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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.

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.

 

Bridesmaid Dresses

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Be Creative and have some Fun: Customized Bridesmaid Dresses

Is it a hard choice to decide what to pick off the rack? Then make things easier for yourself. The good news is you can now create and personalize bridesmaid dresses of your choice! Add your style, color and size on Dessy, an online store that offers a wide range of premium dresses. You dream and design it, let us know or come to us and we will make it come true. Whether you have a design in mind or are looking for styling advice we will work together to create your unique made to measure gown.

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 Collection Style: 2964

Punch up a rosy color palette! Pink does not always have to be girly. Since pink is soft and airy, it’s not much of a stretch from white and still works. So, forget matchy-matchy and outfit your friends in these gorgeous crepe dresses that are available in a range of complementary colors. Trust me, they are utterly ladylike and give off an air of whimsy.

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Collection Style: 2949 & 2941

Green is an ideal hue to wear from day to evening events. The best thing about the green trend is that it can flatter literally everyone, regardless of skin tone, hair and eye color, and one’s personal style. All green shades can be ideally styled with earth shade colors, including brown, sandy, grey, etc. For example, style it with nude pumps or skinny sandals with no accessories and jewelries on, let everyone’s attention on your dress. But obviously not from the bride’s. Go for the short or full length strapless soft tulle dress w/ asymmetrical fleur embroidery applique detail at bodice and hip, or the full length pleated lux chiffon halter dress.

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Collection Style: 2956

More of the playful type? Build a mix and match bridesmaid dress of your own. Magenta! Yellow! Blue! They can do wonders to liven up a look. Choose the hues that work with each other and your dress will look smashing! Every color has a complimentary color. Black and white, for instance, are complimentary colors. That’s why they look so great together. You know, “opposites attract”. That whole thing. Customize your own full length strapless lux chiffon dress w/ sweetheart neckline draped bodice and skirt NOWWWW!

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

Fun Photo Prop Wedding Photo Ideas

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Photo props come in all shapes and sizes. Best prepared in advance to capture specific shots, you can have a blast improvising with different shots!

 Use affection and love! Use the symbol that has been recognized across cultures as the symbol of love and joy. The hands and hearts make for a perfectly romantic wedding photo.

 Make use of an old parasol that your aunt once gifted to protect you from sun burns. Put a word or two of your choice on it, and protect your love by posing the way you wish under the same parasol.

Pose along with your life partner by using a DIY vintage chalkboard as a prop in your gorgeous fit and flare wedding dress of your choice, available right here at our store in Paramus, NJ or our website. Make memories by including a few custom messages for your guests and photo album.

Capture a dreamy and secretive smooch in your lovely gown beneath your beautiful veil, customized by us just the way you want. You could also snap a look of love beneath a halo of golden leaves during the fall.

Get swept off your feet by the love of your life and disappear into the sunset.

Capture the unbreakable bond between you and your fur baby by including them in your wedding photographs to have a super special puppy licious keepsake!

Want to look like a princess and make your pictures stand out on your big day? Then stop by us and purchase the latest and trendiest designer wedding gown of your choice available in lace, tulle, satin and many more, here at our store in Paramus, NJ.

This article brought to you by Aleana’s Bridal

Customized and DIY Invitations

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Types of Wedding Invitations

There are so many ways to announce the big day to bring excitement. Whether it is customizing your invite, having your own DIY invites or sending it via e-mail – these invitations will be your guests’ introduction to your wedding. Your invitations will give your guests a glimpse of what your wedding day is going to be like, and should represent you and your fiancé’s vision for that special day.

Use bold colors and patterns if you’ve decided to customize the wedding invitations. Pick a bold shade which goes with your wedding theme and you could then select up to three complementary colors from your wedding palette to make your invite stand out from the crowd. For example, hot pink and aqua or plum and deep red go well together. Each color goes well with each season. If it’s a winter wedding, think about combining silver with white and if it’s a summer wedding, go with bright yellow and sunset orange. There are several websites that allow one to choose their style, color, monogram font and more.

If you have a tight budget and have decided to do it yourself by printing the cards at home, the cost of ink and paper will set you back a bit, especially if you swing for high-quality paper stock or heavily-saturated inks. Using your own machines (computer and printer) means making sure that they are working properly and in sync.

If you want to make it very interesting and fun, you could send your guests’ e-invites. Create and design them online and then share it with as many people as you want. Or, use the social network to spread the word and provide links. By doing it this way, you could also add features such as videos and animations, which won’t be possible if you are sending on via post.

