Five Things Every Bride Needs

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When you start planning a wedding, the lists of "must have items" can be nearly endless. However, a lot of those things are more gravy than meat, if you see what I mean. There are some things, though, which are very important, no matter what kind of bride you are. These are five things that every bride needs.

One: Support. This can be your mom, your best friend, your sister, or a gaggle of bridesmaids. The person could have an official role, like maid of honor, or you could be having a tiny wedding with no bridal party at all. Title is not important; what is important is that the bride has someone to turn to when she needs an opinion (pearl earrings or crystal?), a sympathetic ear (like when her fmil is driving her bananas), or a shoulder to cry on (fight with the fiance). The bride's support person also makes wedding planning a lot more fun, because any special occasion is more fun when you can share it with a close friend.

Two: To Feel Beautiful. Whether the bride has a figure like a model or has been overweight her whole life, the chances are she has some insecurities about her appearance. No matter what her shape or size, every bride deserves to feel beautiful on her wedding day, without exception. This means a bridal gown that makes her feel like royalty, elegant wedding jewelry like pearl earrings, and someone to tell her that she looks darn good. Then the bride needs to allow herself to believe it!

Three: A Honeymoon. It does not matter if it is a week in Paris or two nights in a nearby hotel; all newlyweds need a couple of days alone together right after their wedding. It is a very special time to bask in the glow of that "just married" feeling (it's finally real!). After pulling together a wedding of any size, it is also important to have a few days off from life to relax. If there is no money for a trip, a couple of days borrowing a friend's house would even be great (it cannot be your own house or you will be tempted to clean, do laundry, or pay bills). Just promise yourself that you will not go straight back to work the morning after your wedding!

Four: A Sense of Humor. This is a biggie. It is the lack of a sense of humor (not to mention a lack of perspective and empathy) that turns regular women into crazed bridezillas. Your wedding day is certainly a monumental day, but it is just one day: the start of a new life, not the end all, be all. Things will go wrong, because life is not perfect. If you can maintain a sense of humor, it will be much easier to cope with the unexpected things that can crop up at a wedding (like the minister knocking over your altar flowers), and to enjoy the beauty of the occasion.

Five: A Groom. Seriously. How many brides have you heard justify things they want by saying, "It's MY day!"? Not our day, but my day. Uh, a wedding is not just the bride's day. Remember the groom? Without one of those, there would be no wedding. So every time you find yourself tempted to proclaim the wedding day to be "yours", try to keep in mind that special guy you call your fiance, because the wedding is supposed to be all about marrying him, not the wedding party itself.

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of http://silverlandjewelry.com/. You will love our beautiful selection of handcrafted pearl earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping, so visit us today!

Nice Things to Do For Brides

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Being a bride-to-be is a magical time in a woman's life. It can be an even more special and meaningful time if the people in her life take a moment to do something nice for her. Whether you are looking for a small idea to brighten her day or a grand gesture to take her breath away, here are some suggestions for nice things to do for brides.

The type of nice thing that you can do for the bride in your life will depend on who she is to you. For instance, if you are a co-worker of the bride, you could offer to cover her desk for an hour one afternoon so she can run out to a meeting with the caterer. Or if you see a funny cartoon in the New Yorker about weddings, clip it out and tape it to her computer to start her day off with a smile. These are small gestures that will go a long way towards bringing a smile to the face of a frazzled bride.

There are plenty of sweet things that the bride's friends can do for her. Time is one thing that almost all women in the midst of planning a wedding find to be in short supply. The bride's friends could help to put some more hours back in her day by taking on the occasional task for her. Perhaps you could run down to the stationery store and pick up the invitations for her. Or maybe you could go online and do some research on the best honeymoon resorts in her favorite destination. These are kind things that you can do for a friend that will not cost you more than a little bit of your time.

Speaking of time, time spent with good friends is something that any bride would appreciate. Maybe you could carve out an afternoon to meet with prospective florists with her (something the groom probably is not volunteering to help with). Or perhaps you could show up on her door with a new dvd, a bag of popcorn, and a bottle of wine. A trip to the local nail salon for pedicures is always a fun thing that girlfriends can do together, or maybe you would like to get together for brunch on a Sunday morning.

