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Wedding Shoe Ideas You’ll Love

Still need to find your wedding shoes for your big day? Whether you plan to rock a pair of bedazzled stilettos or want to keep your look chic with fabulous flats, here you will be able to start getting inspired with some of our favorite styles!

1. Lace 

Feminine and flirty lace is the perfect finishing detail to a romantic bridal look. If you are looking for a more modernized shoe, try a pair of lace peep-toe heels or booties. Lace heels will go fantastic with any season your wedding happens to fall in.

2. Metallics

Spice up your glam factor and sparkle with chic metallics. Gold and silver metallic heels are sleek and modern, while elevating your style. For the modern bride with a modern gown these shoes are more than ideal.

3. Something Different

Play with unexpected color to show off your fun and vibrant side. Try bold mint or electric blue, this will make a statement and pop in your wedding photos! This shoe is perfect for an outdoor wedding preferably during the spring and summer.

4. Bedazzled 

Looking for that extra wow factor? A little bit of bedazzle will go a long way. A pair of shimmering shoes polishes off an already glamorous gown. Bedazzled shoes will go best with that happily ever after castle venue where your wedding will be held.

5. Cutouts 

Forget glitter and lace- shoes with intricate cutouts, and textured designs will be sure to catch everyone’s eye! These shoes are excellent for a spring or summer wedding because of their breathable cutouts.

6. Fabulous Flats

You can still look gorgeous while wearing a pair of comfy flats. With a limitless selection from sleek, pointed toe, to crochet flats. Having amazing style does not have to come with pain. Finally, fabulous flats are amazing for the bride who is ready to dance the night away on her big day!

Reference:  Pictures credit to Paradox London Shoes (available at Aleana’s Bridal)

 

Bridesmaid Dresses Color Trends

 Are you on a quest to find bridesmaid dresses? What if I told you that you came to the right place! We’ve put together a list of the trendiest colors to be worn in spring and summer.

 Your bridesmaids don’t have to look similar from every other wedding. In fact almost every bridesmaid has one huge fear, that she will be stuck wearing a hideous dress at her sister or best friend’s wedding! These unique and sophisticated colors will give your bridal party a fresh take and a glow of confidence. This color palette will be sure to make your bridesmaids stand out from every other bridal party.

 This first gorgeous color is blush. Such an elegant shade of pink it is soft and feminine and sometimes seen as lighthearted. This color will look great with ivory bouquets.

Blush bridesmaid

Our next color is Mint this is the perfect color choice to brighten up any wedding with its natural liveliness! This color dress will look great with ivory and peach colored accented bouquets.

 Right now Gray is one of the hottest colors for bridesmaid dresses. Gray in past years has been put on the back burner, but this color has been revived and it looks better than ever! Making sure that your bridal party doesn’t look faded, match up the dresses with a canary yellow bouquet.

gray bridesmaid

Ready to welcome in spring with your fabulous wedding? Try a bold Turquoise bridesmaid dress for your bridal party and white stark bouquets with orange accents; these contrasting colors will really make these shades stand out. This mix of colors will leave an everlasting impression with its bright theme.

blue bridesmaid

If you would like to take on a classic romance theme, champagne color bridesmaid dresses paired with classic ivory bouquets is your match. This spring and summer has plenty of pastel bridesmaid dresses so why not change it up? Whether you are tying the knot in an indoor celebration or a gorgeous outside celebration champagne color will work well with both settings.

Champagne bridesmaid

Reference: http://www.dessy.com

How to maintain your manners: Proper wedding etiquette (Part 4)

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 first

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

So what makes the best manners?  MINDFULNESS.  The best manners come from the mindful person who is very aware of themselves and their surroundings, other people and the environment.

 

Etiquette stems from common courtesy, sense, and social graces, such as: When entering or leaving the room, going into or out of bathrooms, etc., hold the door open for the next person.  Be conscious of staying silent during speeches and announcements and be aware of the alcohol you are consuming and always practice sophisticated self-control.

 

The most important rule of etiquette in attending a wedding event is to enjoy the day in a classy manner and bringing your most lofty, positive energy.  The bride and groom planned this special day in celebration of a jovial affair and took their guests’ comfort and entertainment into heavy consideration.  Be respectful, be polite and be on your way to being a stellar guest…one who contributes to the memories being made, and to the pages in the storybook that makes the bride’s dreams complete.

