My Pink Diamonds

There is no doubt that you will need to search for your wedding rings after you have decided to get married. You will need to search for the best and most perfect items for your event. When you are trying to visit your local stores or some online shops, you will realize that there are tons of different designs and styles you can choose from. You can also see a lot of design examples on various websites which discuss rings.
Choosing the rings can be just as difficult as choosing your wedding dress. There are too many options and choices and you may not really know how you can make your final decision. When you are choosing the dress, one of the options will be a vintage item. I myself have some friends who go for this option and the dress is really elegant. As a matter of fact, you can also consider a vintage diamond wedding ring when you are searching for the rings.
As you may know, there are tons of different styles and choices when you are searching for your vintage wedding dress. In fact, it is also true for your vintage diamond wedding ring. And this choice will be perfect if you are the kind of person who loves collecting vintage items. Yet, if you do not really love this idea, you may not really need to go for such option. You may still want to get a new pair of rings. A vintage ring is only one of your options and this will best suit people who love this kind of items.
You will need to understand that it is not that easy for you to search for your vintage diamond wedding rings. Not many shops will sell this kind of items. You will need to spend some time to search for it. Of course the best situation will be that you can get the rings you want from your parents. They may keep rings which they bought forty years ago. It will be even more perfect if you are going to wear the wedding dress your mother worn when she got married! You should try to discuss with your parents to this end.
Of course you can also consider purchase your own vintage diamond wedding rings. As discussed, it is not easy for you to purchase one. However, you can always go to the internet to search for what you want. One of the places you can certainly visit is Ebay. You may be able to get what you want there. Yet, it is very important for you to have some precautions when you purchase from Ebay. You have to make sure that the seller is not a scammer. You will need to check the rating and reputation of the seller!
When you are planning to buy a vintage diamond wedding ring from Ebay, be sure to ask all the questions you need to ask. Of course you will need to ask for the size of the rings. You will also need to ask for the shipping method and costs. And most importantly, you should ask for the arrangement for insurance!

So the time has come and you are ready to make preparations for the most important day of your life, you wedding. With so many expectations it is hard to financially put all the pieces of the puzzle together, so it is critical that you take a piece of paper and start adding everything up in order to stay within your budget.

Many newlyweds try to satisfy everyone’s expectations of what the ideal wedding should be like that they forget their finances which is an important factor that needs to be properly managed in order to make things work. Grooms tend to place a lot of importance on the wedding ring (brides too) but when it comes to brides the most important thing – besides the wedding band – is the wedding dress.

Adding the value of these two things together you will realize that this expense is almost equal to the down payment of a house! which doesn’t make sense, if you have both of your feet and mind down here on earth that is! It is very common for newlywed couples to start their marriage completely broke, while it is definitively not ideal must people feel that the expenses were worth it.

Buying a cheap wedding dress doesn’t mean that the quality will be incredibly bad, on the contrary, if you are a smart shopper you will realize that most of the time the difference between a $10,000 dress and a $1,000 one is often the brand, the price increases because of the maker even if they are visually identical (train, veil and size)

Today there are several options according to the place you want your wedding to be, for instance if you want to get married at a church you may use a full wedding gown, if you want to do it at the beach you may use a simpler and yet elegant design. Since there is no set standard, wedding designs the possibilities are virtually endless, even the colors can be customized to fit your wedding theme.

It is not very hard to find the right wedding gown of your dreams for the right price, there are many designers and stores out there competing for your business so make sure you take the time to shop around and find the wedding dress which better suits your budget. Remember that your wedding is the most important day of your life but that doesn’t mean that everything ends there, in fact this is where it all begins so make all your wedding dress comparisons in order to start your new life with a little spare change, you know you will need it!

