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A Bride’s Wish List by Aleana’s Bridal Shop

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By Jaclyn Ianetti for Aleana’s Bridal

“Honor, riches, marriage-blessing
Long continuance, and increasing,
Hourly joys be still upon you!”
– William Shakespeare

You found the man of your dreams…the dress of your dreams…had the wedding of your dreams. Now what about the future of your dreams?

Before you start dreaming up future plans, first give out gratitude to the universe for bringing you the things that bring you love & happiness, right here in the “here and now.” There is a measurable benefit to counting your blessings and looking on the bright side. Doing this will be sure to bring you more of your wishes, hopes and dreams to be realized soon in the future! Studies have been done to prove that people are genuinely happier when showing gratitude. So remember that a happy energy and positive outlook attracts positive outcomes!

Wedding day planning has brought you much stress, I’m sure, but give thanks for how wonderful it all turned out to be. “Thank you power” can actually undo the effects of stress that has took its’ toll on you. And aren’t you thankful for all the beauty the wedding day and the days that led up to it, like the first time you ever met your husband, has brought into your life?

Write down the moments that are good in your life and the ones you have recently experienced leading up to your wedding so that you can go back and reflect on them. This can be your little treasure book that holds your happiness…something that you can stare dreamily at each time you visit. It’s a golden repository of all the good stuff from your past that gives you the ability to recognize the small, everyday things that make you happy. Happiness and “thank you power” aren’t about material objects, but rather the moments in your life that have made you feel that life is good.

Whispers of your Heart
Give thanks… to God, your angels, and the universe…for coming together to bring you love in the form of human love. Whether you endured struggles and hardships along the way, a romantic relationship is what satisfies your heart. Your heart received the affection of another person, and your heart is now complete.

Give thanks…for Free will. Free will is the key ingredient to true love. True love cannot exist without a choice: If you were forced to love a person, then love would disappear, and you would be under manipulation. Your free will matched up perfectly with somebody else’s free will. You & your husband have a will that crossed paths and shared its’ desires freely, locking at a center point of reciprocating love.

Give thanks…for an intimate relationship that developed because of your choice and free will, in spite of all the other opportunities that you could have chosen that would have misled you down the wrong path to love.

Give thanks…for a passionate romance… Your channels are unblocked to allow love to flow freely in to enhance your life. Your earthly relationship with your husband is the avenue of expressing and receiving love

Give thanks…for the life of promise you are now living. A promise of unconditional love and acceptance that you and your spouse share together, which is the ultimate treasure above all other things in life.

“Grace and remembrance be to you both.”
– William Shakespeare

Wedding Planning Made Easy

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Planning a wedding can be a lot of work. Depending on what you and your fiancé are looking for, there can be a lot to plan and decide on. From locations to venues to food and budget, it can get a bit stressful. Luckily, there are a lot of websites out there to ease your pain. These sites help you to plan and keep things organized. They make it easy to find venues and keep track of your budget. They also help to keep in contact with all your guests. You can send out RSVPs, keep track of food preferences, and even add your registry. Some include apps and the ability for your guests to add photos after the wedding. There are many wedding websites to choose from, some free, some with monthly payments, and some with upgrades available for a small cost.  

 

The Knot is one of the most popular wedding websites. It offers a lot at no cost to you unless you want to upgrade.  

  • Customize your website for free 
  • Upgrade to a custom domain for an added cost 
  • Add guests and collect contact information 
  • Add a registry 
  • Keep track of gifts received and “thank you” cards sent out 
  • Share your love story 
  • Countdown to the wedding date 
  • Collect RSVPs 
  • Use budget tool 
  • Wedding planning checklist 
  • Venue search 

 

Wedding Wire is another free website. The great part about Wedding Wire is the ability to search vendor’s pages. You can read reviews right on the site, and even book appointments if possible.  It’s your one-stop-shop for wedding planning. 

  • Customize your own site with over 400 designs 
  • Mobile and tablet friendly  
  • WedSocial app where friends and family can share photos
  • Widgets to help book travel  
  • Easy access to RSVPs and registry 
  • Social guestbook 
  • Vendor search and reviews 
  • Appointment booking 

 

Joy is almost like a Facebook event page, but way better. You can add your trusted friends and event planner as admins, so you don’t have to do all of the work. The site is free and fairly similar to The Knot and Wedding Wire, with a few select differences. 

