Bliss Collection

Last year, I wrote about the coming out of affordable Monique Lhuillier wedding gowns tagged BLISS collection.  As promised, Monique presented 14 magnificent gowns, ranging from $2,400 to $3, 500, for 2010 and another 14 designs for 2011.  The cost is probably still “too expensive” for some brides, but the Bliss gowns are priced nearly half of her couture gowns.

Less pricey, however, does not mean “unexciting”.  There is nothing mediocre about the Bliss collection. The gowns are still made with the finest laces, silk satins and organza with delicate embellishments that are definitely Monique’s stylish signature.

Presented here are my three favorite 2011 Bliss wedding gowns.  For more bridal gown selection, visit Monique Lhuillier’s website.

Style BL1105

Fav 1: Style No. BL1105.  Made with ivory reembroidered lace, this strapless wedding gown has embellished bodice with natural waist cummerbund and layered silk satin organza skirt.

Style BL1106

Fav 2:  Style No. BL1106.  Sleeveless wedding gown made with ivory taffeta with V-neck and asymmetrically draped sheath adorned with rose cabbage below the hip line.

Style 1110

Fav 3:  Style No. BL1110.  Made with silk white tulle, this strapless wedding gown has a sweetheart neck and the princess line bodice is embellished at the top matched with tufted skirt.

Photo Credits.

Jenny's Illustration Board

My niece, Jennifer Nalus, is getting married in January, 2010.  I was so excited when she asked me to help her plan her wedding.  The wedding is in the Philippines and I am in California, so that is a bit of a challenge.  All my wedding vendors are in the US and I am not familiar with wedding vendors in the Philippines.  However, with my talented sister-in-law and my other nieces helping their sister, everything is working fine.  Jenny’s wedding planning is coming together.

Black and White Wedding Colors

Jenny chose black and white as her wedding colors.  She and her bridesmaids will be wearing white.  The bridesmaids will have black lining on the dresses while the MOH will wear black of the same design with white lining.  The groom will wear a black barong tagalog.  Barong tagalog is a native formal wear. The flower girl will be carrying a black and white basket filled with white petals while the ring bearer will be carrying a black and white ring pillow.

The reception will be held at the elegant Shangri-La Hotel with 200 guests.  The tables and chairs will be covered with black linen accented with white dinner plates and white napkins.  A white pillar candle embellished with white butterfly, white silk flowers and pearls will be the main centerpiece.  White rose petals and silver-wrapped chocolate kisses will be scattered around the centerpiece to give a colorful contrast to the black table top.  The pillar candles will also be surrounded by cute bride and groom votive candles.

Wedding Gown, Bouquets and Cake

Jenny chose a local designer, Olan Roque, to design her bridal gown; and did I say it looks fabulous!  The wedding gown is made with Mikado silk and chiffon with cut beads and stones hand sewn into the halter neckline.  As for the wedding bouquet, the bride will be carrying red roses, her favorite flower, dotted with stephanotis.  The bridesmaids and MOH will be carrying white calla lilies wrapped in black and white satin handle.

The white wedding cake will be decorated with cascading red roses and black ribbons.  Replica dolls of the bride and groom will be added to the base cake tier.  I was told that the cake is designed and will be made by one of Jenny’s friends.  It looks splendid!

Reception Menu

Since Jenny is marrying a chef, isn’t any wonder that the menu is so mouth-watering?  It makes me hungry just reading about it!  Here is the menu:

Salads and Appetizers

• Selection of garden greens with various dressings
• Potato Salad with croutons, bacons and spring onion
• Coleslaw

Soup

• Pumpkin or Mushroom soup

Main Courses

• Lasagna
• Chicken with homemade barbeque sauce
• Sesame breaded snapper with pickled Mayo
• Kingdao Spareribs
• Lechon

Desserts

• Assorted cakes and pastries
• Fresh fruit platters

More details  of the wedding planning  later …

Most people view “prenuptial agreements” or “pre-nups” as distasteful or as a sign of distrust between a couple planning to get married. There’s always the connotation that this piece of paper is insurance when the couple’s “happily ever after” take a turn into a battle in the divorce court; and that it is for the truly wealthy and celebrities only.

