20 Tips for Buying Your Wedding Gown

1. Start early - Once you have set your wedding date, begin your search for a wedding dress. Ordering a wedding gown can easily take four to six months for the complete process. Unless you purchase your wedding dress off of the rack, your wedding gown will not be sewn until you order it. Then you can expect to have one to two fittings for any needed alterations. Even if your purchase a gown off the rack, you need to allow time for finding the wedding gown and for fittings and alteration time.

2. Have an idea - Use the Internet and bridal magazines to get an idea of the type of dress you want, puffy sleeves, long skirt, etc.Consider the ceremony''s location and time of year- don''t plan a huge skirt for a tight little church or a thin silk sheath for an outdoor winter ceremony. Hint: Don''t remove the magazine pages with wedding dress styles you like. Keeping them in the magazine will help keep them organized and will be easier for the sales staff to flip through and see your choices.

3. Do your homework - Contact friends and the local Chamber of Commerce for reputable bridal saloons and other wedding gown dealers in your area. Call the Better Business Bureau about any company you plan to patronize. Be wary of any wedding dress salon or seamstress that requires more than a 50% deposit on special orders, you want to have some leverage if the product you receive is not what you expected. Be aware that some wedding gown shops remove the tags from wedding dresses so you cannot identify the designer. Many times they will not offer you the style number of the wedding gown but try to get this information before putting money down so that you will know the exact wedding dress manufacturer.

4. Don''t shop alone - It is best to take one or two people with you who can assist you in getting in and out of those beautiful, but big wedding gowns. Also, another person can give you an honest opinion on how the dress fits and help you determine its appearance from all angles. Most importantly, taking one or two people will make your experience more fun. Relax and enjoy yourselves! You don''t have to buy your dress in one day (usually).

5. Plan to Pay 50% down - Generally a 50% deposit is required by most bridal shops on special orders and off-the-rack gowns that need alterations. Once the order has been placed, that money is absolutely non-refundable. We recommend using a charge card for this payment, in case there is a significant complaint against the establishment you may be able to work something out with the credit card company for reimbursement.

6. Call ahead - Many bridal shops and department stores require appointments to try on wedding gowns. Be sure to call ahead and secure your appointment before dropping by an establishment, you might find you have just wasted valuable time because they won''t see you that day. Also, you will want to verify if the bridal shop carries the manufacturer you are interested in or if they have a sample of a particular wedding dress you have your heart set on.

7. Measure up - It is a good idea to have your measurements taken at a bridal salon or take them yourself before ordering your wedding gown. Each wedding gown designer has a different size chart and these sizes are generally a little larger than your street clothes size. Wedding gown sizes are based on measurements and even though you may normally wear a size 6 you may order an 8 or 10 in your wedding gown.

8. Buy a dress that fits - Even though you may be on a diet to lose 20 pounds before your wedding, buy or order a wedding gown that fits you now. It is very easy to take in a wedding gown with minor alterations but it is next to impossible to increase the size of a wedding dress. Don''t be stuck with a wedding dress that does not fit properly or worse that you can''t wear because it''s too small.

9. Get your purchase order in writing -Once you have chosen the wedding gown you are going to purchase and are prepared to put down a deposit, have the salesperson write up a detailed receipt for you. Included on this receipt should be a full description of the wedding gown, including any special charges, such as charges for petite or large sizes, extra length, change of sleeve length, or any other special requests. Delivery date and due dates should be included as well. Lastly, any special offers such as free alterations, free shipping or rushed delivery time should be spelled out on the receipt as well. Having a written record of your verbal agreement with the bridal shop will be added insurance for you should a dispute arise.

10. Consider the rear view - Remember that you will be spending quite a bit of time with your back to the audience. Be sure that the view from behind is as flattering as the front.

11. Know the styles and terms - Look through our list of wedding gowns terms to know to help familiarize yourself with wedding dress terms so that you can better tell a salesperson what you are looking for. Consider doing a little research on fabric types and different wedding gown companies as well. Your local library or bookstore will carry books such as Bridal Gown Guide by Denise and Alan Fields which will provide you with more information.

12. Set a budget - Be realistic about your budget and try to stick to it. There are many options for buying a wedding gown (click here to see where to buy a wedding gown). Don''t try on wedding gowns that are out of your price range because you are only setting yourself up for disappointment and making the decision process even harder on yourself.

