Simple wedding dresses are a great choice for most any bride. You may want to keep it simple, or if you wish, you can easily jazz it up and completely change the look and feel of the dress simply by adding accessories. This is such an affordable and fun way to get the gown of your dreams and add things that you love—not things that are already there. Below is a rundown of top bridal accessories you can add to any plain dress to make it something special.

Bridal belts: Bridal belts hit the scene a few years ago and have become wildly popular. And we are not just talking sashes. We are talking wide belts that have beading such as pearls, crystals and rhinestones. The belt can have just one type of beading, or a mixture of all three. They also come with oversized fabric flowers, tulle, and more. The array that is available is vast and you are sure to find a style and color that suits your taste.

Jewelry: Of course jewelry is an obvious choice, but when you are trying to bring simple dress to life, thing big bold choices. Some brides love statement chandelier earrings, while others prefer tons of layered necklaces, pendent necklaces or a wide cuff bracelet. It is recommended that if you go with large earrings, don’t overdo it by adding a large necklace—and vice versa. The bracelet can be used with both looks.

Shoes: Shoes can absolutely make a look when it comes to the wedding ensemble, especially if your dress is a simple short style. Brightly colored shoes in red or blue are super trendy, as well as DIY bedazzled heels covered in rhinestones or crystals. It really transforms the simple dress into something that will wow your guests.

Hair pieces: Hair pieces are key in jazzing up a dress. But if you want to do it the right way, go bold with headbands or tiaras with lots of embellishment. You really want the headpiece to be the focal point of your look. Oversized flowers are also a lovely way to go and they come in a variety of different colors and styles. Just choose something that goes with the theme of your wedding and perhaps the color scheme. You won’t believe what a difference a statement hair piece will make.

If you shop around at different local retailers and online, you should be able to price match or find similar items at a lower cost.

Visit Bride Power to search through hundreds of bridal gown accessories, including hair adornments, jewelry sets, veils, and much more offered at discounted prices.

When you find the right bridal gown you will more than likely be ecstatic, and rightfully so. But, in your happiness, remember that there are important questions to be asked before you actually purchase the gown. There is much more that goes into actually getting the gown that you may think. Below are some questions to keep in mind and to ask your

1. How does the ordering process work?

Different shops will have different rules. So, inquire about how long it will take for the dress to arrive. Remember that custom made dresses take longer to receive than an off the runway gown.

2. How many fittings will you have and will the fitting service be included in the price?

You don’t want to be surprised by extra cost. Some shops will charge for each alteration or fitting visit. You want to come to an arrangement with the shop first.

3. How long will alterations take to complete?

Ask for an estimate about how long the alterations will take.  Will there be plenty of time to get them done? You want to order early enough as to not be stressed.

4. What undergarments are best for your wedding dress choice?

Remember, some come with a built-in bra or have a corset, in which case no bra is needed. Get specifics to look your very best in your dream dress.

5. What kind of deposit do you need to put down to order the dress?

You will need to find out what the deposit is on your dress and when the balance is due. Remember, as stated above, to allow for the cost of alterations and find out when that amount is payable. Some shops do installments while others have strict rules on when and how to pay.

6. How will your dress arrive to you?

Will it be in a dress bag or a box? After this is answered ask the best way to keep it clean and wrinkle free before the wedding. Some brides have their dress ready to go months before the actual wedding, so you need to know how to properly care for it.

7. What is the return policy?

Finally, ask about the return policy. What if you receive the dress and you have had a change of heart or the wrong size, color, etc. was ordered? What are your options? Will you lose your deposit? It is important to know this and to be prepared.

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Tattoos have become main stream once again and I often have brides asking me what they should do about their tattoos for their wedding day. Some brides prefer to cover them up while other brides prefer to display them because it is part of who they are. I found this image on Pinterest earlier this week and had to share! This bride choose to dress up her tattoo for her wedding! She used stick on rhinestones, body paint and glitter to turn her tattoo into a fabulous statement piece! I love this idea – you could literally customize your tattoos to match your wedding colours, your dress, your bouquet or whatever. So pretty and so unique!

It’s been a while since I posted a Dress Of The Week but today I found one that I just had to share!! This dress is gorgeous! I love the shirred bodice – it is great for slimming and lengthening your figure. The one-shoulder sleeve with flower accents gives this simple gown a touch of flare that’s absolutely perfect!

Plus – it’s available from House of Brides for an equally fabulous price of $225! Seriously!

You have done your best to ensure that your wedding ceremony is successful. You have the perfect location, experienced wedding planner and an excellent band, so what remains? Oh yeah, your wedding dress. On your wedding day the dress is the most important thing to you as a woman. That’s what your friends have come to see and will keep talking about for many months after the wedding. That’s what’s going to lift the value of your pictures. But wedding dresses don’t come cheap; costing between couple of hundreds to thousands. But do you really have to buy and expensive dress before you can have a perfect wedding? The answer is no. If you have little budget for your wedding dress and you still want to get something that will be admired, here are a few ways you can go about it.

Go Online

The first place you want to go if you’re looking for cheap but quality wedding dresses is online. Online stores provide you with the opportunity to browse through thousands of dress options, prices, designs and styles. Online dresses are cheap because the stores sell the dresses directly without the involvement of middlemen who generally contribute to the high pricing of wedding dresses. However you need to take caution when purchasing dresses online. Make sure you supply the actual measurement and buy only from stores that have return policy in case you don’t like the cloth when you see it in the physical.

Buy A Used Dress

Yes, used dresses usually come very cheap and affordable, and most of them are not actually used but pre-owned. They are dresses offered for sale by brides who have called off their wedding or have purchased more than one dress. Again, the best place to find great deals for pre-owned or used dresses is to go online.

