Bride’s Blog

Let’s face it brides, the wedding is your day and it’s all about you! Don’t be shy—it is perfectly okay for you to admit the fact that you want to shine on your special day. Go ahead and sing—It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!

Have you ever been to a wedding where the bridesmaids actually looked more appealing than the bride? Well, this harsh reality could happen to you if you don’t lay down the law. Giving your bridesmaids free reign to choose their own dresses and bridesmaids jewelry can backfire on a bride-to-be. While your girlfriends are fully aware of the fact that your wedding is your chance to shine, some may go a little overboard and overstep their bounds. If you are working with bridesmaids that consider themselves to be Divas…watch out!

Divas tend to think of themselves as God’s gift to the world. As such, they put a lot of time into their external appearance. If any of your bridesmaids fit this description, then you need to establish strict guidelines for proper wedding attire. In such cases, it is best for the bride to choose the bridesmaids dresses and bridal jewelry. Don’t let your bridesmaids steal your spotlight!

Are you looking for a great gift for your bridesmaids? Well, look no further. Many brides elect to purchase bridesmaids jewelry for their girlfriends to wear on their wedding day. Bridal jewelry is not only practical but it holds sentimental value as well. If you want to add a little more flair to your bridesmaids gift and make it even more personal, you may consider using a jewelry travel pouch as your gift-wrapping. Not only will your bridesmaids love the gift but also they will be able to use it for years to come. Every girl travels with her favorite accessories. Having a travel pouch to carry her jewelry in will make traveling even easier. While there are several jewelry pouches available, The Knot sells a beautiful silk jewelry pouch that can be personalized with a monogram. Give your girlfriends the best of both worlds—jewelry and a travel pouch. They’ll forget how much they slaved for you wedding and they will always remember the great gift you awarded them with.

There are so many creative ways for a man to propose. Some ways are romantic, and some are comedic, while others are out right wild! It must be really difficult for a man to muster up the guts to offer a marriage proposal to his girlfriend, let alone come up with a unique way to propose.

Well, proposing just got easier for some men! If you found your marriage proposal to be romantic and creative, it’s possible that “Mr. Right” consulted the experts. There is a website devoted to helping men get ideas about how to propose to their girlfriends. There are some really cool ideas on this site. Some girls might not like the fact that their fiancée didn’t exactly think of the proposal idea on his own, but isn’t it really the thought that counts?

Go here if you want to find out if your fiancée’s marriage proposal was original. If it wasn’t original, don’t give him a hard time…just enjoy your engagement and make the best of planning your wedding! Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

Share your marriage proposal with others by posting your comments here…

Have you ever gone to an event and found yourself a little bored while waiting for the ceremony to start or for dinner to be served? Well, it’s pretty safe to say that you weren’t the only person that felt the same way. As a bride, it is important to keep your guests occupied as they wait for the ceremony and reception to begin. Handing out programs is a great way to occupy your guests while they wait for the wedding ceremony to begin. Your guests will have the liberty to read over the program to get an idea about what will take place during the ceremony. Wedding programs are a great way to stimulate your guests’ anticipation.

What about the wedding reception? By the time the wedding ceremony ends, your guests will be more than ready for dinner and entertainment. Placing wedding favors at each place setting is a great way to engage your guests while they wait for the reception to begin. In fact, wedding favors are not only a token of appreciation for your guests, but also they make great conversation pieces. Some popular choices include edible, plantable, and personalized wedding favors.

Many brides get so caught up in the excitement of getting married that they forget all about air pollution and the deterioration of the ozone layer. You might ask—what does the environment have to do with my wedding? Well, scientists are finding that the ozone layer is getting thinner and the environment is getting more and more unhealthy. Again, what does your wedding have to do with the environment?

There are several elements involved in planning a wedding that contribute to environmental pollution. One of these factors is wedding invitations. Traditional, professionally printed wedding invitations are embossed with ink, dyes, and other chemicals that are harmful to our surroundings. When these invitations are discarded, they pose a hazardous threat to our ecosystem.

Some scientists suggest that couples consider alternative approaches to sending wedding invitations. Some of these include: eco-friendly paper products, plantable stationary, recycled paper invitations, or email.

To find out some outrageous ways in which couples are taking a stand against environmental pollution, read more…

When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many things to consider. Of all the major and minor decisions that a bride will have to make, it is important to keep her guests at the forefront of her decision-making. Waiting too long to begin the ceremony or making your guests suffer through a long receiving line can make for an uncomfortable situation. This is where a little creativity comes in to play.