The groom can also do quite a few nice things for his future wife, some of which may be expensive, and others which are free. The number one thing that you can do is to lend her your ear. You may find the minutia of wedding planning to be deathly dull, but she doesn't have to know that. Even if you would rather be doing something else, give her your undivided attention for a few minutes a day to go over all that wedding stuff. It will really make her feel like you care about the wedding, and by extension, about your relationship.

Of course, there are many other sweet ways that the groom can brighten his bride's day. Surprise her with a gift, like a set of bridal jewelry, when she is least expecting it. You can cook her a romantic dinner and present the bridal jewelry with dessert. There is nothing better than doing something special for someone for no reason except to say, "I love you".

Planning a wedding can be a taxing job, and a few kind gestures from her family and friends will go a long way towards helping the bride to relax. It is a memorable time, and the little things that you do for the bride in your life will become a cherished part of her wedding memories. And isn't that what being a friend is all about?

Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about. Let us know at SilverlandJewelry.com. Bridal jewelry makes a wonderful gift for the bride.

Top Seven Things Every Bride Needs in Her Survival Kit

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Trying to get married without a survival kit is like trying to get married without a wedding dress. A wedding day survival kit is key to ensuring that things go smoothly without having to send someone out last minute to buy a last minute fix-it. Usually it is the maid of honor's duty to have a wedding day survival kit on hand, but if you have a younger maid of honor or someone who isn't very easy to rely on, it may be smart to just bring your own. Here is a list of the top seven things that will make any survival kit one worth having on hand.

1. Sewing Kit. A miniature sewing kit is inexpensive and can be a real life saver when it comes to fixing a hem or the beading on a gown. If your gown is white, be sure to purchase a sewing kit that has several shades of white to help you pick the one that will blend well with your gown.

2. Self-adhesive Velcro. No one knows how handy Velcro can be until the zipper accidentally comes out of a bridesmaid's dress or the top of your gown refuses to lie nicely against your bridal undergarments. Self-adhesive Velcro is easy to remove and is great for a last minute fix.

3. Safety pins. Safety pins are another item that is perfect for that last minute fix, especially if you don't have time to utilize your sewing kit. They can also act as buttons if a button mysteriously goes missing! Safety pins are definitely useful when it comes to creative fix-its.

4. Dental floss. Nothing is more embarrassing for a bride then having stuff in her teeth! Well, since no one expects you to starve yourself, the best way to ensure gunk-free teeth is to have some dental floss on hand.

5. Breath mints. Stress and nerves can cause not only a bad case of dry mouth, but also bad breath. It's always good to have some breath mints on hand to help curb dry mouth and bad breath, but to also help you feel more glamorous on your big day.

6. Hairspray. Not just any hairspray, aerosol hairspray! Aerosol hairspray is not just great for fixing those little fly-aways right before you head down the aisle, but it can also be used to curb static underneath gowns and to keep your veil from sticking to your dress. Just spray a little on the underside of your veil or on your legs and Voila! No more static!

7. Bobby pins. Another great little hair fix-it for you and your bridesmaids are bobby pins. It always good ideas to have a few extra on hand to secure those fly-aways and stray curls that don't want to stay in place.

Remember a survival kit is about what you as the bride thinks you will need on your big day, so whether you use all of these things, some of these things, or completely make up your own survival kit, the trick is to get together whatever you think you will need in an emergency. You can pack your survival kit in a spare make-up bag or just in a plastic zipper bag, however you think it will be the easiest to transport it. No matter what you do, the trick is to be prepared, so that your wedding day will continue to go off without a hitch.

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Gift Ideas to Honor the Parents of the Bride and Groom

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Preparing wedding gifts is a traditional way for blissful couples to thank and appreciate people who have done a great job in supporting them and helping during their big day. One of the most special and meaningful gifts they'll be looking for are gifts for their parents. The truth is, their parents contribute both financial and emotional support to the wedded couple, plus the fact that their presence is extremely important during the wedding ceremony itself. Therefore they truly deserve a special gift. As with the blissful couple, they want to give meaningful gifts to show not only their love but also their deep gratitude for everything that their parents have done for them throughout their lives.

