Traditional wedding planning was based on rules and even more rules. Luckily, we aren’t bound by endless customs and traditions when planning our wedding today. While it isn’t wise to toss all the rules, beliefs and wedding etiquette aside, few can be ignored so we can realize our vision of the perfect wedding.
So, what are they? Let us find out.
1.It is the bride’s family that pays
With weddings getting bigger and more expensive everyday, it is not such a good idea to place the entire financial burden on the bride’s family. The couple can sponsor their wedding themselves, rely on funds from the groom’s side or even split the expenses. What matters is that you have the desired wedding, not who pays for it. Also remember that it is only right that the people footing the bill have a say in how the wedding ought to be. So, if you and your parents or in-laws disagree on the guest list or wedding menu, try to find a compromise that works for everyone.
2.Your wedding dress should be white
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Although white is the most popular option in wedding dress colors, you don’t need to choose it. In fact, white wedding dresses became popular only in the 19th century, before which, brides wore dresses in different colours. So, if you aren’t smitten with white, pick any colour that appeals to you.
3.The groom shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony
This was believed to be bad luck. Superstitions aside, photographers today encourage couples to click a few pictures together before the ceremony. This allows them to get the best shots, when the bride’s makeup is fresh. It also allows them to effectively capture the first reaction of the groom when he sees his bride in her wedding attire. This is a memory that the couple will often cherish, and so this is a good way to do it right.
4.You can have only one Maid of Honor
More and more brides are now opting to have two Co-Maids of honor, if they have two favorite girlfriends. This makes sense, as it wouldn’t be nice to choose one over the other when both ladies are equally important to the bride. It is also more practical, as they can divide the bridesmaid’s duties and ensure everything sails smoothly, putting the bride’s mind at ease.
5.Weddings have to be expensive
Not necessarily. You can choose to keep the wedding small and meaningful if you do not have the budget for a big wedding. After all, it isn’t about throwing a big party or starting your life together on a big debt. It is about celebrating your love as a couple, with the people who matter most to you. Whether you can afford a wedding party with thousands of guests or you choose to get married with only your closest friends and family attending, you will still be pronounced man and wife. So, plan a wedding within your budget, and make sure you get the best deal you can afford.
For more wedding planning advice, tips and stories, visit us on Best for Bride.
At times, we simply have to turn to the experts for advice. Where it comes to wedding colors, the dizzying variety can easily cause us to swoon. For brides who are lost for choices, what better place to turn to than to the global expert on colors, Pantone, for inspiration on what’s hot and what’s not.
The Pantone color trends for Autumn/Winter 2016 brings us an unusual yet attractive mix of hues and shades from the color spectrum. This year, the theme featured is real and unreal, or absent and present. Mysterious as it sounds, the color palette is surprisingly fresh and perfect to work with.
If you are to get married in the coming months of this year, it is a great place to begin, and we suggest starting with your bridesmaids. After all, nothing highlights the color theme of your wedding, as much as the colors that your wedding party sports.
It is once again time to shuffle through our unbelievably extensive collection of bridesmaids dresses, and find out the our favorites in the most happening colors this year. So, let’s begin.
Beautiful in Black
Gone are the days, when black wasn’t an appropriate color for a wedding. Now, it is the newest “Prestige” color, and one that adds a mysterious vibe to your wedding. Perfect for the indoors, it will stand out and is great for a formal ceremony. As the ultimate neutral, you can pair it with any other color in bouquets and other accessories. And don’t overlook the fact that black is a universal favorite, so this is your go-to choice if you want your girls to use their bridesmaid dress more than once. Plus, black is refined, sophisticated and not to mention, grown-up.
Now let’s take a quick peek at our favorite dresses in black.
And for those of you brides who don’t want to go with black all the way, the Alfred Angelo bridesmaids collection brings you some fantastic color block beauties with black on the yoke. Here’s a sample.
