Look how sexy this back of bridal gown
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Wedding Dresses And Gownds: "Modern Styles Wedding Dress"
A modern wedding dress can sometimes seem plain, but they are in actual fact extremely sexy and elegant. The best thing about these dresses is that there are so many you can choose from and it can all go into so much detail, that way it is so much easier to shop for the perfect dress for your special day! You will find the perfect dress that will help you look gorgeous on this day and believe me – you will be remembered that way!
When searching for a modern wedding dress you should already have some sort of picture in your mind of what you would like your dress to look like. If not, it will be a long process and a difficult decision, because there are so many different styles and makes to choose from. Finding the right dress is very important for any woman. Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and normally only happens once in a lifetime, therefore you want to look your best and will settle for nothing less.
When deciding on which modern wedding dress you would like, you need to choose which silhouette, empire, ball gown, A-line, mermaid, trumpet or sheath, and the sleeve length which could be long, short, strapless, ¾ length, sleeveless or spaghetti straps. Then the color, yellow, purple, orange, metallic, green, brown, Champaign, ivory, multi-colored, pink or white. The style could be romantic, glamorous, bohemian, beach casual, classic or modern. Or you could just refine the dress by key embellishment, sleeve type, pieces, train, neckline, waist, hemline or the fabric.
Once you have made that decision it will be time to sort out the outfits for the bridesmaids and flower girl. They could wear the same as what you are wearing or something completely different which will be better. If you have decided on a dress, consider them wearing fancy skirts with a pretty matching top. If you all look the same it could turn all the attention away from you. The color of your dress should match the color of something on the groom’s suit, whether it is his shirt, tie or even just embroidery on his suit’s jacket.
The petals that the flower girl will be dropping down the aisle should also match the color of your dress, or the same color as your dress just in a lighter or darker form. The bridesmaid’s bouquets and the other flowers should also match something, if not your dress, maybe the color of the groom’s outfit.
It would be very unique if the bride’s mom and the groom’s mom wore the same outfits, a different style of a modern dress. Them wearing fancy dresses as well would make it a bit much. Not a lot of couples do this at their wedding therefore it will make your wedding day even more special and not like everyone else. If you choose to do this the colors should also not be the same as yours but the grooms.
There are also other things that need to be taken into consideration when buying your modern wedding dress. Size is very important, but you should always try the dress on to see if it fits. Do not just see that the size of the dress is the same size as your jeans and presume it will fit because it most likely will not. Dress sizes vary, from store to store the sizes are different. So before you buy the dress make sure it fits. The same applies to the bridesmaids and the flower girl.
It will be a disaster if they got their dresses but did not try them on until the big day and then only to discover that it is too small or too big. What would happen then? Would they have to be excluded from the wedding? It would be too late to postpone the wedding as everything is already done and you would probably have to repay for all your services. That will really be disastrous. Therefore, it is vital that everybody has tried on their outfits at least one month before the wedding so if alterations need to be made, there will be enough time for all that and everything will be ready and waiting by the time the big day comes.
A modern wedding dress is not as expensive and as glamorous as most other wedding dresses therefore it is possible for it to be used for other occasions as well. Okay maybe not for the bride but for the bridesmaids and flower girl. They could keep it one day for their wedding or to wear to a prom. Any occasion that you need to be formally dressed. The brides however would normally keep their dresses and give it to their daughter or close relative.
Wedding Dress And Gowns: "The Antique Dress For Wedding"
Every woman wants to feel special on her wedding day, and the perfect wedding dress can do just that. There are many different styles to choose from in the world of wedding dress, and after a while of looking, you may start to feel like they all look the same. If you want to try something different and stand out more than the average bride, you could buy an antique wedding dress. The antique wedding dress is becoming a more popular choice for brides in today’s modern wedding because they are one-of-a-kind and not something that can be found on any rack in any store. However, there are some basics to finding an antique dress and you probably need to start looking ahead of time.
There are many websites that boast that they have the best in antique wedding dresses, but the Internet is not going to be the best source for finding your dress. Depending on what era you are buying, the sizes are not going to be the same as they are today. Just think, Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 and Audrey Hepburn was a 0, so you have to be careful about the measurements of any dress. Also, many people who list clothes on the Internet will lay the garment flat in order to provide the buyer with measurements, and this is not the most accurate way to do any sizing.
Dresses that have zippers in the back are going to provide more give than a dress with buttons. A dress that is described as hitting just above the knee could mean on a woman that is five feet tall, and that could be a problem if you are five foot ten. The best thing to do when you are looking for an antique wedding dress is to deal locally. Find a store that is close to your area that has different styles and an assortment of antique wedding dresses that you can see, feel, and smell (that is right, you never know).
When you find a store that has the wedding dresses that you are looking for, make sure to devote some extra time to shopping for this type of dress. You will need to look for certain things with antique dresses that you wouldn’t be looking for in a newer, modern dress. Don’t buy any dress that has to be cleaned or needs repairs of any kind. If you have ever tried to get a stain out of a shirt after a couple of days, you can imagine the pain it will be to try to get a stain out that has been setting into the fabric for twenty years. The truth is that you probably not be able to get the stain out at all. Repairs are something else that you don’t want to deal with because the vintage fabrics are almost impossible to match.
The odds that you will be able to repair a vintage, antique gown are slim to none. If you find a dress that you cannot live without and it is in need of repairs, you will have to find a great seamstress that can repair the gown for you. However, repairs are not going to be cheap, so be prepared to pay a minimum of $200 to $300. You should also be looking closely at the fabric. The problem with older fabrics is that they will become weak over time. Antique wedding dresses have been worn less, and if they were preserved properly, they haven’t been handled often either. Therefore, you may want to look at the fabric and stretch it to see how fragile it actually is. You may also want to avoid any sort of dress that has been made before the 20th century simply because it could literally fall apart at any time.
If searching for the real thing seems like it is more trouble than it is worth, you could always have a dress that is made to look antique. Reproductions will hold up better and they will have an authentic look, you will know that it is not the real thing, which may or may not bother you. There are websites that offer patterns for antique dresses that you can purchase and take to a seamstress. However, you should realize and stick to a budget for your dress so that you will know what you can or cannot purchase.
Many vintage garments cost a lot of money because they are so unique. A reproduction could help you to achieve the same look without the heavy price tag. The great thing about antique wedding gowns is that they can stand out from the rest of the bridal party without looking awkward or making you adjust your day to have a themed wedding just for your gown. Enjoy your day and make whatever wedding dress you pick be exactly what you want for your special day.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Wedding Dress And Brides: Maternity Wedding Dresses
Wedding dress is no doubt the most important part for each bride. However, pregnant brides may have completely different considerations when choosing a wedding dress. In fact, being pregnant does not mean those mothers-to-be have to sacrifice style or single out their wedding gowns within very limited choices. Simply on account of you being pregnant, the wedding does not lose its significance or uniqueness. It still is as special to you as it would be to a non-expectant bride. There are many ways for them to get just the right maternity wedding dresses that will help to make them look beautiful on the special days.
