Wedding Dress Blog

Stay at Home Moms: Make Money Selling Software Programs

2007-04-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

Stay at Home Moms: Make Money Selling Software Programs

There are millions of mothers who consider becoming stay at
home moms. Unfortunately, many of those mothers do not take action.
There are a number of different reasons for that, but the most
important one is money. For some families, it is just impossible
to survive on only one income; however, you do not have to.
If you are interested in becoming a stay at home mom, you can
do so while generating income at the same time. This can be
done by acquiring the resell rights to a software program.

At any given time, there are a number of software developers
and designers who are working on creating a new product. Once
that product has been created, the selling process should begin.
The problem that many software developers and designers face
is that they do not know how to go about selling their products.
Instead of taking the time to learn how, they rely on someone else
to do the selling for them. If you think that this sounds like
a commission based program, you are wrong.

Before allowing an individual, someone just like you, to sell
their products, most software designers and developers require
that their products be purchased. Instead of purchasing the
whole product, you are purchasing the right to resell it.

To make money from the software program, which you acquired the
resell rights to; you will need to start selling that program.
This selling is why this is the perfect opporunity for you and
other stay at home moms. You can sell your software program at
your own pace. In fact, you can do as much work or as little
work as you wish. The decision is completely yours to make.
However, it is important to remember that the more work you do,
the more money you will make.

When it comes to selling private label software, the good news
is that you have a number of different selling options. These
options may include, but should not be limited to, the creation
of a product website, the use of online auction websites, or
the use of online classified ads. Like the business opportunity
as a whole, these selling methods are ideal for those who are
stay at home moms. Many of the above mentioned selling methods
do not require a large amount of work. In fact, a few hours a
week may be more than an enough time to get your website started,
submit online classified ads, or start an auction on an online
auction website.

If you are interested in further examining private label resell
rights, you are encouraged to do so. There are a number of online
resource guides that should be able to offer you assistance.
In addition to these guides, you are urged to examine what other
software sellers are offering. Doing so may enable you to estimate
how much money you can make by reselling a private label software program.

========================================================
To grab $17,000 in Source Code, Private Lable Rights
and Resale Rights to quality software ij Internet Marketing niche,
please visit:

http://myprofitbiz.com/10source/
========================================================

You Can! Make Your Living Online!

2007-04-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

The Internet's short history shows amazing growth. Vinton Cerf, one of the "founding fathers of the Internet" said that in 1997, there was around 50 million people accessing the web. At the end of 2002, there were over 560 million folks accessing the web. That is an order of magnitude growth in 5 years. In March,2007, an internetworldstats.com study estimates that there are over 1.1 billion people accessing the web at this time. That's another 2X growth in 4 years....over 3 million people per day....over 125 thousand per hour...over 2,000 per minute...almost 35 internet users every second of the day worldwide on the world wide web.

The above-referenced March, 2007 study points out some incredible facts about the potential for future growth of the Internet. English speaking Internet users comprise almost 30% of the 1.1 billion...with only a 28.7% penetration. The initial phase of the Internet growth is largely complete...lots of folks know and use the Internet. But, there is a tremendous upside when one considers that only 16.9% of the world population utilize the Internet!

That means that there are another 5 billion people that have yet to tap into the Internet. Cerf said in a recent talk that cell phones will be one way to tap into that growth.
To me, that is an amazing "growth market". '

A Forrester Research study in March of 2003 said that online shopping will produce $7 trillion.

Newsweek made an on-the-money prediction in December, 1999 when the said, "In the Internet age, the GREATEST risk is being left behind."

I've seen it written (but can't find authoritative proof) that the Internet is where possibly 50 cents of every US dollar in America is spent online. As a larger proportion of money gets spent on the Internet, those that get established on the Internet will be well-positioned to take advantage of that growth. Being a relatively analytical person, it is clear to me that these statistics show huge growth potential well into the future. Do you see this growth/opportunity as well?

To lay a strong foundation and jump start for you getting started in this growth market, please check out the write-up and start-up offer from TheStartBusiness.com at
http://www.TheStartBusiness.com.

