Beautiful Bridal

Sales in the months of October through January tend to be the slowest in the bridal industry. This is the time to look online for special discounts, buy-one-get-one-free, and clearance products. Most sites put their returned merchandise on "clearance" and there is nothing wrong with these items, they just didn't meet the needs of the original buyer.

Flat rate shipping is another great way to save by shopping online. If you can purchase a bridal tiara and five brooches for your bridesmaids and only pay one price for shipping, it's much less expensive than per-item shipping costs. Some advertise "free shipping on orders over $100." This won't do you any good if you're looking for two sets of earrings. Always look for flat rate shipping when you have a choice.

Many bridal websites now have their own blogs. This is a great way to find contests and free giveaways. Again, they may be giving away some of their returned merchandise, but you might be lucky enough to win the perfect wedding veil. Blogs are also a good place to find announcements such as "20% off all our earrings for this month only." The age of the blog and the number of posts determines how much traffic it receives. If you enter a contest on a newer blog, you may find very little competition and stand a much better chance of winning free bridal accessories.

Plan ahead and try to shop for bridal accessories online during the slower months. Carefully read the shipping instructions and return policy. Look for clearance items. Read the website's blog posts to determine whether they sponsor contests or giveaways. All of these will help you save money buying bridal accessories online.

They save you time AND money. Tiara and jewelry sets starting at only $88, made of the finest freshwater pearls, rhinestones and Swarovski crystals are less than half the price of a tiara at many large retailers.

Ready to channel your inner Jean Harlowe? Me too! If you want to glide down the aisle in a sleek, sophisticated silk sensation, look no further than Jane Yeh of Auckland, New Zealand. A well-known international bridal designer, Jane's simple, elegant, classic creations are reminiscent of the glamorous gowns of 1930s Hollywood fashion.



Jane Yeh Couture

Easy to write, especially from the heart. And they mean so much to your guests. I borrowed bits of this and that from other wedding programs and crafted these custom wedding thank you messages of my own. If I can do it, so can you!



We are grateful to our parents, for making this a joyous celebration of love, that may be enjoyed by friends and family, and remembered for a lifetime. With patience and guidance, they helped us become the people we are today, and enabled us to find an everlasting love that will enrich us for the rest of our lives.

Being a witness to the first day of our lives together; you have all filled our hearts with joy and gratitude. We are honored that many of you have traveled a great distance to be with us today.

May God bless each and every one of you for sharing this joyful day with us. Your support and friendship have made this a celebration of love that we will cherish forever.

We are blessed today to express our love in the presence of God, our parents, our brothers and sisters, family and friends. Each anniversary of our marriage, we will celebrate the memory of this day, and all of the wonderful people who made it so special.

Bless you for honoring us on our wedding day. May God enrich your lives, and provide those who have traveled far, a safe and happy journey home.

Today, in the presence of God and all our loved ones, we have promised our love and devotion. Thank you for being witness to this sacred moment. Our gratitude is boundless.


Image courtesy of Photography by Bethany

In their book "Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide," Carolyn Gerin and Kathleen Hughes list The Ten Commandments Of Bridal Attire. These are amazingly simple tips but worth passing along:

Know thyself and the dress will follow. Know your shape, your height, and your coloring, and have some idea of silhouettes that suit you.

Not every runway trend is a "real way" trend. Choose your clothes with thoughtfulness and discretion, and then not thinking another moment about them.

You should be wearing the garment-it should not be wearing you. Pinching shoes, a tight bodice, a scratchy crinoline, or a constricting corset will make you a cranky bride.

Aim for private comforts. Silk undies, a cotton-lined bodice, shoes you can dance in, a dress that doesn't feel like a heavy suit of armor.

Cleavage is one thing, but Baywatch is another. Be flashy but not trashy.

Go light on the makeup. Know how much makeup you're comfortable wearing and don't run the risk of looking embalmed.

Too many looks (or too much of one look) spoil the look. Instead of going head-to-toe vintage, build your look around one or two points such as shoes, necklace or beaded bodice.

Match your dress to your surroundings. A floor-length $20,000 Vera Wang at your nuptials in your parents' backyard would be inappropriate.

White's all right. Even if it's an encore marriage or you're over forty, white is fine, but avoid wearing a veil, traditionally reserved for younger brides.

Despite all the dos and don'ts, have some guts. We say, wear a monster tiara if you dare.

Eastern wedding traditions involve the decoration of the bride's hands and feet - in many cultures on both the front and back of the hands right up to the elbow (similar to gloves), and on the bottom half of the legs. Sometimes the bride and groom's names are hidden in the design, and they don't get to Lover's Lane (wedding night) until the groom finds both names. (Marry a good speller.)



Henna is a natural product and its leaves are dried and grounded up to make henna powder. A good dark design is a sign of good luck. A henna bridal design should last between 1 and 4 weeks, depending on contact with soap and water.

Nancy Eaton, author of "Your Vintage Wedding," gives these great tips for buying a vintage wedding dress:

EASY TO REPAIR

· Rusted buttons
· Ripped trains
· Torn undernetting
· Missing beads
· Missing or damaged pearls or buttons
· Broken zippers
· Tears on seams
· Some pulls in the fabric
· Minor lace tears

USUALLY NOT REPAIRABLE

· Split or "shattered" silk (fabric deterioraton)
· Dry rot in fabric or lace (fabric is dry and brittle)
· Badly torn lace
· Rust stains
· Visible stains or dirt in conspicuous places
· Tears, holes or burns in visible places
· Visible underarm stains

ACCEPT THESE MINOR DEFECTS AS IS

· Hem dirt
· Water staining on the hem or train
· Inconspicuous stains
· Inconspicuous small holes
· Minor scratches, scuffs, or pulls

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