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Theme Weddings (Part 2)

Please read Part 1 first

*Napa Valley Winery…Ambiance, Cheeses, & you guessed it…WINE.  And lots of it!  Have a food and wine pairing for a celebration while dining under a canopy of a grape arbor and feel as if your in the middle of Napa Valley’s vineyard.  Wooden cheese boards can be used as appetizer plates and as a gift for guests to take home.

*Cinco de Mayo…for you “May wedding” Brides!  FIESTA TIME!  This can be a Mexican themed wedding with bright and fun colors…and of course, a Margarita bar.

*Monte Carlo Casino Night…for the gambling girl!  Casino Square, Grand Prix Racing Cars, Millionaires, Roulette Tables, Dice, Casino chips…cha-ching!  Create your ultimate JACKPOT wedding.

*Medieval Times….MI LADY & HER LORD: Have a rustic, Renaissance fair at a castle and play princess & prince for a day dressed in medieval garments with wine served in goblets.  There is no such thing as a royal pain on the path towards King Arthur’s court on your wedding day!

 

*Botanical Gardens : Japanese Tea, Victorian Garden Delight, etc.  Cherry blossoms, bamboo sticks, lucky elephants & fortune cookies (good luck & happiness symbols), incense, chopsticks, and teapots filled with flowers.  For just a simple Garden theme, bring back a simple time of elegant affairs when ladies wore their Sunday best and gentlemen stood to help a lady with her chair.  This theme will evoke that romantic sense and timeless beauty to life.

 

*Clam Bake…This can be formal, traditional clambake, a casual, messy on the beach type of feel, an old-fashioned New-England feel, or ocean-inspired.  Take yourself back to the days of early New England colonists and treat your guests to an evening of enjoyment over a steaming pile of lobsters and more delicious, fresh seafood seasoned with smoke house flavors.

 

*Carnival …A Ferris wheel, carousel, popcorn machine, cotton candy, and you can’t forget the Kissing Booth!  An outdoors celebration in the night time breeze will recreate the inner child in all attendees.  Keep the kid inside of you, as you’ll be working with a colorful, fun, summery atmosphere with lots of reds, pinks, whites, yellows, and golds to set the theme.

Looking for more great ideas please read Part 3

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal.

 

 

Journey of wedding day preparation (Part 3)

by Jaclyn Ianetti

Read Part 1 and Part 2 first

 

BODY, SKIN, MAKEUP, HAIR

*Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing each night so that your smile will look its’ best the day of.

*If you’re going to be strict with anything, be strict with your skin!  Take care of it, go for facials, and use products that don’t irritate it.  Control your stress (by exercising, eating right and relaxing!) to minimize breakouts.

*Try different makeup lines to see what works best on your skin.  Purchase your own cosmetics if you’re having your makeup done professionally and so that you will have them on hand for any touch-ups on wedding day.  Choose waterproof mascara if possible!

*Go for trims to keep your hair healthy and be sure the hairstyle you choose for your wedding (whether you wear it up or down) doesn’t hide your face.  You will be taking lots of photos, kissing, and eating and you don’t want hair in the way!

*Go for trial run appointments with your hair stylist and makeup artist, so that your not freaked out on your special day if something doesn’t look the way its’ supposed to!

*Go for final bridal fittings to make sure fittings/measurements are ok.  On the day of, dress carefully and patiently to avoid a rip in your dress.

*SPEAK UP! If something isn’t the way you want (from your hair, makeup, spa treatments, bridal dress fittings, flowers, etc.)  YOU ARE THE BRIDE.  This day IS about YOU.  Speak your visions!

*SLEEP and RELAX:  Getting your sleep and enough time each day for your self to devote to relaxation is the key to looking and feeling good.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This whole wedding idea…the one magical day…the fairytale…creates so much pressure that you’re bound to lose your temper at a few points along the way!  Stop beating yourselves up about your weight or your looks along the journey:  Step back, re-evaluate the situation, and start celebrating who you are in the present moment and for all of the things you have already accomplished!   You will look beautiful on your wedding day, no matter how much you weigh or how good your hair or skin looks.  Just be yourself.  When you are your true self, confidence illuminates and beauty shines from the internal part of who you are to the external.

Enjoy your journey and enjoy the destination.  If you’re not where you want to be at?  No big deal!  For instance, being heavier than you’d like to be on your wedding day will not, in the least, distract from the impact of the huge commitment you’re about to make to your partner or the love and joy you’ll share with your family and friends.

Let your new regimen be to just relax and go along with the journey, without forcing or resisting anything.  Relax as you are whisked off to the bliss of your wedding!  Enjoy being a model for the photographer.  You want to enjoy this moment of being photographed, not feel like a stiff model fearing that your hair and makeup isn’t in place!

