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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!

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

Wedding Photo Booth

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Wedding Photo Booth – Make this the main focal point of your wedding reception.

There are so many ways for you to capture amazing memories of your wedding day. Putting up a photo booth does not only capture great shots but also keeps your guests entertained. This photo booth is going to capture moments that may not be captured otherwise. People are also very relaxed in the privacy of a photo booth and you are sure to get some really hilarious images of people acting in ways that they might otherwise not. And since they provide photos instantly, these are going to be the very first photos that the bride and groom see after their wedding.

You could hire an attendant that will make sure everything runs smoothly and will explain what to do to your guests. But on the other hand if you do not want to hire one, you could just put up a large sign with instructions for your guests.

Make it fun! Decorate the photo booth according to the theme of your wedding. Encourage group shots! The more the merrier! This is not only a great way to get memorable wedding day photos, but also fun, casual and impromptu photographs! To make the photo booth even more fun and all its pictures even more memorable, place a bunch of cool accessories and props by the photo booth and let the guests go crazy! Anything and everything is allowed – glasses, wigs, hats, feathers, shawls, clown noses, play swords, butterfly wings, signs with funny sayings, bow-ties and more.

Hire the booth for the whole day so that you can capture all of the action. The best time to capture great photos is after dinner when your guests are most relaxed and have got to know one another better. Make sure to get a photo booth that prints both black and white and glossy style color prints as different guests would prefer different styles.

You can save these in a DVD or even create a photo album.

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

Be your Own Makeup Artist: Beauty Bites – Part 2

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Read “Beauty Bites- Part 1” first on how to begin making yourself look absolutely pretty!

Continued…

  • For a natural makeup look, try a cream blush. This gives a healthy and fresh look. If you want more staying power, try layering a powder blush on top of it.
  • You can know where to place your blush just by smiling. By smiling, the apple of your cheeks pop out. Place your brush right there and blend into your temple.
  • A big step that some women forget when they do their makeup, something you will especially want to do on your wedding day, is to use a brow pencil to fill in your eyebrows. It really frames your eye. Remember to go a shade or two lighter than your own natural eyebrow color.
  • Focus darker eye shadow on the outside of eyes, moving lighter and brighter as you move in. You want your eyes to look big and beautiful. Use a shimmer powder in the inner corners of your eyes by suing a brush with a smaller head.
  • The best way to curl your lashes is to curl at the root of your lash, at the middle and at the tip. You don’t need to clamp down with the curler, just squeeze lightly.
  • ALWAYS curl your lashes first, do a coat of waterproof mascara (if you know you’re going to cry) and then apply the fake lashes.
  • I recommend using false lashes for all brides to make your eyes look big and captivating. If you’re going for a full-on sexy or glamorous look, use a full lash strip. However, for a more subtle look, go for individual lashes. Wait until the glue dries, use your eye lash curler again, and, finally, apply another coat of mascara.
  • Put lip balm on your lips before gloss or lipstick so they’re not dry or flaky. I suggest you outline your lip with a lip pencil first and then fill your entire lip with the same lip pencil. Using a lip pencil will hold the color longer.
  • Carry a few touch up products in your bag such as the lip pencil or gloss. The use of a good primer will keep your foundation and everything else in place.

TIP : Aim to look like yourself – just enhanced.

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

Fairy Tale Romance Trend

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Wedding Gowns Trends

Here is the ultimate guide to your wedding dress/gown shopping next season. The Wedding Dress Collection is all about illusion necklines, exposed backs and open décolleté, revealing a tantalizing amount of bare skin. Four major themes were seen at the New York fashion week this year. This article consists of the first theme:

Fairy tale Romance (Ball Gown) – The Cinderella gown is a gorgeous work of art created with the classic fairy-tale in mind. This silhouette is a perfect fit to be a princess for the most perfect evening. Designers focused on delicate bodices, dramatically cut to the waist.

Design Details– Sheer cutouts with deep necklines and backs discreetly expose a peek of skin.

Materials and Embellishments – Beautiful and delicate elements added on the backs such as buttons, sequences and embellishments on these satin, tulle and lace dresses look stunning and give it a glamorous and romantic look. And when paired with long sleeves, these details are going to give an elegant and seductive look.

This season sees sweeping ball gowns enhanced by 3D applications and illusion embellishments – available at our store.

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

Outrageous Wedding Facts From Around The World

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Have you ever wondered about the world’s longest wedding gown train? Or how about the most expensive wedding in history? We rounded up some of our favorite wedding facts from across the world ranging from the most outrageous to crazy and fun.

