Category: Wedding Tuxes

Flirty, fun and oh so sexy… short is the word for Spring 2012. Whether it’s your bridesmaids’ dresses or for your own bridal gown, chances are, you’ll come across this fabulous wedding fashion trend for 2012. 

Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, and Amsale are a few of the top designers that have included this trend in their Spring 2012 wedding dress line up. Here are a few more wedding gown trends for 2012:

A Blush Coloured Gown

Purchasing a wedding gown in an off-white or non-white colour was, until recently, considered a pretty drastic move. Then, a few seasons ago, we began seeing subtle pops of colour—from the faintest hint of silver or lilac to bright lettuce green—but colour was still the exception rather than the rule. This season, however, blush and pink shades appeared on dozens of runways, marking its official debut as an expected—not quirky—wedding gown hue.

Illusin Necklines

We saw lots of unique necklines this season, but “m`ost spotted” goes to the illusion style, in which a sheer, delicate, and often embellished layer of fabric veils skin that would otherwise be exposed. (Think of illusion as “strapless, with coverage,” noting its power to transform a sassy, “look at my boobs” situation into something soft, elegant, and romantic.)

Two-Tiered Skirts

Last season in skirts, three-dimensional florals hit significant mass. This season, designers concentrated on hemlines, creating skirts with two separate tiers. Call it an exaggerated form of the peplum detail from previous seasons, and this time, it’s really pleasing—the top tier is a great way to disguise wider hips.

Horsehair Trim

Don’t fret, animal rights activists, horsehair does not come from our beautiful equine friends; it’s a man-made fabric often used on the underskirts of gowns to form a cleaner shape and a crisper hemline.  Keeping with the trend of turning dresses inside-out (see last season’s corsets), designers are now revealing this underlay fabrication, either as a visible hemline treatment or a lavishly looped sash or bodice feature. It works to create unbelievable volume and dimension on ballgowns and also provides a unique, frothy-yet-modern textural aspect.

Lace Sleeves

Since the April Bridal Market Week took place a few weeks before the Royal Wedding, several designers were stimulated by Kate Middleton and what she might be wearing on the wedding day. For many, this meant lace sleeves, a sleeker, more contemporary version of the huge sleeves that engulfed Princess Diana so many years ago. Turns out the newly dubbed Duchess of Cambridge did end up wearing lace sleeves to her wedding, and it’s only a matter of time before this regal look catches on in a big way.

How do you keep the mood cheerful while honouring a deceased relative at your wedding? If a parent or other close family relative has passed away recently, it’s important to find a suitable way to remember them without ruining the blissful feel of the wedding. After all, a wedding is a celebration, and while an absent parent is without doubt sad, it shouldn’t overwhelm the wedding day.

Here are some ways to honour a parent:

• Wear a piece of jewellery or article of clothing. (eg: your mother’s wedding dress or your father’s cuff links).
• Carry the same flowers that your mother had in her wedding bouquet.
• At the end of or in the back part of the wedding program, it is appropriate to add a memoriam line. (eg:“Today we honour those who could not be with us, especially…mother of the bride Janet Smith and Grandfather to the groom Larry Cruthers.)  
• Set up a special table at the wedding ceremony or reception with a flower arrangement and a card saying “In memory of those loved ones who are not with us today”
• Include a moment of silence in the ceremony to honor him or have a candle lit in his memory. 
• Have someone read the persons favorite passage of Scripture, fiction, or poetry
• Visit the grave after the ceremony and leave your bouquet there
  At the wedding reception, you could display wedding pictures of family members, or pictures of loved ones with the bride/groom. This is a more subtle way of including the ones whom have passed in your day.

Those are some of my favourite for you to consider.

Cupcake wedding cakes are ideal for casual, small, and unique indoor or outdoor weddings or for anyone who wants to do away with the fuss of a traditional wedding cake. Replacing a conventional wedding cake with stylish wedding cupcakes has become one of the most accepted wedding trends amongst last year and this year’s wedding couples.

