<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200</id><updated>2011-12-14T21:32:09.230-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Wedding Gown Site</title><subtitle type='html'>The wedding gown - whether you wear a custom wedding gown, an informal wedding gown, a simple wedding gown or an elaborate designer wedding gown, it is important to wear a gown that suits your style. Check out this blog to find information and articles on all types of wedding gowns.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default?start-index=101&amp;max-results=100'/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>678</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113495294140113370</id><published>2005-12-18T19:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-19T09:50:17.850-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Verdana;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;About the Author&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;a href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target="_new"&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/a&gt; which includes &lt;a href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target="_new"&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target="_new"&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/a&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:+0;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html"&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html"&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html"&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html"&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113495294140113370?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113495294140113370/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113495294140113370' title='18 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113495294140113370'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113495294140113370'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/12/brides-have-always-worn-white-right.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>18</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113327602711951341</id><published>2005-11-29T09:51:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-29T09:53:48.136-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Weddings</title><content type='html'>To go along with the gown here is an article I found on wedding music that I thought you might find helpful when planning your wedding.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding Music: Before, During, and AfterBy &lt;a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Elsie_Gilbert"&gt;Elsie Gilbert&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Whenever you think of wedding music, you automatically think of the wedding march and other traditional types of wedding music accompaniments. Whilst a large majority of people still opt for the traditional wedding music ideas, there is a new breed of weddings that is enjoying the power of music.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Traditional Wedding Music for the Ceremony&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding music is an absolute essential part of a wedding ceremony. Traditionally, music is played before the bride arrives and whilst the bride walks down the aisle. This music depends largely on the type of ceremony; with a traditional church based ceremony, the music is likely to be from an organ or keyboard.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With a more modern style ceremony, brides often favor popular music that holds some special memories for the wedding couple. Popular music also allows guests to have something to listen to (or even sing along with) whilst they are waiting for the actual ceremony.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding Music – Enhancing Your Day&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding music should be an enhancement of your day and not simply something that has to be in the background. Consider your theme and try to select wedding music that will go along with this theme.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Go for shock tactics. Wedding music can really help you to make certain parts of your day stand out. Use light background music for the calmer times, with louder more jazzy wedding music for the times that you want to grab your guests’ attention.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding Music – Ideas Out of the Ordinary&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The latest trend in wedding music is to have live performances. Bands playing in a wedding reception are not really a novel idea, however live music during the ceremony and during the meal is both new and innovative. If you select live wedding music, then it is worth opting for something such as a harpist so that the volume is not distractingly loud.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During the wedding reception, it is quite normal to see a traditional disco, but many brides are now keen to avoid the standard disco offerings and look for new and different ideas for entertaining their wedding guests. Why not have a disco that moves through the years of the couple’s relationship, from the song that was playing when they first met to the song that was playing the night before the wedding, this is a great way of maintaining interest in the wedding music, throughout the evening.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding music can also be participatory, such as line dancing or karaoke. However, make sure that your guests will appreciate your efforts, there is nothing worse than a karaoke with no-one taking part!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wedding music is a real opportunity to stamp your own mark on your wedding day, so pay careful attention to this important part of your big day!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Elsie Gilbert offers great insights to all different types of wedding ceremonies, wedding styles, wedding accessories. She makes it easy for the bride and groom to review and choose. For more details on all types of wedding ideas visit this site now &lt;a href="http://www.weddingfinery.com" target="_new"&gt;http://www.weddingfinery.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Article Source: &lt;a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elsie_Gilbert"&gt;http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elsie_Gilbert&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hope you enjoyed this article.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113327602711951341?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113327602711951341/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113327602711951341' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113327602711951341'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113327602711951341'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/weddings.html' title='Weddings'/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113201879362785012</id><published>2005-11-14T20:39:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-14T20:39:53.650-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113201879362785012?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113201879362785012/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113201879362785012' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113201879362785012'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113201879362785012'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_14.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113158653242180809</id><published>2005-11-09T20:35:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-09T20:35:34.036-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113158653242180809?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113158653242180809/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113158653242180809' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113158653242180809'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113158653242180809'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_09.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113123369293740966</id><published>2005-11-05T18:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-05T18:34:53.040-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113123369293740966?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113123369293740966/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113123369293740966' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113123369293740966'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113123369293740966'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_05.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113114715375896354</id><published>2005-11-04T18:32:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-04T18:32:33.830-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113114715375896354?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113114715375896354/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113114715375896354' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113114715375896354'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113114715375896354'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113097204838711896</id><published>2005-11-02T17:54:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-02T17:54:08.543-05:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113097204838711896?