, but is much cheaper. The benefits do not end here. It can also be done much faster, and the look isn’t very different from the engraved one. Both feel the same to the touch, and the difference can be felt, only when you rub the front and back of the letters at the same time. Well, do you think your guests will bother to go into such details!

Check for package deals and buy in bulk

Most vendors can print all wedding stationery. This includes wedding invitations, rehearsal dinner invites, menu cards, place cards, programs and thank-you cards. Look at vendors who do this, and ask for a discount if you order all your printing from them. Since you will anyway be investing money for all this paper, you might as well do it at one place and get a better deal.

Pay attention to postage charges

Wedding invitations go through the mail, and this means you have to pay for postal stamps. The size of your invitation will determine the postage charges. So, do your research before you choose your invitations, and stick to an envelope size that will help you stay within budget.

Skimp on the extra bits

Each piece of paper that goes into your wedding invite comes at an additional cost. So, consider what is necessary and what isn’t. Avoid inset papers and extra decoration, and choose a simple, but elegant design that conveys all the necessary information. Draft your invite so it is comprehensive but uses less space. With a little planning, you can make your invitation an impressive bombshell of information, but within minimum space.

Check out this link on Best for bride for the various invitation options we have on offer. You can find plenty of inspiration, options for customizing your wedding invitations to match the wedding theme, and also contact us for placing your orders, here.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 4 Comments

Top 10 Reasons To Have A Destination Wedding

Claire from Wed in Central Park organizes weddings for couples getting married in New York City’s beautiful Central Park. She regularly hears from couples who are considering a destination wedding in this incredible city. Sometimes couples are weighing up the pros and cons of a wedding at home versus a destination wedding. Sometimes they are considering a couple of different locations for a destination wedding. There are many reasons why couples choose to have a destination wedding, here Claire’s top ten.

Simplifies the guest list – if you have a wedding at home this can often lead to feeling the obligation to invite everybody you know, and everybody your parents know! Many couples would prefer not to spend their entire wedding day doing the rounds, and chatting with distant relatives who they haven’t seen since childhood, isn’t it better to spend the most important day of your lives with the people most important to you? The more distant acquaintances are least likely to be able to make a destination wedding, so this keeps the guest list nice and short, and the couple is more easily forgiven for not inviting their mother’s hairdressers’ cousin.

Memories – of course the couple and their immediate family will remember their wedding as a very special day, but all those family weddings at home tend to merge into a memory of one big wedding for the guests – make your special day unique for your guests, too – and go somewhere different and do something different! A different location allows for more creativity with the venue, food, activities and attire, and your photos will really stand out. You could even add some local wedding traditions of the destination!

Costs – a destination wedding can turn out to be the economical option because it tends to keep the guest list smaller. If you just take your close family and friends with you, that can keep to budget down. In some cases the guests may pay for their own travel or hotel, which of course makes a huge difference to the budget. Many hotels and travel agents offer packages for special event groups.

Reduce needless anxiety – don’t waste time and effort visiting dozens of venues in your area, and worrying about who should sit with whom at the wedding breakfast or all the other details that the guests may not even notice! A destination wedding often involves fewer guests so should allow the couple to spend more time thinking about important things, like sharing their wedding day with their loved ones. In a lot of cases this means less worries about the weather being good, if you choose a location with sunnier or more predictable climes than your own.

Combination – going away for a wedding can combine a family reunion, sightseeing, family bonding, romantic travel a fun vacation with all the most important people in your life and your big event all in one, and this makes it something special for everyone involved. Kill two birds with one stone, and find a location that would provide something interesting for the couple and the guests, that way you will still be talking about the fun you had together at your Ruby wedding anniversary!

It keeps the groom happy – it’s his day too, you know! And boys get excited about going to new places, and they can be involved in organizing the events the couples do with their guests, this is far more interesting for the guys than picking out colors or wedding favors.

Gets a professional involved – a destination wedding often involves hiring someone to help out with the organization side of things. This takes a lot of stress off the couple, and allows them time to relax and enjoy the scenery. The couple don’t have to search through the venues themselves, or meet with dozens of photographers, if you can find a wedding planner that listens and communicates well, and is on your wavelength, then they can take a lot of weight off your shoulders. They can use the tried and tested team of people they have used regularly, and the couple can be assured that all will run smoothly on their special day. In many cases a professional wedding planner will have preferential rates from their team, due to passing them such a lot of business, so can offer fairly competitive prices.
Minimize possibilities of feuds – these days, the bride and groom are often from different towns, or even countries, and choosing one home town over another may cause difficulties within families. If the home town of one of the families is chosen over another, it could be seen as that family having the upper hand over the organization of the day. If the destination is somewhere different for both dies of the couple, this levels things, and will make that location a special place for the future.

Provide a more easily accessible location – if the bride and groom are from different home towns, and perhaps live and work in a third town, the majority of guests will have to travel to attend the wedding anyway. Not all towns have great hotels and places for people to stay, and often guests find they have to travel to the reception, and then further travel to their hotel, if you choose to have a destination wedding, you instantly have more places to choose from, and you can choose somewhere with lots of appropriate available accommodation that is easy to get to and from the reception. In many cases it might be that it is easier to choose a destination that could serve as a midpoint, and reduce traveling for many of your guests.

Everyone really gets to know each other – this is a great way for the bride and groom’s separate families to spend intimate time together and really bond and become part of each others families. In many weddings in this modern age, the couples’ parents don’t always know each other so well, and this could be a great opportunity for getting to know each others whole families. Because weddings away from home tend to take a few days rather than a few hours the whole party can spend a lot more time enjoying the event.

Save