From Wedding Dresses to Wedding Gifts

All women dream of having the perfect wedding. What else makes a perfect wedding but a wedding dress that will make every bride look like a queen even for a day or night, depending on the time of the wedding ceremony?

A wedding dress is a piece of clothing worn by a bride during the wedding ceremony. The color, style, and over all look of the gown depends on the couple’s culture and religion.

In modern times, western culture wedding dresses normally come in white and various shades of white, namely eggshell, ivory, or ecru. The use of white for wedding gowns may have its origin in the 1840s during the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. The queen chose white as the color of her wedding dress and other women followed her lead.

During the Victorian era, women opted to get married wearing a gown in a color of their choice except black because that is related to mourning, and red that is associated with prostitutes. The white dress since became a symbol for purity of the heart and childhood innocence. Later, the color white became synonymous with virginity.

The term bridal gown came from the word al which means “party” combined with bride equals bridal party gown. In the Middle Ages, wedding parties were simply known as Brid-als. A bridal train is the word used for the part of the wedding dress that trails behind the bride. The term came from similar trains worn by kings and queens which are derived from peacocks that were known as royal birds.

Veils are clothing worn exclusively by women to cover some part of her head or face. A Western woman normally wears a veil on her wedding day if she chooses an all white wedding motif. Brides used to wear their hair long, flowing down their back during their wedding to symbolize virginity. Nowadays, the white veil is often used to represent virginity.

So the next time you look at the blushing bride as she walks down the aisle in her wedding dress, you know how this wedding dress evolved into what it looks today.

By Marcus Peterson

Undoubtedly, a wedding is one of the most precious and memorable moments in life. To make this occasion more remarkable, certain customs have been practiced, like the special wedding dress, the wedding cake, etc. The bride’s dress is given special importance and care is taken to make her look like an angel in her beautiful wedding gown. The phrase, “dressed up,” is perfectly suited for a wedding, where both the bride and the groom are in their best attire.

The wedding dress is the dress worn by the bride during the wedding ceremony. “Dress maketh a man.” Befittingly, the wedding dress or the bridal gown is usually gorgeous and graceful to reflect the most precious moment in life–marriage. The color, texture, design, etc. of the wedding gown is naturally the bride’s choice. White is a popular color for American wedding dresses, as white is associated with qualities like purity, peace and chastity. Nevertheless, the gown may also be in shades of white like ivory or eggshell.

The background of the wedding governs the nature of the wedding attire. In other words, the society, the culture, and the customs followed by the parties involved in the wedding are key factors in the making of the wedding dress.

In the earlier days, any color other than black or red was acceptable for the wedding gown. A face veil was also worn. The custom of wearing a white dress at a wedding was imitated from the royal weddings, wherein the queen wore a beautiful white wedding gown with a long train behind. This idea was gained from peacocks, which were honored as royal birds.

For the Chinese, the red dress is the most preferred one for weddings. The Chinese consider red to be a lucky color. The Indians also consider red as a color of good omen, so brides in India wear a red sari, which is bright and colorful too. But this color is avoided in Western countries.

Weddings provides detailed information on Weddings, Wedding Vows, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Cakes and more. Weddings is affiliated with Maui Wedding Planning.

By Thomas Morva

Every bride wants to look stunning on her wedding day, so naturally wants a wedding gown that fits perfectly. There are so many dresses to choose from that it can sometimes be overwhelming. Looking through the bridal magazines can give you some great ideas, but how many of us have the figure of the models in the magazine.

Finding a dress that compliments your unique body shape is important. Knowing where to start you search is very helpful. The cut, style and even the fabric of your gown can have a tremendous impact on how you appear on your wedding day. There are some simple guides that can help you get started in selecting the perfect dress that will accent your assets and disguise any flaws.

For the future bride that has an hourglass figure, an off-the-shoulder or strapless gown is perfect. Accentuate the curves with one-piece dresses. A two-piece gown will tend to chop the figure in two. Avoid heavy beading since this can make the bride look heavier.

For the girl with a figure that is pear shaped, a gown with puffy sleeves or shoulder pads is recommended. Avoid body hugging fabrics, full skirts or any cut that makes the top part of the body look smaller and the lower part of the body larger. The idea is to “even things out.”

For the petite or short bride there are many choices. Off the shoulder dresses or gowns with shoestring straps are the best choice. A petite bride looks beautiful in a Cinderella dress and evokes a bit of romance as well. Straight gowns do nothing for a short or petite woman. If you have your heart set on a straight gown, it will work with a full veil offsetting it.

The best gown for a woman with a square shape would be one that creates curves or the illusion of having curves. Some ways to add the illusion of curves is to select a beaded bodice, fuller skirts, and full sleeves. A bride with a square figure should not opt for sheath type dresses or anything clingy since there will be no way to create any type of illusions.

