What will Snookie wear for her wedding! 47 comments

Ok so we can’t know for sure but it sure is fun to speculate. What do you think of this dress for the Queen of Jersey shore?

Single Shoulder Dress Trend Great for Bridesmaids 157 comments

5 Mistakes Brides Make When Shopping for Their Wedding Dress 54 comments

Leah from SmartBride Boutique stops in for another guest post

Shopping for a wedding dress is supposed to be fun, right? It should be one of those quintessential experiences in life that you’ll never forget (uhhh, no pressure!) However, if you’re having trouble deciding, you don’t feel like you’ve found THE ONE, or you’re onto your 6th store, it can be a very overwhelming experience.

Anjolique 2053 Wedding Dress available on SmartBride Boutique. Photo by Jamyes Van Hees

Whether you know EXACTLY the style of dress you want, or this is the first time you’ve gone shopping for a fancy dress, the experts at SmartBrideBoutique.com can help.  They’ve compiled feedback from hundreds of brides, not to mention their own wedding dress shopping experiences, into their list of Top 5 Mistakes NOT to Make When Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

1. Don’t Take Too Many People!

We’ve heard so many horror stories about brides who dress shop with a serious entourage.  Remember, there is such a thing as too many opinions, so choose your shopping assistants wisely. Make it clear they are providing their opinion on what looks good on you, not their own ideas of what you SHOULD be wearing. The most important thing is that you feel amazing.  Don’t live out other people’s fantasies or fashions.

2. Don’t Be Close Minded.

You’ve probably poured over dresses in bridal magazines to get an idea of the style of dress you think you want. A word of caution: don’t get fixated on one style until you’ve tried a variety of silhouettes, necklines, textures (lace, beading etc) and shades of white!

Often times your dream dress from the magazine doesn’t flatter your body type.  Try on several silhouettes first to determine what looks best on your body type, then move on to try different necklines, colors and textures.

3. Don’t Be Trigger Happy.

Before you fantasize too much about your wedding dress, determine the vision for your wedding – including venue, time of year and theme.  If you buy before you’ve decided on these factors, you might wind up buying a second dress because the first one no longer fits. Trust us, it happens more than you think! For example, if you’re having a destination wedding on a beach somewhere, you likely don’t want a princess wedding dress.

Above all, remind yourself to slow down and enjoy the experience. Enlist a close friend whose opinion you trust.  They’ll help you avoid pressure from sales people (and maybe your family) to “just buy something already!”  Take your time to try on a variety of dresses so that you really know when you’ve found “the one”.

4. Don’t Continue to Shop after you’ve found “the one”.

While you don’t want to pull the trigger too fast and buy a dress you’ll regret later (see above), you also DO NOT want to continue to shop for your dress after you’ve purchased one. Continuing to look generally results in doubling your wedding dress budget, and might mean sacrificing in other areas of your wedding.

5. Don’t Go Over Budget (If you can help it!)

You likely already have an idea of what you want to pay for your dream dress.  Whether your budget is $300 or $3000, try to stick to it!  There is no sense going into a store and trying on dresses that are way out of your budget, it will only end in disappointment.  Plus, remember to include extra costs like alterations when making your decision.  Sample or once worn dresses may also require cleaning BEFORE the wedding.

If you do fall in love with a dress that’s slightly out of your budget, consider searching online.  SmartBrideBoutique.com has thousands of sample wedding gowns and used wedding dresses that are 30 to 70% less than retail.

About SmartBride Boutique:

SmartBride Boutique is North America’s premium wedding classifieds website where brides can buy, sell and save on everything wedding.  Find wedding dresses, bridesmaids’ dresses, accessories, decorations, and more for 50% off!

Expert Advice: How to Sell Your Wedding Dress 49 comments

Now that wedding season is winding down and wedding bills are piling up, we chatted with our friends at SmartBrideBoutique.com to get some tips on how to recover some money from your recent wedding. Their number one piece of advice? Consider selling your wedding dress (and other wedding items) online!

Vera Wang VW351011 wedding dress being sold on SmartBride Boutique

By selling your wedding dress, wedding accessories and wedding décor items online, you can:

• Recoup about 50% of the cost of your items
• Clear up space to make room for shared closets
• Love the Earth! Recycling a wedding gown reduces carbon emissions from shipping
• Get karma points by helping another bride save on her wedding

Not sure how to get started? Here are 7 tips to help you sell your wedding dress:

1. There’s no time like the present!
Post your dress for sale as soon after your wedding as possible. You’re not going to wear it again, so why leave it hanging in your closet? Used dresses continue to hold their resale value for roughly 2 - 3 years after they’re purchased and worn (depending on the style) but generally sell for the most money within the first year.

