Wooden Wedding and Engagement Rings

I must admit as a lover of all things that glitter and sparkle (I think I was a magpie in a previous life!) I was not sure what to make of wooden wedding and engagement rings. But after looking at wooden jewellery sites on the internet, I have discovered that they are not what I imaged them to be.

I was expecting something quite wide, thick and not very feminine. Yes, there are designs, exactly like in gold and silver rings, that are a wide band style, for those women who can pull off chunkier jewellery or for men. But there are also delicate designs; beautifully carved, some out of two different types of wood and even some with silver inlays. You can also have a diamond set into a design, for those wanting a more unusual engagement ring.

So why would you choose a ring made from wood? For some their choice will be an environmental one, as normally the wood used, is salvaged wood, and the ring is more eco-friendly than a metal one.

But for others it will be because of what this material symbolises. Wood, as we all know comes from trees, and is a living matter. Wood has been on its own life journey. It changes and grows, trees expand and contract, when their environment alters. Which are all of the things that we have to learn to do, in order to build and grow our own relationships.

With the exchanging of wooden rings, you are symbolising the giving of life, your life, to each other, and pledging to grow and shape together in your new life together.

Find wooden rings as sites such as Simply Wood Rings.

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Hate it : Bandages and Bows

A bride should be the center of attention on her wedding day; an image of elegance and a sight to behold. Her dress should flatter her figure and highlight her best features. I can not help but wonder what was on the minds of the designers when they concocted some of these "things" I can only call atrocities against both fashion and weddings!

Remember The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind? Simply because those drapes made good ensembles in the movies, does not mean a bride should look like she ripped her grandmother's curtains down at the last minute to create her wedding dress.

In particular, I can't help but picture a bride in this dress having to swim her way to the Altar with her Little Mermaid tail. I have to say I have no love for what I refer to as The Curtain Mermaid gown.

Not to keep referencing movies, but can you say "Mummy"? This dress may be great for a fancy formal event, but if a bride were to walk down the aisle in this creation, her guests may be wondering if she is happy to be getting married or if she thought she was dressing for preservation in a casket. I am unable to give this a thumbs up in the bridal gown category simply because the dress screams "bandages" from head to toe.

I have to say no to the feather boa look of this Burlesque Dancer get-up. Again, the dress may have it's place in fashion, but it certainly has no place on a bride! I think the seams would reject the idea, but unless the bride is having a very unconventional wedding and arriving beside her groom via pole....these feathers are an emphatic "NO" for a wedding gown.

Some of these dresses will leave the bride standing in the shadow of her beautifully wrapped gifts; or even worse...blending right on in with them. Maybe I'm an old-fashioned girl, but I still think it best to show a touch of class and be sure your guests are gasping at your elegance rather than your lack of fashion sense.

Editor's note:
Don't hold back, tell us what you really think! I have to say that I largely agree here. Brides appear 'all wrapped up', in the 2010 collection previews I have seen so far, with miles of wrapped tulle, chiffon and satin appearing in dresses from all designers. It may not be difficult to get a budget version of these designer gowns. I recommend checking out the Toilet Paper Wedding Gown contest and then grabbing a few hundred rolls of Andrex!

What do you think about the new 'wrap' gowns?

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Be Your Own Designer

If you are tired of traipsing through endless bridal boutiques searching for just the right gown for your bridesmaids then StyleShake is set to offer you sweet relief.

Regardless of your bridesmaids size or sense of style, they are sure to have something to suit, since each of their items is designed by you and then tailor made to order.

They offer a range of beautiful fabrics, including organic silk, cotton or linen – forget man made fabrics that get too hot or cause irritation! Each fabric also comes in a variety of colours from pale pastels to the summer’s hot gem shades as well as classic black and the ever popular burgandy.

Choosing from dresses or separates lets you co ordinate your wedding look while still offering bridesmaids an outfit that will both fit and flatter them.

Create various looks to share and compare with your girls, and then be wowed by the low cost of the final outfit!

Offering five star service with free tailoring, inspirational blog articles, and great customer service, we say ‘Well Done!’ to StyleShake.

Design your own bridesmaid dress today.

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Bid on Madonna's Tiara

If you are a big Madonna fan then you have a once in a lifetime opportunity to wear her tiara on your wedding day. The award winning gold and diamond Versace tiara will be auctioned on Bidz.com on the 23rd of March, to raise money for the Aid for AIDS charity.