Will you put car, home, health and life insurance in the same light? I don’t think so. Prenuptial agreements are similar to these insurances – no one anticipates an accident, fire, major sickness, death or divorce. We certainly do not want to talk about it, but it can happen and sometimes it does happen to us when we least expected; and it is best to be prepared.

Pre-nups is a protection, just like car or life insurance. It may not protect you from every conceivable problem, but if properly drafted, it will certainly limit them. Pre-nups are not prelude to divorces. Any pre-nup which promotes divorce is unenforceable. Yes, a pre-nup is a legal document, just like your marriage certificate. Although you do not need a legal counsel for your marriage certificate, it is best to consult a competent counsel for your prenups.

Before you run to your legal counsel, let me summarize what is the point of prenups. Then you decide if you need it:

• Protection of property. This includes waiving community property rights (for those states that have them), such as real estates, businesses, retirement plans and intellectual properties.
• Providing for (or not) spousal support.
• Preservation of separate property and debt. This ensures that what is yours is yours and that you will not inherit your spouse’s debt in the event that he/she forfeits payment.

Do you get the feeling that pre-nups is about money or assets and debt or liabilities? If so, you are right. What makes pre-nups difficult to talk about before the marriage is that most couples do not want to discuss it. But, guess what the most common topic that couples fight about? You are right – money. It is best to be frank and open about both your finances up front. Then there will be fewer things to worry about later.

There are a lot of things that cannot go into pre-nups. Even if they are stated in the pre-nup, they are not enforceable. These are the following:

• Limitations on child support
• Custody
• Religion
• Promotion of divorce
• Damages for cheating

To get to know more about prenuptial agreement, I recommend Arlene Dubin’s book Prenups for Lovers: A Romantic Guide to Prenuptial Agreements.

In the words of the author, a pre-nup is “… a private agreement between a couple contemplating marriage.  The couple arranges, in advance, financial matters in the event of death …”.  Prenuptial agreements are no longer exclusively for the rich and famous.  They are increasing becoming commonplace for those not so rich and famous, too.

We all know that brides-to-be have a lot to prepare for their wedding – from their veils down to their shoes; not to mention all the wedding accessories like wedding rings, flowers, reception menu and all the little details that will make their wedding stand out from the rest. One of those details is getting a manicure or acrylic nails that will shine as they hold their bridal bouquet, be on center stage during the traditional ring ceremony, the wedding toast and the wedding cake cutting ceremony.

Have you thought about what type of design will you chose for your wedding?  Will it be something “simple” that you will feel comfortable wearing or will you choose “adventurous” designs that most brides wouldn’t dream of wearing?  Or, will you choose designs that are “middle of the road”?
To start your “search for the perfect wedding nails”, here are a sampling of  bridal designs created by seven nail artists based on the most popular themes – beach, country, fantasy and garden.

View more wedding nail designs at Nail Magazine. Pick one or two of the designs and take the to your nail artist.  Per change, the designs could inspire her to create one especially for you.  How “out of the ordinary” is that?

Let us know what you finally chose and wore at your wedding.  Better yet, send us a picture or two that we will add to our blog with your name and wedding date to inspire other brides-to-be.

Victorian Wedding Theme

What comes  to your mind when you hear the words “vintage weddding”? Does it bring images of you wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress?  Or does it conjure images of even more distant past – like the Victorian era?  Either way, you are thinking of “vintage”.  Having a vintage theme in your wedding means celebrating your memorable day in a simulated era of some 20 years or more ago.

My favorite vintage theme is Victorian.  There are so many Victorian wedding traditions that we still practice today.  Remember the rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…”? Yes, thats one of the Victorian traditions that we still practice today.  The “old” must be something that belonged to a happily married woman.  It is believed that the happiness and luck of the owner will transfer to the new bride.  The “new” is the bride’s bridal attire from the gown to the shoes.  The “borrowed” is something precious like gold or diamond jewelry to ensure wealth and fortune in the bride’s future.  The “blue” is a symbol of true  love.

