Bridal Party Fashion

As a bride you get to choose a few of your closest friends or family members to join your bridal party, and share a special part of your day with you. Part of the fun for both the bride and the bridesmaids, is choosing the bridesmaid dresses.  How can you not have a blast while trying on dresses 3 sizes to small for you in some very unflattering colors! Traditionally all of the bridesmaids will wear the same dress in the same color, and wear matching accessories.  More and More, we are seeing brides choose an alternate route.  Brides are opting for the bridesmaids to either wear varying styles of dresses in the same color, or have them wear any style of dress in a range of similar hues.  These options not only allow each bridesmaid to choose a style that best suits her body style, but it also shows a lot of personality and spunk.  Throw some flashy and colorful heels into the mix for some extra flare.

It is never too early to start thinking details such as your bridal party’s attire. In most cases it takes up to 3 months if not longer, to get your dresses after they have been ordered.  If your wedding falls in the prime wedding months such as April through June, or September through November, there may even be a bit of a delay because the manufacturers may get backed up. Think of colors, and styles that will compliment you and your dress, as well as your overall theme.

Chic One Shoulder dresses are in style right now, as well as gray, metallic, and purple tones.

Brides, if you are racking your brain on what to get your bridesmaids consider picking out matching necklaces or accessories for them to wear.  If you do decide to buy jewelry for your bridesmaids, consider buying jewelry that will stand out from far away and in pictures.

Here are some of the popular designers for Bridesmaid dresses that you should be able to find in your local Wedding Dress Shops.

Alfred Angelo
Davids Bridal
The Dessy Group (After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose, & Cynthia Rowley)
Jessica McClintock
Mori Lee

For help finding local dress shops, check out our Directory!

Real Northern California Weddings

Veronica & Daniel
Chico, CA
10.10.10

With all of the planning leading up to my wedding day in October, I had begun to get overwhelmed with all of the details. Eventually, I let myself stop stressing and try to enjoy everything that was happening. I knew my vendors had everything under control so it was time for me to just be a Bride!

Initially I had wanted to hire a wedding coordinator, but I had confidence that I could handle organizing the details myself, and although there were a few rough patches I must say everything went rather smooth!  (Believe me when I say I was far from a DIY Bride)

My theme was black and white damask, with an accent of red. (Oh and of course some bling)  When I booked WeDo Designs, I knew that the owner, Rabina Khan really understood my vision and from samples of her work I knew she would be able to exceed my expectations.

The wedding venue was The Card Center in Chico, which offers an outdoor area for the ceremony as well as indoor reception area with a patio for the cocktail hour.   The Card Center staff provided me with a floor plan of the reception area, and we were able to work on the layout
and plan out how the tables and chairs would be set up.  We also decided we would use floor to ceiling fabric, and up-lighting to really transform the room. See the before and after photos below.

When I met Lisa Hunter of Lisa’s Flor Décor, I was hooked on her artistic creations with flowers and centerpieces. I had so many different pictures of designs I liked, but she was able to choose designs and flowers that were cohesive with my wedding theme. She made sure that the centerpieces were an appropriate height for the room and really accomplished what I had asked of her. I loved that she was willing to mix things up and play with different heights and centerpiece ideas.
When it came to the altar, Lisa brought my vision to life and I couldn’t have been happier with how it turned out.

I really loved our aisle, and Lisa’s Flor Decor made a beautiful Monogrammed “E” covered in Roses.

Speaking of flowers, every bride dreams of walking down the aisle holding her beautiful bouquet! I loved the mix of flowers used in the my bouquet, and the Gerbera Daisy’s had a dark center which matched the bridesmaid dresses.

I wore a Casa Blanca wedding gown and the Bridesmaids wore Black Alfred Angelo gowns with Red Accents.

Daniel wore a black Tuxedo with a White Vest, and the Groomsmen wore Black Tuxedos with Red Accents from Mens Wearhouse.

What is a wedding celebration without appetizers and a delicious dinnner? Leslie with Shelly’s Creative Catering really brought her A game to the wedding and not only was the food amazing but she was also great at keeping the festivities on schedule. The cocktail hour consisted of an open bar, fruits, cheese and crackers, and veggies, followed by a tri-tip and chicken buffet dinner.

Christy, with Christy’s Creations created a cake that tasted amazing and fit perfectly into our theme. It was a three-tierd white cake with fondant.

The photo-booth was a blast, and the photos served as our wedding favors. Chico Photo and Video brought the booth to the reception, provided props and also a cd of the photos for us to be able to see all of the pictures. Having the props really added to the fun, and since there was no limit on how many pictures we could take I think the kids at the wedding probably went in the booth over 20 times!


Tracy with Tracy Lynn Photography captured some great shots, and really made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. She knew I wasn’t a picture person so she really had a challenge on her hands!

