Vintage Wedding Dress

How to Find a Vintage Wedding Dress That is Affordable and Appropriate for Your Wedding Day

Modern day brides are taking their weddings into their own hands these days and making their own rules as they happily throw conventions to the wind. It used to be those that wore a vintage wedding dress for their big day, wore dresses handed down from generation to generation. It was not unusual back in the day for several generations of women to be married in the same dress. In our more modern throw away society; many women haven't been keeping their dresses to hand down to other family members.

That doesn't mean you can't wear a vintage wedding gown for your wedding day. There are many places for you to search for the perfect dress to suit the look you are striving for on your most special of days. Not only will it give a sense of continuity to your wedding, it is sure to save you lots of money that can better be spent on dining and entertainment for the reception.

What to Avoid When Looking for a Vintage Wedding Gown

No matter how you feel about a particular dress, avoid those that have any stains. Getting a stain out of regular clothing is hard enough, and worrying how to remove a stain on a piece of clothing that will stand as one of the centerpieces of the wedding is not something about which you should worry.

If you see there is damage to the dress, finding a fabric to match the gown may be difficult. You may find it impossible to repair without their being a noticeable difference and this will only add to your levels of stress. Watch out for really old dresses as well. Fabric deteriorates over a period of time, and you do not want any unforeseen mishaps to your dress as you are exiting the limousine and going into the church.

Keep in mind that older dresses and gowns will have sizes that are different from the standards we use now. It seems that people are getting wider and taller and that will need to be taken into account. Have someone qualified take your measurements and bring them with you whenever you go out, whether to work or shopping. When you are looking for a vintage wedding gown to make your day even more unique, you never know when you might spy something that will spark your interest as you are out and about.(EzineArticles.com)

Check out the other guide on Mother Of The Bride Dresses.

Body Art Tattoos

Body Art Tattoos - Helpful Ideas You Must Know!

The popularity of body art tattoos have skyrocketed the last years, and especially teens are in increasing numbers getting tattooed. The artwork that is tattoos are great for many reasons. Let me share some helpful ideas and tips on what you need to do before getting tattooed.

What's great about tattoos is that it's a good way of expressing yourself, whether its a strong opinion, or if it's a design that reflects your personality. Tattoos can also be very sexy. The only real downside is that depending on the size it's not always easy to remove, and removing large tattoos can also be quite expensive. It's therefore very important to do good research before deciding on the design you want.

The easiest and personally recommended process of securing a good tattoo is by following these steps:

1. Become a member of a good tattoo website where you can find thousands of designs, help and so on. I will recommend one further down on this page.
2. Look at various designs in online tattoo galleries and decide on the design you want.
3. Decide where you want your tattoo. If this is your first, I recommend getting a small one, as this is easier to remove if you regret getting it. You will also know whether you can withstand the pain of getting a larger tattoo later.
4. Research your local tattoo studios. This is probably obvious, but you do not want to go to an artist with a bad reputation.
5. Bring your favourite tattoo design that you found online to the studio of your choice.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other information on Temporary Tattoos.

Wedding Invites

Wedding Invitations - How to Choose the Best One For Your Big Day

Wedding invitations are one of the most important wedding decisions. Not only do they notify your guests of your impending wedding, if chosen carefully they can also inform your guests about:

* The style of you wedding (formal or casual),
* Your wedding locale (destination-wedding, local wedding, church, park, etc.),
* Your personal style (contemporary or traditional)
* Color scheme, and
* The theme of your wedding, if you have one.

Wedding invitations also vary in price point from very expensive to quite reasonable. You'll want to choose them with care, so that you get the best invitation possible at your price point. The pricepoint of your wedding invitations will depend on quite a few things including:

* Paper selected,
* Print used,
* How many sheets of paper are used,
* How the paper is folded, and
* How many inserts are included in the invitation.

Fortunately, with the help of the Internet, you can investigate price points, paper quality, printing styles and gather other pertinent invitation information without actual footwork. Use these steps to help make your wedding invitation selection easier:

Take a count. Though you may not have an exact number of guests that you'd like to invite to your wedding, you should have a ballpark range. This way, it will be easier to come up with a realistic budget for your wedding invitations.

Create that budget. A good estimate for wedding invitations is about three percent of your total wedding budget. If your wedding budget is $20,000, you'll want to limit your spending on invitations to no more than $600.

Start now. It's good to give yourself plenty of time to see what's out there. You'll not only save money, you'll have time to order samples.