For less formal weddings, the simplest and easiest way is definitely word of mouth. It may begin with “Please join us to celebrate,” or “We hope you will join us” just to name a few.

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

 

How to have a Winter Wedding (Part 4)

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

Dazzling Diamonds: Wear diamonds as your jewelry, or incorporate them into accessories and even the décor around the venue.  Diamonds conjure up magical visions of ice crystals…perfect for your winter wedding “personality”. 

Coats?…✓Check!:  Make sure your venue has a coat check, as nobody wants to lug around a bulky coat or even a wet one, from any wintery weather mix of snow, sleet, or icy rain.  Also, have a fancy coat and layering clothing pieces for over your wedding gown when shooting photos outside.

WINTER WHIMSY

Hot Kisses: How about renting a photo booth for the night dressed up in mistletoe?  Let the guests take pictures inside the booth with mistletoe backdrops on top of their heads as the custom set portrait to be taken in the booth…they will have no choice but to pose properly with sharing a kiss.

Dashing through the Snow: If you wished for snow on your wedding day and you got lucky with a full blanket of it (or a full on blizzard!), then your beautiful backdrop is set.  But if the snow just won’t come to you, rent a snow machine and create your own winter wonderland.  Let the décor of your reception speak the language of winter…maybe carved-out-of-ice designs and a martini luge can help in setting the wintery mood.

 Welcome to wonderland

If you’re a couple who are thinking of tying the knot as the snow starts to fall.. Create a scene of what winter means to you, and take those elements and draw from the inspiration to use for creating your own memorable, winter wonderland wedding.

Hot cocoa…a blazing fireplace that roars with warmth…cozy candelight nights & crisp air days… all add a touch of enchantment that peak wedding season just doesn’t offer.  Whether you have striking memories connected with the winter season, and want to associate your big day with it… or you just love the sparkle of the season…there’s a certain charm to a winter wedding that just can’t be denied, nor can be achieved in the spring or summer.

 

 Marrying on a snowy night in December (or any freezing night of winter!) proposes an esthetic landscape that will absorb you & your jolly guests into it, leading you well on your way to a sparkling, whimsical, wintery wedding of wonderful…This magic of the season simply lends to a different kind of wedding magic. 

“When we say goodbye December

Merry bells no longer chime

We’ll remember once upon a wintertime”…. And your guests will leave wonderstruck from exiting the pages of your fairytale storybook of your winter wedding to be remembered forever.

 

No matter how chilly it is outside, your wedding will be glowing and gleaming warm with love….

Why? Because…

“LOVE THAWS”- Disney’s Frozen.

“Only an act of true love

Can thaw a frozen heart.”

DISNEY’S FROZEN. 

 

How to shop for a wedding dress (Part 2)

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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)

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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 4)

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

Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 first

 

*Alternate options for you non-shoppers: If you really dread the idea of dress shopping from store to store, you can forgo it all together and either just work with a solo dressmaker or shop online.

–        “Matchmaker”: Working one-on-one with a dressmaker can be a very intimate, fulfilling experience if you two connect very well and her creations magically match your wishes.

–        Virtual dress realms:  If you do order online, make sure you do so in plenty of time in case it doesn’t look, or fit, as you expected it would when it arrives.  Also, be aware that if you are ordering from overseas you’ll often have to pay custom charges.

*Communication is key…ask questions and keep the flow of honest feelings into conversations going! To avoid any misunderstandings through lack of communication between you and the bridal shop you will be a client to, educate yourself beforehand as to what you’re allowed to do/bring, and be honest and just be yourself once you go to fittings to be as stress-free as possible.

I hope some of you brides-to-be find these tips valuable, and I hope it triggers even more thoughts to be conjured in your own mind as to what you can do as an addition to stress-free and smart, strategic planning.

CROWN YOUR GOWN

Remember to approach dress shopping as an absolute experience…not a result/destination.  By doing this, (ironically but beneficially), you will achieve the result you most desire, escaping the daunting and mundane experience of trying on gowns.

 

Most importantly, listen to your own head and heart…because nobody knows you better than you know yourself.  Wear your wisdom as the crown on top of your head…(and later, a veil).  You know the man you’re marrying is “The One,” and that same intuition and wisdom will guide you for when choosing the right dress.

This is how you will come out alive…and your real “crown” will be your most perfect gown.

How to choose your wedding menu (Part 4)

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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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