Maternity wedding dresses do not mean dowdy looking or ill-fitting. There are plentiful and glamorous maternity wedding dresses to choose from so it is unnecessary to sacrifice on quality or style just because you are expecting. Maternity wedding dresses come in a variety of styles and shapes. Whether you are looking for a long, floor length gown or a short knee length-wedding gown, you will find the fit for you. Maybe you do not know they are available in the same designs as regular sized bridal dresses. Maternity wedding dresses can be designed to fit any stage of the pregnancy. The key point lies in the waist area made of loose material falling just as it should. Usually, the increased size of the belly may cause the front of the bridal dress to come up, so the secret of choosing a good bridal maternity dress relies on the length of maternity wedding dresses. The length should not be too long and a seamstress can hem the bridal dress so that it falls to the desired length evenly all the way around. Short length wedding gowns are fun, sexy and glamorous and show off your legs. Side slits are a very popular style for the pregnant bride to be. Beaded, lace or smooth satin gowns are just some of the choices you will make when selecting your maternity wedding dresses.
Maternity wedding dresses can be custom made, besides, there are many outlets having knowledgeable staff that can take the measurements and make any necessary alterations. Under their magic hands, the neckline can be altered, sleeves removed or added and beading inserted to increase the overall effect. The only problem with maternity wedding dresses for the mothers-to-be is that the dresses are usually ordered well in advance of the wedding. On the contrary, the woman’s body can change so much in a short period of time. It is better to decide the final fitting for the bridal dress a week before the wedding.
Remember that being on your feet for a large part of the day, you will feel more tired as a pregnant lady, so be sure to choose a dress that you are going to be comfortable in. In addition, in terms of getting the right sizes of the maternity wedding dresses, it is more difficult for pregnant ladies than for those who are not. In that case, you had better visit your wedding dress supplier early so that they can offer you their advice properly.
http://yourweddinggowns.com
Wedding Dress And Gowns: Learning How to Design Your Own Wedding Dress
Even as the dress was made of white material, not all designs were valued for such an auspicious time and brides began to slip back to the more elaborate and metaphorical styles.
Most brides-to-be will set out to the store and search through racks of wedding dress designs with no a clear picture of what they are looking for in a gown. You are going to require to start off by telling them what kind of style you are looking for: modern, elegant, classy, sexy, traditional, and so on.
Finding the Right Wedding Dress Designer
Your wedding is one of the vital days of your life, and we all identify that the bride's wedding dresses is one of the most important aspects to this day. Several of the more popular options are pink, purple, burgundy and black. The best suggestion is to make this the first thing you do for the reason that then they will be there to help you along every step of the way. Prior to spending a lot of time in a dress shop, the bride ought to imagine what they hope to look like on their wedding day.
Another accepted wedding dress designer is Monique Lhullier, a Filipino fashion designer who is currently based in the United States. Although white is the standard and traditional color, wedding dresses in this day and age are offered in every color of the rainbow. She is recognized for creating some of the most elegant and stylish wedding gowns in the world, and has catered to a variety of different celebrities.
How to Design Your Own Wedding Dress
The first thing is to find a designer that is available to work with you.
Lhuillier has long been a designer to the stars, and has in point of fact designed wedding dresses for Natalie Imbruglia, Charlotte Ross, Debbie Matenopolous, and as well she was selected by over 300,000 viewers of the Today Show for Nikki Hensley's wedding dress as part of their "Today Throws a Destination Wedding 2004" series.
Designer wedding gowns are forever a great choice, not only because they are classically beautiful and made of the best quality, but as well for the reason that you can work with the designer sequentially to custom fit and suit it perfectly to you. Most brides would ridicule at this idea, particularly if they have no previous design or craft skills. She mainly made the news when she designed Christine Baumgartner's dress for the fall 2004 wedding to Kevin Costner, in addition to when she designed both of Britney Spears' dresses for her wedding to Kevin Federline.
One of the main reward that you gain when you design your own wedding dress is that you are able to communicate with the creator of the dress every step of the way and you get to in point of fact watch the dress being built, so if at any point there is something that you are not totally satisfied with, you are able to make the appropriate changes.
Additionally, because you are having the dress custom designed for you, it will fit better than any other pre-made dress in any store, and thus compliment your figure as much as possible.
Nevertheless, you in fact do not need any sort of special talent in order to design your own wedding dress, and so if this idea interests you, then you will want to read on to discover out more. With that picture in mind, think about the different style available in a wedding dress and learn a little of the language implicated to better relay your desired style to the shop.
Obviously you have lots of different options when it comes to finding wedding dresses, but did you yet think to design your own wedding dress?
Visit unique wedding gowns to learn how to design your own wedding dress and about finding romantic wedding gowns.
One wedding dress designer that everybody has heard of is Vera Wang, who is an American fashion designer based in New York City, New York.
Consecutively to help you out here you may want to visit a few different bridal shops, and take the designer along with you if you can, so that you can help to decide what styles look best on you and assist you to come up with some really great ideas for your own gown.
The next step to design your own wedding dress is to select a color.
Today's main features of a conventional wedding dress is evocative of the Victorian age and has been since the 1904's when brides began to shun the practice of wearing a wedding dress that imitative the designs of popular culture. Every bride should be wholly satisfied and in love with her gown, and so it is very important that she choose the right wedding dress designer to make it.
http://wedding-and-marriage.blogspot.com
In Wedding Dress And Gowns: Neckline Styles,Skirts, And Sleeve Styles
Flattering, stylish neckline styles are important if you would like to draw attention up and away from your not so flattering waistline. Higher necklines are for brides who consider themselves more modest or with smaller busts. Lower necklines are appropriate for more formal evening wedding gowns. Showing lots of cleavage - not appropriate for any wedding unless you are in Hollywood.
- Off the shoulder: any neckline that leaves shoulders bare.
- On the shoulder: any neckline that covers shoulders.
- Bateau: little to no “scoop,” often accompanied with a high back, can also have a low or bare back.
- Halter: sleeveless style leaves the shoulders bare, neckline circles the neck, often leaving the back bare also.
- Portrait: frames the face, off the shoulder style, usually has a design at the center.
- Queen Anne: similar to the sweetheart neckline, extended back creates a diamond shape neckline.
- Scoop: dips to a “U” shape, often both front and back.
- Square: similar to a scoop, this neckline dips into a square shaped opening.
- Sweetheart: often off the shoulder, this neckline dips in front creating a heart-shaped opening.
- V-Neck: dips in the front, and sometimes the back creating a “V” shape.
- Ballgown (or Full Skirt): full and flares out from the waist, often keeps it shape with the aid of a crinoline (an underskirt or slip made of stiff netting), may have long train to be bustled or held up with a wrist loop; hides hips yet gives narrow hips a curvy look.
- Fishtail or Mermaid: hugs the body until it reaches the knees or just below and then ends in a dramatic flare, (above the knees allows for freeer dance movement and is more popular at this time), may have detachable train; more suitable for trimmer figures.
- Tea-length: less formal, usually with little to no flare, ends a few inches above the ankles; popular for NJ beach weddings.
- A-line or Princess: A-line, starts to flare out just below the natural waist; flattering to just about every shape camouflaging the bottom; gives illusion of height; works well for full-figure brides because heavier fabrics won’t cling; popular for NJ shore beach weddings.
- Sheath: narrow, straight flattering - popular for New Jersey shore weddings because it is less confining and requires less undergarments allowing for more air flow on New Jersey’s warm, summer evenings.
- Cap: short, close fitting, long enough to just cover the shoulders; popular for NJ shore summer weddings.
- Fitted: long, (to the wrist) and fitted, hugging the arms; suitable for NJ winter weddings.
- Short or 3/4: roomier and longer than the Cap sleeve, reaching slightly more than half way to the elbow; popular for NJ spring shore weddings.
- Strapless: no sleeves and very sexy, not flattering to broad shoulders.