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113097204838711896/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113097204838711896' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113097204838711896'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113097204838711896'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/11/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113053528013453489</id><published>2005-10-28T17:34:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-28T17:34:40.236-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113053528013453489?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113053528013453489/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113053528013453489' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113053528013453489'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113053528013453489'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_28.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113044887267627916</id><published>2005-10-27T17:34:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-27T17:34:32.786-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113044887267627916?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113044887267627916/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113044887267627916' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113044887267627916'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113044887267627916'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_27.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113018567871579510</id><published>2005-10-24T16:27:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-24T16:27:58.780-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113018567871579510?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113018567871579510/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113018567871579510' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113018567871579510'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113018567871579510'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_24.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-113009734821966073</id><published>2005-10-23T15:55:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-23T15:55:48.300-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-113009734821966073?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/113009734821966073/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=113009734821966073' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113009734821966073'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/113009734821966073'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_23.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112992367517411456</id><published>2005-10-21T15:41:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-21T15:41:15.470-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112992367517411456?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112992367517411456/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112992367517411456' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112992367517411456'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112992367517411456'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_21.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112983726217951562</id><published>2005-10-20T15:41:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-20T15:41:02.290-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112983726217951562?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112983726217951562/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112983726217951562' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112983726217951562'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112983726217951562'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_20.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112974987905263270</id><published>2005-10-19T15:24:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-19T15:24:39.106-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112974987905263270?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112974987905263270/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112974987905263270' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112974987905263270'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112974987905263270'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_19.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112966338037757283</id><published>2005-10-18T15:23:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T15:23:00.460-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112966338037757283?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112966338037757283/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112966338037757283' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112966338037757283'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112966338037757283'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_18.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112956406374518063</id><published>2005-10-17T11:47:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-17T11:47:46.586-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112956406374518063?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112956406374518063/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112956406374518063' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112956406374518063'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112956406374518063'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_17.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112947384140487183</id><published>2005-10-16T10:44:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-16T10:44:01.493-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112947384140487183?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112947384140487183/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112947384140487183' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112947384140487183'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112947384140487183'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_16.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112938628538848101</id><published>2005-10-15T10:24:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-15T10:24:45.606-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112938628538848101?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112938628538848101/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112938628538848101' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112938628538848101'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112938628538848101'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_15.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112929987508706084</id><published>2005-10-14T10:24:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-14T10:24:35.156-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112929987508706084?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112929987508706084/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112929987508706084' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112929987508706084'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112929987508706084'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_14.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112912639690871681</id><published>2005-10-12T10:13:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T10:13:17.053-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112912639690871681?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112912639690871681/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112912639690871681' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112912639690871681'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112912639690871681'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_12.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112903701908023095</id><published>2005-10-11T09:23:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-11T09:23:39.140-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112903701908023095?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112903701908023095/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112903701908023095' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112903701908023095'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112903701908023095'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_11.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112895043412258659</id><published>2005-10-10T09:20:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-10T09:20:34.220-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112895043412258659?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112895043412258659/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112895043412258659' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112895043412258659'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112895043412258659'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_10.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112886399063041772</id><published>2005-10-09T09:19:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-09T09:19:50.713-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112886399063041772?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112886399063041772/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112886399063041772' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112886399063041772'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112886399063041772'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_09.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112877738704207394</id><published>2005-10-08T09:16:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-08T09:17:02.500-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112877738704207394?