Check out these wonderful collections.

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2012 Collection Video

Reem Acura Spring 2012

Get Inspired!

One of the most effective ways to bring your wedding vision together for yourself and your vendors is by creating a custom inspiration board.  An inspiration board is a collage of pictures and items that help you to pull together your color palette, décor ideas and other details of your wedding.

Creating your custom inspiration board will allow you to stay organized and focused on your overall vision.  Your inspiration board will also keep you from straying away from your overall vision and making unnecessary purchases that add details to the wedding that are not cohesive with the overall look and feel you would like to accomplish.  Be sure to take your board with you to meetings with your vendors.  They will certainly appreciate this visual tool which will help them to make sure that they are on the same page to create the look you desire.

When putting your board together, be creative!  It can be anything you want it to be!  Begin by collecting various images from magazines and websites.  You can also add swatches of fabric and any other small items that inspire you.  Your inspiration board can be anything from an actual board to a computer generated sheet displaying all of your images.

They are many different websites available that can assist in building your board and can also provide example boards for you to view.  Visit The Dessy Group at   http://www.dessy.com/styleboard/or Project Wedding at   http://www.projectwedding.com/photo/browse?tag=inspiration+board .

These are two great resources to help you get started.  Remember to be creative, and make it your own!

Happy planning!

Top 10 Mistakes Brides Make When Buying a Wedding Gown

By: Pamela Betts

10.  Not Wearing Underwear.  Seriously ladies.  Wear underwear when going to try on wedding gowns.   This is especially true if you are going to an upscale salon at which consultants will be helping you into sample gowns.  Remember: their perspective is from the bottom of the zipper.  Also recommended: a strapless bra and a body slimmer.

9.  Accepting Poor or Disrespectful Treatment From a Bridal Salon.   You are making the largest purchase of clothing in your life for a very special day.  If a salon doesn’t make you feel welcome, or doesn’t honor appointment times, walk out.  If you are a tiny, short or plus-size bride, it’s a consultant’s job to work with you – without being disrespectful of your body type.  Remember: all brides are beautiful and should be treated as the gorgeous women you are.

8.  Being Rigid About the Color.  An absolutely blazingly bright white gown doesn’t look good with all skin tones.  Off white (often called “diamond”) or ivory can look much better than white.  Remember: your guests will perceive you walking down the aisle in white, and there are endless varieties of white.

7.  Getting Stuck on One Style of Gown.  Even if you’ve always pictured yourself “Hollywood Glam” with a sleek gown and a birdcage veil, it may not be your best look.  Try it out, then listen to your consultant.  Or Mom.  Your consultant knows her stock, if she suggests a gown, even if you don’t like the look of it, be open minded.  Try it on.  Remember: you might just be looking at the dress of your dreams

6.  Judging a Dress-In-A-Bag.  If your bridal salon allows you to look in the stock room at dresses in bags, remember, they all look… well… like dresses in bags.  If anything about the dress intrigues you – the beading, the color, a piece of lace, ask to try it on.  Remember: a gown always looks better out of the bag and on you.  

5.  Choosing a Dress By Committee.   Large entourages can often cause more problems than help.  Too many opinions, though well-meant, can often cause confusion with multiple opinions (and sometimes a snarky comment) flying around the salon.  Good friends and family often feel comfortable offering advice, when what you need is help narrowing your choice.   Consider asking one or two people who support your choices while being objective.  Remember: the final choice comes down to the dress you love and that will make you feel like a beautiful bride.

4.  Purchasing a Dress Online.   While there are certainly above-board internet sellers, the ugly truth is there are many more companies who aren’t.  You might save money up front, but each week we hear horror stories about wrong sizes, wrong color, wrong style and no returns.  One website even says the style, color and size are not guaranteed.  Online education is a fabulous way to use the internet.  Look at styles, costs, accessories.  Remember: a brick-and-mortar store has actual gowns to try on, reputations to protect, and real people to help you.

3.  Not Asking Questions.  Will the salon take returns?  What about layaway?  Alterations?  Some salons will charge for a gown bag.  What size samples do they carry?  Do they take/require appointments?  Do they sell bridesmaid dresses?  Mother’s dresses?  What is their price range?  Do they charge extra for plus sizes, extra length, etc.? Remember: Your wedding gown is a big purchase, educate yourself.

