Keeping it Together

Staying organzied while planning your wedding is key, and there are tons of great books and planning tools out there to help you avoid getting frazzled. The budget-minded bride can find everything she needs to stay organized without spending a penny if she knows where to look online. Here's a link to a great tool for keeping your bridal party organized and on track, as well as figuring out how much each girl needs to budget once everything is included.

http://wedding.theknot.com/bridal-fashion/bridesmaid-dresses/articles/a-comprehensive-bridesmaid-worksheet.aspx

Mix and Match Maids: Pros and Cons

Having each bridesmaid in a different dress is an increasingly popular option for wedding parties these days, with good reason- everyone can choose a dress they like and feel comfortable in. However, there are some potential issues brides will want to be aware of if this is the route they choose. First, most manufacturers will not guarantee dye lots with different style dresses, even if they are in the same fabric. (If you’re planning to do different colors as well as different styles this won’t be a concern.) Ordering gowns in the same fabric from the same designer will minimize potential variations, but there is never a guarantee. A potential benefit with this is that since the dye lot isn’t going to be guaranteed even if they’re all ordered together, each maid can place her own order wherever it’s most convenient for her. Second, if careful thought isn’t given to coordinating the looks of the girls, the overall effect can be sloppy and distracting. This can be true even if you keep the same style and do different color dresses. It can work and be gorgeous, but trying to make sure everyone ends up with something that will work with the other dresses can be more challenging than trying to find a single dress that will work. So, keep these things in mind as you make your plans!

For the MOB's and MOG's

Mothers aren’t the stars of the show on wedding day, but they should dress for the role of best supporting actress. The ultimate rule is of course that what the bride says goes: If she approves, you’re fine. It is also technically the Mother of the Bride who should choose her outfit first, with the Mother of the Groom deferring her choice. In my opinion, it looks a little silly to have the mothers match the exact wedding colors, or both wear the same shade of color (see picture!), but either of those is better than clashing, and there can be some exceptions. If navy, black, or a dark brown is one of the colors, then it can work for the mother(s). Periwinkle blue or red, not so much. Also, avoid white or ivory, unless it’s lace trim or maybe an accent. Some of my favorite mother’s gowns are from Collection 20 by Watters and Watters. They have lovely fabrics and very classic, elegant styles. Also, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear an appropriate bridesmaids dress- no one needs to know! If anyone else has advice/ideas, feel free to comment!

When should you say "Yes" to the Dress?

In the olden days, before the advent of the internet and the explosion of consumer options we now regard as normal, brides would go to a few local shops, try on a selection of gowns, and make their choice in a relatively short period of time. Today’s bride has an overwhelming array of possibilities before her, and may begin shopping a year or more before her wedding, trying hundreds of dresses before purchasing that one special gown. In my interactions with brides, many say they are waiting for that moment when they put on a gown and are totally blown away, for that “WOW!” and maybe some tears. Others seem to have a checklist, and once they find the dress that has everything they want, that’s it. Others find several dresses they love and agonize over which one to choose. And some brides just find something they like and go with it- no big deal! I want to hear your thoughts, stories, etc. How did you know which dress was “the one” for you? Any fun or crazy stories? Advice for undecided brides?

Preparing for Trying Times

Going wedding dress shopping isn’t quite like any other experience. Every salon has their own way of doing things- some are very strict about what you can and cannot do, others take a more laid back approach. You may be allowed to browse through gowns or you may not. Some shops allow pictures, others do not, etc. No matter the store, it always helps to be prepared and have done your homework so that you can make the most out of your trip and not end up frustrated or disappointed. Here’s a checklist to look over before you set off on your spree to make sure you have the most productive experience possible.