Take six. You should allow for a six-month window when it comes to ordering your wedding invitations. This way you'll have enough time to allow for printing, AND the correction of any errors in your invitations. You'll also need time to assemble your wedding invitations and prepare them for mailing.

Pick it out. There are literally thousands of styles and designs of wedding invitations available, there are only a handful of basic types of invitations. You'll find invitations that are:

* Engraved
* Thermographed
* Offset Printed
* Calligraphic
* Embossed
* Handmade
* Boxed


Engraved. Engraved invitations are classic wedding invitations. They are generally used to announce a very traditional-style wedding. For very formal weddings, engraved invitations are an absolute must. Engraved wedding invitations are also very expensive and time consuming because it takes an engraver several steps to complete the invitation. Note: You should order your engraved invitations no less than eight weeks from the date of your wedding--preferably further in advance.

Thermography. Thermographed wedding invitations are an affordable alternative to an engraved invitation. Thermography creates the illusion of raised text (like engraving) through a printing process that heats the ink and resin chemical in a combination causing the printed text to appear raised while the paper beneath it looks smooth. The end result has a very elegant look and works very well for semi-formal weddings. Note: Plan on ordering these invitations at least six weeks in advance.

Offset Printing. Most printing today is offset printing (also known as lithography). Offset printing has become one of the most popular choices on the market today because they are very cost efficient, they are available through most stationary vendors and printers (both online and off), and the invitations can be purchased "blank" allowing you the option of printing your own information on them. Printed invitations are appropriate for semi-formal and casual weddings. The quality of offset printing can vary greatly, so be sure to look for a printer who can deliver crisp quality and true colors. Note: While the turnaround time for printed invitations is typically short, you should still plan on ordering your printed invitations at least 4-6 weeks in advance.

Embossed. Similar to engraved invitations, the raised print on an embossed wedding invitation looks impressive and classy, but might be hard on the budget. Since it is rarely seen, though, embossed wedding invitations stand out among the many pieces of mail your guests receive. Note: Buy a small embosser with your monogram or return address on the plate. This will allow you to create custom stationery in a more affordable way.

Calligraphy. Calligraphed invitations are very elegant. They work well for weddings with an old fashioned theme, but can be very expensive due to the amount of time and effort involved in producing them. Because of the expense, you might also look for a printer who creates the look of calligraphy on printed invitations. Note: When deciding on whether to choose calligraphy invitations, remember that you need to allow extra time for preparation. Keep in mind, too, that this type of invitation may smudge if it comes in contact with moisture.

Handmade. Wedding invitations that are handmade are gaining popularity because they are cost efficient and they add a nice personal touch to your very special day. You may want to consider using a desktop publishing program, too, and attractive stationary to make the process a little easier. Note: Remember to plan on making additional invitations in case of mistakes and allow plenty of time to prepare them.

Boxed. Boxed wedding invitations are available at most retailers and provide a quick and easy alternative to other types of invitations. Also, they can be easily dressed up for a unique and personal touch. Note: Buy extras to ensure that you have enough in case of mistakes or you need to invite additional guests.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other guide on Mother Of The Bride Dresses.

Wedding Hair

Wedding Hair Styles - The Perfect Tips For the Perfect Wedding Day

A wedding is one of the most important events of a woman's life, which is why a bride wants every detail to be perfect from the ceremony to her gown. This attention to detail should also include the hair style she will wear. She should start thinking about it as early as possible to allow her hair to grow out: hair grows at a rate of approximately a half-inch a month or six inches a year. Having longer hair will allow for more leeway in selecting wedding hair styles. There are many ways you can style your hair on your wedding day, but three of the most prominent and traditional styles are the updo, long hair styles and medium-length hair styles. Each of these can be worn with accessories such as tiaras, flowers or rhinestones.

An up do style involves putting the hair up using pins; it can be worn with both long and medium-length hair. One advantage of this style is that you can wear it up during the wedding itself, and then take out the pins to create a second look for the reception.

Long wedding hair styles involve the hair worn down at least to the shoulders. It is one of the most versatile styles because there are a variety of ways it can be worn from wavy locks to long and flowing with curls and even a ponytail.

Medium-length styles involve hair that is worn to just above the shoulders and below the nape of the neck. It can be worn with the hair flowing down with the ends lightly curled.

For a more modern alternative, however, the bride can go for a short hair style which will give her a sassier look. Accessories such as a coronet can be added to give the do a touch of elegance.

