Archive for June 2008


Choosing Junior Bridesmaid Dresses

June 27th, 2008 — 9:52pm

Usually the grown up bridesmaids are quite easy to handle and they are happy to go along with your wishes. However, when choosing the junior bridesmaid dresses , it always pays to listen to what the young ones have to say. This makes them feel as if their thoughts and ideas have been taken into consideration and they have played an active role in the planning of the wedding. Nonetheless, compromises usually have to be reached about styles as well as budgets, so where do you start when trying to find something which is suitable all round?

Well, first of all, you have to decide whether they will be wearing traditional bridesmaid’s dresses or are you going to go for something more practical? Their moms will always be appreciative of the latter as the little ones will get further wear out of the dress at sometime in the future. Another possibility these days is an outfit appropriate to a particular theme your wedding may be modeled on.

Traditional Dresses

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Traditionally styled junior bridesmaids dresses are usually a variation on the theme of the brides dress. After all, the junior bridesmaid is princess for the day and wants to look the part whilst dreaming about how her special day will be in years to come. The color you choose for the dress can either be a part of the general color scheme of the wedding or if you like you can introduce a contrast to the colors worn by the grown up bridesmaids. The materials used in this type of dress are usually silks and organza, and more often than not feature a band or sash around the waistline.

Practical Dresses

There are many options out there for really cute junior bridesmaid dresses and you can find these by simply looking in your high street stores. Quite a few of them are similar to ballerina costumes, so can either be used again for ballet practice or for attending the birthday parties of friends. Silks, satins, and tulle are the more popular materials for this style of fairy like dress.

Themed Dresses

Many brides and grooms choose to have a particularly relevant theme to their wedding. This tends to be something close to the hearts of both of them, such as a shared interest or maybe even something sentimental about the way in which they met. For example, a couple who first set eyes on each other at a line dancing class may opt for a country and western theme to their wedding and the bridesmaids may well find themselves adorned in cowgirl gear. Costumes such as these can be bought, hired or even hand made, time permitting.

It does not stop at the dress though. There are all manner of accessories to think about such as shoes, body and hair jewelry and fancy lacy socks or tights.

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Once you have decided on the style you are going to go for, you can search on line and you will find hundreds of websites with full color photography of the many designs and available matching accessories. You may even be able to select the junior bridesmaid dresses from the same place you buy the bridal gown. If you prefer to see and feel the costumes in person, then pay a visit to any of the well known high street stores, but remember to take the little ones along with you so they can have their say too. This way it will be smiles all round as you head for the altar.

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Mother of the Bride Hairstyles

June 16th, 2008 — 10:53pm

Your daughter is getting married and besides your dress, shoes, makeup and accessories, choosing from all the mother of the bride hairstyles you were looking at is not just another detail to attend to before the big day arrives. Although all eyes will be on her on this most glorious day, you will also be getting plenty of attention, so you’ll want to look your absolute best.

Although you’ll definitely want your hair to look extra special for an occasion such as a wedding, you should look for a style that won’t require a lot of maintenance or touch-ups throughout the day as you’ll have plenty of other things on your mind. You also don’t want to make any drastic changes, especially right before the wedding in case things don’t turn out as you envisioned.

If you’ll be wearing a hat or some other type of head piece, avoid any bouffant style hairdos that will look flat once the hat is removed. For short hair, a layered or bobbed cut will suit the shape of most people’s faces, and medium to long hair can always be curled and swept up and away from the face in a flattering style.

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Preparing for the Big Day

Getting a quality haircut in the week or two before the wedding is always good idea whether you want to completely change your look, or simply update it to be fresh and at your best during the wedding. Then, on the actual day of the event, head back to the salon and have your hair styled in the manner of your choice. While you’re there getting your hair cut, ask a stylist for some advice, look at some books and magazines that feature hairstyles suitable for the mother of the bride, or do some searching on your own and print or bring a few pictures you think would work for your hair.

You can also spend a few weeks or months before the wedding preparing your hair to look its healthiest by using volumizing shampoo and a deep conditioner if your hair is dry, brittle, or color damaged. Good hair actually starts from the inside with a proper diet that focuses on well-balanced nutrition and drinking plenty of water. Massaging your scalp on a regular basis increases the blood flow to the scalp and encourages new hair growth. Always use a comb on your hair when it’s wet, and while towel-drying it, never rub the hair vigorously but rather squeeze gently and pat dry with an absorbent towel to avoid breaking or weakening the hair.

The Perfect Color

Now that your hair is at its healthiest and you’ve gotten a great cut to emphasize your best features, don’t forget the important aspect of coloring the hair, as the majority of women do, in order to either cover up gray, or simply add some interest and depth to your own color.

If your hair is naturally going gray or silver and you’re happy with it, by all means wear it proudly. In fact, too many mature women make the mistake of trying to recapture their youth and choose a hair color that’s both too dark and harsh, or either too light, giving their complexion a washed-out appearance. Select golden or warm colors and always use hair products that are specially formulated for color-treated hair to lock in the color and prevent fading.

As you can see planning ahead is everything. I hope you liked these ideas for mother of the bride hairstyles and I am looking forward to your comments!

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Outdoor Wedding Ideas

June 3rd, 2008 — 8:00pm

Many brides to be are looking for outdoor wedding ideas because they can be one with nature and they want to feel the sunlight surrounding them. Sunlight is known for stimulating happy feelings, perfect for the happiest day of a woman’s life.

Because this is one day in a woman’s world that is priceless. She looks beautiful, feels loved and has the one person that she wants to live the rest of her life with right by her side. Her wedding day should be perfect and exactly how she wants it to be.

Jaakko & Annabel part III
Creative Commons License photo credit: wili_hybrid

The first thing you need to decide on is where you are going to have your location wedding. Some options include a beach, a lakeside, on a mountaintop (well not that practical if you want to bring the grandparents), in a garden, in a castle or even in the backyard. Once you have this set, you can start preparing your wedding reception , keeping in mind the following tips.

Be prepared for bad weather

Unfortunately on the day of our wedding we cannot call up the weather people and tell them that we are getting married and we need sun. If you decide to have your wedding outdoors, make sure that there is an indoor place where you can move to if there is bad weather coming in. Or at least have a tent area as a back up plan. You also want to prepare your guests. If it is going to be hot, make sure you give them doggie bags with sunscreen, paper fans and water to keep them refreshed. If it will be a bit chilly out, hand out blankets, hand warmers and anything else to keep the cold to a minimum.

Decorations

Having an outdoor wedding is beautiful enough but you should add your own personality and style to your special occasion. First off the premises should be well maintained; the grass is mowed, there is no garbage, no glass or shells, fallen trees and leaves etc

If there aren’t any flowers, consider planting some for the occasion, even if it is winter. Have it done the day before (well, not in winter, put up some heaters then). You can also set the mood. If it is on a beach, hang up some lanterns and torches with Hawaiian style flowers. Have a Western theme wedding or whatever is typical for the both of you.

Attention to details

If it is hot outside, do not cater food that rots in the sun. If there are additional noises such as waves crashing, make sure there is a microphone so that your guests can hear what is going on. If there are bugs, have bug spray on hand and set out citronella candles. Also make sure that children are entertained and safe! Small details as these can make or break the fun.

If you follow these simple outdoor wedding ideas , they will help you make it the greatest day of your life!

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