Posts

Your Beach Destination Wedding Dress

/in , , /by

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular every year. Beach weddings are especially popular because the beach is a relaxing place. When you think of the beach, you think of rest, relaxation, serenity, and beauty. You can picture that gorgeous sunset against the water and feel the sand between your toes. What could be a more perfect place to get married?

If you are thinking about planning a beach destination wedding, here are some great locations in the Caribbean from Islands.com. If you want to stay within the states, you can search The Knot for the perfect local beach wedding venue.

Now that you’ve got the perfect location, it’s time to find the perfect dress! When you’re getting married on the beach you want to choose something light and airy. Don’t be afraid to go tight and sexy either, because you are on the beach after all! You also might want to shorten your dress a bit more than usual to avoid getting sand everywhere.

If you want to dip your toes in the water or walk barefoot, choose a fabric that is very light. Heavy fabric could weigh you down if it gets a little bit wet. Fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and English netting are very lightweight and won’t feel heavy. They’ll give you that light and flowy feeling that will flow nicely in the beachy air.

Enchanting by Mon Cheri

Rebecca Ingram

Allure

If you want to channel your inner mermaid, then a mermaid or fit and flare silhouette might be the choice for you. Keep it simple with light layers and fabric. Look for something sexy and simple for your mermaid moment.

Enchanting by Mon Cheri

Sottero and Midgley

Allure

If you’re still aching for that princess ball gown, even on the beach, there are so many lightweight options to choose from! You can also always remove layers if the gown still feels too heavy. An a-line gown might also give you a more ball gown feel, without all of the layers.

Rebecca Ingram

Allure

Pronovias

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

The Perfect Castle Wedding Gowns

/in , , /by

Imagine the day you’ve been dreaming of since you were a little girl: your wedding day. You’ve been dreaming of your fairytale wedding for as long as you can remember. You’ve always wanted to be a princess, and where does every princess get married? A castle, of course. There are so many elegant castles to choose from around the world for your wedding day to make you feel like a true princess. There are even many in the U.S., which means you don’t have to travel across the pond!

A castle wedding venue means there are so many different options for your dress. Any silhouette and fabric that works for you can be yours. Unless you choose to get married with the castle as your backdrop, you won’t need to worry about sand, dirt, or water getting on your dress, because you’ll be indoors. So, if you really want to feel like the princess of the castle, here are some suggestions to get you started:

A silk or satin ball gown is the perfect statement for your fairytale wedding. Satin gowns are elegant and regal to make you look and feel like a true princess.

Sottero and Midgley

If satin really isn’t your style and you’re looking for something a little more lightweight, look for something with tulle or organza. You can still get that princess look without all of the added weight.

Pronovias

This style is perfect if you want to channel Princess Kate on your fairytale wedding day. The sleeves are a bit more conservative, but add a touch of elegance you might not find in a sleeveless gown.

If a ball gown really isn’t your style, there are plenty of other styles that will still bring out your inner princess. From A-line to fit and flare to two-in-ones, the options are endless.

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

Bridesmaid Dresses

/in /by

Be Creative and have some Fun: Customized Bridesmaid Dresses

Is it a hard choice to decide what to pick off the rack? Then make things easier for yourself. The good news is you can now create and personalize bridesmaid dresses of your choice! Add your style, color and size on Dessy, an online store that offers a wide range of premium dresses. You dream and design it, let us know or come to us and we will make it come true. Whether you have a design in mind or are looking for styling advice we will work together to create your unique made to measure gown.

Screenshot (178)

 Collection Style: 2964

Punch up a rosy color palette! Pink does not always have to be girly. Since pink is soft and airy, it’s not much of a stretch from white and still works. So, forget matchy-matchy and outfit your friends in these gorgeous crepe dresses that are available in a range of complementary colors. Trust me, they are utterly ladylike and give off an air of whimsy.