One consideration for choosing your wedding hairdo is if it compliments your wedding outfit, from the gown to the shoes. For example, a simple wedding dress demands an equally uncomplicated style. The do should also match the ambience of the wedding itself; if you're having a formal, traditional ceremony, you should select a style that reflects this.

Some tips for achieving the perfect wedding hair styles:

1. It is always good to have pictures of the style that you want on hand to give to your stylist. Sources for these hairdo pictures could be bridal magazines or downloading them from bridal websites.

2. Begin practicing good hair care several months before the wedding to ensure that your hair is healthy when it is ready to be styled.

3. Don't neglect your overall appearance. Make sure that your make-up is natural looking and you get a facial to remove the signs of tension from the wedding preparations.

4. Plan ahead. Make sure to meet with your hairstylist several weeks in advance to start discussing the style, as well as other considerations such as the right color if you're thinking of dying your hair for the wedding. And allot enough time on the day itself to have your make-up and hairstyling done without rushing.(EzineArticles.com)

Check out the other guide on Mother Of The Bride Dresses.

Wedding Veils

Good Tips on Selecting a Wedding Veil That Will Match With Your Dress

Wedding veils are probably as important as the wedding dresses themselves. A majority of brides love to incorporate this traditional headwear into the wedding ensembles, while those taking the informal route to wedding might even skip the apparel!

Here are some aspects that you need to consider while selecting your wedding veils:

The style of your wedding dress determines the type of your veil. Surely you wouldn't want to wear an ornate head piece and a flowing veil with an informal wedding dress or a simple, short veil to go with a striking designer wedding dress. One way to choose the correct wedding veil is to try them out while selecting your wedding dress - this way you get to see what works best for you.

Wedding veils come in different lengths such as the Cathedral length, Fingertip length, Elbow length and the Shoulder length, each with a unique style to go with a variety of wedding dresses. Try out various samples to determine what length works best with your chosen dress.

Consideration needs to be given to the headpiece and that would depend on the type of dress you choose and where you prefer to wear the wedding veil. If the veil would sit on the back of your head, then you need to wear a lighter headpiece.

Ensure the following with regard to your veil:

o The color of the veil matches with your dress
o The embellishments on the veil match those on your dress
o The combined weight of the veil and your headpiece is borne by you comfortably
o Consider getting a veil with a headpiece that can be detached, this would be useful when you feel like detaching the veil and wearing only the headpiece

Take care to preserve the veil before and after the wedding. Keep the veil in a closet away from direct sunlight, moths and other vagrancies.(EzineArticles.com)

Check out the other guide on Wedding Cake Toppers.

Wedding Favor

Wedding Favor - Great Ideas For Your Guests

Today wedding favors are a very popular way to thank your guests for attending your wedding and helping make your day extra special. Of course when you do a search for wedding favors 1000's of sites and options come up. So how do you narrow your search and decide what you want. The wedding favor you decide on should reflect the style and/or theme of your wedding, as well as reflect your own personality. Here is quick guide to the different types of favors you may find.

Seasonal Favors A new trend is having your wedding favor match the season of your wedding date. Not only does it provide you with a possible theme for your wedding day but it also is a constant reminder for your guests to remember not only your wedding but when it was. Getting married in the summer, how about beach themed wedding favors? Wine themes, or leaf bookmarks, as your favors will symbolize a fall/autumn wedding. Snowman or snowflake wedding favors are great representation of a winter wonderland wedding. Calla lilies, and butterfly favors are perfect for a springtime wedding.

Personalized Favors Favors with your own personal touch is a terrific way to reflect your personality as a couple and leave your guests with a wedding favor they will always cherish. Most personalization includes your names and wedding date or your monogram and wedding date. It can also include a design you chose to represent your personality or theme. You may want to have the actual favor personalized or just the packaging. Things such as stickers and tags can be personalized which add the perfect finishing touches to your wedding favors.

Theme Wedding Favors Do you and fiancé have a specific theme that reflects your personality or maybe a theme that you just decided to have at your wedding. Today there is a vast selection of different wedding favors to represent many themes. Some of the popular themes include Las Vegas with favors such as poker chip keychains, or personalized playing cards. Cinderella or Fairytale wedding themes are perfect for every princess bride. Your wedding favor may be a glass slipper candle, or Cinderella themed curio box. Asian wedding themes are also becoming popular and why not give out silver fortune cookies. And of course there is always the fall safe Love Themed wedding with "Love" glass coasters, or love candles that will share the feelings you and fiancé have with your guests.

