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Wedding planning: 5 Mistakes you can avoid

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You are bound to make mistakes when you attempt something for the first time. Your wedding is no exception. With so many details to look into, it is easy to make a few errors along the way. The sad part is, some mistakes can cost you dearly.

Here is a roundup of the common mistakes many brides make, and what you can do to avoid them at your wedding.

Doing it all yourself

You certainly want your wedding to be perfect in every way, but is it worth burning yourself out by doing every task yourself? Many brides find themselves dreading their wedding day, as they are overwhelmed with the number of things they have to tackle.

Instead of worrying yourself to death, it is best that you realize some things can be done better if you delegate them. Save your energy for important tasks like choosing the wedding dress, vendors and planning the dates. The sub-tasks can be handled by capable friends or assistants. Curb the temptation to micromanage, and leave out details that aren’t extremely important. You will enjoy your planning your wedding this way.

Blowing your wedding dress budget

via Best for Bride

When brides budget for their wedding dress, they should set aside a particular amount for the dress itself and distribute the rest for accessories and alterations. Do not exceed the wedding dress amount, by looking only at those that fit your budget. If you go over-budget with your dress, you will have to compensate by cutting down on accessories like shoes or jewelry, as you cannot skimp on alterations if you want to look perfect.

Not figuring in additional costs

You have planned your wedding budget, and you intend to stick to it when ordering things and booking vendors. However, have you figured in the overhead costs as well? There are additional charges for cleaning up, taxes and tips. Make sure you incorporate these into the budget and that your bookings are all within the limit. This can prevent you from receiving a shocking bill in the end.

Being fixated on a specific idea

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This applies to your wedding dress, flower arrangements, wedding venue, décor, bridesmaids dress and all the other aspects of your wedding. If you are too particular about your choices, it is likely that you will be disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as intended. Keep yourself open to ideas and you may even be pleasantly surprised with what you find. When you go with your bridal consultant’s advice, you may discover a better wedding dress than you ever imagined; allow your florist to choose the flowers for your bouquet and you may receive a stunning but affordable one that complements your wedding theme.

Hiring family or friends who aren’t professionals

Unless your cousin is a professional photographer, or your aunt is used to baking wedding cakes, don’t hand the task over to them just because they asked for it. Whether you will be paying in full for their service or not, you will risk things going wrong on your wedding day by entrusting it to someone who isn’t capable of handling it on the required scale. Your wedding is not the occasion to take such risks, and you will be better off with a vendor who knows what they are doing, even if they charge more.

For more wedding related tips and advice, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Accessorize with Flair: Expert Styling Tips to Elevate Your Bridesmaids’ Look!

Your bridesmaids have an important role to play in your wedding. When they look good, the entire wedding feels good. So, you have to make sure that you pay close attention to how they will be dressed.

In most cases bridesmaids pay from their pockets for their dresses. The least the bride can do for these women who agree to happily shoulder their responsibilities is to buy them their accessories. Don’t you agree?

These simple styling tips will help you choose the right accessories for your bridesmaid’s dresses.

#Tip 1

Shop for accessories only after choosing the dresses

While there are accessories that go well with almost any dress, they aren’t necessarily the best choice. So, wait till you buy the bridesmaids dresses, to go shopping for their accessories. This way, you will avoid wasting time and can make a better selection.

#Tip 2

Simple dresses go with bold accessories and vice-versa

This is a very simple rule that many women fail to follow. Be it for a wedding or a cocktail party, the dress or accessories are not the main focus, but the woman wearing it. Balancing the dress with supporting accessories for an uncluttered and elegant look. Keep the accessories minimum for an embellished dress (like a sequined or patterned one or one in a bold colour). If the dress is relatively simple or in neutral shades with little to no accents, dress it up with attractive accessories.

#Tip 3

Let the neckline decide whether a necklace is necessary

Necklaces are accessories that can make or break a look. Not all dresses need necklaces to look great. For example, wearing a necklace with a halter dress would be too much. On the other hand, a sweetheart or bateau neckline would be emphasized with a pretty necklace.

#Tip 4

Don’t be scared to experiment with color

There is more than one way to add color to your bridesmaid’s outfits. While the obvious choice is a colourful dress, you should remember that not all colours look good on all women. You want your best friends to love their look, don’t you? If you prefer neutrals and toned-down colors for their dresses, add pops of color with bright and bold accessories. This may be with shoes, waistbands or jewelry. The effect is enhanced when colours are paired with the neutral background of their dresses.

#Tip 5

Mix and match accessories to suit each bridesmaid’s taste, but keep the look cohesive

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Your bridesmaids have different personalities. Respect their individuality and let their looks reflect who they are. The accessories you choose for each woman should suit her taste and match her style. This way, you can make them all happy. The only thing to remember when choosing the accessories is to keep one-factor uniform throughout. This could either be the color, the design or the impact it creates.

Now that you know what to look out for when choosing bridesmaids accessories, how about finding the perfect dresses for your pretty friends? Visit our online store at Best for Bride for designer collections of the best bridesmaids gowns in all styles and price ranges.

