Guest Post: Wedding Lingerie

Hey everyone! This post is a little early as I'll be busy tomorrow! Today's guest post is from Moonrise Lingerie and it's all about - you guessed it - wedding lingerie! Check out Moonrise Lingerie's Twitter when you're all finished reading this article! 

Michelle xx

The Right Wedding Underwear Makes a Real Difference!

Finally! You’ve found the gown of your dreams for your wedding day and now the search is over, you should turn your attention to finding your wedding underwear. 

Diamond Bridal Bra

Majority of brides leave finding their underwear until a few weeks before the actual wedding date, probably thinking that they will be a bit slimmer or slightly more toned. It is advised to have your bridal underwear before your final dress fitting, as in reality your size won’t have changed that much in the final 6-8 weeks before the big wedding date and rarely enough to change a full dress or bra size, and most underwear is designed to accommodate for some personal adjustments.

Juliette Lace Wedding Corset

Before you start looking for lingerie for the big day, there are 3 aspects to consider and they are all closely interlinked and very importantly must all work in harmony with each other. Firstly yourself the bride, the wedding gown & finally the wedding lingerie, it may sound simple but is surprising how many brides buy a beautiful wedding corset that fits them perfectly only to find it doesn’t work well with their gown! Similarly, brides can find a great bridal wedding bustier which works with the dress, but struggle to find the right size or it doesn’t work in harmony with their body shape. So all aspect of this “bridal lingerie” should work in harmony together and complement each other with the aims of making you look and feel beautiful, whilst bringing you comfort & support with maximum confidence.

Lace Bridal Bra

When it comes to choosing your wedding underwear start with something you’re going to be comfortable with, it’s not the type of occasion to try new things. If you’re not comfortable with your underwear going over your hips then your wedding day isn’t the day to try out a full figure corset!

Wedding Corsets & Bridal Bustiers

Satin Bow Bustier

A wedding corset is still a popular choice with many brides as they offer great support and can have a great slimming effect by pulling you in at the waist by up to 4”. By their very design a bridal corset can produce a wonderful shape to your figure, perfect for brides aiming for that stunning hour glass silhouette. When deciding on a wedding corset or bridal bustier consider the boning in the design, whether it’ll show through your gown or indeed be too restrictive when worn with your dress, especially if the gown already has boning in the bodice.

Strapless Bridal Corset

On a similar note you also need to think about the outline of your lingerie, to make sure it remains well covered by your dress, if the outline is quite close to the gown then at least match the colours as close as possible.

Low Back Wedding Lingerie

A great many wedding dresses are open back & off the shoulder designs which apart from the obvious fact they necessitate a strapless wedding lingerie solution, they also need wedding underwear with a low back.

Low Back Wedding Corset

If this is the case, it’s even more important your lingerie for the final dress fitting, to check their compatibility. Another option for low back wedding underwear is to opt for some bridal shapewear, there are some great body shapers in both white & ivory colours that have some fantastic slimming effects. Modern shapewear combine different materials in their panelling to provide focussed toning & shaping effects to specific areas, be it the waist, hips, bum or tummy.

Bridal Shapewear Lingerie Pin Thin

Wedding Lingerie Accessories.

Lace Top Wedding Stockings

When you have the main part of your bridal lingerie figured out, don’t stop there, you’re not quite finished. As with many things the devil is in the detail, so don’t forget your accessories. If you are going to be wearing wedding stockings or bridal hold ups then it’s a good idea to have a spare pair just in case you get a ladder on the wedding day itself, even just a cheap pair as a backup.

Last but not least, the wedding garter.

Something Blue Garter

The wedding garter is perfect for incorporating “the something blue” into your wedding day out fit to keep with the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe tradition!

For more help & advice on finding the perfect wedding underwear for your big day, feel free to contact tanya@moonriselingerie.co.uk

Or

Call 01501 470734

Moonrise Lingerie are bridal underwear specialists dedicated to the bride to be, helping brides across the UK.

Wednesday Wedspiration: Sea Glass Theme

Today's Inspiration Board will hit the hearts of many beach lovers! Any time I go to my happy place, a.k.a. the beach, I always look for sea glass! There is something so special about finding those beautiful pieces of cloudy, rounded glass.

My mom collects sea glass, so whenever my husband and I go to the beach in Cornwall, England, we go on a hunt for it! The colors you can find are amazing. If you haven't done it yet, definitely give it a try!! You might find some pretty seashells while you're looking around!

This theme was suggested by a friend of mine on my Facebook page, and I was thrilled! What a creative idea!

Top row: pinterest.com, bostonseaglass.blogspot.com, theknot.com, blog.beautifulweddinginvitations.com; Middle row: brides.com, sugarlandchapelhill.com; Bottom row: marthastewartweddings.com, tessblenkinsop.co.uk, elegala.com, polyvore.com

Would you have a sea glass themed wedding?