One popular option to give are personalized gifts. These are gifts formed from simple items that have been made personalized by means of scripting initials or personal messages. Literally, there are tons of personalized gift ideas to choose from, and whether they are expensive or not, and no matter what the occasion may be, an item that has been made personalized turns an ordinary gift into a very special present. Personalized items provide a special memento of love and history for the family.

Such personalized items you may consider are picture frames, photo albums, jewelry and the like. Engraved frames and photo albums with a heartfelt message and unforgettable photos will likely be treasured for years to come. Jewelry like lockets with engraved wedding dates are great options too. Also, plaque, trophy and other miniature desk accessories are wonderful inspirational mementos to honor the parents' presence and support. Other selection includes jewelry boxes, cufflinks, flask, pocket watches, wine gifts, mugs and crystal glasses and other personalized gift boxes that are truly memorable and unique.

Also, classic gift ideas are perfect and suited for mom's and dad's personality. You may find items made from precious materials that can give an elegant and very classy look. Happy couples may consider to give a memorable and timeless gift of crystal, like a crystal clock perhaps, or vase and other antique items.

These are great gift options to give for mom and dad that they will not only enjoy, but also something that could give them a sense of relaxation and pampering after a series of stressful wedding preparation. Many couples would like to treat their parents to a day in the spa and massage parlor, bed and breakfast weekend getaway or other recreational activities where they could enjoy, have some fun and unwind.

And lastly, happy couples may wish to prepare special presents by creating their handmade wedding gifts for their mom and dad. Creative and imaginative artwork will do, it could be a scrapbook with pictures reminiscing history of the family, or perhaps a multi media presentation with memorable family events compilation. Also, consider buying unique and creative items like personalized cooler chairs or engraved cufflinks for the couple's dads, pink flask and engraved compact mirror for the couple's moms. Other unique gift ideas for parents are found at nearest specialty stores. Always remember, the key to have special and memorable gifts for parents are deep within you, you already know how to make mom and dad happy, all you have to do is to add a little spice for extra accent. After all, the smile of your happy parents are part of making your momentous day a success!

Janet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics including weddings. If you're looking for gifts for parents, visit the website Americanbridal.com and browse their collection. Find unique father of the bride cufflinks to make your dad feel special!

Fun Things For Brides

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Being a bride is one of the most fun times in a young woman's life. Besides the best part (marrying the man your love!), there are so many other things that make this time a blast. Go ahead and indulge yourself with some of these fun things for brides.

When you start looking at bridal magazines and websites, you will probably notice things that you had no idea even existed. There are many products, often personalized, to help you get into the spirit of being a bride. It would be fun to treat yourself to a few of these little novelties that you can only have while you are a bride.

One popular idea is to get a t-shirt that has the word "Bride" emblazoned on it in crystals. Now this may sound a little silly to some, but you have to admit that it is kind of cute for a bachelorette night on the town. By the way, there are usually matching undies available - get them in blue to wear under your wedding gown for "something blue".

What many brides will do is to get the coordinating shirts for their attendants that say "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of Honor". It makes for fun gifts to give each bridesmaid. Something that has such limited use should not be your main bridesmaid gifts, but it could be part of a bigger gift, perhaps tucked into a monogrammed tote bag that they can use again.

Along this same theme are customized things that you can order with your future name on it. Imagine a bikini for your honeymoon with "Mrs. Smith" on the tush in crystals. Also popular are hoodies that say "The future Mrs. Smith" on the back. To get the groom into the act, you can also get shirts or hats that say "Just married" on them.

Don't forget about the children in your wedding. What little girl wouldn't love a pink t-shirt proclaiming her status as a "Flower girl"? For the little boys in your bridal party, you can find shirts declaring them to be "Official Keeper of the Ring".

