Category — Bridal Trends

by Erin

Growing in popularity is a trend of which Weddingish is very fond. More and more brides are recruiting artists to sketch an illustration of possibly the most important, and most beautiful, dress or ensemble of their lives. Designers have used sketches to bring their creations to life, and the same can be done for brides seeking the ultimate in customized art.

Many artists, and aspiring artists alike, boast websites documenting their custom sketching services. However, before signing a contract, view your potential artist’s portfolio to ensure that his or her style fits your artistic vision. The creation will be a lasting piece of art, and you will want to enjoy admiring it, after all! Weddingish recommends Dreamlines, or seeking out artists on Etsy or Craigslist if you have a stricter budget. Know a friend who draws well? Recruit him or her to sketch; they will more than likely be delighted to play a special part in your big day.

A bridal gown sketch can be utilized in a variety of ways. Display the drawing in a gorgeous frame in your apartment or house, or make mini-sized copies to send in your “thank you” cards. If you’re not a bride, a sketch is a wonderful, and unexpected, wedding or bridal shower gift.

Custom gown sketch by Megan Hamilton.

Custom gown sketch by Dreamlines

Custom gown sketch by Soliloquy.

Here’s one for you brides to pass on to your hubby-to-be.
You may have noticed your bride-to-be bordering on obsession over finding that perfect wedding dress. Did she start looking before you were even engaged? Crazy, right?
Maybe…
Maybe not.
As a guy, you’re not programmed to understand the bridal gown phenomenon. I mean, it’s not like you’re spending six months trying to find that perfect tuxedo (well maybe you are, but that’s for a different blog).
That being said, one thing you are programmed to do is be involved and understand why certain wedding planning activities matter so much. Never is this more important than during the bridal gown selection process. It’s cliché to say, but your bride has been planning her wedding day since she was a girl.
Here are some important time-lines to get used to, guys. This should help you get the idea of the amount of time that goes into the dress alone.
9-12 months – Length of time before wedding day that the bride should start looking for a dress
6 months – Length of time before wedding day that the dress should be ordered
2-3 months – Amount of time that should be counted on for alterations
2-3 weeks – Average amount of time in the bridesmaid dress selection process
3-4 – Number of arguments you just avoided by becoming familiar with the wedding dress shopping process.

Expert groom blogger Chris Easter is co-founder of TheManRegistry.com – the leading online resource for grooms. The site offers a unique wedding registry for men, groomsmen gift ideas and a wealth of content aimed at helping men make it through the wedding planning process in one piece.

Let’s face it the traditional wedding guest books are simply a place for your guests to sign-in and that’s about all they do.  Wouldn’t you love a few more lines of  congratulations, advice or words of wisdom from your guests? Wedding guest books are getting a bit more creative, so if not for the words of wisdom from your guests, at least you get a memorable keepsake.

Have your guests sign in on some of these fun alternatives we found from Brides magazine:

1. River Rocks, to display in a glass bowl

2. An album, filled with photos shot during the reception

3. Quilt Squares, to be quilted together later as a keepsake blanket

4. A jeroboam (three-liter) champagne bottle, to be sipped on your first anniversary

5. A poster-sized photo of the reception location (mounted and set on an easel)

6. Cards, to be hung from tree branches

7. A meaningful object to the couple, (a guitar, a globe, a surfboard, etc.)

8. A long scroll of paper that’s been inserted into a typewriter

9. A video, guests won’t be able to sign it, but can leave verbal messages from the heart!

10. A platter, to later display or use at home

Tip: be sure to provide the appropriate writing tools for whatever option you choose!

Whatever style or option you choose, remember, a wedding guest book is only as good as the number of people who sign it. So remember put it somewhere eye-catching!

• Make sure to set your guest book, or alternative to, on a table near the reception-site entrance, this way everyone can see it and send their good wishes your way.
• Grab your guests’ attention by decorating the table with flowers, candles, photos, or whatever fits into your theme and budget.
• If possible, designate a person to carry the guest book from table to table afterward until you’ve gotten all of your guests’ wishes and thoughts!

source: Brides Magazine, March 2010

by Chris Easter

If you’re thinking of popping the question soon, you’ve probably already started to consider what kind of ring you’ll be giving her.  After all that’s been drilled into your head about diamonds being a girl’s best friend, is there any way you can possibly give her an engagement ring that doesn’t include a diamond. Surprisingly, that answer is yes.

We’ve partnered with our friends at Whiteflash.com to identify four of the most popular non-diamond engagement ring styles that grooms and brides are targeting in 2010. Here are some quick descriptions of tanzanite, sapphire, emerald and ruby straight from the experts at Whiteflash:

Tanzanite – a rare gem only found in the Merelani Hills which was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. This stone is a newcomer to the gemstone market and is referred to as the “Jewel of East Africa.” Tanzanite is typically brown with reddish, orange, yellow, or bronze hues and is a unique variety of the mineral zoisite.

Sapphire – is the ultimate blue gemstone that represents the soul and fidelity. Sapphire is an extremely durable gemstone that comes in a variety of colors, the most common being blue – a color associated with friendship and loyalty as well as harmony. It is known as “The Jewel of the Sky” and is the birthstone for September.

Emerald – an intense green gemstone, its magnificent green color speaks volumes as well as being May’s birthstone. It is known as the “symbol of spring.” In the ancient world this gem was believed to symbolize hope, arrival of spring and rebirth. Emeralds come in various varieties of light and dark shades of green and sometimes having background hues of different colors like yellow, blue, brown of gray. In its finest quality, an emerald is more valuable than a diamond.

Ruby – the birthstone for July is also known as the “King of Gems”. The ruby is considered the ultimate gemstone associated with love and passion and its sometimes referred to as the “blood” gemstone representing courage and bravery. It is rare to find in its top quality which displays all the characteristics of a precious stone: pure brilliance, lasting hardness and stunning color, which is noted as ruby’s most appealing feature.

Non-diamond engagement rings aren’t for every woman. We strongly recommend sitting down and spending some time talking with your fiancé-to-be about what ring styles she likes. She is, after all, going to be the one wearing the ring for the rest of her life.