My Pink Diamonds

The tradition of flower girls and ring bearers actually dates back to Victorian times when they were used to entertain and wow the wedding attendees. Their size and innocent reactions are what make them so special. In fact, if you are having a formal wedding, children can be a great icebreaker. It is a very special honor however, for children to be a part of your wedding, but not mandatory.

Note to the Bride or Planner

It is always nice to have as many children as the bride wishes in the wedding. When thinking of the child or children to fill this role, do not forget about out of town family members with children that will be attending the wedding. If the bride is close to them, find someway to incorporate them, even if you have to have 2-3 flower girls (how many did Princess Diana have?) By not finding space for them may hurt the feelings of the parents or even worse, the child! Children are their worst enemies sometimes, so you don’t want anyone feeling left out on such a special day, especially when our dresses are so inexpensive.

Flower girl(s)

You may choose one or two little girls to be the flower girl(s). The best age range is between four and eight. The younger they are the more of a challenge they can be. There is no hard and fast rule that a child has to be between these ages to be a flower girl, it is whatever and whoever the bride chooses. However, consider that a 13 year old girl (at that age) would probably rather be called “junior attendant” instead of flower girl. This all depends on the girl and how mature she is. Little ladies are the norm, but don’t forget, cute little boys can fill this role, too. If you don’t have any little girls, choose who ever will make it special for you.

Junior bridesmaids/junior groomsmen/junior ushers

Young members of the wedding party (aged 9-16). They’ll attend all major functions (excluding X-rated ones) and fulfill the same responsibilities as senior members. Dresses for junior bridesmaids should be styled for their age (no low-cut necklines). They might wear the same color and fabric as the bridesmaids and the same hair accessory and the hand bouquet should match.

Generally, they are daughters, sons, and cousins of the wedding party. If they are chosen from outside the normal wedding party, make sure that their parents are invited to all the functions surrounding their attendance.

Ring bearer(s)

A young boy (or girl) aged 4-8, who walks down the aisle just before the flower girl (if there is one), carrying a small decorative pillow with two rings tied to it (usually fakes, in case they are lost). The ring bearer can also be 2 young boys or girls. We have seen beautiful ceremonies where 2 young boys come down the isle each holding a pillow for each ring. If you have 2 boys who are fighting to be ring bearer, this is an easy fix! Our ring pillows are only 19.99- so for the cost of 2 is what you would pay for 1 in the wedding stores.

Pages and Train Bearers

Young boys (or girls) aged 6-9 who carry the bride’s extra-long train (think of a royal wedding) as she walks down the aisle. Also known as “train bearers.” More common in English weddings. If they are older, they are usually dressed to match the ushers. If you choose to have a girl page or train bearer, she is dressed to complement the attire of the flower girl(s). If the girl(s) are older, they are dressed to match the attire of the junior bridesmaids or attendants. These types of attendants are usually needed when the wedding gown has a very long train. They always walk down and up the isle in pairs and are about the same height.

Candle lighter(s)

In some Christian ceremonies, pre-teens aged 9-12 (who aren’t pyromaniacs) light candles at the altar just before the mother of the bride is seated. Ceremony musicians may be begin a new prelude selection as the candle lighters step forward. They also responsible for “snuffing” the candles after the recession as guests are filing out of the site. Candle lighters may be dressed like the wedding party or may sport their own attire but dressing similar to the junior ushers and junior bridesmaids. In the case of our company owner, she wanted to honor her deceased grandparents and husbands sister, so there were several candles that were lit in honor and remembrance of them surrounding the unity candle. It was a special way to include them in the ceremony and their names and relationship to the bride and groom were included in the written wedding program.

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.

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.