A more subtle thing that a bride can get is personalized footwear. There are some shoe designers who will put your initials and wedding date in crystals on the sole of your high heeled bridal shoes. Other couples will get the flip flops that say "Just married" on the soles to leave an impression in the sand - perfect for that beach honeymoon.

Speaking of things that you can have customized, did you know that you can actually get postage with a picture on it? How great would it be to put your engagement photo on your invitations or save-the-date cards? You could even get one of your wedding pictures made into postage to use on your thank you notes. Now that would be sure to impress!

Being a bride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are so many fun little trinkets that you can pick up to make the whole thing even more fun. Don't worry about being silly - this is your chance to indulge in a few things that make you smile. Besides, you know that you secretly want those "Bride" undies!

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Bridesmaid gifts should be something that you know your attendants will enjoy for many years, such as jewelry.

Getting a Hand on Glove Etiquette: 4 Essential Things Every Bride Should Know

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Gloves add dignity and grace to your wedding ensemble. The proper gloves will lend an air of elegance to this special occasion. However, because modern women do not wear gloves as often as perhaps our mothers or grandmothers did in the past, choosing the proper gloves and knowing the rules of wearing them can be intimidating.

Glove Style

Glove etiquette is a reflection of the times. Historically, the length of the glove was directly related how formal the affair and the time of day. Today, however, with more relaxed social rules, the length of the glove is a more adequate reflection of fashion-the color and style of your dress are the most important factors in choosing the proper glove. Your wedding gloves should complement your dress. Choose simple gloves to wear with an ornate gown. Conversely, a simple gown allows for fancier gloves. Remember the goal is to enhance not to overwhelm. While the traditional color for gloves is white, your wedding gloves should match your dress in color and texture-white with white, ivory with ivory. The texture of your gloves should be similar to that of your dress. Silk gloves go perfectly with a silk gown. Other materials such as kidskin, satin, or lace are also appropriate, depending on the style of the dress.

Glove Length

Glove lengths range from 1-button, ending at the wrist, to 20-button, ending at the shoulder. The length you choose should complement your sleeve length. Generally, the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove-a sleeveless or strapless gown would dictate a glove that comes to the upper arm. Elbow length gloves (12-button) should be chosen for dresses with either cap sleeves or elbow length sleeves. Shorter gloves (6-button and shorter) are reserved for dresses with longer, more fitted sleeves. It is important to remember that while the sleeve of the gown and the glove may meet, it is never proper for a glove to cover the sleeve of a dress.

Exchanging of the Rings

During the exchanging of rings, you may either remove the glove from the left ring finger by slitting the fabric underneath and lifting it over the finger or you may choose to remove the glove altogether. If you remove the glove, simply give it to the maid of honor at the same time you pass your bouquet. It's a good idea to practice removing your glove several times before your wedding to ensure a smooth transition. After the rings have been exchanged, simply pull the glove back down over the finger. If the glove has been removed, leave it off until after the ceremony. Remember to put your gloves back on for photographs.

During the Reception

At the reception, your gloves should be kept on in the receiving line and for special dances with your groom and your father. As it is never acceptable to eat or drink while wearing gloves, you should remove your gloves before cutting your wedding cake. As the more formal aspects of your wedding are now complete, you may wish to take off your gloves, relax, and enjoy your party!

For inspirational ideas for both reception and ceremony, visit http://www.WhereBridesGo.com

Sherrie Thompson is an Assistant at WhereBridesGo.com and MSW Interactive Designs LLC (MSW-ID), purveyors of complete online solutions for wedding professionals. Thompson’s work on the bridal storefront WhereBridesGo.com has given her first-hand knowledge of the latest trends and sought-after products in the wedding industry. Follow Brides in-the-know to WhereBridesGo.com. http://www.WhereBridesGo.com

Things to Be Kept in Mind by a New Bride

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Indians and Indian culture both have always been very finicky about the rituals and customs to be followed in each and every religious practise. The best example in which one gets to see all the customs of the Indian origin being practised sacredly is the Indian marriage. Indian marriages have always been the true depiction of the values possessed by the people of India.