Cheers!

To the Bride to be, from her Bridesmaids…

Dear Bride to be,

We your bridesmaids, have a few things to say.

We are your best friends (except for the 2nd cousin  that your Mom insisted on because you were a mercy bridesmaid in her wedding)

We adore you. We love you. We would do anything for you.EXCEPT wear that dress that you pointed out in the magazine last week.

We are so happy that you are getting married, and we love your Fiance (well all of us except you-know-who, but that’s a different story all together), but if we have to hear the proposal story ONE MORE TIME we will gag you with that Tiffany’s box you carry around in your purse to prove where that rock you wave around came from.

Helping you plan your wedding is our duty and responsibility and we will all pitch in and do all we can. BUT if you call at 3 am AGAIN to tell us about the epiphany you just had about floral arrangements, we will be forced to confiscate and destroy your iPhone with its “Bride to be” glitter cover.

When the big day comes, we will all stand by your side, hold up your dress when you pee, fetch you champagne in between picture sessions, apply your bandaids to the blisters that your gorgeous but one size too small shoes cause on your heels. We will dance with your new husbands weird cousins and put up with your drunk aunt and her stories about how she always knew you would marry so well…. but so help us if your creepy uncle tries to cop a feel, there will be a dance floor smack down.

Remember that being your bridesmaids is our honor BUT not our reason to live…and we will all get through this in one piece.

Love Always,

Your Bridesmaids

On the road to ‘I Do’ Melissa and Gavin

Melissa is a very special to The 530 Bride team and so we are so very happy for her and so very excited to do thisfeature!

When we asked Melissa to be one of our featured brides she sent me a beautiful reply with the details of their engagement and wedding. Instead of repeating her… I will just share what she had to say.

We are both very dedicated people, not only to one another, but to our aspirations and dreams. I just graduated with my Teaching Credential in December 2010 and Gavin graduated with his Bachelors of Science soon following in March 2011. We are now in a new branch of our lives, anxiously looking forward into the future that’s fast approaching.

Everyone describes us as the couple that are meant for one other. We compliment each others differences and laugh at ourselves often.

Gavin proposed to me on 12/11/10. We went up to Grass Valley for his mom and step-dad’s house warming party for their new home they purchased only a few months before. We were all wandering around talking to each other. Gavin’s mom called everyone to gather around the living room to hear the minister bless their home. He read selections from the book, saying a blessing for different rooms in the house. After he was done and everyone applauded, it seemed everyone wa

s going back to their conversations and that is when Gavin said, “Excuse me, can I have everyone’s attention please? I have something I want to say, since we are all gathered around I’ll say it now..” He got down on one knee next to me and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

Our wedding is going to be in Chico, California at The Palms. The ceremony will be outdoors in the garden surrounded by the Koi ponds and cabanas. The reception will be at the same location, only indoors in their Pavillion building. Our DJ is Dream Lighting and Sound, also the owner of The Palms. Our photographer is from Sacramento, Robinson Portraits. Also from Sacramento, our videographer Reel to Real Productions. We will be using the photo booth vendor that Veronica and Danny Enns used because we loved it so much! For the flowers and decor(centerpieces, linens, place settings, embellishments, etc) my mom and I will be doing it all mostly ourselves. We are having my step dad, Corey cook the food. Last, but not least, liquor is being provided by Finnegin’s Jug.

The color theme is turquoise, pink, and chocolate brown. The bridesmaids will be wearing dresses unique and specially hand made by my mom. The groomsmen will be wearing tuxedos from Men’s Warehouse that are black with turquoise vests to match the bridesmaid dresses.

The 530 Bridesmaid (and Bride of course) will be attending Melissa and Gavin’s wedding so stay tuned for a post on their amazing day!

Wedding Planning 101: Timeline!

No matter where you are in your wedding planning, staying organized is important.  Part of being organized is to refer to a timeline and checklist to make sure you don’t have a last-minute wedding crisis on your hands.  If you have a wedding coordinator they should be assisting you with creating an outline of the planning process, and helping you stay on track.  There are many wedding planning resources and tools out there, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Depending on how far out your wedding date is, you should be able to space out the time-line so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.  Word of advice: ask your fiance to help you with the parts that he can help you with because it is his wedding too! If he can’t help you then look to your friends and family because chances are they are pretty excited for you and would love to help.

Below is a checklist that we found online, and thought it was very helpful.  Depending on how large or small your wedding is, some of the items may or may not apply.  Click here to download or print this checklist.