Practical Favors Practical favors are perfect for guests to remember your event every time they use these fun and functional favors. Bottle stoppers, cake servers, candles, bookmarks, and keychains are great choices for wedding favors in the practical favor category.

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Favors Are you the creative bride that likes to make your own stuff? Then DIY wedding favors are a perfect choice for your wedding favor. Fill favor bags, mint tins, or jars with jordon almonds, jelly beans or whatever type of candy you and your fiancé love. Some of these favors can even be personalized so your guests are sure to remember your event and the personal touch you added to it.(EzineArticles.com)

Check out the other guide on Wedding Cake Toppers.

Wedding Hairstyles

Top 7 Wedding Hairstyles For 2010

The crowning glory of every woman is their hair. The styles, embellishments and length all play an important role when it is time to do her wedding hairstyle. This year, the hairstyles that top the charts are classic yet modern, simply to accommodate the ever-changing trend each year. And a bride will do everything to get a great and glamorous hairdo on her special day not just to wow her groom but also to feel confident.

For the year 2010, many women are growing their hair long and applying various hairstyles to fit their tastes. Same goes for many would-be brides because most of them find it easier to style longer hair than short hair.

So for this year, here are the top 7 wedding hairstyles that you can choose from to show-off your crowning glory:

(1) Curly wedding hairstyle

There are a variety of curly hairstyles that can be done to the bride's hair. Whether it is long, up to half of her back, or short just above her shoulders, she can have curly hairstyle that can fit her hair's length. For longer hair, bigger and more curls can be made compared to shorter hair.

Head pieces such as headbands, feather clips, pearls and flowers can accentuate the overall style. Most often, a curly hairstyle is loose instead of tied in a ponytail. So check the best style for your hair and choose the best accessories that can add glamour.

(2) Up do for long hair

As mentioned earlier, many women are preparing their hair for the much awaited event of their lives. If you are one of them, by now your locks are longer and ready for hairstyling. One of the trends for up dos is applying bouffant to volumize the hair at the back. Another is if you have bangs, you can have a clean bouffant and bangs at the same time. This will depend if your hairstylist will want to use both, so it's important that the style will fit your overall look.

(3) Semi up do for long hair

Some brides love the semi up do with bouffant. This has become a trend in the recent years as many women still want the length of their hair flowing freely for a dramatic look. The free-flowing hair can either be curled or just left straight.

(4) Ponytail

Some brides prefer simple and yet elegant hairstyles such as the ponytail. You can tell your hairstylist to accentuate the ponytail with flowers or gorgeous hair clips. The loose hair can be curled or straight, whichever will suit your overall look.

Other brides add bouffant with ponytail, while some just prefer the simpler version of a clean and combed ponytail. Other brides with bangs can apply either the simple or with neat bouffant for more hair volume.

(5) Side ponytail

Here's a version of the regular ponytail that some brides are opting for. A regular ponytail can be more dramatic and stylish when tied on one side and accentuated with a barrette, flowers or other hair accessories. This can be applied to long hair as well as to shoulder-length hair. The idea is to add some style and accents to further beautify the hairstyle.

(6) Short and sweet hairstyle

Who says short hair cannot be styled on her wedding day? Short hair can be curled and styled according to the cut of the hair. If it is too short, it is best to use hair accents such as hair clips, small flowers and accessories to add a touch of elegance.

(7) Avante garde wedding hairstyle

There are some brides who prefer non-traditional hairstyles for their weddings. The avante garde style for brides may have some touch of tradition and yet they are uniquely different. The contrast could be from the hair color to the choice of headpieces or to overall look of the hair.

This is a daring hairstyle and not every woman can pull it off. There were some female celebrities who opted for avante garde hairstyles during their weddings, and it takes enough confidence a good hairstylist in order for this hairstyle to bring out the best in you.

Choosing the best hairstyle for your wedding day may be stressful, but it shouldn't be. It is advisable that you talk to your hairstylist so you can try various styles and see what will make you more gorgeous. And remember that it's not always dependent on the length of your hair, but how the style will fit you and how it can make you prettier on your special day.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other guide on Wedding Cake Toppers.

Vera Wang Wedding Dresses

Vera Wang Wedding Dresses Quest

I recommend that your dress quest begin with figuring out your personality. Because for a bride-to-be trying to express each dichotomy of her being in one dress is daunting. Whether a teacher or dancing queen, Hippie Chic or fashion junkie, Debutante or power suit girl, or a bit of each rolled into one, the bride should choose a Vera Wang wedding dress that reveals her true self. The individual must shine seamlessly through the garments.

