Most guests choose their wedding gift from the wedding registry . This can limit their options to a certain extent. Being invited to a bridal shower means getting an additional gift for the bride, but this time it is up to you to decide what you would give.
Only those who are very close to the bride are usually included in the bridal shower list. So, this is your chance to give a thoughtful gift, although it doesn’t mean you have to break the bank doing so. Since you personally know the bride, and what she is most likely to love, this is your opportunity to give a personal gift that you know will mean a lot to her.
Here are some tips to help you gift your friend a memorable bridal shower gift.
It’s not the cost, but the thought that counts
The best gifts do not necessarily have a very high price tag on them. You will anyway be spending a fair deal on the wedding gift, so keep the bridal shower gift simple but thoughtful. If you are good with your hands, consider making a special gift yourself. This could be anything from a necklace to a pair of hand-knitted mittens. Consider adding a personal touch such as a monogram of her initials, or creating the gift in colors that your friend adores, and she will fondly treasure it forever.
Choose something original
We know that not all of us are good at making things, so store-bought is the only way to go. Nevertheless, a store-bought gift can be just as thoughtful and special, when the buyer puts in effort to choose one that will be cherished by the bride. Try to look for something that is not a regular choice, but one that suits the bride’s preferences and taste.
Think of a shower gift that goes well with the wedding gift you get
This is a brilliant idea I found on The Knot,and I am sure it is a winner. Just like the wedding invitations are a sneak peek into what the wedding will be like, you can use the same to get gifts with a theme for the wedding. For example, if you plan to get table linen as your wedding gift, consider matching napkin rings that are personalized with a unique signature for the bridal shower, and it will make a befitting combination.
Wrap it to look elegant and attractive
Unwrapping the gift is a big event at the bridal shower. So, make sure you pack yours up to look inviting and interesting. Choose attractive wrapping paper and add bling with a silky satin bow. If you are giving a ready made gift, consider a DIY wrapping paper for a more personal touch. Add more drama to the event by wrapping up your gift in layers of gift wrap,and throw in an interesting message on one of the covers. Make it a humorous one, and it will be something that all the girls can read and giggle at. You can find some interesting ideas here on the Martha Stewart website.
When we think of a wedding dress, isn’t it a long flowing white gown that pops into mind?
White wedding dresses have been popular for more than a century now, that it is impossible to imagine a bride in anything but white. While the length, style and design of the gown may vary, white is invariably the first color choice in wedding dresses.
via Best for Bride
But, what if you are a rebel bride who doesn’t care for fashion rules? Or what if you feel that it would be nice to surprise everyone by not wearing white to your wedding? Or it could simply be that you want to dress for your big day in your favorite color, which isn’t white?
via Best for Bride
We say, go ahead! You will certainly not be the first bride to sport a colored wedding gown. Do it right, and you can even be the prettiest bride your guests have set eyes upon. Here is why we love colored wedding dresses, and why you should try it too.
You can wear a color that matches your personality
We identify with certain colors because they are a reflection of our personality. Whether your passionate nature is defined by fiery red or your level-headed approach to life is characterized by cool blue, you can show off your true persona by choosing a colored wedding gown. While white is beautiful and has an endearing charm to it, it may not be a true expression of who you are. So, be bold and try out a colored wedding dress. Who knows, you may love it more than you expected.
Make your wedding more memorable
Just when everyone was expecting you to walk down the aisle in a pretty white wedding gown, you appear in a different color. Watch your wedding guests look amazed already. If there is one way to make sure your wedding is remembered, it is by choosing a unique wedding dress. It will be anything but common.
Colorful wedding dresses can be classic
You do not have to compromise on missing details on your wedding dress, just because you choose a colored one. There are many designer collections that focus on colorful wedding dresses, and you can find one in the silhouette that you desire without much ado. Just like with a regular wedding dress, you can also customize your colored wedding dress to meet your expectations.
