Renting A Wedding Dress, Will You Mind It?

There is really no reason to order a gown, renting or buying, if you are farther out than the yellow calendar, which is only 5 months. Yes, you are going to hear from most other bridal shop... "You must buy today or your gown won't be here by your wedding date". THAT IS NOT TRUE at Rent A Bridal Gown! Bridal gown delivery will take approx.90 days (3 months). Yes, it may take approx.105 days (3.5 months) when we approach Chinese New Year in January/February each year. Also when I place your order, the gown supplier gives me a ship date on the spot... there is no guessing when the gown will arrive. Remember ladies...we are girls...and girls change their minds all the time.

Just keep in mind, if your wedding is farther out that my yellow box, just starting doing your "homework" and make a picture portfolio of what you want. Take everything into consideration and when the yellow box has your date in it, bring in everything that you have compiled and let's take a look at what you really want.

If you're planning to say "I do" this summer but don't have a lot of money, there are great ways to cut costs on your bridal gown, including renting the dress or opting for a white bridesmaid frock instead.

With the bill of an average Canadian wedding hovering around the $30,000 mark, a bridal tradition popular in many parts of Asia is gaining traction here in B.C. – rental gowns.

Rather than paying thousands of dollars for a gown you will wear just once, consider renting a wedding dress that you can feel great in while saving money. A rental is a great option for brides who want a stunning dress without the stunning price tag.

Gown Rental Pros and Cons

Many women are interested in the rental option for their gowns. In addition to buying a wedding dress, most brides have to contend with preserving and storing the wedding dress. With a rented dress, all you have to do is choose the dress, wear it, and return in within the allotted time period. You don't even have to worry about the dry cleaning.

A rental is a great option if money, maintenance, destination location or space is an issue.

Money: With a dress rental, you'll be spending a lot less money. Many expensive designer wedding dresses will rent for only a couple of hundred dollars. In fact, many rental businesses offer packages that include veil, shoes and jewelry. Use the money saved for other wedding aspects, the honeymoon or even as part of a down payment on your future house.

Maintenance: The last thing any bride wants to worry about upon returning home from her honeymoon is cleaning and preserving her wedding dress. With a rented dress, this is the least of your worries. Once you're through with the dress, you can return it. The cleaning is handled by the rental business.

Destination weddings: Renting a destination wedding dress will save you from having to lug a heavy suit bag on a plane. Many places famous for destination weddings, such as Las Vegas or Hawaii, have many wedding rental shops to choose from.

Space: If you have limited storage space, a rental helps to eliminate the issue of where to store your wedding dress.

Wedding Dresses For Dads Easy To Prepare

For a time, he was the man in your life. You ran into his arms when he came home every night and he twirled you around. He told you funny stories before you went to sleep. He taught you how to ride a bike, dive into the pool, prune a tomato plant and name the constellations. Sure, you and Dad have had your differences (you can remember a few too many tears and slammed doors) but still the relationship you share with your father is one that you'll forever cherish. But now, the focus is on another man in your life. And on planning your wedding. You're busy picking the caterer, checking out a salsa band with your fiancé, going to a dress fitting appointment with Mom. And Dad is busy -- writing checks for deposits. He may feel like the odd one out. He's dealing with the mixed emotions of his darling daughter becoming a bride, he's not sure of his role in the whole wedding planning thing and he's wondering -- how much is all of this going to cost?
　　
Father of the Bride Speech
　　
Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of the day your daughter gets married for years, a day when finally you have the chance to tell the world just how proud you are of her. Then you sit down to write your father of the bride speech and suddenly your mind goes blank.
　　
The father of the bride speech is a key moment in the wedding celebrations, and it can be a little daunting knowing you will have centre stage, at least for a few minutes. Try following this simple four step structure to put together the perfect father of the bride speech.
　　
If you want your father to walk you down the aisle: You’ve always known Dad would walk you down the aisle. Now that special moment is coming quicker than you can imagine, and you can’t wait to share this special moment as father and daughter. When you walk together at your wedding, take small steps to take your time and soak in the moment. Share a few final words with Dad, who raised you, loved you, and is now letting you go for you to become the woman he always hoped you’d be. Even if you don’t remember what was said, you’ll remember the way you felt on your wedding day, arm-in-arm with Dad as he walked you to your groom.
　　
If your father has passed away: You love your Dad, and you always envisioned him walking you down the aisle for your wedding day. Even if he isn’t physically present, you can include his memory in the ceremony. Ask an uncle, grandfather, or one of Dad’s close friends whom you respect to walk you down the aisle. If you prefer, you can also choose Mom or a grown sibling for your aisle walk. You may consider walking alone since no one can truly fill Dad’s shoes. Just remember it may be beneficial to have someone who loves you and supports you at your side for this big moment on your special day.