After you have really done some soul searching to try and figure out what type of personality type best represents you, you can begin to choose which of the Vera Wang wedding dress best suits you and accentuates what you want to express?

The Traditionalist - Has great respect for tradition but will celebrate in her own unique way. Think of Grace Kelly.

The Modernist - Free to take on the future with no regrets.

The Individualist - It's my wedding and I will cry if I want to or jump up on down on a pogo stick.

The Romanticist - I didn't even know he was rich, his hands were just so perfect for me.

The Minimalist - Les is mor. (Joke)

I think that the choice of fabric is the next logical step. The fabric really controls the design, especially when it is for such an important gown. Your expectation of form and function needs to addressed.

The conventional gowns don't require such attention because they have been tested over time. Stiff or substantial materials posses enough shape to be correctly draped. Ideal for bustiers or fitted bodices.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other guide on Wedding Cake Toppers.

Wedding Florist

Choosing the Right Wedding Florist

The entire wedding preparation may be quite stressful and draining for you that a wedding an NYC wedding florist may come in handy. When looking for that person or company to do the job, it would be helpful to seek advices and recommendations from friends who just recently married. If you are still cannot decide, do some research over the internet. There are many New York wedding florist and party decorators that have portfolios online for customers to check out. For a closer look, you can always drop by their flower shops and take a look at some wedding flower arrangements they have. Most NY wedding florist would also allow you to see the wedding flowers they have prepared for other weddings for you to get a feel of what their work looks like.

You might want to book your florist 4 months before your big day to make sure that he will be there to assist on the wedding day itself. Your wedding florist would love to discuss your wedding details approximately 6 weeks before your wedding.

Nowadays, a lot of flowers can now be obtained even if they are out of soon because they are grown in greenhouses. Some are even imported internationally. Seasonal flowers are the wiser choice since they are fresher and more cost effective. It would also be nice if your church and wedding reception are not that far from each other. Go best with the local suppliers to cut down delivery fees. The faster your wedding flower arrangement reaches your venue, the fresher and lovelier it will be.

Before even looking for your NYC wedding florist, be sure that you already have a concept in mind. It would also be better if you already booked a venue and chose your wedding colors to help your event decorator get an assessment and give you a quote.

Check with your banquet manager to see if they can provide flowers for the reception. Ask if the flowers are included in your catering package. You wouldn't want to be paying twice for your flower arrangements. You need a wedding florist that has time to sit with you and discuss your big day. Look for a wedding florist that will cater to all your personalized needs. Don't just settle for a cheap package. Your big day will only come once and you wouldn't want to spoil it just because of a mediocre flower arrangement.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other guide on Wedding Cake Toppers.

Wedding Gift Ideas

Great Wedding Gift Ideas For Anyone

Are you searching for great wedding gift ideas that will get you noticed? Everyone wants to give a gift that is both useful and appreciated. Here are some ideas that can help you come up with the perfect gift. One thing to consider is the fact that getting married can be very expensive. Not only do they have the wedding, reception and honeymoon to think about, but once all this is over the couple has everyday expenses to deal with. This is why some great wedding gift ideas include helping out in the financial area.

You can simply give the couple cash so they can use it anyway they wish or help pay for some of the necessities. You can also buy a small gift and have the money attached if you feel the need to buy something. Giving gift cards is also a great idea. If you don't have the extra cash to give out you can always help with the wedding or reception. If you have a large home, you can even offer to let them hold the wedding and reception at your home to help cut down on their expenses.

Gift cards for restaurants are a great wedding gift idea. The newly married couple will not want to spend time planning meals and cooking during their honeymoon. Having gift cards will give them the opportunity to enjoy fine food without the hassle and expense. If there are certain social events that the couple would enjoy while they are on their honeymoon such as visiting a theater show or seeing a musical, you could buy tickets to these events as well.

Be sure you don't forget the gift registry. There is a reason that couples list items on a registry. These are usually the items that the couple wishes they could have, but most likely cannot afford at this time. They are also the gifts that they least expect to get. For this reason if you buy one of the more costly gifts from the registry, you will be guaranteed to give a gift that is loved and cherished forever.

Sometimes newly married couples have a problem decorating their home as quickly as they would like to. Therefore, any gifts that will enhance the décor in their home or prove to be a useful item will also fall into the category of great wedding gift ideas that will get you noticed. Think about items that have made your life easier over the years that you wish you had known about when you first got married. These makes some of the best gifts couples could ever receive.(EzineArticles.com)

Find out the other guide on Wedding Songs.