Screenshot (179)

Collection Style: 2949 & 2941

Green is an ideal hue to wear from day to evening events. The best thing about the green trend is that it can flatter literally everyone, regardless of skin tone, hair and eye color, and one’s personal style. All green shades can be ideally styled with earth shade colors, including brown, sandy, grey, etc. For example, style it with nude pumps or skinny sandals with no accessories and jewelries on, let everyone’s attention on your dress. But obviously not from the bride’s. Go for the short or full length strapless soft tulle dress w/ asymmetrical fleur embroidery applique detail at bodice and hip, or the full length pleated lux chiffon halter dress.

Screenshot (181)

Collection Style: 2956

More of the playful type? Build a mix and match bridesmaid dress of your own. Magenta! Yellow! Blue! They can do wonders to liven up a look. Choose the hues that work with each other and your dress will look smashing! Every color has a complimentary color. Black and white, for instance, are complimentary colors. That’s why they look so great together. You know, “opposites attract”. That whole thing. Customize your own full length strapless lux chiffon dress w/ sweetheart neckline draped bodice and skirt NOWWWW!

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

Chocoholic Wedding

/in /by

Are you both total chocoholics?  Then why are you looking at vanilla cakes?  Just because white cakes are the most traditional wedding cake doesn’t mean you need to serve them at your wedding.

Here are a few ways to incorporate chocolate in your wedding.

1. Chocolate candy table –

It might not be a good idea for a venue that gets some serious sunshine, but a hint of chocolate in your decorations might mean a few more or your guests stop to smell the roses. Think about having a candy bar filled with a variety of treats that can be made from chocolate. Think sweet starfish and seashells for a beach-side celebration (just be sure not to set a display of chocolate favors out in the sun), or a chic mix of white-and-dark chocolate treats for an indoor wedding. There are uncountable things to add to your chocolate table such as milk chocolate covered malt balls, chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate covered almond toffee bites and milk chocolate covered caramel popcorn’s just to name a few. These could be put in cute little candy jars next to scrumptious hot chocolate drinks for the younger ones to relish – best for winter weddings. For the adults, these chocolate drinks can come with a twist. Such as combining chocolate ice cream with alcohol and turning it into a shake.

2. Chocolate cupcakes –

A big wedding cake isn’t a must. Find a baker that specializes in creating awesome cupcake inspired displays for your wedding. Chocolate wedding cupcakes can be just as chic and glamorous. Whip up a batch of chocolate infused offerings and have them as your centerpiece. You could also go for ooey gooey creations; with center filled caramel or peanut butter. These chocolate confections are going to be so rich and decadent.

3. Chocolate fountain –

If your wedding reception is just for a small group only, you should have the personal chocolate fountain. It isn’t much, but it would still be an additional fun for the wedding reception. For any cocoa-crazy bride this is an absolute necessity, and is sure to get your friends and family talking. You can skewer dried and fresh fruits to give it a surprising appearance and a more exciting effect. Strawberries with prunes and grapes are also often used too.

Sliced cakes or crackers would also a fine addition. If you mixed the colors well then they will add more to the decoration and create and all-round colorful effect. Marshmallows are a plus. It is the next best thing paired to chocolates. Other dipping’s may include pretzels, cookies and bread pieces.

There are several flavors for chocolate fountains to choose from, in case you want to add extra taste to your chocolates. If you expect that most of your guests are diet conscious, you can also request to have an additive to maintain the sweetness but lower the calories or sugar content. This way, your guests can still enjoy the chocolate fountain in a healthy way.

This article brought to you by Aleanas Bridal, Paramus New Jersey.

8 Ways to Color your Wedding Venue

/in /by

Your color scheme for the wedding has the power to set the vibe! The colors you choose can seriously affect the overall tone and mood of your wedding, so think about what kind of celebration you want! Always remember to pick up your favorite shade, and the type of style you will use on your wedding invitations. This will give your family and friends a clue about your wedding style (and what they should wear). Here are a few color combinations you could go for:

1. Cream & Gold 

Consider a cream and gold wedding. These wedding colors could work for any time of the year. This romantic décor can work for a stunning indoor venue or a relaxed outdoor atmosphere. Its versatility allows it to be a bit rustic, and perfectly refined. Also, gold will always complement the neutral color scheme and isn’t forced to fight for attention aside in bold colors.