Michelle xx

Guest Post: Nigerian Wedding Traditions

Hello everyone! I usually post on Saturdays but we had a busy day yesterday!

I am very excited as I have been asked to help out with two weddings!! This is going to be great experience! Wish me luck! :)

Today's guest post is from Vivian at Imani Swank Bridals, a wedding dress retail shop in Nigeria! Here she discusses Nigerian wedding traditions!

Check her out on Twitter and her website! 

KOLA-NUT FOR A GIRL

Hey guys,

We are delighted to share with you a little about the preparation items needed to marry a girl from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, yep, you guessed right, the Igbo people of Nigeria.

The Igbo people of Nigeria are known to be a good looking tribe with complexions ranging from beautiful ebonies to the palest of yellows. Some people even state that these particular set of people have strong ties with the Jewish people of Israel: see link below.

We have heard quite a number of people say that to marry a girl from that part of the country is quite expensive, to say the least, however, no matter how much money a man has, a marriage ceremony can never take place in the absence of these items.

Here are a few of the important items required to marry a lady from South-Eastern Nigeria:

KOLA-NUT called 'Oji' in the Igbo language

The Kola-nut is a caffeine containing nut from the Kola tree usually found in tropical rainforests which is used by many American and European countries in the production of drinks and other products.

The kola-nuts are the highest symbol of Igbo hospitality and unity. Usually, the oldest kinsman from the bride's family is asked to bless the kola nuts. He will take one of the nuts in his right hand and make a blessing, prayer or toast using a proverb.

GARDEN EGG

This is given to the bride's family as a symbol of celebration and goodwill. This is shared before the main meal of the day is served (which comprises of Jollof Rice, Akpu, Pounded Yam or Garri and Native soups) and is usually eaten with Ose Oji ( Peppered Peanut Butter)

PEPPERED PEANUT BUTTER called ose oji in the Igbo Language

This is a groundnut paste known to many as peanut butter mixed with chili pepper. The serving of the garden eggs is usually incomplete if not accompanied with this tasty mixture.

PALM WINE called Nkwo or Ngwo in the Igbo Language

This is the local wine derived from the palm tree which is produced in many Tropical countries. There are several types of palm wine, the sweet, which is that that has not been left to ferment and the sour which contains a higher level of alcohol due to the fermentation process.

Both are accepted in the traditional marriage ceremony in Igbo-land.

During the traditional marriage ceremony, the bride is required to search for her husband in the midst of eligible men and when she is sure she has found him, will feed him palm wine from the glass she carries.

Palm wine is a strong symbol of loyalty and merriment and is normally offered to guests at the end of the introduction ceremony, where the bride's family and kinsmen have agreed to hand over the bride to her groom and his family.

The Igbo tradition is very rich and we simply cannot go into all the details today, however, We hope you enjoyed this little peek at the culture of exchanging kola-nut for a girl.

Please follow our blog, http://blog.imaniswank.com, the official blog of Imani Swank Bridals, the biggest retailer of Allure Bridals, Mori Lee and Tari Nolan Bridal lines in Nigeria for wedding dress and planning tips.

With love,

Imani Swank Bridals

blog.imaniswank.com

IGBO JEWISH PEOPLE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_Jews

IGBOS FRIENDS OF ISRAEL: http://igbofriendsofisrael.com/culturalevidence.html

Wednesday Wedspiration: Aqua & Ivory

Happy Wednesday, everyone! If you're in the UK, hopefully you've had some nice, hot summer weather! We took our chihuahua on a boat ride to a pub here in town and sat outside while she played with the other dogs. It was absolutely gorgeous outside!

On my Facebook page, I had asked what colors you all would like to see on my Wedspiration boards, and so I present to you, as requested, Aqua and Ivory!

This color combination is reminiscent of our favorite jewelry store, Tiffany's! Who doesn't love receiving that Tiffany blue and ivory box?!

Top row: brides.com, cl-floraldesign.co.uk, kootation.com, rituals beauty.blogspot.com; Middle row: onewed.com, onewed.com, hitched.com, tumblr.com; Bottom row: reference-wedding.blogspot.com, brides.com, etsy.com

Would you have this for your wedding colors?



Please check me out on Twitter and Pinterest!


Michelle xx

Guest Post: The Right Wedding Dress for Your Shape

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today's Guest Post is brought to you by my good Twitter friend, Lianne! She is the writer of the amazing blog, Adore Weddings. She is wedding obsessed like the rest of us! Check her out on Twitter as well!! Thanks, Lianne! 

Wedding Dress shopping for your shape and how to get it right!