Regards,
Professor Bill Start
TheStartBusiness.com

WB and blogger test, 3 ping - 01/10

2006-10-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

WB and blogger test, 3 ping - 01/10
WB and blogger test, 3 ping - 01/10
WB and blogger test, 3 ping - 01/10

Testing WP and Blogger plus 3 ping

2006-09-30T00:35:00.000-07:00

Testing WP and Blogger plus 3 ping
Testing WP and Blogger plus 3 ping
Testing WP and Blogger plus 3 ping

Testing with one Blogger and 3 ping

2006-09-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

Testing with one Blogger and 3 ping
Testing with one Blogger and 3 ping
Testing with one Blogger and 3 ping

Testing again WP-Blogger -01/10

2006-09-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

Testing again WP-Blogger -01/10
Testing again WP-Blogger -01/10
Testing again WP-Blogger -01/10

Second Testing - WP, Blogger, 3 ping -30/09

2006-09-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

Second Testing - WP, Blogger, 3 ping
Second Testing - WP, Blogger, 3 ping
Second Testing - WP, Blogger, 3 ping
Posted -30/09

Testing with 3 ping sits again 1

2006-09-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

testing with 3 ping sits again
testing with 3 ping sits again
testing with 3 ping sits again

Now testing without ping sites again 1

2006-09-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

now testing without ping sites again
now testing without ping sites again
now testing without ping sites again

Testing again all posts - wp and blogger

2006-09-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

Testing again all posts - wp and blogger
Testing again all posts - wp and blogger
Testing again all posts - wp and blogger
Testing again all posts - wp and blogger
Testing again all posts - wp and blogger

Test post 2

2006-09-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

Wedding dresses can bring more traffic to your sites!

This is not a stupid idea!
Just blog your wedding dress o your site and spread the word.
You will get a lot of traffic from people wantig to see your dress and see what ideas they can get out of it.

Your website deserves traffic�

Another test post test test

2006-09-23T00:45:00.000-07:00

Test
Test
Test
Test

Test

Test post to see how this works on blogger

2006-09-23T00:35:00.000-07:00

Test post to see how this works on blogger
Test post to see how this works on blogger
Test post to see how this works on blogger

http://somelinkhere.com

Test post to see how this works on blogger
Test post to see how this works on blogger

Wedding dress!

2006-09-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Testing reinstall

2006-09-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Test test

test.

Design Your Perfect Wedding Dress

2005-07-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Looking for the Perfect Wedding Dress? Why Not Design it Yourself?

(ARA) -

Brides today have more choices than ever before when they are picking a wedding dress. Many of the old rules have been tossed out. For example, dresses aren’t always white, they’re not always big and poufy and they don’t have to include trains that go on for miles. A bride can feel free to choose a wedding dress that fits her body type and personality.

Are you looking for romantic or racy? Will your gown be out of a fairy tale or a fashion magazine? To truly have a gown that is yours and yours alone, consider making your wedding dress yourself. According to couture seamstress JoAnn Musso, brides should not be intimidated by the thought of making their wedding dress. “The skills needed to make a wedding dress are all ones a home sewer has used before,” she says. “Set in sleeves are set in sleeves. Don’t let the fact that they’re on a wedding dress make them seem more difficult than they are,” she says.
Musso, who lives and work in Dallas, makes custom wedding dresses as part of her couture business. While she firmly believes every bride should have the dress of her dreams, Musso feels it is also her duty to help a bride select a dress that will be flattering. “The bride will have this dress for the rest of her life to remember her wedding day,” she says.

Dress silhouettes break down into four basic shapes: A-line, which is narrower at the top, flaring gently wider toward the bottom, works well on most figure types, and is good for disguising bottom-heavy figures. A sheath dress features a figure-hugging silhouette with a defined waist, and flatters well-toned bodies. The mermaid dress is close fitting through the bodice, down through the hips and to about mid or lower calf where the skirt flares out; it is not an easy style to wear or to move in. Finally, a ballgown is fitted at the bodice; with a very full skirt, which can hide, many figure flaws.

Visit a bridal shop and try on different styles of wedding gowns. This will help you determine what looks best on you and will give you a feel for the latest trends. Maybe you like the bodice of one gown, the embroidery on another and the fabric on a third dress. The beauty of making your own dress means you can pick and choose exactly the elements you want to include in your perfect gown.

Starting with the right sewing machine is important. “Today’s computerized sewing and embroidery systems make even a project like a wedding dress much easier than it used to be,” says Gayle Hillert, vice president of education at Bernina of America, a premiere sewing machine company. “For example, Bernina accessory feet make sewing fine fabrics easy and there are a variety available, like hemming, pintucking and edgestitching feet that enable home sewers to add couture elements quickly and successfully.