Check back for next weeks article, “Wedding Planning 101: Wedding Budget”

9-12 months before the wedding

• Officially announce your engagement
• Decide on who pays for what and set an overall budget
• Set a wedding date (consult with registry office and officiant)
• Decide on the type of wedding (formal, semi-formal, informal…)
• Book reception site (liability insurance necessary?) and arrange parking
• Book ceremony location (liability insurance necessary?)
• Decide whether you need/want pre-marital counseling
• Get some useful wedding checklists or prepare your own ones
• Hire wedding planner if you wish
• Start first draft of your guest list

6-9 months before the wedding

• Announce wedding date (especially for out-of-town guests)
• Start shopping for wedding dress, shoes, jewelry etc.
• Decide on bridesmaids dresses
• Organize (flower) decoration and bouquets
• Hire catering service
• Hire wedding photographer/videographer
• Hire DJ/band
• Choose officiant and discuss ceremony process
• Start thinking about gift registry options
• Reserve hotel rooms (in varying price ranges) for out-of-town guests
• Have an engagement party if you wish
• Book honeymoon

4-6 months before the wedding

• Select and order wedding invitations and stationery
• Choose wedding cake
• Discuss menu ideas with catering service
• Arrange for rental items (arches, candelabras, china, crystal, flatware…)
• Buy wedding rings
• Organize groom’s tux and decide what groomsmen will wear
• Make sure bridesmaids ordered their gowns and decide on accessories
• Look for wedding favors
• Confirm dates for bridal shower and bachelorette parties
• Start registry (before sending bridal shower invitations)
• Get ideas for wedding hair and makeup
• Organize helpers (readers, musicians, guest book attendant etc.)
• Organize additional management staff, babysitters etc.
• Give guest list to shower hostesses
• Decide whether you want wedding insurance

2-4 months before the wedding

• Finalize guest list and send invitations
• Select place for rehearsal dinner
• Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
• Finalize menu
• Select music for ceremony, reception etc.
• Book makeup artist and hairstylist
• Check tuxes for groom and groomsmen have been ordered
• Organize wedding transportation (for you and your guests)
• Order wedding favors
• Find gifts for each other, your attendants, shower hostess, parents etc.
• Purchase bridal party gifts
• Purchase wedding accessories (candles, baskets, ring pillow etc.)
• Check registry regularly (there always have to be enough options left)
• Joint bank accounts, insurance, merging of money…
• Start preparations for honeymoon
• Send invitations 8 weeks before wedding date

1-2 months before the wedding

• Have first bridal gown fitting
• Schedule a final fitting for your gown so it can be ready for formal bridal portrait
• Finalize ceremony readings, songs, etc.
• Design wedding programs
• Meet with officiant to finalize ceremony
• Arrange “Bridesmaid Luncheon” and other “Pre-Wedding Parties”
• Write vows
• Set appointment with photographer for your formal bridal portrait.
• Prepare photo and video shot list
• Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state
• Discuss and finalize details with wedding service providers

3-4 weeks before the wedding

• Get marriage license (normally no earlier than 30 days before wedding)
• Arrange name change
• Mail rehearsal-dinner invitations
• Meet with stylist to discuss makeup and hair
• Confirm hotel arrangements for out-of-town guests

1-2 weeks before the wedding

• Call guests who have not responded to invitation
• Make final payments for all services that require payment
• Have final wedding gown fitting
• Finalize wedding-day schedule and share with attendants, parents and all vendors
• Pick up wedding dress and make sure all accessories are together
• Reconfirm all wedding plans: ceremony, reception site, florist, photo/videographer, musicians, DJ, baker, honeymoon
• Give caterer/reception site final head count
• Provide wedding party and out-of-town guests with itinerary and maps
• Prepare emergency kit with needle, thread, safety pins, tape, mirror, etc.
• Give someone at home emergency numbers of honeymoon locations, credit card numbers etc.
• Finalize seating arrangements
• Prepare place cards
• Prepare “wedding box” for ceremony accessories
• Prepare “reception box” for reception accessories
• Prepare wedding favors for transportation
• Complete seating plan for reception
• Confirm all rental and floral delivery dates and times
• Confirm arrival times for attendants
• Pack for wedding night and honeymoon

The day before the wedding

• Prepare payment envelopes, choosing who is responsible for each one
• Hand out assignment lists and checklists to ensure everyone knows their tasks
• Hand out ceremony box to appropriate person
• Hand out reception box to appropriate person
• Hand out favor box to appropriate person
• Give rings to best man
• Gather wedding dress and all accessories
• Get a manicure, pedicure, massage
• Rehearse ceremony with officiant and wedding party
• Confirm flight arrangements for honeymoon
• Compile an emergency list of all wedding vendors with phone numbers

The wedding day

• Try to eat breakfast
• See hairdresser
• Have makeup applied
• Don’t forget rings (if you haven’t given them to best man) and wedding license
• Take a relaxing bath

After wedding

• Get wedding gown cleaned and preserved
• Preserve bouquet
• Write and send thank-you notes
• Complete process of name change
• Finalize gift registry
• Meet with photographer/videographer to finalize albums/video

(Photo Credit: weddingbycolor.com/Timeline Courtesy of http://www.myweddingchecklist.net/wedding-timeline-checklist)

Looking for a Hot Deal?

