Posts

Royal Wedding Dresses

Since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement just a few days ago, it’s all anyone can talk about. We’ve already seen the ring and we know where the wedding will be, but what will the dress be like? We’re expecting nothing short of fabulous for the famous actress turned future princess. She’s living every girl’s dream. So, in honor of the future royal wedding, we’re sharing some of our favorite dresses from past royal weddings and some fabulous dresses you can wear to feel like a princess on your wedding day, too!  

Marie Chantal’s custom Valentino gown is a dress made for a princess, literally. The silk gown was encrusted with pearls and featured gorgeous Chantilly lace along the train. Although the wedding was over 20 years ago, the dress would still make statements today with the long lace sleeves and high neckline.  

Princess Madeleine wed her prince in an off the shoulder cap sleeved Valentino gown. If you still want some coverage, but not too much, a capped sleeve is a great option. If you still feel it’s too much, a lower neckline could take a gown like this to the next level.  

The sleeves are a bit longer, but this top is pretty similar to Princess Madeleine’s. The neckline is also a bit lower, showing a bit more shoulder than the Princess, but still just as stunning.  

To feel like a princess, you’ve got to dress like one. That doesn’t mean a big ball gown, either. It means whichever dress you feel like the greatest in. It could have sleeves and be a big ball gown, or it could be strapless and form-fitting. Whatever you decide, you’re sure to be a princess on your wedding day. 

All of these dresses, and so much more, are available at Aleana’s Bridal!  

Bouquets for Every Season

The flowers you choose for your bridal bouquet make quite the statement, especially up against your dress. Think about your theme, your venue, and the season. The season likely determines the types of flowers available for your bouquet. Every season brings new flowers, with gorgeous colors to create the most beautiful bouquet.  

Winter 

The Winter season brings us a lot of beautiful colors. Deep reds, bold purples, and dark blues can help you stand out. If you are looking for something a bit subtler, try out some icy hues. Light blues, pinks, and white can help you get more of a winter wonderland feel. If you are looking for a Christmas themed bouquet, go for some bold reds and green to get that jolly holiday feel.

 

Spring 

Spring is the season for flowers. Everything is growing back, trees are getting their leaves back, and everything is covered in beautiful, bright flowers. This is probably the best season for bouquets because nearly everything is in bloom. You’ll have your pick of the crop when choosing your bouquet. You could go soft and pastel or bold and bright. The options are endless in the Spring.

Summer 

Summer is bright and fun and, much like Spring, you have your pick of almost any flower you could imagine. Pick your theme and colors and choose some fun, Summer florals to walk you down the aisle.  

Fall  

Even though Fall is typically the season when plants are starting to disappear, there are a lot of beautiful Fall florals that are perfect for your bouquet. And let’s not forget those beautiful fall colors. Reds, oranges, and yellows will be sure to make your bouquet stand out. There are also a lot of flowers that come into bloom in the fall that will make a gorgeous bouquet for your walk down the aisle.  

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, NJ.

 

Grown Up Glitter

When you think of glitter, you probably picture a little girl running around Disney World with glitter all over her hair and dress. Or maybe you think of kindergarten class, doing some craft and getting glitter EVERYWHERE. So, you probably wouldn’t dream of incorporating glitter into your wedding plans, right? Well, think again. Glitter isn’t just for kids, and there are a lot of sophisticated ways to add glitter to your wedding day without making it seem too childish.  

Bridesmaid Dresses 

We’ve been seeing a lot of this dress here at Aleana’s Bridal, and there’s no need to wonder why. It might seem a bit bold on the model here, but seeing the dress on one of your bridesmaids will instantly change your mind. We have yet to see this dress not look stunning on anyone that wears it. It looks especially stunning in rose gold, but if navy blue or silver is more your style, give it a shot. 

Christina Wu

Mother-Of -the-Bride/ Goom Gowns 

We’re seeing more and more sexy and fabulous dresses for the mother-of-the-bride/groom. After all, your wedding day is only second to hers, so she should look amazing as well. Mother-of dresses tend to have a lot of detail, so it should be simple to find one with some sparkle to go with your glitter theme. And don’t worry, while mom is sure to look stunning, you’ll be the star of the show no matter what she wears, but there’s no reason for her not to look fabulous, too! 

Cakes 

How about a glittery wedding cake? As one of the centerpieces of your wedding, adding a layer covered in glitter would look beautiful. It would add just the right touch of glitter without being too overwhelming. Add it in between layers, as a topper, or just add a small strip! If you’re feeling really bold, make the whole thing glitter, because, hey, it is your wedding day.