Cupcakes have long been used as a way to save money and so wedding couples of been embracing that trend. Generally you will find that your baker will charge less for cupcakes than a tiered cake as they are a lot easier to make and transport. They are also something that a DIY bride can tackle herself a few days ahead of her wedding and then set up on trays or special cupcake stands. You should also be able to save the “cake cutting fee” from your caterer as there is nothing to cut!

When choosing the amount of cupcakes for your wedding, first you need to determine the number of guests. It is very important not to underestimate this part; while not everyone will want a piece of traditional wedding cake, almost everyone will want a cupcake! Next you’ll want to plan the cupcake decoration. From a simple buttercream frosting to edible petals to inexpensive cupcake caps, you have lots of options. Do you want intricate designs on some of the cupcakes only, or on all? Do you want to mix and match designs? Be careful – depending on the types of cupcakes you choose wedding cupcakes might not be as economical as you think.

Your wedding gown is one of the most momentous choices you will make for your wedding. It can often be easy to imagine that since you are a plus size woman you will not be able to be attractive in your wedding gown.  Nevertheless, this is not true at all. There are a clear-cut set of tips that can be used in order to select a plus size wedding dress which will enhance your beauty and make you look as breathtaking as any other bride.

Body Type/Shape

Plus size women come in a range of shapes and sizes just as thinner ladies do. In order to pick a plus size wedding dress style that works best for your body type it is essential to know just what shape your body takes. For example, are you an hour glass figure, pear, apple, or even boy shaped? Once you have determined this, you can search for a dress that will compliment your figure and conceal the flaws associated with your body type.

Wedding Gown Color/Shade

There are definite colors that do not look good on curvy women, and others that will not go with your skin tone and do you justice. Determine your skin tone and the colors that work best for you, and go with one of those to improve your beauty and draw attention to the right areas. Even if you opt for a white dress, it can be trimmed in a flattering color to add elegance.

Avoid Fancy Details

It is best when seeking out a plus size wedding gown, to avoid large bows, bedding, and embroidery. Having these on your gown will add extra bulk to your figure and make you appear larger than you really are. You will also need to avoid the urge to pile on the wedding accessories. Select a uncomplicated yet beautiful design for your dress, and offset it with a few well chosen trappings – and that’s it.

Well Fitted Undergarments

Most brides overlook the significance of proper undergarments when searching for their dream-wedding gown.  As a plus size woman, try to choose items that help to shape and form your curves, doing that will make a drastic difference in the way your dress fits. Search for items that gently hold you in, and support your curves in all the right way without being too tight or uncomfortable.

Go With Your Gut – Always

In the end, you should pick a plus size wedding dress that makes you feel like a princess on your wedding day. Your wedding should be one of the most pleasurable days of your life, and if you are uncomfortable or always fussing with your wedding gown, then it will detract from the experience. Go with your gut feeling and choose a dress that makes you feel good about whom you are.

Even though you may be curvy, there is no reason that she cannot be as beautiful as any other bride at her wedding. If you use the tips above, you will be able to choose a plus size wedding dress that is just right for you, and that accentuates your body in all the right ways.

Do people still buy Polaroid Camera’s? Well, I do and so do some of our wedding couples! If you want to make a DIY wedding photo guest book work (after a wedding, you would put the wedding guest photos in a guest book next to the messages that they left the bride and groom), then all you need is the new Fujifilm Instax camera.  It will set you back about .90 at Amazon and other locations (but you can probably find it on eBay for cheaper).

I’m not going to lie – the film is pricey and does cost to per 20 exposures, which you can find at B&H Photo Video, Adorama, Amazon, etc., so the costs will start to add up for a large wedding, but the results are worth it.

As for albums, there is a range of options. Some companies offer a kit, including an album, camera and film. The Adesso option is great because everything comes together and the album has sleeves into which guests slide their photos in.

Personally, I recommend wedding couples to purchase the albums with removable pages, not only to be able to add additional photos if necessary, but also to smooth the process for guests. Sometimes there can be a line of wedding guests waiting to sign the guest book, but with removable pages, multiple guests can work on their messages at the same time.