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112877738704207394/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112877738704207394' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112877738704207394'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112877738704207394'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_08.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112866651600175719</id><published>2005-10-07T02:28:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-07T02:28:36.086-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112866651600175719?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112866651600175719/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112866651600175719' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112866651600175719'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112866651600175719'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_07.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112864487103369186</id><published>2005-10-06T20:27:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-06T20:27:51.146-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112864487103369186?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112864487103369186/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112864487103369186' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112864487103369186'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112864487103369186'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_06.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112862305862707729</id><published>2005-10-06T14:24:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-06T14:24:18.783-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112862305862707729?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112862305862707729/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112862305862707729' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112862305862707729'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112862305862707729'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_06.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112857541747182333</id><published>2005-10-06T01:10:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-06T01:10:17.570-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112857541747182333?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112857541747182333/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112857541747182333' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112857541747182333'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112857541747182333'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_06.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112852627447700881</id><published>2005-10-05T11:31:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-05T11:31:14.560-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112852627447700881?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112852627447700881/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112852627447700881' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112852627447700881'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112852627447700881'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112843973702095796</id><published>2005-10-04T11:28:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-04T11:28:57.106-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112843973702095796?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112843973702095796/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112843973702095796' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112843973702095796'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112843973702095796'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_04.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112835324007867701</id><published>2005-10-03T11:27:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-03T11:27:20.163-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112835324007867701?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112835324007867701/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112835324007867701' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112835324007867701'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112835324007867701'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112826676699984208</id><published>2005-10-02T11:26:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-02T11:26:07.113-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112826676699984208?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112826676699984208/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112826676699984208' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112826676699984208'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112826676699984208'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112818026261487001</id><published>2005-10-01T11:24:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-10-01T11:24:22.823-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112818026261487001?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112818026261487001/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112818026261487001' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112818026261487001'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112818026261487001'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/10/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112806567857364181</id><published>2005-09-30T03:34:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-30T03:34:38.666-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112806567857364181?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112806567857364181/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112806567857364181' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112806567857364181'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112806567857364181'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_30.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112792457509645721</id><published>2005-09-28T12:20:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-28T12:22:55.113-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Weddings</title><content type='html'>I am looking to set up a new webiste geared toward all of your wedding needs.  As I wade through this process I will keep you updated.  It is going to be fun I hope.  It will contain links to sites, articles, product ordering, etc.  So stay tuned to this blog for further info.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112792457509645721?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112792457509645721/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112792457509645721' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112792457509645721'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112792457509645721'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/weddings.html' title='Weddings'/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112788723849486511</id><published>2005-09-28T02:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-28T02:00:38.560-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112788723849486511?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112788723849486511/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112788723849486511' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112788723849486511'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112788723849486511'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_28.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112777556825184081</id><published>2005-09-26T18:59:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-26T18:59:28.370-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112777556825184081?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112777556825184081/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112777556825184081' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112777556825184081'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112777556825184081'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_26.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112757589184215264</id><published>2005-09-24T11:31:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-24T11:31:45.673-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112757589184215264?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112757589184215264/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112757589184215264' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112757589184215264'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112757589184215264'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_24.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112748131881504328</id><published>2005-09-23T09:15:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-23T09:15:18.910-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112748131881504328?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112748131881504328/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112748131881504328' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112748131881504328'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112748131881504328'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_23.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112739272977788593</id><published>2005-09-22T08:38:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-22T08:39:07.233-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112739272977788593?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112739272977788593/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112739272977788593' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112739272977788593'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112739272977788593'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_22.