This unconventional choice tells the world who you are
While many women try to stand out from the crowd, it isn’t unusual to find them going by tradition where their weddings are concerned. A bride who is confident of herself and is bold enough to proclaim that she is different, will be comfortable in a colorful wedding dress. If you are certain of yourself, and love a colored dress, don’t hesitate to choose it because it isn’t white. Go ahead and add a dose of drama to your wedding.
So, do you think a colorful wedding dress is for you, or do you dread the very idea?
Whether you want a bold and colorful wedding dress, or prefer a traditional white one, find your choice at Best for Bride.
Are you a soon-to-be bride battling with whether you should hire a wedding planner or not? While it is in no way impossible to have your wedding sans a planner, there are definite advantages to hiring a professional for the job. A good wedding planner will make your wedding planning a lot easier as she has valuable experience handling weddings, whereas you don’t. In fact, I think wedding planners deserve more credit than they usually get.
Anyone who has planned a wedding will know that it is no walk in the park. There are hundreds of details to handle, many things to arrange and several people to coordinate. Few couples have the required time, effort, patience or organizational skills to do it perfectly. Wedding planners are the right people to handle all the details of your wedding efficiently, when you can’t or don’t want to handle all these responsibilities yourself.
Although you have to pay a wedding planner for her services, it usually is money well-spent when you consider the stress that goes into wedding planning. This brings us to the question of who needs a wedding planner, and who doesn’t. To make things simple, look at the following list. You definitely need a planner if:
You and your partner have full-time demanding careers that leave you little to no time to plan your wedding details
Your wedding location is far away from where you live, and you cannot continuously monitor everything there
You do not have time or are unable to find inspiration through the internet, magazines or other wedding resources to plan your wedding.
None of your family members or friends are available to help you
You feel burnt out, stressed or panicky when you think of the wedding
You know what you want, but aren’t sure of how feasible it is or how to go about it.
If you don’t fall into any of the groups above, you may be able to handle your wedding all by yourself. Nevertheless, let us take a look at what a wedding planner does, so you can understand why we speak so highly of them.
What does a wedding planner actually do?
It is crucial that every couple work with a wedding planner who they are comfortable with. Read our article here to learn more about how you should go about choosing your wedding planner.
From the minute your wedding planner is assigned responsibility for your wedding, she starts working towards making your wedding a success. It is a service you are paying for, so she has to deliver to your satisfaction. Her duties include, but are not limited to the following
#Planning your wedding checklist and creating a schedule
A wedding planner knows the sequence in which things are to be carried out, so every task is complete and every detail in place, in time for your wedding. She will custom-create your wedding tasks checklist, and give you a specific timeline of what is to be done and when. This will allow you to mark your calendars for wedding tasks, get every job done on time and not miss out on anything that you may need for your big day.
#Vendor selection
You will need to work with wedding vendors for most, if not all your wedding needs. Just the thought of selecting the right person from all the vendors out there, working with and coordinating many people, perhaps even teams, to get everything in place on time can make a bride jittery. Fortunately, your wedding planner is equipped for the task. Once you share your vision for your wedding, and discuss your budget, your wedding planner can come up with a list of vendors who can handle each aspect. They can even carry out interviews, check rates and just leave you to make the final choice, saving you all the trouble.
#Negotiations, discussions and coordination with vendors
There are a number of factors that are to be discussed with each vendor—their availability, rates, overheads, what is included in their bills, extra services that may be needed, etc. Meetings will have to be held, phone calls made, emails shared, payment schedules fixed and contracts drawn. This will have to be done with your catering team, decorating team, florist, photographer, wedding dress vendor, baker—the list goes on. Your wedding planner will make sure all this is done on time and to your satisfaction. All you have to do is make your payments (which again your planner will remind you of, in advance) and leave the rest of the planning to her.