If the bride is full-figured woman, the best choice would be the A-line style. A gown that is cut in an A-line style will lengthen the entire body without bringing attention to the waistline. Another suitable choice would be a dress that has an empire waist since the empire is located just below the bust, which is often the narrowest point on the body. This will conceal the waist and hips. Full figured women are usually very curvy; scoop necks or deep V-necks will flatter the curves. Don’t be afraid to show some skin; revealing some skin at the neckline or on the arms can often make you appear slimmer.

For the large busted bride look for an off the shoulder gown, it will look stunning. It draws the attention upward to emphasize the shoulders while minimizing the chest. Stay away from full skirts. You don’t want to look large on both the top and the bottom. Stick with a narrow skirt.

No matter what shape your body is you can find a dress that will flatter your figure. Don’t become frustrated and settle for just any gown. This is your special day to shine. If you find a few dresses that have features that you like but you cannot find them all in one dress, consider having your gown custom made. Don’t stop your search until you are absolutely in love with your wedding dress.

Denise Sanger is the owner of My-Wedding-Jewelry which has a diverse catalog of Wedding Jewelry and WeddingDayAccessories which features extensive Wedding Planning information for the all important wedding day. We are located in Sunny North Florida.

By Denise Sanger

One way to get the designer dress you have always dreamed of is to make it yourself or have someone you know make it for you. Even if you hire out the sewing job, it will be cheaper than actually buying that designer gown that you saw some movie star wear on a magazine cover.

You would choose a wedding dress pattern in the same way you would choose a wedding dress from a boutique. Choose a style that you love and that is good for your body type. One way you can do this if you are not sure if it will suit your body type is to go to a boutique, find a similar style, and try it on.

The best way to find the best patterns is to visit several pattern maker’s Internet websites or call and ask for a catalog of wedding dress patterns. When you get the catalogs you can start looking for the dream gown that you want. You can also look at the bridal salons to get an idea of what you want and then look for the pattern. You will be using a bridal salon to order the bridesmaids dresses anyway so it causes no harm.

Since you have decided to sew your own dress or have one made for you, you may be wondering how much it will cost to have it made. There are a few considerations that will help to determine that such as the type of fabric you will be using to make your dress. Fabrics can be pricey, and wedding gowns have many different types of fabrics in them as a rule. For example most dresses are made of satin and lace with tulle underneath.

Do your research and watch for fabric sales at fabric stores and online. Fabric can run from about $4.00 per yard and up. You can even find wedding gowns that are being sold very inexpensively that you might be able to use several things off of on your own gown.

The second consideration is whether you will be making the gown or hiring the sewing job out to someone else. If you will be doing the sewing yourself, the cost will be just materials. If you hire a seamstress, you will have to look around for one that has rates that you can afford. It will run you two to five hundred dollars depending on the complexity of the design, and the detail that will need to go into it.

There will be many fittings, and design aspects of the dress that you will have to decide on. Do you want a long train and if so you will need a bustle. You also need to make a veil which is not hard to do, and you can match it perfectly to your gown by using some accents on it that are used on your gown. You can also purchase a veil.

Be sure to go over every small detail of your dress to make sure that is exactly the way you want it. It will look like that designer gown you saw on the cover of that magazine and no doubt you will look just as beautiful in it.

In her free wedding planning newsletter, Bev Post draws on her own experiences and shows brides-to-be how to save up to 80% on your wedding dress, your veil, your wedding cake - even the alcohol at the reception! Go to FreeWeddingPlanningCourse.com to sign up totally free and you’ll soon find out the common tricks bridal shops use to squeeze every last dollar out of you, how to avoid ‘Bridezilla-itis’, and much, much more!

By Beverley Post

There is something to be said about buying a unique wedding gift. First of all, it better be unique and creative enough to go beyond the traditional gift of money. Most couples prefer cash as it helps with wedding expenses and the honeymoon. However, if you have it in your head that you want to give a truly unique gift as opposed to money, here are some ideas that you might consider.

If the couple you are buying for have purchased a home hire an interior decorator to come in and give suggestions or redo a room. Or put together a unique “new home” gift basket with tools, “how-to-do-it” books, wine, cheese and crackers for the newlyweds who probably need all the “home advice” they can get.

If you know the couple’s creative preferences, buy a piece of art that they can display in their home. A special painting, unique vase or rare antique piece will hold a special meaning for the bride and groom. You could also make your own piece of are buy making a collage of photographs of the couple, family and friends.

If the couple enjoys the outdoors give them a gift certificate for a hiking or whitewater rafting getaway weekend. That would be quite a unique surprise for them. If they’re just plain, old-fashion romantic send them on a weekend adventure to a beach or ski resort. Plan the trip for several months after the wedding. The newness will be wearing off, and they will need and appreciate the break.