Don't Turn The Weddings Into A Competition As To Who Could Pick The Worst Dresses

Before deciding on your bridesmaids outfits, you need to choose your personal white for your wedding dress. Your wedding dress should be colour coordinated with your dominant colour and the personal colouring of your bridesmaids.
　　

In order to choose the right white you need to know what your dominant colour is. Your dominant colour depends on your skin, eye and hair colour. Make sure when you buy your wedding outfit that your hair colour won't be different on your wedding day because this could affect your dominant colour and ultimately your personal white and the colour for your brides maids outfits.
　　
Once you know your perfect white you can start to colour coordinate your bridesmaids, your mother, the flower girls, your flower bouquet, the table decorations for your reception and so on.
　　
Choosing outfits to suit you all can be tricky if there are alot of bridesmaids or there is a large age range. Adults won’t want to be dressed the same as children, and the bride should bear in mind that the outfit(s) she picks need to flatter people of different ages (and sizes!).
　　
Alternatively, you can ask all your bridesmaids to wear the same style and fabric, but let them choose the colour from the colour palette, which works best with your personal white, wedding theme, wedding season (summer or winter wedding) and with your wedding place (UK or overseas wedding).
　　
In fact, you think she may have coped the dress exactly from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It even poofs out at the bottom like a mermaid tail. You end up paying over $300 for this dress and with alterations, you still feel like a clown and look like a lampshade. You vow, you'll pick attractivebridesmaid dresses someday. But when that day rolls around, can you be trusted? Personally, I have been in five weddings and have attended well over thirty in my life. Now as my peers are reaching their mid-twenties, more and morewedding announcements are appearing in my mailbox.

As a dutifully bridesmaid, I will of course, wear any dress the bride chooses. However, after attending so many weddings and watching numerous bridesmaid atrocities walk down the aisle, there are a few things that I have learned about bridesmaid dresses. There are also a few things that your bridesmaids would love for you to consider before you choose a dress. Hopefully, as my days as a bridesmaid increase, my own friends will take the following things into consideration.
　　
Styles - A-line dresses which look great on all different body shapes and sizes are very popular. The hottest styles right now are two-tone, two-piece floor length styles, mostly sleeveless. Also very popular are column style dresses, floor length, halter top or straps criss-crossing over the back and sleeveless. Another big trend is having a shawl accompany the dress, particularly the barer styles.
　　
Colors - Platinum is very in style at the moment, as well as the paler colors, pale yellows, sand, and taupe. There is also a trend toward burgundy and hunter for Fall weddings too. Black is always in style and always a popular choice among both brides and their bridesmaids. In addition, many of the designers today are also using better quality fabrics like dupioni silk, silk chiffon and satin, velvet and crepe.
　　
Combinations - Another trend is to choose a manufacturer that offers different styles in the same fabric and color and letting each bridesmaid chose the style they look best in. You could apply some simple rules - no dress above the knee, or no strapless dress (or whatever look you want for your wedding). Another popular and pretty trend, especially for spring and summer weddings, is a "color run". That means that each bridesmaid wears a different color of the same dress.
　　
Although today there is less tradition around colors, styles and seasons, it is always wise to use common sense. For example, it would not be wise to choose a short cut and strapless bridesmaid dress during the winter, while a heavy material during the summer in an outdoor ceremony.
　　
Your bridesmaids have very different heights and figures.
　　
You have a mix of child and adult attendants.
　　
Your bridesmaids are from different cultural backgrounds.
　　
You can’t imagine your choice of attendants being happy dressed identically.
　　
Consider body type and size before choosing a dress style. Sure, you love that sleek and simple satin sheath gown and it would definitely look classy at your wedding. But your best friend with a D-cup and runner's thighs is going to spend all night trying to hide behind her bouquet. Classic gowns can look great on all varities of bodies.