#Planning the finer details
Weddings today are displays of details. Every small and big detail at a wedding is important, and it is impossible to take care of everything if you choose to do it yourself. You must have a wedding design, based on your theme. This will cover everything from how the tables will be set at the reception, the centerpieces, the aisle decorations, your outfit, party favors, wedding cake and even how you photograph. Beautiful weddings are those that have plenty of fine details, but come together cohesively. Your wedding planner can help you decide on the palette, décor and every other detail for your wedding. Her experience will help her assist you with what is practical, and what may not work. The best part is that she can provide you suggestions that work within your budget, so you can plan your dream wedding without breaking the bank.
#Questions, concerns and etiquette
Wedding etiquette may be an alien subject to you. From the way your invitation is worded, to whether you should invite a new associate and whether a dress you choose is appropriate for a wedding-related event, there are so many things that you may not know or not be sure of. Your planner can guide you in the right direction. She will be well-versed in wedding etiquette and can make sure that you do everything the right way. By suggesting what is appropriate for your situation, she can make sure there is minimum chance for disappointment or embarrassment.
#Planning and preparing for the day
It will seem like there is a lot going on, on your wedding day. In fact, the days leading up to it will be filled with activity, that you can easily miss or forget a few details at least. But, this can cost you dearly. The Guardian puts it perfectly in this article, where it says, “Every minor flaw on the wedding day feels like a catastrophe to the bride and groom.” While you may not be able to foresee or plan it to the tee, your wedding planner certainly can.
She will prepare you and all those involved in your wedding, for the actual day by setting everything right during the rehearsal dinner itself. She will make sure that your bridesmaids know when to be where, the venue is decked up just like you had imagined it, everything is where it should be, the guests are comfortably seated, the music is played when it should be, all the vendors deliver on time and everything happens without a hitch. She will also be prepared to handle any last-minute mishaps. Remember how J Lo in the classic movie “The wedding planner” was equipped for every scenario you can possibly imagine; that is pretty much how wedding planners work. Need I say more?
#Take care of all the after-the-wedding details
The duties of your wedding planner aren’t over as soon as you are married. Instead, she will make sure that you have a great day without having to worry about whether the venue is vacated on time, the decorations are taken down, everything is returned to where they belong and the on-site staff are paid for their services. Additionally, she will make sure that your wedding dress is bagged and sent to your house while you set off on your honeymoon, and that your gifts are sent home with the person designated for the task.
In short she ensures that you have a fantastic day, without worrying about what has to be done next or if everything will be where it should be, all because she is in charge.
Now, we have a good idea of all that a wedding planner does, but we aren’t finished. At least a few of you would be thinking that this is all stuff that you can handle, or perhaps your mother or friend can help you to. We agree!
Nevertheless, there are a few things that only a wedding planner can do right. Let us find out what they are.
5 things only your wedding planner can do for your wedding
1.Use their contacts to get you to the right people for the job
Unless you have worked with various vendors before, it will be difficult to find the right vendor for very specific needs within your budget. Plus, you can only find out so much about how reliable they are, from the feedback you receive from your sources. Your wedding planner has worked on several weddings and knows all the right contacts in the industry. This valuable exposure will allow her to put you in touch with the ideal person who will work within your budget, to handle every task for your wedding. This will save you time, effort and stress.
2.Tells you what is possible and what isn’t
Wedding planning can get too exciting, and brides can go over-the-top with certain plans, without really thinking it over entirely. In many cases, they may not recognize the feasibility of their ideas on such a large-scale. Your mother or best friend may also have only so much know-how to tell you what won’t work or suggest what can be done instead. A wedding planner has been there before, and knows what is possible and what isn’t. They will try to make you and your partner happy, but will direct you so you can avoid disappointment later.
3.As a neutral party, can advise you on how to sort out things
Now, here is a person who you can turn to, when you want something sorted out. And trust me, when I say, there are so many occasions when tempers may flare and opinions soar, where wedding planning is concerned. Your wedding planner has only your best interests at heart, and will know how to make sure the plans are made in your best interests. As long as she is in charge, you needn’t worry about how to convince your parents about who sits where at your wedding, or convincing your aunt about why you cannot use her idea at your party.
