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How to plan your wedding day hair (Part 1)

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

You’ve finally found your bridal gown. What a relief! Now it is time to complete a few more steps so that you can have an idea of what you will look like on your special day. A hair and makeup trial is strongly recommended. The last thing you want is to end up with a super hard, messy 90’s prom looking hair-do the day of your wedding. Unless you have a hair dresser you usually go to, scope out the salons in your area. Ask to see a portfolio of makeup and hair they’ve done in the past. This will help you decide where to have your trial.

Once you select a salon, schedule your trial. This should not be any longer than three months before the wedding. Too much time between your trial and your wedding might result in your changing your mind which would defeat the purpose of the trial. After your trial, you want to leave with the style you love to have for the big day. This is your day. By now you’ve probably browsed hundreds of magazines, websites, blogs and pictures for wedding inspiration. Hopefully you’ve been able to figure out what type of hair style you plan to go for. If you have an image, or even if it isn’t exactly what you want, bring the picture along so that your stylist can get the idea.

On the day of your trial, make sure that you have enough time to enjoy the experience; your actual hairdo could take hours. Some salons also offer make up trials at the same time. If you choose a salon that offers this, and you will be getting your make up done, perfect! If not, be sure to put on makeup and look your best. It is strongly recommended to plan a night out after your trial. Your wedding is going to be full of dancing, running around and will be quite long. The last thing you want is to end up with a hair style that taps out after the ceremony. Plan a night out with the girls and let loose. See if your hair can keep up.

 

Read Part 2 next

 

Perfect Flower Girls

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This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

When it comes to looking for the perfect flower girl dress, the idea of the bride’s dress comes to mind. In essence, the flower girl is a little bride. This little girl will most likely remember this moment forever as she will feel like a princess. A quality dress whether custom made or selected from a collection, will enhance the wedding’s overall appearance. This is, after all, the idea behind picking the bridal gown and the dresses for the bridal party. She may be small, but the flower girl still deserves the best! A happy flower girl makes for a problem free entrance and perfect pictures. After all, no one wants a tantrum down the aisle or photos of a sad little girl!

The fabulous thing about these flower girl gowns is that they can be utilized again in the future. Many of the dresses are, for the most part, a basic silhouette. With slight modifications, or even just as they are, they can dually serve the purpose as a first communion gown, a pageant gown or even a holiday dress. This is definitely worth taking into consideration if you are a bit skeptical on the price, although they are quite reasonable considering the craftsmanship and quality. If a traditional silhouette isn’t a good fit for the theme of the wedding, going the custom made route is always an option. What a way to really make her feel special!

Aleana’s Bridal presenting a stunning collection by Joan Calabrese, one of the leading designers in flower girl/girl’s special occasion gowns. All of the dresses are designed with a bridal elegance state of mind. The dresses are very detailed and are of amazing quality. The dresses come in white and ivory and with all sorts of embellishments to perfectly match any bride’s gown. To visit our store please call at 201-444-1500.

 

Bridal Gown Spotlight (Part 3)

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This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

Read first Part 1 and Part 2

 

Gypsy Princess

To stand out as a bride, wear a tiara…or an exclusive, hand-made flower hippie headband to be placed upon your crown…bohemian beautiful.

  REVIEW

It’s all about adding & accessorizing withoutbeing tacky.

 Adding some color :  A wedding dress does not have to be one plain color.  Sometimes adding a splash of color can make your dress stand out of the crowd.  By adding color to your wedding dress, you are making your dress unique and giving it your own style.

Adding a ribbon on the waist can show off your curves and your individuality.  Use the colors of your bridesmaid’s dresses as a clue to the right color, and you will look wonderful together.  Your train could also include a little bit of this color.  Adding a color can be done anywhere including in your hair, with the bouquet, or many other options.  This option is a very modern idea and can translate into some very beautiful pictures. 

 Accessories: A bride’s wedding look is not just about the dress.  The dress is not complete without some accessories.  These can include your hairpiece, bouquet and shoes.  For your hair, you can choose to go with a simple veil, or try something like a crown.  Your shoes complete your look.  If your wedding is on the beach, do not be afraid to go barefoot or in sandals.  The best way to keep your look unique is to have fun and remember that this is your day and you make the rules.  If you want to add accessories to the dress itself, you can add bows, buttons, or other embellishments to the dress.

