Your Very First Wedding Dress Shopping

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Here are a few things you must keep in mind before you come to try on or search for your very first wedding dress at Aleana’s Bridal.

  1. Make an appointment: The wedding industry is a super busy one. Bridal salons are always completely booked for the day; especially weekends. For us to give you all our attention and time, call us well in advance to let us know when you would like to come in. You could also book an appointment online through our website. Your appointment will be confirmed after we’ve contacted you back.
  2. Have an idea of what you would love to see and try on: Have an idea of what your wedding theme and venue would be like. That way you’ll be well aware if you should be looking for a dress appropriate for a relaxed beach fete rather than one that would fit right in at a classic ballroom affair.
  3. Do wear appropriate undergarments: Although we have bras and shoes that you can wear while trying on your gown, it’s always best to bring a strapless bra and shoes (approximately the same as what you intend on wearing for your big day) with you.
  4. Your budget: Be prepared to discuss your price budget with our sales person. This will allow her to bring you dresses that are in your price range.
  5. Have an open mind: Most of the brides come in for something they are looking for in particular, but end up purchasing a different style that suits them more. The dress you never thought you would like may be the one that is exactly right for you.
  6. Give enough time: If you want to spend more time trying on dresses and talking with one of our sales person, a weekday appointment would be ideal. Once you’ve selected the dress you said yes to, we will let you come in few days/weeks from that day for your alterations.

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, New Jersey

Customize your Wedding Dress

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Here at Aleana’s Bridal, we have over 400 wedding dresses. We get new styles in every season, so you’ll always be sure to find something fashionable in stock. Some of our dresses are simple and perfect for your destination wedding. Some gowns go all out with sparkle and bling and others fall in between. From classic a-line to the biggest ball gown you can imagine, we’ve got it all.  

But, what if you still can’t find the one? What if you have found your perfect style, but nothing feels quite right? Well, you do have a few other options. One is that you could purchase a bridal dress and get it customized. You could add some extra bling or create your own belt. You could also get layers removed or added if the dress is too poofy or not poofy enough. If you wanted sleeves or straps but your dress doesn’t have any, you could get that customized as well. The options are pretty much endless.  

Still, after talking about customization on an already made bridal dress, what if you’re still not convinced? Then you might want to consider getting a completely custom dress made. This isn’t an option for everyone, but it may be perfect for you. For some, this might be a bit scary because you don’t quite know what the end product will be, but you shouldn’t be scared if you trust your designer. At Aleana’s Bridal, every custom dress we make is overseen step by step by Lana. You also oversee every step, so you can customize every step of the way and if something doesn’t feel quite right, you’re there to figure out what to do next! 

If creating a custom gown is what you’re looking for on your wedding day, stop by Aleana’s Bridal! We’re more than happy to help you make the dress of your dreams. 

Plus Size Wedding Gowns

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With most bridal salons you might come across carrying only sample size dresses to try on, it can be a bit difficult to imagine what a dress your size might look on you. Unless you are a sample size, the dresses just aren’t going to look perfect on you. This can make it hard for you to get that amazing “I found my dress” feeling. It can be stressful to not be able to even get the dress on if the salon doesn’t carry any plus sizes. You could feel discouraged and like you’ll never find your dress. It is certainly not a great way to feel.  

Of course, if you go to a great salon, like Aleana’s Bridal, with consultants and tons of dresses for every shape and size, then you will be sure to find something. There are also plenty of tips and tricks that your bridal consultant can do to make sure you can get the best visual. Their job is to make sure your wedding dress shopping is as fun, easy, and exciting as it should be. 

Here are some styles that work best for fuller, curvier bodies.

A-line dresses are great for the plus size bride if you want more coverage. The silhouette flares out after the bust. Instead of hugging your curves, the dress flows and is a bit more classic. 

Now, you might think that a princess ball gown is too much, but it’s actually a great silhouette for a curvier bride. It hugs your waist in just the right place. If it has a corset, it also helps to really accentuate your curves. Much like the a-line gown, the ball gown flares out for a silhouette that is flattering on nearly everyone.

Rebecca Ingram

Want to show off your gorgeous curves? These mermaid styles are perfect for your curvy body. They will accentuate your hips and hug you in all of the right places. Don’t be afraid to show off your sexy side.  

Sottero and Midgely

Remember, the dress won’t fit exactly, perfectly right when you’re trying it on. It’s probably not your size, and it is definitely not tailored to your body. That will all happen after you purchase your dress, it arrives, and your seamstress makes it the perfect dress for you! 

Aleana’s Bridal carries all of these styles and so much more in comfortable sample sizes, so you can get the perfect visual when you come pick out your dress! 

Wedding Day Shoes

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Your shoes are a big part of your wedding day. Although they might not be completely visible underneath your dress, they are certainly something you put a lot of thought into. You’ll be taking that classic shoe photo and showing them off any chance you get. But you’ll also be standing in them, walking in them, dancing in them, and probably kicking them off at the end of the night. So, you want to make sure they are beautiful, comfortable, and special enough to create fabulous memories in the whole day through.  

Flats 

Maybe you didn’t consider it, but flats are a great option for a tall bride or one that just wants to be comfortable all day long. You can choose a simple pair that you feel comfortable in, or go with a pair that is bright and blingy.  

Small Rhinestone Heels 

Lady Couture

Lady Couture

The heels on these shoes are short enough that your feet won’t be screaming by the end of the night. They also have a little bling on them to make you shine throughout the night. They are super comfortable and will make for the nicest photos.  

High Statement Heels 

Lady Couture

For added height and heels that are sure to make you stand out, these are a great option. Again, they are comfortable and won’t have you aching all day, but are still a statement-making shoe for your big day.  

Wedges 

Lady Couture

A wedge heel is a great way to add height with an extra bit of comfort. These are also a great option for an outdoor wedding, where you won’t have to worry about your heel getting stuck in the sand or grass. Go small or go big, but either way, you’ll be comfortable and fashionable. 

Sneakers 

For that added comfort or even a pair to switch to later on in the night, a pair of bridal sneakers is what you’ll need. These are always fun because sneakers are easy to customize. A custom pair of Toms on your wedding day with your favorite characters or quotes will be a fun addition to your wedding day and something you’ll remember forever.  

 

 

 

Royal Wedding Dresses

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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

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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.

 

Chocolate Wedding Favors

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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

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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.  

 

Wedding Dresses for the Bold Bride

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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

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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