White wedding gowns became popular in the late eighteenth century and it is still the favorite gown color today.  However, if you want a non-white wedding gown, you can choice almost any color except black and red, which during the Victorian era supposed to be symbols of devilry or witchcraft.

A traditional Victorian bridal gown has a high-neck collar, long sleeves and lace cuffs.  You may add a Victorian-style wide-brimmed hat with veil trimmed with ribbons and flowers or shun the hat and wear the short veil instead. Complete the outfit with white lace gloves and ankle-high boots.  The modern Victorian wedding dress has capped sleeves and made with lace.  You do not have to stick to the traditional Victorian wedding gown to have a vintage Victorian wedding.

Apply your Victorian theme throughout your wedding event.  From the invitations to bridal accessories to table decorations and wedding favors.

Photo Credits: Traditional and  Modern Victorian Wedding Gown:  Victorian Trading Company; Bride and Groom Cake Topper: Sugar Craft; Victorian Toasting Goblets and :Victorian Lace Photo Album:  Chloes Chic Boutique;

With the cost of weddings spiraling upwards of $27,000 (depending on where you plan to have your wedding), and the unstable economy, many engaged couples are looking for ways to save money on their wedding.  Over the next few days, We, at Completely Weddings,  will share with you 101 ways to cut your wedding cost and thereby saving you money to use somewhere else such as your honeymoon or savings for your first home.  As we publish each part, we will add a link at the end of this article to enable you to have a complete list of our 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding.

WEDDING PLANNING

Wedding Planning

1.    Set a budget.   Before you begin shopping and planning, set a goal for yourself of how much you want to spend.  You would not want to start your married life with debt, so do not over spend.  Use cash, if you can.  But, if you are going to use a credit card, get or use one that charges the lowest interest you can find.  Pay the loan as soon as possible.  To give you an idea of a wedding budget, download our “Wedding Expenses Table“. The percentage are not set in stone.  They are merely suggestions and you can change them depending on our priorities (see #2 below). Once you determined the percentages,  download our “Wedding Expense Record” to keep track of who pays for what and how much does it cost per item.  Make an effort to keep your costs in your budget, and remember that any additional money you save can go towards your honeymoon or your first home together.  Here is a “Planning Calendar Checklist” to keep your wedding planning activities in a timely manner.

2.    Determine your priorities.  Sit down with your fiancé and determine which area are most important to you.  Do you both value traditions or could you do without a lot of them? Is a DJ the most important thing to have at your reception, or is it a full meal?  Chose where you want to cut costs and what things are too important to you to skimp on.

3.    Make your own traditions and ditch the old ones.  If there are certain traditions that you don’t enjoy, such as throwing the garter and the bouquet (especially difficult if you have a very small wedding), don’t feel obligated to include them.  You can create traditions all your own.

4.    Don’t hire a wedding planner.  If you are planning a small event especially, you don’t need a wedding planner.  Invest in an accordion file and a wedding planning book from a bookstore and do it yourself.

5.    Keep your eye out for bridal shows.  Bridal shows are a great place to get freebies, gather information, and enter contests.  The least you’ll walk away with is a better idea of what you want in your wedding, so find your next local bridal show and mark your calendar!

6.    Order online.  For everything from dresses to flowers to favors, you can get some great deals when you shop online.  Do your homework before you make a purchase at any store and see if you can’t find the same thing cheaper on Amazon, EBay, or Overstock.com.

7.    Take your time.  Don’t rush into decision making.  You may fall in love with all of the first things you see because you’re so excited just to be planning a wedding.  Take time to make sure you’re getting the right wedding and reception items for your personal taste, and look into getting the best deal for each item.

8.    Accept offers from friends and family.  If you have particularly talented or crafty people in your family, chances are they will be jumping at the chance to offer their services.  If you know that they’re good at what they do, take them up on their offers and enlist their help with DIY wedding projects.

9.    Speak up and negotiate.  Negotiation is not a lost art. Stand up for yourself and try to get the best deal possible with all of your vendors.