Rent A Dress

You rent the car, location and tables and chairs, why not the wedding dress. After all you’re only going to wear it only once and it’s allover. You can find stores that rent out wedding dresses in your area by doing online search. Write down a list of stores and find out how much they rent out their dresses before you go to the store in person. This will help save time and get you the best deals.

Buy Off The Rack

Buying off the rack simply means buying a sample dress on display at bridal stores. If you order a dress it will be custom-made for you, but bridal stores will sell their fixed-size sample dresses for you if all you’ll require is minor alterations.

Borrow A Dress

If you have a relative, friend or colleague who doesn’t mind you making alterations to their wedding gown, then you should consider contacting them to save you plenty of money, buying a wedding dress. After all most people just store away their wedding gown in the stores never to use it again. Borrowing a dress from someone close to you – like your mother – will help develop additional emotional feelings between the two of you.

Make A Dress

If you have experience making dresses and you’ve never had any reasons to practice it, you have one now. So go get the sowing machine ready, buy materials and sow your own wedding dress by yourself. DIY gives you the chance to do whatever you like with your dress and make it look really unique; you could get calls to make dresses for other people if you really do this very well. And if you don’t know how to sew you can get some else around to do it for you. It’s all the same.

Emily Peters recently got married and she found the perfect dress online along with a guide on popular wedding hymns to play on the day so she loves the internet for giving her a perfect wedding.

When you dream of your wedding, you think of the happiness, the joy, the sharing of lives.  And, if you are like millions of brides around the world, you think of your dress!  The dress is a key element of any wedding day.  When guests arrive, they eagerly await two things: the cake and the dress.  When the bride enters the church or venue, everyone stands up (to get a better view of the dress, of course!).  But most importantly, the right dress helps the bride look – and feel – her best on this day.  And when the bride shines, everything else just falls into place.  What should you consider when buying a wedding dress?

Remember your price point.  Set a budget – and stick to it!  Whether you can spend $300 or $3,000, you can be sure that you can find a fantastic dress.  You can look online at sites like the DressMarket, at local bridal retail stores, and other sources. Etsy, for instance, has some fantastic designs that are unique and absolutely stunning.  Even upscale stores have as-is options and samples that are reduced in price.  While we all love $10,000 Vera Wang gowns, we can find the dress for less.

Think about what you want before you shop.  It can be overwhelming to walk into a dress shop.  Either everything looks great, or nothing looks right. You can easily get lost in layers of tulle, sweetheart necklines, and silhouettes.  To avoid the wedding dress daze, think about what you want ahead of time. Look through bridal magazines and online to see which features you like best.  It can make it much easier, for instance, if you know you want beading, a long train, and a straight-cut neckline.  You are always free to change your mind, but at least you can eliminate some “noise” right away.

Timing.  You have to think about when to purchase your dress.  It is best to start shopping for your dress about a year before your wedding, if you can.  That way, you will have time to find the right dress and order it. This should be done at least six months before the big day.  When ordering your dress, think about alterations as well.

Do you plan on losing weight before your wedding?  Do you plan on gaining weight (as many pregnant brides do)?  It can be tricky to plan for weight changes, but do plan on having a dress that can be altered, and have a seamstress lined up to handle the changes for you.

Time of year/setting of the wedding.  A sleeveless, backless gown may not be the best choice for a January wedding, nor will a heavy, long-sleeved affair be great for your July nuptials.  While you do have a style in mind, it is important to have comfort in mind as well.  Choosing a weather-appropriate dress is important for your own comfort, but it also sets the tone for the rest of the wedding and reception.

Also consider if your wedding is going to be held outdoors or indoors.  Is a mermaid style gown too much for a simple garden party wedding?  Is your straight sheath dress too understated for a lavish affair?  These details matter and choosing well will help create a stunning wedding, from start to finish.

Your style.  The most important thing to consider when buying your wedding dress is, of course, your sense of style and comfort.  If, for instance, you love dressing up in lacy, feminine clothes, then it makes sense to have an elaborate, embellished dress.  But if you are much more likely to wear a t-shirt and jeans, chances are that you will not be comfortable in such an extravagant dress.

Don’t force yourself to conform to a style that is just not you.  The good news is that there are so many designs today that you can find the right dress, whether you prefer wild and outrageous or simple and clean.  You may want to be the traditional bride in white; or you may want to shine in red.  Whatever you like, incorporate your style into your wedding. This is your day.

Spending the time to think about what you want, and search for it, is well worth it.  When you have the dress of your dreams, it will show in your face, your body, and every movement you make on your big day.

Pinkchic18 is a style lover with a passion for affordable wedding planning and a contributor to the Wedding Favors Unlimited Advice Blog.  Save up to 40% on wedding collections by visiting Wedding Favors Unlimited today.

This gown is gorgeous – simple and romantic. I love the big flower and the little cap sleeves – so pretty! OH and did I mention – it has pockets? The gown is made from silk taffeta with satin and lace trim and can be customized to your size, color choice, etc.   The price = a fabulous $460 from Edelweiss Bride on Etsy!

Love it!

Offbeat Bride recently posted pictures from the Starkers! Corsetrys runway and I am in love with this dress! I always like gowns with black detailing but this one is stunning. I love the silhouette and the bodice detailing. The lace on the skirt is a great touch as well. The designer does a lot of custom work so you could probably get something similar in other colors as well.

For more details: http://offbeatbride.com/2012/05/starkers-corsetrys-offbeat-bride-inspired-gowns