Archive for category Bridal Gowns & Accessories

I thought I would take a second to let you know the results of our poll so far! If you have already purchased your wedding dress – or are already married- you were able to vote and this is what our readers said:

Out of 39 votes:

28% (11) paid under $250

26% (10) paid $250-$500

28% (11) paid between $500 – $1000

12% (5) paid $1000 – $2000

3% (1) paid over $2000

3% (1) paid over $3000

Increasing numbers of American brides are thinking about doing the formerly unthinkable — getting married in a bold red gown.

Not that red is a stranger to marriage. Hardly. Red plays a major role in Chinese, Hindu, and some Muslim weddings, and was a popular choice in medieval times. But for modern Westerners? Yes — we too are starting to marry in red. At least some of us.

It’s been happening more and more in Europe over the past decade. Maybe that’s because Europe recalls long stretches of time when wedding gowns weren’t white. For eons, a woman simply wore her best dress — one she could certainly use again — although to keep luck on her side she might gravitate to certain colors and avoid others. With all the choices, it was harder to keep the good colors straight, so the folk world offered a poem with a few fortunate outcomes and many poor ones:

Married in White, you have chosen right …Married in Brown, you will live in the town …

Married in Blue, you will always be true …

Blue gowns were popular since early times, since blue represented purity and the Virgin Mary. This tradition continues in the “something blue” a bride wears today. White was less common, especially among anything other than the bluest bluebloods, because of its difficulty in coming clean in the wash.

But eventually, several big players popularized white, most notably the fashion hound Queen Victoria. Ever since — especially in a world where clothes are mass-produced and a woman can afford many dresses, even one she’ll only wear once — white’s been all the rage.

Yet even more recently, some have found this timeworn symbol of purity and affluence a little constricting. Some brides want a little less predictability and more choice. And not everyone looks good in white, as some brides point out.

While a percentage of European brides have snapped up dramatic red gowns for the past decade, Americans have been more cautious. It’s only been about the past four years that tentative pastel washes and small colored accents have made the scene here.

That’s beginning to change. A small but growing number of brides — and designers — are getting bolder. Formal, stunning, all-red gowns are making inroads into Christmas or holiday weddings, especially the cozy kind in front of a crackling hearth. You’ll see more red at Valentine weddings, rose-themed weddings, and Las Vegas weddings — not to mention second weddings where the bride’s more apt to select exactly what she feels good in, and nothing less.

Thinking of red for yourself? Maybe your forebears did too. During the American Revolution, it wasn’t uncommon for brides show their support for the rebellion by donning a red dress.

Fortunately, these days it’s not a political statement. A bride wears red because she wants to. She’s comfortable with herself and with the dress she finds most beautiful — even if that choice still raises some eyebrows in the back of the chapel.

About the Author

Blake Kritzberg is editor at FavorIdeas.com. Stop by now for gorgeous and unique wedding favors, celebrity wedding news, and inventive theme ideas. Learn more about the red wedding dress.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Kritzberg

Looking for a red wedding gown you can afford? Red wedding gowns can be hard to find and a seamstress can cost you a fortune! Chrys Cross Bridal has hundreds of styles, starting as low as $199 – which can be made in any color you wish: including red!

Okay – so we all love a nice rock – but it’s often a tough part of the budget. I love Bidz.com – in fact, I purchased both my wedding band and my husband’s wedding band there 2 years ago! My wedding band is a 10K white gold band. Basically, its a channel band but the three center diamonds are raised. It sold for $599 locally, and I paid $68. My husband’s tungstun band would have been $300 here, we paid $26! We went with Bidz because unlike regular auction sites – Bidz is a private site run by a jeweler and items are not listed by random members of the public.

Tips for using Bidz.com:

- know you spending limit, and make sure you read the description so you know what you are bidding for

- don’t bid right away, unless you LOVE it. They put up new stuff every few hours, so if you watch for a few days you will find something you really love

Many brides are leary about shopping online. You’ve probably heard of at least one person who’s gotten a GREAT deal online, but you’ve also heard of many how have gotten taken for a ride. SO can you really save money online? Why are online prices so much cheaper? And how can you avoid being scammed?

First of all YES YES YES!!!!!!!! If you are working on budget, you can save a great deal of money online!

WHY? How come online prices are so much cheaper? The main reason is the lack of overhead an online business incurs! There is no need to pay for a store front and merchandising, less need to staff members and sales teams, etc. Many of these expences are coverd by the price of your wedding gown, and so when these expenses are not there, the price can drop! That is why online retailers can afford to offer prices 50% or more below the bridal salon price!

And the biggest question: How can you avoid being scammed! Here are some simple tips to help you safe gaurd your self and your money!

1. Pay with an insured source: most major credit cards have purhcase insurance, and many major payment processors, like PayPal, offer buyers insurance on purchases as well. This is much safer then money orders, cash or cheques.

2. Look for contact information. If the company is not willing to provide a name, street address and telephone number, that is already a warning sign!

3. Ask questions! If you have any questions or concerns, voice them! If the company is serious about customer service, their quick responses will prove it! If not, poor customer service BEFORE a sale is a pretty good sign to stay away!

4. Keep Everything! Until you get the item and verify it is what you wanted – keep copies of all e-mails and any transactions, and bookmark the site:) this way you can refer back to it easily.

A little bit of planning can go a long way to saving you big money online!

Dress Shown: Orchid, Chrys Cross Bridal, $199