1. When do I need to start looking for my dress?

It’s never too early to start looking, but ideally leave a minimum of between eight and twelve months.  Most people will advise that you shouldn’t try on too many dresses but our advice is; try on as many dresses as you need to.  If you know your own shape and style you will choose the right dress for you and it’s best to feel 100% comfortable with your choice.

2. Do I need to make appointments?

Yes. Appointments in most bridal boutiques are essential, however if you’ve travelled a long way to visit one shop and pass another on the way that you didn’t know was there, why not pop in to see if they can squeeze you in.  More often than not, they will accommodate you if possible. Not only is it nearly impossible to get into the dresses on your own, it’s a good idea to have an assistant to give you expert advice to help find you the right dress. Some gowns have no hanger appeal, so left to your own devices, you might find the search more difficult.

3. Will it help to bring someone with me to the appointment?

If you’re indecisive, it will definitely help to bring someone along but bring someone that you 110% trust will give you their honest opinion (this will most likely be your mum or someone who knows you inside out). Don’t bring too many people. You will never please everybody, and the only person who needs to love your dress is you! If you’re torn between two dresses and feel more comfortable bringing your bridesmaids/close friends along to help make the decision process easier, be sure to realise that each person will have a different opinion and will bring their individual style choices to the forefront.  To compromise, tell people you can take them to your fitting so that they can see your final selection or better still keep it a surprise for everyone on the big day!

4. Should I know what I want before I try on dresses?

The only way you can tell exactly what you want is by trying on dresses. You’ll find it difficult to decide on details before you visit bridal shops and see the various styles. Keep an open mind, and prepare to like something you didn’t think you would.

5. Should I shop by designer?

Difficult one, don’t buy a dress for the label.  Most people won’t know a Vera Wang from a Vera Wong?  It’s easy, as a bride, to be led by the label instead of the look and fit of the dress but let’s face it who’s going to see the label?  It helps to try a selection of gowns by various designers, that way you’ll often find that you will prefer one designers look and fit over another and naturally gravitate towards the designer rather than the dress.  If you’re lusting over a designer, check out their website.  It’s a great way to analyse the overall look that they have.  Some designers have a very distinct style for example, Ian Stuart who opt for a very art deco look.

6. What if I want to lose some weight before deciding on my dress?

It’s always safer to order the dress to the size you are, just in case the weight loss doesn’t go to plan. Dresses can be taken in.

7. Should I wear special underwear when trying on wedding dresses?

Not particularly. Lots of dresses have enough structure once fitted properly for you not to have to wear a bra, but this is a personal choice entirely. For trying the dresses on, wear something that you feel comfortable in, you will be standing in your underwear with an assistant so a thong is not advisable.  A strapless bra might be a good idea, but if you forget and wear a pink polka dot one, then just tuck down the straps.

8.  Can I take Photos?

A lot of bridal boutiques don’t allow photos but it’s worth asking if they mind?  To my surprise, a few boutiques here in Northern Ireland were quite happy for photos to be taken as they could empathise with how hard the dress making decision process is.

9. How long will my dress take to come in?

Delivery times depend entirely on the designer. As a general rule, dresses take between 12 and 20 weeks. They can be rushed through on an express delivery, but that incurs extra charges, and ideally you’ll want to avoid those!

10. Are alterations included in the price?

It depends and you should enquire about this before purchasing the dress.  Most alterations are costed separately, purely because every bride is very different. They are kept as low as possible, but the fit of the dress is the most important part. If it fits you like a glove, it looks and feels a million dollars!

11. When do I pay?

You pay a 50 percent deposit, then the balance is due when the dress arrives in the shop, before it’s fitted to you.

12. Will the bridal boutique store the dress for me?

Yes most shops will keep the dress until you choose to collect it, whether that’s three weeks before the big day, or the day before. It should be pressed and triple-check it before it leaves.

Italians have it all don’t they, bronzed bodies, gorgeous dark eyes and the most amazing style.  Check out this fashion shoot from Elle Bride.  It manages to capture edgy, effortlessly cool and quintessentially Italian without even trying…   

Ciao for now.

x

Let’s face it, most brides have been on the countdown to their big day as soon as they got engaged (probably pre-engagement if truth be told) but when it’s a matter of months away, it’s great to know exactly how many months, days and seconds you have left because trust me, every single second counts on the run down to the wedding.

