Protecting the Bridal Dress on the Big Day

You've been planning for the big day since your soon-to-be husband popped the question. You've booked your venue, you've picked out your bridal dress, you've selected a menu and you've gone over budgets and timelines. It's important to remember that a lot of time and care went into planning the wedding, so you want to follow a simple prescription to take care of the bridal dress, especially before the ceremony and reception. These tips apply to your bridesmaids and anyone else who is going to be coming in contact with you while you are wearing the dress before it's time to walk down the aisle.

Protect the bridal dress on the big day by:

• Eliminate any stain causing foods or drinks from areas where the bride and bridesmaids are getting ready and dressed for the wedding. A few drips of coffee can discolor a gown.
• Discuss with your florist whether or not your flowers can stain your bridal dress. There are many things your florist may be able to do, including the arrangement and setting of your bouquet; if the flowers have an area that is likely to stain the bridal dress.
• Be sure that there is an ironing board and spray bottle with some water close by to help with any small wrinkles.
• Transport the wedding dresses in garment bags, especially if you are carrying it on the day of the wedding to another location.
• Use stain-free deodorant and antiperspirant before getting dressed.
• Donning the dress is the last part of your preparations; your make up and hair should be completely done before you put the bridal dress on.
• Be sure to walk with the skirt lifted as necessary to keep the bottom of the dress from scraping the ground prior to the ceremony
• Beware all stain dangers when climbing into and out of a car and be sure the seats are clean and dry with no oil or other cleaners that you might have to sit in
• Avoid areas where birds may have defecated during an outdoor wedding
• Don't lean on anything or sit on anything, if you can avoid it, until after the ceremony.

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Dress

Congratulations, bride-to-be, on your engagement! As you begin your journey towards becoming husband and wife, close your eyes and envision how you want to look on your wedding day. Long traditional bridal gown with cascading train? Knee-length strapless dress with short silk veil? Every little girl dreams about getting married someday and walking down the aisle in a beautiful dress.

Here are a variety of tips and suggestions for selecting the perfect bridal gown that are sure to make things easier.

1) Ask your trusted friends and family about where they purchased their wedding dresses.

2) Ask to look at photographs of friends, family and co-workers wedding dresses to gather some new ideas.

3)Look at and research wedding dresses online. Ask friends and family to recommend bridal websites they have used.

4) Purchase subscriptions to several good quality wedding magazines to search for ideas. Pay attention to the specific styles, fabrics, and colors that appeal to you. Cut out photos of wedding dresses that you like and place them in a notebook or scrapbook that you can take with you when you shop.

5) Have your mother and/or bridesmaids accompany you to various wedding boutiques. Try on various dresses. Avoid settling for first or second dress you try on. Don’t settle shopping in just one boutique, check as many as you can find.

6) Consider putting several possible dresses on hold and return to the wedding boutique several days later to try on the dresses again with a fresh perspective. This will help you have the time needed to properly take everything in and avoid making an impulsive decision.

7) Consider the style that you want:

• with straps
• with long sleeves
• with short sleeves
• high-waist
• low-waist

8) Consider the length that best suits your needs and fits the theme of your wedding:

• floor length dress with long train
• floor length dress with short train
• floor length dress with no train
• ankle length dress with or without train
• knee-length dress

9) Think about the head-piece that you desire:

• long veil
• short veil
• no veil
• tiara

10) Think about the color that you would like:

• shades of white
• shades of ivory
• shade of cream

11) Consider the material/ fabric that you would feel most comfortable in:

• silk
• satin
• lace
• chiffon
• brocade
• organza
• taffeta
• velvet

12) Consider your body type and what dress style best flatters your figure.

13) Consider the month of your wedding and the typical weather at that time.

14) Consider the destination of your wedding:

• local wedding – traditional theme – cold or warm
• destination wedding – casual theme – tropical or cool

15) Consider any cultural or familial traditions that you want to uphold.

16) Try on your bridal shoes with your gown:

• flats
• small heel
• high heel
• sandals

17) Purchase jewelry that compliments your body type, face and your wedding dress.

18) Practice good time management. Begin looking for your dress shortly after getting engaged, so that you allow for plenty of time to shop at various boutiques and getting necessary fittings and alterations.

You'll be beautiful in your dream dress!

To Trash the Dress or Not?

You can go on You Tube and see lots of videos of brides getting their photos taken jumping into water, rolling in mud or even setting themselves on fire (!) in order to make sure THE dress is a true one of a kind.

It's becoming quite a world-wide phenomenon. There is even mass trashing of the dresses! A large group dress trashing took place on 10-10-10 and the next one will be held on 11-11-11, of course.

So how do you get great trash the dress pictures if you actually want to keep your wedding dress?

Trash the Dress Tips:

1. A professional cleaning service should be able to restore the dress to brand-new quality so you can do what ever you like with it after the shoot.

2. If you are not sure about trashing your own wedding dress, consider buying a cheap dress off the rack.

3. If you want a bouquet, you can pick up one at a local grocery store or make one from silk flowers bought from the local craft store.

4. Bring some props to add a unique touch and that is exactly what you’re looking for.

5. Wear comfortable and contrasting shoes. And, don't be afraid to break out the “bling” as it really adds to your photos.

6. Not sure what to do? Or are you shy? Search Google images for trash the dress photos and print out the ones you like. Your photographer should also be able to walk you through body placement and facial expressions to help you get creative and loosen up.

7. The sun is NOT your friend! The sun will wash out your photos and makes you squint your eyes like crazy. Schedule for an overcast chance of rain day or later in the day as the sun starts to go down.