Recession or no recession, you may want to wear designer wedding dresses on your wedding day. And who can blame you? It is your moment of glory, after all, and moments of glory deserve only the finest finery!
With that being said here are the three S of getting your manicured hands on cheap designer wedding dresses.Sample Sales
When you were a single lady, you probably heard of brides-to-be stampeding into stores in search of the Holy Grail of wedding dresses, designer or not. You probably thought, too, that there is no way on Earth you are going to be one of the masses, figuratively speaking of course.
However, now that you are about to add another ring to your finger, then you need to consider sample sales to save on wedding costs. Simply put, sample sales are events where stores sell their wedding wares at a discount, a hefty discount. This happens about once a year so you need to tap into your network of family and friends to be on the alert for these sales.
Here is how it works: You line up very early in the morning in front of the store. You then join the throngs of brides-to-be who dress and undress themselves in designer wedding dresses at the speed of light. You choose the dress and you pay for it.
Some tips: Go in your bathing suit to save on the hassles of getting into fitting rooms. Bring along a friend to help you with the process. Have an idea of your wedding dress to save time on looking at dresses that you will not like anyway. Most importantly, try to be a size 8 to 10 because that’s usually the largest size available.Second-Hand Shops
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing second-hand designer wedding dresses especially when these are heirlooms. Think vintage and you can become one of the most fashionable brides on the block.
When you buy from second-hand stores, however, always opt for those in upscale neighborhoods for better finds. Or better yet, go to consignment shops. You can usually find better dresses in these stores since they only accept items in perfect and near-perfect conditions, which means more bargains for you.
Be sure to check if you can afford the cost of alterations and repairs since most second-hand shops don’t have return policies. Even if they profess to accept returns, put it in writing.Sites over the Internet
Yes, the Internet is one of the best ways to save money on designer wedding dresses. Usually, websites will offer lesser prices than brick-and-mortar stores mainly because the profits of the middlemen are eliminated.
And then there are the auction sites like eBay, of course. You must proceed with caution, however, as there are Internet scammers who will not hesitate to rob money from starry-eyed brides like you.
When looking for the perfect designer wedding dresses to make you the glowing bride, you should never settle for less but you must balance it with your finances. Besides, who will know that what you’re wearing is cheap for a designer dress?
Best for Bride – The Best Bridal Stores
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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.

Inviting children to take part in your celebration can make it even more special. However, the last thing you want to worry about on your wedding day is your little flower girl and ring bearer becoming impatient, restless or fidgety on the day of your wedding. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that the day goes smoothly and without any surprises.

1.As a general rule, when choosing children to take part in your wedding as a flower girl or ring bearer, it is usually best (or at least more predictable) to have children ages four and above. Of course, each child is different and you’ll want to consider their individual personality (very shy vs. outgoing) and maturity level as well. If a child is so nervous about going down the isle, do not push the issue, simply find something else in the wedding for them to do.

One of our staff members had a boy who was terrified to walk down the isle with the pillow, so we simply re-designated him to hand out the wedding programs before the ceremony.

He was thrilled and relieved that he did not have to do this task and was very happy that he was still a part of the wedding. Also, an idea for a girl would be to hand out the rice or bubbles for the celebration as the bride and groom leave.

These are great ways to involve family children without hurting anyones feelings by not having them as the ring bearer or flower girl. It always makes for great pictures of the bride and groom surrounded by a bunch of children.

2. In the weeks before the wedding day, start talking to your flower girl and ring bearer about the events that will take place before and throughout the wedding day. Get them excited! Explain what they will wear, where they will go, where they will stand and what they will have to do.

The better young children can visualize their role in the wedding, the better prepared they will be to cooperate and participate as you would like them to. Children want to please, so make sure that the bride, planner or parents teach the children what is expected of them before the big day.

3. Most importantly, choose outfits for the children that are comfortable. Choose comfortable fabrics – - ones that don’t scratch or irritate the skin. Just know how you feel when you are wearing something you want to tear off! The most important tip that we can give you is buy something that the child LIKES to wear. Do you remember how you were when you were a kid? Involve them in the selection of their wedding attire. If they feel pretty or handsome, it will show in their attitude and behavior. Be sure the children wear comfortable shoes, and if the shoes are new – that they have a chance to “break them in” prior to the wedding day.

In August, one of our staff members attended a wedding in Florida (hottest month) and the child was dressed in tights and a long sleeved dress. The bride had chosen it because she too had long sleeves on her dress. However, what she failed to realize is that her dress had the removable jacket (for the ceremony) and was strapless for the reception and the childs DID NOT.

The child was wanting to get undressed before she went down the isle and ended up being taken home to change right after the ceremony. This is the last thing that you want. Think about what you choose for them!

4. Purchase some wedding books- – there are some wonderful books that not only inform flower girls and ring bearers of their role in the wedding, but also welcome and celebrate them as a very special part of the bridal party.

5. Invite all of your children involved and their parents to the rehearsal. Let the children practice walking down the aisle several times so that they will feel more comfortable of their role on the “big day”. If the parents or the bride or groom are able to practice with the child before the rehearsal, the more the better. Remember, the night of the rehearsal there are a lot of things going on and the children may need extra practice ahead of time.