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Tips to help you Relax and De-stress before your wedding

woman-387510_1280Your engagement is an exciting time, but it can be very stressful too. Wedding planning can leave you feeling overwhelmed, tired and anxious. Before the stress wreaks havoc and turns you into a Bridezilla, stop and take control. Here are some simple tips to help you relieve yourself of wedding planning stress, and make the process easy and manageable.

Plan wisely

It may seem that there is no end to the tasks you have to handle ahead of your wedding, but it isn’t that bad. All you have to do is take it easy and come up with a good plan that can be executed within the available time. Think of the whole wedding planning as a series of small projects, and divide it into small tasks.

Spend some time sorting all that you have to do into lists, and determine the best time to work on each list. Allot the tasks in these lists to each day, week and month. Set reasonable time limits to complete each one. Also set aside some extra time with no designated tasks, so you can use this time for anything that you complete as per plan.

Enlist help

Don’t worry about doing everything yourself. If your parents, friends or relatives offer help, accept it graciously. Can you afford a wedding planner? If yes, enjoy the privilege. Else, consider delegating certain tasks to “part-time” planners, who can expertly handle these jobs. This may be drafting your wedding invitation, decorating the venue, or finding the right vendors to cater to your event. While they do charge a fee for their service, it is worth it. You can supervise the job, but step away from micromanaging as this will again cause unnecessary stress.

Plan your deadlines well-ahead of the big day

This particularly relates to getting your wedding dress, accessories, invitations and bookings done. Draw up the vendor contracts well-ahead of time, book your band or DJ as early as possible and get your honeymoon tickets quickly. While signing contracts, remember to check for what their back-up plan is in case of an emergency. Knowing that there is a Plan B will reduce your anxiety, especially if any aspect of the wedding worries you excessively.

Set aside time to relax and pamper yourself

Make sure that you enjoy this time before your wedding, and prioritize your well-being and health. Treat yourself to a facial or massage. Attend a regular workout or yoga class to get in shape.

A well-rested bride is a happy bride, so don’t skimp on sleep. Also, find time to get together with the people you love. Enjoy your wedding shopping, and don’t rush through things that are important to you. If you feel overwhelmed at any time, pour out your worries to your mother or friend. It’ll help you relax, and they’ll probably have suggestions that you never thought of.

In all the frenzy leading up to the wedding, don’t miss out on the excitement of being a couple in love. Make time for each other, and not let it be entirely about the wedding. Relish every moment, and tackle every situation with a clear head. Look forward to a wonderful wedding day, and it will be just what you dreamed it to be.

For more bridal advice, as well as for all your wedding shopping needs, visit us at Best for Bride.

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Wedding Dress Shopping: Key Preparation Tips for a Seamless Experience!

via Best for Bride

Wedding dress shopping is fun and exciting, but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what you want. To find the right wedding dress, you may first have to look at hundreds of options. So, don’t hit the stores until you have narrowed your preferences to a select few. Plan in advance and your wedding shopping will be productive and enjoyable.

This article will help you understand how to prepare for your bridal boutique appointment, so you can make the most of your experience.

Begin early

There are three main processes, when it comes wedding shopping –determining the type of dress you want, finding the right bridal boutique and finding the dress. The entire process may take anywhere between 6 and 12 months. A little research before shopping will make it easier and much more effective.

How to start?

While some brides know exactly how they want to look on their wedding day, others may not have a clue on where to begin. Don’t worry, we’ll help you get there.

First, find a silent spot and sit down with a pen and paper. Close your eyes and imagine your wedding day. Do you envision yourself as a traditional bride in a classic white wedding gown? Or do you picture yourself as a fashionable, stylish bride in a modern wedding dress?

Depending on your preferences, write down a few describing words for the gown you have in mind.

Now, look for dresses that match your idea. Browse through online wedding gown collections and photos in bridal magazines to find inspiration. Save these for reference, and make notes on what you like and what you don’t in a particular dress.

Ask your friends for suggestions on what would look good on you. Once you begin doing this, you will slowly zero-in on the features you want, and eliminate those you don’t. You should soon be able to shortlist suitable silhouettes, type of sleeves, neckline and length. It’s now time to move on to the next step.

Fix a budget, find a boutique

The worst thing that can happen when you go shopping, is to fall in love with a dress you cannot afford. So, fix the maximum amount you can spend on your wedding dress and make sure you stick to it. Budget for accessories like veils and shoes too.

Now, find a boutique that carries the dress collections you like. You can check online or call them to confirm availability of these collections. Although you can buy a dress online, remember that you may not be able to judge how the dress would look on you till you actually try it on.

Book your appointment and go shopping!

Once you finalize the boutique, fix an appointment with them on a day when you have plenty of time to shop. If there are any particular dresses that you liked, inform them so they will have it ready when you arrive.

Take a friend or two with you, when you go shopping. Limit the number of people who accompany you, as too many opinions will only make the decision difficult. Choose someone who is fair in judgement and will give you an honest opinion.

Now, all you have to do is attend your appointment and find your dream dress!

Visit Best for Bride to browse through our vast selection of wedding dresses and for all your other wedding needs.