Indian weddings are in a way the mirror image of the ancient India. Though a lot many changes can be observed in the practices followed in the Indian weddings, but the essence of the wedding remains the same. Indians still consider marriage as the life long bond, the decision of which is taken by the god and is to be resumed for the other seven lives by a couple.

Indian families inspite of their modernised approach always have a number of expectation from their daughter- in- law. According to them, the bride from the very first day should be perfect and adapt all the values and rituals of their house. This is because; people generally do not implement things in their life, the lectures for which they keep on giving to others.

One can find an old man suggesting his friend to adopt the modern approach to have a smooth and calm atmosphere in his house, so that clashes do not arises between different generations. But, on the other hand, the same old man can be seen giving lectures to his new daughter- in- law about the meanings of marriage and the harms that the modern thinking can have on her new married life. This is really hypocrite, but one can't really help it. At the end it is in the hand of the bride, what contributions does she make to let the journey of her marriage life move happily and smoothly.

Following are few of the things, which should be kept in mind, by a newly wedded Indian bride, which can help her in leading a smooth married life and also to maintain a healthy balance between her personal and professional life:

The new bride first of all should be very polite and humble in her attitude towards each and every single person she comes across. She needs to be instilled with the values of not loosing her temper in any of the extreme situations.

The new Indian bride should try and understand all the customs and rituals of her new house and should gradually implement things into her daily life practises. The family members should also give her time to adapt the changes and mould herself accordingly.

The new bride must be able to gel well with all the other members of the family. She should have an extrovert attitude and be able to form a bond with each member of the family slowly.

She should give time to herself and to the family to understand each other well. There are many things, which one does not like, but in order to have a normal lifestyle, adjustments need to be made between the bride and her new family.

In case, if the new bride is working, then she should have the capability to maintain a balance between her personal and professional life. Time and care are the things, which are most importantly required to nourish a healthy married life. It takes time to understand the housing practises of the new family, but making little adjustments can actually add to the smoothening of the married life of the couple.

So, by keeping, these small things in mind, a newly wedded Indian bride can succeed in having a hassle free, cheerful and a happy married life

Gurleen Kaur writes on behalf of Jeevansathi.com, which is India's fastest growing matrimonial website, provides online Indian matrimonial classified services. Jeevansathi.com enables users to create an Indian matrimony profile on the website and allow prospective grooms and brides to contact each other. Users can search for profiles through advanced search options on the website. Users can avail free registration and make initial contact with each other through services available on Jeevansathi.com via Chat, SMS, and e-mail.

Wedding Traditions - Weird and Wonderful Things You Didn't Know About Weddings

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Although brides' may not realize it, their wedding day is surrounded with traditions that have been around for hundreds of years. One of the first, is that the groom and bride should not meet on their wedding day until the marriage ceremony. For, it is said that to even glimpse each other will bring bad luck.

A bride traditionally wears a white dress which denotes purity, and for the same reason, she wears a veil over her face. In the past the bridesmaids also wore veils - but this was to prevent the Devil singling out the bride for his evil intentions. It is usual for a bride to wear something old (a reminder of her old life) something new (a new life ahead) and something blue, a colour that has been associated with weddings since Roman times.

For many years a slim spray of lilies was popular as a wedding bouquet. Then designs changed, but now they are back in fashion once again. Being white, lilies are a symbol of purity - and are said to have grown from soil wet by Eve's tears after she was banned from the Garden of Eden. At the wedding ceremony, a bride is handed by her father to the waiting bridegroom. This custom follows ancient traditions, when the bride, being the property of her father, was passed over to the bridegroom for his safekeeping. Shoes tied to the back of the bridal car are also a symbol of her leaving home and her feet now being on her husband's hearth.

When it comes to placing the ring on the bride's finger, she holds her left hand forward, and the bridegrooms slips the ring on her third finger. A vein from this finger is said to run straight to the heart! And as the couple leave church, guests traditionally shower them with confetti, flower petals or rice. Throwing rice at weddings goes back to Roman times. As a quick growing crop, rice has always been associated with fertility. Romans also broke small cakes over the heads of the newly weds.