Unless you intend to marry like Elizabeth Taylor, you only get to wear a wedding dress once in your life. Of course, if by chance or choice you do get married again and again, you would have many wedding dresses! (Don’t even think about recycling your old wedding dress. You might be saving on costs but you are not doing yourself any favors)
Due to the one-time nature of the wedding dress, you must carefully plan for it. And need we mention that cameras and video camcorders are unforgiving in recording for posterity and notoriety your wedding planning lapses including the worst wedding dress ideas anybody dared to apply?Outrageously Unique Head Ensembles
When you walk down the aisle, people will start assessing your appearance from your veil to your shoes and then back again, hopefully to focus on your radiant face. What if they stop in shocked silence at your outrageously unique headgear? You want awed silence at the heavenly vision you present, not shocked silence at the horrific apparition of whatever is on your head!
You have to avoid wedding dresses with headgears that 1) look like the nests of wild animals and your grandma’s whole flower garden; 2) allow your groom to bask in the shade like very wide hats; 3) hide your face completely like layers upon layers of veil; 4) bastardize Queen Amidala’s elaborate head ensembles; and 5) get in the way of the first matrimonial kiss.
Basically, you need a simple and elegant veil that will highlight your face while providing for the traditional head cover required in most church weddings. If you want embellishments on the veil, you can always have a small tiara tucked in there.Balloon Sleeves
You might not have arms to die-for but trying on all wedding dresses with big sleeves can be the death of your look. Why avoid big sleeves like the bubonic plague? Let us count a few reasons: 1) your groom cannot sit beside you because your sleeves take up all the room; 2) you will bump guests off the dance floor; and 3) you will bump the wedding cake unto the floor.
However, there are a few advantages to wedding dresses with big sleeves like: 1) your sleeves can serve as pincushions; 2) your groom can use them as handkerchief – just lean to the right and sneeze; and 3) you can use them as small bags. Indeed, for every cloud there is a silver lining.Plunging Necklines
Your groom will appreciate the view but it is doubtful if the officiating priest will approve your plunging-to-the-nether-regions neckline. Maybe he will deliver a sermon on how there is a time for everything – a time to bare and a time to care. Or something like that.
If you are unfazed with the possibility of a long and winding sermon on how the modern Eves lead Adams to sin with their wedding dresses, then think about these possibilities: 1) your wedding rings can get lost in there and what a spectacle that will be; 2) your guests will stare at you and not in a good way – think jeers and leers; and 3) your turn being Janet Jackson with a wardrobe malfunction will happen on your most special of days. Do you really want your nipples to play peek-a-boo?
You have to remember that when it comes to wedding dresses, you might wear them once but you will wear their memories forever. And that is not including the guests who will remember you either in your most beautiful best or in your most horrible outfit ever! You choose.

Weddings are definitely joyous but exhausting event. Aside from the basics like searching for a venue, the wedding dress, the reception and the like-one of the major considerations of countless couples who are planning to tie the knot is the their wedding ring.
Usually, most couples prefer a diamond wedding ring set because it is large enough to be worn by itself. For those who are much into rings, a diamond wedding set is perfect for you because it can serve as an engagement ring and the wedding ring all at the same.
Searching for that perfect diamond wedding ring can be stressful and strenuous because there are so many things to consider such as the beauty, shape, size, and cost. The best thing you can do is to trim down these options based on your personal preference and taste.
Here are some tips that can help you get by in searching for that dream diamond wedding ring set. First, you have to choose a diamond wedding ring set that suits your taste and of your fianc

If you think that wedding dresses have always been unfailingly in the white color range and untouchable by anyone else except the groom, you have another think coming. In the olden days, the wedding dress was anything but these things! Read on and find out how lucky you are as a modern bride of the 21st century.The Color
In the olden days, wedding dresses were not the customary white of today. In fact, had you lived in medieval times, you could wear any color you fancy. You can wear funereal black, chirpy yellow, girlish pink, garish purple, and all the colors of the rainbow splashed on your wedding dress for all anybody cared! In other words, you can have fun and fantasy with your colorful wedding dress.
If you yearn for those olden times, you can blame Queen Victoria for setting the white wedding dress trend. On the 10th day of February 1840 when dear old Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of Saxe (an incestuous marriage by our standards since he was her first cousin), she wore a pale white off-shoulder gown with orange blossoms trimmings. And from then on, plebeians and royals alike have fallen all over their feet to copy her! The color of the wedding dresses, not the orange blossoms, of course, unless you want to appear like a wood nymph come down from the forest to marry in the lowlands.
Still, white is not such a bad color considering that in the olden days, grooms expected their brides to pile on the fur, silk velvet and other accoutrements of wealth! You might be allowed to wear any color but along with that privilege was the burden of fabrics and funfare to wedding dresses. Now you know why bridal portraits of old often showed the bride in a less-than-happy facial expression – it must be from her smell under all that weight.The Horror
You should be thanking your lucky stars you were not a medieval bride. In the olden days, you would be witness to wedding dresses ripped right out of the brides’ bodies for good luck.
After the couple recited their vows, they were to immediately consummate the marriage. They would go into an available room where they can seal the deal on their marriage and open the door on a new chapter of their lives. Unfortunately, guests will grab the bride’s clothes to get pieces of her clothes while she is on her way to conception, er, consummation. Simply put, you will appear bedraggled before the roll and you will lose your modesty before your virginity!
Que horror, right? Fortunately, you can just throw your bouquet and your groom can throw your garter to lucky guests as good luck tokens. Now, you can have your modesty intact. Well, except if you go for one of those bridal dresses with plunging necklines and it decides to do a wardrobe malfunction on you.
Indeed, compared with the color-happy and weight-happy wedding dresses ripped to shreds by guests, you would gladly take bouquet throwing, garter pulling, rice pelting, money pinning, and all the hassles of wedding planning any time of day. Or at least, you would except that those luxurious furs, smooth silks and decadent velvets sure could be your next best friend after the diamond on your engagement ring!

