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3 Rules you should follow to keep your bridesmaids happy

Your bridesmaids are the lovely women who will see you through your crazy wedding planning days and stand beside you as you say “I do.” It is an honor to be offered the title of bridesmaid, but as the bride, you should remember that they have agreed to be in for several demands while accepting the title. The least you can do is make their job easier, by being considerate and sensitive. You do not want to distress them over your decisions and create a rift in an otherwise great relationship.

bridesmaids happy

According to statistics cited by the Daily Mail, 32% of the brides they interviewed had fallen out with at least one woman who they had chosen as their bridesmaid. Fortunately, you can avoid such an experience if you make sensible decisions, and think not only about yourself, but also about your favorite girlfriends when making plans. Here are some things that you should know and follow, so you make your bridesmaids job easier.

#Rule 1

Set a budget for her dress shopping, and keep it reasonable

When your friend signs up to be your bridesmaid, she knows that a new dress, shoes and accessories are on the card. Remember that all this shopping will most likely serve her only for your wedding. So, be reasonable with your choices. Discuss what she can afford and fix a budget within her means. Only choose a dress that she can afford, unless you are footing the bill. If you can make do with a dress that your bridesmaid will be able to use again, you will immediately score extra points with your lady friends.

via Best for Bride

#Rule 2

Keep your expectations about the bridal shower and hen party reasonable

Your bridesmaids are already paying for their dresses, while also planning your bridal shower and hen party. You may be a great gal who deserves a grand bash, but be reasonable with your expectations for the party. Parties cost a lot, and it isn’t nice on your part to expect them to pay beyond what they can afford. Appreciate the effort they put in to plan your celebrations and be happy with what they’ve arranged.

#Rule 3

Thank them like you mean it

Everyone has their limitations and the important thing is that your bridesmaids have tried their best, and have agreed to stand beside you on your big day. Make sure that you thank them for all that they’ve done with a special gift. You should already be sponsoring the jewelry and accessories that they wear on the day. Apart from that, gift them something special and write them a thank you note. Or send them a bouquet of flowers or a gift hamper to indulge in, post the wedding. Treat your bridesmaids with respect and affection, and they will be enthusiastic about your wedding instead of just doing things for the sake of it. Always remember that they are your friends first.

At Best for Bride, we have some fantastic bridesmaids dress choices at reasonable prices. Make sure your pretty ladies have something pretty to wear on your wedding day, by visiting us today.

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Shopping tips for the mother-of-the-bride: Look gorgeous and not matronly

It is your daughter’s wedding day, and you have to find a dress to wear. Let’s face it! This is a difficult task.

After your daughter, you are the next person who will be scrutinized by the wedding guests on this big day, and you do not want to disappoint.

Just because your little girl is getting married, it doesn’t mean you should restrict your dress choices to ones that are matronly, and a safe choice. This is your chance to shine too, and a well-dressed mother will be appreciated.

So, here are some tips to help you find a dress that will allow you to look glamorous, and be a perfect reflection of the woman you are.

Forget safe choices

via Best for Bride

As they age, women are usually uncomfortable flaunting their figure, even though they may look better than they did when they were getting married themselves. The so-called age-appropriate dress choices are often boring and without personality. Don’t make this mistake when you choose your mother-of-the-bride dress.

When you look at dresses, choose a flattering silhouette, and a pretty design that matches your personality. Go for a color that isn’t blah! You don’t need to expose skin to look glamorous, a dress that fits well, and enhances your best features can do this for you. You don’t want to upstage your daughter at her wedding, but make sure you don’t disappoint either. For once, choose a design that isn’t your signature style, and you will feel fabulous everytime you hear a flattering comment.

Don’t be afraid of experimenting with the latest trends

via Best for Bride

If there are mother-of-the-bride dresses that incorporate the latest fashion trends such as ruffles, asymmetrical pleats, off-the-shoulder necklines and embellishments, its because they are what women of today love. So, don’t think the latest trends are not worth your attention. You have nothing to lose by trying it on and checking whether it suits you. If the dress reflects your spirit, take it; if it is a little too girlish for your choice, leave it.

Sometimes, a dress in an unusual shade may have a stunning effect, so keep your mind open and you may find a fantastic choice. To know your options, make sure you check with your daughter on which colors would go with the wedding color palette. Once you know your options, you can make a good choice.

Customize to suit your taste

via Best for Bride

If you love a sexy, stylish gown, but are worried of whether you may later think it is inappropriate or regret it, consider having sheer sleeves added, or pair it with a matching wrap or mock bolero, and you can have the best of both worlds. Also, when choosing a dress, pay attention to whether it covers or camouflages problem areas. This will allow you to feel more confident when wearing it. Consider using good shapewear that will support your figure, and you will immediately feel the difference.

Accessorize with a matching stole or scarf, and attractive jewelry, and make the effort to look fantastic on your daughter’s special day. Don’t forget to add a matching pair of comfortable, but elegant shoes to complete your look.

Check out our mother-of-the-bride collection at Best for Bride. You are certain to find a dress that is totally You!

