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Wedding with a Friendly Budget

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Congrats on your engagement! At such an exciting time in your life and a day you have been dreaming about for years, your happy thoughts and extravagant wedding dreams are interrupted by dollar signs. Between venues, your large family guest list, and the variety of other expenses, weddings tend to become pretty expensive pretty fast. According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in New Jersey is $53,400. But don’t worry, there are so many ways to drop that final bill while still having the celebration of your life just the way you pictured it! Here are just a few tips to help…

 

First, try to cut down your guest list as much as possible. Yes, I know… the more people, the bigger the party. But you’ve all heard the saying “less is more” and cutting down on just a few people can allocate the money to a different aspect of your wedding day (or even your bridal gown or honeymoon!). Second, go into the planning with a budget and look for venues that accommodate to that number. Venues usually account for about half of your wedding expenses so why not use the resources you have to alleviate that cost. Ask a family member or friend if you can use their backyard or rent a vacation home in the area with outdoor space! You just have to find the right spot for you and your partner. One more tip for you, ladies… DIY. Décor, invitations, favors, and flowers. The list goes on and on with the endless possibilities for ‘do it yourself’.

 

The last piece of advice we can offer is that the one thing from your wedding that will always be remembered by you, family and guests is your glowing beauty in your wedding gown. Your wedding will be one for the books. Literally. Those pictures you have will last a lifetime and you want to find that bridal dress that will excite you just as much on your 40-year anniversary as it did on your big day. Just these few ideas can help make your budget a little friendlier while still making your wedding day unforgettable!

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

New Bridal Trends

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

Bringing Sexy Back! : Backless Brides 

Trend: Portrait Backs

Backless…is back.

 

One of the past trends of the bridal industry to make a comeback into Spring 2013.  But this time, they come back with a more modest and romantic attention using delicate embroideries, lace frames, and peek-a-boo keyholes.  Sheer backs with decorative detailing is simultaneously sexy and demure.

 

Angle Admirer!

Compared to a more two-dimensional dress, this gown goes out-of-the-box to producing a 3d effect!  This type of gown allows your audience to admire you from every angle.

 

If you think about it, most of your guests will be viewing you from behind as you walk down the aisle and make your vows.  So that’s pretty much your entire wedding ceremony that they are looking at the backside of you!

Timeless Twists

 

Trend: Lace Nouveau

We saw the Lace trend globally advertised when Kate Middleton wore it on her wedding day.  Her royal wedding gown proved its’ influence after almost every collection showed variations on lace this season.

 

Lace identifies us with the past…before we were pushed into the technology-driven and reliant society we live in today.  Lace is a timeless classic…giving fabric the ethereal, dreamy, take me back to good-ole-days vibe.  Vintage inspired laced sleeves is a feminine touch to any gown.

 

Step into the time machine and time warp back into a world where it taught us that simplicity is pure elegance.  Nostalgic woven pieces speak sophistication….simple as it should be.

Comfort Chameleons

 Trend: Transformers

Do you really want to be dancing around in your reception ballroom in your beautiful bridal gown you wore when you walked down the aisle?  More often seen nowadays are the brides changing into a second dress for the reception.  Convertible and/or reversible dresses, or ones with removable pieces (skirts, trains, capes, veils, etc.) create a distinct reception look.  Designers are now custom-making gowns fit for comfort, as more and more women are calling for a desire to break-free and the ability to move and run around later in night at their receptions.

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

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

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By Jaclyn Ianetti for Aleana’s Bridal, Paramus, NJ

“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. 

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 

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 

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! 

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

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. 

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.  

 

 

 

Creative Wedding Cake Toppers

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Wedding cake toppers used to be simple: a little bride and groom to symbolize your marriage. Nowadays, cake toppers are much more personal. They can symbolize the bride and the groom with animals, silhouettes, fun characters, or just something the bride and groom both love.  

If you and your groom prefer to keep things simple, a monogram is a nice way to add a personalized touch to your cake.  

It’s your best day ever, so why not celebrate that with the best day ever cake topper? It’s simple, elegant, and says it all. 

For those that love to have fun, and share a love of a particular movie or show, why not put that on your cake? It will show off your personalities, without taking over the entire wedding. People will be snapping photos of your cake all night long. You’ll also have a statement piece in your home for the rest of your lives to commemorate your wedding day.  

If animals are your thing, then top your cake with them! You can go cute, like these little birds and foxes, or fun and whimsical, like the fox and giraffe.  

On your wedding day, choose what matches you and your groom’s personalities best. A simple cake topper may not stand out, but if you love it, then it’s meant to be.  

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

 

 

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