The plus size wedding dress hanging outside your closet is beautiful by itself. A lot of brides prefer to wear no jewelry or accessories at all in order project the splendor of their plus size wedding dresses in all its unobstructed splendor.
A few brides, on the other hand, prefer accessories and jewelries to spice up their plus size wedding dresses. It all boils down to preference, really. Some want to don tons of stones on their wedding day. Some prefer a minimalist approach, opting instead for a simple pair of pearl earrings or a solitary diamond pendant. The thing is, you should be able to weigh your accessories of choice. Here are a few tips for brides in finding the suitable accessories for their plus size wedding dresses:
1. No plastics
Whatever anyone tells you, whether it be from the crazy attendant from the cuckoo bridal shop downtown or your nosy next door neighbor, never ever choose to wear plastic bridal accessories. Plastic bracelets, earrings, necklaces, or even plastic flowers up on your perfectly styled hair. It is not cool. It is not classy. Plastic accessories do not belong to a magnificent wedding celebration. If you already bought plastic wedding accessories during your last trip to the bridal shop, here’s an advice: Throw it out.
2. No bold prints
Inarguably, bold prints make one look bigger. Needless to say, bold prints do not belong to plus size wedding dresses. They will add bulk to your frame. Furthermore, bold prints are unwarranted when it comes to plus size wedding dresses or any wedding dress, for that matter. If you want to add a few prints to you plus size wedding dresses, choose tiny, subtle and pastel colored ones. These will look dainty.
3. No bold jewelries
Reality check, it is your wedding. It is not just some ordinary soiree. Wear the appropriate accessories and jewelries. They key to wedding jewelries: Keep it simple. Avoid bold, loud jewelries as they will take away the formality of your wedding celebration.
4. No neon shades
Unless your wedding theme is neon green, orange or pink, try not to ruin your wedding dress by wearing neon colors. Neon colors don’t work. Whether you want to emphasize something or you simply want to make some undecipherable statement, neon is not the way to do it. Try other means, just do not stick to the neon fad.
5. Not too much ice
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. No truer words have been said. Simple, sparkling diamonds are the best accessories for your plus size wedding dress. However, too much ice on you wedding dress may put some guests off. How much is too much? Let’s see… A pair of dangling diamond earrings, a diamond tiara, a diamond-studded choker, diamond rings on nearly every finger, heaps of diamond bracelets, and add a diamond anklet to that pile.
Remember, you do not need too much wedding accessories for you plus-size wedding dress. You already shine in it – by yourself.

Now your dream becomes reality and you’ve gotten engaged and are beginning to plan the perfect day. Except when you do start, you soon realise that the reality is that funds are not endless and you have to work within a budget. That budget must cover so much, fees for rental of your ceremony and reception site, decorations, catering/food, bar, flowers, music, photography, video, marriage license, invitations, wedding rings, transportation, honeymoon, attendants, gifts, guest wedding favors, and a myriad of other miscellaneous costs. So how much is then left for your wedding attire, which could also include not only a dress for you, but your bridesmaids, flower girls and of course the men’s wear too.