Unless you have a group of women that are all 34B and wear a size 6 jean, there are certain styles you should avoid. A strapless, empire-waist dress might look good on you, but will it on a bigger friend? Are some of your bridesmaids moms? Strapless bras are great, but for some pregnancy and breast-feeding can wreak havoc with what used to be young, perky breasts. Don't force her into a strapless gown just because it's what you would wear. Your bridesmaid dress choices should be more about what will make your bridesmaids look beautiful and less about what kind of dress you would want to wear. You're not wearing it and if they don't look good, it'll show in your pictures forever.
　　
Keep it simple. Some of the most awful bridesmaid dresses are just that because there is far too much going on with them. Avoid bunchy material, extra bows, lace, ribbon, sleeves, beading or sequence. A simple a-line, floor-length lined gown with an empire waist and simple straps looks beautiful on nearly everyone. Instead of trying to do something original or unique, try going for a classic look.
　　
When it comes to picking your bridesmaid dresses, the decision is ultimately yours and yours alone. However, don't try to find something to please anyone else. Of course, what you like should be your first priority because it is your wedding. But if you can manage to find something you like that will compliment your bridesmaid's natural beauty, your wedding will be all the more beautiful. Remember also that there's a good chance these women will also be choosing bridesmaid dresses for you at some point. Don't turn your weddings into a competition as to who could pick the worst dresses. Instead, choose a dress that will have everyone at your wedding commenting on how incredibly classy you really are.

Choose The Right Wedding Dress Style For Your Own Body Shape

Everyone thinks they know how to choose a wedding gown. What most women don’t realize is fabrics, style and measurements can influence the style of wedding dress that best complements a particular body type.This article will help you choose the right wedding dress style for your own body shape.

There are five popular styles of wedding dresses. All are beautiful, but choosing the right one can accentuate your best assets and hide any areas you're more conscious of, no matter your shape or size.

A-Line/Princess: Named after the shape the dress visually creates, this style is classic and simple. The A-line dress is fitted around the bodice and flows out to the ground. Its length can range from above the knee to full length that flows into a large train, and it can be made with everything from free-flowing silks to heavier fabrics such as satin. The princess cut version of the A-line dress is more dramatic and emphasizes this style’s clean lines by utilizing vertical panels that run from the neckline to the hem.

Who It Flatters: The A-line dress is a good general option for almost any bride. The full skirt of the A-line can hide a rounder lower body or create the illusion of curves on a narrow frame. If your main goal is to slim, the princess style is a great option that elongates lines creating a slimming effect as the eye naturally focuses on the length of the dress.

Empire: The empire dress is unique for its raised waistline that sits just below the bust, from which the rest of the dress flows down. Empire dresses can have varying sleeve lengths ranging from longer bell sleeves to sleeveless, along with different skirt cuts that can flow freely or contour to your body. Additionally, empire dresses are usually made from lighter fabrics, so this style of dress takes on a romantic feel.

Who It Flatters: An empire dress works well on most body types but is specifically flattering for a bride looking to enhance her bust. On the flip side, ladies with large busts also like empire dresses because the traditional square can better cover larger breasts. This dress is also ideal for pear-shaped figures, as it is forgiving of the legs and hips. Because of the room in the stomach area, this is also an ideal dress for pregnant brides.

Column/Sheath: As you can probably guess from its name, the column dress has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the top to the bottom. This dress, also referred to as a sheath, tends to hug the body and show any and all of your curves. A column dress can be a simple slip dress to a more contoured dress made of heavier fabrics such as damask.

Now that you know all about the different styles of wedding gowns, what about the sizing? Sizing can be a bit tricky as pretty much every wedding dress manufacturer has its own sizing chart. If you find a dress you're in love with, the first step to finding your perfect fit is to be properly measured with a vinyl measuring tape (cloth tapes can stretch) by a tailor at your bridal store. Once your measurements have been taken, check them against the wedding dress manufacturer's sizing chart to choose the dress that matches your largest measurements (usually if your dress shop is ordering for you, they'll take care of this step). Don’t be alarmed if your wedding dress size is different than your everyday non-wedding attire. It is quite common for dress sizes to be at least one or two sizes larger than the size you're used to wearing.

If you are planning to lose weight before the wedding, be very realistic about your size on your wedding day. It's better to err on the side of caution as you can always make a dress a little smaller, but it's near impossible to make a wedding dress larger. It's kind of like getting your hair cut: You can always cut more hair off, but once you cut it, it's gone for a while. And weeks before the wedding, who needs the added stress of trying to get those last few pounds off?

Almost every woman will need a little alteration when it comes to her wedding dress. Know that the entire sizing and fitting process will take four to six weeks (or even longer if your gown needs to be custom ordered) so don't put this off until the last minute. Also, remember to wear the same undergarments and shoes that you'll be wearing on your wedding day so that your tailor can get accurate measurements.

