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.
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 …
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I came across a Wedding Supplement of Town & Country Weddings magazine a few days ago. For those who are not familiar with this magazine, it is, as their tag line says ” A sophisticated title for the elegant and discerning bride”; translation – upscale, high-end weddings. I love the looks, the real brides and everything they have from cover to cover, so luxurious. However, after I finished browsing the pages, I was thinking to myself how a bride with a limited budget be able to wear designer wedding gown just like the ones in the magazine. Then, it occurred to me that I can surf the net and find cheaper alternatives to these designer gowns. By cheaper, I do not mean tacky or knock-offs. I meant just as classy, but has a lower price than the designer one. I admit it was fun searching the Internet, albeit it takes a lot of time.
Get the Look At Lower Price:
Below are some alternatives that I found. I hope these will inspire you to search for your own alternatives. If you can afford the higher priced designer one, then go for it. All these designers are very talented. I cannot guarantee that the detail in luxury are the same on both comparison gowns. However, remember the alternative gowns are way less than the comparison.
Monique Lhuillier and Victoria’s Bridal Collections Wedding Gowns
Monique Lhuillier - Symphony
Victoria's Bridal Collection 8179
Monique Lhuillier is my favorite wedding gown designer. Maybe because she was born in the same country where I was born – the Philippines. Her style is so feminine and opulent. This Symphony strapless wedding gown is made with white embroidered silk organza. This A-line gown has a dropped waist with peacock feather design and embellished with ivory silk chiffon sash mriddotif on center. Price tag: $7500 – $13090.
The one on the right is a cheaper alternative from Bridal Online Store. This wedding gown from Victoria’s Bridal Collection style #8179 is made with Roma satin and organza ruffles. Price tag: $ 1379 (regular price: $1509)
Kenneth Pool and Venice Wedding Gowns
Bridal Online Store - Venice
Kenneth Pool - Mesmerized
The Kenneth Pool label is founded in 2003 by Amsale Aberra, who is also renowned for her AMSALE and CHRISTOS collections. The Kenneth Pool label has long been recognized for its embodiment of fantasy and drama with its grand ball gowns, luxurious fabrics and exquisite bead work. The Mesmerized strapless wedding gown has a tiered full skirt adorned with pleated tulle fans accented with organza ribbons. Natural waist is accented by Crystal beaded belt. Price tag: $3001 – $7395.
The one on the right, you guessed it, a cheaper alternative from Bridal Online Store. This Venice strapless wedding gown is stunning with a full cut tulle skirt, corset style back and exquisite beading on the bodice. Price tag: $ 449 (regular price: $ 2200).
Jenny Lee Bridal and Tia Wedding Gowns
Jenny Lee Bridal - 913
Bridal Online Store - Tia
Next up is Jenny Lee Bridal’s style #913, one of her 2009 Fall Collections. Since the beginning, Jenny Lee has been known for using the highest quality fabrics creating young, elegant, and feminine bridal gowns that enhance a woman’s silhouette. This strapless wedding gown is made with rouched silk satin with pick up mermaid skirt and embroidered lace empire bra. Price tag: $ 3001 and up.
The Bridal Online Store alternative is called Tia. Tia wedding gown has a fuller bustle skirt than Jenny Lee’s #913, but the price is super! A silver crystal broach is added to the rouched near the waist to add just a touch of sparkle. Gown has charming corset back. Tia is pictured here in ivory, but is also available in white. Price tag: $ 299 (regular price: $ 1099)
So, there you have it. Let me know if you think that the cheaper alternative works well.
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Bridesmaid Dresses: How To Choose Your Bridesmaids’ Dresses
One update, the bridal shop, Belle Bridal is closing soon. If you happened to live near Redondo Beach, California, you can call them and see if you can get good bargains from their remaining inventory.
For an alternative bridal store, visit House of Brides and choose bridesmaids’ dresses from several couturiers and manufacturers like this satin this strapless gown featuring a square neckline with a crystal beaded empire waist. The empire skirt is at knee length and includes optional spaghetti straps.
2009 Bridal Gowns
You’ve probably heard the buzz: romantic bridal gowns are in for 2009 – from heavy lace modern-vintage look to sultry figure-hugging bridal gowns, you will have a plethora of designs to choose from. Click on 2009 Bridal Gowns image for a larger picture. Gowns from Monique Lhuillier 2009 Spring Bridal Collection.
The ever popular strapless wedding dress still makes the mark. Here featured in exquisite antique lace with or without detachable cap sleeves or embellished with band with contrasting color.
How long or how short your wedding gown hemline is entirely up to you: from floor-length to tea-length and even mini-shirts.
White and ivory are still the popular bridal gown colors, but those are not the only color choice available to you. From blush to champagne to two tone bridal gowns are also in for 2009.