Not many of us have the luxury of spending over £2000 on a designer dress and even if you could you might prefer to allocate less towards the dress and use a larger portion of your budget for a more elaborate honeymoon or reception party. Whether or not you are working to budget, everyone enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when locating and acquiring a bargain. These days it’s not so hard to come across a bargain with little effort. The best way to start is to have a look in some bridal shops. You may not have the intention of buying from them but you can certainly establish the style, size, and cut of the kind of dress you are going for.

Make notes of what kind of styles and colours you like the best. Sometimes you find a style in a magazine and when you try it on you find it isn’t really how you imagined and it doesn’t flatter your shape the way you expected. Bridal gown sizes can come up smaller than your usual size so the best thing to do is to go by your measurements and ask dressmakers for the bust, waist and hip sizes that make up the size in general. Some bridal shops don’t keep the manufacturers labels on and instead re-label and price with their own internal tagging system (many salons do this to avoid competitive shopping and price comparisons). The shop should tell you the name of the designer or manufacturer if you ask.

Once you have got an idea of the styles you like and the size you need, then you can begin searching for your gown and accessories. It’s best to purchase your dress before shopping for accessories. Certain elements of the dress will help you choose the best accessories to match.

When you start looking for a gown it is better to find a dress that either fits perfectly or is just a little bit big. Because of the delicate fabrics making alterations can be done easily if the dress needs “taking in” but to “let it out” can be quite tricky. Most gown designers always allow about an inch or slightly less for seem allowance. If a gown is very tricky to alter then this will reflect in the price of the alteration. So remember your dress budget needs to be for the dress itself and any alterations needed.

Bargain dresses can be found in a number of places. Some bridal shops will sell ex-show dresses at a cut price. Some of these gowns will have been modelled on the cat walk but may no longer be manufactured. Some dresses are available due to brides changing their minds and therefore forfeiting their deposits. Generally these kinds of dresses are almost new but can still be dry cleaned and altered for that perfect fit.

One of the best ways to bag a bargain is online via the internet. Internet shopping has reached record levels and it is great way to be connected to thousands of sellers and great offers. There are a number of good websites dedicated to selling bridal wear. Some sites host new dresses and some nearly new. Either way, because the sellers have no overheads in terms of premises and stock, they can sell you the same dress that a store will, for a fraction of the price.

Many local full service bridal shops are losing business to internet bridal retailers because they have difficulty competing with the deep discounts, therefore, you may have noticed paid articles in bridal magazines discouraging brides from purchasing gowns online. You will need to make your own mind up but ultimately if you want a bargain then online has to be a better choice.

The one thing to be careful with online is getting the size right. Make sure you ask for their guide to “how to measure” and ask them how they determine the sizes as you won’t get to try before you buy, this is very important. Once a dress is made to your requirements there will be no refunds. Buying online is becoming more popular and online stores are becoming more flexible in what they can offer. You can request samples of materials and if you have a picture of something you want or need some special beading just ask. Most online stores will be able to accommodate changes and alterations as the dresses are usually made after the order.

It is vitally important you order in time, especially if you are not ordering a standard dress. Most suppliers insist on 6 to 8 weeks. So bear that in mind when placing your order. Of course if you are happy to make changes and alterations using someone you have chosen then a last minute deal can be snapped up! Other ways to use internet searches to locate a bargain is by visiting sites like e-bay that have many second hand designer dresses at bargain prices. Which ever method you choose I know you will look drop dead gorgeous and you will find your dream dress without breaking the bank!

Buying your dress should be fun. Make sure you have a friend with you that knows you well enough to give you an honest opinion and remember if it is too much over your budget you are bound to find a similar dress elsewhere that has your name written all over it. Good luck and Happy Bargain Hunting!

We often forget that while weddings are one of the most fabulous and special moments of a couple’s life, they can also be very stressful, especially when it comes to choosing the gown. Many brides begin their search for that perfect dress even before a ring is on their finger, which is why it is always helpful to be aware of the top designer wedding dress styles.

Deciding which designer wedding dress style to go with can be a very, very difficult decision for a bride-to-be. This decision, although quite fun in the making, can be very daunting and can end up leading to major frustration and even some inevitable “bridezilla” moments for the most subdued and organized bride. If there is anything any wedding needs less, it is an unhappy bride.

