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How to Write Your Own Vows

Any writer can tell you that facing the blank page can be intimidating. It’s no different when writing your own wedding vows. How can you begin to describe your love for the person with whom you want to share your life? Here are some helpful tips for how to write your own vows.

Before actually writing the vows, talk to your fiance about the tone of the vows. If one of you writes very serious, traditional vows and the other’s are humorous, the humorous vows can seem disrespectful even if there was absolutely no intent to be portrayed that way. You might decide that you will both include a mix of serious and funny. Discuss the options as a couple. Also, decide on a general length. Vows usually are between one and two minutes long.

Looking at the whole project of writing your own vows may be too overwhelming. Try breaking the vows into the sections that you want. Many people start with a very basic statement addressing their loved one. They typically start with the fiancé’s name and a few sentences talking about the person’s strengths, lovable qualities, and caring nature. Close the beginning of the vows with a declaration of love.

An example of the beginning of vows:

“Daniel, you are my one true love. You have an amazing balance of being strong, yet being affectionate, and being focused, yet making me laugh. You have always accepted me for who I am while challenging me to reach my potential. I love you with all my heart, forever and always.”

Traditionally, the second part of the wedding vows include promises. These promises can be statements about how you will show your love and commitment every day. The promises can be general statements such as, “I will always do everything I can to make you happy.” Or, the promises can be more personal and specific.

Wedding vows typically end with statements about future hopes or what you will do together. For example, this part can be summarized as “I will love you through good times and bad.” You may want something more poetic or personal. The ending of the vows usually includes a sentiment about the bond being eternal, such as “as long as we both shall live.”

Take a cue from writers of dialogue. Practice saying the vows aloud. Sometimes, we write things that look good on paper but are awkward when spoken. Hearing it will help you know what they will sound like to your fiancé and wedding guests. This will also give you a chance to time how long it takes to say the vows.

Start writing vows early. You may want to make changes along the way. After you think you’re finished, you might think of something else you want to say or want to change the wording. When you are completely finished, make a fresh copy to practice if you have been writing and changing things on paper.

For more tips for conquering challenges associated with planning your wedding, please browse the Best for Bride blog.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 7 Comments

Ideas for a pretty wedding cake decorations with flowers

Flowers have the power to transform any gloomy space into something cheery and welcoming. It is no wonder that these beautiful elements of nature have a prominent place in weddings, and are found everywhere from bouquets and centerpieces to bridal hairdos and wedding cakes.

Wedding cakes decorated with real flowers have an endearing charm. It is an easy way to match your wedding cake to the rest of your wedding theme. So, here we will look at all that you need to know about wedding cake flowers and how you can use them to make your delicious wedding dessert look fantastic.

How to choose the flowers

There are basically two ways in which you can use flowers for cake displays—crystallized or freshly picked. Master cake maker, Fiona Cairns, who is famous for decorating Prince William and Kate’s wedding cake, says that crystallized flowers can be used on cakes to create masterpieces. In this article on the Daily Mail, Cairns suggests using edible blooms such as rose, pansies and lavender and leaves like mint and sweet geranium for crystallized decorations. These can be crystallized with a sugar and egg white coating well ahead of the wedding day, and will not spoil.

When using fresh flowers, the decoration should be done just hours before serving, as they can wilt. Here are the list of factors you have to consider when choosing them.

It is important to ensure that the flowers used are not toxic and haven’t been sprayed with pesticide.
It isn’t necessary to decorate your cake with only edible flowers. You can also use non-edible flowers for decoration, but make sure that these are removed before serving.
If a flower is edible, you can serve it to your guests and leave it to them to decide whether they want to try it or not.
Choose flowers that do not wilt easily, especially if your wedding venue is warm.

Things to remember when using flowers as your cake decoration

The best person to guide you on which flowers are suitable for cake decorations, is your florist. Ask your wedding florist to thoroughly clean each and every flower which will be used on your cake.

If you want the beauty of the blooms on your wedding cake, but are worried about how hygienic it will be, choose a cake design with tiers that are separated and flowers placed between these tiers, so it doesn’t touch the cake.

There are various arrangements you can consider for your floral wedding cake. These include, but are not limited to the following:

An arrangement on the top tier alone, where a spell of colorful blooms will occupy the center. They can be placed on a divider that separates them from the frosting.

Bright colorful flowers that richly deck the layers of the cake. This can be done with the same flowers or a multitude of varieties, depending on the theme.

Small flower arrangements at different locations and also on the edges to add a pop of color.

