Wedding with a Friendly Budget

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Congrats on your engagement! At such an exciting time in your life and a day you have been dreaming about for years, your happy thoughts and extravagant wedding dreams are interrupted by dollar signs. Between venues, your large family guest list, and the variety of other expenses, weddings tend to become pretty expensive pretty fast. According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in New Jersey is $53,400. But don’t worry, there are so many ways to drop that final bill while still having the celebration of your life just the way you pictured it! Here are just a few tips to help…

 

First, try to cut down your guest list as much as possible. Yes, I know… the more people, the bigger the party. But you’ve all heard the saying “less is more” and cutting down on just a few people can allocate the money to a different aspect of your wedding day (or even your bridal gown or honeymoon!). Second, go into the planning with a budget and look for venues that accommodate to that number. Venues usually account for about half of your wedding expenses so why not use the resources you have to alleviate that cost. Ask a family member or friend if you can use their backyard or rent a vacation home in the area with outdoor space! You just have to find the right spot for you and your partner. One more tip for you, ladies… DIY. Décor, invitations, favors, and flowers. The list goes on and on with the endless possibilities for ‘do it yourself’.

 

The last piece of advice we can offer is that the one thing from your wedding that will always be remembered by you, family and guests is your glowing beauty in your wedding gown. Your wedding will be one for the books. Literally. Those pictures you have will last a lifetime and you want to find that bridal dress that will excite you just as much on your 40-year anniversary as it did on your big day. Just these few ideas can help make your budget a little friendlier while still making your wedding day unforgettable!

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

Leo (July 24– Aug 23) The Drama Queen – Aleana’s Bridal Shop

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Personality:   All hail the queen!  You are the zodiac’s lioness…channeling the fire element in your roar of strength, warmth and high energy.  As a Leo, you hate to be alone, which is a good thing because you have a magnetic personality.  You thrive on stage, are confident, ambitious and happy as long as you have a few doting admirers.  You’re sensitive to criticism and won’t easily forgive insults or perceived slights…but still do for the sake of keeping a general peace.  You impress others with your aplomb in uncomfortable circumstances and difficult situations, always maintaining the composure as a queen would rule her country in a distressful time.  Leos are far from facades and phony behaviors, always delineating their true colors.  You rather be hated for what you truly are than loved for who you’re not and this assurance to your true self is a sign of true strength.  Loyal lion, you are one in a million…embracing a regal status of royalty illuminating through your generosity, quick wit, and overall composure.

Style: The Fancy Feline …Gold Goddess…Queen of the fashion jungle.

You are courageous enough to make an unforgettable fashion statement.  Bold colors, big patterns, a barely-there dress that somehow stays in place — if anyone can pull it off with assurance, it’s you.  Gold, fur, and velvet lure you in, and animal prints of leopard and zebra fit your fashion tastes.  Shopping is a sport for you: like the lion that symbolizes your sign, there’s nothing you love more than a good hunt then displaying the spoils with the perfect outfit.  The smart and refined looks you choose have a way of becoming iconic.  Your signature mane is often the first thing people notice, whether your hairdo is super-short or teased-out, you have the attitude and personality to pull it off.

 

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope:
Posh is in the stars for you…you want a wedding dress that is metaphorically lion-sized!  A fashion fiend for luxurious, expensive things, Leos do not mind indulging for anything, especially splurging on a wedding gown.  Elaborate sequins and bold and daring styles will catch the eye of the tiger.  Comfort is the last thing on your mind, for you Leo girls want to be flashy.  Look for materials fit for royalty – duchess satin, silk chiffon, organza – and smooth, elegant lines that meet dramatic details in a crystal brooch.  Just remember that the quality of the fabric and the manufacturing is just as important as the style.  What would be more fitting for a Leo better than a gown adorned with millions of sequins throughout the straps crossing over the chest, along with a center floral ornamentation, a billowing skirt that adds a chic feel making it a sophisticated bridal gown?  A style such as this one will wow all.  Don’t tame that mane – the more natural and goddess-like the better.   Act as if an invisible crown is being worn by you…that is where your energy will radiate all its’ royalty in your majestic gown.