Vibrant and White
More and more brides are now defying tradition, as they choose white for their bridesmaids. The modern bride knows that there is more than just one type of white, and it is impossible to confuse the bride with her bridesmaids, when her dress choice is done properly.
If you are a modern bride looking for a challenge, how about getting your bridesmaids to wear white on the most special day in your life? Just make sure that there is at least one factor that visibly sets you apart (ideally the dress hemline, the fabric or finish), and you can play all you want with other colors in your bouquets, accessories and rest of the wedding décor. White bridesmaids will complement any other décor color, and also add that necessary balance, with which you can make the rest of the colors in your palette pop. Also, a great choice if your wedding gown is not white, but a different hue. Take a closer look at the dresses featured below. Now, here are dresses that will be just fine for everyone’s taste, despite being white. Don’t you think?
And, here are these dazzling white beauties from our bridesmaids collections.
Glassy and gorgeous green
Unlike the mints and emeralds of the previous years, this year Pantone’s color palette draws our attention to two different types of greens—a cool,glassy green and the other a yellowish olive-like shade. Green is a beautiful color that is usually associated with spring and summer. Nevertheless, when done right, and it can intensify any other color used with it. It’s subtle but striking presence, will make a beautiful addition to your winter or autumn wedding landscape. When choosing this color, pay attention to the skin tone of your bridesmaids. Not all girls can easily sport every type of green. Nevertheless, with these two options that are in trend, you can mix and match options to find dresses that are suitable for every one of your bridesmaids. Take a look at the greens that are bound to make heads turn this year, through the dreamy bridesmaids dresses below.
Wow with Yellow
Yellow is a powerful, tropical color that acts like a ray of sunshine in the cold wintry weather scene. This winter, add an extra dose of joy to your winter palette with muted yellows that remind us of the serene skies and refreshing warmth of summer, that is far off. It is a color with a positive vibe to it. Nevertheless, exercise caution when adding yellow to your wedding colors, especially if you have other bold colors in your palette. Although yellow is a color that blends in with most other colors, you should be picky with the shade you choose, as not all yellows work equally well with other color combinations. Now, for some divinely, delightful yellow dresses to add sunny splendor to your wedding palette, check out what we have in store.
Warmth with Orange
In a welcome twist from the previously popular clementine, this year the preferred orange takes on a spicy and warm tone that is subtly sophisticated. Infused with cinnamon, camel and caramel, choose dresses with the orange shade barely there to be in line with the trend. The good thing about this twist to the tale is that these oranges blend in better with more color palettes, and do not stand out. This makes it easier to choose dresses that will work the mix ‘n’ match trend well. Plus, these colors are not too bold, and so will complement most skin tones as opposed to the characteristic brightness of the original orange shade. Here are the latest from our collection that give wings to the beautiful color.
Pleasantly purple
Purple has been in the limelight for quite some time, and this year is no different. With the color wheel spinning more towards the direction of muted berry colors, purple moves from bright to being a mellow and neutral shade. This is a fantastic color that yields a powerful color palette with neutrals like grey, white and black. It also livens up the atmosphere when combined with yellow, turquoise or green. While the former looks strikingly sophisticated, the latter is a pleasing palette of cheer. One of my favorite things about this color is that it is the one of the few colors that the various shades work together so perfectly, that blending or mixing various purples is a breeze. We have so many perfect purples in our collection, that it took quite a while to find out which of these will make the top list. So, here are our picks. What do you think of them?
Brilliant in blue
Blue is the eternal winter favorite, and this color works its way into almost every winter party. If not through the dresses, blue makes its presence felt in the rest of the décor. It could be how the color is synonymous with the cool gray weather of autumn and winter, or how a slight change in the shade can change the entire ambiance. This year’s Pantone’s blues however are submerged in greys and greens to create spell-binding colors that are unique and form excellent combinations with metallic colors. So, if your palette focuses on the metallic trend that is in vogue, check out how these bridesmaids dresses in exciting blues can work for your palette. We have two distinct looks, that are unique in their own way. Which of these will you be adopting at your wedding?