Many fabric stores have bridal or special occasion sections with appropriate fabrics and notions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for locally, there is a wealth of fabric resources on the Internet. Musso reminds brides that natural fabrics like silk (a popular bridal gown choice) wrinkle easily. If that’s a concern for you, consider looking at manmade fabrics or blends.
You may want to make a muslin version of your dress for fitting purposes. This also gives you a chance to do a “dry run” on the sewing. If you have questions about the construction of the dress, you can work that out on the muslin, too. There are many books available on sewing your own gown that can answer questions and provide tips and “tricks of the trade” as you go through the process.

The variety of embellishments available to provide the finishing touch for your wedding gown is almost unlimited. Beads, crystals, lace and embroidery are just some of the options you can use to add a personal touch to your masterpiece. Embroidery is especially popular this season, and with the right sewing machine, it can be easy to add this special touch to your wedding gown.
Bernina’s artista sewing systems are good all purpose machines. The new artista deco 330 is a stand-alone embroidery machine that lets sewers create embroidery with speed, beauty and ease -- up to 650 quality stitches per minute. The easy-touch screen allows you to edit on screen and offers drag-and-drop capabilities. The user-friendly threading system, complete with thread monitoring, ensures that you won't be wasting valuable time keeping your machine threaded. When you're ready to stitch, the 5.5-inch by 7.9-inch design area gives you ample room for larger designs.

The most important piece of advice that Musso has for a bride who is making her own dress is to start early! “If you don’t give yourself enough time, it can cause a great deal of anxiety and pressure.” And with all the other details you’ll be dealing with, making your own wedding gown can become overwhelming.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Getting Deals on Wedding Dress Continued

2005-07-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

Getting Deals on Wedding Dress

--Part 2 --

You can also choose to rent the ladies wedding dress as well as the tuxedos. Not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a wedding dress that they will wear once. Or spend that much money on many dresses that you will never be worn more than once.

Many wedding dress shops will let you rent a wedding dress rather than buy one. The only difference with rented dresses is that you have to take it as is. They are not custom fitted to you. Other than that, you can save hundreds of dollars doing this. Wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress is also an option; especially if your are choosing a period theme where the dress was used. For example, if you are wearing your grandmother’s dress and the dress was worn in the 40’s, you can make the 40’s your wedding theme. If the dress is your mother’s from the 60’s or 70’s, you can do the same thing. It will save you money and provides you with a fun theme. You can also opt to make your own wedding dress from scratch. Many women are choosing to go with home made pieces because they can get truly original in the make of the dress and the style.

It can be made in any fashion that you like and of any material also. Making your own wedding dress is a good way to save money and it is also guaranteed to make sure that no one else has the same wedding dress style as you.

When you make it yourself, you are guaranteed a custom fit without paying a custom price. Finally, you can save bundles on your whole wedding party clothing, including the wedding dress by dressing according to your theme.

For example, if you choose a Hawaiian wedding dress theme, you can wear island clothes. As part of your theme, you can dress in costumes to make the festivities more fun and as an added bonus; you can make the guests and wedding party dress in costume too. You can also get a good deal by buying your wedding items at vintage or used stores. Many people bring back their wedding clothing after they have used so that they can recoup some of their money later.

This is a great way to save money for you and the rest of your wedding party. Used clothing items can also be found in bridal shops or tuxedo warehouses because the average person doesn’t wear these items more than once and because of this they will return it to the store that they got it from later. When you are not afraid of vintage clothing, you can find some truly beautiful wedding dress designer clothing for great prices. Some of the stores that offer used items will not force you to buy them, but they may request that you pay a bit of an extra fee for dry cleaning etc.

Either way, you will still be saving yourself a great deal of money that you would spend if you bought your wedding dress items outright.

Getting Deals on Wedding Dress

2005-07-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Getting Deals on your Wedding Dress !

If you are planning to have a full wedding that includes bridesmaids, and groomsmen etc. it could run you a great deal of money to cover your wedding dress as well as the other women and men’s clothing as well.

Bridesmaid’s wedding dresses get more and more costly with every extra woman in the wedding party. When you are deciding how much money you can afford to spend on the wedding clothes, you have to consider the fittings and the flowers or accessories as well. If you can, you might do better to allow for casual wear for the bridesmaids so that they can wear less expensive dresses or skirts. This is particularly good if you are planning an outdoor or beach wedding.

The less formal the ceremony, the less money that you are required to spend. Perhaps that is why outdoor ceremonies are getting more and more popular these days. You can also save money on the ladies dresses by purchasing them off season from a wedding dress store. You can always shop for out of season or discontinued dresses as a means of getting great discounts on gorgeous dresses. If you really want to, you can ask that your bridesmaids forget about the wedding shower gifts in favor of buying their dresses. That is a common compromise that is made these days. If the cost of the wedding dresses is really going to be a matter of stress for you, just reduce the bridesmaids to just having a maid/matron of honor and a best man only for the groom.