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112728713120886544</id><published>2005-09-21T03:18:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-21T03:18:51.313-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112728713120886544?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112728713120886544/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112728713120886544' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112728713120886544'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112728713120886544'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_21.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112725290824372118</id><published>2005-09-20T17:46:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-20T17:48:28.256-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Wedding Gowns</title><content type='html'>I hope our articles are helping you choose a wedding gown.  Or just have fun reading about the different styles, history etc.  We are searching for more updated material for this blog.  If you would like to comment or supply an article go for it.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112725290824372118?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112725290824372118/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112725290824372118' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112725290824372118'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112725290824372118'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-gowns_20.html' title='Wedding Gowns'/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112719234772398841</id><published>2005-09-20T00:59:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-20T00:59:07.793-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112719234772398841?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112719234772398841/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112719234772398841' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112719234772398841'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112719234772398841'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_20.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112713235374197424</id><published>2005-09-19T08:19:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-19T08:19:13.863-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112713235374197424?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112713235374197424/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112713235374197424' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112713235374197424'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112713235374197424'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_19.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112702592569990503</id><published>2005-09-18T02:45:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-18T02:45:25.763-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112702592569990503?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112702592569990503/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112702592569990503' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112702592569990503'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112702592569990503'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_18.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112689738246520311</id><published>2005-09-16T15:03:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-16T15:03:02.500-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112689738246520311?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112689738246520311/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112689738246520311' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112689738246520311'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112689738246520311'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_16.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112681097275501729</id><published>2005-09-15T15:02:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-15T15:02:52.800-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112681097275501729?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112681097275501729/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112681097275501729' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112681097275501729'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112681097275501729'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_15.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112672141519514031</id><published>2005-09-14T14:10:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-14T14:10:15.250-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112672141519514031?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112672141519514031/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112672141519514031' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112672141519514031'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112672141519514031'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_14.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112664196240060166</id><published>2005-09-13T16:04:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-13T16:06:02.410-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Wedding Gowns</title><content type='html'>Hello today,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How is your wedding gown search going?  If you plan on commenting on my blog please let us know what the theme of your wedding is and if our articles are assisting you.  We try to post an article per day and keep in touch with people planning their weddings.  So go ahead and comment and have some fun!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112664196240060166?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112664196240060166/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112664196240060166' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112664196240060166'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112664196240060166'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-gowns.html' title='Wedding Gowns'/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112663362517034629</id><published>2005-09-13T13:47:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-13T13:47:05.320-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112663362517034629?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112663362517034629/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112663362517034629' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112663362517034629'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112663362517034629'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_13.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112654503380988116</id><published>2005-09-12T13:10:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-12T13:10:33.873-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112654503380988116?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112654503380988116/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112654503380988116' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112654503380988116'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112654503380988116'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_12.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112645842905725127</id><published>2005-09-11T13:07:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-11T13:07:09.106-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112645842905725127?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112645842905725127/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112645842905725127' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112645842905725127'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112645842905725127'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_11.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112636660937603334</id><published>2005-09-10T11:36:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-10T11:36:49.480-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112636660937603334?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112636660937603334/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112636660937603334' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112636660937603334'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112636660937603334'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_10.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112626053026459847</id><published>2005-09-09T06:08:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-09T06:08:50.366-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112626053026459847?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112626053026459847/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112626053026459847' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112626053026459847'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112626053026459847'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_09.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112615483427510602</id><published>2005-09-08T00:47:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-08T00:47:14.350-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112615483427510602?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112615483427510602/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112615483427510602' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112615483427510602'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112615483427510602'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112606054289152514</id><published>2005-09-06T22:35:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-06T22:35:42.966-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112606054289152514?