For more spectacular cakes with floral accents in both fresh and candied versions, take a look at our cake gallery on Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

What’s hot in formal dresses for winter balls this year

Winter is almost here and with the holiday season soon upon us, there will be winter balls and Christmas parties to attend. So, this is in fact, the right time to begin looking for your outfits for the big holiday events this year. Here are our favorite picks, inspired by the fashion catwalks of the year.

Mauve is the new pink in town

Pink has been hot and happening for a while now. It takes on a sophisticated look in this new rendition of mauve that is quickly gathering fans everywhere. Check out this fantastic evening gown in mauve. The ruffled skirt and ruched bodice play havoc with textures, and come together perfectly. Great for a winter ball, it is romantic and sophisticated. Pair it with a luscious wrap or stole and you are all set for any party evening.

Sprightly hi-low hemlines

Happy hemlines that bounce and dance as they pass you are the craze now. It was featured by many designers including Louis Vuitton and Mary Katrantzou on the fall-winter catwalks and was well-received by women everywhere. If you want to add this cheerful hemline to your winter wardrobe, look no further than this evening dress by After-Six in matte satin. The A-line gown with a fitted waistband is simple and elegant. The contrast of black and white creates an attractive combination.

Short skirts to show off your fantastic legs

The weather may be cold, but shorter hemlines are in the fall and winter spotlight. Mini skirts were popular, as were evening dresses with higher hemlines. You can keep the chills away by sporting a fashionable knee-high boot and showing off your slim silhouette. Get ready to shine at your next winter party in this fabulous navy dress from the Jadore evening collection. Sexy and stylish, it is the perfect dress to flaunt your stunning figure and look confident.

One-shoulder beauties

We’ve seen multiway dresses, strapless and sleeveless gowns. But nothing beats the charm of a one-shoulder dress. The beautiful neckline immediately reminds us of a stunning Goddess. Suitable for both night and day events, this design works wonders in shifting focus from your lower half and emphasizing your toned shoulders and arms. Our pick is this beauty from the Jadore SD collection.

Notice how the pretty scintillating waistband enhances the charm of the pleated texture that engulfs the entire gown? The small clasp at the shoulder adds more finesse to the design. If you want to show off your well-toned arms and draw attention to those sexy collar bones, here is a dress to don. Don’t forget to accessorize with chunky and oversize accessories and flats, which are the trends this year.

All the dresses featured here and many more beckon you at our collection for dresses for all occasions. Visit our online gallery at Best for Bride and be inspired by the beautiful dresses that are available in all sizes Make your pick today and get ready to take the winter stage by storm.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 3 Comments

Is it wise to go bridal shopping with your fiance?

As a soon-to-be bride, it is likely that you follow TLC’s show “Say Yes to the Dress”, at least occasionally. In that case, you may not be too surprised to see brides who take their fiance wedding shopping with them.

If you are old-school, you may not agree to this idea, as it is believed to be bad luck for the groom to see his bride in her wedding dress, before the actual wedding day. In this context, it is only apt that we look at what is behind this tradition.

According to this article on CNN, this practice originated in the days when arranged marriages were the norm. The bridegroom was not allowed to see the bride at all (wedding dress or not!), till the time they were actually wed. This was so that if either of them were disappointed with who was to be their life partner, they wouldn’t have the option of backing out.

Today, the situation is different. Although many brides follow this without question, there are others who choose to do so for another reason. It is a memorable moment when the bridegroom first sees the bride in her bridal finesse, and one that the couple will fondly remember. Not to mention, the first-look is a photography favorite that most couples don’t want to ruin.

Nevertheless, what if you want your fiance’s opinion on this matter? What if you believe that he is the best person to give you an honest feedback when you look for your bridal gown?

In this article on the Glamor weddings website, the author Jenny Feldman shares her experience of how she went shopping with the girls, but showed all the dresses she ordered to her husband, and made her final decision with him. Despite this, the experience of seeing each other in their wedding outfits on the actual day was in no way less special.

In short, it entirely depends on your personal situation, and what you would like to do. Here are some factors to consider.

Are you sure that your fiance will love your wedding dress, no matter what you select? Or does he have very strong opinions on what you wear, and you are worried about disappointing him by choosing something he wouldn’t approve?
Does he understand your taste, and does he help you make good dress choices?
Do you think that the magic of the moment when you first see each other on your wedding day, will be ruined, if your groom has already seen you in your wedding dress?
If the two of you are paying for the dress, it may be advisable to consult him as it is a considerable expense that you want to spend right.

Finally, make sure you discuss your ideas beforehand, so he knows what to expect and both of you are on the same page when you go shopping. Also, don’t forget to check out our bridal gallery at Best for Bride, to shortlist the dresses that will be perfect for your big day.