Your wedding dress is one of a hundred decisions you'll make during your wedding planning, but it’s a very important decision that will undoubtedly determine how you feel on your big day. So choose a dress that fits properly (snug so that it won't fall off, but not so tight that you can't enjoy that wedding cake!), flatters your figure and makes you feel like the beautiful bride that you are!

The Petite Bride

A-line wedding dresses are also flattering on petite women. As we stated earlier, this style lengthens the body. Sheaths seem to shorten a small body even more, so petite women should avoid sheath-style wedding dresses. Also steer clear of very full skirts, which will make you look ‘bottom heavy.’ You want to keep your wedding dress proportionate to your body.

Be careful with strapless gowns — a petite woman may have to lift her arms to reach up to her new husband (can you say ‘wardrobe malfunction’?). A cap sleeve gives the feeling of a strapless gown, and also serves the practical purpose of holding the gown in place.

The Large-Busted Bride

Off-the-shoulder gowns look wonderful on a full bust. It draws our attention upward, emphasizes the shoulders and minimizes the chest. Keep your skirt narrow. Wearing a full skirt will make you look large both on top and bottom.

The Bottom-Heavy Bride

Women who are larger through their hips and buttocks should look for a wedding dress that focuses on their upper body — preferably with a full skirt.

Show off your arms, back and bustline.

A corset-style bodice with lacing will highlight your upper body. We want to draw attention away from your hips. Avoid pleats or gathered fabric around the waist. An A-line skirted wedding dress always works the best for this body type.

A Few Wedding Dresses Shopping Tips That Can Help You Along The Way

Weddings can be expensive. The average wedding today in the United States costs an estimated $29,000.00

One of the important considerations you will have is finding the right dress. Brides will spend an average of $1000.00 and more on their dress. You want quality workmanship, beautiful fabric and the style that's best for you.

A wedding dress is something all brides dream about and since this will probably be the most expensive dress you will ever buy, it's important that you make the right choice. Remember that it's a dress that you will probably wear only once, so keep this in mind!

To help you make your decision, take a family member with you or some of your friends who you know will be honest. There's a lot of money at stake, so its important you stay in charge. Don't be afraid to shop around - there are many businesses out there all wanting a piece of the wedding industry. Take your time and go with the store you feel most comfortable with and who provides the best customer service.

Once you have made a decision on a dress, ask the shop to store it for you until the big day. That way it will stay pristine. If you order a dress outside of your country, have it delivered one month before your wedding to make sure you have time for alterations. Don't be afraid to negotiate with some of the vendors. Believe it or not, there are some vendors that will negotiate!

One of the biggest moments of your wedding is selecting your wedding dress. All brides can't wait to go dress shopping and find that perfect dress just suited for them. Here are a few shopping tips that can help you along the way.

Don't do it alone. Always take someone from the bridal party, close friend or your mom with you. Receiving opinions on the style and type of dresses you try on from your trusted family and friends is not only important but helps relieve a bit of the stress. Don't take an entourage with you though as so many different opinions will make it even more confusing for you to choose.

Never wear makeup or lipstick. The dresses are mainly white and some may be difficult to get into. The last thing you want is to have red lipstick, mascara or foundation on them. What if you find the "one" but it had a makeup spot. Sure things can be cleaned but you want that dress to be perfect. It's also just being considerate for the next bride who tries on that gown.

Don't forget your undergarments. Always wear or bring with you a strapless bra or corset in your correct size. If you happen to have the shoes or jewelery picked out bring that along as well so you can see how everything flows. If you are wearing your hair up for the wedding then put it up when trying on the dresses.

Buying the dress. This is a bit tricky. Some brides will put a dress on and know this is the one and will purchase it immediately while others will shop from store to store, and go on-line to make sure they have scouted out many different designs and styles. I do hear that many brides always go back to the first dress they tried on. Don't put too much pressure on yourself by trying dresses on for months. I promise you will know when you find the "perfect one". Once you put it on it will just feel right.

Size of the Dress: You should buy a dress that it a little big for you and can be altered. If the dress is purchased a year before the wedding remember that your weight may fluctuate during this time frame especially with a little added stress that comes with planning a wedding.

These suggestions are designed to help you along the way. Hopefully this will be the only time you will purchase and wear a wedding dress so have fun. You are going to look and feel like a princess on your wedding day and as you make that walk down the aisle your prince charming will be waiting!