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Wedding Dresses Trends

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By Jaclyn Ianetti

Sultry Silhouette

 

Trend: Peplums

 

Peplum; noun: “a short section attached to the waistline of a blouse, jacket, or dress.”

 

Fun, flirty, and stylish…Just think of the cute bubble skirts…aren’t they just an adorable way to sex up your look?

 

A peplum, or short overskirt, has made its’ way from the ready-to-wear runways to wedding dresses.  This flattering trend is a unique detail that can add a sexy, modern touch to any gown using both structured and softly draped shapes.

 

High-fashioned and vividly appealing, peplums picking up this season is a sure way to impress any bride-to-be gown shopping with this popular silhouette in the selection of many stores and boutiques.

 

Feathered or flustered?…or ruffled?

…any unique detail to a waist-defined peplum gown will be high-fashion!

 

50 shades of…Ivory?

 Trend: Color

 Great news if white just isn’t your color…because this season, brides have more of an opportunity to find a color that’s more flattering to their skin tone and body.

 

Designers painted their dresses in splashes of bold strokes this season.  Smokey reds, sky blues, and bridal blushes.  So wearing white isn’t the norm anymore, as this season’s rebellious offset to white in the use of colors and ivory invites itself in!  Yes, IVORY!  Ivory gives brides a bigger selection to play dress-up with!

 

Color me …Boldly…but Softly

Keep it “bridal approved” by sticking to one color theme:  one significant color of choice that pops.  A bold pop of color will give your dress the new age look your going for, while expressing your individuality and “color personality”.  Choose your color wisely…first impressions speak loudly…and boldly!

 

Don’t get any ideas of rainbow inspired dresses, either.  Let’s pass on the tacky considerations.

 

Separate the white, or ivory, with color: Khloe Kardashian’s Vera Wang wedding gown had a subtle pop of the color around her waist.  A thin or thick colored sash makes way for perfection as it can incorporate color into your gown in a classic way.

 

If you want to accessorize, add flowers to or around your hair.  The middle of the flower could be a complimentary color to the shade in your gown.  With an ivory gown, this look could be quite classic and vintage.

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop. A bridal shop located in Paramus, NJ.

Leo (July 24– Aug 23) The Drama Queen – Aleana’s Bridal Shop

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Personality:   All hail the queen!  You are the zodiac’s lioness…channeling the fire element in your roar of strength, warmth and high energy.  As a Leo, you hate to be alone, which is a good thing because you have a magnetic personality.  You thrive on stage, are confident, ambitious and happy as long as you have a few doting admirers.  You’re sensitive to criticism and won’t easily forgive insults or perceived slights…but still do for the sake of keeping a general peace.  You impress others with your aplomb in uncomfortable circumstances and difficult situations, always maintaining the composure as a queen would rule her country in a distressful time.  Leos are far from facades and phony behaviors, always delineating their true colors.  You rather be hated for what you truly are than loved for who you’re not and this assurance to your true self is a sign of true strength.  Loyal lion, you are one in a million…embracing a regal status of royalty illuminating through your generosity, quick wit, and overall composure.

Style: The Fancy Feline …Gold Goddess…Queen of the fashion jungle.

You are courageous enough to make an unforgettable fashion statement.  Bold colors, big patterns, a barely-there dress that somehow stays in place — if anyone can pull it off with assurance, it’s you.  Gold, fur, and velvet lure you in, and animal prints of leopard and zebra fit your fashion tastes.  Shopping is a sport for you: like the lion that symbolizes your sign, there’s nothing you love more than a good hunt then displaying the spoils with the perfect outfit.  The smart and refined looks you choose have a way of becoming iconic.  Your signature mane is often the first thing people notice, whether your hairdo is super-short or teased-out, you have the attitude and personality to pull it off.

 

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope:
Posh is in the stars for you…you want a wedding dress that is metaphorically lion-sized!  A fashion fiend for luxurious, expensive things, Leos do not mind indulging for anything, especially splurging on a wedding gown.  Elaborate sequins and bold and daring styles will catch the eye of the tiger.  Comfort is the last thing on your mind, for you Leo girls want to be flashy.  Look for materials fit for royalty – duchess satin, silk chiffon, organza – and smooth, elegant lines that meet dramatic details in a crystal brooch.  Just remember that the quality of the fabric and the manufacturing is just as important as the style.  What would be more fitting for a Leo better than a gown adorned with millions of sequins throughout the straps crossing over the chest, along with a center floral ornamentation, a billowing skirt that adds a chic feel making it a sophisticated bridal gown?  A style such as this one will wow all.  Don’t tame that mane – the more natural and goddess-like the better.   Act as if an invisible crown is being worn by you…that is where your energy will radiate all its’ royalty in your majestic gown.

Style icon who shares your sign: Jennifer Lopez

Leo seductresses: Madonna,HalleBerry, Kim Cattrall

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 Bergen County, NJ or call at 201-444-1500.

 

Taurus (April 21 – May 21) The Comfort Creature

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Personality: Don’t mess with this down to earth bull!  Reliable, steadfast, and yes, stubborn describes the Taurus to a T.  You’re loyal, kind, and level-headed during conflicts- but once you’re pushed too far, the raging bull is revealed!  That said, you are not the woman to be messed with, taking advantage of, etc.  You are no fool.  Taurus woman are practical, graceful earth signs whose reassuring presence makes others feel automatically at ease when they are around you.  Your humble abode is dualistic: humble and comfortable with expensive tastes.  Your fridge is full of fancy, comfort foods and your closets bursting with couture.  A wise spender and very successful, Taurus know how to keep their feet on the ground.  Your earthy vibes pull at the heartstrings of others…overwhelming them with gratitude just to be in your calming company.  You’re the girl that everybody wants to hug…YOU invented cuddling!  Soothing in nature, Taurus are a guaranteed comfort zone.

 

Style:  Graceful Goddess…Earthy Edge…a timeless classic and simple elegance brings out your ethereal beauty.  Less is more for the practical Taurus woman.  You’re traditional with a high-end twist.  You’re never seen without your trademark pearl necklace and your argyle cardigan.  You stick to the basics and earth tones, but have a knack for mixing understated pieces with the embellished.  The secret to your style success?: As a graceful earth sign, you have a way of making polished pieces that would look stuffy on anyone else, such as a tie-neck blouse, seem fresh and delightful on you.  You’ve got a fierce edge to stage your fearless side every now and then.

 

Your Dream Dress/ Wedding Dress Horoscope:
Taurus is tactile and sensual, so fabrics pleasing to touch and gowns that are comfortable are among the favorite picks for a Taurean bride.  You’ll feel amazing only in a bridal gown spun from the most luxurious materials – silk chiffon and organza.  An off-the-shoulder neckline and string of pearls speaks to your traditional sensibilities.  Streamlined gowns, with hints of beige, browns or tans are always accepted.  A Taurus girl should always play up her neck with a baring cut, as that is her best feature, along with the throat, collarbone, and shoulders.  Any Taurean will go wild for a gorgeous gown made of satin with intricate detailing under the bust and down the back to the train, which makes it an eloquent, unforgettable dress.  A bustle in the train calls for the immediate attention you crave in a wedding dress.  Wear your hair in a loose chignon with tresses framing your face.  When it’s all pulled together, you’ll look like you just stepped off the set of a classic black-and-white film.

Style icon who shares your sign:  Audrey Hepburn

Taurus Seductresses: Penélope Cruz, Jessica Alba, Uma Thurman, Cate Blanchett

This article is brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop located in the town of Paramus, NJ – Bergen County.

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.

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

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.

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 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. 

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. 

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.

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

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! 

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.