Shoes 

What’s hiding under that fabulous dress of yours? Glitter, of course! Wear a pair of your favorite, sparkly shoes on your wedding day for that much-needed touch of glitz and glam. You’ll still get that sparkle with an added touch of glam underneath your dress. 

There are so many other ways to incorporate glitter into your wedding without having it take over. Find what works for you and have fun! 

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, NJ.

 

Chocolate Wedding Favors

If there’s one thing your wedding guests are looking forward to, aside from the dress, vows, food, and party, it’s the wedding favors! Who doesn’t love to bring home a little piece of the magic they witnessed on your special day? There are so many different ideas out there for wedding favors it can be difficult to choose what you want to send your guests home with. You could create a cute party favor with your names and wedding date on it. But what would they do with that? Most likely display it with the other party favors they have collected over the years. Or, you could send them home with something they’ll really enjoy: chocolate. Chocolate is romantic, decadent, and delicious. What better favor to send your guests home with? 

There are a lot of different ways to send chocolate home with your wedding guests. A chocolate bar might be a good way to start. Pick some of your favorite chocolates and separate them into vases and jars. Choose colors that match your theme. Color coordinate the entire table. Add some little gift bags with your names and wedding date on them, and let your guests create their own goody bags. Not only is it a lower cost option, but your guests will be sure to love it.  

Go bold and create something custom! Monogram your chocolate boxes. Get your names engraved on chocolate bars. It’s your wedding! The world of chocolate is yours. Create custom M&Ms with your names and wedding date stamped on. Put them into cute little baggies and send them home. Who doesn’t love M&Ms? 

If you’re feeling really crafty, creating these DIY smores wedding favors. Find a cute pot, bag, or basket, and throw in some marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. Your guests will love making smores at home in your honor.  

If you want to make it really personal, put some cute pictures on your chocolate! Make it fun or classy, it’s really up to you. Either way, your guests will be sure to love eating your faces on some delicious chocolates.  

Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, NJ

 

Celebrity Wedding Dress Inspiration

Celebrities are always the most fabulously dressed people around. They get the greatest designers to create custom gowns for them. On their wedding day, they look like queens. Well, just because you’re not a famous celebrity doesn’t mean you can’t find a dress that makes you feel like one. Read on for some of our favorite celebrity wedding dresses and some similar looks you can try on for yourself. 

Idina Menzel married her Rent co-star this past September. She stunned in a Carolina Herrera gown with all over lace and off the shoulder details. She was a real-life Disney princess and it was perfect.  

These gorgeous lace gowns may not be what Idina wore on her wedding day, but they can certainly help you channel your inner Queen Elsa.  

Ronda Rousey celebrated her wedding day in August 2017. Her gorgeous Galia Lahav dress was perfect for her Hawaiian beach wedding ceremony. Her fitted gown featured a gorgeous back and plunging neckline, with beaded scalloped detailing.  

If you’re getting married on the beach or in a tropical location just like Ronda, you may not want anything too over the top. A fitted dress with delicate details is a match for Ronda’s gown.  

Sottero and Midgely

Sottero and Midgley

Emmy Rossum was married in a custom Carolina Herrera gown earlier this year. The elegant dress was modeled after the Guggenheim. It was classic and modern at the same time, with detailed off-the-shoulder design and a classic silhouette with a long train.   

If a custom gown is what you’re looking for, Aleana’s Bridal can work with you to create the best gown for you, just like Emmy did. If not, here are some styles similar to her fabulous gown. 

Allure

Sottero and Midgely

Chrissy Teigen opted for a Vera Wang ball gown for her wedding day to John Legend. The dress had all the princess vibes, with a lot of tulle and an outstanding strapless bodice. It was one of three gowns she wore on her wedding day, but it was certainly the most stunning. 

If your goal is to be a princess just like Chrissy on your wedding day, don’t be afraid to go for the big, princess tulle. 

Pronovias

Pronovias

To feel like a star on your wedding day, you need to think like one. These dresses will make you shine like the star that you are on your special day. 

All of these styles, and so much more, are available at Aleana’s Bridal.  

 

Celebrity Bridesmaid Dresses

Every once in a while, you’ll see some fabulous celebrity step out of the spotlight to support a friend on her wedding day. Maybe she’s just a guest, or maybe she’s a bridesmaid. Could you imagine having a celebrity like Taylor Swift as your bridesmaid? Many of her childhood friends have. While it’s likely you haven’t heard what her friends wore on their wedding day, you probably saw what Taylor wore.  