Wedding Dress And Gowns: DealMax Shares the 5 Secrets of Finding the Ideal Wedding Dress
The time has come. He's proposed, she's still getting used to wearing the ring, and family and friends are asking for details about the wedding. When is it Where Is it a day or an evening wedding Will it be a big reception Has the wedding dress been found yet DealMax (http://www.mydealmax.com), a premier membership discount program from Adaptive Marketing LLC (http://www.adaptivemarketing.com/about_overview.asp), knows that if planning a wedding is a daunting task, choosing the ideal wedding gown can be almost as overwhelming.
On average, a bride will try on at least 17 gowns and visit at least three different bridal boutiques before finding the perfect dress. The most important thing brides have to remember is that the "ideal dress" is not necessarily the one a particular celebrity wore on her wedding or one that resembles Cinderella in every way, but the one that fits her best, according to her body shape, size and style.
When choosing a wedding gown, brides needs all the help they can get, so here are five important tips consider during the process, brought by DealMax (http://www.mydealmax.com/DMA/Page/Help/PrivacyPolicy.aspx):
-- Get inspiration. Internet sites and bridal magazines are the best place to find the preferred style. Start out with a general idea of the desired kind of dress: traditional, straight, empire line, princess line, etc. Gather as many ideas as possible, and bring those pictures to the bridal boutique.
-- Diversify. Don't zero in exclusively on one style or one particular designer. Having an open mind helps brides explore different options, and some dresses look plain on a hanger but fabulous on a body.
-- Be practical. Consider the season when choosing the design and fabric of the dress. A long, tight gown or a puffy one can make it harder for the bride to walk or dance. As for fabrics, let the season decide. Think brocade, satin, velvet and other heavy fabrics for fall and winter ceremonies. Spring and summer wedding gowns call for pure cotton, lace, silk, chiffon, and light fabrics.
-- Stay budget-conscious. A top-designer wedding gown (Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Oleg Cassini, Vera Wang, etc.) can cost more than a two-month honeymoon in Europe, but there are ways to get a designer gown without paying the price. Visit bridal salon chains and look for sample sales to get designer gowns for half-price or less. Don't forget to add the cost of veil, headpiece, lingerie, shoes, jewelry and alterations to the dress budget, reminds DealMax (http://www.dealmax-program.com/800-548-0685_DealMax.html).
-- Bring backup. Sales clerks will give advice, but they also work on commission. Bring mom or a trusted friend along to provide feedback and honest opinions. A bride should take their suggestions into consideration, together with her own instincts. If a bride has to be reassured that the dress looks great on her, it's probably not the one.
While choosing their wedding dress, brides also have to take care of other wedding-related details. To save time and money on their favors, decoration, fashion and other needs for that special day in their lives, smart brides can enjoy the benefits of DealMax (http://www.dealmax-program.com/DealMax_qanda.html).
About DealMax
DealMax is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at MyDealMax.com. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as DealMax.
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Wedding Dress And Wedding Beach: Helpful Tips on Picking a Suitable Dress
What style of dress is most suitable for a beach wedding? Well you will want a style that does not drag along the sand and at the same time looks suitable for such a special day. With this is mind most future brides tend to go for the empire style made out of a light weight material. The sheath design is also a popular alternative.
With the skirt beginning to fall from just below the breasts, the length can be short enough to stay off the sand during the ceremony while giving the impression of a full-length gown. Obviously, the use of a train is out of the question when getting married on the beach, and with an empire style beach wedding dress the bride can still look resplendent in her choice of gowns.
Let us not forget that even though beach weddings may be less formal than church weddings they have the same meaning. We have seen an increase in couples choosing to get married in their own personal choice of surroundings whether this is due to budgetary constraints or otherwise. Generally beach wedding dresses do tend to be cheaper than the more traditional gowns.
Find The Dress That Matches Bride’s Personality.
One of the main drivers in the process of finding a beach wedding dress is the personality and attitude of the bride. Whilst the bride may have a less formal approach to her special day it is still important that she exudes the devotion and class that the service richly deserves. Her dress should not be so informal that it looks out of place against the backdrop.
Let’s not forget that beaches tend to be hot and as such the weather should be a factor in the choice of dress. Her dress needs to be suitable in the heat of the day so a free flowing light fabric should be considered, this will also be appropriate for the reception afterwards. A light colored matching jacket or shawl can be kept on hand for when the weather turns a little cooler.
The important thing about the choice of any gown, even a beach wedding dress is that it is tailored to the bride and is of a style and design that accents the positive aspects of her stature. Before buying any beach wedding dress, take a few minutes a get a picture in mind about how the wedding photos will look a few years down the road. If the imagined image is positive, it is probably the right choice.
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Wedding Dresses And Gowns: Choosing Flattering Maternity Wedding Dresses
Long gone are the days when being a pregnant bride was something so disgraceful that it had to carefully hidden. In fact, some statistics suggest that as many as one in five brides in the United States are pregnant on their wedding days. No wonder more and more companies are catering to the needs of pregnant brides by designing stylish and flattering maternity wedding dresses.
Companies are beginning to realize that just because you are pregnant doesn't mean your styles or the quality of your wedding attire should change. Just because you're a pregnant bride doesn't mean your wedding is any less special to you than the wedding of a non-pregnant bride.
Nowadays, maternity wedding dresses, just like regular wedding dresses, can be described with the 4 S's: Sexy, Stylish, Sensual, and Sensational. Wedding dresses for expectant mothers are now beautifully designed and sometimes custom tailored. They come in all range of prices from affordable to outrageously expensive.
You can be assured that modern maternity wedding dresses are not boring or lifeless. Most are stylish, daring and fun, while still remaining comfortable. After all, with pregnancy, comfort in clothing is a big deal.
There are many styles of maternity wedding dresses so you won't have a problem finding one that will compliment you body type and your new curves. Combine a delightfully stylish wedding gown with your new baby bump, your glowing skin, and your excitement; you'll bring a whole new meaning to the term "glowing bride."
When buying your wedding gown, especially if your wedding is a month or more away, you need to choose a style that will take into account your changing shape. During pregnancy your body will expand in ways you never thought possible, and you'll want your maternity wedding dress to still fit on the big day.
Try buying one size up and have a reliable dressmaker on hand for any last minute alterations. If you want to hide your pregnancy, one size up will cover your bump as well as a big bouquet.
Many maternity wedding dresses are designed to show off your new curves. Some focus on the shoulders or the bust. So if you have great shoulders or are especially proud of your breasts, choose a style that shows them off. (A word of caution about displaying your breasts. A little cleavage is okay. Looking like you're about to fall out of your dress isn't.)
Popular wedding gown styles for pregnant brides include empire lines, princess lines, or A-line dresses. These styles flare from the bust and leave room for your growing belly. Sometimes a chiffon overlay can be added to soften the lines of your dress.
No matter which style of maternity wedding dress you pick, remember that the back view is as important as the front. During the ceremony you will have your back to everyone so you're going to want it to look good.
http://www.pregnancydigest.info
Wedding Dresses And Brides: Selecting A Silver Wedding Dress For Your Big Day
Silver is not an obvious choice as the color to pick for your wedding dress and it is still not a common choice amongst future brides, however it depends how you define a silver wedding dress. A very light grey might be thought of by some to be silver. Nevertheless it is still worth thinking about if you want a less traditional color but do not want to opt for a bright color.
A silver wedding dress can be considered an avant garde choice for first time brides since the usual choices go from white to very light cream and ecru.Many other colors will also be used as an addition to the main color of white in order to blend against the color of the floral arrangement.
