Archive for the ‘Wedding Dresses’ Category

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What NOT to Wear to your Maui Beach Wedding

Monday, July 20th, 2009

img_8511_bwOkay, this is the question, ladies: Do you want to wear your wedding dress or do you want it to wear you (out)?

Last week, I saw a clear example of a dress wearing a bride. Tina and Tony (not their real names) planned a Maui beach wedding with a few family members and friends. Overall, it was a beautiful wedding, but there were a few problems:

1) Tina was late to her wedding.

2) She had difficulty posing for the spontaneous, playful beach pictures.

3) She was hot and uncomfortable.

4) She was very late to her reception.

The above problems were all caused by “The Dress,” which was a modified version of what Princess Diana wore to her ill-fated wedding. Diana’s dress worked because her wedding was in a huge church and she had a limo and a zillion attendants.

Tina’s “Dress” did not work, because she had a beach wedding, no limo, and only one overworked attendant. Tina was late because The Dress was hard to get on and then, worse, did not fit in the compact car planned to take her to her wedding. She had to be crammed in with the seat all the way back and the dress stuffed up to the ceiling of the car. The groom informed us that the process of stuffing the bride and her dress into the car took one half hour and three persons. Thus, Tina was late, forcing her guests and wedding staff to wait, uncomfortably, in the bright Maui sun.

The Dress was disastrous in the sand. Her bridesmaid and groom tried to manage the “runaway train,” but it was difficult to do. Sea creatures, shells, seaweed and a small surfboard all ended up netted in that train (small exaggeration – there was only a small piece of surfboard).

Then, there was the exhausting, undignified struggle to get her and The Dress back in the car, to the restaurant, and then back out. Thus, she missed much of her reception. She enjoyed her wedding and reception, but it probably would have been better without the “Tyranny of The Dress.”

Subsequent articles will ad”dress” other dresses, equally inappropriate for their bride and/or event.

THE END

Rev.  Ayesha Sandra Lee is writer, hula dancer, Maui wedding destination consultant, wedding planner, wedding minister, and owner of Merry Maui Weddings (http://www.merrymauiweddings.com). Find more useful info about Hawaii weddings and feature-packed, complete beach photo weddings starting at only $495 + tax, with no hidden, future or extra charges. Call (888)588-0400 toll-free for a free, personal phone consultation.

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Be Nice When Choosing Your Bridesmaids Dresses

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Be Nice When Choosing Your Bridesmaids Dresses!

choosing-wedding-dressYou have chosen your dream dress, you and your future husband have decided on the wedding party and the bridesmaids are anxious to see what their dresses are going to look like. When choosing your bridesmaid dresses, don’t forget to keep their emotions and tastes in mind!

Remember that although this is your big day, your bridesmaids have decided to share in your joy and help you make lasting memories. And one of the biggest ways that you can include them in the merriment is to ask them to help you with the decision. In other words, in addition to your own ideas, find out what their likes and dislikes are. After all, if they’re not happy with your choice and they feel uncomfortable, it will show in your wedding photos.

Compliment your bridesmaids’ figures, hair color and complexions when choosing their dresses. You can still be the center of attention while allowing your wedding party to glow and shine behind you. Be sure to have your bridesmaids try on several styles and colors and let them choose one or two of their favorites to help you make your decision.

As important as comfort is for you, it is just as important for your girls. So, when choosing the bridesmaids dresses, look for comfort in the fit and the style. If you are a courteous bride, thinking of their needs while tending to your own, it will be appreciated by your wedding party and they will be more willing to help you.

If you’ve ever been bridesmaid yourself, then you likely understand how important it is to consider cost when choosing the bridesmaid dresses. While you may be working on a wedding budget, keep in mind that your wedding party also may be hoping for affordable attire. Talk to your bridesmaids and ask them how much they are willing to spend.

Be sure while choosing bridesmaids dresses you record everything in a notebook so that you won’t forget or lose the valuable information. Through the chaos of planning the rest of the wedding, it could be all too easy to forget sizes, styles, alteration decisions, and how much is owed on the dresses. Keeping everything in a notebook will help you stay organized and feel less stress.

After the bridesmaids dresses have been decided on, don’t forget to ask about fittings. Find out how many fitting will be needed for each girl and exactly what the cost is for each one of them. Write down times and dates to help your wedding party remember and if possible, let the bridesmaids schedule the appointments themselves to ensure it is a good time for them.

Now you have chosen the bridesmaids dresses, they are happy about the color, style and fit. Don’t forget the shoes! Remember to tell your bridesmaids whether they are to wear flats or pumps. And if you want them dyed to match the dresses, let them know and give them time to prepare. As long as you use respect and common courtesy, you will most likely have a happy wedding party thus giving you a beautiful, happy day to remember.

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Choosing Your Flower Girl’s Dress

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

flower-girlIf you have decided on a flower girl for your wedding, it is time to choose her dress, which can actually be a fun time for her and you.  After all, next to the bride, the flower girl will be getting a lot of the ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahh’s’.

When choosing a flower girl’s dress, begin by checking out boutiques that specialize in children’s wedding wear.  A regular wedding shop may be able to help, however usually these shops will only adjust adult measurements to fit a small child, which could cause the dress to look disproportionate to the child’s body frame.

Although the bride may already have a design in mind for choosing the flower girl’s dress, remember that the parents will be paying for it, unless otherwise arranged.  Let the flower girl’s mom and the flower girl, herself give opinions to the dress you are looking at and be sure it is in a price range they can afford.

Remember to keep in mind that little girls grow fast, when choosing your flower girl’s dress.  If you are ordering the dress six months in advance, you may want to add a few inches to the dress, which can then be altered the week before the wedding.  Just like with any dress, it will be easier to take it in than adding material to a dress that is too small.

Little girls like to feel like princesses in their dresses.  So consider a smaller make to your wedding gown when choosing a flower girl’s dress.  Traditional flower girl dresses are usually white with full, ruffle skirts underneath to give them the ‘bridal’ look.  Flower accented dresses are also popular among flower girls.  Use hoop slips to give them that princess look.  Keep in mind the material you are selecting.  A soft, silky feel will leave your flower girl less fidgety versus and rougher material that will make them itch and feeling uncomfortable.

When choosing your flower girl’s dress, do not forget to find matching accents for her hair.  Decide if you want her hair up or down.  With either, adding baby’s breath and ribbons will give her a beautiful look of enchantment.  Also let her parent’s know what type of shoe you would like her to wear with her dress.  If you choose a shorter dress, close toe or an open sandal, depending on the time of year, would be appropriate.  If the dress is long and flowing, covering her feet, think about letting her wear white slippers.  This will ensure her comfort and make the event more enjoyable for everyone.

Flower girls add a cute touch to any wedding.  Let her carry a beautiful bouquet or throw flower pedals down the aisle as she walks, which is usually the tradition of her role.  If the child you choose is too small to walk, decorate a red wagon in a lot of white lace and flowers and let an older child, or bridesmaid pull the wagon down the aisle.

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