13. Review your options - There are many places to find your wedding gown such as Bridal Shops, Sample Sales, Department Stores and Renting.

14. Comfort matters - Remember you will be wearing your wedding gown for the entire day and well into the evening; so choose a gown that feels comfortable. An important test (after you have your wedding dress on) is to attempt to bend over, sit down, dance or do whatever it takes to assure that you can move in the wedding dress so that you will feel comfortable wearing it on your wedding day.

15. Try them all on - Even though you may have an idea of what type wedding gown you want, be open to the suggestions of a professional bridal salon staff. A wedding dress that is not very appealing on the hanger may surprise you and look very flattering once it is on your body.

16. Soften up - Stark white dresses are not flattering on many women. Consider an ivory, soft pink or other antique white that might be more becoming with your coloring. Also, understand that dye changes many materials vary slightly and the wedding dress that you special order may not be the exact color of the wedding dress you try on at the salon. If your wedding dress is being made, request a swatch of the fabric to get an idea of the exact color you will be wearing.

17. Wear a little make-up - We are not proposing that you wear a heavy application of make-up or lots of dark lip stick, but do put at least a little make-up on so that you don''t look "washed out" in everything you try on. If you wear your make-up and fix your hair before shopping, you will have a better idea of how you''ll look on your big day. Beware that if you mark a shops gowns with heavy make up, you might be liable to get the gown dry cleaned.

18. Try on the whole package - Bring with you shoes that are roughly the same height of the shoes you plan to wear during the ceremony and a strapless bra. Before you make your final decision on a wedding gown, try on your head piece and bridal slip to see what the total package looks like. You want to make sure that the headpiece and other accessories you choose will all look great together with the wedding gown.

19. Inspect each wedding gown - If you are planning to purchase a wedding gown off the rack, be sure that you inspect each wedding gown very carefully. Turn the wedding dress inside out and inspect each seam to make sure the construction of the wedding gown is solid and that the fabric is not unraveling at the seams. Inspect the appliques and beading to insure that they are securely fastened and not just glued onto the wedding dress. Be wary of purchasing a wedding gown that needs "minor" repairs because once you begin to alter a wedding dress, you can not return it if the repair is not successful.

20. Relax and enjoy yourself - Remember to relax and enjoy the shopping experience. Allow the bridal salon salespeople to pamper you or enjoy the thrill of the bargain shopping of a warehouse sale. Whatever you do, remember the goal of your wedding is to marry the person you love and that your wedding gown is just one part of the ceremony. Being an educated consumer will help you feel more in control and feel more comfortable with the purchase you make.

Copyright (c) 2008 Free Online Library

Dressing Your Bridesmaids

For a bride, shopping for bridesmaid gowns can be one of the most difficult aspects of wedding planning. How can the bride find a gown for her maids that will display her own taste, look great on every girl and will fit into the financial picture?

There are so many colors and styles of dresses to choose from. The bridesmaids themselves may vary greatly in size and want a flatteringly gown that makes them feel good. The bride and her bridesmaids may be in their mid-20’s or older and want a more sophisticated look in the bridesmaids gown. The bride also has the task of choosing a gown that will look good with each girl’s skin tone, hair color and figure.

Choosing the right gown can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. The bride should start the decision process early. It’s ideal to actually place the order for the gowns about four months before the wedding. This will allow time for alterations, shopping for shoes and other accessories and leave time to dye the shoes to match the gown. The bride will find it most helpful to shop with the one bridesmaid whose fashion sense she shares. The ultimate decision about the perfect bridesmaid gown will be the bride’s.

The first step to choosing a bridesmaid gown is to determine the formality, style and fabric of the wedding gown. The bridesmaid dresses shouldn’t overpower or clash with the wedding gown. For today’s more simple bridal styles, nice detailing in the maids gowns creates a good look for the group. Back accents like straps, halter tops and simple beading are important for ceremony photography. A quality gown of good fabric and construction is necessary for the active bridesmaids who will be walking, dancing or running errands. Who needs to worry about seams splitting apart or buttons falling off during the wedding?

The next step for most brides is choosing the gown color. This can be done by looking at bridesmaid swatches in the bridal shop. Most manufacturers make bridesmaids dresses in any where from a few colors to as many as thirty. Choosing the actual color will narrow the choice of gowns to a more manageable number. The bride must then consider the size ranges and figure types of her maids. Most bridal parties have an average of two full-figured members. If this is the case, many times it’s best to begin choosing a gown style with the larger maids in mind. Some larger girls feel comfortable in spaghetti straps or even strapless gowns, but many would rather have at least a short sleeve or perhaps a shawl. The smaller girls can usually wear any style. A-line styles look good on most everyone. A two-piece style with a longer top covering the hip bone is another good style. Almost 50% of wedding parties will include a pregnant bridesmaid.