2009 Two-Tone Bridal Gowns
Short Bridal Gowns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
| Body Shape
|
Style
|
Neckline
|
Avoid |
| Pear | A-line; start at natural waist to the floor | V-neck, bateau, scoop, spaghetti straps | Sheath, trumpet or mermaid silhouettes |
| Apple | A-line; empire waist | V-neck, scoop, plunging necklines | Ball-gown silhouettes |
| Petite | A-line (elongate waist and make you appear taller); Sheath, empire waist, princess seams | Depends on whether you are small-chested or full-chested | Ball-gown silhouettes, dropped waist- silhouettes, calf-length |
| Tall | A-line; Ball-gown, bias-cut, mermaid or trumpet | Depends on whether you are small-chested or full-chested | Princess seam silhouettes |
| Straight- Figured | Ball-gown, mermaid or trumpet, full A-line | creative necklines | soft sheaths |
| Hour-glass | Modifies A-line, mermaid or trumpet | V-neck. sweetheart | empire (hides figure), bal-gown with overly full skirt |
| Plus Size | Dropped-waist A-line, flat-front ball-gown | V-neck, scoop | sheath, mermaid or empire waist gowns, spaghetti straps |
| Small chested | A ruched bodice | Bateau, jewel, lightly padded halter | strapless gowns |
| Full-chested | A-line | Square, sweetheart | Bateau and jewel necklines, ruched bodice |
Wedding Gown by Allure Bridal
A-line from Maggie Sottero
A-line. This is the most popular silhouette. It is universally flattering and come with many shapes from subtle, modified A-line to full circle silhouette. The top of the dress gracefully hug the natural curves of your upper body and then it flares out into an “A” shape as it falls. It can be designed to be worn at a backyard pot-luck celebration or at the most formal ballroom reception.
Sheath from Mori Lee
Sheath. This silhouette is favored by brides who do not what bulky wedding gowns and have the body type for it. It either contours the body from top to bottom, closely following the line of the body (called constructed sheaths) or falls nearly straight down from the shoulders to hem (called soft sheaths), like a Grecian column. It adds height to a petite bride and is quite flattering for a tall bride with a thin frame.
Ball-Gown by Amalia Carrara
Ball-gown. The ball gown silhouette is similar to the A-Line; only it has a much fuller skirt that flows to the floor. There are “flat-front ball gowns,” which have skirts that are smooth and seamless in front and fully pleated in the back or a dropped-waist ball gown, where the bodice is fitted through the hips. This gown is good for tall brides with narrow hips. Petite brides should avoid this silhouette because they may look like they are lost in it.
Trumpet by Moncheri
Trumpet or Mermaid. These are form-fitting silhouettes that flare to the floor usually from the knee (mermaid silhouette) or mid-thigh (trumpet silhouette). They are perfect for brides who have hour-glass body type and tall brides. Not recommended for petite brides, those with pear-shaped body or plus-sized
Empire by Maggie Sottero
Empire. The Empire silhouette has a high waist look, often with a seam under the bust line and typically a slimmer skirt. This style is good for petite brides because the gentle blending of the waist into a flared skirt often provides a long and lean silhouette.
How to Chose Your Bridal Gown
Types of Wedding Gown Necklines
Know Your Body Type
Bridal Fabric Primer
Polish Wedding Dance Apron
A traditional Polish wedding reception features two important customs. The first custom is the “Oczepiny”, or Unveiling and Capping Ceremony. For this ceremony, all the married women present will circle around the bride. The maid of honor will remove the bride’s veil and a married woman, usually her mother or godmother, will pin the “Czepek”, or bride’s cap, on her head. When it is first placed on the bride she is officially considered a married woman.
Following the Unveiling and Capping ceremony, the bride will often throw her veil, in place of the more common bouquet, to any single women present. She may also choose to give it to her maid of honor. The veil is then passed around from one single woman to another, each wearing it for a dance until all single women at the reception have worn it.
Polish Wedding Apron
The second important tradition at a Polish wedding is the last dance, referred to as the “Pani Mloda”, also known as the Bridal or Apron Dance. This is the last dance before the bride and groom make their exit. The bride will wrap a Polish wedding apron around her dress, signifying the end of her innocence and beginning of her wifely and motherly duties. During this dance the bride will pass from one guest to another for a short spin. As each guest dances with the bride, they will pin money for the new couple to her apron, or drop it into one of the pockets. The last person to dance with the bride will be the groom. As the dance concludes, he will toss his wallet into an apron pocket and the bride and groom make their grand exit. This tradition is a fun and festive way to see the new couple off.
In some Polish weddings, the maid of honor is given the honor to wear the wedding apron instead of the bride. You can find a “made in America”, handcrafted Czepek (bride’s cap) and traditional Polish Wedding Apron set at Bridal ‘N Beauty website.
Photos: J Lowe Photos
I’ve always been facinated with Preston Bailey’s designs. This famous Winter Wonderland on the upper left is the inspiration for this winter wedding theme in blue. This illustration board shows that you do not need to live in a state that is blessed with winter wonderland to use a winter wedding theme. Bring the winter indoors with flickering tiny indoor lights in white to simulate the snow and wash the room with blue lights. The wedding cake, table setting and the bridesmaids’ gown complete the theme. Last, but not the least, the bride with her lovely flowing bridal gown brings in the warmth to the cold winter night.
]]>Red is considered the color of love and in some cultures, it also means prosperity and happiness. Why limit your choice of bridal gown color to “pure white”? Wedding gowns are pricey, we all know that. In addition, you will probably wear it only once. With this red wedding gown, you can wear it again in any formal occassion.
Picture your maids of honor in pretty salmon gowns walking down the aisle with beautiful red flower bouquets. Trade the bouquet with matching purses and use the flowers as table decoration at the reception. Yes, red reign supreme from the invitation to the wedding cake. May love, prosperity and happiness reign in your wedding day and in your years together…