wedding dress blog

(ARA) - Wedding album, videos and a carefully preserved gown — your wedding mementoes are meant to be precious reminders of your special day. But you may find yourself cringing with shame when you look at your album years down the road if you choose trendy over traditional style for the look of your wedding.

It’s easy to tell the difference between a look that’s trendy and a more classic style. Think of the bell bottoms and love beads from the ’70s and big hair and “Dynasty”-style gowns of the ’80s — looks that were “hot” at one time, but that years later elicit an eye-roll and a “what was I thinking” attitude from women who wore them.

Now consider the elegance, grace and demure femininity of icons like Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn. Their style was classic and timeless — and one that today’s smart bride mimics to ensure she’ll love the look of her wedding as much in 20 years as she does the day she walks down the aisle.

Today’s bride knows that choosing fabrics, silhouettes and accessories borrowed from the classic era — the 1940s through the 1960s — will give her wedding and gown timeless appeal. No dated looks from easy-to-identify fashion fads for her. The classic look also plays well with the growing trend to achieve less with more by accenting the basics with luxurious finishing touches.

Here’s how to achieve that classic look for your spring wedding:

The Dress

Avoid large, modern swags of fabrics in favor of silhouettes that emphasize an hourglass figure. Nipped-in waists, or waistlines defined with belts and sashes, often in a color that slightly contrasts with the dress, create an elegant, eternal style. You can draw your classic style from the ’40s, ’50s and even ’60s.

Designers offer charming gowns that evoke the look of 1950s prom dresses with fitted bodices and full skirts in tulle, lace and appliqué. For a 1960s look, a shorter, sophisticated frock with a gathered waist and narrow skirt will be reminiscent of the classic ’60s cocktail dress.

The Accessories

A veil is essential for classic bridal style, and birdcage veils with large netting that falls at cheekbone length epitomize the look. These simple veils frame the bride’s glowing face and highlight special jewelry. Ladylike wrist-length gloves are the perfect complement to vintage bridal looks.

The classic bridal look is a perfect match with a simple and elegant pair of pearl stud earrings and a lustrous 16-inch strand of cultured pearls around the bride’s neck. Pearls have long been associated with the essence of sophisticated womanhood in American pop culture.

“The Hindu Lord Krishna is said to have offered pearls to his daughter as a wedding gift, which is where pearls and weddings were first married,” says Jeremy Shepherd of PearlParadise.com, the world’s largest online pearl company. “Pearls are considered a symbol of purity, making them the perfect fit with a bride’s white dress.”

Shepherd recommends white akoya pearls, a saltwater pearl that grows primarily in the coastal areas of Japan and China. Considered to be the classic pearls for jewelry, akoya pearls are prized for their perfect round shape, mirror-like luster and soft, neutral colors.

Visit www.PearlParadise.com for more ideas and classic bridal pearls.

The Look

Tie a classic dress and accessories together with a polished hairstyle such as a bun or chignon and keep makeup understated. Dark brown or black eyeliner extended slightly past the end of the eyelid, a touch of black mascara and a shade of red lipstick perfectly matched to the bride’s complexion are all that’s necessary to complete the perfect, classic Hollywood face.

(ARA) - Engaged couples long for a wedding day that will be unique and memorable, but in these tough economic times many are becoming more cautious about how they plan and spend their budget.

According to The Wedding Report, a research company that tracks wedding spending in the United States, the average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814. That is a 24 percent decline over the 2007 average of $28,704. This decline doesn’t mean you can’t have exactly what you want on your big day to create your dream wedding.

“You can rent almost anything you need to make your wedding match your vision,” says Christine Wehrman, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Rental Association (ARA), the global trade association for the rental industry. “By renting items for your wedding, you have access to products that may have otherwise been too expensive in large quantities. You can get exactly what you want at a price that meets your budget.”

Choose linens that match your wedding colors, or go for classic white to offset the color of your centerpieces. Linens can be rented in a variety of colors and textiles, and add a touch of elegance to every space. Create drama without adding cost by creating a monochromatic design for your table.

Centerpieces can be elegant or casual, depending on your style. Mix tall and short clear vases to add depth to your table and save money on large floral arrangements. Or choose a variety of candleholders to create a vintage-inspired look and a romantic, low-light atmosphere.

Planning an outdoor wedding? Tents can transform any setting into striking surroundings for your big day. ARA member rental businesses have a variety of tents to create the venue, as well as everything you need to make it beautiful and comfortable.

Large tents and elegant canopies come in a variety of colors and styles. Many come with cathedral ceilings, windows or even clear tops — allowing guests to catch a glimpse of a dramatic sunset or a sparkling night sky.

Many ARA member rental stores offer personalized service through their Certified Event Rental Professionals (CERPs) who are specially trained to help you choose the right rentals to make your dream wedding come to fruition. Most offer on-site support the day of your wedding, and that’s a day you’ll be looking for all the support you can get!