Extra fabric can be ordered to create a maternity side panel. A new marketing trend for bridesmaids is the idea of separates. Most manufactures now feature at least some of their styles in separate tops and skirts. Separates offer some flexibility for the maids as they are able to choose different sizes for the top and skirt and can accommodate many different figures types. The bride can also choose the color and manufacturer of the bridesmaid separates while letting the maids have the freedom to create a style they will be comfortable in.

The bride may save time doing her preliminary shopping online. She can narrow her choices and email styles she likes to her maids. Shopping on the internet may be the most logical choice for some brides when her maids live in different parts of the country. Online ordering entails the maids obtaining their own measurements and alterations which must be done correctly for the best fit. Be sure to order very early to allow extra time for shipping the gowns. The bridesmaid look is not complete without shoes and accessories. Shoes are available in many styles in fabrics which can be custom dyed to match the gown. Also popular are the clear vinyl shoes in “Cinderella” pumps or strappy sandals.

Matching wrist or elbow gloves offers a sophisticated look. A simple rhinestone or pearl necklace and earring set will enhance the look of your maids. With all the choices in bridesmaid gowns available today, every member of the wedding party should be happy with the final results and spend the wedding day celebrating with the bride and her groom.

 Checklist for Your Destination Wedding

Every couple will agree that it will take some time to plan for a wedding. In fact, you can find various tips of wedding planning out there. You can get information from bridal magazines. You may also be able to learn more about different tips on wedding planning on the internet. However, all these tips are mainly on a relatively traditional wedding. Most of them do not apply if you are going to plan for a destination wedding. To these end couples who are planning for a destination wedding may need some other tips and guides. Let us discuss some of the important issues you will need to consider at different times. Of course the first thing you need to do is to consider the date of your wedding. And you have to do that about a year before your wedding. You will also need to think about the destination.

To this end you will start considering your wedding theme. As a matter of fact, your wedding theme should match the destination. Another thing you need to ask is the legal requirements for getting married in the destination. It is also very important to send your save-the-date note at least six month before your wedding. It is because your guests will need to arrange the air tickets in advance if they are going to attend your wedding. You may not need to order the save-the-date note from some wedding invitation vendors. Instead you may try to contact your guests via emails so that you can send your save-the-date note efficiently. You will need to make the final decision on your wedding venues four months before your destination wedding. In most cases you will try to hire local wedding planners in the destination. You will also need to start contacting these local planners. Since you will not be in the destination to arrange for your wedding, you will have to rely on the wedding planner to help you to arrange. The planner should be able help you to negotiate with other wedding vendors. Another thing you need to consider four months before your wedding is your wedding invitations.

You will probably need to confirm nearly all the details for your wedding two months before. You will also try to send the invitations out. If you are going to purchase your wedding dresses and shoes in your local bridal stores, you will need to order them at this time. If you are going to have your honeymoon in the same location as your destination wedding, you will need to prepare for it a month before your wedding. You may need to think about your itinerary. You will also need to prepare for the clothing for your honeymoon. It is also very important for you to think about the insurance at this point. You should try to contact your local insurance company for the advices on the insurances. If it is possible, you will try to arrive the location of your wedding about a week before your wedding. You will need to meet your wedding planner and try to fix all the details which have not been fixed.

Copyright (c) 2008 Free Online Library

A Wedding Countdown Schedule

Wedding Countdown Six to 18 months ahead: First things first: share the news with your family and close friends. The bride’s parents are traditionally informed first (with or with the Groom formally asking her father’s permission), then the groom’s. An engagement party may be appropriate A get-together should be arranged for the families if they have not yet met. This is traditionally arranged by the groom’s family. With the engagement official and the consultation of both families, a time and place for the wedding should be tentatively decided. Agree on an estimated number of guests. Consult your officiant before choosing a firm date and time. Restrictions may apply depending on the time of year and religious restrictions.