1) Check to see if you need an appointment, especially if you’ll be shopping over the weekend. Even if the store will accept walk-ins, you’re better off setting up an appointment to make sure you’ll be able to try gowns on. Find out how long the appointment is and whether or not you need a separate appointment for bridesmaids and wedding gowns if you wish to look at both.
2) Many stores will have websites that list the designers they carry, and designers will also list the stores that carry their gowns. However, just because a store carries a line does not mean they will have a sample of every dress from that line on hand. If you are interested in a specific dress, find out which stores in your area carry that line and then call the stores to see if they have that particular sample. Not all stores will give out this information, but it’s worth a shot.
3) Do some looking online to see what’s out there and what you think you may like. It’s hard to know what will look the best without trying gowns on, but if you’ve done some looking before you go in to the store you’ll have a bit of an idea of what you’re interested in. Bring in pictures to show your sales consultant what you mean until you become more familiar with dress terminology.
4) Wear underwear you’re not scared to be seen in and that won’t get in the way. Your sales consultant is most likely going to be helping to dress and undress you to some degree, so be ready for that. I have seen quite a few hot pink thongs during my career, and while I don’t mind if you don’t mind, sometimes they show through the gown and if you aren’t able to zip the sample it can be a little awkward with that flash of pink in the back. If you have a strapless bra, bring it. It is also a good idea to bring shoes that are approximately the height you'll be wearing on your wedding day.
5) If you have your heart set on wearing you grandma’s necklace or tiara or a particular pair or earrings, etc, bring them or something similar along so you can make sure they’ll work with your gown. You may not want to try them on with every dress, but have them on hand so that when you think you’ve found “the one,” you can try them on then and there to make sure.
6) If you want another opinion as you shop, bring a trusted friend or your mom, at MOST 2 people. Do NOT bring 5 or 8 friends and relatives along for the ride. Most fitting rooms cannot accomodate more than 3 people comfortably, and until you get things narrowed down, you do not need extra people telling you their opinion and trying to get you to choose THEIR dream gown. If you have a lot of friends/cousins/aunts you’d like to include in the process, send them pictures of dresses you’re considering (or similar styles if you can't get a picture of the dress in question) and invite them to see your dress once you’ve gotten it home.
7) Realize that not every store has every dress in every size. Be prepared to imagine, and to not be able to try on everything you’re interested in because of the size factor. Most samples that designers send out are 10’s and 12’s, although some allow stores to choose what size they will get. Some stores have wider ranges of sizes than others. The good news is that the dress doesn’t have to be the right size for you to get the idea, although if it’s huge or too small to get on you may have to forgo trying it on.

Sizing up the Situation

“ I’m not an 16! I’ve never been a 16 in my life! I won’t do it- that’s ridiculous! I’m getting the 10. I’m going to lose 10 pounds, that should take care of it.” Yikes! If I were writing a wedding wear horror flick, this would be my opening scene. This bride/maid is headed for disaster. Ordering your dress the wrong size, especially if it’s too small, can be a huge headache. Most gowns can’t be let out, and if they can it’s by a miniscule amount. Special order dresses cannot be returned, and ordering a new one takes time and money. At best, you’re going to look very un-classy in your too- tight gown, or if it won’t zip you may need to have the dress altered using extra fabric, which you may or may not be able to get to match. If the dress is far too large, in most cases it can still be altered but may require major restructuring. This can be spendy, and sometimes taking it in too much will change the look of the dress. Do not put yourself in any of these very avoidable situations! Check out these 10 Do’s and don’ts and avoid some of the major mistakes brides/maids often make when selecting their size.


DO’s:
1) DO get measured by someone who knows what they’re doing. Many bridal salons will give you a complimentary bust, waist, and hip measurement even if you’re not ordering your dresses there. If you read the size chart correctly but don’t have correct measurements, it’s not going to do you a lot of good. Accurate measurements are essential.
2) If you aren’t able to have a professional measure you for some reason, DO find some guidelines to follow. Follow this link to the guidelines posted on Netbride: http://netbride.com/measure-dress.php. One common mistake people make is in measuring the waist- it’s not necessarily where the top of your pants hit, but rather the NARROWEST part of your waist, usually called the “natural waist” which may be at or even slightly above the belly button.
3) DO consider the silhouette of the dress when choosing a size. If the dress is A-line or has a full skirt, you may have some leeway in the hip area and not need to go up a size just for the hip measurement if it’s only off by a small amount.
4) DO examine the manufacturer’s size chart carefully, especially if you’re choosing your own size. Every manufacturer sizes their dresses differently, and so you MUST go by their size chart. The dresses are cut to the chart (with an allowable variance of about a half an inch to an inch depending on the designer). Look at the measurements (with the cut of the dress in mind) and go from there. Most people are between sizes, and will have to have the dress altered even if the dress lines up to their measurements perfectly, so go with what you know is going to fit, not what you think you can get away with altering the least. Remember, you can take it in but you probably can’t let it out, so weigh the risk carefully.
5) DO try on a sample whenever possible, or a similar dress from the same designer. This can help you get an idea of what size will work, how the dress feels, etc, and can help you compare sizes.