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112606054289152514/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112606054289152514' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112606054289152514'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112606054289152514'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_06.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112597199617385452</id><published>2005-09-05T21:59:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-05T21:59:56.276-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112597199617385452?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112597199617385452/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112597199617385452' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112597199617385452'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112597199617385452'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_05.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112587303328742304</id><published>2005-09-04T18:30:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-04T18:30:33.933-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112587303328742304?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112587303328742304/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112587303328742304' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112587303328742304'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112587303328742304'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112578491119784437</id><published>2005-09-03T18:01:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-03T18:01:51.270-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112578491119784437?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112578491119784437/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112578491119784437' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112578491119784437'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112578491119784437'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_03.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112569591728861027</id><published>2005-09-02T17:18:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-02T17:18:37.423-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112569591728861027?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112569591728861027/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112569591728861027' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112569591728861027'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112569591728861027'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112560439806332592</id><published>2005-09-01T15:53:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-09-01T15:53:18.123-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112560439806332592?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112560439806332592/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112560439806332592' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112560439806332592'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112560439806332592'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/09/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112551685455455668</id><published>2005-08-31T15:34:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-31T15:34:14.666-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112551685455455668?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112551685455455668/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112551685455455668' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112551685455455668'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112551685455455668'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_31.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112542912073683313</id><published>2005-08-30T15:12:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-30T15:12:00.780-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112542912073683313?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112542912073683313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112542912073683313' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112542912073683313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112542912073683313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_30.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112534123268704873</id><published>2005-08-29T14:47:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-29T14:47:12.706-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue9.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue10.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue11.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue12.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112534123268704873?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112534123268704873/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112534123268704873' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112534123268704873'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112534123268704873'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/there-are-so-many-styles-o_112534123268704873.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112534121624253367</id><published>2005-08-29T14:46:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-29T14:47:01.006-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic simplistic designs and clean lines, less is sometimes more when trying to look amazing.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The simple gown should be designed to draw attention from the dress itself and allow the beauty of the bride to shine through. The simple dress should not differ from the beauty of the bride and take center stage itself, remember the bride should wear the dress not the other way around.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Classic designs include some wonderful gowns from Vera Wang, Sharon Hoey and other popular designers. The simple white silk backless gown always look stunning as worn by Jennifer Aniston on her wedding day. More structured lines with no straps falling to the ground brings to mind wonderful visions of Grace Kelly and that old Hollywood glamour. This type of gown can also be subtly influenced by other styles and eras keeping in tune with the bride�s personal taste. The key here is to keep it subtle and you will ooze class and style on the big day.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.no1-in-wedding-dresses.com/designer-wedding-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Designer wedding gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your wedding interests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue1.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue2.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue5.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue6.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112534121624253367?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112534121624253367/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112534121624253367' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112534121624253367'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112534121624253367'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/there-are-so-many-styles-of-wedding_29.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112525338552532269</id><published>2005-08-28T14:23:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-28T14:23:05.580-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112525338552532269?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112525338552532269/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112525338552532269' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112525338552532269'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112525338552532269'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_28.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112516595799501284</id><published>2005-08-27T14:05:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-27T14:05:58.050-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides didn�t become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses never did signify purity until the Christian churches put that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to your wedding outfit.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;When grooms would �capture� their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman�s head to keep her from being recognized.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Bridesmaids� dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to �make the rounds� greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father�s property until she married, and their she was her husband�s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally �give her away,� transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask �Who supports this couple in marriage?� The parents answer �We do.�&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the Middle Ages the length of a bride�s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to �sweeten the union.� According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression �Tying then knot�.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of �jumping the broom�. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple�s intention to set up a home together.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn�t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. �Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.