And don’t forget to bring the most important thing along with you, wrapped up in your own aura and expanded into those of others around you: L O V E.

 

 

 

Bridesmaid Dress Color 2015 Trends

 Are you on a quest to find bridesmaid dresses? What if I told you that you came to the right place! We’ve put together a list of the trendiest colors to be worn that 2015 has to offer especially for the spring and summer.

 Your bridesmaids don’t have to look similar from every other wedding. In fact almost every bridesmaid has one huge fear, that she will be stuck wearing a hideous dress at her sister or best friend’s wedding! These unique and sophisticated colors will give your bridal party a fresh take and a glow of confidence. This color palette will be sure to make your bridesmaids stand out from every other bridal party.

 This first gorgeous color is blush. Such an elegant shade of pink it is soft and feminine and sometimes seen as lighthearted. This color will look great with ivory bouquets.

 

Our next color is Mint this is the perfect color choice to brighten up any wedding with its natural liveliness! This color dress will look great with ivory and peach colored accented bouquets.

 Right now Gray is one of the hottest colors for bridesmaid dresses. Gray in past years has been put on the back burner, but this color has been revived and it looks better than ever! Making sure that your bridal party doesn’t look faded, match up the dresses with a canary yellow bouquet.

Ready to welcome in spring with your fabulous wedding? Try a bold Turquoise bridesmaid dress for your bridal party and white stark bouquets with orange accents; these contrasting colors will really make these shades stand out. This mix of colors will leave an everlasting impression with its bright theme.

If you would like to take on a classic romance theme, champagne color bridesmaid dresses paired with classic ivory bouquets is your match. This spring and summer has plenty of pastel bridesmaid dresses so why not change it up? Whether you are tying the knot in an indoor celebration or a gorgeous outside celebration champagne color will work well with both settings.

Reference: http://www.dessy.com

How to have a Winter Wedding (Part 1)

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

Walking in a winter wonder wedding

By Jaclyn Ianetti

Snow Whitewalking in a Winter Wonderland….with her Prince Charming, kissing under a mistletoe made of berries…(better berries than any poison apple!)

 

A winter wonderland scene paints a picture in my own imagination of snowmen created alongside down a hill, with children sleigh riding, and families or couples holding hands ice skating around a faraway frozen pond swaying, wearing mittens, scarves, sweaters, hats, and earmuffs…as snow flurries whirl in the wintery wind where icicles form on the white-coated forest trees.

 

Don’t you kind of love December?    

Start off by picking a theme so that you can send out invitations that correspond with your theme of choice.

Snowy fairy-tale castles…. whimsical winter wonderland…Christmas… snowflakes & pinecones…take a trip through the wardrobe into a blizzard backdrop of Narnia….If you’re a Disney bride, draw some inspiration from Snow White, Belle (From “Beauty & the Beast,” and have your theme as a book-filled library in the middle of a mansion, with a rooftop full of snow, stranded in the wintery woods), and also from Disney’s new movie “Frozen.”

Keep in mind that just because you’re having a wedding in the winter doesn’t mean you have to play the “Ice Queen” bride with an icy, cold theme that’s limited to the mood of just ice and snow.

 

GET CREATIVE with your wedding theme & color palette.  Go retro…and think back to your best memories…channel your childhood memories of winter to best capture the colors that come to mind.

Read Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 next

How to have a Winter Wedding (Part 3)

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

Read Part 1 and Part 2 first

Candles create a natural glow, but sometimes this isn’t always enough to keeping the ambiance well lit.  Consequently, you should consider lamps or spotlights decoratively & tastefully placed at each table.  You won’t want anyone tripping over them selves, unable to see the guestbook to sign it…and most importantly, you’ll want your photos to look their best…and this won’t be done in the dark!

 

 Winter warm…& Fuzzies

Make wedding guests feel comfortable indoors and out…from before they even arrive until long into the night.  Offer warm transportation for them from the airport or hotel to your venue.  Make sure your venue location is accessible even if the weather turns bad and has good ventilation to keep the room warm (not stuffy!).  That intimacy and warmth you create in your space should extend to the outdoors, as well.  Provide portable heaters to go outside for those who want to escape for a breath of fresh air, check out the landscape, and/or for smokers.  You can even take it generously further by providing blankets by the doors to take for those who are heading outside.

