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Your guide to planning a formal wedding ceremony

After a brief spell of laid-back, casual style weddings, more and more couples are once again opting for formal weddings. Also known as black-tie weddings or white-glove worthy weddings, this classic form is slowly growing in popularity, and this is why. The elegance of having a luxurious wedding with all the details right, is very tempting. When you know that traditions never go out of style, is a better reason required,to choose it as your event style?

If you want sophistication and style to set the tone at your wedding, a fantastic formal wedding may be beckoning you. Here, we look at the essentials to plan such an event, and help you determine if this is indeed, what you want.

Step everything up a notch, including the budget

The venue will have to be classic and stunning; think along the lines of a castle, historical site or country club resort. The décor will involve lavish decorations and dramatic centerpieces. The guest list is usually large (certainly more than 100), and the reception will be formal and sit-down style. The bar should feature top-class wines and classic cocktails.

Everything from the perfect invitation to a fantastic cake and even your wedding favors and vehicle to leave the venue, should look and feel formal. So, aim for this option only if your budget is on the higher side.

Attire of the couple and all the others

Formal affairs require everyone to adhere to a strict black-tie dress code. Your wedding gown, as well as those of your bridesmaids would have to look formal, and all the men should be in tuxedos.

Ball gowns have always been the traditional favorite for brides, but you can opt for other styles as long as they are full-length gowns. Your gown should ideally feature at least a cathedral train, and a veil would be appropriate.

Your bridesmaids should also be dressed in classic patterns. These weddings normally involve more bridesmaids and ushers than regular weddings do. All your wedding guests will have to appear in formal wear, and you will have to specify this in your wedding invitation.

Decor, cake and Flowers

Choose to decorate the venue elegantly, and in classic style. Employ stylish flower arrangements, candle lights and lush textiles like silk and satin to create a magnificent setting. Roses, stephanotis and orchids are flowers suitable for the ceremony.

The wedding cake is usually a classic three-tier cake, with elegant elements like ribbons, flowers, beads or textures adorning it. You can choose round or square, or for a more contemporary touch choose a hexagon cake. Do not choose a pastel palette or the whimsical topsy-turvy cake design, as it is inappropriate for this type of ceremony.

Keep up the style, but don’t tone down the fun

A vintage car like a Rolls Royce, or stylish limousines are ideal choices to carry you to and from the venue. Although a black-tie wedding may seem very prim and proper, remember that it can still be lots of fun. Get a lively band or orchestra, celebrate in full swing, have some interesting photographs taken and have a blast.

For more wedding tips, as well as to pick the perfect wedding dress for the occasion, check out the collection at Best for Bride.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 1 Comment

Redefining Elegance: The Bold Choice of Dressing Bridesmaids in White!

If you thought that white was for the bride, it is no longer the case. Ever since Kate Middleton introduced us to her bridal entourage in white, it’s been a hit and more celebrities have followed suit.

One reason why white isn’t usually chosen for bridesmaids, is to avoid any confusion on who the bride is. Interestingly, this prompts us to take a closer look at the tradition of having bridesmaids in the first place. Did you know that bridesmaids originally had a far more important role in a wedding, than they do today? It was to protect the bride from evil spirits! In order to achieve this, bridesmaids were intended to dress just like the bride.

Where modern weddings are concerned, the last thing you want is to see the entire bridal party looking the same. So, while we toss superstition aside and step away from dressing up the bridesmaids to resemble the bride, let us not write off white as a dress color for the bridal party. Here is why!

White balances and blends with any color palette

White is refreshingly beautiful and renders a casual, relaxed vibe to the ceremony. This is a neutral that blends into any décor, and if you have some unusual color themes at your wedding, you can create a balance with white as your bridesmaids dress color. Also, with white, you will be spoilt for choices where the bouquets and rest of the colors in your wedding décor are concerned.

If you are having a white winter wedding, or a chic beach wedding, white for your bridesmaids would be a beautiful choice. White goes with white, but it would be an even better choice for your bridesmaids dresses if your wedding gown is in an uncoventional color. In this case, choose white and you needn’t worry about it clashing with the color of your wedding dress.

Factors to remember when choosing white for your bridesmaids

If you’ve made your mind to go with white for your maids, remember that bridesmaids dresses come in varying shades of white, just like bridal dresses do. So, you have to choose from ivory, milky-white and diamond. Ensure that all your bridesmaids are in the same shade of white, so the look is cohesive.

If your bridal gown is in white, let your bridesmaids dresses be in a length that is different from yours. With the bride in a gorgeous gown, there is no chance of confusion. Nevertheless, choose a different silhouette and neckline pattern to keep it interesting and to add more visual interest. Another option is to choose the bridesmaids dresses in white lace or with ruffles, to add a dreamy and delicate touch to your wedding.This is perfect for an outdoor wedding, where the white will pop against the natural background.