Many couples opt to forego the extras all together and simply do not have anyone standing up with them at all. After all, there is no law that states that you have to have a maid of honor or best man present during the ceremony. When it comes to the tuxedos for the male participants and the groom, you can often find good deals when renting if you just shop around. It helps is you limit the number of participants if you must in order to reduce costs or if the men involved have their own tuxedos already.

Either way, research and compare shopping really is the best chance to get the best deal on your wedding dress...

Stay tuned for the Part2 of the "getting Deals on your Wedding Dress series".

Casual Wedding Dress

2005-07-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

Casual Wedding Dresses

For the bride who demands comfort and class!

Although traditional white or ivory bride dresses are still a popular choice, today’s women are opting to get married wearing informal wedding dresses.

Today’s brides are also choosing an informal wedding dress in a color that is special to them. And unlike days of old, this is becoming both more acceptable and more popular.
The following information is designed to present you with different options for informal wedding dresses!

Everyone who has ever been married knows how important it is to get the perfect brides dresses for one of the biggest, grandest days of your life.
Most brides-to-be will leave no stone unturned to get the best possible option for wedding dresses they will wear on their wedding days. This special day is all about you – and what you want!

Informal versus Formal: The choice is all yours!Get the word informal out of your head and replace it with casual, relaxed, even classy. There now – you see informal does not mean plain or boring.

In fact, the major reason today’s brides are going for informal wedding dresses is because they realize their comfort about the dress will be both physical and emotional.
All eyes will be on you throughout your big day, so this is definitely not an occasion to put on a dress you will not be comfortable wearing!

Remember, this is an outfit you will most likely be wearing for several hours so by all means when you try it on make sure you move around in it. You’ll want to practice standing, sitting, dancing, hugging, and toasting champagne.

When you can visualize yourself wearing the dress throughout your ceremony and reception and know you will feel relaxed and beautiful throughout the duration – you will have found your perfect informal wedding dress!

You can choose a very simple wedding dress and accentuate it with some of the following accessories:

Flowers for your hair
Bridal shoes & hosiery
Handbag
Simple jewelry

Beach Wedding Dresses

2005-06-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Beach Wedding Dress

Beautiful beach wedding dresses – simple yet elegant!
What could be more romantic than a wedding by the sea? Beach wedding dresses are available to create a most magical experience for your special day. And while b each wedding dresses are definitely different than the traditional wedding gown, they are much simpler and equally as beautiful – the perfect compliment to your beach wedding.

When you're in a picturesque setting that includes the cool sand, the tranquil water and the bright sun -- above all you need to be comfortable in your wedding dress. The last thing you want is a heavy gown with a long train and veil. Great beach wedding dresses are usually flowing and light weight, calf-length or shorter, sleeveless, strapless, or cap sleeve, and available in a variety of colors, including pastels, white or off-white.

The perfect beach wedding dresses are all about simplicity and looking great when you get married out under the sun. When you combine a nontraditional wedding venue with a special dress, you're bound to have a winning combination.

Accessorizing beach wedding dresses is the most fabulous part -- remember the simpler the better. For instance, n o shoes and no hose, a simple flower for your bouquet, and most importantly, a great manicure, pedicure and tan are all you need to perfect your look!
And remember, deciding to have a beach wedding is a wonderful thing. Don’t let the “traditional” wedding look scare you. Beach wedding dresses are available to compliment your big day and enable you to be comfortable and free-flowing just like the beach on which you’ll make your vows!

Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress Continued

2005-06-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress and Accessories
Part 2
by Kim McMullen, Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design

Consignment bridal boutiques have become extremely popular over the past few years and are another option for locating bridal attire and accessories at budget prices. Generally consignment boutiques accept only new or previously worn wedding dresses of current style in good condition, and previously-worn items must be dry-cleaned before they are accepted. Items in the store are consigned (on loan) to the store for a set amount of time and a consignment or listing fee is paid to the store by the individual seller. If the items sell, the consignment wedding dress shop gets a percentage of the selling price. If the items do not sell within a set period of time (generally 60 to 120 days), the seller picks up the bridal items.