Opening bid? $699,999

No offence to Madonna or Versace, but I have seen nicer tiaras for a fraction of the price!

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Win a Wedding Dress

Confetti.co.uk have a great wedding competition running at the moment for one lucky bride to win a fabulous designer wedding gown from Constantina Bridal.

The collection, by designer Enzoani is a stunning and eclectic mix of designs with a heavy Vintage influence. The gowns are stacked with details, from layered fabrics to exquisite details, exaggerated silhouettes and stylish draping.


Get full details of how to enter this wedding competition now.

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Stylish Wedding Flip Flops

Finding wedding shoes for a hot, destination wedding at the beach can leave you with some tricky choices. Do you get the cute heels that will leave you with that sinking feeling, or buy the plain white flip flops that seep the glamour factor out of your wedding outift?

Tracey Asai Designs have a nice compromise. Their range of bridal flip flops are both practical and comfortable while being decorated and designed to co ordinate with a traditional bridal look.

I like their stylish and inexpensive flip flops with beaded pearl detail, and might just have to pick up a pair of the Maribou feather flip flops for a touch of playful fifties glamour this summer.

Explore their range of wedding flip flops that are "worthy of being worn under your very expensive, very beautiful wedding gown?"

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White Dresses at the Oscars

White dresses were all the rage at the Oscars this week. Nina Calloway at About.com weddings gives us the run down of who was wearing what from Sarah Jessica Parker to Jennifer Aniston.

Check out her gallery of white dresses at the Oscars.

Love it:
It is hard to pick a winner from so many beautiful and stylish women, but Nancy O Dell really stood out for me, in this amazing, slinky number.

Hate It:
Marion Cotillard's strange fishy Jean Paul Gautier gown came a close second, but Jessica Biel's Prada gown gets my vote for the worst white dress on the red carpet, looking more like a roomy bathrobe wrap than a glamorous Hollywood dress.

My favourite Oscars dress?
The Randi Rahm gown worn by Maria Menounos- imagine it in white for a sumptous, glamorous wedding gown!

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Styleboard for February 09

Inspiration for February has to be filled with roses, hearts and red - all reflecting the passion and romance of Valentine's Day. We have included some Asian hints, since there are still a few sky lanterns lingering on the horizon from Chinese New Year. Touches of gold add glamour to red weddings, and give a feeling of warmth to a wedding that might still be feeling the chill of winter in many parts of Europe.



Credits (clockwise from top left):

Hand tied red and white roses, with gold beads. By Cream and Browns Florist, Spain.
Couture invitation by Lela New York
Red Daisy and green foliage topiary by Cream and Browns Florist, Spain.
Red wedding gown by Maggie Sottero
Fill your wedding with light, even on a dark winter day with colorful paper lanterns, these red ones are from the Paper Lantern Store
Garnet necklace with sterling silver rose clasp detail by Chimerique
Chocolate heart shaped sweets wrapped in red and gold foil, from Chocolatebuttons.co.uk

Central image:
Red wedding in Italy by photographer Carlo Giorgi, Florence

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Fashion Tips from the Experts

Guest post by BestforBride.com

Getting married used to be a simple task - find the right man, ask for your parents' approval, wear mom's wedding dress, and walk down the aisle. Now, it's a little more complicated, and of course, there's no way you're wearing what mom had worn. It's a little outdated. Your wedding dress should feature the latest in wedding gown styles. If you can't find the gown of your dreams, don't fret, that's just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. There's more where that came from.

White? After Labor Day?

To wear white on your wedding day is your right, but it's also your choice. With a wedding dress, the possibilities are endless. White, off-white, or white with trimmings, you can find it if you know where to look. Bear in mind that everyone has different body types, and different tastes. Take the time to look for the wedding dress of your dreams, try it on, and see if it works for you. You don't simply need to imagine if the material will fall the right way, you need to actually see it. Neither should you worry about the fit because alterations can be made at your convenience. The gown you want is waiting for you.

The Total Package

Since you're not walking down that aisle alone, make a stunning entrance and dress your bridesmaids in beautiful bridesmaid dresses. Get rid of the notion that bridesmaids' dresses are horrible fashion statements, and hear the words "exquisite" instead. It can be sweet and simple, classy and elegant, or sexy and stylish. It could be a full gown, a mini dress, or anything in between. It's your choice and they will love you for it. You can also include your bridesmaids in the decision making process to make sure that everyone's happy. After all, you're not the only who should look good on your wedding day.