Your wedding day is possibly the single most important day for any woman, it is a day where looking your absolute best is essential, settling for nothing less than perfection in every bridal beauty decision you make. Walking down that aisle with the confidence that you shine from top to toe in your wedding dress is a feeling like no other.

For a new bride the first thing on the agenda is usually the wedding dress, and so it should be, every plan you make from here on out will reflect the style of dress you have chosen. You might spend a while browsing magazines and thinking about a theme but until you get yourself into a bridal shop and try dresses on you will never know what really suits you and your body shape.

But before you even have to think about the parts of your body you would prefer not to think about then take some time to think about your own style. For example if your more bo-ho chic than ultra modern then in keeping with how you dress day to day you might find going for something different takes your fancy. Or you may feel wearing something completely out of your comfort zone is not an option and need to think about the style that best reflects your personality.. At the end of the day you want to look like you and take advantage of the style you have created for yourself.

I know it sounds crazy but some women just don’t like shopping, if you’re a bride who steers clear of clothes shops then you probably have no idea when it comes to finding a wedding dress and what will suit you. So i suggest two things to start with:-

1. Deciding who to let in to your wedding dress secret crusade is essential, there is no need for a whole gang of your nearest and dearest to tag along, pick the one person who you trust to tell you the truth. You may think taking your most opiniated relative or friend screams disaster but you will thank them in the end, trust me.
   
   
2. Stay positive, start your first shopping trip with a clear head and be open minded, this is an exciting time and although you may not find your dream dress straight away you will have taken the first step in finding out about your own body and how to make what ever shape you are look amazing.

Whatever shape you are there is a dress out there just waiting to be found, so waste no more time and get yourself in that changing room. This simple guide will give you an insight into the styles and looks that suit all shapes, so simply take a look a good look in the mirror and decide what body shape you are.

Hour Glass

If your shoulders and your hips are the same width, with a well defined waste then you could be in wedding dress heaven. A style of wedding dress that pulls you in at the waist and accentuates your narrow waist is definitely the way to go, hiding those curves is not an option for you if you want to look spectacular!

So try dresses that have a fitted waist, a lace up corset dress will allow you to be pulled in at the waist and screams sexy bride. A ballgown style dress tends to have a skirt that gradually gets fuller at the bottom, this type of style will minimalise your waist. Any type of silhouette dress will look great on you, including the ultra modern mermaid dress also known as the trumpet, because this type of dress is figure hugging down to the knees and then flares out at the bottom creating a fishtail effect. for this style you have to be happy with your shape, there is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable with your shape on your day.

Image source: brides.com

Apple Shape

If you are an apple shape then you are widest around your middle, when picking a dress make sure you go for a low plunge neckline to attract the eye to the upper section, elongating your body with a high waistline and a skirt that flows away from the legs, an empire wedding dress or an A-line style are very flattering for this shape.

Image source: demetriosweddingdresses.blogspot.co.uk

Pear Shape

If you are blessed with a tiny top half and bigger bottom half then the best way to highlight your smaller frame up top and balance out the rest of your body is to wear a dress that pulls you in at the waist with a skirt that floats out right to the floor. It’s all about creating an illusion with your dress, for example a pear shaped figure in a fish tale style would hug your body in all the wrong places and even make you look bigger than you probably are!

Image source: comaredress.com

Finding out what shape you are will make looking for the perfect wedding dress a whole lot easier, and if you are just not sure what type of dress you should be looking for then trust in the people that are there to help you.

Happy Shopping!

Wednesday Wedspiration: Navy & White

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I cannot believe how fast the weeks go by!

This week's Wedspiration came from my cousin-in-law who said that she loves Navy and White! It's not a color combination I would think of myself when I think of weddings, but after creating this inspiration board, I think it looks really good! I love how nautical it is and that it isn't the traditional pinks and purples of a wedding, plus you don't have to worry about your "something blue"!

Top row: mywedding.com, alannahrose.com.au, elegantweddingconcept.com; Middle row: loveitsomuch.com, onewed.com, weddbook.com; Bottom row: bride.net, theknot.com, etsy.com, thegartergirl.com, hitched.com

What do you think about this color combination? xx

Guest Post: The Wedding School

Happy Saturday, everyone! It is absolutely gorgeous today here in the UK! There are some lucky couples getting married around the country today in this rare weather!

Today's post is a guest post from The Wedding School! Their concept is absolutely incredible, and I wish I had known about them when I was getting married!

Have a read and see what they're all about! Then check them out on their website and Twitter (@thewedschool)!

About wedding school:

Before I tell you a little about what wedding school is let me explain what it isn’t. Wedding School is not in the wedding planning business. I cannot advise you on the perfect colour scheme or where to buy your dream dress. There are plenty of wonderful planners out there who you can turn to for those details to ensure your day runs seamlessly and looks just how you envisioned.