Celebrities almost always look fabulous, no matter what they wear. While you, the bride, are most certainly meant to be the star of your wedding day, you want your girls to feel amazing, too. What better way to make your ladies feel like your supporting actresses than with dresses inspired by some of the most famous bridesmaids? We’ll show you some beautiful dresses worn by celebrities and some great look-alikes that won’t break the bank.  

Taylor Swift wore this flattering burgundy dress for her best friend Abigail’s wedding earlier this year. There are a lot of different styles with the same silhouette, so your bridesmaids can choose what makes them feel like a star the best. Off-the-shoulder, strapless, or with straps, this Dessy Collection dress will look gorgeous on anyone. The burgundy color is also perfect for the fall. 

 

 

Dessy

 

Sofia Vergara can probably wear anything, but this simple, yellow bridesmaid gown could be perfect for anyone.

The yellow buttercup color is perfect for a spring wedding. With a few different hues on your bridesmaids, it could also complement a fall wedding. Again, there are so many different styles to choose from, your girls will be sure to find something that is comfortable for them.

 If long dresses aren’t for you or your bridesmaids, consider something like this! The first dress is a darker blue, but the top is a twist top, which means your ladies can twist and adjust to find a fit that works for them. 

 

Dessy

 

These styles, and so many more, are available at Aleana’s Bridal! 

Wedding Dresses for the Bold Bride

Some brides may choose to go classic or subtle on the color for their wedding day. Others might choose to go bold and make a statement with their wedding dress. The dress then becomes the theme for the entire wedding. Choose a burgundy red for your fall wedding and have all of the centerpieces accent your gown. Or go classic for the ceremony and bold for the reception. Whatever you choose, here are some gowns for the bold bride.

This David Tutera for Mon Cheri gown is anything but ordinary. The Orabelle satin gown, covered with floral printed organza, is perfect for that spring wedding. The soft colors aren’t too bold and would look gorgeous in an outdoor ceremony. It’s also available in black and white.

The Indigo tulle and satin ball gown features an indigo organza layer that makes the dress quite the statement. It’s perfect for that bride that still wants her Cinderella moment, but doesn’t want to be too traditional. And, after all, Cinderella’s gown was blue, right? If the blue is too bold, the dress is also available in ivory or tea rose.

Gold, metallic lace takes this dress from classic to daring. While the color isn’t too bold, the gold lace takes this dress to the next level. If you prefer it to be subtler, this Mon Cheri Gilda gown is also available in white and silver lace.

Jasmine fit and flare can be daring or understated, depending on the color of the lace you choose. The black lace along the side of the gown is sure to set you apart. If you prefer white or ivory lace, that’s also an option.

Not every bride wants to go bold, but for those that do, there are so many choices. From florals to dark colors or simple lace appliques, there is a lot to choose from.

These styles, and so much more, are available at Aleana’s Bridal!

 

Naked Cakes for Your Wedding Day

Your wedding cake is one of the centerpieces of your day. You might want something extravagant. You might want your cake to perfectly encompass your theme with colors and flowers or perfectly crafted figures. While you are deciding what beautiful cake to display on your wedding day, you might consider a naked cake. It may not sound too good right now, but stay with me. They are actually really beautiful. Sure, there’s not a ton of fondant covering up the icing holding the cake together, but there is so much beauty in that icing popping out of the sides. It becomes a piece of art, especially when surrounded by gorgeous flowers or delicate toppings. The best part about a naked cake though? It is so much fresher than a regular wedding cake covered in fondant because it takes a lot less time to put together. That means that you and your guests get to eat a delicious, fresh wedding cake on your wedding day. Doesn’t that sound delicious? 

If you’re still not convinced, take a look at some of these beautifully crafted naked wedding cakes. I promise you’ll fall in love with the simplicity of it all. It will truly add something to your wedding you’ve probably never seen before. You won’t be able to stop staring at it.

Here are some absolutely amazing naked wedding cakes to convince you that it might be the way to go for your special day.  

This naked chocolate cake with caramel dripping down the side is so simple, but stands out. It also looks like it would taste amazing.  

If that chocolate cake didn’t convince you, maybe Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s wedding cake will. The cake was as simple as it gets, with lovely flowers standing out against the white of the cake. It was the perfect addition to their Italian wedding.  

If that cake was still too simple or bland for your taste, consider adding fruit in between layers for some color. The cake is simple, but the strawberries add a pop of color and compliment the flowers so well.  

