Damn Girl...

...you picked an ugly dress.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are married.
You might remember my post here, where I may have cried me a river.

Jessica's dress was, well, er...not all that flattering. And I'm not just saying this because she is now Mrs. Timberlake. I did not expect her to wear such a pink pouf.
As JT sings in his song Damn Girl..."You're so fine make a brother blush"....I'd have to say that yes, he likely did blush...with embarrassment.

Jessica is a very pretty woman. In fact, she's stunning. Adding colour to wedding dresses has become more acceptable and fashionable in the past few years, but to have an outright pink dress made me shutter slightly. What do you think?

I thought the new JT would have worn something white made of silk or satin, low cut with an embellished brooch or belt. For a few months prior to their wedding Jessica was photographed at almost every event wearing white - thus making people wonder if she was practicing for her big day, or trying to throw off the paparazzi.

They got married in Italy, and has had one of the most expensive celeb weddings to date. A whopping 6.5 million....which you think would buy a very pretty dress.

Alright, I'm done ranting about it.

Here is the dress if you haven't already seen it.

 Thought she would have done better in any one of these. Oh well, they're very happy and in love - so that's all that matters. Right?

Mother/Daughter wedding traditions

Many Brides want to involve their mother in as many aspects as they can during the planning process and the wedding itself. Here are a few traditional things you should add to your Mother/Daughter wedding list.

Pick out the wedding dress.

Spending quality time with your mom and picking out your wedding dress is a memory that you'll always hold onto. You can decide to just have your mom by your side for when you say "yes to the dress" or you can include a sister, best friend, aunt and even your future mother-in-law.



Picking out her dress.

Take your mom shopping and help her pick out the dress she'll wear on her wedding day. Again, this day can include an invite to your future MIL as well. A fun shopping day that may include lunch or dinner with a celebratory glass of vino is always a good thing.

Ceremony procession.

If you're mom isn't walking you down the aisle, she is the last person to take her seat before your wedding party begins the ceremony. She should be escorted to her seat by your brother or cousin. If your Bridesmaids are walking solo down the aisle, and you don't have a brother or cousin, then you can have the last Groomsman walk her down, or an usher.

Showing respect & honor.

A lot of couples incorporate their mothers (or both parents) into the ceremony. You can offer her a flower as a token of gratitude, or you can have her (or them) participate in the unity ceremony as two families are becoming one.

Also, be sure to acknowledge and thank your mother during your speech at the reception.

DIY aspects & choosing vendors.

If you're planning your wedding yourself, be sure to include your mom in some of the Do-It-Yourself aspects (a.k.a - craft night!) as well as meetings with your vendors. If she (& your dad) are paying for some or all of your wedding, it's always nice to include them in some of the decision making.


How will you include your mom into your wedding planning and special day?


*article based on tips from TLC Family

The Bride wore white...& so did the Maids.

I saw this post last month on The Knotty Bride & although the Bride looks stunning, I just couldn't help but think...Bridesmaids wearing white?!?!

To me, that is the colour reserved for the Bride, and only the Bride. I'm actually quite against guests wearing white as well, or any shade resembling it - champagne, ivory or pale silver.

Am I totally old fashioned or what?    

Would you want your Bridesmaids to wear white for your wedding?

*inspired by post writen by Alison on The Knotty Bride. Pictures taken by Max Wanger.

 

Your Fairytale Awaits...

Your Fairytale Awaits...for a pretty penny of course. Who said money can't buy happiness?

In Disney World, happiness is around every corner. As you read this, I'm in the 'most magical place on earth' for a much needed, much deserved vacation. So, I figured what better time than now to post about Disney's Wedding Couture Gowns.

Created for Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings by Kirstie Kelly these stunning dresses are named after Disney Princesses. Here are a few of the gowns offered - can you imagine yourself wearing one surrounded by blue birds, flowers and of course, your Prince Charming?

The Ariel gown has halter straps and a jewel on the bodice. The fabric is a shimmery silk with a mermaid-like "wave" hem. (shown)

The Belle gown is strapless and incorporates lace, ribbon and bands of satin. The ballgown skirt features taffeta and tulle flowers.

The Jasmine gown is a champagne-colored column dress channels the exotic, fiery beauty of this princess, complete with chiffon and satin with beadwork clusters. It also features an empire waist, appliquéd lace, embroidery, and draping.

The Cinderella gown is elegantly simple. It takes the form of an iconic bridal dress, and is made of silk tulle and duchesse satin with scattered crystals and embroidered beading.
(shown)


Also just announced, Alfred Angelo is teaming up with Disney to offer Wedding Gowns too! Check out a video about the partnership here.