1. The world’s longest wedding gown train. 

 Dressmakers in China recently created this nearly three-mile-long train for a bride named Jing-Mei. Reports from photo agency ImagineChina: the gown weighs 120 pounds and took more than $6,500 to make!

2. A Cake Fit for a Queen!

Let’s just say this wedding cake suits best for a Queen and who better than Queen Victoria. Her wedding cake weighed a whopping 300 pounds!

3. The most expensive modern day wedding.

In the priciest modern-day wedding to date, the prince of Abu Dhabi has outdone them all. He had a 20,000-seat stadium specially built for his seven-day wedding to Princess Salama in 1981. This wedding in total cost  $100 million.

4. Las Vegas is the leading wedding destination with an average of 115,000 weddings a year.

Looking to elope? No problem, because Las Vegas has got you covered, with it being the leading destination for couples to get married.

5. Most Expensive Celebrity Engagement Ring. 

Look at that rock! Richard Burton did not mess around when he made Elizabeth Taylor his fiancé, not only because they got married twice but because of this breathtaking engagement ring. The estimated worth of this ring is 8.8 million dollars and has 33.19 carats!

6. Underwater wedding? Why not? 

Talk about incredible! On February 14, 2001, the Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony in Thailand made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Most number of couples to be married underwater.” On that day, 34 couples from 22 countries exchanged wedding vows 10 meters (32.8 ft.) underwater.

7. Then and Now. 

Welcome to Buckingham Palace! Where William and Kate stepped out onto the balcony on their wedding date April 29, 2011 to recreate a kiss made famous by Charles and Diana in 1981.

8.  If you thought your bridal party was big… wait until you see this! 

Couple sets World Record with 126 Bridesmaids, 25 best men, 20 pageboys and 23 flowers girls. The previous record was 96 bridesmaids at a wedding in Thailand.

9. The tradition from the ancient Greeks and Romans. 

Brides traditionally wore veils on their wedding day because the original thought stemmed from the ancient Greeks and Romans, which believed that the veil protected her from “evil spirits.”

10. Let’s end on a sweet note! 

A German study found that men who kiss their wives before leaving for work live longer, get into less car accidents, and have a higher income than married men who don’t. The reasons behind why this is possible are because kissers begin the day with a positive attitude.  It is believed that those who don’t experience this go out of the house with a lack of confidence.

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

How to have a Winter Wedding (Part 2)

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

Whatever it be a crimson red nutcracker or a deep, blue wintery night sky…. It’s all about what winter means to YOU. 

Choose an indoor venue that gives off that winter vibe with a natural landscape: lakefront venues with a beautiful view, a romantic inn with a cozy fireplace, venues in the mountains like a ski lodge, historic mansion, or a banquet hall with big windows.

TIP! : Windows showcasing a snowy landscape is an effortless visual that will complement your photos making them pop against the white, bold backdrop of the glistening snow, reflecting an added natural glitter to your space.  Bold colors look even better when surrounded by a white backdrop…so keep this in mind when choosing color schemes throughout the venue, bridesmaid dresses, and maybe even adding a bold colored, sassy sash to really make your white wedding gown pop with a dash of color.

Color the chill

Infuse the atmosphere with warmth by incorporating your favorite tones to be complimented by the proper lighting.  Christmas reds & greens, reds & gold for a more elegant look, gold and apple greens for a bright, crisp color theme, traditional bright white with silver accents, frosted light blue hues and whites, shades of bluish greens accented by white or silver, and even metallic mixes of gold and silver…all of which can be color options for winter.

 

TIP! : Want to add some extra sparkle…and warmth?  Using a subtle touch of blue light will add shimmer to the room.  Glassware and linens will reflect the light in a way that will add a simple sparkle, rather than an overwhelming accent of color.

 

Daylight Savings, Strategic Lighting: Keep in mind that the winter season has shorter days, as it gets darker in these months, so you will want to plan your lighting practically.  Arrange for your ceremony to conclude by an earlier time in the afternoon so that the day still offers you enough light to explore the option of capturing photos outdoors if you wish.

 

Considering that it gets darker earlier, the use of candles and lights at the reception can really amp up the intimacy & warmth into creating a comfortable & cozy atmosphere for you & all your guests.

 

Dancing wicks & wax & flames: Warm up the winter setting by including accents of the element of fire…as in candles…and even a fierce fireplace if your venue offers you the option.  For a glam candlelight look, go for white or silver candles.  Feeling more rustic?  Use candles with birch holders.  Feeling magical? Suspend candles above the tables using invisible wires to make them appear to be dreamily floating in mid-air.

 

How to have a Winter Wedding (Part 3)

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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 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 1)

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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