  • App for iOS and Android 
  • Multiple admins 
  • Connect with Facebook and Instagram to control sharing 
  • Send guests email notifications 
  • Introduce yourselves and your wedding party 
  • Allow guests to connect with each other 
  • Share travel details 

These are just a select few of some great wedding websites to keep your planning organized. There are many others out there to choose from. Some require monthly or yearly fees, while others, like these, are free. Choose what works best for you. Either way, these will be sure to make your wedding planning a breeze.

Be sure to find Aleana’s Bridal on Wedding Wire!

Bridal Clutches

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Congratulations! Your wedding day is coming up and your figuring out all of the final touches. You have your dress, your shoes, and your accessories. You know what you’re doing with your hair and have your makeup all figured out. But, where will you keep all of those little extras? You know, your phone, your lipstick, some eyeliner just in case you cry a little too much? You could have your bridesmaids hold on to it for you. If you have pockets in your dress (what a luxury that would be), you could keep all those little extras in there. Or, you could just bring your own handbag.  

Now, it’s your wedding day, so you don’t need that purse filled with everything but the kitchen sink. A little clutch is really all you need. Here are some of our favorite clutches, and really all you’ll need to keep inside! 

Lipstick, because that’s sure to wipe off with your first kiss as bride and groom and all that champagne you’ll be sure to drink. It will help to have that close by for any touchups you might need. 

Blotting papers can help to get rid of the shine without adding extra makeup that can get all over your dress. They’ll get rid of that shine on your face and keep you looking fresh all night long. Keep them in this cute little clutch.  

Tissues! You’ll need these and your husband to be might need these too. Tears will be shed, and having a little pack of tissues in your clutch will be sure to help. They’ll fit great in this little clutch. 

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure your phone will fit in there. You’ll be taking selfies with everyone all night long, so you’ll want to keep it close. With phones getting bigger and bigger as the years go by, it might be tough to find a clutch it will fit into, but here are a few options that might work for you on your big day.  

You’ll be sure to be the only one with this bag because you are the only one saying “I do!” Keep all of your little extras in here or in any of the other clutches available at Aleana’s Bridal. 

DIY Wedding Decorations

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So, you’re planning a wedding. It’s expensive and unfortunately, you’re not drowning in money. Obviously, you want your wedding and reception and all wedding-related events to be fun and exciting. Who doesn’t want a fun photo booth at the reception, filled with cool props for everyone to take hilarious pictures? You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on props and party accessories though. There are a lot of cute accessories and favors you can buy or make for a lot less than you think! 

For your bridal shower, you definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money on cute decorations and accessories. CharmingCharlie.com has adorable trinkets you can buy to celebrate your wedding with all of your girls.  

This cute “Best Day Ever” tray is perfect to keep some treats and drinks on for your bridal shower. 

Decorate with these adorable photo clip string lights. Put some photos of you and your husband to be. You can hang this up at your engagement party, bridal shower, and even the reception. It’s a cute, simple, personalized touch to add to all of your wedding events.  

These props are perfect for the photo booth everyone will be sure to love at your wedding. For an extra touch of memories, add a little photo book your guests can glue their pictures into and leave a sweet note. 

Hang this little banner up in your photo booth for some more fun in your photos. Your guests will be sure to love it. 

Making your wedding events look fun and exciting doesn’t have to be over the top. Find items you love that you can make your own and your wedding will be sure to be a hit.

Accessorizing your Wedding Dress

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So, you want to choose the perfect accessories for your wedding dress. You definitely don’t want the accessories to take away from the dress, but rather compliment it. After all, it is one of the most important parts of your day. It all comes down to your personal choice and what the dress is like. Does your dress already have a lot of embellishments, or is it on the simpler side? Is it low cut, or does it have a higher neckline? Is it ivory, white, or more of a champagne color? Will you be wearing your hair up or down? The answers to these questions can help you determine what accessories may be right for you on your wedding day.  