Style icon who shares your sign: Jennifer Lopez

Leo seductresses: Madonna,HalleBerry, Kim Cattrall

This article is brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop located in the town of Paramus, NJ – Bergen County. We will help you design the dress of your dreams. Please schedule your first appointment at Aleana’s Bridal Shop in Bergen County, NJ or call at 201-444-1500.

 

Cancer (June 22– July 23) The Soul Sister – Aleana’s Bridal Shop

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Personality:  You are more loyal than a golden retriever, and more nurturing than Mother Goose.  Cancer rules “women,” so you are the zodiac’s “soul sister.”  You connect with all the women in your life in such a profound way that you are like “Mother Nature,” but in tangible form, and are the best friend to all of your pals.  The Cancer sign is covered in contradictions.  You’re willful and independent when it comes to your professional/public life, such as your career, and you lean heavily on family and friends when it comes to emotional support.  As a water sign, you’re deeply in-tune with your feelings.  You’re an intuitive old-soul with charming character.

Style: Old Fashioned Femininity…Vive la femme…Vintage Vixen.

Cancer is the sign of femininity, yet like a shy little Crab, you can be a bit self-conscious about your womanly body.  Your true beauty emerges when you veer toward body-conscious styles that flatter your curves, rather than hide or exaggerate them.  Old-fashioned glamour (think: 1940s era) looks fresh and timeless on you.  Cancers are one of the girliest girls around and love anything lace.  You love to dress up and be appreciated for your effort.  Cancer women don’t fret over uncomfortable fabrics or styles but rather look their best in floral motifs or a fitted bodice.  You’re a parading paradox: As a teenager, you were most likely to pair a prom dress with sneakers or pencil skirt with a tee-shirt.  Your natural sensitivity to color and style can make you an amazing dresser, with a great eye for bargains and vintage treasures.

 

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope:
Part of you longs for a flowing beach dress; the other part yearns for a formal frock.  You’ll find the amazing in-between: a gown that flawlessly marries classic glamour with spunky and carefree.   Avoid the overly embellished and opt for a stunning, satin-organza frock that flatters every curve.  Your sign rules the chest, so a gown that skims the figure without revealing too much flesh is most flattering and will keep your cups from overflowing!  Your dream dress will be made of lace, floral embellishments around the waist, a full train, and dainty straps.  The lovely gown will scream with glamour and femininity…and it will be one that cannot be carried better by anyone else but you.

 

Style icon who shares your sign: Princess Diana

Cancer Seductresses: Jessica Simpson, Khloe Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan,Selma Blair

This article is brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop located in the town of Paramus, NJ – Bergen County. We will help you design the dress of your dreams.

BRIDAL SHOP near MAHWAH BERGEN COUNTY NJ

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Aleana’s Bridal is your Bridal Shop near Mahwah, Bergen County, NJ.

The sounds of wedding bells are just around the corner and while you feel a bit of pressure to look your best on the day of the wedding, every woman lives to experience that special bridal moment once in her life time.

Choosing the perfect gown is almost as important as choosing the right partner. Aleana’s Bridal understands that and invites you to select a wedding gown or create a custom bridal dress at our exclusive bridal shop located in the heart of Paramus.

We are proud to offer our Mahwah clients a beautiful bridal gown selection as well as our exclusive “Made in America” line. In our store you can find a variety of our novelty silk fabrics, French laces, unique embellishments, exclusive hand embroideries and handmade silk flowers. Every garment in our great collection of bridal dresses and set can be modified to enhance a beauty of any body type. We also, offer custom embellished shoes and accessories.

We keep our clients up to date on the latest launches and trends. Aleana’s Bridal offers a more than convenient production time frame, which is often unheard of in the fashion industry: You can pick up your dress in 3 months, without paying any “rush” order fees!

Personal customer service is readily available and even possible during the wedding day. Each appointment will be scheduled for a full hour and half to ensure that you get the attention you need.

We also exhibit a wide selection of European lingerie and lounge wear that can only be found at our boutique. Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom are invited to select a perfect dress or make custom “one of the kind” dress.

Book your appointment today and we will guide you to create a dress that is the essence of you.

Please call at 201-444-1500 or book your appointment on line at www.aleanasbridal.com.