So when I came across this little app I thought I have to share with all my little lovebirds. It’s called Wedding Countdown and it’s free. Don’t you just love it when you get a good free App?! Anyway, you simply enter your details and it will automatically calculate how long it is to your wedding/engagement/bridal shower in years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. I also love that it can countdown to your anniversary as well, so grab the hubby-to-be’s phone and enter your anniversary so that there’s no excuse for forgetting your first anniversary!

You can personalise it with various backgrounds and phrases. Here’s a few examples below. There are loads of countdown apps but this is the best in our opinion.

Having kids in your wedding can be fun, but teaching the little ones their roles can also require a lot of work!

Little flower girls look adorable in frilly dresses and lace-topped socks and in our opinion, are a necessity to any wedding party providing extra charm, and making the day that little bit more magical.  If you have a young niece or special little girl to incorporate, you’ll be thinking she’s a perfect example of how to incorporate kids in your wedding. However, when it’s time to walk down the aisle, tossing rose petals to the ground while the eyes of 200 guests gaze intently, how do you know she won’t freeze under pressure? Kids in your wedding will certainly make a lasting impression, hopefully for the right reason!

From flower girls to page boys, young children bring a touch of innocence and purity to a wedding ceremony. But, it’s important to remember that having kids in your wedding takes patience and a bit of training. They must learn their roles and feel comfortable with the responsibility as well. Plus, don’t just assume your sister or brother doesn’t mind having their daughter or son participating in the wedding. Did you ever stop to think that they don’t want all 200 pairs of eyes staring at their child?

To help you come to a conclusion on how to handle the issue of kids in your wedding, consider the following suggestions:

Age and Maturity

When having kids in your wedding, it is important to match ceremonial duties to young attendants based upon their age and level of maturity. Don’t let a temper tantrum or easily distracted toddler cause a commotion at your wedding. It is suggested to place younger children ( ages 4 to 8 ) in traditional roles, such as ring bearers and flower girls.  If you’ve already chosen your flower girls and page boys but there has been recent addition to the family prior to your wedding, why not ask the little one to present you with the horseshoe – this will give them a vital role and provide a wonderful photo opportunity.

Explain the role

Take time out with your junior bridesmaids and ring bearers to explain what their role entails.  A good way to aid explanation is to get a story book with pretty pictures, reading the story as often as possible will build up a sustained understanding of their roles and help them to look forward to the big day.

Offer encouragement

Tell your flower girls that they will look like princesses and your page boys that they will look very cool.  For many boys it’ll be their first time in a suit, aside from their school uniform.  By encouraging them to take pride in their appearance, it will help them look forward to getting dressed up.  Explain that they are a key part of the day and pre-warn them that they will be getting photographed so need to look their best and most of all happy to be there.

Visit the church

If possible prior to the ceremony run through, bring the little ones to the church and let them familarise themselves with it.  A church is a big place for such a small person and every church is different.

Parents’ Role

Enlist the help of the parents of kids in your wedding and position them in convenient seats in order to direct their child, lend support or pick them up if necessary.

Unexpectedness

Children are full of unexpected outbursts, cute mannerisms, and impromptu questions. If you want kids in your wedding, keep in mind that they are not adults and are prone to a few comic (or not-so-comic) errors.  Sometimes the most unexpected and affectionate moments can be captured on camera.   The little ones will often steal the show and certainly provide memorable photographs for years to come.

The Safety of the Wedding Ring

When using kids in your wedding to carry the most prized possessions of the ceremony (besides your husband-to-be) – it might be a good idea to sew your wedding rings onto the ring bearer’s pillow (If the pillow doesn’t have ribbons to tie the rings onto it). This will help avoid the dilemma of locating lost rings and wasting precious time, providing your cute page boy doesn’t lose the pillow that is.  If you want to be super cautious sew fake rings to the ring pillow – that way there will be no worries if the pillow goes walkabout.

Alternative Roles

Kids in your wedding don’t have to play the traditional roles of ring bearer and flower girl in the actual ceremony, but can instead pass out favors or bring cake to guests.

Cater for children at your ceremony

Consider children when table planning.  Ensure high-chairs are placed at the correct tables and that there is easy access past them.  Many hotels offer a baby-sitting facility so it’s worthwhile enquiring about it before the wedding.  It’s also useful to prepare a kids activity pack (with colouring in book and crayons etc) to entertain.