10.    Befriend your local librarian. Before you go spending all your money on bridal magazines and books, go to your local library.  Here you can browse etiquette and wedding planning books and magazines to your heart’s content without spending a dime.

11.    Shop wholesale online.  Search for wholesale retailers for everything from flowers to ribbon, and you can get a great deal online.

More Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding:

101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 2: Invitations and Announcements
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 3: Wedding Flowers
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 4: Food and Drinks
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 5: Location and Time
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 6: Wedding Cakes
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 7: Wedding Attire
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 8: Hair and Make-Up
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 9: Wedding Rings
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 10: Music and Entertainment
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 11: Photography and Videography
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 12: Wedding Decorations
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 13: Wedding Favors
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 14: Wedding Attendants
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 15: Wedding Ceremony
101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 16: This and That

There you have it… If you have other ideas on saving money on your wedding, do email us with your ideas.

First Year of Marriage

It is common knowledge that the first year of marriage is usually the hardest.  Many couples think that they can bypass this situation by living together before marriage.  While this may help you when it comes to getting to know your partner’s daily habits, there will still be some sticky situations after you’ve said “I do”. Whether you’ve lived together for years, or this is your first time under the same roof, here are some sticky situations that newlyweds often find themselves in – and tips for getting out of them.

Redefining your daily life.

Whether you lived together before marriage or not, there is still a certain rosy glow that is bound to wear off of your relationship eventually.  The last several months, and maybe even years, before you got married were probably consumed with wedding planning.  Now that you’re back in the real world, it can be a disappointing shock to realize that daily life isn’t the fairy tale you thought it would be.  If you find that you and your spouse are getting into regular fights over small issues, there are a few steps you can take to try and solve these problems as early as possible.

• Define your roles. It may be that you both figured the other person would be responsible for dishes, laundry, or making the bed, but neither one of you said it out loud. Be up front and honest about your expectations so that your spouse knows what you want from them, and can work toward making you happy.

• Take time apart. Now that you’re spending every day of your life together, it’s going to be important to let go of the “let’s spend time together” feeling.  You will both want some time alone. Don’t be offended if your partner wants to go in the bedroom and have some quiet time alone, and don’t take it personally.

Managing Money Issues.

One of the biggest sources of conflict for a married couple is money.  While you can’t do much to avoid this problem, there are some easy ways to deal with it.

• Be honest about debt. It is important to be 100% up front about any debt that you carry.  After all, you’ll now be sharing the financial burden.  Set up a plan to deal with your debt as soon as possible, so that it won’t come back to haunt you when you want to buy a house or car.

• Discuss your plans. It’s easy to get into fights about money when the bank is suddenly empty and you both blame each other.  The best way to deal with these types of conflicts is to plan ahead. Decide whether one or both of you will be responsible for managing your money.  Define how much you can spend on a weekly and monthly basis and decide where it will go.

Dealing with friends and family.

After you tie the knot, your social life is going to take a turn.  You have a whole new family of in-laws to deal with for one thing.  With all of the newness of married life, it can also be easy for your friends to get swept under the rug.

• Decide how to handle the in-laws. Dealing with in-laws is something that you and your spouse can easily tackle together.  Decide as a couple how often you want to see them and how much input your want them to have in your life. Agree not to discuss your personal matters with them, no matter how tempting it may be.  Though your mom will probably be very sympathetic and infallibly on your side when you fight with your partner, she’s not the best person to turn to because she might remember the disagreement long after you’ve forgive and forgotten.

• Make time for friends. As a married couple, it’s tempting to gravitate toward your married friends and going out as a couple.  While this is great, don’t forget your single friends, too.  Make time to go out alone and have girls’ and guys’ nights.  Neglecting your friends for too long can have a devastating effect on the relationship and leave you lonely when you find you really need them down the road.

Wedding Music

The music that you select for your wedding ceremony and reception will set the tone, and provide a calming, soothing, backdrop for your event.  While there may be some similarities, selecting ceremony music and selecting reception music are generally two completely separate tasks.