2. Price it Right
Many recently married brides wonder what exactly to sell their dress for. Here’s what we recommend as a pricing guideline:

• 50 - 70% of the original value for a NEW designer gown that’s still in stores
• 50% of original value for a USED designer gown from the last two years
• 30% to 40% of original value for a USED custom-made gown
• Reduce the price further if your dress has not been cleaned, is stained/damaged or is more than two years old

3. Use a Fabulous Photo
Buyers will want to see your dress looking its best, so be sure to use photos that show off the potential of your dress. After all, it could a potential buyer’s dream wedding dress!

When selling your dress online it’s best to include:

• A full length picture of the front & back of your dress (preferably on a person or mannequin)
• A close-up picture of any detailing, beading or embellishments on your dress
• A close-up picture of any damage or stains on the dress.
• A picture from the manufacturer

Posting less than stellar photos (i.e. on a hanger, a badly lit photo etc.) or no photo at all, will make it more difficult for the potential buyer to visualize the dress and could hurt your chances of selling your dress.

4. Be Specific

• Brides will be scanning many listings in their search for a wedding dress, so providing more information will likely sell your dress more quickly
• Be specific about color, brand and model number. Often, brides-to-be will try the dress on in a store before they search online for a budget-friendly version, so the more information you can provide, the better.

5. List any Alterations
It’s important to be up-front about the condition of your dress. Describe any alterations that were made and specify whether or not they’re reversible.

For example, the original dress might have been a size 10, but if it was altered to fit a size 8, buyers need to know. Let brides-to-be know of any damage to the dress such as stains, tears or runs. Be honest and you won’t waste your time or their time.

6. Get it Cleaned
It’s important to clean your dress right away. A clean dress communicates to the buyer that you have cared for and loved your dress, and presents better.

7. Be Prepared to Sell!
Once your dress is posted with great pictures and all the details, ensure both you and your home are ready to show the dress to potential buyers.

3 easy steps to prepare for the sale:

• Make time to meet interested brides-to-be. Try to be available on evenings and weekends if possible.
• Create a place for brides-to-be to try on the dress, preferably a private space with a full length mirror.
• Be ready to negotiate the price and know your limits so you can make decisions on-the-spot.

About SmartBride Boutique:
SmartBrideBoutique.com is a premium wedding classifieds website, helping today’s savvy brides create the wedding day of their dreams on a realistic budget without sacrificing designer names, fabulous style or the environment. Past and present brides connect online to buy, sell and save on everything wedding. Smart Brides can have their cake and eat it too!

What’s better than dress shopping? Dress shopping with champagne! 13 comments

Find the dress, and everything else falls into place. You had always planned to have your girlfriends help in the quest. Now you can make it even more special: Get the group together for champagne and hors d’oeuvres while you shop.

Gilt City Seattle is offering a special at Belltown Bride. For $1,000, throw a party for 10. Your group will be the only ones in the shop. The owner and bridal stylist will help you choose your dress, and, best of all, you get $1,000 to spend on your dress and veil. After the big day, bring your dress back for a complimentary cleaning.

An unbelievable deal for brides!

If you want to skip the champagne this time, spend $250 and get $500 to spend on designer dresses at Belltown Bride.

Melissa Albert started Belltown Bride after shopping for her own wedding dress in 2002. She stocks gowns from a carefully curated collection of designers, plus unique couture samples. You’re bound to find something to love!

The $1,000 party for up to 10 guests includes:
• Owner and bridal stylist Melissa Albert on hand to offer expertise and valuable insight
• Hors d’oeuvres and champagne
• $1,000 toward gown of choice and veil to match
• Post-wedding gown dry-cleaning

One per member. Offer may not be combined with other offers and promotions. Redeem by February 8, 2012.

Top 10 Questions to Ask Before you Have Your Dress Cleaned 18 comments

Is your dress still hanging on the back of your closet door? If it is, stop what you’re doing right now and get it to the cleaners! Whether you’re going to sell it or preserve it for years to come, the quicker you clean it, the less stains will have set in.

If you are thinking of selling, dresses that have been cleaned hold their resale value and sell faster than dresses that have not been cleaned.

If you wish to preserve your dress, don’t be fooled – many stains can dry clear and begin to yellow over time. Cleaning is the most important part of the preservation process and it’s imperative that you find a specialist you can trust.