Let these suggestions pop the question in your head of “what is the most important thing about your wedding day?” To marry your love in a beautiful dress and to be surrounded by the ones you love most is the true gift of a wedding.  Celebrate love and all gifts life has to offer on your special day.

A PROPOSAL TO YOU:  Drop the pressure and enjoy yourself!

“We understand what you feel”

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

Journey of wedding day preparation (Part 2)

Read part #1 first

Passion -> Pressure -> Preparation -> Perfection 

DROP THE PRESSURE out of this formula!

Ok, it might be unrealistic to “drop the pressure”…Easier said than done, I know!  But how do you at least ease the pressure on your journey to perfection?  Unrealistic expectations of everything that has to do with the wedding date will bring you down once your day arrives.  So first start off by acknowledging this and slowly try to rid yourself of all expectations and just go with the flow of doing the best that you can.  Once you feel stressed out, you are pushing yourself too hard.  Be gentle with yourself and the goals you wish to reach before your wedding.

The biggest pressure for brides is to lose weight, and how you will look, from head to toe, on your big day.  Altering yourself to fitting the dress you want shouldn’t be #1 on your to-do list.  Find a dress that fits you, one you’re comfortable in right now as you try it on!  This will alleviate the pressure to drop the weight in an unrealistic amount if time, which just adds more pressure for you soon-to-be-brides to resort to drastic measures of losing weight in unhealthy ways. Don’t be this desperate bride!  Set healthy goals and stick to a healthy meal plan if you wish to lose weight or maintain the weight you already are.  Remember, slow and steady steps will get you to your destination without feeling exhausted once you arrive.

There’s no doubt that every bride wants to look and feel her best on the big day, but the constant pressure of it all could be too much.  During your bridal journey, you might become someone you’re not…someone who worries constantly about their looks and beats herself up internally for not sticking to a certain diet and indulging too much at dinner one night.  How many calories are in that?  Don’t let your thoughts consume you and gain your healthy perspective back by taking excellent care of yourself so you’re feeling wonderful by the time your day arrives.

 ***Wedding planning for self-care

You want to look like yourself on the day of your wedding but at your best…your best self.  Your perfect day is quickly approaching, and the main goal of every bride in the world is to have the perfect day of beauty.  Don’t go for a dramatic change in your look, just take care of yourself, and prepare ahead by making appointments for your hair, makeup, manicure & pedicure, etc.

 *Outer beauty is a reflection of inner beautyChoose good food choices and quality exercise.  Eating right and exercising will help you drop those last few pounds without you thinking about it all the time.  It will just happen when you practice a healthy lifestyle.  This not only will physically benefit you, but will help with your mental and emotional stress.

*Try yoga and meditation!  This is a relaxing outlet that will keep you centered.  A centered, grounded feeling inside of you will help you focus on what is important.

Read part 3

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

Wedding gown for Scorpio (Oct 24– Nov 22) The Sultry Siren


Personality
:
You’re intense, passionate and an expert at zeroing-in on your goals and plucking away at them until the job is done.  Scorpios are secretive and keep emotions bottled up.  You also regenerate quickly in the face of aversion.  The word “quit” doesn’t apply to you and you enjoy engaging in a little friendly competition every now and then.  As a water sign, intuition and compassion come easily to you, and are prone to reminiscing here and there.  Your outstanding memory is something memorable: your persona of certainty is one that wins admire of those lucky enough to get to know you.

Style: Mistress of Mystery…the sign of mystery, sex, and seduction…you manage to make even the most conservative, buttoned-up suit feel a little naughty.  You are sultry, fierce, fearless, and love experimenting with animal prints, neon leggings, big hoop earrings and even bigger hair.  Your most-used accessory is confidence – and your favorite colors are red and black.  As a creature of the night, day-into-evening looks work best on you.  Fashion-forward and a love for keeping people guessing, you like to reveal just enough to tease without overdoing it.  Scorpio rules regeneration, so restore what you find in thrift shops or snag accessories made from recycled materials.  Sunglasses are your most favorable asset:  The eyes are the windows to the soul, and you won’t be caught dead to be the one to reveal all of your cards first!

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope: 

Just because it’s your wedding day doesn’t mean you can’t stay true to the Scorpio’s bold, sexy style that displays your passionate and intensity through the clothes you wear on an every day basis.  You are sexy!  So show off whatever you feel is your sexiest body part.   A corseted or a body-hugging sheath with a plunging “V” neckline are a match made in the heavens for Scorpio.  A Scorpio bride does not mind heavy makeup.  She enjoys anything that sets her apart from every other day in her life.  You wish for a wedding dress that is different and unique, featuring lavish gems that fall down the center of the gown, along the collar bone, the waist (creating the illusion of a belt) and throughout the rest of the gown with an exquisite lace detail and a high slit in the front.  Show off your best features, usually your legs and waist, and command all the attention you know you deserve as the bride!  Pair your wedding gown with a high stiletto heel for an added touch of flirtation.

