Do not Over- D.I.Y.

Weddings these days are very much about expressing your unique personality as a couple, so the whole trend towards DIY for as much as possible makes a lot of sense. If you make it, you can have exactly what YOU want, plus it's more special. Bouquets, centerpieces, jewelry, hairpieces, invitations, you name it- so many things lend themselves well to being made by you and a helpful crew of friends and bridesmaids.

And that can be a good thing, but if you try to do too much, it can be a bad thing. There are a lot of things that can be made ahead of time, but then you run into issues of storage and transport sometimes (centerpieces). And if you have a last minute snafu (those flowers you ordered online showed up wilted the day before) you have to do your own troubleshooting just at the very busiest time.

So, I have two pieces of advice if you want to DIY up the proverbial wazoo, but don't want to go insane. 1) Prioritize projects, and 2) Delegate. Not all projects are created equal, so choose things that you can either get a lot of help with, play to you or a close friend/ family memember's talents, or that are just so special and important they can't be left out. And, don't make every project revolve around you. Have a point person who will make sure the table cards get that special touch, or who is in charge of making sure the fascinators for the bridesmaids show up at the wedding and don't get smushed.

I have watched brides go crazy trying to do it all themselves. Don't be one of them. It is NOT a contest : )

You don't have to just take our word for it...

So, we have awesome testimonials on our site, but everywhere you look online you can find good things about us. I did a search on Wedding Bee, and found some nice comments. We have the best customer service you will find, and our claim is backed up not just on our site, but on other blogs, the Knot, and most importantly, by our brides!

Here is one page on Wedding Bee where I was checking out comments:

http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/netbridecom-review

Up, up and Away...

wth Hemlines!

Bridesmaids dresses are now coming shorter than ever before, which can be a blessing and a curse, depending on the height of your bridesmaids! Most are still around the knee, but some of the newest short styles - some from Impression and DaVinci for example- are well above the knee even on someone of average height.

Most designers will offer 5" of extra length, so if the new shorter look is not to your taste, you'll usually have options.
And some designers offer multiple lengths. Jordan, for example, is offering most of their Spring 2011 collection in either knee length, tea length, or floor length.

I can remember when tea length (hits mid calf traditionally) was a big deal. Some people still like that length- it's a little more traditional, I suppose. But almost all short style now are worn either at the knee or slightly above ( Usually not more than an inch or two max). It's the most flattering, and you can work a great pair of heels.

Brides, don't forget to specify where YOU want hemlines on your maids if you have a preference. You can always leave it up to their preference, but give at least a range- around the knee, above the knee, etc.

I'll be interested to see where things go from here. I dont think designers can go much shorter, but I suppose you never know...

Is Your Flowergirl a Wild Child?

I'm a fan of flowergirls of all personalities: sweet and shy, sweet and not so shy, girly princess types, and of course, the wild ones.
What do I mean by "wild"? I mean the kid who marches to the beat of her own drum, isn't going to go for what you'd expect, and has a personality that stands out from the crowd. (I do not mean badly behaved. One can be a wild child and still vey well mannered!)

There are a couple of different ways you can tackle what can be a challenging task- agreeing on a dress you'll both love.

Way #1: Find a really simple dress, and pick out accessories together that let her express her personality. Let her have choices about a bunch of smaller details.

Way #2: Put her in a color that coordinates but contrasts with the bridesmaids. Traditionally flowergirls are in white or ivory, but I think color is always a great option (and slightly less stressful to try to keep spotless). Then she can feel special in her own color that isn't the same as anyone else's.

Just a couple of ideas! Another really helpful thing can be to look at pictures together before you do any actual shopping, so that you can get a feel for what she is interested in and will enjoy wearing. Ultimately, you're the bride and you're the boss, but a happy flowergirl on your wedding day may be worth a few compromises. Or there's always bribery.... :)

Pounds do not equal Inches

Maybe it's the time of year, but everyone seems to have weight loss on the brain. I've been in a wedding or two, so I understand all about wanting to tone up, and the thought of all those pictures you'll be in is a powerful motivation for anyone!

So, what do you do if you're like most people, and need to order a dress now to get in time for the wedding, but you know you'll be thinner then? Unfortunately, there's no formula anywhere that says something like: "If you lose 10lbs, you will be one inch smaller in measurement X." Not only is there no way to know how many inches those pounds you lose will bring you down, there is no way to know for sure just where they are coming off.

So, the best way to proceed, even though it's kind of a bummer, is to order the size you are at right now. You should be planning on altering your dress no matter what, and it's not going to make a big difference if you are taking the dress in an extra inch or two. Plus, think how fabulous you'll feel when the dress does come in and feels nice and loose, versus how terrible you'd feel if you did order down a size, but the way you lost the weight (or didn't quite manage to lose it!) doesn't put your measurements down to where they'd need to be that smaller size. You'll feel terrible, and no one needs that kind of stress! Plus, in the long run, you are looking at the potential for far greater expense if you get a dress that's too small and have to try to add in fabric, etc. Taking in is a breeze compared to that!

So remember, however many pounds you have as your goal to lose, be calm, cool, and practical, and just order for where you are right now. Sleeping at night is also very important to help you look as gorgeous as possible : )

Colorful Creations

Don't forget to check out the shoe line we carry- Colorful Creations. They have some great stuff, and some of their shoes are dyeable.

http://colorfulcreations.com/

Chiffon: The Fabric of 2011?

Chiffon, like most fabrics, has been around since forever. A really new fabric doesn't come along very often. New variants, yes.
And for a while, chiffon was not very popular. It has its downsides- if you snag it, there's not a lot you can do, and because it has a matte finish certain colors just don't work very well. If you're looking for really deep, saturated color, chiffon tends to be softer and lighter most of the time.

But, that said, there are more reasons why it's become so popular. As wedding gowns with ruffles and soft textured details have become all the rage, chiffon has grown in popularity because it's such a great complement to this type of gown as well as many others. Soft, romantic, and with just some simple draping you can have an elegant bridesmaids dress that is simple but not plain. Also, it's light and often more comfortable to wear than a stiff satin or taffeta. It's not the "typical bridesmaids" fabric.

So, for Spring 2011 there will be other fabrics and styles out there of course, but chiffon styles will dominate. For now...