To help you find a dry cleaner you can trust, the ladies over at SmartBrideBoutique.com share 10 questions you should ask your cleaner BEFORE you decide to have them clean your dress:

1. Do you specialize in cleaning and preserving wedding gown?
Most cleaners do not do their own work when it comes to wedding gowns. They send them off to someone else, often someone else in another state. Not good. You want a cleaner who takes responsibility for your gown.

2. Have you been specially trained? Are you a member of a Dry Cleaning Association?
The last thing you need is someone who is going to practice or “learn on the job” with your beautiful gown.

3. How many years have you been in business?
The cleaner may be very well trained, but years of experience count. The longer they have been in business the more likely they’ve cleaned gowns similar to yours.

4. What kind of solvent are you going to use on my gown?
A specialist knows that some solvents are gentler than others and will use the solvent best for your gown’s fragile beading and other decorations.

5. Do you handle solvents responsibly?
For example, members of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists provide a MuseumCareTM ZeroCarbonTM preservation. These preservations are endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants and are truly green because they offset all carbon emissions with donations to Carbonfund.org to fund reforestation projects worldwide. Receive $35 off your cleaning and find a location near you.

6. What kind of guarantee do you provide?
Today or twenty-five years from today, who is going to honour the guarantee that your gown will still be in pristine, ready-to-wear condition?

7. Does the container allow the fabric to “breathe” with changes in heat and humidity?
Shrink-wrapping can trap moisture that may cause mildew and create an electrostatic charge that sets creases which no amount of pressing can remove.

9. What precautions do you take to protect my gown during the cleaning process?
Prongs, for example, around the beads on your gown can snag the fabric during the cleaning process. When it is packed, bows or flowers should be stuffed or protected with a nest of tissue. Bust pads should also be removed because they emit off-gases that will yellow your gown.

10. Can you actually get my dress clean?
Will all stains and “floor dirt” around the hem of the gown come out? Be aware that stains such as wine or ginger ale contain sugar and can dry clear. Over the years stains can turn brown, and such stains do not automatically dissolve during the cleaning process and require special care.

Believe it or not, cleaning is the most important part of the preservation process so look for a cleaner who will allow you to personally inspect your gown. And then look carefully to be sure your gown will be as lovely years from now as it was the day you wore that very special gown.

All Hail Pale Bridesmaid Dresses!! 41 comments

The following post is from @gift_girl’s new blog, Girly Wedding.

All Hail Pale Bridesmaid Dresses!! An undeniable trend for 2011 are pale bridesmaid dresses. These light bridesmaid dresses are often the same or a few shades different from the bride. Bridesmaids Dresses everywhere are turning up in colors that were a short while ago only considered for brides. Bridesmaid dresses in neutral colors, ivory, and even white add a softer more subtle distinction between the bride and her girls, a distinction less pronounced but not less beautiful.

These light bridesmaid dresses are all the rage and not just for bridesmaids, light prom dresses, and neutral colors clothing are very trendy right now.  Pale bridesmaid dresses also work well to offset brides who choose light wedding dresses with a hint of color.

Love this trend. I find it so romantic and sweet.  You?

Wedding Dress Solution: Priscilla Of Boston 12 comments

Now we all know that finding your wedding dress can either be one of the happiest moments of your wedding process… or one of the worst. Starting out- setting the appointments with your gals, window shopping, figuring out your dress budget- it’s all so exciting. But if you, like many other bride to be’s, begin to feel that repetitive feeling of “I like it, but I’m not sure it’s the one” – welcome to the club. Where does that giddy feeling of bridal shopping go?

Here is one recommendation – Priscilla of Boston. Set an appointment, and get ready to be pampered ladies! Try on an array of gorgeous designer wedding dresses, at prices that won’t break the bank. Whatever look you’re going for- modern, classic, or something unique – Priscilla of Boston will not disappoint. Take a glimpse here, get your bridal mojo back, and let me know your thoughts!

Let Today’s Modern Love Wedding inspire you! 17 comments

Every September the Today Show on NBC throws a wedding for a deserving engaged couple. As an avid Today Show watcher, Today’s Modern Love Wedding is one of my absolute favorite segments on the show.

The wedding–pulled together in a month–is located on Today’s Rockefeller Plaza and allows viewers to vote on the couple’s big wedding decisions. A national vote will decide everything from the cake to the wedding bands and even (gasp!) the bride’s gown. While this might be a control-disaster for some, Today’s Modern Love Wedding provides an amazing opportunity for couples who can’t afford their dream wedding. It also allows wedding labels and brands to parade out their latest and greatest to be voted on by a nationwide audience.

This year’s lucky couple is Melissa and Jeremy (also selected by a vote), high school sweethearts from Missouri. The young couple (she’s 21 and he’s 22) are particularly deserving because Jeremy serves overseas in the Middle East for the Army. How cute are they?!