 

Cappuccino or Hot Chocolate Bar:  Create a bar with a warm, cute touch…including delicious cookies, hot cocoa, cappuccino, & other hot drinks for either the whole night, or just as a late-night station.  This is a great alternative (and money saver) as it alleviates stress on the actual liquor bar!  If you did your job making guests feel warm enough, they won’t be inclined to become dependent on the booze buzz for the rush of warmth they get on a cold, tavern night at the bar back home.

Heated Menu Not literally…but consider cold-weather friendly foods and comforting dishes to serve on your wedding menu: meats or fish like a baked tilapia, minestrone or fennel potato leek soup, sweet potatoes, and pureed parsnips.

 

Winter-wonderland Wardrobe

You might want to consider having a wedding dress that will keep you warm with silk satin or a just heavier fabric in general, one with thick-laced sleeves, or a high collar.  You can always ditch the white dress for a stand-out color: blush pink, bold red, icy blue, or slick silver, which will look lusciously lovely against a white, snowy backdrop.

Winter Glam Glow: The bright lighting of winter accentuates dark circles and puffy eyes, while the weather dries out skin.  Keep your skin especially moisturized in the days leading up to the wedding.  For makeup, use warm and glowing hues, an under-eye concealer & highlighter, a highlighter for your cheekbones and under eyebrow arches, and use a hint of shimmer in your eye makeup.

Read Part 4 next

 

 

How to shop for a wedding dress (Part 2)

Read Part 1 first

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

*Bring some friends along with you… but a small group of 2-3 people to avoid an overwhelming number of differing opinions.  Plus, some bridal stores may not even have the room capacity to fit your whole posse…so keep it small to keep it comfortable for everybody.  Your bridesmaids would be best for some moral support.  If not, just bring your favorite female family member…mom, grandma, godmother, aunt, etc.  It’s important to pick a person, or people, whose advice you appreciate and style you admire most.  You want somebody who truly supports, knows, and loves you, so their honest opinion of what you look best in is what you will trust most.

TIP! : Make first time ventures to the bridal stores fun & free from expectations by bring a really great girlfriend with you.  If you take the pressure off, you can enjoy it as an adventure as you begin to see what is out there.  The “real” visits should be saved with your mom or whoever you plan to involve in the final decision making process.  Do the groundwork, narrow down your preferences, and then proceed with a more defined idea of what you’re looking for…with giving yourself plenty of time to explore.

*Bring your flexibility along…your highest form of open-mindedness!  Listen to your loved ones’ advice and be open to the possibilities that the store offers you.  Most people who work in bridal shops are experts on their stock and what styles suit which body types, so stay open to what they have to offer you!

 

You may a have a certain style in mind…like a sultry fish tail gown, but maybe that silk & simple princess cut dress that the sales assistant suggests looks ten times better on you.  Maybe you’re trying to find a dress to “conceal” certain parts of your body, but you find a gown that celebrates your curves instead of downplaying them.  The best looking gown will be one that accentuates your best assets.

Continue with Part 3 and Part 4

 

How to shop for a wedding dress (Part 3)

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

Read Part 1 and Part 2 first

You should be clear from the start about what you know for sure you do not want.  But the whole point of the matter is to not be afraid to try on styles you might not have previously considered to be one of your options.

You may just surprise yourself about what you like and what your taste is…so if something catches your eye, or somebody surrounding you strongly suggests something, just try it on.  It can’t hurt…and it can help a whole lot!  And some of the most amazing dresses can even look awful on the hanger, but once you try it on your actual body…it can be a whole new story.

Make sure you really get what you want, but you have to try on different styles to get to this point so that by the time you try on “The One,” you will truly know for sure.

 

*Don’t deny your dignity….ever If you ever feel uncomfortable or like your feelings are being ignored, then you owe it to yourself to say no and leave the appointment.  Don’t ever let others’ stressful statements or energy affect you and escalate to an intensely stressful level.  To avoid stress, listen to the advice of the shop assistant and use their expertise and knowledge to the extent you wish to use it, and never take it further than what you feel comfortable with.

Be clear and honest about who you are, and what you want and what you don’t want.