Chimney sweeps are sometimes seen mingling with the guests outside the church. They are associated with bringing good luck, as is giving the bride a cardboard cut-out of a black cat. Artificial horseshoes are yet another symbol of good luck. The Romans nailed horseshoes on the walls of their houses to counteract the evil eye of the Devil.

Before a bride leaves her wedding party she will often throw her bouquet to her bridesmaids, and the one who catches it hopes she will become the next bride. When the bride arrives at her new home it is customary for the bridegroom to carry her over the threshold into a new life. Later that day they have what is known as 'the first night'. Meaning the first night they have ever slept together.

Pat Lock is a cake decorating expert with over 25 years experience who runs the excellent Cake Decorating Tips website. She has won awards at the prestigious international competition at Hotel Olympia, London and is also an accomplished author.

Things to Think About When Creating a Father of the Bride Speech

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Wow, I have two daughters and even though I do not feel as though I have a huge problem with speaking in public, I definitely dread this speech. Not because I think I will feel as though I am losing one of my daughters or anything, I just think it will be an emotional time for me.

With that being said, I think others do as well. I could sit here and tell you what you should write, but then it would not be heart felt. So instead I will just give my thoughts to you on how I think I will be approaching this situation.

First off, everyone is going expect me to be emotional. I probably will be and for that reason, I think it is probably best to try and keep it short. Also, I tend to think that it is the responsibilities of the Best Man and Maid of Honor to deliver the childhood stories. Not it is simply inappropriate, but I am just making the point that it probably is not necessary.

With that said, I personally do feel that I will be approaching this with a sincere heart from the beginning. I don't believe that after other speeches have been given that will likely have humorous content that I would need to bring additional jokes to lighten up the mood.

Another thing to think about is that you should always put something nice about the groom in there as well. Everyone already knows that you hope that your daughter is treated well by him, so there is no need to be Mr. Tough Dad and try to put threats in your speech. I think saying a few nice kind words about him is always appropriate.

Just remember, there is nothing wrong with keep this speech short. In fact, it is probably expected by most of the people listening in on what you are saying.

Get your Father of the Bride Speech ready in no time! For more great tips on writing a wedding speech visit http://www.iDoWeddingToasts.com.

Choosing a Mother of the Bride Dress For 2009

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This year turning Mom into the Mother of the Bride comes with one important prerequisite. Talk to the bride. She'll appreciate you listening to her input for years to come. Don't be afraid of this exercise - there are plenty of color and style options to accommodate not only your look but her preferences as well this year. You might even be pleasantly surprised with what you discover and relieved to have a place to start. But don't start shopping yet. Next consider the key attributes of color, length, style and body, which when combined successfully will ensure you and your dress are a spectacular hit on the bride's big day.

Color

The two aspects of color that you want to reconcile are simply 1) the color theme of the wedding and 2) the colors that looks good on you. En vogue dress colors especially for Mother of the Brides this year (and especially for outdoor weddings) include "apricot, peach, lemon and golden olive hues" reports Hanna of Here Comes the Guide. If the wedding is taking place later in the year, get more vivid with amethyst, mahogany, or rose. If none of these colors will do, then take your queue from the bride, who may elect to step into 2009's trend for lots of bold, saturated colors like green, lavender or blue, but especially blue, with all of its brilliant peacock splendor including deep violet blue, clear bright blue, green blue, cobalt blue, turquoise, and palace blue. If the bride's theme is blue, but blue doesn't work on you, trying choosing from among the many delightful accent colors you will see in a wedding regardless of its color theme, like champagne, cream, bone, taupe, tan, silver, shimmering light gold, or beige

Selecting colors around a wedding's theme is only the first step. Ask also what colors look good on you. If you are unsure, it's best to keep two or three neutral colors in mind while you decide what looks best against your natural coloring. As you shop, hold clothing items of differing colors up to your face and judge for yourself. You can even go so far as to invest in a professional style guide, like the ones available at istylista. When you look back on wedding photos years from now, you will not regret the investment!