Unique add-ons to your dress will make the dress seem more like your own. Every bride should have a wedding dress that makes her feel beautiful, but also reflects her own style.  Add or subtract sleeves, add color, and do not forget some accessories and you will have a wedding day look that everyone will remember.

(Refer to article “Love your Body” Brides by body-type : what’s your aisle style? For a detailed dress guide & more gown inspiration). 

 

Bridal Gown Spotlight (Part 1)

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By Jaclyn Ianetti

 What makes your bridal gown unique? 

What sets you apart from all other brides? 

It’s not about fancy designer labels and price tags.  It’s about taste.  If your dress matches your fashion personality, then it will be sure to speak unique.

Gown Guidance …And always let your CLOSET be your guide

First, you must build on your own everyday look.  Whether you’re a trendsetter or the more laid-back type, go to your closet for some inspiration.  The muse is your closet.  It will help guide you towards a gown that showcases your fashion philosophy.

What’s your style sense? 

Mod Girl : Less is always more for the cool, modern lady.  Sleek lines, subtle shine, and graphic jewels max out your minimal approach.

 Retro Romantic:  You’re a 21st-century chick with a vintage vibe.  Plush textures and antique-y accents merge the past with your present.

 Screen Siren:  Unleash your starlet power with glittering gems, killer heels, and one very red-carpet gown.

 High Maintenance :  For the more extreme types, sparkly baubles/trinkets, blatant bows, and a passion for pink are your fashion faves.  You’re looking forward to the role you were born to play, princess. 

 Changeable Chameleon: Say you’re a little bit of each of the above “labels”…not a problemo.  That just means you’re one edgy chick with too big a personality to settle for being categorized into fitting into just one type of style.  If you embody many layers to your style personality, peel each & every one of them to reveal your whole self and incorporate a bit of everything to really let your colorful personality shine. 

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

So, what makes your gown so special? 

Creativity is the key to really making a unique statement.  Here are some creative suggestions from gown tips, accessories, shoes, and hairstyles…all of which will contribute to the overall portrait of your style, and therefore, giving your gown the ultimate unique boost you dream of….

 . . GOWN. .

Color

If white isn’t your color, who says you have to wear a white bridal gown?   Opt for a gown in your favorite color.  Wedding gowns now come in all sorts of beautiful ones, from bold blues and hot pinks, to greens, golds, and even reds.

If you’re finding it hard to convince your loved ones (your groom or mom) that color is completely appropriate, you might want to consider donning a traditional white wedding gown for your ceremony, then slipping into something in a bold hue for the reception.

There are even several wedding gowns available today that boast two-in-one designs specifically designed for this purpose: short dresses with long, see-through layers on top; two-piece gowns with interchangeable skirt and pant options; and body-skimming sheaths with removable floor-length sheer jackets (the 2-in-1 dress).  It may not be the super short and sexy shift you originally pictured yourself marrying in, but look at it this way: everyone will be happy, and you’ll get to wear two gowns, instead of just one!

 WHITE GOWNS

If you like the idea of the traditional, plain white dress, you can always add in some color to the details.  There is nothing wrong with replacing some of your dress’ accents with color.

Read more Part 2 and Part 3

Bridal Gown Spotlight (Part 2)

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This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

Read firstBest Bridal Store New Jersey

WHITE GOWNS

If you like the idea of the traditional, plain white dress, you can always add in some color to the details.  There is nothing wrong with replacing some of your dress’ accents with color.

* If your dress has large white flowers, get them replaced with colorful posies.

 * Add a colorful sash.  You could coordinate this with the colors of your bridesmaid dresses.

 

* Get the bottom of your dress dyed: If your dress is not too ornate, it might really spice things up if the bottom of it is a light blue or pale pink.  Hire a professional to do this for you, as attempts of doing it yourself can lead to a dress disaster.

 FUN DETAILS

If you like the idea of a plain wedding dress but would like to add a little more detail, then consider covered buttons or ribbon lacing to the back. Many dress designers offer a choice of closure to their dresses so you can change a plain zipper to pretty covered buttons or sexy corset style lacing. Adding covered buttons is also something you can do yourself very easily and they can turn a plain dress into something unique and very classic looking.

 

*Shorten your dress. Everyone will expect you to wear a long dress, so there is no harm in turning heads in a short little number!

