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5 reasons we love short bridesmaid dresses

Just like bridesmaids come in all sizes and shapes, so do bridesmaid dresses. From long flowing elaborately embellished bridesmaid dresses, to short and sweet ones, we’ve seen them all. The long evening gown is classic and elegant in it’s own right, but there is a certain charm to a short bridesmaid dress. Here are the top five reasons for why we love short dresses, and you should too!

Bridesmaids 6Image Credit: outreachr.com, via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

1.Short dresses cost less

Less fabric directly translates to lower cost. Of course, this also depends on the dress you choose. But, as a general rule, a similar dress with a shorter hemline will be cheaper than a dress that extends to full-length.

2.Chances of reusing the dress are greater

When a girl signs up to be a bridesmaid, she knows that a new dress is on the cards. However, the bride should remember that she cannot always use her bridesmaid dress again. At least in most cases, and especially when the dress is typical bridesmaid style. The exception is in the case of a short dress, as it may work for her when she goes out for an evening with her girlfriends. So, help your friend get the most of her money by choosing a short dress instead of a long one. The chances of reuse are maximized when the color is a neutral and the pattern that isn’t common bridesmaid choice.

3.They make your bridesmaids look young and smart

Long gowns are ladylike and elegant, while short dresses are fun and cheerful. There is no doubt that a woman looks much younger and more smart when the dress is short and well-fitted. She looks more confident and chic in a short dress, and if she has pretty legs, you would be doing her a favor by letting her flaunt them in a short hemline.

4.The shorter style fits a casual setting easily

The best thing about short bridesmaid dresses is that it is refreshingly casual. If your wedding style borders on semi-formal to informal, a short bridesmaid dress is the best choice you can consider. If your wedding is to be held outdoors, it also makes a practical choice. Remember that your bridesmaids will be running around a lot, so it only makes it a lot easier to manage in a short dress that doesn’t stifle her movements. Short hemlines paired with other casual elements like ruffles, lace and frills make the textures at your wedding photographs interesting. What is more, when you are in a long gown, your dress will instantly be in focus against the shorter hemlines of your bridesmaids, in photographs.

5.Short dresses allow your bridesmaids to choose unusual and interesting shoes

Helen & David-128Image Credit: John Hope, via Flickr, (CC BY 2.0)

We love this idea, which we found on the Exclusively Weddings blog. Unlike a long gown, which covers up most of the leg and gives you less chance of showing off stylish footwear, short bridesmaid dresses allow you to give your bridesmaids a cohesive look with the same style of shoes. In winter, consider having them wear chic boots that look dressy. For a summer wedding, you can have your bridesmaids in a neutral colored dress, and add that interesting pop of color by choosing similar shoes in a vibrant shade.

So, what do you say? Do you prefer short bridesmaid dresses to longer ones? Let us know.

Visit our bridesmaids dress collection on Best for Bride, and make your choice from the best you can find, whether you prefer long or short dresses for your favorite girls.

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Breaking Tradition: 5 Wedding Planning ‘Rules’ You’re Free to Overlook!

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

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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

via Best for Bride

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.

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Why are wedding gowns expensive?

Your wedding dress is one of the most expensive dresses that you will ever shop for in your lifetime. The Wall Street Journal estimates that most brides spend at least $1500 on their wedding dress.

So, what is it that makes wedding dresses so pricey? And, what can you do to reduce the price, when you go shopping for your wedding dress? Let us find out.

Cost of material

Wedding dresses usually involve many more yards of fabric than any other gown. Also, the materials that are used in wedding dress designs belong to the higher end of the price spectrum. Silk is a common choice, with the price falling anywhere between $15 and $35. Layers of lace raise the price level significantly. Although less expensive material may be used in the interior layers of these gowns, the bulk of fabric still adds up to the cost. For dresses that come in bigger sizes, it is only logical to assume that they use up more fabric, and are priced accordingly.