A traditional receiving line allows your guests to get a personal look at your wedding gown, an up close look at your bridal jewelry, while squeezing in a three second or more conversation about how much they enjoyed the wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, all of your guests will not be disciplined enough to keep the line steadily moving.

You may consider omitting the receiving line from the program. An alternative is for the bride and groom to walk around and greet each guest personally during the reception. This alternative must be organized in a way that each guest receives his/her fair share. It’s best to greet the guests while they are sitting. Choose one table to begin with and work your way around the room being careful not to leave anyone out.

It is a common practice for a bride to open her gifts in front of her guests at her bridal shower. On the other hand, this tradition does not hold true for a wedding ceremony. Some couples like the idea of showing off there wedding gifts to their guests. Is there another alternative for the bride and groom? Fortunately, there are a couple of ways in which a couple can display their gifts to their guests without intruding on the flow of the ceremony or reception.

Option #1- Designate a hostess or an usher to open your gifts and display them on a decorated table as the guests arrive to the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony is over, your guests can browse your gift table. This will allow your guests the opportunity to see your wonderful wedding gifts along with occupying their time until the reception begins.

Option #2- You and your spouse can plan a day to open your gifts at home or at your parent’s home. Invite your guests over for an open house event with light refreshments.

Finding the perfect hairstyle for your special day may be easier than you think. When it comes to achieving an in-style look there is nothing wrong with looking to the stars…the celebrities that is!

For quick and easy tips on pulling off a Red Carpet hairdo with a Hollywood appeal, Jessica Alba is one actress to turn to. Her look can best be described as elegant. The inspired French twist style with neatly sculpted waves will add the right amount of drama to any wedding gown.

If you are a classy bride looking for more of an old Hollywood feel then Eva Longoria’s curly do may be just right for you. Longoria’s hair stylist was able to achieve a layered bob look by pinning up her longer hair and hiding it under layers of ringlets. This hairdo is simple, yet graceful.

Remember, the way to achieve a stylish hairdo is all in the products. If you are looking for a line of hair care products that will help you pull off your celebrity hairdo, then check out Red Carpet Hair…

Are you an old-fashioned girl looking for a classic style for your wedding day?

With all of the modern trends sweeping the bridal industry, it’s difficult to preserve the classic looks of the past. Sometimes it is necessary to take a stroll down memory lane. At least that’s what In Style Weddings seems to think!

Maybe you are looking for a style like Mia Farrow who married Frank Sinatra in a four-minute ceremony in Las Vegas. Farrow wore a modish suit to help complement her extremely short pixie hairdo. If that look doesn’t work for you, then how about Lady Diana and Prince Charles’s royal celebration? Lady Diana’s princess style wedding gown had poofy sleeves and was accented with a tiara.

You may enjoy the style that Grace Kelly pulled off as she married Prince Rainier III back in 1956. Her gown was made of silk and her headpiece was adorned with pearl accents.

For more classic bridal styles, go here…

Do you want to have your cake and eat it too?

If you are a modern bride looking for a non-traditional wedding cake, then there are plenty of cake designs out there for you to choose from. With all of the creative wedding cake styles on the market, contemporary wedding cake bakers can be more accurately described as wedding cake designers.

You may consider having your cake custom designed to resemble your wedding gown or you can choose a design that coordinates with your theme. Does your wedding follow an earthy theme? Did you know that your cake could be designed to resemble a tree?

Brides.com offers a find your cake style quiz. Hundreds of cake styles have been organized into six diverse categories—glamorous, romantic, classic, modern, bohemian

If you are engaged and looking to have some fun before your big day, you may be interested in participating in a battle of the brides contest. This competition challenges selected brides-to-be to sift through an enormous wedding cake in an effort to find a diamond ring. This game may be offered at local bridal shows, jewelry stores, and wedding planning venues.

Here’s how the game is played:

Five registered brides-to-be are selected to participate in the contest. The bride who finds the diamond ring is the lucky grand-prize winner. Wait, there’s more! The game is designed so that each contestant is a winner. The prizes vary by event. Some of the prizes in the past have included a diamond ring, honeymoon vacation, a bedroom suite and other prizes that brides are in need of.