 

*Look back and keep track.let your camera (or camera phone) tag along into the dressing room with you.  Having pictures of different dresses can help you remember all of what you tried on….and you could post some of your faves on your vision bridal board I referred to in the previous article.  It will enable you to keep record on your bridal soul search journey towards your perfect gown.

(Do make sure with the shop that you are allowed to do this beforehand, as some stores may simply refuse to let you and restrict this in their policy for further reasons).

 

*Another techie tip: Utilize technology by incorporating video calling apps on your phone or iPad, such as FaceTime or Skype, into your dress shopping experience…especially to send and show to family members or friends who are not present at the time so you can receive instant feedback from them.

Read Part 4 next

 

How to shop for a wedding dress (Part 1)

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal Shop NJ

By Jaclyn Ianetti

This is more so about being prepared for your bridal fittings and what to bring along with you…the tangible and the intangible…so your overall experience on the hunt for a dress is less stressful.

 

What to bring to bridal fittings:

*First of, you should wear something comfortable that you can easily slip in to and out of, so avoid outfits with obstinate details, buttons, or zips.   A stretchy maxi dress and ballet flats is an appropriate go-to outfit to wear to fittings.  No hoodies/sweatshirts…you’ll be hot pulling those on and off.  A light jacket with an easy zipper to swing off you is more like it.

*Wearing modest underwear is a must…seam free with a strapless bra.   Some of the dresses will look best with a strapless or no bra.  Think about what type of underwear you will be wearing under your dress the day of your wedding…maybe bringing a nude color or something similarly simple to really get the feel of the entire look as you explore your options.

 

*Your very own bridal glass slipper….SHOES Of course, it doesn’t have to be a “glass” slipper, but you’re going to want a new, special pair for the very special occasion.  Bridal shops will have shoes you can try on with the dresses just to get the feel for it, but if you don’t want to share shoes with the other brides roaming the aisles in the stores then bring your own pair along with you…to set the tone for your unique stroll down your very own aisle once the big day arrives.

– Color doesn’t necessarily matter for fittings, as most bridal stores will provide you with a basic white satin shoe if you do need to get an idea of how your dress will look with an appropriate heel.  You can always go without a heel, of course…it’s completely up to you and what your style is.  Once you decide on your dress, then you can go about thinking what shoe…style, color, and height…will best fit.

Continue with Part 2,  Part 3, and Part 4

How to choose your wedding menu (Part 4)

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal.

Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 first

Menu Muse

Try to reflect the mood of your day in your choice of food to give a sense of continuity.  Delicate foods such as olives, cheeses, & tarts would suit a sophisticated wedding well, whereas comfort foods and doughnuts would fit more appropriately for a more casual, relaxed wedding.

Your food, or some of your food at least, should co-exist with your theme of the wedding.  Mermaid summer theme?  Seashell shaped cookies on the dessert table.  Disney princess wedding? Pick something creative to do with apples (Snow White)…just nothing poisonous!

Is your Wedding on Valentines Day?  Heart shaped cut out cupcakes.  You get the picture…. Check out Pinterest’s platform to serve as your Menu Muse.

Magazines, cookbooks, and even restaurant menus can provide additional ideas.  Write it all down or tear out pages to save for future reference.  If you choose a caterer, they will also offer suggestions and their professional opinion of what flavors compliment each other and what will subtly go well together for your overall food choices.

 

between courses…especially if your wedding is in the summer months because this will help really cool people off…and believe me, the dancers will appreciate!

 

You could also have your choice of mini sweets or candies to be passed out at the last minutes of the night before it comes to a close.

 

End the night on a sweet note to really enchant your audience of guests.

 Sense the Taste

Smooth & Scrumptious….Taste is one of five (or six, for the more intuitively gifted!) of our very strong senses of which we use to relate to the world and to others.  We all bond over food, as food is a common thread that has the power to connect, as well as heal us.

 

Let whatever inspires you, guide you.  Work closely with a chef to compose a menu that will be realistic and memorably exceptional to creating your wedding day dream menu.  The goal is to diversify the menu to provide your guests with a wide array of choices.   You want them to leave comfortably satisfied and…ful filled.

Reflect yourselves in the food by picking your favorite flavors from your culture or favorite country to be incorporated so that your wedding guests will think of you and remember these tastes you created in one of their distinctive senses long after your wedding.

 

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