Why Choose A Silver Wedding Dress.
Obviously the main reason for choosing a silver wedding dress is that the bride prefers this color but there can be other reasons. The wedding motif may be silver i.e. the car, the floral arrangement, the bridesmaid’s outfits and the bride will want her dress to complement this scheme. Also the dress may be a family heirloom passed down from a previous generation.
Yet another reason why brides choose to wear a silver wedding dress is that they might be celebrating their silver wedding anniversary. The 25th year of marriage is the year that is considered the silver wedding anniversary of couples. Silver is the color for the celebration of the 25th year. Brides who wish to celebrate their 25th year by renewing their vows can wear a silver wedding dress, if they want.
There is a move towards brides seeking a degree of uniqueness to their weddings and therefore a move away from a traditional feel. Having a silver dress (or any color other than white) certainly is unique. Consider that silver can cause flashbacks when a photograph is taken as the fabric does tend to shine.
Just as the color black can make you look slimmer silver can make you appear heavier and this might be worth thinking about.
The grooms may not agree with the fact that the bride is the center of attention and a bride wearing a silver gown as they walk through the church will certainly get some attention.
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Wedding Dresses And Gowns: Earth Friendly Wedding Dresses
I’ve been hearing a lot about green weddings over the past year or so. While I knew they were supposed to be weddings that were more friendly to the environment, I didn’t really know all the specifics about how brides were able to make their weddings so eco-friendly. But I’ve been looking into it lately, and there are lots of great ideas about how to keep your wedding from really harming the environment that I’ve decided to start a whole new series on green weddings. I’ve already done articles on conflict-free diamonds, and alternative wedding flowers. One of the more important factors of having a green wedding is to find an environmentally friendly wedding dress. When it comes to choosing a wedding dress for your green (or earth friendly) wedding, there are many different options you can choose from.
Recycling an Old Wedding Dress
Many brides choose to wear their mother’s wedding dress as a way of recycling. If the style doesn’t work for you, then take it to get wedding dress alterations to change it up a little bit by adding some lace, removing puffy sleeves, or any other alterations you want to do to make the dress a style you would enjoy more. If your mom’s wedding dress won’t work, then consider asking a friend or other family member who wouldn’t mind you using their wedding dress.
Many brides who can not use their mother’s wedding dress for any particular reason, or a friend or family members also have more options when it comes to recycling their wedding dress. You can buy your wedding dress second-hand at a thrift shop or off of the Internet and then have it altered to meet what you want in a wedding dress. That will cut down on the number of chemicals and fuels used to make the gown, as well as the demand for labor overseas.
Buying an Organic Wedding Dress
This is another great option when you are planning a green wedding. There are now many designers who are offering lines of organic wedding weddings made from hemp and other types of environmentally safe materials. I’ve looked through many of the lines of organic wedding dresses, and while they look a little bit different from the normal wedding dresses you’ll see in a bridal shop, they are beautiful and comfortable dresses.
Making Your Own Wedding Dress
If you’re familiar with my blog at all, then I’m sure you know that I had my wedding dress special made by a friend of mine who made it just exactly what I wanted, and that I recommend doing this to everyone I can. If you choose to go this way, you buy the material for your wedding dress that is all natural, such as silk or a silk blend of some kind. The ladies at the fabric store should be able to help you find some all natural fabrics.
You’ll find that just taking a few simple steps while doing your wedding planning can help you save the environment from lots of waste unnecessary harm. Keep checking back for lots of great tips and tricks for planning an environmentally friendly wedding.
http://ineedweddinghelp.com/
Bridal Kinds of wedding Dresses: Veils, White Wedding Dresses, and Old Traditions
Why do brides wear white wedding dresses and long bridal veils and what exactly does having something old, new, borrowed, and blue have to do with it all anyway? Weddings are big business today and the trend of having a lavish and traditional style wedding is showing no signs of stopping, but where did these wedding day traditions come from and what do they really mean? Wedding traditions are a wonderful way to make your special day even more meaningful, so you might want to familiarize yourself with what exactly these wedding day traditions are really all about.
The first white wedding dress that is credited with starting the white wedding trend belonged to Anne of Brittany on her third trip down the aisle to King Louis XII on January 8, 1499. Anne was forced by law to marry the new king as her second husband, King Charles VIII, had died. Prior to that time, most brides wore their best dress, usually yellow, red, or blue.
The color blue has been a popular wedding dress color since biblical times due to its symbolic association with purity and the Virgin Mary. In some cultures, the color of white is considered the color of mourning and was worn to symbolize the child leaving the family and joining a new family, a metaphor for the death of a child, as she becomes a woman. In other cultures white has always been associated with purity, joy, celebration, and happiness.
Bridal veils were originally meant to symbolize a woman’s submission to her new husband and were often yellow or red in color. They were also meant to represent the virginity, modesty, and innocence of the young bride as she was handed over to the new family. Bridal veils were draped over the bride’s head and would be lifted off by her husband after the ceremony to symbolize the taking of the bride and the end of her child-like innocence. Many brides would lift the veils themselves in a show of defiance and independence that she was not his property, but a partner in marriage.In some Eastern cultures, the bride would be hidden beneath her veil until after the wedding ceremony when the groom could see his bride for the very first time. This was a common practice in cultures that participate in arranged marriages. It was meant to keep the groom from running off before the wedding because he didn’t like the look of his intended bride. Bridal veils became popular in the United States when Nelly Curtis wore one at her wedding to Major Lawrence Lewis, one of George Washington’s aides. Since that time, the white wedding dress has become the standard in the United States. As the entire saying goes… Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe. This is a good luck wish from Victorian times that has stuck around for one reason or another. The something old should be something that connects the bride to her own family, such as a piece of antique jewelry that has been handed down through the generations. The something new symbolizes success, good luck, and happiness for the future of her new marriage. This is often represented by the new wedding gown. Something borrowed is meant to remind the new bride of her friends. The item borrowed must be from a happily married woman in order to give her good luck for a happy marriage of her own. The something blue is a symbol of fidelity and is often represented on the garter around the leg. Finally, the sixpence, which is often left out of the modern version, is meant to bring the new marriage wealth. Placing a penny in the shoe on your wedding day should do the trick!
Therefore, when you are putting your own wedding together, you will now understand the deeper meanings of these wedding traditions. While you certainly don’t have to believe in the old meanings, you can give them new meaning of your own as you put on your wedding dress, bridal veil, and other symbolic items on before your wedding.
http://www.canadianbridal.ca
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Wedding Dress: "Celebrity Wedding Dresses"
A wedding day is a big day for any woman, but celebrity women have to make sure they look extra good, because the world will see their pictures. It seems like every celebrity wedding must top the previous, but still show the unique style of the couple. Many women turn to celebrities weddings to help them get an idea of their dream day, including what dress style will fit them best. I have gone and gathered a bunch of photos of celebrity wedding dresses. Celebrities including Mariah Carey, Princess Diana, and more are included.
Celebrity Gossip and Fashion: http://celebrity.rightpundits.com
Wedding Dresses And Brides: Kinds of Short Wedding Dresses
Short wedding dresses. Short wedding dresses are becoming more and more popular for wedding styles. Many women are seeing that wearing short wedding dresses can be soft, romantic, elegant and give a very simple look. Short wedding dresses are also a great way to show off your legs and your Shoes, which many women hide under long wedding gowns. If you have a beach, outdoor or summer wedding, short wedding dresses are perfect, but they can also look wonderful for any wedding. Here are a few great styles of short wedding dresses you can wear for your wedding.
http://www.wedding53.com/short-wedding-dresses/short-wedding-dresses
"Wedding Dress And Brides: Choose the right accessories to help you keep warm..."