Now imagine the awed silence as you walk in with your own wedding dress, be it a form-fitting, strapless number from Alfred Sung, a daring corseted gown from the My Lady collection, a wonderful ruffled and girlish Tulipia dress, or an elegant classic from Mori Lee.

The Million Dollar Look

You should have a look to die for, but not necessarily spend a lot for it. There are many shops offering dresses at reasonable prices and discounts. You don't have to make that guesstimate on how much to spend, and you don't have to compromise on the quality, not just for you, but for your whole entourage, no matter what the color motif or the time of day you're having your wedding. It's not going to be easy. But it'll be worth it.

After all, you must only have the best on your wedding day - wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, wedding cakes, wedding invitations, wedding favors, accessories and all!

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Tattoo or not Tattoo?

If you are one of the 20 - 50% of women who regret getting their tattoo, and are wondering how to cover it up or remove it before your wedding day, there is a great article over at The Wedding Guide of Europe.

Did you know that they key to getting a good coverage with make-up is to use red lipstick as a base? That some people resort to skin grafts to remove their tattoos? Or that you can actually buy creams to fade and remove your tattoo safely and easily at home?

If you are worried about a tattoo ruining the look of your wedding day outfit, then check out the article.

How to Fade a Tattoo for a Wedding

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Designer Wedding Gowns in Bride Wars

It didn't get great reviews, but Bride Wars did deliver on the fashion front. With stylist Karen Patch (who also styled Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days) in charge of costumes, and a setting of Manhattan, how could it fail?

The two gowns worn by the brides in the film were by Vera Wang, although they represented polar opposites in terms of bridal fashion: one dress is simple and elegant, in nostalgic ivory tones and classy fabrics, while the other is over-the-top layers of bouffant chiffon.

Film.com has a great interview with Karen Patch, talking about her fashion choices and inspiration for the two brides here.

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Style Guide: The 7 Best Celebrity Wedding Dresses

Guest Post By Sarrah Beaumont

There is always one gorgeous wedding dress that stands out nearly every year, and more often than not, it is always worn by a celebrity. After all, who would best represent glitz and glamour than a true blue celeb? In case you too want to shine as bright as they do on your wedding day, here are some celebrity wedding dresses from recent years that have caused quite a stir – for their aesthetic features as well as monetary value.


1. Renee Zellweger

Although her marriage to country singer Kenney Chesney was short-lived, Renee Zellweger's bamboo twill, ivory-colored, form fitting strapless wedding dress went down in history as one of the best celebrity wedding dresses ever. The wedding dress perfectly complimented their beach-themed wedding. Of course, it does help that Renee has a body to die for.


2. Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock looked absolutely stunning in her Angel Sanchez-designed strapless, antique white lace dress with ruffled bodice. Although her wedding was anything but conventional, Sandra was the very epitome of a blushing bride that day.


3. Melania Trump

You may have heard the rumors that Melania Knauss' wedding dress designed by Christian Dior cost a whooping $100,00! The form-fitting, white strapless dress donned by the third “Mrs. Trump” is almost history-book worth, with its stunning design and 16-foot train that weighed 50 lbs. Imagine walking around in that. Oh well, you shouldn’t be surprised. Expect over the top – and nothing else – from a Trump.


4. Tori Spelling

The late Aaron Spelling’s beloved daughter, Tori Spelling, wore a form fitting wedding dress sprinkled with crystal beads. It was the perfect traditional wedding dress that every woman would surely envy. Of course, the middle-class bride should do away with all the crystals and look for some other substitute to sprinkle her dress with.


5. Britney Spears

Nearly everyone hated everything about Britney Spears and Kevin Federline wedding. The groom, most especially. It came as an awful surprise to the rest of the world. However, Britney’s gorgeous Monique Lhuiller wedding gown saved the occasion. Britney Spears wore a $26,000 wedding dress with a hand sewn train and cathedral length veil.


6. Demi Moore

Demi Moore did not look her age when she became Mr. Ashton Kutcher. Her floor-length gown by by Jeanne Lanvin was sheath-style, topped with jeweled shoulder straps. Her dress was simple, lovely and one of a kind. Just like Demi herself.


7. Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston’s now-defunct marriage to Brad Pitt was a wedding that stirred the media for weeks. No, it was not about the ceremony itself, it was all about the bride and her to-die-for wedding dress. Jennifer’s halter style, white tulle dress, adorned with tiny pearls was designed by Lawrence Steele. It was the perfect wedding dress to define a once-perfect marriage.