DON’TS
1) DON”T order a dress that’s far too small and plan on losing weight. Most people do not lose weight evenly, things can happen to interfere with your weight loss plans, and it’s very hard to predict your own inch/ weight loss even if you know you’re going to work hard. If you’re planning to lose weight, your best bet is to order a dress that’s the correct size for where you’re at now, and then make sure that it can be altered down in every area you may need. You can take many gowns in up to 4 inches (that’s 2 inches on each size) without changing the look of the dress. If you’re worried, talk to your seamstress.
2) DON’T just go by your street size, or be upset if you’re several sizes larger in a bridal gown than you would normally be in street clothes. This can happen for many reasons that have nothing to do with you being fat, I swear on Chanel. Try to think of the size number as meaningless, because it really is. The measurements are what matter. Sometimes I think we should change the sizes from a number to name and that would help. Then I could say, “Ok, your bust is a 38, your waist is a 32, and your hips are a 40. That puts you between a Genevieve and a Doris. The Doris is an inch too small in the bust, so you’d be safer going with the Genevieve.” No problem. Whereas if I say “ Ok, you’re between a 14 and 16…” I may set off a meltdown for a girl who’s normally a 10 in street clothes. (I just made all these numbers up, incidentally.)
3) DON’T order a much larger size just for your hip measurement if you’re buying an a-line dress or empire. Let’s say your bust and waist are in a 10, but your hip measurement is at an 18. (Depending on the designer, that could be a difference of 4-6 inches in every area between the 10 and 18). If you order the dress in an 18, you may still be able to take it in, but you’re getting to the point where the bust and waist are so large that it might look a little off. You might not want the 10 if your hips are 5 inches bigger than the measurement for a 10, but you don’t need to go all the way up to an 18 either.
4) DON’T freak out if the dress comes in and is slightly larger or smaller than you feel it should be. There can be at least half inch of variance, for some designers up to an inch, in either direction from the size chart and that’s normal and not a flaw in the dress. It shouldn’t cost more to alter the dress 2 inches vs. 1 inch, so while it’s nice to get the dress and feel like it fits decently right away, in reality it often doesn’t make a difference because you were going to need it altered anyway to have that great snug fit. If you feel the dress is off by more than ½ inch or so, contact the company you purchased the dress from right away so that if the dress is sized incorrectly they can help you. If you wait too long there might not be anything they can do- everything takes time with special order gowns.
5) DON’T be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Knowledge is power- in this case the power to save yourself a lot of stress over your dress.

Don't Falter When You Alter!

If you’re like 99% of the population, your wedding wear is going to need a little help in order to fit like it should. The alterations are the final touch needed to take a dress from pretty to perfect and can make or break your look. I can’t tell you how often I’ve cringed at photos of bridal parties, especially brides, in poorly fitted gowns- it just looks sloppy and really ruins the effect. Trust me, you do not want to spend a pretty penny on a gown and then have it look like you bought it in the bargain bin because it doesn’t fit. (If you DID buy your gown in the bargain bin, get it fitted right and it’ll look like a million bucks!) Below are some things every bride/maid should know before she steps into that seamstress’s shop and sends her dress under the scissors.

1) Pick someone with EXPERIENCE ALTERING BRIDAL ATTIRE. Not all needlepersons are created equal in this area. I don’t care how many outfits your Aunt Fanny has sewn by hand or how good your mom’s friend’s cousin is with her machine, you need someone who can alter a gown someone ELSE has made and deal with all the delicate fabrics, boning, and beading. It is better to pay a little more than run the risk of ruining your gown. Asking around is usually the best way to find someone- talk to your friends and look at their pictures too.
2) Speaking of payment, you should be charged by the job, not by the inch. This is the way most seamstresses operate, but always check. What can make a difference in price is embellishment or if the dress requires complex restructuring. If the dress has a lot of embellishment (around the hem for example) that must be removed before the alteration can be made and then reattached afterward, that’s more work and will usually make the price higher.
3) Here are some price ranges from a bridal alterations establishment located in a retail space in Minneapolis. Prices are going to vary around the country but this should give you some idea of what you can expect. You may be able to find cheaper rates if you go with someone who works out of their home and doesn’t have to pay rent, but remember, go for experience!

Wedding Gowns: Hem:$75-$175, Take in Sides:$50-$80, Take in Zipper:$60-$100, Shorten Sleeve/Raise Shoulder: $25-$50, Press:$50-$80.

Bridesmaids: Hem:$35-$75, Take in Sides:$30-$50, Take in Zipper: $30-$50, Shorten Sleeve/Raise Shoulder: $30-$50, Hem: $15.