Style icon who shares your sign: Grace Kelly

Scorpio Seductresses: Chloe Sevigny, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry

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 Paramus, NJ or call (201) 444-1500.

 

Gemini (May 22 – June 21) Miss Pretty, Playful Personality – Aleana’s Bridal Shop


Personality
:
Gemini’s are most well-known for having dual personalities, jack-rabbit energy, and the gift of communication (translation? Chatty Cathy!).  You’re precocious, knowledgeable, and quick to dole out witty one-liners.  “Wall flower” and “shrinking violet” are terms that can never apply to the Gemini: you’re effervescent and surrounded at parties.  The centerpiece of every event is you.  Others are drawn to your bubbly nature as you have the ability to turn the most mundane occasion into a sparkling affair.

 

StyleStyle-schizophrenia… Mix and Match Mistress…one day you’re Jackie O…the next, Lady Gaga.  You swing from one extreme to the next and aren’t afraid to take the occasional fashion leap of faith.  As the sign of the Twins, you’re all about variety and keeping people guessing.  One day, you couldn’t care less about fashion, slipping into sporty cargo pants and a tank top.  The next day, your “alter ego” takes over, sending you out in a colorful concoction that turns heads and makes jaws drop.  You’re an impulse shopper whose mind changes constantly and your fashion choices largely depend on your mood, but all and all, you’re flirty and playful.

 

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope:
Pay careful attention to what “personality” you’re feeling the day you go wedding dress shopping.  Because of Gemini’s dual personality, any style dress works.  And since you’re the “no fuss” kind of bride, you are happy with anything figure flattering and comfortable.  The simplicity of a dress accompanied by flowy fabrics would be a perfect match for a Gemini.   A knee-length bridal gown with a bubble skirt is the ideal dress for the Gemini: eye-catching yet not over-the-top.  A simple, striking gown that is everything but restricting is ultimately what you want; and a soft flow of fabric allows for graceful movement, just what you crave.  An involved detail in the middle of the busts calls for just the right amount of attention.  Your best features are the arms, hands, and torso, so emphasize this with a sleeveless dress, gorgeous lace gloves, or a cinch at the waist to show off that trim torso.  Adorn your wedding day hair style with a single, beauteous gardenia.

Style Icon who shares your sign: Marilyn Monroe

Gemini seductresses:  Natalie Portman, Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Courtney Cox

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.

Aries (March 21 – April 20) The Bold Beauty – Aleana’s Bridal Shop

Personality:  Aries are innovative leaders and pioneers.  Impulsive and exuberant, you’re always the first of your friends to try something new like getting a pixie haircut…or to be the daring one to dive into frigid waters or to approach a guy at a bar and make the first move.  You’re more certain of yourself when you’re strutting down the road less traveled.  If something doesn’t capture your attention instantly, you’ll move on.  You know what you want and how to get it.  A decisive, ballsy, blunt, beauty with brains makes everybody trust in your opinions and guided directions, using you as their prime role model.

Style: Innocent Vixen…As the zodiac’s trailblazer, you’ll try any trend.  You take risks: violet tresses, thigh-high boots, maybe a Mohawk (you’ll try it and handle the consequences later!).  You’re more frightened of being boring than appearing on the “worst dressed” list.  You’re a fearless fashionista who lives by her own courageous rules.  A mix of girlie-girl and warrior woman, you can get away with outfits that reflect both sides of your personality: pairing a flouncy skirt with a crisp, tailored blazer or a miniskirt with combat boots.  Bold colors, like red, are your colors, as well as neutrals like black.  The most important thing for you and your sense of fashion is to never blend into the crowd.  Aries girls want to see and be seen in originality.

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope: An Aries bride wants to stun the crowd.  Tradition is not on the guest list for your wedding.  You’ll be inexplicably drawn to trend-setting, strapless numbers with colored accents in the form of a sash or trim.  You are the queen of the ball…and you want your whole look to reflect that honor.  You have a taste for bold trends and sexy styles, so go for a grand gown that makes a bold, beautiful statement.  Wear a dress that commands attention with pretty detailing around a bodice or neckline, some pearls, sequins, or lace.  The gown you’re going for is one with a trendy design, yet still possesses classic elegance.   Flaunt your flawless facial features and hair…and even wear a classy feather headpiece to top off the whole bridal look, Aries style.

Style Icon who shares your sign: Victoria Beckham

Aries seductresses: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon

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.