Who says funfetti is only appropriate at a kid’s birthday party? If you’re a big fan of this cake at home, why not have it at your wedding? It’s your day, after all! Consider adding miniature funfetti cakes to your reception tables like this one, or go all out and get a full-sized one because you can. 

A naked wedding cake isn’t for everyone, but it can be a nice way to add a different touch to your wedding, and it might also save you some money. Consider it when looking for the perfect wedding cake for your day.

Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, NJ

A Disney Inspired Wedding Dress

Growing up on classic Disney princess movies, you’ve probably dreamt of finding your prince charming. You’ve pictured getting married in a gorgeous ball gown in Cinderella’s Castle. And how could you not, when they make it look so glamourous? If getting married at Cinderella’s or Sleeping Beauty’s Castle isn’t quite your thing, there are so many other ways to add simple Disneytouches to your wedding. But, the most important part? Probably that princess inspired wedding gown. You can’t have a Disney inspired wedding without a princess gown!

With so many Disney Princesses to choose from, and each of them so fabulous, it can be difficult to choose a favorite. To help you narrow it down, here are some dresses that channel some of our favorite Disney princesses.

Snow White is the original Disney Princess. She is the one that started it all. A friend to all animals and gentle and kind, Snow White is someone we can all look up to. A dress inspired by her should be classic, soft, and sweet. Think flowers or some bling to give off that “Snow White” vibe.

Cinderella is probably the reason we all dream of that beautiful ball gown. You can almost see it glistening around the dance floor. Her sparkly blue ball gown is wedding dress goals. If the live-action Cinderella is more your style, a gown with sleeves or champagne satin is the perfect way to channel her butterfly wedding dress. Either way, don’t be afraid to go for the biggest ball gown around. It’s what Cinderella would want!

 

Sleeping Beauty is the princess of our dreams, literally. Her classic color changing dress is what dreams are made of. Go bold and choose something with a touch of pink or blue. Try out some off the shoulder gowns, an a-line skirt, or some satin.

A Princess Ariel inspired gown is the perfect reason to go with a mermaid style wedding dress. There is no better way to channel your inner mermaid. Keep it light and sexy to really get that beachy mermaid feeling. Choose something with a little sparkle, too, to match those glittery scales of hers.

What better way to be the belle of the ball then a dress inspired by THE Belle? Her golden yellow gown is iconic, and there’s nothing better than that Beauty and the Beast ballroom scene. You may not want a gold or yellow gown for your wedding day, but something champagne colored might be perfect for you.

All of these styles, and so much more, are available at Aleana’s Bridal!

 

Bridal Hairstyles

After finding the perfect dress for your wedding day, there are still a few things left to complete your look. One thing that you might spend a lot of time thinking about is your hairstyle. You probably don’t want your hair to cover your gorgeous gown. Maybe you don’t want it to make too much of a statement either because it could take away from your dress. Or, maybe you do want to go all out with a fancy up do and a flower crown. How often can you really wear a flower crown anyway? Now is your chance! Either way, there are so many hairstyles that could work for any type of hair and any fabulous gown you choose.  

If your gown is backless, but you want to add a little more detail to your overall ensemble, consider an up do with some flowers.  While these flowers may seem large, the light colors are delicate enough that they don’t take away from the lace of the dress. They simply add to the look. 

To keep your hairstyle on the simpler side, a ballerina bun might do just the trick. This classic hairstyle is so popular for our everyday looks, so why not for your wedding day? It’s sleek and classy, and with a nice headpiece can go from modest to dazzling.  

Do you have short hair? It can be tricky to do an updo with too short hair, but adding some waves and curls can switch up your look. You might also add a headpiece or some flowers to step the look up a notch. 

If keeping your hair up isn’t really your style, consider a half-up, half-down hairdo. This can either be really simple and relaxed or very regal and elegant, depending on your preferences.  

Another option is just adding some delicate, effortless, loose waves to your hair. You can accessorize with a headpiece to add some detail. You could also pin a few strands back with a hair clip. If you want to stay away from hair accessories in general, you could simply add a few twists and clip your veil in.  

Braids can take any look from understated to magnificent. A few twists and turns and your hair magically becomes a masterpiece. There are so many different braided hairstyles to choose from that it can be difficult to choose just one. Whichever you do choose, adding some flowers or clips can help to really make your braided hairstyle stand out from the crowd.  

If you are looking for a gorgeous headpiece to add to your wedding day hairstyle, visit Aleana’s Bridal!