4) Leave yourself at least a month for alterations, possibly more depending on whom you’re working with. Call ahead and find out how far in advance your seamstress wants to see you, how much time she thinks it’ll take, etc. Different times of year are busier than others
5) If you’re a bridesmaid, find out from the bride what your hem length should be. For floor length gowns, most girls wear the gown as long as they can without tripping- the hem is an inch or so off the ground. For tea/knee length dresses find out if she wants it below the knee, mid calf, etc.
6) Strapless gowns should be fitted quite snugly through the bust and waist. I hear so many people say, “I don’t want strapless, it’ll be falling down the whole time.” Not if it fits correctly! Too many people don’t have their dresses taken in enough and in that case, yes, it will fall down. But if it’s fitted correctly (and that means as snug as it can without interfering with your breathing or having the top edge of the bodice dig in to your flesh) your body is going to hold it in place without you having to worry about it. You can always have some spaghetti straps made from your hem fabric if the dress doesn’t come with optional straps (and many do), but you shouldn’t need them if the gown fits properly.

Silhou-what?

If I had a nickel for every time I've been asked "What type of dress do you think will look best on me?" or "What type of dress is the most flattering?" I could easily retire. There are no hard and fast rules, and the best way to proceed is usually to try a variety of styles so that you can determine what cut YOU think looks and feels the best and then work on finding a dress in that silhouette with the perfect details. However, here are somethings you may want to consider.

1) It is very hard to go wrong with a strapless A-line. There's a reason it's been the most popular silhouette for years now.

2) Vertical lines tend to elongate. If you are petite, a gown with princess lines or an empire waist can give you some height. Narrower skirts will also help.

3) If you are self conscious about a particular area of your body, pick a gown that balances out that area or draws the eye elsewhere. For example, if you have broad shoulders, a strapless a-line gown will both balance the width of your shoulders with the width of the skirt as well as draw the eye toward the center of your torso. A cap sleeve is going to draw they eye to the shoulder and emphasize that area. (This can be a plus if you're trying to balance out your hips) A halter will also draw the eye away from the shoulders toward the
center of your torso.

4) V's are slimming and lengthening. Period.

5)Bustier girls may want to try a drop waist to add length to their torso, or also something more fitted through the hip and flaring out at the bottom for balance.

6) In addition to cut, be aware of fabric. Anything flimsy like chiffon or charmeuse will in general be less forgiving. Satin and taffeta have more structure and won't be as clingy.

7) Remember that YOU are the best judge of what looks good on you. You are going to be the one who spends the day in the dress, keeps the pictures for years, etc. If you're short and you absolutely love a gown with a huge pouffy skirt, it's not going to make you look any taller, but who cares? Go with what you love and feel fabulous in and you will not regret it!

-Nic the Bridal Chic

New Flowergirl Dresses!!!

OMG!!!!!! Who doesn't love a flowergirl?! Can you stand how cute these little ones are? I found all of these new styles on the Sweet Beginnings website....SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!!

Real Bridal Photos!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies!!!!!! I want to see some of your georgous photos from the big day! I would love to post them so shoot em on over!!!!
XOXO~Bridal Betsy

Plus Size Brides

The average sized American woman these days is a size 12. Walking into a bridal salon for a woman of this size can be a slap in the face as to the fact that most designers send out samples in a 10 or 12.(And a 10 or 12 in the bridal industry is more like a 6 or an 8.) Good grief, talk about depressing! Whats a girl to do then in this situation? And what kind of style would even work for a curvy woman? No worries....I've got the answers!! The internet is a full figured brides dream come true. You can find tons of bridal gowns to get in sizes 18 plus. It may be scary to order online, however if you know your body you should be able to get a gown that fits beautifully. In general the A-line is the most flatttering cut to stick with and to stay away from fabrics like charmuese and chiffon as to they tend to hug all the wrong places. It is common to want to wear sleeves to cover up your arms but you want to be careful with what fabric you go with. Sheer sleeves on a plus size woman can make the arms look even bigger than they really are. Hope this helps and happy hunting!!!
Check out the curvy babes in the gowns above, they are both from Bonny's Unforgettable Collection. Yowza!
XOXO~Bridal Betsy

Who's the Boss?

Before the beginning of your venture out looking for bridesmaid dresses, I recommend you stop and take a minute to watch the movie 27 Dresses. Lets have a reality check here.....95% of the time the dresses that you choose for your bridesmaids to wear for your wedding end up never getting worn again.(The remainder 5% put it on to make fun of it.) No, they are not going to be able to cut down that floor length purple taffeta dress to cocktail length and wear it again. This is your wedding, just pick out a dress that you want to see on the big day and in the pictures the rest of your life! You might run into a few members in the party that may have "issues" with the dress, but hey, they'll probably do the same to you in their wedding or just kick them to the curb.(Its okay to be bridezilla in certain situations!) To conclude, don't stress yourself out trying to please all the girls in your party. Its your day, your photos, your memories......pick the dress you want!!!!!
As for the dresses featured above, a bride liked them, had cooperative friends/family that wore what she wanted, and had a wonderful wedding day and lovely memories from that. End of story!!!!!!!
*On a sidenote....despite the fact I am sticking up for the brides that choose the dresses featured, I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh uncontrollably when looking at the photos! :)
xoxo~Bridal Betsy