Theme Weddings (Part 4)

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Start with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

HAWAII THEMES

Waikiki, pineapples, fire dancers and hula girls!

No matter where you are, it’s easy to bring Hawaii, or any beach, to your own back yard (or wedding venue!).  This will be for the casual and laid-back bride that wants an exotic, island feel to her wedding.

Suggestive music selection should consist of soothing, pleasing, and relaxing tunes during important parts of the ceremony and reception.

You’ll want to include loose, colorful orchid blossoms or plumeria flowers as apart of your decorations and/or favors.  Silk flowers are also another option, and these will last forever.  You can also float some of these loose orchids in a few punch bowls filled with guava and passion fruit juice placed around the venue.  Consider having a flower piece as a favor for your guests to bring home, along with a tasty treat such as chocolate covered macadamia nuts.  Floating coconut candles and seashells are decorative accents you can add in to the ambiance of the reception room.  Consider a Hawaii-style side dish like fresh pineapple, luau punch, lomi salmon and haupia (a Hawaiian coconut flavored jello dessert) to create an authentic feel to the food being served.
Acknowledging special guests is customary in Hawaii, so giving guests a lei will show acknowledgment towards their presence and importance.  You can get creative in customizing your own leis, and if you choose to make them out of shells, they will look intricate and will last forever as a memento of your wedding.

 

*  A Midsummer Night’s Dream …for you brilliant, dark, literary, sexy Shakespearean lovers!  As dramatic as you wish, set a mysterious mist of an enchanted forest where fairy lights dance to an everlasting tune.  Lilly pads sprinkled with fairy dust floating on a pond amidst the exotic, blooming flowers, hanging vines, and & an entwinement of ribbons.

“I know a bank where the wild thyme grows” — William Shakespeare

 

*  Vintage …a wedding full of nostalgia.  Walk down memory lane into choosing your own antique look.  With a bohemian feel, this can be a very relaxed atmosphere filled with its‘ own unconventional paradox: laid-back and upbeat…all at once.  Be outside the norm and use eclectic styles from an almost forgotten time in the past.  Change from your ceremony gown into a casual white sundress at the reception and let down your locks wearing a “modern day hippie”  headband made of beautiful flowers around your head.  Your wedding can be a field of free spirits under a candlelit night sky.

 

 DISNEY WEDDING THEME

For you Disney dreamers and princesses, having a Disney themed wedding would be the perfect fit for you.  There is SO much to choose from with these types of weddings.  Depending upon the characters you love, your favorite Disney location, and many more factors…you can personalize this fairytale wedding to where it syncs up with your own Cinderella wishes.

 

You can chose to have your Disney destination in Florida, California, Hawaii, or even on-board the Disney Cruise Line.  There are a variety of bridal collections available: The Escape, Wishes, Couture, & Memories Collection…All of which offer a distinctive vision that celebrates your heart’s desire and personal style.  From Cinderella’s Castle to underneath the stars and fireworks in the exotic Epcot’s setting, there are plenty of options, accommodations, and activities based upon your wedding preference.

 

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As you can see, there are SO many wedding themes to play around with!  And I only listed a few of them!…so get in-tune to your own personality and style and do some research as to what wedding theme is the match for YOU on your very special day.

 This article brought to you by www.aleanasbridal.com.  

 

 

Theme Weddings (Part 3)

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Start reading Part 1 and Part 2

*  Beach Wedding: Beach Party, Elegant Beach Wedding, Under the Sea, Mermaid/Aquatic Wedding, etc.  You can be as creative as possible with scenery & favors with dolphins, fish, starfish, seashells, sea horses, sand dollars, flip flops, palm trees, lighthouses, sailboats, sunscreen, and so much more!  For a more romantic backdrop, imagine a string quartet and lilies…gentle waves and the sun setting…the soft sand caressing your feet as you approach your soul mate and pledge your eternal love on the scattered with petals aisle, under a white, billow canopy with delicate chiffon drapes.

*Manhattan Public Library…for you writers, authors, aspiring writers/editors/authors, teachers, etc.).  There’s just something magical about marrying in a setting that transports you to another time of one of those iconic places that exist in history books and give New York its’ color and intensity.  Dance under its’ glass and iron domed ceiling and make your invitations out to guests in the style of a book cover.  An authentic Big Apple Wedding, indeed.

