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Tabletop Elegance: Inspiring Ideas for Show-Stopping Wedding Centerpieces!

You may not give much thought to the centerpieces for your wedding reception tables, but they are more important than you think. Your wedding guests will spend a lot of time at their tables, as they have their dinner and chat with each other. So, these centerpieces will be in constant focus. Their arrangement will reflect the tone of the wedding and set the ambiance.

While some venues offer a few custom centerpiece options to choose from, you can also opt for your own design and find one that is suitable for the theme of your party. Let us look at the different factors you should pay attention to when designing your centerpieces, so you can maximize their effect.

Height of the display

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This is an important criterion to pay attention to when choosing your centerpiece designs. A centerpiece that is too tall will obscure the view of the guests who sit across each other, and it will be difficult for them to communicate. So, your centerpiece should be low. You can still create an impact by designing the centerpieces to be unique and with interesting design elements. The only time you can go with higher centerpieces is when the design is elongated but not broad. This way, it will not obstruct the view, and will allow guests to talk to each other comfortably.

Width or size

The centerpiece should be compact and not spread out. It should be proportional to the size of the table, and the arrangement should be neat and attractive. Depending on whether the tables are round or long, choose a centerpiece that has the right proportions. A single centerpiece or a cohesive group that occupies a circle in the center is ideal for round tables. Well-spaced tall arrangements on a table runner through the center will be good for long tables.

Choosing the design elements

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Flowers and candles are the popular choices for centerpieces. Apart from these, you can also use balloons, crystals, gemstones, jars, pebbles, shells, fruits or anything else that you can think of. The elements you choose should blend well with the theme. A clear vase with shells at the base and floating candles on top for a beach wedding would be appropriate. You can also make use of seasonal flowers and fruits to add color to the centerpieces, and also get them at a lesser price. Ensure you keep the color palette consistent and don’t go overboard with details. It is always the simpler designs that create more impact.

Choose variations for more visual interest

It isn’t necessary that all your tables are decked up the same way. In fact, it is more attractive if each table was personalized differently. Keep the colors consistent and the designs similar, but make slight variations in the arrangement. This will be more interesting. You could alternate two color combinations for each table, or even change the heights and designs of the centerpieces from one table to another. When you alternate styles, the only thing to remember is all the pieces should be tied together with a few unifying factors and not look too distinct.

For more wedding decor tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.

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5 Non-traditional wedding dresses for the bold bride

All of us love the beautiful ball gown. Nonetheless, a bride in a different bridal outfit is refreshing, and let’s face it, we all do like the drama of something unique.

Brides today have it easy, with ace designers bringing forth many a wedding dress that makes it distinct. Whether it is the color, the fabric, the design or even the patterns on it, a bride can choose to show off her personality through the wedding dress she wears on the most important day of her life.

Let us look at some of the brilliant and unusual wedding dresses we have in our Alfred Angelo collection at Best for Bride. Which one will you love the most?

 

 

What do you think of this Grecian goddess inspired Alfred Angelo 2515 gown from the 2015 bridal collection? Everything from the criss-cross draped bodice to the sheer lace that begins at the corner of the bodice and extends into a low cut sheer back, makes this dreamy gown an exquisite piece. The light, breezy nature of the chiffon gown renders it an ideal choice for a beach wedding. The gathered A-line skirt is a universal choice that will suit any body type.

 

 

The new Alfred Angelo collection is all about surprises, as this fabulous wedding dress proves again. The 2512 NT modern fit gown from the 2015 collection is a masterpiece of glamour. The snugly fitting sweetheart neckline frames the bust and a moonstone style waistband that is thicker to one side of the torso are both stylish. There is no beating the perfectly executed high-low hemline with scalloped lace details. Now, if you want a more traditional look for the ceremony, it is possible with the detachable skirt that can be bought with the dress. Isn’t that a brilliant way to take you from morning to evening?

 

 

Now, here is a dress for the bride who wants to make sure she is the star of the day. This Alfred Angelo 2483 wedding dress from the 2015 collection will ensure that no bridesmaid nor wedding guest steals your thunder. Featuring a horsehair crumb catcher neckline and an asymmetrically layered skirt, the dress is poufy, but with personality. We can see many younger brides falling in love with this dress, and yes, it is the right choice if you want everyone’s jaw to drop as you make your appearance. The high-low hemline has a casual look, and the crisp layers that spread throughout the length add a mesmerizing touch to this wedding dress.

 

 

Bewitching and distinct, this black and white wedding 2455 wedding gown from the 2014 collection is unusually interesting. We’ve seen many colored wedding dresses before, but not many create an impact as powerful as this gown does. The sprinkling of black appliques on a pristine white base, all the way down the bodice to the dropped waist, and the culmination in a foam of white spray is fascinating. The sleeves too have black lace appliques to complete the effect.

So, what do you think of these unusually exciting wedding dresses? Will you be bold enough to try any of these yourself? To check out even more unique wedding gowns, check out our bridal gallery on Best for Bride.