You can also rely on the expertise of your ARA member rental store professionals before you book your venue. They can help you assess the potential site for things like power accessibility, ground water issues or overhead power lines that may interfere with your vision of a tall tent, among other situations.

The wonderful experience and memories of your wedding day will be yours to own forever. And everything else? Well, that you can rent! To find your local ARA member rental store, visit www.RentalHQ.com, the world’s largest rental store locator. You can search by geographic location and by the specific type of equipment you are looking to rent.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

HEALTH officials are trying to locate at least 50 people who attended a wedding with a 30-year-old Taiwanese woman and her five-year-old daughter before they tested positive for swine flu.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the mother and her daughter attended a wedding in Zambales and got sick after returning to Taiwan last week.

He said health workers were trying to trace the people who had been exposed to the pair to have them tested for swine flu.

The wedding guests aside, they were also looking for passengers who had sat near the pair on the flight that brought them to the Philippines on May 15.

Duque said the woman developed symptoms—sore throat, body weakness and headaches—before boarding the plane from Manila to Taipei on May 20. The following day, she consulted a clinic and both mother and daughter were confirmed to have the flu.

Duque said the woman had probably brought the flu from Taiwan, but he would not rule out the possibility that she got the infection here.

“More likely, she brought it here, but we have to prove that,” Duque said.

“It’s possible she got it here.”

Duque said the Health Department was coordinating with the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, which reported yesterday that both mother and daughter had fully recovered.

Since May 1, health officials have monitored 113 cases of flu, and of which two proved positive for swine flu. The first was a 10-year-old girl who came from the United States and Canada with her parents. The second was a 50-year-old returning Filipino from Chicago. Both have recovered.

People with whom the two had come in contact, including airline passengers and household members, have all tested negative for the H1N1 influenza virus.

The Education Department yesterday ruled out postponing the start of classes, but advised students returning from abroad to stay home for 10 days before going to school to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

“Our advice is for them to go on self-quarantine for 10 days, especially those enrolled in private schools,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

Senator Edgardo Angara has urged the government to postpone the opening of classes as a precaution, a move that would affect 43,000 schools.

The Labor Department yesterday issued guidelines on preventing swine flu in workplaces.

The agency urged companies to provide information on the disease regularly and asked employers to monitor their workers, particularly those with fever and those who have traveled abroad. With Joel Zurbano, Fel V. Maragay, Joyce Pangco Pañares, AP

After nine long years of dating, MediaCorp love birds Christopher Lee and Fann Wong finally became a lawful pair on the 16th this month. Although the couple had already “rehearsed” their wedding in their movie The Wedding Game, Wong revealed that to “perform” without a script during the real wedding would still be nerve wrecking.

During the solemnization, some guests at the registry of marriage could not help but shed tears of joy as they witnessed the matrimony of a couple who had came a long way. Upon hearing guests calling her “Mrs Lee”, Wong leaned on Lee’s shoulders, trying to hide her blushing cheeks.

During an interview with xin.sg, Wong revealed her good mood, “I’m glad that I’m finally Mrs Lee. I’ve been really busy with work, being able to remove my identity as a celebrity and be his wife today makes me feel really happy.”

On the day at the registry, Lee could not help but display his huge grin throughout the ceremony. Having won the hand of this fair maiden was definitely not an easy feat. Lee recalled his proposal, which was delayed time and again due to Wong’s busy schedule. Fortunately, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lee finally proposed to Wong successfully, with the help of his friends.

The preparation of the customary wedding ceremony later will fall into Lee’s hands, who proved to be more the more meticulous one. Wong is very assured that he will do a good job. Lee kept his relationship with Wong from his family for three years before he finally announced their love affair. Lee’s younger brother said that he only got to know about their relationship when the media reported their rumoured affair, his brother refused to reveal anything.

“It’s not that I did not want my family to know about our relationship at that time, it’s just that our relationship was not stable yet,” Lee explained.

As for Wong’s family, they knew about their relationship at an earlier stage. Wong brought Lee home to meet her family when they started out, causing Lee much jitters, and Wong’s mother also certified that Lee was very shy when they first met.

After registering their marriage, Lee did not immediately get use to his new status, and kept calling Wong’s father “Uncle”, drawing much laughter from the audience. Although many have already regarded them as a wedded pair, the couple thinks that their new status will still bring little surprises to their daily lives.

(ARA) - Planning for a wedding can be tough, especially when money is tight. But as you make your way through the mile-long checklist of things for the big day, have you thought about life after the wedding? Whether this is your first or second wedding, your dream wedding or a spontaneous ceremony, the financial implications of sharing a lifetime with another person last long after the “I do’s.”

To ensure happiness and financial security in any economy, you should be thinking about your financial future today. And, the good news is that taking the necessary steps to a sound financial future is not as complicated as you might think. Here are some things to discuss as a couple, as suggested by financial experts at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc:

1) Come up with a Budget

You may have your own budget, but now you are planning income and expenses for two. If you combine your income and expenses, you will need to combine your budgets as well.