You don’t need to splurge too much to get the look of a celeb on your wedding day. If you want to follow these celebrities wedding dresses, make sure to seek your designer’s aid in putting together fabric and materials that aren’t as costly as the real wedding dresses.


About the Author: For the best wedding dresses and wedding favors, go for a bridal shop that has it all.
Visit BestForBride.com today.

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Bride Wars

The latest wedding movie, Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as affluent and obsessive brides who end up competiting over their weddings opens in the US today. Click on the image to watch the trailer!

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Denim Dresses

There are plenty of brides who shy away from the traditional white wedding. Theme weddings are becoming more and more popular, with some couples choosing some very unusual themes.  I generally love theme weddings because they tend to look great, and have a special atmosphere, especially if the theme chosen represents a shared interest.

If you are your partner share an interest in the wild west, line dancing or wrangling, then how about a denim wedding dress for your western themed wedding?  Sat'n Spurs not only have a full selection of denim wedding dresses, but they also have a range of western gifts for your guests, cowboy cake toppers and more touches to help you complete the look.

I have to admit that I am a huge fan of denim, and at the peak of my obsession owned 14 pairs of jeans.  This site caters of denim fans of all shapes and sizes, with a dedicated range of dresses for 'Big, Beautiful Brides'.  If you are looking to add a more subtle touch of denim to your wedding day, then their denim garter is a great way to sneak a bit of your western passion into a traditional wedding outift.

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Be a real Barbie bride

Barbie is looking great for her age. 2009 will be her 50th birthday, and although her figure has been modified in recent years to reflect the curves of a more modern women, she is still in great shape.

To celebrate the golden event, Vera Wang will be designing a new wedding dress, to be created in miniature for Barbie herself, and also in 'real-life' size.

It's not the first time the designer has been inspired to create for Barbie, having previously designed a mermaid-style wedding gown for the babe. Other well known names such as Reem Acra and Carolina Herrera have also reached for their miniature manequins and teamed up with Barbie creators Mattel to create a collectable doll in the past.

And if the life-size dress isn't quite within your budget, consider snapping up one of the limited edition Barbies. Other versions featuring designer wedding dresses can now fetch over $200!

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Celtic Wedding Dresses

Medieval style weddings have seen a huge rise in popularit over the past two decades,  with more and more couples choosing renaissance, celtic or fairytale inspired wedding themes for their ceremony.  The main feature of these types of wedding is the style of clothing.  By choosing a Celtic wedding dress, brides can abandon the structure of a conventional white wedding gown and opt for a more personal expression of their personality, and beliefs. 

Celtic wedding gowns offer a variety of natural, romantic styles with dashes of colour, embroidery and symbolism not seen in most mainstream bridal stores.   Corsets and bodices flatter any shape while flowing fabrics forgive problem areas that you may feel self-concious of in the modern trends of strapless, sleeveless wedding gowns.  

Consider that most Celtic wedding gowns are custom made to your own specifications, heritage and measurements, and you will be sure to walk down the aisle in a one of a kind creation that perfectly suits you.

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Green Wedding Dresses

Ok, so going for a green wedding dress literally may be too much of a break from tradition for most of us, but Green Union has put together a list of companies that can help you find an environmentally friendly wedding dress. 

Choose to re-use, re-make, or reduce and we can save the planet one wedding dress at a time.  We choose our favourites from their list. . .


Re-Use

There are three very good reasons for buying a second hand dress.  Firstly,  you will probably be helping a good cause, as most second hand wedding dresses are sold through specialty shops that donate profits to charity.  Our friends over at Green Union give us St Anns Hospice as an example but you can also check out your local Oxfam or other charity shop nearby.   Second,  you will be cutting down your carbon footprint as no additional energy or materials will be used to create your dress.  Last but definately not least,  you will probably make a huge savings on your gown by buying second hand from a charity.  If you are feeling inspired by these three notions then why not organize your very own wedding gown auction for charity?  You will raise money for a good cause and get to see a wide variety of dresses available in your area.


Re-Make

puffy sleeves or yellowed lace putting you off wearing your mum or grandmother's wedding gown?  Many wedding dress designers are able to re-work, re-design and re-fit a vintage gown into a brand new creation styled just for you.  This is Junky Styling's speciality.  We love this flowy combination of fabrics (left) that you wouldn't find in any high street bridal store.