 

* Arabian Nights…Belly Dancers and Buddha Bars, bamboo shots, sitting on sofas in colored tents relaxing & sipping flavored Hookahs and being served by waiters/waitresses in harem pants.  Bring back the splendor of a Thousand Nights and even the Disney classic, Alladin.  Take a flight of fancy on your magic carpet as you soak in the magical atmosphere reliving the charmed life of Princess Jasmine & Prince Alladin in a palace setting with minarets and towers, silks and flowers, and bejeweled thrones.  Make a wish into your magic lamp and make this magical experience a reality for you on your wedding day.

 

*  Go Retro …wish you were in a different decade?  On your wedding night, you can be.  Pick a decade that you love…and surround yourself with mod pieces & pin-up styles…from polka dot shoes, red lipstick, poufy skirts, beehive hairdos to the flower power of peace signs or the rock-n-roll of the 80’s or the disco dancing era under a shiny disco ball.

*  Romantic/Whimsical Wedding…Red, red Roses, pink ribbons, dancing the classic waltz, & beautiful candles.  Incorporate your favorite characters from novels, children’s books, movies, & televisions for a more whimsical aura.  (See Fairytale/Fantasy below for more whimsy filled ideas!)

*  Fairytale/Fantasy…Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and all of the Disney princesses you wish to be.  Just imagine…you can have your own storybook wedding filled with glass slippers, tiaras & crowns, a white horse-drawn carriage, pixie dust, magic wands, and your very own Prince Charming waiting for you at the end of the aisle in your castle.  For a fairytale feel without the princess theme, think of the magical characters in other fantasy stories that you love, such as the gods & goddesses of mythology.  Click your heels & be Dorothy for the day…have an adornment of butterflies & fairies…and just be as creative and imaginative as you can be to bring your wedding to a place, or palace, of enchantment.

One more part to go …. Read Part 4

This article brought to you by www.aleanasbridal.com. A

 

Theme Weddings (Part 1)

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By Jaclyn Ianetti

 Your wedding day is as special and unique as you are.  Everything about it should reflect your individuality, especially your ceremony and the reception.

First, plan your theme according to your ceremony and reception site.  Figure out what they both have to offer.  Does the hotel include ballrooms, bridal suite, and more?  Is there an outside party area?  Is it more of a casual, formal, or intimate setting?

 

*Ceremony site / Reception site

*Outside party area

*Bridal Suite

*Hotel

*Ballroom

*Country Club

*Water side

*Garden

*Castles/Mansion

*Yacht/Boat

 

Here’s a list of just a few ideas to engage with in choosing a theme for your own wedding…and you can always expand on the ideas to make one fit just for you.

*Double Wedding:  A single ceremony where two affiliated couples rendezvous for two separate weddings.  Are you one for sharing your ONE special day?  Be positive that all will be smooth if you do decide to book a double, and don’t let it turn into a scene from the movie “Bride Wars,” as Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson’s characters go from best friends to bride enemies at the same venue!…SCARY!

 

Weekend wedding:  A wedding in which couples and their guests celebrate over the course of a weekend.  Lodging is usually at the same facility as the wedding.

 

Military wedding: A ceremony conducted in a military chapel.

 

Civil wedding:  A ceremony presided over by a local civil authority, such as an elected or appointed judge, justice of the peace, or the mayor of a locality.

 

Let’s get creative with our list of fun & festive themes:

 

*Mardi Gras…for the PARTY bride!: beads, glow in the dark jewelry, Cajun food such as jambalaya & boiled shrimp…all spicy suggestions to serve in this New Orleans inspired theme.

 

*Masquerade Ball…for you costume lovers!  Decorated masks, jester dolls, and the primary colors of green, gold, & purple can be combined into this wedding.

 

*Winter Wonderland…Snow/Ice Queens!  Create a world of wondrous enchantment by using reflections of silver & gold…sparkle & shine…accented by a simple & sophisticated color scheme of pure white.

 

*Western Wedding…Grab your partner dosey-doe?  Cowboy hats and horseshoes…Add some country flair with an authentic cowboy atmosphere.

 

This article brought to you by Aleanas Bridal.