*Beading is always an easy way to make a plain dress look fabulous. Coordinate the beads on your dress with those in your other wedding accessories, so if your hair accessories include pearls and crystals then use those on your dress.  A simple option is to slip stitch beads around the neckline of your dress, but if you want to do something more fancy, then plan your design on a piece of graph paper first and place the beads on your dress without sewing them so you can see how they will look.  Once you are happy you can proceed to attach them yourself or have a professional do it for you.  
*Lace : Adding a touch of lace goes a long way to creating that bridal look. A nice touch is to add a band of lace to the hem of your skirt which will just peep out on the tops of your toes.  Another idea is to wear a lace edged petticoat underneath, which is slightly longer.  This works nicely for full skirted dresses and when you sit down, it will peep out from under your skirt for a very pretty bridal look.

Tip: If your dress has ribbon lacing ask for different colored ribbons or change them yourself.  Or use colored versions of the ideas listed above such as colored beads or appliqués.  A colored lace petticoat is a great way of adding interest to your dress without it being too obvious.
*Dainty Detailing: These can be beaded, sequined, lace or combination and are very easy to sew onto your dress.  You can find them in various sizes and matching colors, including full bodice pieces, sleeve appliqués and larger versions to apply to trains.

Look around sewing shops and online for bridal boutiques where you can make a special request to place your unique order. 

– – Hire a costume designer to “build on” your dress.  A professional can look at a piece and know exactly what to do to make it unique.  Adding an accented line down your dress, or delicately placing jewels in designated places can all add a unique feel to your dress.

 SHOES

* Instead of plain white pumps, wear colorful & funky shoes.  OR have a little sparkle or color sticking out the bottom of your dress.

*Customize simple satin pumps with shoe jewelry such as rhinestone ribbons. 

Continue with Part 3

Wedding “Wow“ Him (Part 3)

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Read Part 1 and Part 2 first

* CULINARY CREATIONS

Since food is the way to a mans heart, why not include some of his favorite munchies at the wedding?  If he’s a guy who loves his snacks, and hamburgers & hotdogs are his type of thing, add them in for cocktail hour.  If you have foods like this during cocktail hour, be sure your reception menu is a bit more “upscale.”  If he’s a big breakfast guy, have a midnight lounge and serve breakfast specialties such as mini pancakes and waffles with decorative fruit on top.  If sweets are what makes your man’s eyes light up, do add a dessert with all of his favorite treats…donuts, pastries, etc.

Take a bridal BOW to the WOW you created.

Not only are all the previous ideas, or any of which you creatively come up with on your own, adorable… but he’ll never expect it which is bonus points!

Seating charts, guest favors, and cake flavors are always on a bride’s radar…but these romantic and personal surprises will leave your groom smiling just that much more and kindly remind him that this day is about the two of you, and not those crazy rants about wedding planning or bridezilla moments over which trendy hue you should pick.

 RECAP:  besides your outer, newer bridal beauty glow, be sure to let your inner bridal beauty shine and surprise him with something sweet.  Glowing from the inside will have you in an everlasting glow on the outside.  All of which makes you simply adorable, and it will remind him how you have truly stolen his heart right from the start…which led to your shared happily ever after…

and now you can be a WOW kind of WIFE.  One who keeps the glow, memories, and emotions of the wedding day alive with the two of you.

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

Wedding “Wow“ Him (Part 1)

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By Jaclyn Ianetti

How to “wow” your man on your wedding day.

 

Apart from being the most beautiful he has ever possibly seen you before, there are actions you can do to WOW him.  And you want to WOW him, because you want this day to be just as memorable for him as it will be for you.

So if you’re wondering how you can sweeten the day of your wedding the way he sweetens yours everyday, keep on reading…

 Captive Changes

Nothing says “WOW” more than a surprise. When people are caught off guard with something they weren‘t expecting, and it’s something on a more positive note that rise above normal assumptions, that’s what really sends those “wow” signals shocking through their systems.

 Create a Captive Audience.   The most important member of the audience?  Him.  So, you will want to focus on him, and to intrigue him by sending his emotional system into a shockwave rush of spiked endorphins.

Remember, men are more so into actions than words and are very visual creatures.

Here are a few tips to try:

 *EXPLORE A DIFFERENT SIDE TO YOU. 

Instead of sticking to the same hairstyle you wear everyday, do something different on your wedding day.

 Change is good.   And a good change is even better. 

It doesn’t necessarily mean go drastic or dramatic (unless that’s what you want).  Just a simple change in your looks will do the trick.  This rule applies for hair, makeup, accessories etc.  Play around with your personality and incorporate styles into your wedding day look that you may have always wanted to wear or a look that you always wanted to try, but just simply couldn’t or wouldn’t work for a typical day.