Unique Gifts provides detailed information on Unique Gifts, Unique Gift Ideas, Unique Baby Gifts, Unique Wedding Gifts and more. Unique Gifts is affiliated with Unique Gifts Online.

By Richard Romando

A marriage is a joyous moment in the life of two individuals. A couple shares this beautiful personal moment with their near and dear ones, who rejoice in their happiness. A wedding gift is a tangible depiction of the feelings of the giver for the couple. A gift has to be carefully chosen, keeping the couple’s individual tastes, likes and dislikes in mind, if it is intended to serve its purpose. Nothing is more distasteful and insulting than an inconsiderately given gift. A gift’s value is not determined by its monetary value, but it must communicate the giver’s thought appropriately and adequately.

While the market abounds in numerous gift options and alternatives, selecting the right gift for the couple can be a challenge sometimes. While one can overhaul the market, surf the net and burn a hole in the purse, choosing the perfect gift requires some thinking and a little homework. A giver should always strive to give something unique and different.

Personalized gifts always stand out and make a personal statement on behalf of the giver. A special memento, decorative crystal, or a paired watch with the couple’s names engraved in it along with the wedding date is something memorable for the wedding couple.

For very close relatives, a hand-made scrapbook complete with family pictures, or a family tree platter with hand-painted pictures of family members along with their names, signature photo quilts, or customized ceramic plates with the couples pictures and wedding dates etched on it are a few ideal gift options.

In case of a hard-core golf fan, one can give a golf set with the couple’s names engraved on it. A Bible with the couple’s names and wedding dates engraved on it is an ideal gift for a spiritually inclined couple. It is necessary to be aware and informed about a couple’s interests, hobbies, tastes and the like. A gift can be given based on this kind of information. Romantic gifts like photo pillows with the couple’s portraits on it can also be given. One can also give gift certificates, home décor items, classic gift items like crystal and silverware, or various wedding mementos like a polymer clay image or metal candles, just right for the mantel and keepsakes.

The choice of exchanging gifts for each other rests on the bride and the groom. Couples can exchange framed love poems, engraved jewelry or even unconventional items like a vintage car, for those who can afford it. A thoughtful gift certificate to a relaxing spa or a recreational resort is just the right way for the bride or bridegroom to express their gratitude and love for their parents. It is the thought that matters, and mere framed poetry or a handwritten letter to the parent is also as valuable, if not more.

Parents can give bridal showers, a party to acquaint the couple to the family, or some personalized gift items, including gift certificates. Thank-you gifts need not be expensive, but should cater to individual taste. It should be given according to the kind of relationship one shares with the guests.

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By Jennifer Bailey

Personalized wedding gifts make a unique personal statement of their own. Apart from communicating a message of love and support, personalized gifts stand out in the mind of the receiver for all time. The market is flooded with gift options waiting to be grabbed. A personalized wedding gift adds special personal touches to the gift items, to distinguish them from a crowd of other gifts. Personalized gifts display the time and effort a giver has put in to select a gift that appeals to the couple’s tastes, likes or hobbies. Whether it is a gift from a business associate or partner, a close relative or friend, or simply an acquaintance, personalized gifts are always the perfect choice.

Apart from bridal showers or hosting a party, a parent can provide an additional personalized gift. A handmade scrapbook filled with pictures from birth till the wedding date, or a handwritten poem beautifully framed, with names of the couple and wedding date engraved on it, can stand out as gifts cherished and treasured by most couples.

Personalized family portrait platters complete with the names of the members, hand-painted customized ceramic vases, signature photo quilts, polymer clay images of the couples, personalized signature family tree frames, frame kits, monogrammed names and initials on precious objects, or survival kits for the newlyweds are a few of the numerous gift options for any giver.

Signature ceramic platters which the guests can sign, or twin crystal glasses, candlesticks or wine glasses with the couple’s names engraved or etched on them are memorable mementos for a wedding couple, to showcase with pride forever. For religiously inclined couples, a personalized Bible is a good choice. For those enthusiastic about a particular sport, sets like fishing, golf, or billiards can be given. Most grooms cherish mementos like personalized pub signs or a baseball autographed by a famous player. Personalized gift can also range from gardening kits to house appliances for those having a liking for such things.

Wedding Gifts provides detailed information on Wedding Gifts, Wedding Anniversary Gifts, Wedding Gift Ideas, Personalized Wedding Gifts and more. Wedding Gifts is affiliated with Groomsmen Gift Ideas.

By Jennifer Bailey

The phrase wedding cake conjures up an image of a three-layered white cake with plastic figurines of the bride and groom perched on top. But that is now passé. Wedding cakes are going through a fashion makeover and new styles and designs are in vogue. With the help of a talented cake designer, there is no limit to how unique wedding cakes can be.