8. Bring your improv skills and don't be uptight. This shoot is where you want to have fun and NOT do the norm. Relax, be silly, get dirty, goofy and bring out your personality in these photos.

Have fun!!!

Green bride exquisite and eco friendly!

Deborah Lindquist is a designer of beautiful eco friendly wedding gowns.
After showing one wedding dress during a fashion show a few seasons back Deborah received such an overwhelmingly positive response, she decide to start a “green” wedding collection. The collection is bursting with couture inspired gowns, chic column skirts, bustier tops and cashmere shrugs & sweaters. The simple yet intricate construction of the Vintage Lace Bustier and matching skirt are perfect for any type of wedding, from beachside nuptials to traditional church ceremonies. For the bride-to-be looking to make an unforgettable impression, the Organic Linen Dress embellished with billowing rosettes is sure to make a statement sauntering down the aisle.
For more information visit: www.deborahlindquist.com

The Knot Wedding Dress Look Book on iPhone!

Obsessed with finding the perfect wedding dress? Of course you are. Now you can browse dresses whenever you want! Download Wedding Dress Look Book, our new (free!) iPhone app, and look through hundreds of new wedding dress photos, no matter where you are. You'll also get listings of wedding dress salons that carry dresses you've been dying to try on. Search dresses (by style, shape, and price), and bookmark your favorites for later. It's the new go-to app for wedding dress shopping. Need we say more?

About Wedding Dress Look Book...
Think of it as your on-the-go source for wedding dress shopping on your iPhone from TheKnot.com -- from wedding dress suggestions, customized to your body type and wedding style, to the bridal salons in your area that carry your favorite designs. With our app, you can:

* Get suggested wedding dress search results based on your body type, wedding style, and personality.
* Search the hottest new wedding dresses -- by style, shape, price, and designer -- and bookmark your favorites for later.

Get it FREE at the iTunes Store Now!

The Twilight Bride

Black Wedding Dress – Why Not?
You Don't Have To Be Goth To Get Married in Black:
The idea of a black wedding dress might make some women cringe, but to an unconventional bride-to-be, a black wedding gown could be "the one." Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be Goth to look and feel great in a darker dress on the big day – but it is easy to go overboard. Here are some great tips and suggestions on how to totally rock your black wedding dress without going over the top.
* Mix it with white. The best way to incorporate black in a wedding dress is to pair it with a classic white or even ivory. You can have more black than white or vice versa, but this way you’ll look more "black tie" than Morticia Adams.
* Nix the dark makeup. Sure, you want smoky eyes. Who doesn’t? If you’re looking into wearing a black wedding dress, however, dark eyeliner can make you look like something out of the graveyard. Go easy on the makeup for a fresh-faced, dewy look instead.
* Avoid heavy fabrics. Black velvet simply screams Gothic teenager. If you’re going dark, go with thinly layered chiffon or light satin instead of thick, heavy garments.
* Consider a tighter fit. Drenching yourself in layer upon layer of black fabric will only make you look like a Gothic prom queen in your black wedding dress. Look for something with a streamlined fit or a tighter bodice with a flowing skirt. Try going for a blend between cocktail dress and traditional wedding gown.
* Don’t wear long sleeves. Enough said.
* Wear minimal jewelry. If you were planning on wearing a huge Victorian-style necklace with your black wedding dress, you’re better off with a simple pair of drop earrings. The focus is on your dress and you don’t want to look cluttered. That actually goes for any dress with strong colors or a lot of detail.
As you search for the perfect black wedding dress, you may be surprised at the variety of styles that fall under the term gothic. A gothic wedding dress is similar to a Renaissance dress and it may be closer to the dark style of the underworld.

Romantic black bouquets complement twilight nuptuals:
Whether you looking for a pretty black bridal bouquet or beautiful contemporary black wedding flowers there are 100's of inspirational wedding bouquet ideas and designs to choose from. Black wedding flowers for brides are interesting and a different side of style and statement. There are many flowers with black colors or tints.
This bouquet is made up of Black Calla Lilies, Chocolate Cosmos and Peacock feather make a sassy, chic bouquet. Visit www.soulflowersf.com

Twilight and Vampire Wine are both love at first bite!
Vampire Merlot was harvested from cool-climate, coastal vineyards at the southern end of the Central Coast’s Paso Robles viticultural district. At this site, sunny summer days are tempered by daily afternoon fog rolling in off the nearby Morro Bay and Pacific Ocean. Cost: $10.95 For more information visit www.wickedwinesonline.com

Convertible Gowns: Going From Your Ceremony to Reception in Style

Face it, going straight from a wedding ceremony to the bash of your life is a radical transition few brides can carry off without making some changes to her attire. The most typical adjustments are to head and hemline. Following the ceremony, a bride usually takes off the longest layer of veil or removes it entirely leaving only the headpiece. A train that looked spectacular during the walk down the aisle gets bustled up for dancing and moving around. Some brides even take time out between ceremony and reception, changing into an entirely different dress—usually something "cocktailish" that’s chic in addition to comfortable.

Enter the Convertible Wedding Gown. A convertible wedding dress transforms from a glamorous mermaid style complete with chapel train to a fashionable cocktail length gown. The secret is in the invisible zipper cleverly tucked under one of the ruffled tiers. The halter strap is also removable for the ultimate transformation. The aisle will feel like a runway as you make your grand entrance in this unique creation. Your guests will be amazed when you re-emerge in the more practical yet still fabulous knee-length version.

The detachable skirt zips off for convenience. Wear the short dress for another occasion: for the reception, an after party, on your way to the honeymoon or even for a special first anniversary party! The dress shown is available from www.davidtuterabyfaviana.com