My search told me that for elegant cloth-covered albums with removable pages, Kolo is the best choice.  First, there is the Trivino, an 11.75″ x 10.75″ three-ring binder available in cloth and leather. Source (, although I found it for on at Adorama in certain colors). Each Fujifilm Instax photo is about 3.5″ x 4.25″, so consider placing two photos per page, for a total of four photos on one sheet back and front.

If this is something you would like to have at your wedding, then I would assign someone from your wedding party to monitor that area so that no one is confused with the process. I would also have someone take the photos of the wedding guests and insert them in the book for you, even showing the guest where to sign.

Say Cheese!

A lot of couples frequently look for various entertainment during the wedding day to add splash of excitement to their event.  A trendy choice is a ‘release’ of some description whether it is butterflies, doves, or fireworks and these are all popular choices.

Now there is another option to include on the list – Wedding Sky Lanterns. If you’ve never heard of these, here is a brief explanation:

Sky lanterns are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern floats back to the ground. They are considered very eco-friendly and they create a very dramatic image for all of the wedding guests to see.

The Lanterns can be used during the day or night and although coloured lanterns can be used for a daytime display they still do not match the dramatic effect of a evening release. Another great options couples are using is to have their guests write their own good luck messages on the lanterns before releasing them.

Prices for a Sky Lantern release fluctuate according to the number of lanterns, size of lantern, whether you are releasing them yourself or getting a professional display for your wedding. You can expect to spend 0-00 on this concept, depending on the number of lanterns used. 

P.S. – Hollywood newlyweds Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo released sky lanterns at their wedding reception. Well worth it!

The new iPhone applications out there continually strive to keep the world at our fingertips. At present, we can have wedding diamonds at them too!

Louisiana-based jewellery company, Stuller partnered with Gemvision Corporation to create a free iPhone application for potential brides called Live Diamond Try-On. A series of steps can guide a user to finding the ideal wedding engagement ring. First, choose from carat weight, diamond shape, metal and mounting, then just take a picture of your hand and virtually try on a engagement ring without having to go to the store.

The application allows users to superimpose the diamond image over their hand and send via Facebook, email, Twitter, etc.  You can also click on the “find a jeweller” button which uses the iPhone’s GPS function to direct users to the closest retailer. Diamond shopping for an wedding engagement ring has never been easier!

Your first wedding anniversary is important to commemorate because it means you got through one of the most difficult years of marriage. It’s also an chance to look back at your wedding day and gauge how far you’ve come as a couple -  and where you’re going. There are many ways to have a good time and honour your first wedding anniversary.

Here are 5 suggestions:

Exchange A Special Gift With Each Other

Many couples skip anniversary gifts. But you should consider making an exception and giving each other at least a small token on your first anniversary. You don’t have to purchase something extravagant. The traditional first wedding anniversary gift is paper – and you have lots of options, such as writing a poem on paper, which won’t cost you anything but time and some creativity.

Wedding Anniversary Cake Slice

A lot of couples freeze the top of their wedding cake and eat it on their first wedding anniversary. To protect the cake’s taste a year later, you should wrap it in vapor- and moisture-proof freezer bags after you’ve frozen it for a couple of hours to set the icing and then wrapp it in plastic.   If you didn’t freeze your cake, you could make a cake with the same flavors as your wedding cake and decorate it similar to what it was on the wedding day.

Repeat Your Wedding Day First Dance

Put on some fancy cloths, play your first song on your CD player or ipod and take each other for a romantic spin around your living room floor or backyard. If you took lessons or did a choreographed dance, you can see if you both still have the moves you had a year earlier at your wedding. How fun is that!

View Your Wedding DVD And Photo Albums

Remember the big day by viewing it through your DVD and wedding albums. You could even serve up some hors d’oeuvers and drink some good wine while snuggling up on the couch reminiscing your magical wedding day.

Take A Second Honeymoon

Go back to your original honeymoon destination – or pick a romantic getaway you both will enjoy. There’s no lovelier way to commemorate your wedding anniversary than by de-stressing in a beautiful place with nothing to do but spend time with one another.

This is a difficult question. What should you be dressed in for your wedding, a Suit or a Tuxedo? The complicated part is, most people don’t know the difference between the two. So, to make a decision which one to wear for your wedding, the first step is to clarify what is a suit and what is a tuxedo.