We have all heard that the wedding dress is the highlight of the day, of course aside from seeing the blushing bride make her entrance and way down the aisle. So much emphasis and importance is placed on the wedding dress, the bride may end up feeling a lot of pressure when it comes time to make that important decision. The secret to finding the right designer wedding dress is to find one that you can afford that also makes you feel happy and beautiful while flattering your figure.

Why Choose a Designer Wedding Dress

Choosing to go for a designer wedding dress is a great way to obtain the perfect wedding gown. Working one-on-one with the designer will allow you to feel in control of what you are getting, in control of your finances, and in control of the overall look and style of your dress. While the designer will do most of the hard work, he or she will work closely with you to make sure that you are happy and love the gown for your big day.

If you are going to choose a designer wedding dress for your special day, it is imperative that you think about the different dress styles before you even walk through the designer’s door. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a designer wedding dress is your personal style and taste. There are so many different designer wedding dress styles to choose from that you may just need to flip through some wedding magazines before speaking to your designer.

How Designer Wedding Dresses Differ

Today, simple and elegant bridal gowns are very much the norm with less emphasis placed on excessive beading and embellishments. This is not to say that these designer wedding dress styles are boring and bland. It is actually quite the opposite. With simple and elegant dress styles, it is all about the fabric and the color. Wispy silk chiffon in layers of ivory and white give spring brides the ethereal look of a garden fairy. Colorful silk gowns allow for winter brides to pop with beauty and individuality.

While the color and fabrics of designer wedding dresses change from season to season, the main styles do not. If you are the type of bride that loves the “tried and true” looks always keep these classic designs in mind. The a-line, or princess, the ball gown, the sheath, the empire, and the mermaid are all designer wedding dress styles that will never go out of fashion. The secret to which is best for you will always be determined by which one makes you feel the prettiest and which one flatters your figure the most.

Getting a Deal on Designer Wedding Dresses

Regardless of which designer wedding dress style you end up choosing, getting a deal is always a welcome attribute of the experience. We all know that a custom-made designer wedding dress can cost a pretty penny, so why not shop around. Visit a local designer or dressmaker and see if they have any floor samples or runway samples that can be sold for a reduced price.

If you have already found the designer dress of your dreams but it is too far out of your price range, why not take a photograph (from a magazine, for example) to a dressmaker and see if he or she can make their own version of it. There is no shame in saving money on your wedding dress, and it’s great to know that you can get a beautiful designer wedding dress even if you’re on a budget. Every woman deserves to feel like the most beautiful woman in the world on her wedding day, and as long as your wedding dress makes you feel like a beautiful bride, there is no reason not to choose the most elegant designer wedding dress available.