Depending on the climate, or where you will be having your winter wedding, choosing accessories for your winter wedding dress will play an important part in making you cozy and warm.
Wedding dress designers are featuring long coats with some of their creations - perfect for the bride being married in a cooler climate.
Shawls and wraps are very popular right now and will help to keep your shoulders warm. Pashmina are a beautiful accessory, they are comfortable both indoors and out and come in a wide variety of colors.
Select from our exclusive range of hand embroidered pashmina shawls. These shawls are made in a 50% pashmina and 50% wool blend, and measure 36" x 80". available in black, blue topaz, vanilla, pale blossom & dove.Fur wraps or shrugs add a touch of elegance to a winter wedding dress.
Which is the right shoe for a winter wedding?The long standing fashion rule is that the bride and bridesmaids wear closed toe shoes in winter. In climates where winter means 70+ degrees this standard is often overlooked, and increasingly brides everywhere are breaking the rules and wearing what they love - closed toe or not. Consider UGG boots, as sensible footwear to get you from the car to the church, and replace with a sexy strappy sandal at the reception.
www.wedding-dresses-gowns.com/
Tips For Shopping Wedding Dresses And Brides
I bought my wedding dress yesterday!! It’s so beautiful. I’ve never felt so pretty in my entire life; I look like a princess.
Make sure to wear the shoes you plan on wearing when trying on some of the dresses so you can estimate how many alterations you need to make. Remember to always bring an honest person with you (your best friend) so they can tell you what looks good and what doesn’t.
www.mydreamwedding.ca
Wedding Day: a Bout Winter Wedding Dress
The bride planning a winter wedding has a greater flexibility when it comes to choosing a winter wedding dress. Cold weather brides can choose to wear the same types of strapless or halter dresses summer brides wear, but they can also wear fur trimmed or long sleeved styles that would make summer brides uncomfortable.
COVERING UP
Many brides choose to wear summer styles for a winter wedding. Sure, strapless wedding dresses are all the rage right now, and they do look nice, but how can a bride enjoy herself when she's shivering? If you will be wearing a style that doesn't offer any protection from the cold, it will be in your best interests to wrap yourself in something warm. A white faux fur or velvet wrap, shrug, shawl or hooded cape looks stunning a top a white wedding dress. Some brides even go for color and choose a red velvet or velour stole to wear over their wedding dresses. Those who go with a long flowing cape, may choose to wear a hood instead of a traditional veil or headpiece.
WINTER WEDDING DRESS STYLES
There are some beautiful winter wedding dress styles to choose from as well. Many dresses come with long sleeves. A thick satin dress or one made of white velvet or velour would rival those summer styles and in fact, may even look more elegant and formal. A style with faux fur trim around the sleeves and collar will simply look stunning.
http://wedding.lovetoknow.com
http://wedding.lovetoknow.com
Wedding Dresses And Brides: Choosing the right wedding dress that flatter your figure
A wedding dress can boast or bad about yourself. In order to ensure that you look at the former, it is important to know the shape of your body so that you choose the right fit for the wedding dress.
Look at yourself in the mirror, be honest and acknowledged the best and worst part of your characteristics:
If you're short, look for dresses that have vertical lines or decorations that may give the illusion of height. Avoid fabric heavy burden you.
If you are tall, look for dresses edge scanning lines. Satin or linen is good.
If you have large busts, look for a dress or a shoulder neckline. Look fitted for a size or a low reduced to draw your attention busts. Avoid high-neck as Queen Anne or STRAPS drawings.
If you have small and medium-sized busts, you can try V neckline scoop or return. Avoid tight waist. You can try to design a wedding dress empire.
If you have long shapely legs, you can try to short skirts or skirts with filings show.
If you have a small size, choose one that has a natural waist.
If you have a large bosoms, choose a design or STRAPS shoulder to show your cleavage.
If you have a good return, choose the lower back dress and some accessories to highlight the beautiful your back!
If you are fair skinned, avoid pure white. If you are dark-skinned, ivory or avoid yellow tones.
These are a few tips for you to think about when you go to the store to try marriage wedding dress.
The Wedding Dresses And Brides: How to choose the perfect winter wedding dress?
While the most popular months for weddings are always the summer months, especially June, the winter is the season to force a term being the most favorable time to get married.
There are many good reasons to choose a marriage of winter, and it is easy to see why the marriage of winter are becoming so popular.
Of course, a marriage of winter, a winter wedding dress, and it is important to choose that wedding dress with care. After all, winter wedding dress is the jewel of all winter wedding, it is important to choose very carefully.
Choose a reputable and reliable wedding dress Shop
When it comes to choosing the perfect wedding dress, nothing is more important than the reputation and reliability of the wedding dress manufacturer.
There are many vendors who sell wedding dresses, department stores chain stores wedding dress of specialty retailers. There are even wedding dresses available online, so it is important to shop around.
Places to find your wedding dress Winter
One of the first places to start looking for the perfect winter wedding dress Is the high-end department store.
Many of the most beautiful stores carry a good selection of wedding gowns and robes others, so it is a good idea to buy first.
Choosing a dress ready for employment or a personal one
In addition, there are many chain wedding dress makers on the market, and they can be excellent choices to create the perfect winter wedding dress.
Some of these chain stores carry only on the plateau wedding gowns, while others employ seamstresses that May be able to customize the winter wedding dress you prefer just for you. If you need such a custom installation, be sure to ask about this before you have chosen and paid for your dress.
The Internet is a great place to display the most current styles
There is even winter wedding dress suppliers on the Internet and the Web has been gaining popularity as a source of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses.
While some married be missing the experience of trying on dresses in brick and mortar stores, others enjoy the convenience and low prices of these virtual clothing stores. So if you are looking for a bargain on your wedding dress winter, be sure to check online.
Wedding Dresses And Brides: Beach wedding Dress to Achieve a Sexy Look for Your Dress
Sexy walk a fine line between being really attractive and of simply being cheap. Even slots have a limit when it comes to good taste. Remember Elizabeth Hurley's crotch-revealing dress when she went to a wedding? And it was not even married! She got away with it, but as beautiful as Ms. Hurley, the ancient left many customers with a bad memory of this case.
Sexy is to show your curves, all your good parts and retaining enough to keep everyone guessing. And that is something you can do with your beach wedding dress. Thus, areas of the body you expose and better yet, how many?
One thing to consider when picking your beach sexy wedding dress is to examine what parts of your body you are most proud. If you have curved like a guitar, a fitting bodice can show them well. If your legs are to die for a short dress or a slot that goes halfway up your thighs is a great way to wear a sexy beach wedding dress. The trick is to find one or two places where you can highlight and allow the rest of your body to play your best asset.
Beach wedding dresses also need your arm to go uncovered. This is already quite sexy. If you are wearing a long beach wedding dress, show your neck and shoulders by linking your hair in an upswept hairdo and wearing a STRAPS or off-the-shoulder dress. Or to go even sexy minimum exposure skin with a halter neck. A halter neck show tonic and a few shoulders skin on the torso front and upper back.
A beach sexy wedding dress can also work well with a low-cut back. If your back seems that sexy Hilary Swank and Nicole Kidman, wearing a sleeveless, scoop neck and a plunging back. Any style do - the big V-cut to reveal pleasant shoulder blades and just skimmed your lower back or a slot shy, which can operate directly from the nape of your neck to lower back, revealing your skin if a breeze is blowing slightly open.