This is also the time to inform your officiant if you plan on composing your own vows. Some do not allow it, while others may be able to assist you with the process. If you do not belong to a religious congregation but with to be married in a house of worship it’s best to allow time to look around. Restrictions may apply such as attending a certain number of services or marriage preparation classes. Time to budget for the wedding, reception and honeymoon. While, in the past, the bride’s family paid for the entire celebration, today’s etiquette says that any division of expenses needs to be negotiated. Often the bride and groom pay for some expenses on their own or with the help of both families. At this time you may want to consider hiring a wedding consultant to help with the planning and budgeting of the entire event or of certain aspects. Reserve a venue for the reception as soon as the wedding date is set. Some locations, depending on wedding size and city in which it will take place, may require eight months to over a year in advance.

Contact a photographer and videographer early considering the best are often booked many months in advance. Engagement photos may be taken at this time. Consider purchasing wedding insurance to protect against problems with the site, vendors, or members of the bridal party. If you want to hire additional ceremony musicians be sure to check with officiant regarding rules governing them. If you want live music at the reception, ask the catering manager about possible restrictions and book the appropriate band. Otherwise, book a disc jockey.

If your reception location does not offer a catering service, contact a caterer with a budget in mind and decide on the style of service and menu. Choose your attendants. Begin to shop for the bridal gown, headpiece, and bridal attendants' dresses. Many of these items may need to be special ordered which can take up to 18 weeks. Choose your table ware patterns, linens, and other gift selections to be listed with the bridal registry you select.

Four to six months ahead:

Decide who you would like to speak at the reception and in what order then ask them to do so. Although formalwear rentals can often be supplied quickly, the groom should ideally make rental arrangements for himself, groomsmen, ushers, fathers, etc. at this time. A final fitting should be arranged a few days prior to the wedding to allow for last-minute alterations. If purchasing formalwear, begin shopping now. Choose invitations, inserts, and thank-you notes. Consult a travel agent or website to make honeymoon travel and hotel reservations. Be sure to have valid passports and ask about required visas or immunizations if traveling internationally. Compile a flower arrangement list for the wedding and consult a florist regarding design, composition, and color. Finalize the guest list in collaboration with both families. Consider the needs and activities for the out-of-town guests.

Three months ahead:

Make plans to get your marriage license. Reserve a number of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Place your invitation and stationary order. This allows for a month to have the order completed with any necessary corrections made, two weeks to address and mail them, and six weeks for your guests to receive and respond. If you have a large number or out-of-town guests, you may want to send them out even sooner. Plan the details of the ceremony with the officiant. Shop for wedding rings. Custom-made rings may require more time. Order a cake. Contact a wine and liquor representative if your catering manager is not handling the liquor for the reception. Make arrangements for a liquor license, if required. Plan the ceremony and reception.

One to two months ahead:

Mail the invitations six weeks prior to the wedding date. Plan the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal party. Purchase attendants’ gifts and a wedding gift for your new spouse. Confirm all wedding-day beauty or grooming appointments in advance. Finalize arrangements with photographer and videographer. Finalize arrangements with the florist. Finalize arrangements for transportation too the ceremony, reception and wedding-night destination. Confirm delivery or pickup times for all the attendants’ attire. Purchase the wedding license. Start planning your honeymoon wardrobes and assessing your luggage needs.

One to two weeks ahead:

Finalize arrangements with the catering manager and liquor representative, if needed. Confirm the number of guests with the caterer, in writing if possible. You many need to phone guests that have not yet replied. Pick-up the wedding gown. Research cleaning and preserving services for the wedding gown. Make arrangements to have it treated during your honeymoon. The best man should coordinate the final fittings for the groom and ushers and arrange the pickup of the rental garments. He should also arrange to return the groom’s tuxedo. If desired, prepare announcements to be mailed immediately after the wedding. Prepare envelopes with payments, donations, or gifts (as appropriate) for ceremony officiant and musicians. The night before: Finish packing for the wedding night and honeymoon. If you are having a rehearsal party, bring gifts for the attendants. Entrust payments to the best man, who should deliver them after the service or reception.

On the day:

The bride and her attendants see hairdresser and makeup artist. Don’t forget to bring: car keys, wedding rings, marriage license, house keys, airline tickets, passports, money and honeymoon hotel confirmation as needed. Have your honeymoon luggage packed in the trunk of the car driving you to the wedding-night destination. Be dressed and ready for the photographer or videographer about two hours prior to the ceremony. The bride should transfer her engagement ring to her right hand. Relax and enjoy the day!