Be prudent with your spending. Write down everything each of you spends per month and cut back on non-essentials. Take into account housing, food, utilities and transportation, as well as student loans, credit card balances, car payments, taxes and if applicable, alimony and child support. For further tips on creating a sustainable budget read “Become Your Own Financial Advisor: Tips on Planning a Budget and Sticking to It” at www.sbliusa.com.

2) Begin an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund helps ensure that you and your partner are secure should something happen, such as a job loss or serious health issue. You should agree on how much you want to save for a “rainy day.” It’s a smart idea to save between 5 and 10 percent of your salary in a joint savings account. To avoid the temptation to spend your savings, consider having the money automatically transferred from your checking accounts. Aim to save 3 to 6 months of living expenses.

3) Purchase Life Insurance

According to a study conducted by LIMRA International 48 million Americans either, don’t own life insurance and believe they should, or own life insurance and believe they need more. Purchasing life insurance will give you the peace of mind of knowing your loved ones will have money to help maintain their standard of living should anything happen to you. To access a variety of financial information and tools, as well as to learn more about life insurance and get a free quote, speak with the experts at SBLI USA.

4) Create a Plan for the Future

Take the time to create a written financial plan with clear goals. The plan should include specific and realistic steps to achieve your dreams, including buying a home, starting a family, taking vacations and retirement. Decide what additional investments you’d like to make apart from your regular savings such as maximizing your 401(k) or IRA contributions.

Using financial planning software, such as Quicken, can help with keeping track of your expenses and investments. Decide what your tax filing status will be for the year. Make sure you consider the difference between married filing separate versus joint filing, based upon your particular circumstances. Consult your tax advisor if you are unsure.

5) Pay Down Debt

Credit card debt is the number one obstacle to a secure financial future, and knowing both of your credit scores is essential. You’re allowed one free credit check annually with each of the major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Order reports and go through and correct any inaccuracies. This will help you both get a loan at a lower rate when it comes time to borrow money for a house, car or other major purchase.

Getting married is an opportunity to get a fresh start on your financial well being. These types of wealth-building efforts are extremely beneficial, and create a solid foundation to a long, happy marriage.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

You’ve put a lot of work into planning out a memorable wedding and honeymoon.

And you have (or will soon have) plenty of snapshots - from bridal showers, bachelorette parties, The Big Day and honeymoon - to prove it.

Why not preserve those memories in a unique and personalized way? Consider tapping into your creative side - and your computer’s hard drive - to document one of the most significant experiences of your life through digital scrapbooking, or digi-scrapping.
We consulted with Stephanie Vetne of South Bend, a national designer for Creative Memories and DesignerDigitals.com, on how to get started.

The tech side

You’ll need a software program like Adobe Photoshop (or the less expensive and more newbie-friendly Adobe Photoshop Elements). Software specific to digi-scrapping is also available from companies like Creative Memories.

Technically, you don’t even need a printer, though any standard photo printer with archival-quality ink will do. Vetne typically uploads her pages to Shutterfly.com, which offers a digi-scrapping print option. You can also compile your page designs and create a hard-bound book.

At some point you may want to invest in an external hard drive to store backups of photos and pages and digital kits.

Visual journaling

When snapping photos on your honeymoon, Vetne suggests thinking in terms of what you want to remember.

“Think of yourself as a storyteller, or think of this as a visual journal,” Vetne advises. “The way your memories work, you remember people, you remember experiences. You don’t just remember landscapes.”

Did you have an amazing breakfast spread one morning? Click. Did the waiter drop your lobster dinner in your lap? Click (and then clean). These images, combined with some journaling, will keep your memories fresh.

The flowers were beautiful, the bride lovely and the wedding cakes spectacular at a BOCES mock wedding in Tech South on the Yorktown campus.

The wedding, a senior project to showcase the skills of floriculture, culinary arts and fashion design students, featured extravagant fresh flower bouquets and boutonnieres; nine multitiered wedding cakes and cookies; and a one-of-a-kind, student-designed wedding dress for the “bride.”

The wedding party comprised faculty members chosen for their roles by student vote. Students, friends and family members were in the audience to see teacher Christina Egan “marry” Career Academy Principal Stephan Lowery.

Floriculture students included Elizabeth Booth of Brewster, Brianna Flynn of Fox Lane, Kelly Galvin of Mahopac, and Alex Ramon and Taiwan Wright of Ossining. Pastry arts students were Stephanie Borrell of Putnam Valley, Helen Dibra of John Jay, Angel Flores of Fox Lane, Ashley Gilliland and Ariana Mendez of Carmel, Jackie Perez of Somers, Valerie Simmons of Hendrick Hudson, and Christina Zullo of Yorktown. Lauren Miele of Ossining and Ashley Spallone of Carmel designed the wedding dress.