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Mother’s Moment to Shine: 3 Essential Tips to Help Mom Find the Perfect Dress for Your Big Day!

Every bride will agree that wedding shopping is more complicated than it seems. You not only want to look stunning on your wedding day, but want the entire bridal party to complement your look too. Where your bridal party is concerned, one person who deserves extra help picking out her outfit for your big day is your mom.

This article on the Huffington post mentions that dressing a mother of the bride is usually more challenging than the bride herself, as there are a whole other set of constraints to meet.  After all, everyone notices her and you don’t want her to look anything less than beautiful on your special day.

Although it is only right that you allow your mother to pick her own dress for your wedding, there are some things you can do to help her make her decision easier and to ensure that what she wears goes well with your wedding theme. Here is what you can do.

1.Give her a reasonable variety of colors and patterns to choose from

Whether it is color or pattern, don’t restrict your mother’s choices to just a few. It is a big day for her, so she should have the liberty to choose a dress that brings out her best. Make sure that your suggestions include colors and designs that she will be comfortable in. Give her a wide range of colors that will blend well with your wedding palette, and suggest a range of patterns that will look good on her. This will allow her to look at more dresses and locate one that she loves.

2. Help to co-ordinate with your future mother-in-law, so their looks on they day complement each other

Traditionally, the bride’s mother picks her dress first, and then the groom chooses a dress that matches it. Although the two mothers weren’t expected to dress the same, their choice of dresses were supposed to be complementary and go well together. This may sound unrealistic today, but wouldn’t it be good if their looks matched? Talk to your mother-in-law before both mothers go shopping and find out whether she has any specific plans on how she will dress on the day. You can then suggest designs for your mom. Go with either a traditional look or modern style for both moms, and their dresses should ideally be in different colors but ones that go together.

3.Encourage her to step out of her comfort zone and choose a dress that will allow her to shine

Many mothers decide to go for something classic and safe for their daughter’s wedding day. You know your mother’s personality and the type of dresses that she can carry off confidently. Encourage her to choose a dress that will bring out her best features, and in which she will look elegant, but different. Why don’t you spare some time to look for designs that you think will look great on her? You could offer to go with her when she goes shopping. It would be exciting for both of you, and you will remember the experience fondly as it becomes part of your wedding memories.

For an inspiring collection of mother-of-the-bride dresses, don’t forget to visit us at Best for Bride today.

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Winter wedding table décor inspiration

Now that this is the time for winter weddings, let us look at some of the most interesting décor arrangements that make the most of the cool, holiday season. Here is some inspiration for you from various venues across the world, to give you ideas for your own beautiful wedding.

The all-time favorite white and silver combination

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Image Credit: djromanj, via Flickr, [CC BY 2.0]

The festivities of the cold season are enhanced with white and silver strewn all around. Adopt the same combination for your wedding centerpieces, and you will have a classic never-fail favorite, that is both festive and stylish. Tall candles and white roses are favorites, while silver candle holders, platters and ornaments like baubles and stars can add glittering accents. For a better finish, consider throwing in crystal or glass vases, which complement this color palette perfectly.

Seasonal elements like pine cones and fir to add textural dimension

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Winter decorations with the seasonal icons like pine cones and fir branches can add a whimsical and cheerful touch to your table centerpieces. Not only are they romantic, they also have a spell binding fairy tale effect. Little pine cones scattered all over the table, used beside the place settings and if required, decorated with shimmering glitter make beautiful additions to your wintry tablescape.

Red and blue make the best colors for winter

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Red reminds us of Christmas, and deep blue is a color that magnifies the characteristic white of winter. If you want only a little color in your winter wedding, these are the ones to consider. Red and white is a classic Christmas combination. Add a few golden accents, and your centerpieces will be welcoming and warm. Choose to go with blue and white instead, if you prefer more sophistication. Purple and emerald are other beautiful colors that brighten up white and form beautiful color combinations.

Splurge on candles

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Scented candles are perfect to set the ambiance you desire. Depending on whether your table setting is long or round, choose a centerpiece that has plenty of candles. The warm glow of a lit candle is romantic, beautiful and cozy; it can brighten up any dreary winter day. So, if you have a snowy wedding, make the most of this décor element to warm your wedding venue. How about adding a few floating tea light candles or even strewing around petals for added elegance?

Magnificence of Crystal and metal

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Bring on the bling with bright metallic shimmer, through metal tree centerpieces. Another metal I love is copper, which screams winter. Copper vases and mugs can lift the cold and create a warm and welcoming ambiance. Crystal is another element that generates textural magic and rejuvenates any space with sparkling bursts of color. Hang strings of crystals or use crystal bowls and vases for your centerpieces, and they will make an enchanting décor element.

Tell us, which of these will you be using at your winter wedding? For more inspiration, we suggest you look at this article on Stylemepretty. Also, don’t forget to visit us on Best for Bride for both unusual and interesting décor and centerpieces, and you will find hundreds of ideas to borrow and use.