Ceremony Music
For the ceremony, you should first find out what the rules are for your location.  Some places allow pre-recorded music, while other more traditional churches may not have the right facilities for this.  Next, decide which parts of ceremony will need music.

You will need a piece for the processional and recessional at a minimum.  You may also want music to play while the guests are being seated, and something special just before the processional beings.  If there is a unity candle ceremony, this is another time when a short piece may be appropriate.

The most traditional choices for instrumental wedding music are a piano or organ, or a small group of classical instruments such as flute, harp, and stringed instruments.  Some couples choose to hire a vocalist to sing for the ceremony.  Whatever your choice, the ceremony music should be subdued and a bit demure. You want it to set a nice subtle backdrop for the event.  If you have a vocalist, it is important that their performance not take away from what you really want your guests to be looking at – the bride.

Reception Music
For the reception, many people elect to hire a band or DJ to handle the music.  Another option that is become more and more popular for thrifty couples is to simply use a stereo and burn a CD of the music you want, or hook up an iPod with a special playlist created for the event.  No matter what your choice, you should consider a few special songs.  You will probably want to decide on something that is very meaningful to you for the father-daughter dance, as well as the couple’s first dance.  For the other songs, you select a variety of pieces that you think your guests will enjoy dancing to.

Listen to Samples
When you have an idea of what type of music you would like, it’s time to start listening to samples.  One easy way to do this, is to go to your local library and check out several CDs.  There are many compilations that are put together especially for weddings.  You can also listen to some classical pieces that may suit your wedding. For the reception, if you don’t already have some special songs in mind, check out some of your favorite artists.

You can also listen to hundreds of popular wedding songs and music through iTunes or Windows Media Player.  Watch wedding music videos and build the perfect wedding playlist at Wedding Wire.   Below is one of my favorite love song “Because You Loved Me“  featuring from one of my favorite artists Celine Dion.  You can listen to 11 more Celine songs at the end of this video.

Live Performers
If you are booking any live performers, it is important that you listen to an audition first.  You should probably audition at least three different performers or groups.  This way you will be able to better define what you like and dislike about various performers.  Not only will this help you make the best decision possible, but an awareness of the musical style you prefer can be helpful when you are explaining to your hired musicians just how you want them to perform.  Keep in mind that professional musicians should have no problem playing a piece a little slower or faster.  They can also increase or decrease the volume at certain points in the music to coincide with you entrance or other important moments.

Final Words for your Wedding Music
The last thing that you need to remember with your ceremony music is to have the recorded piece or the musicians available for the rehearsal.  Practicing the music in the ceremony location is vital to having a successful performance.  There may be surprising acoustics in your location that need to be compensated for.  Professional musicians will be prepared to do this, but this is something that needs to be taken care of ahead of time.  Be honest with everyone you have hired for your wedding music.  They will be eager to help you, but it’s important that you and your fiancé find constructive ways to describe your needs.  By working together, you can put the perfect musical backdrop behind your event.

Tips For Avoiding Wedding Blunders.

When planning your wedding, you try to think of every tiny detail until you are absolutely sure that you’ve covered all the bases.  However, there are things that most newlyweds wished they could do over, if they could.  Below are 10 wedding blunder prevention tips that recent brides share so you would not have to share the pain.

1. Don’t go overboard on the diet.

Many brides get so caught in up looking perfect on their big day that they can take their diet a bit too far. This can result in a tired or even sick-looking bride.  Not to mention the biggest danger in excessive dieting after you last fitting – having a wedding dress that does not fit!

2. Keep the costs in perspective.

Your wedding is a very special event.  However, it’s not necessary to break the bank on this one day or max out your credit cards to create your dream wedding.  The most important thing about your wedding is that you get married to the person you love – not that every detail be expensive.

3. Pay attention to your guests.

At big weddings it can be especially difficult to take the time to speak with everyone at the reception. However, it is only polite to make the rounds and try to thank each guest personally for coming.  You should take special care to thank guests who have traveled a long distance for the event.