2.  Not Budgeting for Your Dress.  Bridal salons just hate it when a bride tries on a gown that is out of her budget, she then falls in love with it, and leaves crying because she can’t afford it.  One of the first questions you will be asked at a bridal salon will be your budget.  They shouldn’t be asking so they can sell you their most expensive gown, rather, so they know what gowns to show you.   Remember:  you will need foundation garments, shoes, a veil or headpiece, jewelry, and other accessories, plus tax, so get your budget in hand before you shop.

1.  Waiting Too Long to Buy Your Dress.  In our world of instant access, express shipping, and immediate response, it’s hard to believe it takes up to 6 months to order a wedding gown, and that time frame is getting longer.  The vast majority of bridal gowns are made overseas and designers generally do not have gowns hanging in a warehouse ready to ship.  There are also specific seasons when factories are closed.  Although it may seem cliché, the time to buy a dress is when you decide on it.  Remember: a year in advance is not too soon to buy a gown.

What to Look for When Selecting a Bridal Salon

By: Cheri Meingasner

Your wedding gown can be one of the biggest purchases you make for your wedding day.  It represents your style and sets the tone for both the ceremony and reception.  But you don’t want the search for the perfect dress to turn into a nightmare, so we came up with a checklist of what to look for when selecting a bridal salon to even try on gowns. 

Customer Service.  This is by far the most important quality in a bridal salon.  Remember: you will be dealing with your salon for nearly a year (fittings, alterations, etc…) so it should feel like home.

Professionalism.  Choose a salon that has pleasing and comfortable yet professional staff.

Product knowledge.  There are so many different styles, colors and fabric options when it comes to wedding gowns, and a well-trained and qualified staff should be knowledgeable in all those areas.  They’re placing a very special order for you and if they don’t appear to know what they’re doing, you might want to think twice before that order comes in wrong.

Location.  Ladies, as fun as you think it is to make a day or days of long distance travel to dress shop, remember to make it convenient.  You will be making several trips over the next several months.

Alterations.  Anyone can select a dress for you.  But can they provide the service you need to make that gown fit you the way it should?  It is very important to select a salon that offers alterations on the premises.

Sample conditions.  If the samples are in disarray and not cared for, would you want that salon to be responsible for your new gown?

Cleanliness of Shop.  Bridal stores need to be fresh and clean environments, for obvious reasons.  If you see dirt, dust or grime anywhere in the store or fitting rooms, you probably don’t want to buy your gown there.

Full Service.  Once you buy your gown, you still need a veil, shoes, jewelry, a garter and all your other wedding accessories.  You are so busy with wedding preparations, and you need the convenience of a salon that offers everything pertaining to wedding apparel.

Reputation.  Do your homework!  Talk to friends and family who may have already gone through the process of dress shopping and ask about their experiences at salons you’re planning to check out.  A good bridal salon has a glowing reputation and a good referral is key.

Budget.  Set a budget, but be realistic and flexible.  If a salon has your gown at a price that is discounted and sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Dressing The Modern Bridesmaid

Off-the-rack can be unique and versatile

The '80s may be back when it comes to leggings, boyfriend blazers and neon brights, but the days of bridesmaid dresses that have you looking more like a puff pastry than a lady are thankfully behind us.

In fact, today's bride is progressive, she lives with her fiancé before marriage, has limited time due to her high-powered career, and simply just knows better in her mature age (29.5 is the national average of an engaged woman) than to choose bridesmaid outfits that won't suit everyone or worse, endure the test of time.

With this in mind many retailers are now catering to brides' new approach when it comes to dressing their wedding day helpers. For instance, RW&Co., Banana Republic and BCBGMaxazria are just a few of the popular retailers selling special occasion dress collections this season.

"More and more brides are opting for store-bought dresses because they're more affordable," points out Natasha Koifman, president of NKPR, a Toronto public relations agency that represents several fashion brands, including RW&Co.

Alison McGill, editor-in-chief of Weddingbells magazine, agrees that modern brides are conscientious of price tags. She also points out that accessibility ranks high on their lists. "They can direct their bridesmaids to go to the shopping mall or you can have a girl's day out and go to the mall together and get the dresses."