Labor costs

Wedding dresses are not machine-made garments. There is a reason these dresses look spectacular. Many details on the dress are done by hand and this translates to increased labor cost. It is impossible for a machine to churn out fine details at the right places and create the same impact as it is when done by hand. The more embellishments a gown has, and finer the detailing, higher is the overall cost of the dress.

Alterations and fittings

A wedding dress that you pick off-the-rack will most likely not fit you perfectly. So, you will have to use the services of a professional seamstress to alter it. Some shops offer a bulk discount on alteration charges, while others charge you for each change. If you want to customize your wedding dress by adding sleeves, changing the actual design or adding extras, you will have to spend more. The best way to save on alteration charges is to buy a dress that is closest to your actual measurements.

Fortunately, it is possible to find the perfect wedding dress if you take care of a few factors. Here is what you should consider when choosing your wedding dress, so it doesn’t go over budget

  • Choose a dress that is relatively simple. Keep the embellishments minimum and you will not have to spend extra on it.
  • If there is a dress that you like but is very expensive, ask your bridal consultant to help you find one that looks similar, but isn’t so costly. It is possible that you will find a similar design in a different fabric that isn’t as expensive, and find it just as attractive.
  • If you start your search early, you may be able to buy your wedding dress on sale. Or you can look for a second hand dress you love, for a fraction of the original cost. You could also take a look at stores that rent wedding dresses. After all, you will be wearing this dress just once, so why not rent it?

At Best for Bride, we have wedding dresses in all price ranges and also offer dresses on rent. Call us to book your appointment today, to find the dress that will translate you into the most beautiful bride ever.

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Tips to choose the best engagement ring for your budget

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Your love for each other is priceless, but the ring that signifies it can be pricey. Engagement rings are expensive, there is no doubt about that. So, you need to make sure that the money you spend on it is worth every dime. Here are some tips to help you make sure you get the most for your money when you choose an engagement ring.

Find the right metal for your budget

Engagement rings are usually more about the stone, than the metal it is set in. So, save your money for the stone, and go for gold instead of platinum. Platinum may be the best choice in metals, but it is several times more expensive than gold. For the same effect, you can opt for white gold. Yellow gold is stunning too, when you choose a design that looks good in it. So, make your choice wisely, and you won’t have to break the bank buying your engagement ring. Now, if you choose platinum, you can still save some cash by choosing to have the stone set in a prong setting which requires minimum metal.

Choose a ring that can create an impact without a bigger stone

A design which has a circle of smaller stones around the main stone in the center will enhance the overall size of the stone setting and make the center stone stand out vividly. This is called a “halo setting”. Not only will your ring look beautiful with the added design elements, it will turn out to be less expensive too. If the bigger stone is placed within an arrangement of small tiny diamonds, the ring will still sparkle, and you will have a beautiful design that will cost much lesser than a solitaire.

Choose the cut and carat to fit your budget

Anyone who knows diamonds will tell you that the more cuts a diamond has the more expensive it will be. It is these cuts that make a diamond sparkle. Ones with less cuts cost less. These reflect less light, but the stone will look larger. So, if you choose a bigger one it will be worth its size. Another point to remember is the price of a diamond increases when it covers each carat point. By choosing a ring that is 2 carats, you will have to spend more than if you were to buy a ring that is 1.9 carats. Use this factor to your advantage and buy shy of the carat point.

Diamonds needn’t be your best friend! Be bold and choose different

If your lady love is a girl who loves individuality, you are in luck. Pretty rings are available with various other gem stones, and you can get a much bigger and beautiful stone for your budget if you choose stones other than diamonds. You could go with her birthstone, or choose a stone in a color she loves. For an added effect you could even have a design with a stone set with tiny diamonds around it. There are plenty of choices like emerald, amethyst, saphire or topaz, each of which has its distinct signature.

So, now you know what to look for when choosing an engagement ring. For more tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.