Consignment shops can be a good, one-stop shopping solution for brides on a budget as they generally carry a large variety of sizes, styles, colors of wedding dresses , and matching accessories. Many of the larger bridal consignment boutiques have their own seamstresses so alterations and pressing can be done at the shop just like full-service bridal salons.

Another excellent way to bargain shop for bridal wedding dresses and accessories is online through the internet. The internet is a very powerful tool and can connect you with thousands of sellers. There are a number of websites dedicated to selling bridal attire and wedding items. Sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com, www.bridesmade.com, and www.ebay.com offer thousands of items. Sellers range from brides with new or used items, bridal stores from all over the world with samples or discontinued gowns, and manufacturers with overstocks. Often, you can find brand new, never worn, never altered, gowns and accessories for sale at less than half the original price. There are many bargains to be found, and all it takes is a little online research.
If you already know the brand and style of wedding dress you desire, you can perform internet searches for online retailers and discounters who may have in stock (or can order) your gown for a discounted price. Average online discount bridal shops can save you up to 25% off salon prices because many are strictly on-line businesses and do not have the overhead costs of running a store-front, bridal salon. Many local full-service salons are losing business to internet bridal retailers because they have difficulty competing with the deep discounts, therefore, you may have noticed paid articles in bridal magazines discouraging brides from purchasing wedding dresses online. As long as your expectations are that ordering a wedding dress from an online bridal retailer means that your dress will arrive packaged in a small box, will be wrinkled from the packing, need pressing before wear, and any alterations will need to be done by a local tailor or seamstress, you won’t be disappointed.

Another way to use internet research to locate bargain bridal bargains is to perform searches for any outlet stores that carry the brands of wedding dresses and accessories you seek. For example, the author of this article saw the wedding gown of her dreams in an online auction listing. However, the gown was too small and the seller did not have a larger size. Unfortunately the gown had been discontinued and all boutiques shipped their leftover merchandise to the manufacturer’s outlet store. Success came with a call to the cross-country outlet. The wedding dress was available in the correct size, available in two colors, and the price of each dress was only $44! Not a bad price considering the gown originally sold for $799 in the boutiques. Since the price was so low and the author was unsure of the best color, two gowns (one of each color) were ordered. The ivory gown was chosen for the wedding and the white gown was quickly resold online to another bargain-seeking bride.

If you are looking for something in particular and are having difficulty locating it or need to find it in a hurry, some online sites such as www.nearlynewbridal.com also offer a feature where you can place free, online “Wanted” ads for the item(s). Sellers with items that fit your description can then contact you by e-mail to send information and photos. Local newspapers and trading publications also offer free or low cost “want ads” that you may want to consider. Too, check out their “For Sale” listings. You never know what you might find. Several years ago, a friend found her $1000 dream dress for $200 in a “Trading Times” style publication.

Other places to find bridal bargains include thrift stores, swap meets, and yard sales. Often the bridal merchandise found in these outlets are older in style, however, if you’re looking for a vintage gown you could easily find the perfect gown and accessories for an amazing price. Too, if you have chosen to make your gown or if you purchased a very basic gown in need of embellishments, you could recognize a significant savings by utilizing fabric, lace, beading, and buttons from low cost wedding dresses found at thrift outlets and yard sales. The fabric and embellishments can also be used to make a number of wedding accessories including ring pillows, flower girl dresses, wedding favors, etc. Also check with friends and relatives to see if they have any wedding attire or accessories to give, loan, or sell.

One more option for locating bargain bridal items is checking with your bridal service vendors. Often bridal consignment shops start out as other service vendors such as florists, photographers, and bridal consultants. Over years of doing business, the vendors often expand their businesses to encompass consigning various bridal and wedding items. Even if your vendors have not yet officially branched out, they may have items they are displaying for their clients and past clients. It is not uncommon for clients to ask vendors to help them sell items or pass along sales referrals, particularly if a wedding is cancelled or if the event was very expensive and the bride and groom would like to recoup some of the costs.

One thing to remember about bargain shopping is that to realize significant savings, you often cannot try on the gowns (particularly if shopping online, by phone, through a newspaper, or at a yard sale, swap meet, or thrift store). Since sizes vary greatly by manufacturer, it is imperativeto know your exact body measurements -- particularly, your bust, waist, and hip measurements as well as an accurate measurement of your height. When measuring your height, keep in mind the heel height of the shoes you’ll be wearing. Most new, unaltered gowns are made to fit brides up to 5’11” and 6”. Utilize actual measurements as the most reliable way to determine fit. If you are looking at a wedding dresses advertised online, ask the seller for both wedding dress size and gown measurements. If you’re looking at a gown at a yard sale or thrift store, carry a tape measure with you to measure the gown’s measurements.