Create Memorable Moments

Utilize the talents of your poetic nephew and encourage him to recite a piece at your ceremony.  This would be advisable of an older child though, it’s unfair to expect this of a younger child.  If when asked it’s a no-go area, don’t push the issue.  Reading in front of guests at a ceremony is a daunting task for many adults, never mind children.

Have Fun

Dance with the kids soon after the first dance.  I’ve seen some very cute photos of little ones dancing with the bride or groom.  Just be sure that they don’t get too energetic as you may end up having some cranky tearful children before bed.

All in all, having kids in your wedding can create fun memories as long as the child is comfortable with the role they are given and you don’t mind taking a few deep breaths until everything falls into place.

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life. As the bride, you’ll be the center of attention. All eyes will be on you, your friends and family will be scrutinizing you from head to toe and photographs will capture the moment forever. On the big day, you want to look like yourself, only better. There’s nothing worse than a bride who has got everything right; a gorgeous dress, designer shoes and the most flawless make-up but a hairstyle that is just wrong!
At WeddingHQ we advise a consultation with the stylist who will be doing your hair two – three months before the wedding date to ensure that your dream hairstyle fits in with your dream day. Whatever you do, stay away from these top 10 most common hair mistakes:

1. You cut your hair days before the wedding. I don’t know about you guys but I hate that ‘fresh cut look’, it always takes your hair a few weeks to grow after a haircut for it to look the way it was intended to so why risk that on your big day? Our advise; Stay away from the scissors and don’t plan on getting a haircut right before the big day. Instead, do it a month or two prior to the wedding to ensure that you like the cut and it will work with the hairstyle you’ve chosen.
2. You experiment with hair colour. This is a huge no no. Don’t be brash and don’t be brave in experimenting with a new colour. It’s definitely not advisable to dramatically change your hair color before the wedding. You want to look like an enhanced version of you, not someone completely different. Be sure to talk to your stylist about how you envision your hair on the big day, and let your colorist know if you are planning on wearing your hair up or down as this will have an impact on the level of colour applied to specific areas of the hair.
3. You go to your consultation without any ideas. Pictures speak louder than words. Gather photos (e.g. from magazines) of hairstyles you like. This will give the stylist an idea of the kind of style you’re seeking. The stylist can’t make you look like the person in the picture, but he or she can attempt to copy the hair as long as the texture and length are not an issue. If the length is an issue; fear not, extensions will be there to save the day!
4. You don’t carefully choose your stylist. You will remember your wedding day forever, so choose someone you trust to style your hair. If your hairdresser doesn’t typically do wedding hairstyles, ask him or her for a recommendation, or speak with friends or other brides who have had hairstyles you’ve admired. Bear in mind, more often than not, the hairdresser with his or her name on the door that will openly admit that weddings are not their thing and pass you on to a wedding specialist within the salon.
5. You forget your veil or headpiece. The veil factors into your overall look, and its length and style may determine if you’ll want to wear your hair up or down. If the veil hasn’t arrived yet, ask the bridal salon to loan you a sample, or at least bring along a photo when consulting with your hairdresser. Remember your veil will need something to grip onto, which is why most hairdressers will advise that an up-style is best but a good hairdresser will ensure enough volume in a down-style for the veil to stay in place.
6. You only try one style. Just as you tried on several wedding dresses (even if you knew the first one was the best), have your stylist show you at least three different looks based on your description of what you want. If you don’t, you’ll never know what looks best for you.
7. You think short hair is your only option. If your cute bob doesn’t fit with your dream of having luscious long locks on the big day, ask your stylist for extensions. This temporary fix can be a perfect solution.
8. You forget about the dress. Your hair should always complement your gown. Select your gown first and then decide on the hairstyle with your stylist. If your dress is Spanish senorita inspired and would look gorgeous with a sleekly swept chignon but it’s not for you; don’t let the dress do the talking. It’s your day and you need to feel comfortable with how you look.
9. You forget about touch-ups. If it’s in your budget, consider having the stylist stay after the ceremony and throughout the evening to do touch-ups to your hair—or even give you a completely different look. If the expense is too high, ask the stylist for tips on how to touch up your own hair during the reception.
10. You forget about the groom. Although you’ll be the focus of the big day, you will want his hair to look just as good. Make sure the groom gets a good haircut two weeks before the wedding so it has time to lose the dreaded ‘freshly chopped look’.