At Best for Bride, we have a large collection of bridesmaids dresses, both in white and colors, to draw inspiration from, and to choose for your favorite girls on your big day. Visit us to browse our online gallery, for all your wedding shopping needs and for valuable wedding tips and advice.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

How to have a Rustic Wedding

One of the most popular wedding themes, especially in the fall is rustic weddings. Even though they were traditionally designed for fall weather, many people are now choosing them for spring and summer weddings because of their beauty. If this is a wedding style that you enjoy, there are many things that you can do to make sure that your wedding is beautiful.

Centerpieces

When you are choosing centerpieces for your rustic wedding, be sure to choose options that will work well in a rustic wedding. Many brides choose to go with options like galvanized vases, watering cans and buckets. You may also thing about placing jars of homemade preserves, honey and jam in the center of tables as well.

Another great idea to choose for your centerpieces of a rustic wedding are bowls of pumpkins, dried corn, cattails, and gourds. These are a simple way to add a rustic look to your wedding and will be easy to find during the fall. You may even find that carving your pumpkins with hearts and your initials is a good idea too. This makes for a romantic and beautiful reception.

Decorations

Some of the best rustic wedding decorations are candles and this is one of the most popular items to use when decorating for a rustic wedding. When you are choosing an outdoor location for your wedding, it is a good idea to choose a flameless version so that you will not need to worry with issues caused from the wind.

Lanterns are also a great addition to wedding décor. Many brides choose to incorporate distressed lanterns into their wedding design in order to add more of a rustic look to their design. Certain types of flowers are also great to add to the wedding décor. For example, some of the best options for rustic flowers are orange poppies, gardenias, dahlias, wildflowers and roses.

Birdhouses, and birch signs are also a great addition to your rustic wedding. You can use any types of colors for these options, but you will probably find that fall colors like yellow, deep red, and orange. These are all fantastic options that you can choose and are beautiful at any time of the year.

Conclusion

A rustic wedding is a fantastic option for a number of reasons. Not only are they beautiful, but they are versatile as well. You can easily change the design to fit your own style and personality and the design will be something that you and your guests will remember and enjoy even after you wedding has ended. If you are looking for a way to add some rustic touches to your wedding, be sure to check out the options listed above. They will all help you to create the wedding of your dreams.

Best for Bride is the place to shop for all of your wedding needs. They will be able to help you plan the perfect rustic wedding and will have all of the décor items that you needs as well.

Posted on by Olga Pomeransky — 2 Comments

Wedding Planning : The 3 things brides worry about the most and how to handle them

You’re in love and just engaged – how romantic and dreamy everything looks and feels! But, not for long. Once wedding planning enters the picture, the excitement can quickly take on a new form called Stress!

Most brides will be planning a wedding for the first time. So, it isn’t unusual to feel overwhelmed. If you are a perfectionist, who wants everything to go exactly as you dreamed it to be, be prepared to watch your stress levels soar. All this can take all the fun out of your wedding.

Here, we shall look at three factors that drown most brides in worry. Fortunately, we also know what will help you with them, so let’s find out.

1. The wedding budget

Everything related to a wedding boils down to money. Every vendor and service you require for your wedding will have to be paid. Add to it the additional cost of planning your honeymoon and getting favors for your near and dear; get ready to say goodbye to your bank balance.

The way to handle this is to plan your wedding budget sensibly and realistically. Determine the maximum you can afford to spend, and divide it amongst the different factors. Remember that you can plan a wedding for any budget, big or small. So, fix your budget first and then shop around for what fits it.

Don’t forget to factor in the extras when you book a vendor or go shopping. This would include the alteration charges when buying a wedding dress, tips and taxes for vendors and similar charges which may or may not be included with the original rates.

2. Handling help

Announce your wedding, and you will find many people rushing to your aid to plan the perfect wedding. Their advice may be well-intended, but many brides often find their own ideas slipping through when an overbearing friend or relative steps in to help.

If you are faced with this situation, just remember this. Wedding planning has a dark side to it; you cannot have everything perfect, while pleasing everyone. If someone tries to force their ideas on you, tell them that you will think over it, but don’t commit unless you are convinced.

Delegate small tasks to those who are eager to help, but not any of the bigger responsibilities that you cannot take chances with. If your parents or in-laws are paying, you have to make allowances for their suggestions. Work to find a compromise that both of you can live with.

3. Getting it all done on time

When you first make a list of things to do, you may be worried by how long it is. From shopping for your wedding dress, to buying accessories, setting up the guest list, planning the wedding theme and finding the venue, there are several more things to be handled.

Don’t worry, it’s all manageable if you plan everything systematically. Before you begin with anything, first split up the tasks and assign dates to each one of them. Divide it into those you will handle and those you can delegate. If you can afford it, book a wedding planner to do all or some of the work. Do your research before you begin anything, and you will be better equipped to handle all the details. Keep the big picture in mind. If what you worry about doesn’t matter too much, don’t lose sleep over it.

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