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3 common wedding dress mistakes brides make and how to avoid it

Your wedding dress is one of the most important dresses you will ever wear in your life. So, making the right choice is a tough, but important task. Not all brides enjoy a fantastic experience choosing their wedding dress, and many have regretted their decision at a later time.

Let us look at 3 of the most common mistakes brides make when choosing their wedding dress, and how you can avoid it.

Buying your dress too early, before actually planning your wedding

via Best for Bride

You may be tempted to do wedding shopping the minute you are engaged. However, this isn’t wise. Many factors determine the right choice—the venue, theme of wedding, weather,budget, etc. Shopping without a definite idea of what would be practical based on the time and location of your wedding, could cause you to regret your choice later.

Remember, not all wedding dresses are equally suitable for all situations. So, purchasing a formal wedding gown for an indoor ceremony may be the wrong choice if you finally decide on an outdoor ceremony. Wait till the wedding details are more or less decided, before shopping. You should buy your wedding dress 6-9 months before your wedding, to allow sufficient time for alterations and changes.

Buying a wedding dress that’s in the wrong size

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You have a whole year till your wedding, and you are determined to lose several pounds before it. So, you might as well get your wedding dress a size or two smaller than you currently measure, right? Wrong! Many brides make this mistake, and later struggle to fit into a dress that is too tight.

Remember that it is easier to take in a gown, than adding additional inches to it. If you live up to your weight-loss plans, you can always have your gown altered to fit your exact measurements at the time. If you can’t, you will be glad you chose a gown that actually fits you.

Not accounting for the extras when you buy your wedding gown

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When you fix your wedding dress budget, always account for the extra money you will have to pay for fittings, accessories and customization. It is unlikely that you will find a dress off-the-rack, that will perfectly fit you. It may have to be adjusted to fit your measurements or the hemline may have to be moved up to be at the right length. In some cases, you may want to add sleeves or add accessories like a waistband to improve your look.

All these come at an additional cost. Apart from this, you will have to spend money on wedding accessories like jewelry, shoes, tiaras and veils. When all these are finally paid for, many brides find that they have gone over-budget.

When you create your wedding dress budget, divide it into the actual money you can spend on the dress, and the additional amount for the rest. Tell your bridal consultant the actual amount you can afford on the dress, which includes the charges for all the fixes, and she should help you find one that fits your budget, while meeting your other preferences.

Now that you are aware of the common mistakes, you are ready to find the dress of your dreams and be happy with your choice. For more wedding tips and advice, and to find the perfect wedding dress for your big day, visit Best for Bride.

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Stylish wedding dresses for classic wedding themes

When we think of a vintage wedding, it is the 1920’s or 1950’s that come to mind. These were indeed the eras of fashionable extravaganza. The various designs that were popular during those decades had signature style, and it continues to inspire designers to this day. Wedding dresses that feature the characteristic style elements of these time periods are perfect for a classic wedding theme.

Let us explore the various factors that will allow you to recreate the magic of the vintage fashion eras through your wedding day look, and still look modern and attractive. These features are available in the most modern wedding dresses, and will be perfect for your vintage-style wedding.

Join us as we look at some fabulous designs from the latest collections that will transform you into a modern bride, with a classic twist.

Glamor and sparkle with embellishments and dropped waists

The Jazz age or the1920’s were an era of sparkle and shine. Dresses that were complete with extensive embellished works were very popular. This style is once again back in fashion, with many designers bringing out dresses with beading, metallic embroidery, embellishments with rhine stones and crystals.

Another fashionable choice that was very popular was the dropped waist design, that elongates the torso and makes the bride look slimmer and taller.

Pair it with finger-waves hair and an elaborate hairband, and you are set to rock the stage.

via Best for Bride

This beautiful wedding dress from the Sophia Tolli 2015 collection features a dropped waist design with an embellished neckline and straps. The mermaid inspired silhouette adds a modern twist to an otherwise classic pattern; it is perfect for a beach wedding.

Sheath silhouettes and lace gowns

During this era, women bid adieu to tight corsets, and ball gowns. Instead, they embraced their natural beauty by flaunting sheath silhouettes. Lace dresses were also a huge hit, and lace is the perfect choice for a truly vintage look.

via Best for Bride

This fantastic lace slip dress from the Madison Spring 2015 collection features a sheath silhouette that defines your natural curves. The lace adds a classic touch to the design.

Tea Length wedding dresses for the original 1950’s look

After the classic show of natural beauty in the 1920’s, the 1950’s heralded an era of casual, fun and retro looks. The wedding scene wasn’t spared from this effect. To rock this theme at your wedding, the bridal gown should ideally fall just below the knee.

Elbow length gloves, and fashionable accessories like stoles and wraps were huge hits. So, you can add these to your wedding outfit, to fit the theme.

via Best for Bride

This bridal dress from the Mori Lee 2013 spring collection is feminine and fun. It is a good choice for a vintage wedding theme. For a modern twist on the 1950’s look, brides can choose short dresses with a colorful underskirt to update their look. Consider adding a red underskirt to the one we just looked at, it would give you a subtle contemporary touch that is just right.

Visit our online gallery of wedding dresses to find more spectacular dresses that fit the vintage wedding theme. You can also find the accessories to go with your wedding dress at our website. So, drop by and enjoy what you see.