Another plus?  Your dress will be completely unique, reflect your own personal style, and be hugely sentimental to you and your family.



Reduce

Do you do enough to reduce your carbon footprint?  Your energy consumption?  Your waste?  Now is your chance to make up for it by choosing a wedding dress that is made of environmentally friendly and sustainable fabrics.   Annatarian have built a reputation for creating gowns from sustainable, environmentally friendly fabrics such as organic silk or bamboo. (What, you didn't know that bamboo can make a viscose-like fabric?  Well stay tuned to our blog for future posts on more eco-friendly fabrics.)  These designs have enough floaty fabric to please any hippy, but are stylish for even the most fashion-conscious bride.

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Pushing the boundaries of fashion - that Thom Browne wedding dress.

Gender confusion is nothing new to the world of fashion. Chanel practically started riots when they started a trend for tailored suits for women in the 50's, men in the 80's sported more eyeliner than women had ever dared to use, and the 90's saw a general androgynous ambiguity on the catwalks. Yet Thom Browne still managed to cause a bit of a stir at Fashion Week, with his Spring/Summer 09 show featuring plenty of skirt/trouser combos, and even a wedding dress.

The wedding gown outfit worn by a male model that was the finalé to Thom Browne's Spring/Summer tennis themed show, has been one of the most talked about designs of Fashion Week so far. Although there may not be a waiting list to purchase the outfit, my guess would be that enough designers will have taken note of the design for us to see tailored white blazers with black trim filtering into high street stores in time for Spring 09.

In a world where a general malais of 'been-there-bought-the-Tshirt' threatens to dampen creative thinking, (if it has all been done before, why bother?) fashion designers are one breed of artists who continue to inspire us anew.

While Thom Browne's sensationalist collections aren't designed with the average high-street consumer in mind, they challenge us to look past the limits of conventional or current clothing rules to find our own sense of style. And that is what couture fashion is all about.

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Got that sinking feeling? Avoid it with heel protectors.

We all know that beautiful high heels come with their drawbacks, one of which is that horrible sensation when you step onto a lawn, a beach, or someone's luxury linoleum flooring and feel your heels slowly sinking into the soft surface. The result- dirty, damaged shoes and holes stabbed into the lawn.

That's why I love the heel protectors sold by companies such as Solemates.com and PrettyPinkToes.co.uk These easy-to-use little gadgets slip onto your heels to stop you from sinking into soft surfaces. Keep your heels out of cracks, cobblestones and gaps in grates and don't worry about breaking or damaging a heel again.

They are also great for preventing damage to wooden floors and lino. Even better, they can easily be decorated with diamante, pearls, crystals and beads to personalise them.

Ideal for garden or beach weddings, or locations with expensive or old flooring. Many venues not even allow stilleto and other high heeled shoes for fear of damage to their flooring - with these little gizmos you can safely wear any shoes you please!

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Trash the Dress

It is often said that women never look more beautiful than when they are in their wedding dress. For most of us, it will be the most expensive dress we ever own and perfectly tailored to our shape. Our wedding day will one of the few times we have our make-up professionally applied, and a stylist will take several hours to coiffe our locks to perfection. All this considered, it seems a shame that we only have one day of photo ops.

While pre-wedding bridal portraits can capture the look, poses are usually basic and traditional, constricted by fear of damaging the dress before the big day.

This is where a Trash the Dress photo shoot comes in.

The idea behind Trash the Dress is to create high-fashion, stunning images, with the bride in the role of top model. Without the worry of damage, stains or tears, the photographer has a no-holds-barred freedom to work with the bride on creative poses in any environment.

Want an urban shoot? Perhaps a beach location? In your favourite spot in the woods? How about that field of wildflowers? Or perhaps you can show off your passion for horses, motorbikes or any other hobby that would create visually interesting images?

Photographers involved in the Trash the Dress idea are highly talented and creative, and enjoy finding ways to create meaningful and beautiful images by thinking 'outside the box'.

So if you don't plan on wearing your wedding dress again (and we hope you don't) and want to get the most out of it before it is stored away forever, give one of the Trash the Dress photographers a call, and throw caution, and your veil, to the wind!

Resources:

Read more about Trash the Dress by award winning Segerius-Bruce Photography

Trash the Dress Website (UK)

Trash the Dress Website (US)

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