4.Handle any emergency and come up with Plan B
There are several things that can go wrong on the wedding day, or in the days leading up to it. Your wedding planner is the right person to foresee any such mishaps. She will usually have a Plan B in place for any emergency situation that may arise. Many brides freak out over last minute changes to plan or unexpected problems such as vendors who cancel. With a wedding planner in-charge, it is likely that you will not have to stress over any such issues. She will know what to do, and in most cases may even avert the problem without you even knowing about it.
5. Does her job seriously and you don’t have to feel guilty about her not having fun
Your wedding planner is a professional who you pay to make sure the wedding progresses smoothly. So, you needn’t worry about her not being a part of the fun. If the same task were handled by your family or friends, you would at some point or the other feel guilty that they were so engrossed in handling their responsibilities instead of having fun. With a wedding planner, this thought needn’t cross your mind. This is her job, and she is being compensating for it. So, you can relax and just enjoy your wedding, as you should be doing.
Ultimately, whether you hire a wedding planner or not, the important thing is that you enjoy your wedding and get married the way you always dreamed of it. And to make sure you have everything you have for your big day, whether you plan it with your wedding planner or all by yourself, come visit us at Best for Bride. You will find everything from your wedding dress to dresses for your bridal party, accessories and everything wedding related, with us.
Is there any fabric more romantic than lace? It’s no accident that so many wedding dresses have lace accents and overlay. Lace wedding dresses can have subtle accents of delicate lace, thick, textured lace, or a combination of lace varieties. Here are some tips for choosing a lace wedding dress.
Several designers are creating wedding gowns that are completely covered in lace as part of their latest collections. The dresses may have a simple, sheath silhouette, a gown with a flared skirt, or form-fitting dresses. Since lace wedding dresses come in the full array of available wedding dress styles, the bride may want to begin her selection by deciding which wedding dress styles would be most flattering for her body type. If she can choose whether she wants a sheath, mermaid, ball gown, or A-line dress, she can focus her search for the perfect wedding dress.
Traditionally, lace is delicate and flowery. Bold lace makes a statement. Claire Pettibone designed such a dress. The Guipure lace sheath dress has thick lines and a large lace design that covers the entire dress. It’s a sophisticated mix of the striking lines and flowing fabric.
Sheath dresses are a common style for lace wedding gowns. Sheath dresses that have a full lace overlay have an outer layer of lace over the entire dress. The underlying fabric keeps the dress from being too transparent. The intricate design of the lace can be a nice balance with the simple silhouette of the sheath dress.
Mermaid wedding dresses fit snuggly at the top with a skirt that flares outward from thighs. Lace lends itself well for creating beautiful effects for both an overlay over the form-fitting top or as part of the flared, flowing skirt.
Most lace wedding gowns have a layer of lace over a more substantial fabric. This helps with durability as well as preventing the gown from being revealing. Some designers embrace the transparent nature of lace to create cutouts that show the skin through the lace.
Risqué wedding dresses might have designs where part of the gown is only lace. An example of this are the wedding dresses that have a bodice that resembles a bustier. A few modern bustier wedding dresses use lace as the primary fabric for the bodice.
With the DIY trend, some brides use lace appliqués to create their own cutouts. This commonly is done on the sleeves if the sleeves are plain. Brides should take care when adding appliqués to other portions of the dress. A misplaced cutout can render the gown too revealing. She may need to rush to find a seamstress who can fix her blunder or be uncomfortable during the big day.
The disadvantages of lace is it’s delicate nature. The lace can get snagged and tear. It’s an important consideration when choosing a dress that has a full layer of lace. The bride may want to restrict her bridal jewelry to earrings and necklaces and forego the bracelets that might catch on the fabric.
For more helpful information about choosing the perfect wedding dress, please visit the Best for Bride blog.
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