Bargain shopping for your bridal attire and accessories can be both financially and emotionally rewarding. Throughout your search, you need to stay focused on the end result – a feeling of pride and accomplishment as well as a sense of satisfaction for finding the perfect gown and accessories for the best price. Stay focused on the excitement of your search and let it drive you forward. Your search should be fun, adventurous, energizing, and enjoyable. Good luck and happy bargain hunting!

Kim McMullenSomething Spectacular, Custom Floral Design
located in Warren, Michigan.586-778-4624

Bargain Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

2005-06-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress and Accessories
Part 1

by Kim McMullen, Something Spectacular Custom Floral Design

You’ve been dreaming of your wedding day for your whole life. You imagine walking down the aisle in the perfect white wedding dress with flowing veil, sophisticated tiara or hairpiece, and a romantic bouquet of flowers. No holds barred, you visualize the perfecteverything -- with money no object.

Now your dream becomes reality. You’ve gotten engaged and are planning the perfect wedding, except the reality is that funds are not endless and you have a budget to work within. That budget must cover not only your bridal attire, but also fees for rental of your ceremony and reception site(s), decorations,
catering/food, bar, flowers, music, photography, video, minister’s fee, marriage license, invitations, wedding rings,
transportation, honeymoon, attendants’ gifts, guest wedding favors, and a myriad of other miscellaneous costs.

Like most of us, perhaps your budget does not allow you the luxury of spending $10,000 to $20,000 for a designer wedding dress. Or
even if it does, perhaps you’d prefer to spend less on a wedding dress and accessories you’ll wear only one day and use a larger portion of your budget for more elaborate photography, an expanded wedding
album, substantial keepsake favors for guests, custom-designed
wedding rings, or an extended, exotic honeymoon.
Regardless of budget or financial means, everyone enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when locating and acquiring a bargain. With
a little research and creativity, anyone can reap the benefits of significant savings. Listed below are a number of ways to easily locate the perfect bridal attire and accessories for discounted prices.

If you are just starting out and do not know what styles you prefer, what fabric colors and gown silhouettes look most flattering on you, or what size you wear, you may want to begin by visiting a few full-service bridal shops. Look through the racks and make note of the styles, features, and colors you like best. Try on different wedding dresses to see what is most flattering overall and what features
you want to up-play or down-play. Sometimes you’ll find that a style you liked in a magazine photo is really not flattering for your height, figure, or skin and hair coloration.

Bridal wedding dresses are sized very different from normal, street clothing so don’t be depressed if you find you need a bridal gown that is 2 sizes larger than your normal dress size. Keep in mind while most wedding dresses average 2 sizes larger than your normal dress size, each designer has their own sizing charts. Designers’ size charts vary greatly so you may find that you need a wedding dress sized anywhere between your normal dress size up to 3 or 4 sizes larger. With that variance in mind, begin compiling a list of what sizes fit you best for each wedding dress designer and manufacturer and make note of any special wedding dress styles you prefer. If you’re at a bridal salon that removes the manufacturer labels and tags or re-labels the style number tags with their own internal reference number (many salons do this to avoid “competitive shopping” and price comparisons), sketch a picture of the gown and ask for the name of the manufacturer. Salons won’t let you take photos of the wedding dresses and generally won’t tell you the actual style number of the gowns, however, they should at least tell you the name of the designer or manufacturer of the wedding dress.

Once you have an idea of the styles you like and the size you need, begin searching for your gown and accessories. It’s best to purchase your dress before shopping for accessories as certain characteristics of the dress will help determine the best style, color, and length of veil, and the most flattering style of tiara or headpiece. When looking for a gown, keep in mind that it’s best to find a dress that either fits perfectly or that is a bit large in some areas. Due to the delicate fabrics, lace, and elaborate beading on many gowns, it is much easier for a seamstress or tailor to “take in” a too-large gown than it is to “let out” or enlarge a dress that is too tight.

Many wedding dress designers create gowns with a 1 inch or less seam allowance which makes expanding a gown difficult, if not impossible. The more difficult a wedding dress is to alter, the more expensive the alteration. Remember that your bridal gown budget needs to incorporate funds for both the dress purchase and alteration costs.