2. Brown and Arctic Blue 

Blue for your wedding color will create a relaxing and peaceful mood for your wedding in which everyone will feel contented and happy. Navy blue can look great with ivory, champagne, and white. Adding brown can make it a gorgeous combo. For this theme, go with white tulips, lilies and maybe hydrangea in blue or white. Adding a handful of peacock feathers will definitely look charming, providing a splash of color to kick off a fabulous day.

3. Rustic Rainbow 

A colorful wedding is a beautiful wedding. Choosing all the colors of a rainbow to include in your wedding is bold, attention-grabbing and a bit overwhelming. The most important thing to remember when having a colorful wedding is to make sure every color is represented equally. If your wedding is in the spring, choose pastels. If your wedding is in the summer, choose bright and vibrant colors. If your wedding is in the fall, choose dulled shades that are deeper. If your wedding is in the winter, choose cool palettes for all of your colors.

4. Cherry Red

Red is probably the boldest color you can choose for your wedding. It creates a warm and stimulating mood at your wedding with high energy. The attention-seeking color will have all eyes on a bride who wears a red wedding gown, on a reception venue decorated with red flowers and bridesmaids channeling vibrant red dresses. There are many shades of red to choose from, such as coral, burgundy, ruby, crimson, vermilion or maroon, and endless types of flowers like roses, tulips, poppies, peonies, and dahlias, just to name a few. This bold color (perfect for the brave & romantic ones) can tint every element of your wedding, from heart-shaped table decorations to a spectacular red velvet wedding cake and red rose bouquets for you and your bridesmaids.

5. Purple & Green

Purple is most often associated with royalty. This is because Roman Emperors were often seen wearing purple. Adding a beautiful splash of purple and green to your wedding will create a calming and restful mood. Use lilacs, known for their lovely fragrance which is part of why many brides choose these for their purple pop. While lilacs can also be white, pink, and red, purple lilacs symbolize purity and first love.

6. Turquoise & Lime Green

This bold and bright color combo is pretty chameleonic, and here is why. Depending on the accessories and decorations you choose to display in this sweet yet euphoric mix, your big day can acquire different touches: for a vintage wedding choose powder green, fainted turquoise, and all things antique, for an exotic feel choose a stand-out aqua shade and lots of marine elements, while for a garden-party vibe scatter endless quantities of green hydrangea everywhere and wrap turquoise ribbons around everything. Turquoise will create a refreshing, friendly and happy mood at your wedding.

7.  Kelly Green

There are dozens of ways that green can be a beautiful color for a wedding. Whether as an accent or a dominant shade, this gentle color evokes a sense of peace and nature perfect for a romantic celebration. There are many ways to incorporate more green into the floral arrangements, such as: choosing all-green arrangements with green blooms using more ivy, ferns, and other greenery in decorations or wrapping bouquets in green ribbon. The wedding cake is undoubtedly the star of the wedding menu, and adding green accents can make this scrumptious dessert a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Consider green options such as: decorating the cake with greenery rather than flowers or adding faux emeralds or other green jewels to the cake.

8. White & Blue

A sea-and-sky color theme helps create a crisp, modern wedding. Get inspired by a monochromatic palette of chic sea-glass blues. Print and texture mixing is encouraged, along with a signature sip and dessert bar that perpetuates the color scheme.