Today's Modern Love Wedding couple, Melissa & Jeremy

So far the couple’s wedding bands (Neil Lane) and reception venue (Hudson Terrace) have been selected, and this week America votes on my favorite decision, the bride’s gown! Yes! Let’s take a look at Melissa’s beautiful options and the dress designers themselves…

Choice #1: Modern Romance

Described as modern romance for its feminine silhouette and faint blush color, this Lela Rose dress is a modern take on a more traditional A-line gown.

Dress by Lela Rose

More Lela Rose looks:

Photo collage courtesy of stylemepretty.com

Stunning detail! (Photos courtesy of somethingoldsomethingsnew.com, bridalguide.com & life.com)

Choice #2: Retro Glam

This 1920s-inspired gown stands out because of the intricate crystal motif embroidered beading and a new hot wedding gown trend, ruffles.

Dress by Lazaro

More Lazaro looks:

A flair for the dramatic. (Photos courtesy of jlmcouture.com, kaboodle.com, bridalguide.com & theweddingday.com)

Choice #3: Classic Elegance

This is a timeless look for a bride that wants simple beauty but still wants to stand out. The keyhole back and ribbon embellishment on the waist modernizes the classic style.

Dress by Paloma Blanca

More looks Paloma Blanca looks:

Modern twists on classic style. (Photos courtesy of getmarried.com, weddingbee.com, couture-threads.com & recycledbride.com)

Choice #4: Sophisticated Drama

Look like you stepped right off the runway in this gown. The fashion-forward gown is red carpet ready with rosette detailing and asymmetrical draping across the bodice.

Dress by Monique Lhuillier

More Monique Lhuillier looks:

Red carpet ready! (Photos courtesy of kleinfeldbridalcom, marieclaire.com & bridepop.com)

Worth a stand-alone shot. Monique Lhuillier at her best. Stunning! (Photo courtesy of moblog.whmsoft.net)

There’s only one week to vote for your favorite dress. Melissa will wear the dress that gets the most votes when she walks down the aisle on Sept. 30!

Voting schedule as Melissa and Jeremy’s wedding comes to life:

• Week 1: Wedding bands
• Week 2: Reception venue
• Week 3: Bride’s gown and groom’s tux
• Week 4: Bridesmaid dresses
• Week 5: Cake
• Week 6: Honeymoon location

As a budding bride, consider these gown styles and wedding ideas for your own ceremony. Take notes about what you like and don’t like as they prepare for the big day. And watch Melissa and Jeremy tie the knot on Sept. 30!

Happy planning!

-Stephanie

@wishpotwedding

The Mix & Match Bridesmaid 49 comments

Bridesmaid dresses. Bleh. Ugh. …I know, I know. What would seemingly be a fun time dress shopping turns into a matching and coordinating (and unflattering) fiasco.

Brides, I beg of you to embrace–or at least look into–the new bridesmaid dress trend. We’ve recently explored finding a be-all-end-all dress that each of your bridesmaids will wear (probably reluctantly). But here’s an idea: Let your bridesmaid select her own dress. Seriously! It is nearly impossible to find a dress that matches your color scheme, flatters every figure AND doesn’t break the bank. If you give your bridesmaids options, they will have more freedom and flexibility to feel comfortable and beautiful.

Bridesmaid dresses have taken a turn for the better to semi-formal wear but this idea pushes bridesmaid style one step further. So what’s the best way to do this?

You can select palette options (perhaps with a few guidelines) so your bridesmaids will all be in the same hue.

Cutely coordinated but definitely not over the top! (courtesy of theknot.com & InspiredbyThis.com)

For the daring bride, you can let them wear all kinds of styles!

Look how happy they are to be wearing a dress of their choosing! (courtesy of weddingbee.com)

You can choose a store with selections of different dresses in the same color and let them pick! (Great examples: J.Crew, Banana Republic, Nordstrom & Ann Taylor)

You can honor your maid of honor with a dress that stands out!

A sweet light yellow will make your MOH feel special (courtesy of districtweddings.com)

And with autumn right around the corner (it is, even if we’re all in denial) don’t forget about some natural color schemes that will bring your fall wedding to life.

What lovely fall colors! (courtesy of weddingannouncer.com, jcrew.com & theknot.com)

So, give your friends a reason to agree to be in your wedding. You’re not the only one that wants to look beautiful; your loved ones want to feel just as wonderful as you do on your special day. Spread the cheer!

What are you planning for your bridesmaids?

-Stephanie

@wishpotwedding