To find a battle of the brides contest in your area, you can Google “battle of the brides contest” or check your local bridal expo listings.

There’s bad news in Hollywood. Dermot Mulroney a romance movie actor who starred in My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Wedding Date, and Georgia Rule recently announced his motion for divorce. Mulroney and his wife, Catherine, are ending their 17-year marriage due to irreconcilable differences. Mulroney is seeking joint custody of the couple’s seven-year-old son. It’s always sad to think about the effects that divorce has on the children that are innocently involved. Hopefully, little Clyde will stay strong throughout this ordeal.

Hollywood couples are always at the butt of jokes when it comes to marriage and divorce. However, it really is sad to read about so many failing relationships. On the upside, at least Dermot and Catherine stuck it out for 17 years. We can’t say the same for those celebrity couples that have ended their marriage in a year or less.

If you are interested in reading more about Mulroney’s break-up, go here…

If you are like most women, you have browsed the engagement rings at your local jewelry dealer to get an idea about your ideal wedding ring. Not to mention the fact that you have daydreamed that you were on one of those diamond jewelry commercials where the couples shop for diamond engagement rings. If you have already done your research on diamonds, you are aware of the fact that a diamond’s worth is determined by the four C’s: Clarity, Color, Carats, and Cut.

While the value of diamonds is characterized by these four elements, the method used in buying bridal jewelry to accessorize your wedding gown is not as complicated. When deciding on what type of wedding jewelry to purchase for your bridal gown, you can use these four elements: Character, Coordination, Creativity, and Cost.

Your bridal jewelry should add character to your wedding gown as well as coordinate your gown’s overall style. You should also be creative and fashion your own look. Last, but not least, do not spend too much money on your bridal jewelry. There are bridal jewelry dealers that offer inexpensive, yet stylish wedding jewelry. If you are looking for beautiful bridal jewelry for your special day, shop here…

Dougray Scott, Desperate Housewives actor married Claire Forlani during a private civil ceremony on Friday. The couple’s wedding took place in Italy amongst a few family and friends. They hosted their 100-guest wedding reception at the bride’s family estate in Pievebovigliana. Sources tell us that the father of the bride personally catered the reception.

Claire looked stunning in her strapless gown designed by Junko Yoshioka of which sources have described the style as a “classic, old Hollywood feel”. She finished her look with a pair of heels by Jimmy Choo, a popular celebrity fashion designer. She chose a beautiful Swarovski crystal hairpin as a classy, yet subtle accent to her bridal gown. When it comes to bridal accessories, Swarovski crystals are a popular choice among many brides and celebrities.

Want to get a glance at Dougray and Claire’s getaway kiss? Learn more about their big day by visiting…

Weddings are all about love and romance. In order for your guests to feel the expression of love that you and your fiancée have for each other you will need to set the mood. There are many elements that contribute to mood setting. Some components for atmosphere setting that you may include for your special day are candles, lighting, flowers, poetry, and music.

Love songs are a huge part of adding romance to a wedding ceremony and reception. There are several ways that couples can incorporate music into their big day. Some of these options include hiring a DJ, booking a live band, or using music CDs. No matter which alternative that you and your fiancée choose, the selection of music is more important. It is best to integrate music that reflects the bond between the two of you. Also, be sure that your music coordinates with your theme. For a list of popular choice wedding songs go here…

Are you a copycat bride looking for new ideas from others?

Almost every bride has an idea about what she wants for her special day. On the contrary, those few brides that do not have a clue about what type of wedding, the time of year, or a theme, need an extra push. Despite which category you may fall into, you may find it difficult to put your ideas on paper or into words, for that matter. For this very reason, couples from various regions of the country have submitted information about their wedding plans to help give other couples ideas for their special day.

Brides.com offers a Real Weddings element to their website which gives brides, grooms, and wedding planners big-day ideas. Just browsing this site, you will find wedding themes such as country-western, beach, and tropical paradise. Each couple provides detailed information about their wedding attire, bridal accessories, ceremony site, flowers, cake, transportation, and photography.

It looks like wedding planning just got easier!

How long should your guests wait before being served?