 Images found on About.com

'What not to Wear' to a Wedding

As a woman, I’m sure you’ve seen the show “What Not to Wear” on TLC. If I were to host an episode, it would be about what not to wear to a wedding. Instantly, I can think of some major “no no’s” and a few fashion faux pas.

If you’re attending a wedding, here’s 4 things you need to know when you’re picking out what to wear.

#1 – Don’t wear white!

It’s majorly frowned upon to wear white to a wedding – that colour should only be worn by the Bride. You should also stay away from colours such as ivory, champagne, pale peach or light silver (these colours can look white in photos). If you want to wear white, it should be in a patterned dress either as the pattern itself or as the foreground colour.

#2 – Keep the length reasonable

Short dresses are very popular these days, but you shouldn’t wear a dress that is more than 1 inch above your knee to a wedding. Cocktail dresses are a better choice than long dresses. The length of your dress should be either 1” above your knee, at your knee, or just below your knees.

#3 – Coordinate with the time of day & season

Black dresses shouldn’t be worn to daytime weddings. Summer dresses shouldn’t be worn in the winter (unless paired with a pretty cardigan that will stay on through the entire wedding) – and choose your shoes properly too. This is common sense stuff.

#4 – Mind your straps

According to an article featured in The Spectator, you should avoid strapless and spaghetti straps. Choosing straps that are 2 fingers in width is best – and obviously more classy. But, times have changed, and I know that strapless dresses are worn often – so if you go with a strapless or spaghetti strap, be sure that the dress fits – don’t be adjusting your top all night, don’t show any signs of a bra (although you MUST wear one, we just don't want to see the straps or the back of it) and make sure the spaghetti straps don’t slide off your shoulders. A good fit goes a long way.

Be conscious of other guests and the theme of the wedding when picking your outfit. Be mindful of cultural traditions, and do research if you're not sure – for example, Chinese traditions frown upon guests wearing red as that colour is typically reserved for the Bride. If you’re still not sure what to wear, and don’t want to cross any boundaries, the best suggestion I can give is for you to consult the Bride as she’s the one that has planned and envisioned her special day for months.



*post generated from personal opinion & articles featured in The Spectator & Project Wedding's Blog
* pictures from Google images

Bride's Maid, meet Bride's Butler.

"Nice to meet you."

The Bride's Butler has dealt with a few Bridesmaids in the past year since we started the business. So far, almost all of our experiences with Bridesmaids have been good ones.

When you're asked to be a Bridesmaid (BM), or Maid/Matron of Honour (MOH) for your friend's, relative's or sister's wedding - it is an honour, and one that if you accept, the responsibilities shouldn't be taken lightly. As my best friend has said before, "being in a wedding party doesn't mean that it's all fun and games, it's not an excuse just to party - it's hard work" - and she's right. Although there will be plenty of partying and fun had during the planning process and leading up to the wedding day, there is a lot of work to be had.

Do you know some of your responsibilities as a Bridesmaid?

Sure you do... help the bride find her dress - offer advice and opinion on favours, flowers, colours, etc - help with the Bridal Shower, Stag & Doe and Bachelorette Party - and of course support her on her wedding day.

As a Bride, do you know what you can do to make the role of a Bridesmaid a pleasant one?

Respect Their Responsibilities
Be respectful to their lives outside of your wedding, and try to keep a good balance of duties between Bridesmaids - you don't want one thinking they are pulling more weight than the other. The only one with a bigger 'to do' list might be your MOH.

Dress Them Well
Consider each of their body types, skin tone, hair colour and personality. If they are all different, maybe have the same colour but in different dress styles. You want them to be comfortable and feeling confident in their dress. And realistically, they probably will not ever wear the dress again.

Mind Their Budgets
Be mindful as to how much time and money a Bridesmaid will spend on your wedding. The dress, hair, make-up, shoes, purse, the parties, the gifts - you name it, there is a price tag attached.

Give & Receive Graciously
Remember your manners. Be sure to thank your BM's and MOH for their hard work and dedication over the past 12-14mths. Whatever they do for you is out of the kindness of their heart, so don't complain if your Bridal Shower theme/decor wasn't exactly as you planned or hoped for - it was a gift from your BM's, and they should be thanked for it. This is usually second nature for most people to be gracious...let's hope.

Be A Good Friend
Just remember the first bit of advice in this blog - 'remember that they have their own lives'. Even though it's your wedding "year", be sure to talk about their lives, problems and successes too. You can only talk about your wedding so much.

*Source: The Knot.com