And what is a beach sexy wedding dress without the cleavage? Maximize your curves with a midriff-skimming bustier or if you are a little shy, wearing a sage beach wedding dress with a small hole face.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Wedding Dress And Japanese kimono Wedding Tradition
Kimono fitter dressed couple for their traditional Japanese ceremony in the Cotswolds.Photographer Denis Kennedy, from Witney, had an unusual assignment in Chipping Campden — when he photographed the traditional Japanese wedding of engineer Ayao, 31, and Sachie Komatsu, 29, a PhD student.
The couple are both from Tokyo, but met in Oxford. They now live in Northampton.
For their ceremony in Britain the couple dressed in traditional Japanese style but, says Sachie, for their ceremony in Japan in December she will be wearing a western wedding dress!
The couple hired a Kimono fitting specialist to dress them and the wedding party. Sachie explained: “In the past, all Japanese obviously used to wear Kimono in their daily life. However, we rarely wear Kimono these days, since our country has been hugely influenced by western countries.
“The Kimonos we were wearing are for special occasions, so it’s necessary to have someone to help to put them on.
“The Kimono I was wearing is called ‘furisode’, and the sleeves are very long — they almost touch ground. This special Kimono
is for an ‘unmarried young lady’. It is our tradition to give the Kimono to a lady, when she celebrates her 20th birthday, which is the official adult age in Japan.
http://www.brideandgroomoxfordshire.co.uk
Wedding Dress: Japanese Bride Wedding Kimono In Wedding
The traditional white wedding kimono is called shiro-maku. Shiro meaning white and maku meaning pure. The Japanese wedding kimono actually consists of several different kimono. The white wedding kimono is worn for the wedding ceremony and an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono called uchikake is worn over the white kimono at the wedding reception. The bride will normally change her dress several times, a tradition dating from the 14th century that signifies that she is prepared to return to everyday life.The uchikake kimono originated in the Edo era and was mainly worn only by court nobles. The kimono is made of silk and beautiful silk brocade. The kimono is rich in fine embroidered patterns and scenes of flowers, cranes, pines, flower carts and nature motifs embellish the kimono in rich color. The wedding day will be the last time the bride will wear a rich highly patterned kimono, for in Japan they are reserved only to be worn by young unmarried women. Red is the most popular uchikake kimono color, however they are available in many different colors from imperial purple to sea green.
The brides hair is styled in the traditional hair style called bunkin-takashimada and adorned with beautiful kanzashi ornaments, combs and accessories.
A white wedding hood called a tsuno-kakushi literally meaning "to hide horns" is worn during the ceremony indicating that she will carry out her role as a wife with patience and serenity.
Like American weddings, there are traditional wedding accessories that are worn for tradition and are said to bring good luck. The bride carries a small purse style sack called hakoseko and a small encased sword called kaiken. Lastly, a fan is worn in the obi belt for tradition holds that the gradual widening of the open fan implies happiness and thus brings a happy.
http://www.japaneseweddingfavors.com
The Important Things In Selection and purchase of chinese wedding gown
Red is a color of luck, wealth, love and happiness, and as we choose a white color for a wedding dress, Chinese brides wear a red wedding gown. The more wedding gowns the bride changes during the wedding night, the more prominent the family is. Normally, a Chinese bride has three to four dresses. Although a white color is associated with death, you can often find Chinese woman, dressed in a traditional Western white dress, which shows a profound influence of the Western culture on Chinese. Wouldn't you agree that all uncommon to us looks more beautiful? While we admire Chinese traditions of clothes' design, they prefer ours.If you are looking for a Chinese wedding gown, perhaps, a primary thing you think of, what designs are traditional and what ones are modern. A Chinese wedding gown is normally of red color, often embroidered with many designs, made of gold or silver thread. The most typical designs are of dragon and phoenix, which show the union of a male and a female.
The style of a Chinese wedding gown often emphasizes the origins of the family. Most of the dresses worn these days arise from the Qing dynasty, the last dynasty of China, and are called Qi Pao. Areas that are more northern would wear a Qi Pao, while brides from southern China usually wear a two-piece dress, named Qun Gua, Kwa or Cheongsam, also masterfully adorned with golden phoenix and dragon. There are also other styles of dresses in China, arising from the diverse cultures, inhabiting China and including Mongolian, Taiwanese, Tibetian and various minority groups that still find their homes in this hospitable country. The red characteristic has been a part of the ceremonies since probably the first introduction of weddings during the Warring States period. A red veil has also been a natural part of the bride's costume to cover her face during the wedding ceremony. Newlyweds would see each other's face for the first time at their wedding night.
We have gradually come to the most important question where to buy an authentic Chinese wedding dress for your Chinese wedding. The options are many, ranging from searching your nearby Chinese shops and browsing the Internet resources. If you prefer the second variant, here are some websites that offer Chinese wedding gown collections.
• ChinaBridal.com operates exclusively on the Internet. It is not only good for search of a particular Chinese wedding gown, but also a one-stop wedding planning resource center. You can find here all the information, services and products for your Chinese wedding. The products' shipping is available both: inside and outside the US.
• Bitablue.com is an online Chinoiserie boutique, owned by Bravochina L.L.C., introducing to you all the possible variety of Chinese wedding dresses. Here you can find handmade embroidery silk dresses, blue floral silk dresses, handmade sequin embroidery pure silk velvet dresses and many other options from traditional to mandarin style exclusive models.
• www.orienttouch.com carries a large collection of oriental style clothing, clothing accessories, gifts and home decor items, shipping to all major countries with most buyers from the USA, Canada, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, Australia and Japan.
Definitely, there are more variants worth considering; however, when purchasing your Chinese wedding gown, do not forget that in a modern Chinese wedding, the bride changes dresses at least three times. The first time it is a white western style wedding gown to symbolize the bride's purity. You will wear it to the church ceremony if you have one, if not, this is the dress you will wear to ascend the bridal car on the wedding day. The second dress is a red traditional Chinese Choengsam dress, also known as Qi Pao or Qun Kwa. You will wear this traditional Chinese dress to greet guests at the reception site and at the banquet. The third dress is an evening gown, when you see off the guests at the end of the wedding. Preserve traditions to make your Chinese wedding truly Chinese!
http://www.syl.com
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Wedding Dresses: Germany Wedding Traditions
Germans respect and love their traditions and maintain them through time and distances. Foreigners travel to Germany and marry there, Germans living abroad wish to get married in accordance with their native rituals, so it is high time to get brides and grooms acquainted with what they will have to do on their German-like Hochzeit (wedding).
Wedding traditions in Germany differ from region to region. Here are some of the highlights:
Car Procession - after the wedding a car procession is formed and drives through town honking their horns - others honk back wishing the couple good luck.
Costs - the father of the bride has to pay the wedding. This is an old custom but today normally both parents and the couple itself divide the costs for the wedding.
Dance - the first dance is danced by the bride and the groom, it is traditionally a waltz. The next dance is only for bride with her father and groom with mother, while bride's mother dances with groom's father.
First Night - to make the first night as difficult as possible, friends of the couple do lots of funny or sometimes cruel things. They fill up the rooms with balloons, hide lots of alarm clocks in the bedroom, take apart the bed, and so on.
Flowers - besides the flowers for the bride and in church, the hood of the wedding car is decorated with lots of flowers.
Junggesellenabschied - a few days before the wedding the groom and his male friends go to a pub or sometimes other places to drink and have fun. (the last time?)