In terms of styles, McGills says this year we'll be seeing a lot of modern silhouettes, very streamlined and feminine. For colour, purple is big as well as honeysuckle (reddish pink), the Pantone colour of year, and of course navy, the Kate Middleton-inspired shade, is predicted to be a hit. Expect to see patterns as well, such as floral, she says.

And if you think a dress off the rack can't be fashion-forward think again, says Koifman. "Women are getting really creative with their store-bought bridesmaid dresses. Many brides add their own personal touches to the dresses with accessories like jewelry and headbands."

Statement pieces are definitely on trend, adds McGills. She suggests chandelier earrings, chunky necklaces, layers of pearls or beads and cuffs. "Not all together, she cautions, "but pick your statement piece "¦ I love it, it adds more personality and style to the look."

McGill also reminds: "Keep it classic for your girls, for yourself and for your photos because classic makes for timeless images and I think everybody feels comfortable in classics."

Besides the colour green and a summer-like appearance, comfort was one of only three requests future bride Elizabeth Da Silva made of her two bridesmaids when it came to choosing a dress for the Aug. 6, 2011 nuptials.

"I wanted something that the ladies would be comfortable in. That was my first priority," explains Da Silva, 27. "Second was to do something that would be convenient for them. Finally, we want our wedding to have a casual vibe, and I think that this will all contribute to that."

Lubov Azria, creative director at BCBGMaxazria Group, likes this philosophy. "The idea of letting bridesmaids choose their own style is great because it's important to dress women based on their body shape. If each bridesmaid gets to choose a dress style that she's comfortable in and that looks great on her, the bride will likely have a lovely bridal party."

Full Figured Fashion

While weight has been a long struggle in women’s society, it has never been more prominent than in the world of bridal fashion.  While many bridal boutiques have gowns available to order in larger sizes, many of them do not have them available for a bride to try on in the store, and can only see them being modeled in a smaller size.
This tends to take away from the whole bride experience, and the owner of Kleinfeld’s, one of the most famous bridal boutiques, wanted every bride to be able to share in the joy of finding the perfect dress.
Not only does her boutique carry gowns for brides and bridesmaids in larger sizes, but they also put on a fashion show featuring full-figured models and the latest fashions in the bridal world.  More than 1,000 people attended the show this past Saturday which featured designs from over 25 different designers.

Kim Kardashian's 10 Million Dollar Wedding

Kim Kardashian has made no secret that when she walks down the aisle with Kris Humphries this summer, it will be the party of the century. “I’ve always dreamed of a big wedding,” the star has said. But with planning for her nuptials well underway, that’s turning out to be an understatement. Insiders say Kim’s wedding will cost a cool $10 million!

“Kim goes big,” admits sister Khloe Kardashian Odom. “I joke, and I say it will be like the royal wedding because she is just like that.”

But some pals say the day could be that amazing.“It’s actually not that much of a joke,” says a friend. “Kim is seriously determined to have a royal-type extravaganza.”
“Money is no object when it comes to walking down the aisle,” adds a longtime pal of the star.

What You Should Bring While Dress Shopping

Wandering into a bridalwear store completely unprepared is okay if you’re there just to browse, but if you’re earnestly in the market for a dress and the clock is ticking, you’d better get serious. Know what to take with you when you go wedding gown shopping for the best possible experience.

 Item #1: One or Two Trusted Friends

When wedding dress shopping, your best defense against making a decision you might regret is bringing along your two closest female friends or relatives. If you don’t yet have temple garments but will be wearing them on your wedding day, take an endowed person with you to advise you on dresses that may not cover your garments.
Choose people who are supportive of the wedding, whom you are comfortable with, and whom you can handle taking constructive criticism from as well as praise. Don’t take more than two other people, though – shopping with a mob of girlfriends is worse than shopping alone.

Item #2: A Notebook and Pencil

Have a small notebook and pencil tucked away inside your purse to take notes during the dress shopping experience. You can jot down styles or cuts of dresses that look good on you and identifying information for dresses that you particularly like.
It may also be helpful to rate each dress on a scale of 1 to 5 on several different characteristics such as length, cut, skirt fullness, and so on. Save the notes to review later on, after you leave the store.