Don’t frown on brown
Warm and soft, the brown Pantone spectrum ranges from the rich red wine browns to the tan and spicy nutmeg shades. Brown has an overpowering presence, and it is a color that can work by itself or go well with various other colors in your palette. A dark neutral, that has a serious magnificent personality, it is perfect for a winter wedding where you want to warm up the wintry ambiance with a suitable choice of color. The darker the brown, the more formal the effect. It blends beautifully with muted pastels like peach and dusty pink, and can also work well with creams and milky white. Add a touch of silver as your metallic accent for sophistication, while gold gives it a dazzling dreamy finish.
Take a look a our wonderful brown dresses at Best for Bride, and choose the one that you think is best.
Richly regal in red
Red is a tried and tested color, that is effective with an almost explosive effect. Although the spectrum of red includes hues ranging from brightest to the serious and dull brown-reds, the most popular choice for winter and autumn remains cherry reds. These are, after all, synonymous with the holiday season. Nowadays, the combinations with red are unusual, thus breathing more life into this versatile and dramatic color. While red and gold have been the eternal holiday favorites, we can find red and navy, red and cream and red and pastels as the hot and happening combinations. To add fervor, joy and pops of color to your wedding palette, here are the reds that your bridesmaids would love to dress in.
Pretty in pastels
Ever since pastels entered the wedding scene, they have been a continuing trend. They are still in style this year, but this time take on bolder and more visible hues, in stark contrast with the muted, barely there look that was the characteristic feature of last year’s color palette. The pleasant thing about pastels is that you can choose any color in a pastel shade, and it will never be too overwhelming. Hence you can blend pastels into your palette, whether you want to mix it with another color or colors, or let it be by itself. The serene and calming composure of these colors work well in the cool weather, and generate a cool, but cosy ambiance. At Best for Bride, you can find bridesmaids dresses in every pastel shade you can possibly imagine. Due to space restrictions, we have narrowed down our choices to those featured here. But, these are just the tip of the iceberg, check out our gallery for many many more dresses in perfect pastels.
The shimmer of metal
Metallics are another trend that we will be revisiting this year. They add instant textural finesse to every outfit, and are a unique standalone element that cannot be compared to any other color. We can expect to see metallics in every color, beside the traditional gold, silver and copper that have been on the scene for sometime now. Whether done entirely or limited to a section of the dress, metallics add a signature style to any bridesmaid dress. This trend is in fact not restricted to our fashion choices for bridesmaids. Many brides are also opting for gold and silver dresses in place of the traditional white. The sheen of a metallic dress is glamorous and this instantly uplifts the style quotient of the entire party. Plus it is an option that blends well with any other color. Need I say more? Here are our favorite metallic bridesmaids dresses for this season.
That brings us to the end of the discussion on Pantone’s colors for autumn and winter 2016. We hope you had fun browsing through the beautiful bridesmaids dresses we featured here.
This and several hundred more options await you at our all our Best for Bride stores. If you have shortlisted any of these designs, or need to see more to make your final decision, continue on to our bridesmaids dress collections here. You will find an inexhaustible variety of designer dresses with every feature you can imagine. Available in a range of sizes, price ranges and from top designer labels in wedding dress collections, you will have no difficulty finding your choice, however specific it may be. So, have fun picking the dresses for your wedding party from our collection.
For more wedding tips, advice and shopping information, continue visiting us on Best for Bride.
While a wedding planner can help you with the planning process, and even reduce the stress associated with the task, she isn’t going to be responsible for everything. After all, it is your wedding, and you should have a role in planning it. A wedding planner can only facilitate your plans and execute them smoothly.
Check out this article on the Huffington Post , where wedding planners share their thoughts on what they wish brides would realize. This will open your eyes to the fact that wedding planners have limitations, and it will be better for both parties if you set reasonable expectations from her.
Having said this, let us come to the three most important things that you are responsible for. Make a mental note of these, do your research and planning on time, and you will make your life (and hers) much easier.