Kidnapping of the bride - in some areas (mostly in small villages) friends kidnap the bride and the groom has to find her. Normally, he has to search in a lot of pubs and invite all people in there (or pay the whole bill). Sometimes this ritual ends badly.
Polterabend - this is an informal (informal dress and food) party at the evening before the wedding where plates and dishes are smashed (the broken pieces are thought to bring good luck to the bride). The bride and groom have to clean up everything.
Rice - after the wedding when the bride leaves the church, friends throw rice on them and it is said that they will get as many children as rice grains stay in the hair of the bride.
Veil Dance - this is a popular game for a wedding evening. Every woman or man who wants to dance with the groom or bride, has to pay for it.
Wedding Cake - the wedding cake, mostly a large cake with lots of ornaments, has to be cut by the bride and the groom together.
Wedding Evening - at the wedding evening a lot of games are played, speeches are held (the first normally from the father of the bride), sometimes a wedding newspaper is handed out. Songs are sung, and so on.
White Ribbon - the bride carries lengths of white ribbon with her bouquet, and after the church ceremony is over and the guests are leaving the church, she hands each driver a ribbon that they tie to the radio antenna.
Wedding Rings - Germans wear wedding rings on the right hand - the groom and the bride have normally identical rings (wedding "bands" -- no diamonds).
Wedding Shoes - another tradition is to collect pennies for years and buy wedding shoes for the bride with this money.
Wedding Attire (Bride) - as in America, the bride usually wears white with one difference: the gowns usually do not have any trains, and if they do, they are very short, and just a little sweep. Most brides prefer the good old ballroom style gowns, some of them have crinolines to be worn under the dress. Most German brides want the newest style wedding gown, and they browse the bridal boutiques and check out what is new and which style is best for them. However, I have been to weddings where brides wore short dresses or even a white suit.
Veils are usually fingertip length, and very seldom worn over the face when a bride walks down the aisle. Some brides (especially Catholic) wear veils that are the same length as their gowns. Some brides take their veils off during the reception, but NEVER before the first dance with their husband and their father. A veil is not a must. Some brides wear only a flowery headband with ribbons hanging down the sides or the back of their head, some prefer both the headband and the veil. Tiara's, little crowns and hats are also a often seen addition. Most brides carry a little draw string purse down the aisle, and also wear gloves. A bride stays in her wedding dress all day, not only a few hours as they do in America. Most receptions last until the early morning hours, and most brides will not change into a different outfit, but wear their gown the whole time. It is also customary for the bride to get dressed at home (most choose their parents home), and then drive to church already dressed in their gown. Most have a beautician come to the house to fix their hair, veil and make up as well.
Wedding Attire (Groom) - the grooms usually wear a black suit.
Wedding Party - bridesmaids, groomsmen or flower girls etc. are seldom to be seen at a German wedding. It is not customary. Also, usually the bride and groom enter the church together and walk down the aisle together. The reason for this is that in Germany it is not legal to marry "only" in a church ceremony. The couple has to be married by the justice of peace, or as in Germany called "Standesbeamte" first. This usually takes place a few days before the actual church ceremony. So when they marry in church they are actually already married by law. For this ceremony the couple, the closest family members and friends get together in the court house, and then the couple will be married by the "Standesbeamte." Usually afterwards is a dinner. For this type of wedding brides mostly either wear a 2-piece outfit (skirt and jacket) or an informal dress. Some choose white, especially if they don't have a church wedding to follow. Courthouse Weddings last about 30 minutes, church Ceremonies can last up to 1 1/2 hours and more. There is a lot of singing, praying, and a sermon as well.
I was also lucky to get the impressions of the witness who attended a wedding in Salzburg, and he described the event. The marrying couple had chosen a small church not far from Salzburg for the wedding. This is a rule to choose a "special" place for the Hochzeit, rather than the general rule in America of always having the wedding at the bride's family church. The groom's family have arranged everything for this wedding. There was a Catholic Mass, in German of course, and afterwards everyone went to a restaurant for wedding cake and tortes and coffee, then there was beer and "fun music" outdoors with a band from 4pm to 6pm, followed by a formal dinner, and then more music and dancing until midnight. It was truly a day-long party, and everyone had a lot of fun.
This is what a typical German wedding is like in general. But still there are special little details necessary to mention, like bride should carry salt and bread as an omen for good harvest, and the groom - grain for good luck and wealth. Before the wedding, the German bride's possessions would be transported to her new home. The belongings traditionally included linens which she had collected, a cradle into which a doll had secretly been placed, and the second-best cow from her parents' farm. These are only a few of authentic German wedding traditions, one of the most interesting and curious of the being Polterabend, when dishes are broken to scare away evil spirits. Take care: only china is used, as broken glass would bring bad luck. The tradition requires the bride and groom clean up the mess - the first mess to cope with!
Log-sawing is another wedding tradition from Germany. It is done after the wedding ceremony. There will be a log on this log sawing horse and when the newly wed couple comes out of the church it awaits them as the first task they have to accomplish together as a married couple. It is supposed to show how they will manage to accomplish tough tasks in the future. It might be really interesting if bride and groom were not dressed in a white gown and tuxedo...
Another wedding tradition coming from Germany involves the bride and groom carrying candles trimmed with flowers and ribbons. However, even in Germany wedding traditions and rituals differ from town to town.
The article was published with the permission of
GermanCulture.com.ua. See link for Germany wedding traditions
Monday, June 2, 2008
Wedding Kimono In Japanese Bride
The traditional white wedding kimono is called shiro-maku. Shiro meaning white and maku meaning pure. The Japanese wedding kimono actually consists of several different kimono. The white wedding kimono is worn for the wedding ceremony and an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono called uchikake is worn over the white kimono at the wedding reception. The bride will normally change her dress several times, a tradition dating from the 14th century that signifies that she is prepared to return to everyday life.
The uchikake kimono originated in the Edo era and was mainly worn only by court nobles. The kimono is made of silk and beautiful silk brocade. The kimono is rich in fine embroidered patterns and scenes of flowers, cranes, pines, flower carts and nature motifs embellish the kimono in rich color. The wedding day will be the last time the bride will wear a rich highly patterned kimono, for in Japan they are reserved only to be worn by young unmarried women. Red is the most popular uchikake kimono color, however they are available in many different colors from imperial purple to sea green
The brides hair is styled in the traditional hair style called bunkin-takashimada and adorned with beautiful kanzashi ornaments, combs and accessories.
A white wedding hood called a tsuno-kakushi literally meaning "to hide horns" is worn during the ceremony indicating that she will carry out her role as a wife with patience and serenity. Like American weddings, there are traditional wedding accessories that are worn for tradition and are said to bring good luck. The bride carries a small purse style sack called hakoseko and a small encased sword called kaiken.
Lastly, a fan is worn in the obi belt for tradition holds that the gradual widening of the open fan implies happiness and thus brings a happy future.
http://www.japaneseweddingfavors.com
Japanese Wedding Dress And Traditional Shinto Costume
A Japanese wedding is a beautifully simple ceremony, which relies heavily on carefully carried out traditions. Only family members of the bride and groom can attend. It is usually held in a Shinto temple and performed by a Shinto priest. Because of the climate in Japan, most weddings occur in spring or autumn. Also, particular days of the year are considered lucky for anniversaries, and so many couples choose to marry on one of those days.