For those of you who haven’t heard, Corwin’s Bridal in Chico is offering a store-closing sale at the Cohasset location which was formerly Suzanne’s Bridal.  Early last year Corwins Bridal quietly bought out Suzanne’s Bridal, after they moved from their downtown location to Suzanne’s location on Cohasset.

Corwins is now closing the Cohasset location and moving back to the Downtown Chico location on West Third Street.  Due to less space, they are down-sizing their inventory significantly.  So what does that mean for brides?  “Wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride gowns, flower girl dresses and other inventory purchased off of the rack will be discounted anywhere from 20-50%,” according to one of the managers in the store.

For brides who are interested in buying a dress of the rack, that would mean the dress is “as-is” so the store would most likely not offer refunds or returns.  The upside to buying your dream gown off of the rack is that not only will you get a great deal, but you will not have to wait the 3-5 month period to get your dress from the manufacturer.

Choose from a wide selection of wedding gowns made by designers including Maggie Sottero, Allure, Mori Lee, Casa Blanca, Victoria’s and many more.  They carry bridesmaid dresses by Forever Yours, Jessica McClintock, Alfred Sung, Dessi and Mori Lee.
The manager we spoke with stated that the transition would not interfere with any of the current order times, and should not affect customers in any way.

So stop by Corwins Bridal and Tuxedo on Cohasset at 169 Cohasset Road in Chico, or call (530) 342-6521 for more details.

Fashionista Brides

How does a bride capture her personality and style, while still wearing a classy and elegant gown?  Look to the runways for the newest trends! We are seeing a lot of vintage inspired gowns, and several designers are incorporating colors into their bridal collections. Some of the biggest names are Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Amsale and Badgley Mischka and they are making waves in the Bridal Fashion World. (pictured left to right: Vera Wang & Badgley Mischka Spring 2011)

 

Say Cheese!

There are many ways to capture the memories and kodak moments of your big day. From the professional photos or videos taken by your photographer, to candid snapshots taken by your guests.  A photobooth gives you a combination of the two, because the photos are taken with a professional camera and it is just plain fun!

Photobooth companies often supply props and costume pieces that allow the guests to take as many playful pictures as they want.  You can have your names and date or monogram printed onto the photo strips so that they become a keepsake for you and for your guests.  Give your guests the option to keep half of the photo strip and place the other half into your scrapbook where they can write a personalized note to you.  Keep in mind that in most cases you will get a cd with all of the pictures on it for you to enjoy, and make extra prints if necessary.

So in between the father daughter dance and your bouquet toss just throw on a cowboy hat and some oversized sunglasses and have a unique photo with your friends and family forever!

Check out these examples of Photobooth Fun, and don’t forget to checkout our directory to find local photo booth rentals.
 

To veil..or not to veil…

When you picture a bride, do you think of a woman in a white dress with a veil and a bouquet of flowers?

Although there are many different variations of wedding traditions among different cultures, It is fair to say that most people still associate a bride with a flowing white veil.

Traditional, but not a mandatory accessory these days because times have changed; but where did this tradition come from anyway?

We have consistently found evidence of veils being worn as early on in Europe as the time of the Crusades. At a time of arranged marriages, the groom would often be seeing his bride for the first time when he lifted her veil.

Veils were used as a symbol of virginity and purity for brides given to their mates. Through the years the veil styles have changed somewhat dramatically.

Veils come in many different lengths, from single up to three tiers (layers) and can be anywhere from short blusher veils to floor length or cathedral length which is up to 120 inches long.

In addition to a veil many brides also wear a headpiece such as a tiara, headband or clips.  Depending on the hairstyle you choose for your wedding day, you have a lot of options for how you want to wear your veil if you decide to wear one.

For more helpful info on veils, or custom veils online checkout http://www.veilubridal.com/.

Tell us what you think about this topic by taking our poll!

My baby sister got married…

Veronica was reluctant to start out with a feature of her own wedding…mostly because she hates being the center of attention…welllllll….since I’m the one doing the typing today… I say we start with a feature on my beautiful little sister and her beautiful wedding.

Veronica became Mrs. Enns on October 10th, 2010 in Chico. It was a gorgeous day and a gorgeous ceremony. Here is a little video slideshow I put together…

Just so all of you ladies (and gents) out there know that we know what you’re going through. Planning a beautiful wedding is hard work…but so worth it in the end….and we hope that we can help!

-Alisha