For every season, for every motif, for every person and for every color symbolism, there will always be the right wedding dress. Choosing what to wear in your wedding is as critical as choosing the the man you will be spending your sunset days with.
There’s a multitude of wedding dress styles to choose from – in some countries that have veered away from much of wedding rituals and traditions, dress styles number in the thousands. With this dizzying array, how do you choose yours? How do you make sure that your dress will be a reflection of the real YOU, not the fashion model on the glossy cover of magazines that grace bridal boutiques and corner stalls in the metropolis?
Buying a Wedding Dress: Style
The style of your wedding dress will depend on about four factors. There may be more but these are the most common ones we can think of:
• Type of wedding
• Your personality
• Your budget
• Your culture and that of your future husband
If you write down your thoughts about these four factors including any other detail you can think of, you’d have a good starting point for discussions with the boutique consultant. By rattling off your preferences, she can already come up with a short list and show you the styles immediately. This will save you time from browsing through voluminous catalogues and the sometimes crowded store racks.
Type of wedding: are you going to be married in a church and will the reception be inside a hall, OR are you going to be married in the beach, garden or in some enchanted island where guests will be free to roam around and then gather in an outdoor tent to offer their best wishes and congratulations?
An outdoor wedding would narrow your choices. You will certainly want to consider not wearing a gown that would require you to wear high heels, unless you want to leave permanent marks on that beautifully manicured lawn. Wear a gown that looks right with a pair of sensible but stylish flats to keep you from boring holes on the ground. For practical reasons, you may want to seriously not wear a long, down to the ankles type of dress. This will spare you from having to deal with a muddy hem. Make sure the hem is heavy enough not to fly up at the first sign of a sudden gust of wind.
For the same reasons, a train is not ideal for an outdoor wedding. You will likely find it covered in mud and grass stains by the end of the reception. If your dress comes with a veil, keep it weighted to keep it from blowing around too much, unless again you’d want your groom and pastor to chew on the lace by the end of the service, or risk the veil pin landing on someone’s cake.
Your personality: “tell me what you wear to your wedding and I’ll tell you what kind of person you are” may ring true, but remember that you need not be forced into wearing anything because it’s tradition or your rich mother-in-law has done the cherry picking in some designer’s rack. Your dress is you, inside and outside. Let it bring out the message on this special day.
Also, you’ll have to take your body type into account. If you have a good figure, show it off within the limits of decency, of course, especially if you’re getting married in church. Not that the pastor’s opinion should carry weight in the choice of your dress, but it is his church nevertheless, so be respectful of the place where your marriage will be solemnized.
A sleeve dress (one that clings to your body from neck to ankle) looks best on someone with a slim figure and curves to show off. If you’ve always been proud of your hips, look for a dress that flairs out a bit at the waist. If you want an overall slimming effect, do not invest in fluffed up sleeves and huge skirts, or you will look bigger than you really are. A skirt with lots of fabric so that it drapes and folds would be ideal. Do not add puff to the lower portion by adding a hoop or other fabric.
Your budget: who says you need a designer dress? One does get “suffocated” by the usual styles out there. You could spend thousands of dollars on a wedding dress that will end up in an attic somewhere, only to be looked at when nostalgia strikes. Many brides think of their future daughters when they buy their wedding dress, but remember that your daughter could end up saying, “how could you wear a thing like that to your wedding, mum?”
If you have other wedding expenses and don’t want your wedding dress to take up the lion’s share, you can ask a sister or close friend to help you design a wedding dress. We know of a few friends who asked a private seamstress to do their dress, and they charge considerably less than boutiques and designer outlets.
Culture: The factor of culture plays a dominant role in weddings and when one wears a wedding dress that is typical of one’s culture, then the conversation gets livelier. For example, if you’ve been to a Scottish wedding, you’ll know that tartans and Highland kilts will be the dominant features of the wedding attire. Tartans are colorful fabrics that are also known as plaid. Scottish people also put accents to make the dress more attractive – like a Celtic knot that stands out.
Or you’ve seen the traditional Chinese attire. Brides will usually wear a red Chinese dress because red symbolizes love. If you’ve been to a Greek wedding, you’ll notice that both bride and groom wear flowers on their head instead of a veil.
Buying a Wedding Dress – Color
The color white, traditional for wedding dresses, was originally used to signify the bride’s virginity to the gathered witnesses. This virginity was likewise attested to by the hanging of a blood-soaked sheet the next morning. Though the custom of the bridal sheet has died, the customary bridal color still seems to be alive and well for the most part. Widows or divorcees might choose an ivory color to keep from claiming the white, but if tradition prevails, brides stick with what is expected in this sense.
The color white is not mandatory though. A differently colored dress would make a wonderful splash on your wedding day. The color red, for example, means joy, love, and fertility and is traditional for brides in China. No rules exist saying brides cannot wear purple or sage; indeed, an outdoor wedding might look even lovelier with a deviation from strict tradition. Always check with your pastor to see if you and your entourage can wear different colors, and ask him which colors are strictly forbidden.
Buying a Wedding Dress – Stories for You
If you’re feeling a tad overwhelmed by wedding preparations and agonizing over your wedding dress, you may want to take a break, sit and lounge on your favorite armchair, and curl up with a good book. We’d like to suggest My Wedding Dress: True-Life Tales of Lace, Laughter and Tulle published last month (January 2007) by Random House (ISBN: 978-0-676-97846-9; 0-676-97846-0). It’s an anthology of thoughtful essays that cover the full range of bridal sentiments, before and after the wedding. One of the contributors said that “the most important thing about the dress was that it wasn’t white, it wasn’t long and it had not a whisper of tradition clinging to it.”
There are about 26 essays from different women who talked about their wedding dresses and some of them, already divorced, described how their dress “felt all wrong” or “didn’t fit” or “it just wasn’t me.”
By taking time off from wedding preparations, you can re-charge yourself by reading about weddings. Wedding stories never fail to bring a warm glow to heart or trigger your love for laughter. For example, we looked for a story about wedding dresses and we found a funny one online from the Canadian Press (May 2005). It tells the story about a couple, Christopher Cummings and Charity O’Brien, both from Missouri, who got married on the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. The title of the news story caught our attention: Weddings on Ice. Exchanging Vows on Alaskan Glaciers.
Guess what the bride wore to her glacier wedding?
The usual, white traditional – complete with sequins. But what else did she wear with it? We’ve chosen this paragraph and want to share it with you:
“The bride wore a curvy, strapless white satin gown sprinkled with sequins. She also had on tights, sweat pants, rain pants and a pair of hefty hiking boots fitted with spikes.”
“The groom was charmed. ‘That’s the way she is…’ ‘although the dress was a surprise.’
Don’t forget. YOU get to choose, not anyone else. It’s personal, it’s special, and it’s an occasion that may happen only once in your life.