During a traditional wedding, Japanese brides must be painted white from head to toe as a symbol of purity. The Japanese wedding dress consists of a long white kimono called shiro-maku. Japanese brides also wear their hair in an elaborate traditional style decorated with combs and other accessories. During the Japanese ceremony a hood covers the Japanese brides head to signify that she will be a serene and patient wife.
Japanese brides also carry traditional accessories much like the "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" of the American wedding. They carry a small, sack-like purse, known as hakoseko, and a delicate sheathed dagger, called a kaiken.
The groom's ensemble is much simpler. He wears black pleated pants, and a short black kimono, emblazoned with his family seal.
The traditional Japanese ceremony consists of three parts. First, the couple is purified by the Shinto priest. Then, the bride and groom recite the traditional vows. Finally, Japanese brides and grooms perform a ceremony known as san-san-kudo, or three times three, during which they drink nine cups of sake, a wine. Their families also drink sake to symbolize the unity of both the couple and the two families. During the ceremony the two families do not face the couple being married, instead they face each other, as though the families are being married along with couple.
After the wedding, Japanese brides put on a more colorful kimono for the wedding reception. This second kimono is usually red, because red is a lucky color in Japan. It is always heavily embroidered with colorful scenes from nature. The sleeves are long and flowing. Never again will the bride wear such sleeves, or such a richly patterned gown, since only young, unmarried women are allowed to wear them. For this reason, the Japanese wedding dress is often rented rather than bought.
The wedding reception is a more open affair. Friends, co-workers, and more distant relatives are all allowed to attend. They often give monetary gifts in decorative envelopes to help the couple pay for their wedding. Games, songs, food, and speeches provide entertainment during the reception. Some time during the reception, Japanese brides may change again, this time, into a western-style gown.
Especially among the young couples, the Japanese ceremony is starting to take on more Western elements, such as the exchange of rings, and the traditional wedding is beginning to be replaced by a melding of cultures that mirrors the diversity of the young couples of Japan.
http://www.syl.com
A History of Japanese Marriage,Wedding Dress And Kimono
In the long history of Japan the marriage system must have gone through various changes in the social system and conditions. Such changes are now difficult to trace in detail but the most important and historical change in the Japanese marriage system is said to have been made from the "Muko-iri" practice for a bridegroom to enter the family of his aimed-at bride to the "Yome-iri" system for a bride to be accepted into her bridegroom's home. The change seems to have taken place in the 13th and 14th centuries by the rise of "Bushi" warriors in power.
During the age of aristocracy a bridegroom would nightly visit his bride at her home and only after the birth of a child or the loss of parents to the bridegroom or husband, the bride would be accepted as the wife in the man's home. Among common people labor power was and essential factor to maintain a family. It was an accepted practice in the Tohoku area in north for a bridegroom to live with his bride's family to offer his labor for a certain length of time. More widely spread was the system for a bridegroom and bride to offer their time and labor to their own families. In such cases the husband would visit his wife nightly to maintain the married life. Again in Izu Islands it was for a wife to work for the family of her husband who would, however, stay at her home. The practice remains today in the system of adoption by which a man becomes a member of another family by marriage. Under either of such system it was necessary for families concerned to reside in neighborhood.
In the old days of aristocracy men seem to have been freer and more insistent than those to follow in later ages in proposing marriage to women. Court Lord Fukakusa is said to have called on Ono-no-Komachi, "Miss Kyoto" of the 9th century day and night for one hundred consecutive days and broken down from exhaustion without her word of "yes".
After nightly visits of a man at the home of his aimed-at bride, he might be invited by her parents to a bedside and offered "Mochi" rice cakes. "Tokoro-Arawashi", as the ceremony was called was the most important function in the ancient wedding among aristocrats. A similar practice was seen among common people for a man to visit on the parents of a bride-to-be for approval of his marriage to their daughter.
With the rise of "Bushi" warriors whose spheres of activities were no longer limited within Kyoto or close neighborhood, the system of women marrying into men's families was gradually adopted and widely accepted in the 14th century and on. Under the feudal system marriages were often used as plitical and diplomatic approaches to maintaining peace and unity among feudal lords. Thus the personal will of men and women for marriage was ignored in the face of family interests and the social intercourse of unmarried persons was denied. Marriages came to be arranged by and for families and the role of "Nakodo" gobetween became very important in Japan.
Another result of the "Yome-iri" wedding and family marriage was the increased importance of engagement. The "Yui-no" betrothal thus became a serious step in the Japanese marriage. A "Nakodo" gobetween would make further certain of a proposed marriage by the ceremonial exchange of drinks with the bride side immediately upon acceptance of the proposal. "Yui-no", as still observed and later described more in detail, is the exchange of various items between two families concerned assuring the engagement to be followed through.
The wedding ceremony became also more elaborate. A messanger would be sent to the bride's home where family members hold a farewell party before hanging her over to the bridegroom side. At the wedding ceremony proper in addition to the "San-San-Kudo" exchange of drinks between the bridegroom and bride, drinks were now exchanged between members of the families for unification on the family basis.
Having briefly reviewed the history, we are now ready to go back to marriage and wedding, as more widely practiced in Japan today.
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Little a Bout Japanese Weddings
Spring and fall are popular seasons for weddings in Japan. Traditional Japanese wedding ceremony are Shinto-style and are held at shrines (jinja). In a Shito-style wedding ceremony, the bride wears a traditional wedding kimono called shiromuku (white kimono), and the groom wears montsuki haori hakama. Usually, only family members and close relatives of the couple attend the Shinto-style wedding ceremony. The ceremony includes sake drinking rituals, exchanging wedding rings, and more. There are neither bridesmaids nor a best man, and an older married couple called nakoudo (matchmaker) attend the ceremony.
Most of weddings in Japan are held at hotels or wedding halls. Chapels and shrines are conveniently located within the facilities, and couples can choose the style of their wedding ceremonies. A Japanese wedding ceremony can be Christian, Buddhist, Shinto, and non-religious styles. The wedding style doesn't necessarily match with one's religion. Non-Christian couples often have their weddings ceremony at chapels.
After the wedding ceremony, the reception party called "kekkon hiroen" is held. The style and scale of wedding receptions vary depending on the regions. Typically, relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors attend the reception. When you receive an invitation card, you need to return the enclosed card and let them know if you can attend or not as soon as possible.
If you are attending a Japanese wedding reception, you are expected to bring cash for a gift. The amount depends on your relationship with the couple and the region, unless fixed amount is indicated in the invitation card. It is recommendable to ask someone who are attending the same wedding. The average is 30,000 yen for a friend's wedding. It's important that the cash is enclosed in a special envelope called shugi-bukuro, and your name is written on the front. It's polite to use new bills with no creasing. When you go to the party, give the envelope to the person at the reception desk and sign your name in the guestbook. People usually dress formally to attend a Japanese wedding reception. Female guests wear dresses, suits, or kimono. Male guests wear black formal suits.
The bride and broom change costumes a couple of times during the wedding reception. The bride wears a wedding kimono or a wedding kimono, and colorful dresses. The groom wears a men's montsuki hakama and a tuxedo. During the reception, the married couple sits on a stage enjoying the guests' speeches and performances. Some guests are asked to do something at the reception. Many people sing their favorite songs. The couple cut a large wedding cake and walks around the room, lighting the candles and greeting guests. A full course meal is often served at the table.
At the wedding reception, souvenirs called hikidemono are prepared in a bag for guests to take home. They are often tableware, sweets, interiors, and so on. In recent years, gift catalogs from which guests can choose gifts are popular as hikidemono.
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