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

Choosing the Perfect Honeymoon

/in /by

Here are a few tips on Choosing the Perfect Place to Honeymoon

  • Pick a place – Start by writing down the top three or five places you and your fiancé want to visit. These could be places you’ll have always dreamed of going to, or places where you’ll want to take part in some fun activities such as scuba diving, mountain climbing or safari. Or are you itching to see a dozen museums? Or do you want to lie on a beach for a week?
  • Determine your Budget – Your budget solely depends on the destination you’ll have decided to visit. The tourism and stay in some cities or countries are expensive whereas some are not. For example, going to Australia or East Asia will be much more expensive than going to Europe or South America. If you are on a strict budget, consider going to a deluxe hotel in a big city near you for just one or two romantic nights.
  • Select a Time Frame – Once you’ll have decided which country to visit, determine which time of the year is suitable to visit it and vice versa. For example, if you only have a week in January, you probably don’t want to go to Russia or Japan because you’ll spend a lot of that time on a plane and you’ll be exposed to freezing cold temperatures while you are there. Instead, you might have more fun (and more time) in the Bahamas or somewhere else in the Caribbean. While some couples can only take a few days, others have planned on 2 weeks or more.
  • Make it Romantic and Memorable – Plan surprises. Pick a restaurant you know has your partner’s favorite dish, get some chocolates delivered to the room or organize a candle-lit dinner as a dinner surprise – the little things all matter on a honeymoon. Take lots of pictures – whether its secret shots of your partner caught in a candid moment or selfies together. The memories will help you re-live your honeymoon later.

Marriages should start out on the right foot, and there’s no better right foot than the perfect honeymoon that’s romantic, stress-free and unforgettable.

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

 

 

Customized and DIY Invitations

/in /by

Types of Wedding Invitations

There are so many ways to announce the big day to bring excitement. Whether it is customizing your invite, having your own DIY invites or sending it via e-mail – these invitations will be your guests’ introduction to your wedding. Your invitations will give your guests a glimpse of what your wedding day is going to be like, and should represent you and your fiancé’s vision for that special day.

Use bold colors and patterns if you’ve decided to customize the wedding invitations. Pick a bold shade which goes with your wedding theme and you could then select up to three complementary colors from your wedding palette to make your invite stand out from the crowd. For example, hot pink and aqua or plum and deep red go well together. Each color goes well with each season. If it’s a winter wedding, think about combining silver with white and if it’s a summer wedding, go with bright yellow and sunset orange. There are several websites that allow one to choose their style, color, monogram font and more.

If you have a tight budget and have decided to do it yourself by printing the cards at home, the cost of ink and paper will set you back a bit, especially if you swing for high-quality paper stock or heavily-saturated inks. Using your own machines (computer and printer) means making sure that they are working properly and in sync.

If you want to make it very interesting and fun, you could send your guests’ e-invites. Create and design them online and then share it with as many people as you want. Or, use the social network to spread the word and provide links. By doing it this way, you could also add features such as videos and animations, which won’t be possible if you are sending on via post.

For less formal weddings, the simplest and easiest way is definitely word of mouth. It may begin with “Please join us to celebrate,” or “We hope you will join us” just to name a few.

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

 

Wedding Cakes

/in /by

The whole point of a wedding cake is, of course, to eat it and enjoy the sugary sweetness. But these colorful cakes are so gorgeous, that it seems like a crime to cut into them. You could look online at wedding cakes or look in old family photos for cake ideas, especially if you want to carry on a tradition.

White and pastels are no longer the only colors used to celebrate a new marriage. Bold, bright colors are increasingly being chosen over more traditional color palettes, and the aesthetic is transferring over to bold, colorful wedding cakes. Add pretty blooms to make them the perfect accessory for your wedding cake. Starting either at the top or near the top of the cake, the flowers cascade down the sides in a smooth curve or spiral.

You can also add a bit of a boho feel to your wedding cake at your bohemian themed wedding. Get a colorful cake with maybe gold piping, quilting, fondant embellishments, and beautiful flowers. Fresh raspberries and roses add a hint of jewel-toned color to the soft color palette, accented with overflowing floral arrangements in delicate pink and blush. Summer roses, ruffled peonies, and bright tulips also add a lovely texture to the tone on tone arrangements at your wedding.

If you’re envisioning a country style wedding, not a fan of colors and are looking for a greater impact, bet on a naked design. Just delicious! Rustic wedding cakes can add a chic touch to your wedding giving it a natural charm. Your wedding cake can also be rustic by adding some color; some fresh flowers in complementary colors (always harmonious with the style of your wedding) can be ideal.