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How to tackle wedding day dress disasters

via Best for Bride

As much as we hate to tell you this, wedding day dress disasters can and do happen! A white dress with delicate details on expensive fabric is an invitation for trouble in the form of stains, tears and more.

The best way to stop worrying about a wedding dress mishap is to be prepared for every likely scenario. If you have a wedding planner, she will be equipped to handle most situations. If not, don’t worry. With this handy guide, you will be set to tackle most wedding dress disasters yourself. So, prepare yourself for the worst, and then hope with all your heart that you will not need it.

Prepare your emergency bridal kit in advance

When you put your bridal kit together, include not only your makeup and face towels, but also all the items to fix likely wedding dress disasters. Your kit should contain

  • safety pins
  • transparent tape
  • fabric glue
  • extra buttons
  • emergency sewing kit with threads and needles
  • tissues
  • talcum powder
  • Q-tips and
  • white chalk

Or you could purchase a ready-made emergency bridal kit, that contains all these supplies and more, if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.

Removing stains

Attack any stain on your dress immediately, so it doesn’t settle. But, make sure you use the right stain remover, or you may end up doing more damage. It is a good idea to find out what will take out stains from the fabric of your wedding dress, and keep it handy.

Attack ink stains with hairspray and make-up stains with club soda. Cover up the color difference with white chalk and it will not be obvious. Should you notice an oil mark over your dress, quickly spray talcum powder over it and let it soak up the oil. Then dust it off. If marks remain, it can be taken out when you send your gown in for preservation.

Rips or tears

Attend to any rip or tear promptly with your emergency kit supplies. Get someone who knows their way with threads and needles to do it for you. Whether it is to darn the tear quickly, or stick a piece of fabric beneath it, make sure this last-minute repair is done without making the existing rip any bigger. Try to camouflage the spot by holding your bridal bouquet over it, or bunching up your veil over the spot.

Hem your dress to the perfect length

A little extra length is all it takes to have you trip over your dress and fall on your pretty face. Since we aren’t used to wearing long-flowing gowns and maneuvering our way through a maze of tables, we should prepare ourselves ahead for it.

Get your wedding dress hemline correct, by wearing your wedding shoes to the alteration sessions. This will allow your seamstress to get the length right. Also, practice walking in your bridal gown before you wear it on your wedding day, so you are accustomed to it. Ask your bridal consultant to teach your MoH how to bustle the train, so it doesn’t pose a problem during the reception.

You are now covered for most wedding disasters and let’s hope that despite all this preparation, you will need none of it. For more wedding day tips, shopping needs and advice, or to buy your wedding emergency kit, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Universally flattering colors to satisfy all your bridesmaids

As the bride, you are in charge of deciding the color, style and design of your bridesmaids dresses. Although your main concern is to choose dresses that blend with the wedding palette, remember that these girls are your best friends. You want them to look and feel fantastic on your big day, and what they wear plays a huge role in this.

While it is impossible to make everyone happy when you choose a wedding dress, you can still aim for a choice that will not have any of your maids feeling miserable. When you choose a color like bright pink or orange, it is likely that one or more of your bridesmaids may be unhappy, since it makes her look sick or fat.

So, what is the solution? Choose different dresses for your bridesmaids, so each one of them is happy, or go with a universally flattering color that looks good on almost anyone. Let us look at what colors make this list.

Gun metal and pewter

via Best for Bride

While these colors will look good on any skin tone, these aren’t super fantastic either. The good thing is that you won’t catch any of your bridesmaids complaining about a ghastly color you chose. These will easily blend into any color palette, and so you needn’t worry about it matching your wedding theme.

Navy and black

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Black works with any color theme, and navy with almost every one. The general rule is that the darker a color, the more likely will suit every skin tone. If you are worried about these colors being boring, you can step up the drama by pairing it with brightly colored accessories like belts or shoes, and obtain and entirely different effect.

Purple and burgundy

via Best for Bride

When you want colors that really stand out, your choices are purple and burgundy. However, don’t choose the lighter shades, as they may clash with certain skin tones. Go with the darkest shade you can find, and your bridesmaids will look ravishing. It may not be easy incorporating these colors into every wedding theme, so consider this factor before choosing them.

Teal and baby blue

via Best for Bride

Blue is a color that is vibrant, energizing and suitable for almost anyone. The blue palette has another advantage—the various shades work together to create a very cohesive look. Since there is a blue for everyone, you can have your bridesmaids dressed in various shades of the same color, and not worry about it coming together. And, not to forget that your wedding gown in white will pop against a background of blue. So, imagine how stunning your wedding photographs will be!

While we are talking about colors, let us also take a quick look at those that you should stay away from, if you want to dress all your girls in a single color.

Beware of pink and peach. Few women look good in these colors, and unless you choose individual shades for each woman, stay away from it. Pastels are another no-no, as they add the illusion of extra pounds and can make your girls look pale.

Check out the bridesmaids dress collections at Best for Bride, for inspiration and select the right dress to have your bridesmaids satisfied and feeling fantastic, at your wedding!