Wedding planners are great for the planning but they are rarely able to advise you on all the legalities of getting married, the required preparations and what actually happens during the ceremony itself. Now of course your local register office can advise you on these areas but often assume you know as much as they do. They are also woefully under resourced and are simply not able to devote the time we would like in preparing for the biggest day of our lives. Making a mistake at the registration stage can not only cost time and money but could potentially stop the ceremony going ahead all together. An unthinkable and costly outcome for most of us.

So this is where wedding school comes in. What I do is more concerned with the preparation for the ceremony itself which, after all plays a very important part of the big day. Wedding School aims to answer all those questions that pop up when you start to think about your wedding day, questions that sometimes can seem a struggle to find the answer to.

Questions such as; where can I marry? What are the legal preparations? How do changes to the law regarding ceremonies affect me? What will be said in a civil ceremony? What is a celebrant?

A Wedding school workshop is an informal (hopefully) fun gathering where you will have all of your questions answered first with a presentation, then a question and answer session and lastly any follow up queries will be answered via email. We will also greet you with a glass of bubbly and encourage you to network with your fellow brides and grooms. Lastly Wedding School will give impartial advice.

Wedding School is me, Emma Richards. I am a qualified registrar and over the last few years have gained my experience working at one of London’s busiest and high profile register offices. I am also an accredited celebrant and a member of the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants.

I have attended hundreds of ceremonies ranging from small register office affairs to events on a somewhat grander scale at a variety of venues. Regardless of size and budget every couple deserves to be able to make properly informed choices to ensure they have the perfect ceremony carried out the way they want.

Wednesday Wedspiration: Lilac

Happy Hump Day, everyone! I asked for some ideas for my Wednesday Wedspiration Boards on my Facebook page, and some lovely people suggested a few color schemes! Today's theme is all about the color Lilac.

My husband's stepbrother's fiancee (confused, yet?) suggested this beautiful color as it is the color theme of her own wedding in August. It's such a gorgeous, versatile color. It goes with so many other colors. There is no need to stick to one shade, at all! I love the look of having all shades of purple mixed together for bouquets, decor and even bridesmaid dresses! Imagine how beautiful an ombre look of purples for bridesmaids dresses would look in your pictures!

What do you think about this color?


Have you checked out my Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest boards, yet?

Gift List Ideas

Traditionally, couples who are getting ready to get married visit a store in which they want to create their gift list. The items are usually online in a special link for the couple, and guests can go to that link to pick and choose which gifts they want to buy the happy couple. Watching movies featuring weddings, such as Bride Wars, showcase a couple visiting a store scanning items for their gift list. I have always wanted to do that! It always looks like so much fun.

Some really good stores to create your gift list in the UK are:

Debenhams - where you can find all kinds of home and kitchen goods

John Lewis - this is a more high-end store which also has great quality home goods

Not on the High Street- fun, quirky, usually great quality handmade goods! I absolutely love this shop for unique goods that you really wouldn't find in person. I highly recommend this shop for memorable, often personalised gifts.

Those who don't necessarily need gifts and have some sort of cause close to their heart, can have their guests simply donate to a charity or campaign, such as Cancer Research UK, as a gift to them. This is a great way to give back, especially when your house is already filled with what you need and your wedding costs are paid off.

These days, couples are creating a new tradition of living together before they get married. Although this has many benefits, it often creates a state of confusion as to how to ask their wedding guests for money instead of gifts, since they already have all the plates and linen they need. Money is a great way for wedding guests to contribute to the couple's honeymoon and wedding costs.

For our wedding, I found a cute poem online that was appropriate to ask guests for money instead of gifts, instead of just saying, "Give us money!" We wanted to let our guests know that their presence at our wedding was all that mattered, and that was a gift in itself. 

I found a couple of poems online I liked that I wanted to share with you: 

We are sending out this invitation

And hope you will join our celebration.

If to send a gift is your intention

In modesty we would like to mention,

We have already got a kettle and a toaster,

Crocker, dinner mats and coasters,

So rather than something we have already got, 

Please give us money for our saving pot.

But, most importantly, we request,

That you turn up as our wedding guest.

The wedding has come, it's here at last.

What present shall I get? I hear you ask.

A set of glasses, towels or a toaster,

Vases, plates or even some coasters.

These things we already have in our nest,

So if we may, we'd like to suggest

A gift of money would be best.

We know reading this, some may be offended.

We hope you're not as this wasn't intended,

But the life we have, we hope you agree,

Means being honest with you is the best way to be.

So please don't think we are being funny,

If we say "Can we just have money?"

So what will you be doing for gifts for your wedding?