Tip: 

  • Adding fresh berries and fruit to a cake can turn it into both an art and a dessert. Sponge cakes make this easy and can keep down the costs for you.
  • Plan well in advance. Tell the baker how many people the cake has to serve. The more guests, the larger the cake needed.

This article brought to you by Aleanas Bridal, Paramus, New Jersey

 

Be your Own Makeup Artist: Beauty Bites – Part 2

/in /by

Read “Beauty Bites- Part 1” first on how to begin making yourself look absolutely pretty!

Continued…

  • For a natural makeup look, try a cream blush. This gives a healthy and fresh look. If you want more staying power, try layering a powder blush on top of it.
  • You can know where to place your blush just by smiling. By smiling, the apple of your cheeks pop out. Place your brush right there and blend into your temple.
  • A big step that some women forget when they do their makeup, something you will especially want to do on your wedding day, is to use a brow pencil to fill in your eyebrows. It really frames your eye. Remember to go a shade or two lighter than your own natural eyebrow color.
  • Focus darker eye shadow on the outside of eyes, moving lighter and brighter as you move in. You want your eyes to look big and beautiful. Use a shimmer powder in the inner corners of your eyes by suing a brush with a smaller head.
  • The best way to curl your lashes is to curl at the root of your lash, at the middle and at the tip. You don’t need to clamp down with the curler, just squeeze lightly.
  • ALWAYS curl your lashes first, do a coat of waterproof mascara (if you know you’re going to cry) and then apply the fake lashes.
  • I recommend using false lashes for all brides to make your eyes look big and captivating. If you’re going for a full-on sexy or glamorous look, use a full lash strip. However, for a more subtle look, go for individual lashes. Wait until the glue dries, use your eye lash curler again, and, finally, apply another coat of mascara.
  • Put lip balm on your lips before gloss or lipstick so they’re not dry or flaky. I suggest you outline your lip with a lip pencil first and then fill your entire lip with the same lip pencil. Using a lip pencil will hold the color longer.
  • Carry a few touch up products in your bag such as the lip pencil or gloss. The use of a good primer will keep your foundation and everything else in place.

TIP : Aim to look like yourself – just enhanced.

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

Be your Own Makeup Artist: Beauty Bites – Part 1

/in /by

Thinking about having a vineyard wedding or a small rustic wedding with just about 15-20 guests? Then why pay $350 for a makeup artist when you can make yourself look beautiful? Instead of pampering yourself by visiting a spa to feel relaxed and refreshed or buy yourself a nice pair of designer footwear. This is a great idea, as, it’s cheaper plus no one knows your features better than you. Also, you wouldn’t want your makeup artist following you to your wedding venue! With that said, being responsible for your own makeup on one of the most photographed days of your life can be intimidating. So here are a few tips from us for your very own special day!

Remember – Play up your makeup for photos!

  • For brides getting married in warmer climates, consider using as many oil-free products as possible: primer/moisturizer. Cleanse and moisturize properly before applying the primer. This is very important as it’ll make your make up go smoother and last much longer. You’re going to have a long day ahead of you, and you want your makeup to last you all day.
  • If you’re doing your own makeup, practice and take pictures before the big day. Start with less because it is easier to add more if you need it, rather than having to remove excess makeup which can get messy.
  • Always apply your foundation with a sponge or a brush. Never use your fingers as bacteria and dirt can be left behind. If you use a sponge, use by stippling the sponge, not swiping it across the skin. This gives your foundation a more natural look and blends it more evenly into the skin.
  • Your moisturizer, primer, and foundation are going to hide imperfections such as dark spots or uneven skin tone.
  • Add a creamy concealer. This may not be oil-free as it might get dry and cakey throughout the day.
  • Give your face a sharper look by contouring and highlighting your cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead.

For further tips and complete makeup look, read “Beauty Bites- Part 2” on our website.

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