 Item #3: A Camera or Camera Phone

Taking pictures of the dresses you like best and reviewing them later gives you a whole different perspective than just looking in the mirror in the changing room. You’ll have to check with the retailer first to make sure that picture-taking is allowed inside the store, but bringing a camera is the best way to evaluate the pros and cons of different dresses.

 Item #4: The Right Shoes

You can’t buy your wedding shoes until you buy the wedding dress, but you can know approximately what height shoes you’ll ultimately choose. Bring shoes with a similar sized heel for trying on dresses.
You can let out or bring up a hemline, but only to a certain point. Make shopping easier on yourself by wear similar shoes to what you will be wearing on your wedding day.

 Item #5: Undergarments

Bridalwear retailers may provide a slip, but it’s best to bring your own just to be on the safe side.
Modest wedding dresses aren’t going to be sleeveless, so don’t worry about a special bra. In fact, if you don’t have garments now but will by the time your wedding day arrives, the bra straps provide an excellent guide for how far out the neckline can extend before exposing the garments. After you buy your dress, take time to find the right undergarments and then do a check with them and your dress. Ensure your undies don’t pinch or slip. Try sitting, bending over, and dancing around the room, and ensure you’ll be comfortable and confident on your special day.
Avoid setting yourself up for failure or disappointment by following these simple rules of thumb when going out to find the perfect LDS wedding dress. Bring a friend, a notebook, a camera, and the right shoes and undergarments to help you make the best decision possible

Photography Etiquette

Wedding photography is not always limited to photos of the big day. If you are a bride to be, you may want to take pictures of the entire process, including when you are trying on wedding dresses. These photos can be helpful if you want to review them before making your selection or send photos to friends and family for their opinion. Each bridal salon has its own policies on photography and the polite photographer follows a few simple rules before snapping that picture.

1. Call Ahead

   • Never assume you can take pictures while trying on wedding dresses. Many stores prohibit photography to discourage brides from trying on their expensive dresses and then using the photo to find a less expensive version. If you must get pictures of the dresses you are trying on, call ahead before visiting. Ask about the salon's photography policy and confirm that they allow photographs before making your appointment or arriving to try on dresses.

   Obey the Rules

   • Once you've learned the salon's policy on photography, make sure you follow it. Do not try to sneak pictures with a cellphone or small camera. This is not only impolite but may result in the store asking you to leave. If you are undecided about two or three different dresses, ask the sales clerk to make a note of the styles and return to try them on again with a trusted friend. If your mother, sister or closest friend lives out of town, try to schedule your visit to the bridal salon when one of them is in town so that they can give their advice without you having to sneak photos.

   When Pictures Are Allowed

   • If the store does permit photography, be respectful of the salon's other customers. Restrict your photography to pictures of you and the dresses you are trying on. Don't take lots of pictures of the entire salon or of other brides without permission. Bring a friend to take the pictures; the salon staff may not have the time to take pictures of each dress you try on and may not know how to operate your camera. If you are taking pictures to get ideas and do not intend to buy your dress at the salon, try to minimize the amount of time you take. The sales associates often work on commission and it's rude to waste their time for your photographs.

   After You've Bought the Dress

   • Many bridal salons that do not allow photography while shopping do allow photos once you have purchased the dress. If your salon permits post-purchase photographs, consider scheduling an appointment for your photographer to come and take your bridal portrait at your final dress fitting. This will save you time on your wedding day and also allow you to have a bridal portrait in advance for newspaper announcements. Ask the salon if there is a less busy time that would be most convenient and arrive with your hair and makeup already done, so you do not take up too much of the store's time. If your photographer would like to use special lighting or props, confirm in advance that this is okay with the bridal salon.

Welcome!

Hi there, my name is Kelly Moorehead.  I have had a dream of opening my own bridal salon since I was 10.  I have buying bridal magazines and looking thru them and see what is new in bridal fashion.  My second love is interior design.  I have created a blog for that called Designer Decor. 

I will use this blog to give you advise, or refer to advise that I have found on weddings, bridal fashion and anything to do with the bride!

Hope you enjoy!