In all cases, stay away from white, ivory, and black. And interestingly, even though blue is "in" this year, one of its shades definitely is not - navy. Don't be caught wearing it! Just remember to pick a color that coordinates well with the wedding theme or its bridal attendants - you don't have to match exactly! - and one which looks great on you at the same time.

Length

The Mother of the Bride's dress length should be similar to the bridesmaids' dresses, within Mom's comfort zone. Tea length (a gown hemmed to end at the shin) becomes an acceptable compromise when bridesmaids' dresses measure LA knee length or shorter.

Style

Continuing the trend from last year, stores are stocking Mother of the Bride dresses in youthful styles. No more stodgy lines and drab tones. This is Mom's year for satisfying a little chicly red carpet fantasy of her own! Take your queue from designing leaders like Karen Miller, Scala, Ursula and Cachet. Also look to bride styles for inspiration, who will be more angelic this year in soft fabrics like chiffons and drapings. But don't go overboard. You'll be safe in simple, graceful lines with little frill and appropriate accessories which compliment, rather than compete with, the bride's wedding dress. A perennial favorite for Mom, especially petite moms, is the two piece skirt suit. These separates are popular because each piece can be ordered in different sizes for a more tailored fit.

Your Body

Be comfortable in your own skin, and in your dress. This means understanding your body shape, your natural colors, owning your age, and putting a dash of your personality into your ensemble. iStylista has an excellent blog article on this topic which you don't want to miss.

The author is F Kapri of Venus Shoe, a unique online store specializing in sexy and exotic designer shoes and boots, and Fifi's Lingerie [http://www.fifislingerie.com], a sexy leather lingerie store for sexy men and women.

Fun Things For Brides

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Being a bride is one of the most fun times in a young woman's life. Besides the best part (marrying the man your love!), there are so many other things that make this time a blast. Go ahead and indulge yourself with some of these fun things for brides.

When you start looking at bridal magazines and websites, you will probably notice things that you had no idea even existed. There are many products, often personalized, to help you get into the spirit of being a bride. It would be fun to treat yourself to a few of these little novelties that you can only have while you are a bride.

One popular idea is to get a t-shirt that has the word "Bride" emblazoned on it in crystals. Now this may sound a little silly to some, but you have to admit that it is kind of cute for a bachelorette night on the town. By the way, there are usually matching undies available - get them in blue to wear under your wedding gown for "something blue".

What many brides will do is to get the coordinating shirts for their attendants that say "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of Honor". It makes for fun gifts to give each bridesmaid. Something that has such limited use should not be your main bridesmaid gifts, but it could be part of a bigger gift, perhaps tucked into a monogrammed tote bag that they can use again.

Along this same theme are customized things that you can order with your future name on it. Imagine a bikini for your honeymoon with "Mrs. Smith" on the tush in crystals. Also popular are hoodies that say "The future Mrs. Smith" on the back. To get the groom into the act, you can also get shirts or hats that say "Just married" on them.

Don't forget about the children in your wedding. What little girl wouldn't love a pink t-shirt proclaiming her status as a "Flower girl"? For the little boys in your bridal party, you can find shirts declaring them to be "Official Keeper of the Ring".

A more subtle thing that a bride can get is personalized footwear. There are some shoe designers who will put your initials and wedding date in crystals on the sole of your high heeled bridal shoes. Other couples will get the flip flops that say "Just married" on the soles to leave an impression in the sand - perfect for that beach honeymoon.

Speaking of things that you can have customized, did you know that you can actually get postage with a picture on it? How great would it be to put your engagement photo on your invitations or save-the-date cards? You could even get one of your wedding pictures made into postage to use on your thank you notes. Now that would be sure to impress!

Being a bride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are so many fun little trinkets that you can pick up to make the whole thing even more fun. Don't worry about being silly - this is your chance to indulge in a few things that make you smile. Besides, you know that you secretly want those "Bride" undies!

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Bridesmaid gifts should be something that you know your attendants will enjoy for many years, such as jewelry.