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Planning and putting together a wedding emergency kit

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You may have planned every detail of your wedding up to the very last bit, and be certain that everything will progress smoothly without hassles. While this optimism is good, it is also important to remember that a wedding emergency can happen at any time; and believe us when we say they do!

A few helpful items are all it takes to keep you safe and prepared for such situations; these are what make a wedding emergency kit. Let us take a look at what you should pack and carry in your bride’s survival kit.

Must-have’s

To decide on what to put into your survival kit, first think of what all could go wrong on the day. This will help you decide on what would be required to fix the issue, if it arises.

Your kit should also include all the things that you will require to freshen up and look great throughout the day. The following list covers all the essentials

  • Water
  • Make-up and nail polish to touch up with
  • Hairspray
  • Compact with mirror
  • Sunscreen if it is an outdoor ceremony
  • Small stash of perfume
  • Comb/hairbrush and bobby pins/hairpins
  • Extra earring backs
  • Emergency sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, small scissors and safety pins
  • Face towels or wipes
  • Breath mints
  • Nail file
  • Sanitary napkins/tampons
  • Stain removal sheets
  • Vaseline to line your shoes with, if they begin to pinch
  • Scotch tape
  • Aspirin or Paracetamol
  • Band-Aids

Extras that help, and how to pack it all up

You can also add a quick snack like a cereal bar or biscuits; nothing messy, nor ones that crumble. Carry few lint removal sheets and throw in few straws, so you can have a drink before the ceremony, without having to touch up your lipstick.

All these essentials are small items which can be neatly packed into a medium-sized clutch or toiletry bag. You can choose a pretty little bag that is inconspicuous and can be carried around without drawing attention. Put your maid of honor in-charge of it. Make sure she puts it in a place which is easily accessible, so you can get to it whenever the need arises.

You could also put together a similar bridesmaid’s survival kit, for all the likely mishaps your bridal party may end up with. Another one can be arranged for the groom’s party too. These kits could include lint rollers, extra pairs of socks, an emergency sewing kit and corsage pins.

A ready made solution to the rescue

For some brides, just thinking of all that could go wrong on the day can be stressful. If you are such a worry wart, get your mother, sister or friend to put your kit together for you. Or even better, buy a ready made kit that has all the essentials packed neatly and ready to be taken with you on the day.

The Brides Fashion Emergency kit from Best for Bride is such a kit that contains all the essentials to rescue you from any wedding day crisis. Ensure that you are covered for any wedding emergency that may pop up by ordering it for yourself, and put all your wedding day fears to rest.

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Behind the Bouquet: 5 Essential Duties Every Bridesmaid Should Know!

Bridesmaids are not just pretty faces in elegant gowns, adding glamour to the wedding venue. They are usually those girls who are closest to the bride, such as her sisters, cousins or closest friends. She trusts, and more importantly, depends on them for making her lifetime event a memorable one.

Bridesmaids support the bride throughout her wedding, right from the planning stage to the wedding day and even afterwards. There are many wedding-related duties that are performed by the bridesmaids, and they have a huge role in making the wedding a success.

Of the several responsibilities to be handled by the bridesmaids, here are the 5 noteworthy tasks they can take charge of.

1. Help the bride make her big and small decisions

Your friend will have hundreds of things to do for her wedding, and she is banking on her team of bridesmaids to get everything in order, on time. If she has questions or concerns and you have suggestions, provide it. If not, try to help her find an answer. If she asks you for your personal opinion on anything, give her your honest take on whatever it is.

2.Arrange the bridal shower and bachelorette party

Every bride deserves a fantastic bridal shower and bachelorette party, and it is the bridesmaids who plan and organize it for her. This is one of your most important duties, and you should put in some effort to make it memorable. Keep the bride in mind and plan the events in a way that she will love. Come up with some creative games, stock up on innovative bridal shower favors and help your friend enjoy her last celebration before she gets married.

3. Help with the wedding duties

There are a hundred or more big and small jobs to be completed, prior to the wedding. You will have to handle some of the errands for the day, but as a good friend, volunteer to help before the wedding too. Offer to address some invitations, visit venues with her or if she needs help with deciding the décor, seating arrangement or planning the rehearsal dinner. Also, take care that your bridesmaids dress is purchased, altered and collected on time, so the bride doesn’t have to worry about it.

4. Help the bride prepare for the ceremony, reception and honeymoon

You can help the bride in organizing all her activities for her wedding day. Take charge of putting her packed bags in place, and making sure her emergency bridal kit is complete. Make arrangements to collect her bridal dress after the reception and put it away safely or send it to be preserved. Be available for any last minute emergencies, and help her cope with stress by being there for her.

5. Duties on the wedding day

Your important duties continue to the wedding day. You will have to be dressed in your bridesmaid dress on time and ready to run last-minute errands or collect deliveries. Assist the Maid of Honor and efficiently handle all the tasks delegated to you. Receive guests at the reception, direct them to the bar and get them to sign the guest book. Help with bustling the train, when it is time for the reception. Also accompany the bride on her restroom visits, should she require it.

For more valuable wedding-related tips and advice, visit Best for Bride.