� The actual rhyme also included this line �and a sixpence in your shoe�. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother�s antique cameo, or your mom�s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The �new� symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law�s ruby brooch, your dad�s silk handkerchief, or your parents� wedding song.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you�ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;FONT face=Verdana&gt;&lt;B&gt;About the Author&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/B&gt;Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/" target=_new&gt;Wedding Dresses&lt;/A&gt; which includes &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/informal-wedding-dress.html" target=_new&gt;Informal Wedding Dress&lt;/A&gt;, &lt;A href="http://www.1st-wedding-dresses.com/discount-bridal-gowns.html" target=_new&gt;Discount Bridal Gowns&lt;/A&gt;, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112516595799501284?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112516595799501284/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112516595799501284' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112516595799501284'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112516595799501284'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/some-western-cultures-believe-rain-is_27.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112507556482802810</id><published>2005-08-26T12:59:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-26T12:59:24.866-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you. Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be. By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps. Here are some general guidelines: In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves. In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired. In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit. What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme! As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style. For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette , which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings , in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses. How can you purchase wedding dresses online? The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives. After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs! Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut. When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor. Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses. Keywords: wedding dresses,wedding gowns,discount wedding dresses,bridal gowns,weddings About the Author Stacey Martin, stacey@marriedbliss.com http://marriedbliss.com Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings. Married Bliss -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112507556482802810?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112507556482802810/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112507556482802810' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112507556482802810'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112507556482802810'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_26.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112498825489937293</id><published>2005-08-25T12:44:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-25T12:44:14.940-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;BR&gt;There�s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 � $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don�t worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn�t mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else�s. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here are a few suggestions with tips on how to save on some of the more expensive aspects of a wedding.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Wedding Gowns&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Do you really need a hand-made wedding dress with beads and diamantes? This is where the big cost is and there are several options in cutting the cost. Why not opt for a second-hand wedding dress? It�s probably only been worn once anyway and you can get a once expensive dress for half the price. Consider buying an evening gown/cocktail dress from a department store or look into renting your wedding dress for the day.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Reception&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;This is where the cost of a wedding can get out of hand. The wedding reception is normally the biggest expense, but one of the easiest to cut down on costs. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a wedding, this is a lot. Try and keep your guest list to a minimum, do you really need to invite family members who you have never seen for years? Instead of a three-course meal why not opt for a hot and cold buffet (even cater for yourself)? Instead of holding the reception in an expensive hotel suite or wedding reception, why not consider having it at someone�s home or a club, or even book a restaurant. Keep an open bar to a minimal and only serve beer, wine and soft drinks.&lt;BR&gt;Photography&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The obvious choice is to shop around for the best rates, but consider hiring a photographer for the ceremony only and ask a family member or friend to take snap photos of the reception. Or you could go one step further and ask them to take the photographs for the whole day and not bother with the expense of a photographer at all. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Invitations / Stationery&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;If you�re on a budget and looking for cheaper wedding stationery items, then you might like to consider print-at-home http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html. There are many online stationer�s that will offer this service free of charge. You pay for the paper and envelopes, then use their software to print directly from your own PC. With sophisticated customization tools you'll be able to enter your own text and preview it before you print so as not to make any costly mistakes. Alternatively, you can buy software and do-it-yourself from your PC. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Miscellaneous&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Flowers can be another great expense, but also an unnecessary one. Why not buy wholesale flowers, or pick flowers from your garden (or a friends or relatives). Buy plain gold or white gold wedding bands as these are the cheapest. Get a friend to make your wedding cake for you and opt for a smaller tier cake and it doesn�t have to be a fruit cake � try a sponge, chocolate or carrot cake! Make your favors and center-peices yourself. Accessories for these can be found at little outlet stores or online. Lastly, instead of a limousine why not rent a car or borrow a luxury car from a friend or relative?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Summary&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Weddings are expensive if you want them to be. But if you want to keep money aside for a deposit on a house or a honeymoon to remember, then there are many cost cutting ideas. All you need is a little imagination, and some help from friends and family and you too can have a luxury wedding with all the trimmings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Claire Bowes is a freelance write and owner of &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/"&gt;1st For Greeting Cards&lt;/A&gt; where you will find further tips and advice on sending &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/invitation-cards.html"&gt;invitation cards&lt;/A&gt; and choosing your &lt;A href="http://www.1st-for-greeting-cards.com/personalized-stationery.html"&gt;personalized stationery&lt;/A&gt; items. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue18.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue19.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue20.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112498825489937293?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112498825489937293/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112498825489937293' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112498825489937293'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112498825489937293'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/theres-no-doubt-about-it-weddings-can_25.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112490137631369604</id><published>2005-08-24T12:36:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-24T12:36:16.576-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>Wedding dresses are literally the icing on the cake on every bride's wedding day. You can find perfect wedding gowns online, or simply brainstorm which style of wedding dresses to start looking for as you narrow down your search. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;First you need to determine which types of wedding dresses are right for you.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Your wedding dress should tell the world exactly who you are. After all, this is YOUR day, and your wedding gown is the key way that you share yourself with your wedding guests � and, of course, your husband-to-be.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;By now, you've likely given some thought as to what kind of wedding you would like to have: traditional, informal or a theme wedding, perhaps.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Here are some general guidelines:&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses and a veil, perhaps a train and, of course, gloves.