Matchy Matchy 

Martin Thornburg for Mon Cheri

There are some general rules to follow when it comes to choosing a color for your accessories. While you should always choose what makes you feel the most beautiful, it’s always good to think of what matches your dress the best. Ivory and gold pair very well together. The gold brings out the ivory tone. If your dress is pure white, try out some silver accessories. These tones mesh better together and gold tends to clash. If your dress is embellished, choose your accessories based on what pairs best with it. Again, it’s your day. So, if you feel that gold washes you out and silver looks best with your ivory gown, go for it! You are the star of the show, after all.  

Keep it Simple 

Jasmine

A lot of the time, less is more when it comes to your wedding day. If your dress is covered head to toe in embellishments, you might consider forgoing the heavy jewelry. A simple pair of earrings and your smile might be all you need. A pair of drop earrings compliments your gown much more than any necklace could, especially if your dress has a detailed neckline. If your gown is on the simpler side, a necklace might be for you. Test out different options and choose what feels right.  

Sash it Up 

Jewelry and a lot of bling may not be your style, but what about a sash or a belt? A beautiful sash or belt can say a lot on a dress. You can work with your salon to create a custom one, tailored to your style. You could also choose a simple, colored sash to add something extra to your gown.  

At the end of the day, it’s your wedding, your dress, and your day. If you love a lot of bling, go for it! Work with your salon and try on all of the accessories you want. Your bridal consultants will be more than happy to help you choose the accessories that work best for you and your gown.

 

Celebrity Wedding Venues

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When you want your wedding to seem like a star-studded event, without the stars (most likely), then dressing like one and selecting a venue like one might be the next best thing. Celebrities have a knack for finding the most beautiful and elegant venues you could imagine. Of course, it helps that they have quite the budget, but that doesn’t mean you should let that get you down. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and you shouldn’t let price or location stop you from having your dream wedding. 

If The Notebook is your thing (and how could it not be?), then this is the venue for your wedding day. This is Allie’s summer house in the classic romance movie and the wedding venue of the one and only Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Yeah, it doesn’t really get much better than that. The plantation is simply beautiful, and the driveway is lined with oaks and Spanish moss, which make for some stunning photos. 

Jessica Simpson and husband Eric Johnson were married on this not so subtle ranch in California. With what seems like a never-ending garden, this ranch is what outdoor wedding dreams are made of. Just look at those flowers and the greenery stretching all the way to the mountains.  

A wedding in Italy is nothing short of a dream come true. Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake got to live out every girl’s dream at the Borgo Egnazia Resort in Italy.

Planning your dream wedding is exciting and you deserve a day to feel like a celebrity! Check out Martha Stewart Weddings for more fabulous celebrity venues! 

When buying a sample wedding dress makes sense

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So you and the love of your life are going to tie the knot, and neither of you wants to wait over a year to make it official, or maybe you want to keep it simple and budget-friendly because you’re in the process of buying your first home.

Or perhaps you’re looking for a reception dress and have a smaller budget for this purchase.

Whatever the reason for needing to find a gown in a hurry or keep your finances in check, buying a brand-new designer sample gown might just be the ticket to wearing your dream dress, no matter what your circumstances.

There are a variety of ways to look for sample wedding gowns. Many online shops offer quality designer bridal gowns for sale at discounted prices, but because these dresses have been discontinued, there is almost no way to try them on locally before buying online, let alone check over the dress for wear and tear.

At Aleana’s Bridal, we offer sample wedding gowns at 50% off (or more). From the moment we buy a sample for our shop, our gowns are always kept in plastic garment bags to keep them clean and in excellent condition. We have sample gowns available from Pronovias, Rosa Clara, David Tutera, Allure, Jasmine Couture and more.

Maybe you’re looking for something boho chic for your rustic wedding, or perhaps you are thinking on a grander scale — a fairy tale ball gown for your big day. We have a large selection of styles, from sleek sheaths and fit ‘n flares to full A-lines and ballgowns.

So all you New York and New Jersey brides out there searching for your perfect wedding dress at a fabulous price, you can find your beautiful bridal gown in northern New Jersey at Aleana’s Bridal in Paramus, the heart of Bergen County. Our Cash & Carry gowns means you can take home your dream dress the day you try it on, and no one will be the wiser that your top quality designer gown was bought at a bargain price.

 

 

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 300 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.  

Mon Cheri

Mon Cheri

Pronovias

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. 

Pronovias

Mon Cheri

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.

Allure

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

Jasmine Couture

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!