When it comes to hosting a wedding reception, it is important for brides to take a few cues from the experts. Many couples have made the mistake of waiting too long to serve their guests. Poor timing can cause guests to become anxious and can potentially ruin your event. Whether you decide to form a receiving line, take photographs, or serve cocktails before your wedding reception, it is important not to keep your guests waiting too long before they receive their meals. Expert event planner Colin Cowen advises hosts to keep the party moving. He believes that timing is everything when it comes to hosting a successful event. Cowen says that waiting too long to serve the meal can make your guests feel bored and somewhat frustrated. He usually serves his guests within an hour and a half after the event begins.

Lose Weight Before You Say “I Do”

Many brides want to look perfect on their wedding day. While your fiancée may think that you are the picture of perfection, you may not feel as confident. Almost every bride goes through a phase of wanting to change something about herself before her big day. Whereas getting a makeover, a haircut, or a new wardrobe is easy, losing weight takes a little more effort.

Some brides have lost weight before their big day by drinking plenty of water, eating more fruits and vegetables, and developing a consistent exercise regimen. More serious brides have cut back on their favorite foods such as sweets, carbohydrates, and also alcoholic beverages. Keep in mind that you don’t have to starve yourself in order to lose a few pounds.

If you are looking for healthy ways to drop those unwanted pounds, you may consider these 20 Easy Tips to Help You Lose Weight Before Your Wedding…

Many brides browse bridal magazines to get an idea about their ideal wedding gown. While this is an appropriate method, brides should caution themselves not to settle on a bridal gown simply by looking at a picture. Women often make the mistake of catalog shopping without considering whether or not the dress will look as good on them as it will on the model.

When shopping for a bridal gown it is important to coordinate your body type with the style of the dress. Your figure can be categorized as an hourglass, a pear, straight, or full. Dress styles include A-line, mermaid, ball gown, princess, sheath, and empire. Most bridal shops are experienced enough to tell you what style will look best on you. Use this custom fit tool to help you determine the right style for your wedding gown…

Every bride should enjoy shopping for the perfect wedding gown. Remember, if the dress fits…then wear it!

Are you a modern bride who likes to keep your attendants and guests informed? Well, a popular trend for today’s bride and groom is to create a personal website dedicated to their wedding. Your wedding website can be used to announce all pertinent information about your special day. You can even share your own personal love story for the world to read! Attendants can visit your site to find out important dates and meetings, while your guests can browse your site to get information about your bridal registry, ceremony location, and travel accommodations. It’s a one-stop shop to put your bridal party and guests in the know about your pre-wedding events and the wedding day!

If you are a couple that likes to stay organized, you can use your website to accept RSVPs instantaneously! Many couples use their site to manage their guest list, gifts, and thank you notes. You can even post your dinner menu and allow your guests to choose their own entrée. Wedding planning just got easier!

If you are interested in setting up your personal wedding website you may visit the following sites to register…

Oprah strikes again with her favorite things…

If you are a bride looking for a special bridesmaids gift for your well-deserving girlfriends then look no further. On Tuesday’s Oprah Show, Oprah revealed some of her favorite things. Among her most preferred items was a canvas tote bag made by Lands End. Her lucky audience members had the privilege of taking home their very own tote bag filled with more of Oprah’s preferred items. This show in particular focused on the must haves for this summer. Sunglasses, music CDs, swimsuit cover-ups, and pop sickles are a few of the products Oprah gave away. Let’s not forget the flip-flops…Oprah says that every girl needs a pair of flip-flops for the summer.

The guests of the Oprah Winfrey Show were also surprised with a private performance by Robin Thicke and India Arie.

Want to personalize your bridesmaids tote bags? Check out this selection of personalized bridesmaids gifts…

Why do the bride and groom turn their backs toward their guests?

If you are like most people, you will find it quite annoying to stare at the bride and groom’s backs as they exchange their marriage vows. It’s disappointing to know that a bride puts a lot of effort into choosing the perfect wedding gown and bridal jewelry, while the guests spend most of their time staring at the back of her gown. In theatre, it is a common practice to ensure that actors avoid turning their back toward the audience or camera. While getting married has nothing to do with Hollywood or Broadway (although some couples have put on quite a production at some weddings), this practice should be adopted into wedding tradition as well.

If you are a modern bride looking for a non-traditional wedding ceremony, then you may consider facing your guests while exchanging vows. Your guests are sure to enjoy admiring your beautiful bridal gown and wedding jewelry—the look that you worked so hard to achieve.

Have you found the perfect wedding gown, but still having trouble finding the right bridal accessories? Browse this unique product line of bridal jewelry and other accessories…