Planning your guest list accurately
The guest list is your decision to make. Unless your wedding planner knows you personally, it is unlikely that she can help you with who should be dropped, or who should be added to your guest list. You should be decisive about the number of people attending, and she will do the bookings and planning for them. While your planner may be able to accommodate a few last-minute changes to plan, she is not a magician who can make arrangements for 50 extra guests, who simply turned up on the day. Similarly, make sure you get those RSVPs on time, and follow up with those who don’t send it. Or else, you will simply lose money on those extra bookings you made, just in case. Your wedding planner cannot do anything about guests not turning up.
Making sure your bridesmaids are where they are and when they should be
While your wedding planner can create a well planned schedule for the day, help to speed things along and fix last-minute hassles, there is no guarantee that she can have your girls ready and in-place, unless they make the effort to do so. So, entrust this task to your maid of honor, and choose your bridesmaids wisely. Make sure they are girls who will be serious with their responsibility of getting their hair and make-up done on time.
Sticking to deadlines
Your wedding planner will put you in touch with the right vendors, caterers, photographers and all other services you require. They will offer options, and also suggest deals with the best value for the money you spend. However, they cannot make your decisions for you. Many wedding tasks are time-sensitive, and unless you inform her of your final decision on time, you run the risk of losing a booking or missing an offer.
Remember that your wedding planner can only help you so much. Have realistic expectations, and follow her instructions. This way, you will be a great client, and she will ensure that your wedding plans progress in the best way that is possible. For more wedding planning tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.
The current trend in bridesmaids dresses is to mix and match various aspects of their outfits to create more visual interest. You can be more adventurous than go with the popular (read as safe!) option of mixing hues of a single shade, while keeping hemlines constant. Find the latest trends with these tips that we bring you, and try the ones that appeal to you. So, read on!
Contrasting colors that compliment each other
While choosing a single color palette for all your bridesmaids dresses is interesting, you can also opt to have them in complimentary shades. Take a look at the color wheel and choose sets of colors that fall opposite to each other, to find the shades that are complimentary. You can throw in a few doses of neutrals like grey or navy if you want to balance out the look. This however is purely optional.
Glitter and gems
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Add more glitz and glamour to your wedding by dressing up your bridesmaids in dresses that are embellished with glitter and sparkles. Stick to a single palette of colors or a similar pattern, so the look is cohesive. Since the dresses will itself be elaborate and striking, make sure that the accessories are simple.
Patterns and prints
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Forget the plain bridesmaids dresses and opt for ones with brilliant patterns and prints instead. To unify the look, consider picking dresses with similar patterns or hemlines from the same collection. Or keep the prints similar, and vary the colors. You can either go with elaborate prints, or simple geometric, polka dots and chevron. This is perfect for an outdoor garden or beach wedding. Printed dresses have a casual and cheery vibe, that will uplift the mood at your wedding and make everything more pleasant. The other great factor about this choice is that your bridesmaids will be able to use the dresses again. Other prints that are trending this year include animal prints and graphic 3D prints.
Brilliant in black
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Now, here is an unusual but interesting color for your bridesmaids. Black is a shade that adds sophistication to any palette. So, you can employ it to your advantage, especially if you have a colorful wedding theme going. Consider having your bridesmaids in different designs in black. This is one color that suits almost any skin tone, and a black dress can definitely be worn more than once. If you are worried about whether the pictures will be boring without any color, consider adding brilliant pops of color through accessories like shoes, waistbands or headpieces.
Color block dresses
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The latest trend on the fashion runways, use color blocking in your wedding for a spectacular effect. You can either set the stage by having all your bridesmaids in just two colors, or mix and match various colors for each outfit to create a stunning palette.
At Best for Bride, we have bridesmaids dress collections that fall into all these categories. Whether you want a traditional selection, or a bold and trendy one, this is the place to look at. Visit us today and find the perfect attire for your favorite girlfriends.
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