What’s the difference between a Suit and a Tux?

• Tux jackets often have satin lapels; the suit’s lapel is the same material as the rest of the suit.
• Tuxedo pants may have a satin stripe down the outside legs.
• Tuxedo shirts often have pleated fronts. Instead of buttons, it has studs. It is also worn with cuff links and not buttons.
• Tuxedo shoes are patent leather while normal leather shoes are worn with suits.
• Tuxedos also traditionally have only one button, compared to two or three on suits.
• Tuxedos most often are worn during formal events while the long tie is worn with suits.

Today’s Trend

So far we can say, the difference between a tuxedo and a suit is becoming less and less distinct. I’m certain you will see many grooms wearing pleated shirt with suits or long ties with a tuxedo. For that reason, there is no real need these days to specially wear a tuxedo instead of a suit. In fact, a well made suit often will look more impressive than a tuxedo.

I would recommend that you visit a tuxedo/suit store, try on a combination of suits/ shirts/ pants/tie/ shoes and mix and match to get a blend that you feel most comfortable with.

Choosing The Correct Fit

Try the suit or tux on with the actual shirt, shoes that you will be wearing on the wedding day.

Put the suite or tux on and place your arms by your side. The helm of the suit should not cover more than half of your middle finger, but should cover the back of your hand.

The cuff on the shirt should be slightly longer.

The pants should just fall at the heel of the shoe at the back, it should cover a portion of the front of your shoes.

Conclusion

First and foremost consider the formality of your wedding, then between you and the bride try to discuss your preference for your wedding day look.   Try not to go too trendy; because often your photos will look dated and you may regret the decision.  Try to choose a classic look that will never go out of style. No matter what, ever man looks great in a suit or tux. Whatever you choose you will look like “Prince Charming” to your bride to be on the wedding day.

Having wedding day transportation is the key to having everything running smoothly and on time. Wedding couples need to provide their transportation company with all of their wedding day details and scheduled events. If the bride and groom are very proactive they would even provide their driver/drivers with directions, address of the locations they will be visiting along with any parking arrangements.

When considering wedding day transportation you need to decide on how many people are you going to transport? Will it be just the bride and groom, what about the bridal party and parents? Once you have given this some thought you can now decide between limousines, coaches, trolleys, buses, or other forms of unique options.

Here are some of the popular choices that wedding couples choose.

Stretch Limousines

The most popular and widely used would have to be the stretch limousine. Limousines can be used for either the entire wedding day or a portion of you days events. Some limos can transport only a few people while others are large enough to handle 12 –14 people.  You can schedule the limo to pick you up at home and take you to the wedding ceremony, then for photos and a final drop off at the wedding reception site.  Or you can have them pick you up after the wedding ceremony and take you around for photo session, then drop you off at the reception location. Most limousine companies charge by the hour so shop around and see what will work best for your wedding day needs.

Old Fashion Trolley

An old fashion trolley is really fun to have on the wedding day.   The best part about an old fashion trolley is that it can accommodate large groups of people.  Many of them can transport 20-40 people at one time. The trolley is wonderful for large bridal parties and for transporting wedding guests when hosting a destination wedding.  Keep in mind, that some trolleys will not permit food or drink so don’t expect a huge party on board. Check with the company to see what is permitted in terms of number of people, food and drink.

Unique Options

For the wedding couple that prefers something more original on their wedding day, consider choosing a horse drawn carriage, classic car or even arrive in a boat (if your wedding is overlooking the ocean or lake).  You could also arrive by helicopter or hot air balloon!  Keep in mind that many of these are used as a grand entrance to your wedding reception, not really used for transportation per se.  No matter what you choose, your photographer will love the photo opportunity!

Once you have finalized your transportation needs you need to contact the company several times with your timeline and agenda.  I would recommend calling a day or two prior and even ask to speak to the driver to make sure everyone is on the same page. Read all the fine print on your contract and have someone close to you read over it before sign anything.

There are many different options today for couples and with creative planning your true personal style should help to give an experience that will be remembered for years to come.