These days, flowers intertwined with a delicate icing are very popular. If you have a favorite flower, it can be used as the main focus of the cake’s design. You may want the flowers of your bridesmaids duplicated on the cake or the flowers in your bridal bouquet. Any talented cake designer should be able to create a beautiful cake with this design in mind. Just make sure you bring along samples of your flowers when you meet with the baker.

The color scheme of your wedding can also be incorporated into a wedding cake. You can even request that a designer try to emulate the design and style of your wedding gown into your cake. Depending on the season, your cake designer can whip up fabulous wedding cakes with snowflakes and icicles for winter, chrysanthemums, and autumn colored leaves for fall, daisies and raindrops for spring and tulips and roses for summer. Thinking in terms of fun and creativity will help achieve unique and wonderful results.

Whatever type of cake you desire, discuss your thoughts with several cake designers to ensure that what you want is what you get. If you’re not sure, let the designer give you ideas. Guaranteed they will have many wonderful suggestions.

Cake provides detailed information on Baby Shower Cake, Birthday Cake, Cake, Cake Decorating and more. Cake is affiliated with Birthday Cards.

By Jason Gluckman

In the United States, wedding cakes are the traditional dessert served at many weddings and receptions. Comprised of multi-layered cakes covered in white frosting, wedding cakes are the norm for many couples; however, outside of the United States, there many other options for wedding desserts. As couples search for more ways to make every aspect of their wedding celebration meaningful, some are turning to their families’ cultures and customs to find a wedding cake that’s from another world.

In Great Britain, for instance, wedding guests are treated to an elaborate fruitcake. The cake is filled with items such as dates, raisins, and prunes and soaked with brandy or cognac. Then, it is covered with marzipan, iced and decorated. On the outside, a traditional British wedding cake may not look unlike a wedding cake from the United States, but it has a totally different taste.

The traditional wedding cake from the Caribbean isles is also a fruitcake. Often soaked with rum or wine and stuffed with dried fruits, the cakes from these exotic islands are kept hidden at the reception. A white tablecloth is laid over the cake; guests, then, give the happy couple money to buy a chance to get a glimpse of the cake. Even family members who aren’t in attendance at the wedding get to share in this dessert as pieces of the cake are mailed to family members and friends.

Japanese wedding cakes, on the other hand, are actually an elaborate show rather than a dessert. Since multi-layered cakes are too expensive for many Japanese families to purchase, large plastic or wax cakes are created prior to the wedding reception. These “faux” cakes stand in for a traditional cake during the bride and groom’s cake-cutting ceremony. They even feature a special slot for the happy couple to pretend to cut into when the “cut” the cake. More affordable sheet cakes are kept out of sight for cutting and serving to the guests.

Traditional wedding cakes from Iceland share the same layered shape of the wedding cakes from the United States, but their appearance is very different. Kransekake, or ring cake, is made up of a series of ring-shaped cakes stacked on top of each other. These almond-flavored rings are often decorated with marzipan. The hollow center of the stack is sometimes filled with candies, chocolates, or even a bottle of wine.

Finally, some wedding cakes aren’t cakes at all. In the Ukraine region of the world, weddings are celebrated with a bread-like dessert known as Korovai. This traditional bread, decorated with symbols representing the joining together of two families, is considered a sacred part of the Ukrainian wedding ceremony.

Whatever type of culture there is in a family’s history, the decision to honor that culture can add a great deal of meaning to a wedding celebration. Brides and grooms who select a traditional wedding cake from their family’s culture pay homage to their pasts while the get read to embark on their futures.

By Adam Walters

Weddings are a once in a lifetime event for a couple. So it is only natural that no stone is left unturned to make it an affair to remember. The culmination of a wedding is the reception. The centerpiece at the reception is usually an elaborate wedding cake. The frosting is usually white, to symbolize purity and newness. They are often made in tiers, or levels, and there is usually some form of elaborate decoration.

When purchasing a cake you must decide on the size, type and style of the cake you want. Most wedding cakes have three tiers and are frosted with Royal Icing. However, there are many variations on this theme. Wedding cakes can come in any shape you like. Hearts shaped cakes are gaining in popularity, as are sheet cakes for smaller, less elaborate weddings. Colors and flowers (chocolate and fresh) also seem to be the modern bride’s preference.

Choosing a baker can be a chore. Make sure you give a clear picture of what you want and ask plenty of questions. Get everything in writing including the price, delivery date and time. It’s also important to reserve your cake by ordering it well before your wedding day. Make sure you sample several wedding cakes from various bakers. There are differences and your preference is what counts. Plenty of ideas can be found in books and on the Internet, so don’t be afraid to explore before making a commitment. On this very special day, you want your wedding cake to look and taste great.

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By Jason Gluckman