Bride on a Budget

These days the cost to throw a wedding is skyrocketing. According to The Wedding Book by Mindy Weiss, a bride's gown should only take up 5% of the budget for the big day. Uh....have you guys seen how much gowns are costing these days??? Gimme a break! Keep calm though....there are designers out there that have you, the bride on a budget, in mind. Take Watters for example, they have a line out called Wtoo that offers brides elegant, fresh, and contemporary gowns at affordable pricing. Also, consider opting for a more simple gown(the less fabric, beading, and lace etc...will drop the price of a gown significantly.). By doing this you can go all out on nice jewelry that you will wear again after the wedding, cuz lets face it ladies the chances of you wearing your wedding gown again are slim to nill!
The dresses featured are both from Watters WTOO line.
XOXO~Bridal Betsy

Taking it to the beach....

More and more couples are taking their weddings to the beach. Along with this comes the task of choosing a dress that would work well for the climate, travel, and formality of the wedding. If located at a beach, it's more likely to have humid and hot temperatures. You will want to have your dress in light-weight fabrics such as chiffon, organza, silk satins, or taffeta. A long train could be an issue if the ceremony takes place in the sand. If the dress you fall in love with has a long trian, consider having a seamstress cut it down or simply bustle it. Another issue is bringing your dress on the plane. If you get your dress in a lighter fabric, it can more than likely be steamed out. Sometimes the dressed can be placed in the captain's closet upon request. A lot of brides will opt out of wearing a veil for a destination wedding...however, think about the following. With the absence of a long train a sweep or chapel length veil will add that extra pow, and think of when a small gust of wind comes along and picks that veil up....talk about an awesome photo op!!!!!
xoxo~Bridal Betsy

Busting at the seams?

While working up a sweat at the gym the other day, a conversation between two fellow stationary bikers made me want to give all you brides looking to downsize some advice. This biker chick was in a panic saying how she ordered her dress 2 sizes too small with intentions of loosing weight. Long story short the wedding was 1 week away and the zipper would only zip half way. Whoopsie!!!! Dont let this happen to you! Every bride wants to look their best on the big day and if that includes a weight loss plan for you please take note..... Majority of brides that want to loose more than 10lbs end up not following thru with it. Hate to be a downer, but its all based on what I have witnessed. When you are ordering your gown order it for the size that you are fitting for at that time. It is a million times easier to take the dress in should your weight loss plan go accordingly, than to try and let it out. Most designers dont provide much for seam allowance on the dress. So, unless you feel like having a panic attack a week before your wedding because your gown wont zip,get the size that you fit in at the time of ordering!!!!!!
xoxo~Bridal Betsy

Finish off that look!!!!

As of late I cannot tell you how many brides I have telling me they DO NOT want to wear a veil for their ceremony. Well, funny thing is when my brides find their dress and I "sneak" one on their head its another story. The veil completes the whole look and can accentuate your silhouette and face. Who doesnt want that?
Here are some key pointers to finding one that works:
1. Make sure the veil and dress fabrics are compatible
2. The bottom edge of the veil is horizontal, hence dont get a veil that hits you at your largest part, it will only make it look bigger
3. Consider how your hair will be worn for placement
4. A full veil looks best on a narrow face. A more fluid veil will help soften a sharper face.
5. If your dress has a lot going on, watch out for excessive beading or detailing on your veil.
Lets keep this tradition going and just try one on even if you are set on not wearing one! (Your mother will appreciate it as well!)There are so many styles out there to check out. The one featured is from Erica Koesler, very hollywood glam!
xoxo~Bridal Betsy

Bridesmaid with a baby bump?

Did one of your bridesmaids recently throw at you that she is pregnant?! No need to fret, this isnt that uncommon of a situation and can easily be worked thru. There are many options to getting your growing maid her dress. Several designers offer maternity styles that are chic and sassy. Some good ones to look into are Watters and Bari Jay. When the pregnancy occurs after the bridesmaid dress has been ordered, your best bet is to order extra fabric and bring it to a seamstress. Check out the two pics above, both from Bari Jay and guess what?!...they are available in maternity sizing! How cute!!
xoxo~Bridal Betsy

Buying a wedding dress online?

We want to answer your questions about buying a wedding dress or bridesmaid gown online. Feel free to ask questions here or at our website Netbride.com. We will post frequently when we have customers that contact us with questions.