for the fitting. Ask if the shop assistant is experienced in measuring and fitting. A lot are not!

If you buy a sale dress that has beading and embroidery on the hem and you are too short for the dress you will need to get a definite quote from the shop for the cost of alteration. You could be looking at well over £100 plus for the hem alone and if you are looking to save money by buying a sale gown you do not want to spent a fortune on having it altered.

A tip here if you are ordering a new dress. When yours arrives examine it very carefully as if you were buying a dress from the rail. Check the inside of the bodice for marks and look under the hem for wear and dirt. Unscrupulous shop owners will try to sell as new their sample of gowns that are not getting many orders. This happens a lot in the bridal industry. If a shop has a sample dress that does not get many repeat orders the shop owner will try to get rid of it to the first person you likes it!.

Check every inch of your dress and be sure that it is a new dress and not just the shop’s sample. Other signs of the dress having been tried on are a crumpled label, fraying on lacing and scuffed fabric on the hem, especially on the train.

If you are suspicious ask to see their sample (the one you tried on when ordering) If they haven’t got it hanging on the rail the chances are they are selling it to you as new!

Br brave and say that you are not happy with the dress and ask for contact details of the designer who supplied the dress. They will tell you if the shop have actually ordered you a new dress. I know it will be unpleasant but how much worse would you feel if you knew that dozens of other brides had tried on your special gown.

All bridal shops have dresses that are reduced in price. You may find the perfect dress for you in your size and be happy to buy it. Before you do so ask if the shop will have it cleaned for you because many customers may well have tried the dress on.  I can tell you from experience that not all brides who try on wedding dresses bother to shower first!

If they refuse then examine the dress carefully, especially on the inside of the bodice and under the hem especially the train. Remember customers may have walked around the shop with the train dragging on the floor. Also look for loose beads or threads and ask to have them sewn on. Look for any marks and if it is not absolutely spotless then ask for a reduction to allow for you to have it cleaned. If the shop agree to have it cleaned ask to see the drycleaners bill because if the dress you buy is satin it can be stuffed into a washing machine and washed very easily!! This is done all the time.

It may cost as much as £80 for a specialist dry cleaner to clean the gown. Remember that silk gowns will cost more to be cleaned than satin. Be prepared to offer less than they are asking for the dress. It should be no more than half the usual price – it has been tried on and as a shop sample is not a new dress.

The wholesale price of the dress will be no more than a third of the retail price so if they are charging more than half price you are being ripped off. It is not a new dress!

The shop owner may try to persuade you that they can take in a dress for you. No wedding dress can be taken in more than two sizes before it shows. Bust seams will be ‘off’ and straps and sleeves will not be in the correct position. Unless the bodice of the dress is totally remade which will cost a lot of money do not accept a dress that is more than two sizes too large. A dress can be let out by a professional dressmaker by up to one size (2”) with reasonable satisfaction.

Another trick played by a few shops is to take out the netting (which holds out the skirt) from the dress and then sell you a hooped petticoat at an inflated price. All full skirted wedding dresses come with netting so if yours doesn’t then ring the designer whose number will be on their website and ask if the dress should have netting in it. Don’t be afraid to ask because this is a very mean trick played by just a few shops.

There are a lot of pitfalls for the bride to be who is unsuspecting of the many sneaky tricks which some unscrupulous shop owners will use. Of course many bridal shop owners would never dream of trying to cheat their customers but it is not easy to know which are the good and bad shops since no one knows if their dress was new or just a tried on sample.

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