4. Have a rain plan.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, it is essential to have a rain plan.  It may be a happier thought to believe that it can’t possibly rain on your wedding day – but plan for the worst and have an alternate location ready and waiting.  Even if you don’t have an outdoor wedding, you should still consider the possibility that it will rain on your grand exit from the church or on outdoor photos.  Plan accordingly.

5. Use make-up that stays.

Even if you think you won’t cry, be prepared as though you will be sobbing.  At the very least you may have to worry about sweat under the bright lights in a warm room, especially if you’ve decorated with candles.  Be prepared for a look that won’t smear, melt, or shine.

6. Get to know your officiate.

Though wedding counseling is optional for some, it is still vitally important to get to know your officiate.  You should be aware of the exact vows that will be read as well as any additional passages. Trusting your officiate to say the perfect thing may backfire if you aren’t familiar with this person.

7. Try samples.

You will want to sample the wedding cake, as well as all courses being served at your reception.  You should also insist on hearing your musicians ahead of time, going over your vows with the officiate, and seeing your bridesmaids in their dresses.  Don’t leave anything up to chance.

8. Partake of the champagne sparingly.

If you are fortunate enough to have an open bar at your wedding, leave this luxury for the enjoyment of the guests.  There are many places and times better suited to have one too many drinks.  Participate in the champagne toast and leave it at that.  This is one day when you want to be able to remember every detail.

9. Keep track of all your gifts.

The last thing you want to do is thank the someone for the wrong gift.  Keep very detailed lists for each gift and guest so that you can thank them properly.

10. Stay light-hearted.

The most important thing on your wedding day is to keep a sense of humor.  As long as your vows are said and you are pronounced man and wife, no other mishap can ruin your day.  So someone tripped, the ring bearer refused to walk down the isle, and one of your bridesmaids’ dresses ripped, be concerned, but make light of the scene, laugh it off, enjoy your memories, and refuse to let anything ruin your day.

Illustration Board:  Polyvore

Wedding Gown Primer

Choosing a wedding gown is one of the most exciting tasks in the wedding planning process.  It can also be one of the most stressful. If you’re like most brides, you started looking in magazines and online for the perfect dress as soon as you got engaged.  It’s helpful to go into your dress hunt armed with the basics in bridal gowns.

Consult these wedding planning tips to help you with everything from understanding different types of bridal gowns, necklines and fabric types, to selecting the right dress to flatter your body.

Types of Wedding Gowns

Wedding gowns come in a variety of shapes and styles.  This wedding planning tip will help you understanding the general silhouette of each type of wedding gown.  It will help you determine the direction you want to go in.  If you walk into a bridal shop with one or two or these gown types in mind, they will be able to provide much better assistance in finding the perfect dress.

Types of Bridal Gown Neckline

Before you head straight for a strapless gown, it can be helpful to research your other options and find the best neckline for your body type in this wedding planing tip.  Consider the features you want to accent, or maybe those you want to take attention away from.  There are a wide variety of options available, each with its own unique attributes.

Know your Body Type

No two brides are ever alike.  As you will quickly discover, the dress that looks amazing on the hanger or on the girl in the next dressing room may look completely different on you.  Don’t lose hope when the wedding dress you loved online looks less-than-lovely in the mirror.  In this wedding planning tip, we made it simpler for your to determine your body type and what will flatter it most.

Bridal Fabric Primer

You may be tempted to walk into a bridal shop using words like “shiny”, “swishy”, and “flowy”, but you’ll be much better prepared if you learn a little bit about the different fabric types first.  Don’t know the difference between dupioni silk and silk georgette?  You’ve come to the right place to find out.

After reading our wedding planning tips on how to choose your bridal gown, you now have an idea of what to look for.  Begin your gown search early in your planning timeline.  Give yourself time to try on several different styles.  Remember that it might take the bridal shop several weeks to get your chosen gown in their shop and it might take even longer if you need alterations.  Use the table below to guide you on your task of choosing the perfect wedding gown for you.  Enjoy your gown hunt and have fun trying on the gown of your dreams!

How to Choose Your Wedding Gown at a Glance

Wedding Gown by Allure Bridal