Bridal bargains can be found in a number of places. Besides a traditional sales promotion, most full-service wedding dress salons have a small section of their stores dedicated to sample gowns (gowns that have been tried on in the store as samples), discontinued gowns (gowns no longer
manufactured), and gowns that have been special ordered and cancelled or abandoned (cancelled weddings, abandoned deposits,
etc). Normally these types of wedding dresses cannot be ordered and must be taken “as is” in the size and condition displayed. To compensate for any dry cleaning, necessary repairs, and to clear the display racks of discontinued styles, salons offer the gowns at a discounted price. Generally, alteration costs are separate and not included in the purchase price.

Bargain Shopping for Your Wedding Dress and Accessories - Part 2 will follow tomorrow.
Stay tuned...

Choosing A Wedding Dress

2005-06-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Dress

Choosing a Wedding Dress: Wedding dresses and gowns come in a wide variety of styles, materials, colors, lengths and prices. You should order your wedding dress at least four to six months before your wedding. This is because your wedding dress will have to be shipped to you and then fitted.

When ordering a Wedding Dress, make sure you order the correct size. If you are between sizes, order the larger one. You can always have your Wedding Dress tailored down to fit, but it is not always possible to have your wedding dress enlarged or to lose enough weight to fit into it!

Don't forget to ask when your Wedding Dress will arrive, and be sure to get this in writing. Your wedding dress should arrive at least six weeks before the wedding so you can have it tailored and select the appropriate accessories to complement it.

So these are simple but powerful tips for choosing yur wedding dress.
If you consider these before going to a wedding dress shop or wedding dress rentals,
you can save yurself a lot of trouble and worries.

Preserving Your Wedding Dress

2005-06-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

Preserving Your Wedding Dressand Other Heirloom Items

Most women put a lot of time, love, and energy into either finding or making the perfect wedding dress. But, what do you do with that beautiful and symbolic garment when you get home from the honeymoon? You are most likely planning on saving the wedding dress, but just hanging it in a closet or stuffing it into a chest is practically giving it a death sentence. The following preservation guidelines will help you avoid the dangers associated with long-term textile storage and will make your wedding dress an heirloom garment that can be enjoyed for generations to come. These guidelines apply to all fine fabrics and textiles that have historical significance and require special attention for long-term storage.

Get a Clean Start Waiting until after the honeymoon to take protective precautions for your wedding dress is waiting too long. Stains that you may not even see, such as from perspiration, will immediately begin to take their toll on the delicate fabric. Ideally, you should make
arrangements to have your wedding dress professionally dry cleaned as soon as possible after your wedding day. Have the wedding dress taken to a reputable wedding dress cleaner who will also inspect zippers and
buttons that may need to be repaired or tightened.
You should make a special note for the wedding dress cleaners about any spots or stains,
particularly on the train, that may need special attention. The wedding dress should also be inspected for loose stitches. Once you have the gown home and clean, you are ready to store it for future generations.

Long-Term Storage
Lay, Fold, Roll, or Hang? Gravity exerts pressure that can stretch or tear the fibers of hung textiles over time. Storing your wedding dress on a hanger for a long period of time is not recommended. Laying the wedding dress flat or storing it in a rolled or folded position is preferable to hanging it. If you plan to hang your wedding dress for any length of time, you should pad the hangers with cotton batting covered with unbleached cotton. These materials are commonly found at craft and quilting supply stores.

If you decide to store your wedding dress in a folded position, remove it from storage a couple of times a year and fold it along different lines. Pieces that have been folded on the same lines for a long period of time will eventually develop stress tears along the folds.
For items that will be stored in a folded position for a long period of time, acid free tissue paper (non colored) or clean piece of cloth should be placed between the folds. If you plan to hang your linens for any length of time.

The Dangers of Wood Acid
Do not store your wedding dress in a cedar (or any other type of wood) chest without protective coverings between the wood and the fabric. All wood contains acid that will, over a period of time, make an impossible-to-remove brownish stain on any fabric it has direct contact with. A wedding dress stored in direct contact with wood will
eventually be weakened and destroyed by the acid in the wood. All wood products, including cardboard and regular paper, also have acid that causes fiber deterioration. This problem can be remedied by wrapping your wedding dress in acid-free tissue paper or storing it in an acid-free box. Typical stationery stores don't carry acid-free materials. These are most often found in archival supply stores.

Room to Breathe
Your wedding dress needs air to circulate through the fibers or it will eventually start to rot. For this reason, you should not wrap your gown in plastic for a long period of time. Also, the static in plastic acts as a magnet pulling dust from the air right into your gown if the plastic covering is unsealed. True, sealed plastic covers keep out dirt and grime, but they also prevent needed air from circulating through the fibers. Furthermore, if the piece is even slightly damp when placed in a plastic bag, mold will soon start to form. Also, some plastics produce textile-destroying hydrochloric acid when in contact with moisture for long periods of time.