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Dance the Night Away in Style: A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Prom Dress for Your Body Shape!

One of the biggest social events in a girl’s lifetime, and perhaps the first one where she dresses up like a star, is Prom. When choosing her first really important formal dress, it is necessary to find one that accentuates her best features and helps her feel confident.

Prom dresses are available in a variety of styles and designs, with enough patterns to flatter all body types. But, how do you know which of these designs would be the best for you? Let us find out.

Understand your body shape

No matter how great a dress looks, it may not be the right one for you if the silhouette doesn’t flatter your figure. Rather than go by the look of a dress, you should choose one that drapes beautifully on you. To find one that does, you should first recognize your body shape. Here is a brief description of the various body types there are, which will help you find your body type.

  • Hourglass – Naturally curvy with well-proportioned upper and lower halves
  • Athletic – Slender and almost rectangular structure with well-toned shoulders, lean torso and few curves
  • Apple – Upper body is wider than the lower part
  • Pear – The proportions of the lower body are more prominent than the bust area
  • Petite – Shorter than average height, they have a slender waist with proportionate upper and lower halves ; they are very feminine

Patterns suitable for different body shapes

Once you identify what your body shape is from the above list, all you have to do is find a dress in one of the silhouettes that flatters your figure.

via Best for Bride

If you have an hourglass structure, you are lucky as you can easily carry off almost any style. Play up your curves with figure-hugging A-line gowns, luxurious ball gown skirts or choose softly flowing sheath style gowns for a more delicate and feminine look. Experiment with off-the-shoulder necklines, multi-way dresses or sweetheart necklines to find one that gives you a glamorous touch.

via Best for Bride

Athletic girls should opt for dresses that add the illusion of curves and can thus accentuate their femininity. Dresses with a defined waist or ruffles or pleats would look good on you. A classic ball gown skirt would break up your torso and make you appear more curvy. Try a scoop or soft V-neckline to add definition to your bust.

via Best for Bride

If you are apple or pear-shaped, ball gowns are an ideal choice to balance out the proportions of both halves of your body. If you are heavier on the top, try a sheer neckline or high V-neckline to de-emphasize your bust. Pear-shaped girls can opt for a sweetheart or strapless bodice to emphasize their upper body.

via Best for Bride

Petite girls should avoid long-flowing dresses and too many layers that can drown them in detail. If you are petite, show off your slender waist in an A-line skirt, or choose a design that highlights your natural curves. Keep the skirt length short or asymmetrical, and you will look stylish and taller than you are.

At Best for Bride, we have the perfect collection of prom dresses for all body types. Visit us today to make your pick for the big event in your life.

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3 tips to help you choose bridesmaids dresses that your girls will want to wear again

In the past, bridesmaids dresses were notoriously hideous and weird. With the popular designs resembling cotton candy or plastic raincoats, it was no wonder these dresses were banished to a far end of the closet soon after serving its purpose. Fortunately, the options in bridesmaids dresses are much better today.

As the bride, it is your call to decide what kind of dresses your bridesmaids will wear. While your ultimate aim should be to create a cohesive effect that ties with your wedding palette, you can still make allowances so your favorite girls do not look or feel awkward in what you choose. With a little thought, your bridesmaids may even consider wearing this dress on another occasion, which means the money spent on it goes further. Let us look at how you can accomplish this.

1. Go with neutral colors

via Best for Bride

Rather than choose bridesmaids dresses in shades they may not be able to pull off anywhere else, choose neutrals. If your maid of honor tells you that she isn’t a fan of the strawberry ice that you are obsessed with, you should perhaps consider a more flattering tone from the same color family.

Limit the colors in the wedding palette to the rest of the décor, while you choose neutrals for the dresses, and it is likely they will be able to use it again. If you still want that pop of color in what they wear, try adding it to their bouquets, or with accessories like shoes and belts.

2. Choose a neutral style

via Best for Bride

The typical bridesmaids dress design is a strapless knee-length gown. If the dress is also in a vivid color, there is little use for it later on. Think outside the wedding, look at popular styles for not just bridesmaids, and base your choice accordingly.

A scoop or V-neckline is universally flattering, and it will also be perfect for other events. Also pay attention to the silhouette. An A-line dress will fall gently, look great on most body shapes, and your girls wouldn’t mind wearing it again.

3. Go with the mismatched trend and allow them to select their dress based on your guidelines

via Best for Bride

Gone are the days when all the bridesmaids dressed to be boring look-alike’s. The current trend is to mix and match bridesmaids dresses in various styles, designs and colors, and bring them all together with one or two unifying factors. This could be the color, dress length or design.

So, you get to pick these factors and inform your girl friends of your choice.Then, let them find dresses that meet your specifications, but also appeals to them. Pick a color family and allow them to choose the shade that looks best on them, or choose a dress pattern and allow them to pick different colors in the same design. Another option is to fix a specific color and allow them the freedom to choose any dress in this color.

With mismatched bridesmaids dresses, the group looks dynamic and energetic, and you will also find your bridesmaids looking happy in their choice. Visit Best for Bride to find inspiration and choose from hundreds of wonderful Bridesmaids dresses that your favorite girlfriends will love to wear again and again.