Read Part 2 and Part 3

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

 

 

 

Best Couple Activities (Part 4)

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This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop, Bergen County NJ.

Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 first

 

MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS

* Go to the beach and build a sand castle.  Bring a spade, shovel, & pale for the sand.

* Locate volunteer work you can do together and just go do it.  You both will be rewarded with an inner peace afterwards.

* Return together at the site of where you first met or where you spent time together early in your relationship.  Talk about your memories and then repeat something you did then.

* Do some research and compile your family trees.  Share with each other what you found, what it was like to compile, and how you feel.  Tell about any new information you learned about your family.

* Take a class, workshop, lecture… about something neither knows anything about.  You can even pretend you don’t know each other during the class, gradually getting acquainted through out the length of the class.  Go out on dates after class and make what you learned the your topic of discussion.

* Make a fire in an outdoor fire pit somewhere and make s’mores and roast some marshmallows.

Poetic Souls…Buy a book of poetry and read to each other every day at breakfast.  Buy a novel you both want to read and take turns reading it aloud at night before bed.

*Hooked on each other?…play hooky.  Every so often, tell your boss you have a doctor’s appointment, and have your husband do the same.  Share a lazy day in together or go out and do whatever you both feel like doing.  Put choices in a hat and take a pick…the winner calls the shot on what you have in mind and what you will be doing for the rest of the evening.

 Mark the moment.  Special occasions and spontaneous activities are sometimes a rare event.  Expand on the idea with a game: Every time you have a married “first”…file a joint tax return, country traveled to, paint the bathroom…celebrate by doing something fun together that you both love.  This two-time activity deal will keep you racking up more and more activities throughout your union, soon you’ll really feel like newlyweds for life.

Aleana’s bridal shop located in Paramus, NJ. Please schedule your first appointment at Aleana’s Bridal Shop or call at 201-444-1500.

BRIDAL SHOP near CRESSKILL BERGEN COUNTY NJ

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Aleana’s Bridal is your bridal shop near Cresskill, Bergen County, NJ.

 

Choosing the perfect wedding gown is almost as important as choosing the right partner.  Aleana’s Bridal understands that and offers a great personal service to guide its’ clients step by step to choose the most wonderful bridal gown for the perfect wedding day.

Bridal gown is a symbol of your unique self; a symbol of self-expression that makes a powerful statement in the physical world about your inner nature. Aleana’s Bridal invites you to choose a wedding dress or create your custom bridal gown at our exclusive bridal shop located in the heart of Paramus, Bergen county, NJ.

Our exclusive bridal gowns are created for the woman who is not afraid to cross boundaries and who enjoys experiencing the triumph of individual style. We use only high quality silk fabrications, novelty French laces, hand embroideries and other unique embellishments.

Aleana’s Bridal offers all Cresskill customers 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!

We also invite the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom to visit our store. We exhibit an exclusive dress selection as well as offer our customers a custom made gowns in any fabric and color. Remember than you are the second most important woman at the wedding. We want you to look stunning during that special 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,  lounge wear and hand made accessories that can only be found at our boutique.

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

 

BRIDAL SHOP near MONTVALE BERGEN COUNTY NJ

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

 

So you’ve decided to start the search for the perfect wedding gown. During first few appointments you felt exciting, after you realized how exhausting it is. With all of the different styles and silhouettes it seems as though you’ll never find the exact dress you want. Don’t fret. Rather than spending what seems like centuries browsing racks and trying on yet another ball gown, consider custom made. The beauty of custom made gowns is simple; it’s made just for you. It is a one of a kind.

You might have liked the bodice on the first dress you tried on but hated the skirt. At the same time you would have preferred a different neckline. To confuse yourself even more, you really like the belt from the 7th dress but wish it had the colored ribbon like the 13th gown. Stressful!

By going the custom route, you’re instantly put at ease knowing you can have all that you wanted made especially for you.

At Aleana’s Bridal, we invite you to create a custom gown or choose a dress at our exclusive shop located in the heart of Paramus where majority of our gowns are made from silk fabrics at a very affordable price.

We have recently expanded our Mother of the Bride collection and proudly extend our custom made services to create the perfect gown for all shapes and sizes. We hope our Montvale customers will feel like royalty.

Book your appointment today and we will guide you to create a dress that is the essence of you. Each appointment will be scheduled for a full hour and half to ensure that you get the attention you need.

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