Regular Check-Ups
Take your heirloom wedding dress out of storage every few months to check its condition. Even well-stored items are subject to air pollution, chemical residue from washing and handling, and mildew.

Temperature Matters
Extreme changes in temperature are harmful to your wedding dress. Ideal temperatures for long-term storage are between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Unheated attics and basements are undesirable storage places. Small rooms or closets with space heaters should also be avoided.
Humidity Sensitivity
Too little or too much humidity can also damage your wedding dress. Humidity levels between 45 and 55 percent are recommended. Avoid storing textiles in bathroom closets or laundry rooms where humidity often rises above acceptable levels. During dry winters,
you might consider using a humidifier to maintain acceptable levels of humidity.
Fight Ultraviolet Light Frequent or constant exposure to ultraviolet light, such as sunshine or fluorescent lights, will eventually cause your wedding dress to disintegrate. Always store the gown in a dark place.

Avoid Ironing and Starching
Your wedding dress should be cleaned, but not ironed, before storing. Ironing makes fibers tense and brittle which increases the risk of tears if the piece is stored in a folded position. Also, starch in fabrics attracts various pests and absorbs mildew-forming moisture. Starch should be removed from your wedding dress before putting it into long-term storage.

Article contributed by,
SpecialtyLace.com

Indian Wedding Dress

2005-06-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

Indian Wedding Dress and Wedding Traditions

Marriage assumes immense importance in Indian social and religious life. It is widely regarded as one of the most important steps a person will take in their life. Indian society is based around the family, often an extended one, and marriage involves more than just the union of two people. It joins together families and communities. Because of the importance Indians give to marriage, weddings are major religious and social events, often attracting hundreds of guests.

As well as being vibrant and exciting events, Indian weddings also provide a setting for colorful displays of wedding costumes and wedding jewellery. Indian bridal wear includes gorgeous saris, the elegant lahanga made of bright-colored brocades and textured silks that lend a traditional touch with a dash of sensuality, and the traditional salwar kameez.

A lahanga suit is a full gathered skirt worn with a choli and odhani, while a salwar kameez consists of trousers gathered at the ankle, and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with a dupatta shawl of red and gold.

Muslim brides usually wear either a lahanga suit or salwar kameez, while Sikh brides usually wear the salwar kameez with a dupatta. Muslim brides and brides from northern India are more likely to cover their head, whereas brides from central and southern India tend to leave their heads uncovered. Southern Indian brides often wear flowers in their hair.

Wedding garments are generally made of rich materials such as silk and velvet, and are often embroidered and trimmed in gold thread, which is believed to bring good fortune.

Red, pink, and maroon are popular colors for garments, as red is considered the most auspicious color for weddings. It symbolizes life, joy, energy, abundance, fertility, and marital bliss. Most colors can be worn at an Indian wedding, and it is up to the bride and groom to decide. However, both black and white are considered inappropriate colors for a wedding.

The bride's parents give wedding clothes and jewelry to her before the ceremony. After the wedding, the bride changes into clothes and jewelry given to her by her husband's family. She wears these at the reception or during the 'going away' ceremony.

In addition to the wedding costumes, both families give the bride as many saris as they can afford - but they must give an odd number, as these numbers are considered auspicious.
Bridal wedding jewelry includes beautiful gold and silver ornaments and necklaces, bangles, and garlands. Brides are also intricately decorated with traditional body adornments such as mehandi (henna).

The men's look is more regal - there are sherwanis inspired from the Moghul era and long kurtis with gold embroidery and crushed dupattas. Bridal men's look is more simple with embellishments and accessories like dupattas teamed with traditional chunky jewelry and mojris. Men's wedding costumes also include princely turbans, smart 'Nehru'-style cufni suits, and swords.

According to Indian fashion designer Vikram Phadnis a bridal trousseau must include:
A formal, heavy sari
A couple of simple light salwar or churidaar-kurta sets
Sleep wear - a couple of nice lingerie setsIndian fusion wear for home: short kurtis, pants, ponchos, etc.
A corset: this can be teamed with everything like saris, a crushed skirt, a lehenga and even denims.
Gold shoes.
While there are wide variations in Indian weddings because of significant regional and religious differences, at the heart of all of them is a devout faith, and recognition by all Indian communities of the importance of marriage.