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Guest Etiquette Elevated: Practical Dressing Tips for Every Wedding Occasion!

It is not only the bride who has trouble deciding what to wear to her wedding. Most wedding guests also spend a lot of time worrying over what to wear to a wedding, how they will look in what they choose and whether it would be appropriate for the type of wedding.

Fortunately, it isn’t too difficult to choose a dress that will be right. All you have to do is follow cues from the invitation and pay attention to the time of the wedding and the venue. Here are some tips to help you dress to impress.

The differences between dressing for an evening ceremony and an afternoon one

If the ceremony is in the evening, it is appropriate to wear cocktail dresses or gowns. This is your chance to experiment with color, texture and pattern. If you would like to stand out from the rest of the crowd, wear a bold color. A simple dress would be better for weddings that are held before five. Afternoon and morning weddings are usually not very formal affairs. So, stay away from long flowing gowns and extra embellishments in which you will look over-dressed.

Choose a vivid color for maximum impact

Jade, magenta, teal and clementine are bold colors. Bring out your personality with a color that complements your skin tone, and you needn’t worry too much about the rest of the details. Just remember that you should never upstage the bride with your choice of dress. To be safe, avoid colors like cream, white and ivory. When choosing printed dresses, go for classic designs that will drape beautifully. Chiffon and cotton are good fabric choices.

Go for classic silhouettes to look elegant

When choosing the silhouette of your dress, choose one that is appropriate for the venue. If you choose a strapless dress for a church wedding, it may be a good idea to wear a mock bolero or pashmina over your shoulders, till the reception. If your dress is in a bold color like teal or emerald, go with a classic A-line silhouette or fit and flare gown. For loud colors, keep the embellishments simple to avoid a cluttered look.

Accessorize appropriate to scale and color

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Weddings are the best occasions to bring on chunky statement necklaces, dangling chandelier earrings and killer heels. Just remember that you do not want to have too many elements that grab attention, or you will spoil the entire effect. If your dress is a stunner, keep the accessories simple. On the other hand, if your dress is relatively simple, play with oversize accessories to dress it up.

Remember that you can always wear an evening dress to more than one occasion, and create an entirely different look with it based on how you style it. Mix and match accessories, change your makeup and hairstyle every time, and you will always look unique.

We have a stunning collection of evening dresses at Best for Bride. Visit us today to find the one you will wear to the next wedding you plan to attend.

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Dress Advice for the Mother of the Groom

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There are hundreds of columns, books and articles dedicated to wedding advice for the bride, groom, bridesmaids and even mother-of-the-bride. However, we seldom come across useful advice for the mother of the groom. So, this article is dedicated to the mothers of the grooms, and we will soon explore the guidelines that will help the mother of the groom choose a dress that is appropriate for her son’s wedding.

Going with tradition

Traditionally, it was the bride’s mother who first chose her dress and informed the groom’s mother of her selection. The mother of the groom would then choose a dress that would match. The dresses of both mothers weren’t expected to be a perfect match. Nevertheless, it was common practice that their dresses didn’t clash, but would instead complement each other. So, if the mother of the bride chose a long dress, the mother of the groom would also do the same.

Go with the wedding theme and colors

You should be aware of the various colors that are in the wedding palette, and the type of wedding that is planned. Depending on the specific nature of the wedding, you may choose your dress in a color and style that matches the style of wedding. Take cues from the bridesmaids dresses and choose your dress in a color that complements it, but isn’t the same shade.

 

Avoid white and black

You should stay away from white, obviously because it is the bridal color. Black isn’t usually considered suitable for a wedding, and unless it is a part of the overall color scheme, or the couple don’t mind you choosing a black dress, it is best avoided.

Comfort is key

It is not a good idea to experiment with daring options in dress styles on this day.You will be spending several hours wearing the dress you choose, so go with a style that you are comfortable in.

Once you choose your dress, get it altered to fit your measurements. This will make sure it flaunts your figure. Also select appropriate innerwear to support you throughout the day, and invest in a good pair of shoes.

Dress appropriately and aim for elegance

Choose a dress silhouette that flatters your figure, and make sure it is one that doesn’t cause any eyebrows to be raised. Modern etiquette rules do not demand that the mother of the groom be dressed conservatively. So, you can choose dresses that highlight the latest trends, but aim for a classic and elegant look. If you want to try something bold, it is a good idea to first get your would-be daughter-in-law’s opinion on whether it would be appropriate for the occasion.

Accessorize to enhance your overall look

Don’t just rely on your dress to look great. Make sure you have the jewelry to add the finishing touches. Classic choices are pearls and diamonds, but you can also go for colored gemstones that match your dress. Choose a stunning clutch and matching shoes to add style to your outfit. Finally pay attention to your makeup and hairstyle to look fabulous.

To choose from a great selection of dresses in all colors and patterns to wear at your son’s lifetime event, visit us at Best for Bride.