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In semi-formal weddings, brides generally wear long white/cream-colored wedding dresses, a veil and gloves if desired.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;In informal weddings, brides have more flexibility. They can wear wedding gowns of any color � short or long � or even a suit.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;What about theme weddings? Here you should decide first on the theme and then on the formality of the wedding you've always wanted to have. Only then is it time to shop for wedding dresses and wedding accessories to determine which ones match your theme!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;As you can see, the most important aspect to consider when selecting wedding dresses is your own sense of style.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;For specifics on what's appropriate to wear for each type of wedding, I recommend Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, which devotes an entire chapter to wedding dresses and other fashion dos and don'ts, or Vera Wang on Weddings, in which Wang shares her vast fashion expertise with you as you plan your wedding. Both can be purchased from any major online bookstore and have great tips on buying wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How can you purchase wedding dresses online?&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The Internet can be a tremendous help when you're looking for wedding gowns and have a tight wedding budget. And let's face it � most of us do have to keep the bottom line in mind when we plan the most important day of our romantic lives.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;After you have given some thought to the type of wedding you want to have, I recommend that you: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;a. Look through bridal magazines and check out your options by flipping through the pages to see which wedding dresses are available in your area.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;b. Go to local bridal stores and try on wedding gowns.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;c. Look online to see what other wedding dresses are available to you. In case you're uncertain about buying wedding gowns from an online vendor, bear in mind that there really are online bridal shops that deliver the same level of service as regular stores.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;d. Compare the in-store price to the Internet dress stores to find out which is the better deal. Many online stores offer you discount wedding dresses because of their vastly reduced overhead costs!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;e. Narrow down your search to a handful of wedding dresses that make your final cut.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;When you've gone through all these steps, you're certain to have accessed all the wedding dresses available to you -- and you will very likely save your hard-earned money if you end up finding discount wedding dresses available only from an Internet vendor.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Good luck with your search! Though it might seem daunting at first, if you follow these tips, you'll be well on your way to finding a beautiful range of perfectly elegant wedding dresses.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;H1&gt;About the Author&lt;/H1&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Stacey Martin is the publisher of MarriedBliss.com, where you will find objective reviews of online wedding vendors, tips on wedding planning, advice on where to buy wedding dresses online and much more helpful content for brides-to-be and couples planning their weddings.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;http://MarriedBliss.com -- Plan your wedding with the help of the Web!&lt;/P&gt;&lt;FONT size=+0&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue13.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue14.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue15.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href=http://www.weddinggownsite.com/issue16.html&gt;wedding gown site - wedding gowns articles&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10795200-112490137631369604?l=weddinggownsite.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/feeds/112490137631369604/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=10795200&amp;postID=112490137631369604' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112490137631369604'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/10795200/posts/default/112490137631369604'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://weddinggownsite.blogspot.com/2005/08/wedding-dresses-are-literally-icing-on_24.html' title=''/><author><name>blogwriter</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10795200.post-112481402456202586</id><published>2005-08-23T12:20:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2005-08-23T12:20:24.606-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;There are so many styles of wedding gown to choose from, which makes it difficult when deciding which type of gown is for you. What type of bride are you? Vintage couture, Romantic plush, or Simple elegance, what ever you fall under there is a gown out there to suit your style.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Vintage Gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Vintage gowns come in many styles from the medieval princess look, The Charleston swing era, or the Bohemian gypsy girl gown. The medieval dress is very popular usually designed around the Old English look in mind with wide bottomed sleeves and a high-banded waist, think Maid Merion and Princess Gwenevere. There are some very traditional gowns to choose from with the rich golden earthy colors with embroidered Basques and detailed designs. You can also take this style back to the 21st century with clean crisp simple white gown with a high waist and beautiful chiffon wide bottom sleeves.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Another fashionable era that is being transmitted into the modern wedding gown is the sexy Charleston era of the roaring 20s. These styles are very flattering to the bride with the slighter physique. The Design is looser at the waist and tighter around the hips showing plenty of skin around the chest, back and arms. The Hemline is typically Asymmetric with floating fabrics creating an illusion of long and short. Another beautiful option for the more daring bride would be a cloche hat, with the hair pulled back from the face the hat is tight around the head, embroidered beads around the face and forehead equentuates the eyes, a very pretty alternative to the traditional veil very Coco Chanel.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;For those brides that are thinking more along the lines of Boho, laid back beauty the gypsy girl styles would be very alluring. Romany Romance pretty, flirty, and feminine, these wedding gowns ooze free spirit and gypsy chic. Think floating skirts with chiffon and lace. A more simplistic slightly beaded gown with chiffon wrapped around the head bandana style with long a floating tail would be a chic alternative to a veil. This style is for the more adventurous bride with confidence and style to carry off the look.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;Romantic or fairytale gowns&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;These are the wedding gowns you dream of as a little girl. Valintino comes to mind when picturing a fairytale gown, full of romance and glamour. If you want to be a fairytale bride you will have a wonderful selection to choose from, no bridal store would be without a romantic, plush bridal gown.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Plenty of lace corsets and big tulle skirts are a staple of this type of gown with luxurious fabric and lots of it. Its not a big mystery as to why these gowns are popular among today�s brides as they are flattering to every figure, the large floating skirt will hide a multitude of sins, and the more structured bodice will give a flattering silhouette to the upper body.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;A major staple of today�s design is the large flower. It�s being used more and more in magazines and on the catwalk. Large flamboyant skirts made from lots of luxurious fabric being held in various positions by a large romantic rose. This is a very beautiful design and is being copied to many designer collections. The Demetrios collection has this style in many of its designs.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tight structured corsets and Bodices appear as a major factor in these designs. Lace covered bodices look well with the simpler skirt, the more elaborate skirts go well with plainer fabric corsets.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras and long trailing veils are a favorite of the fairytale bride. Very traditional and the symbol of the wedding day the veil comes in 1,2 and 3 tiers, depending if you want to wear the veil over the face or trailing along the back of the head. Some gowns are exquisite enough on their own you could get away with wearing no veil at all.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;Tiaras come in many styles pearl and diamond encrusted, large intricate designs and smaller simpler head bands the choice is yours.&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;B&gt;The Simple Elegant bride&lt;/B&gt;&lt;/P&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;P&gt;The less fussy, simple and elegant style of gown would draw inspiration from dresses worn by Jackie O and brings to mind the style and class of Audrey Hepburn. With classic si
