popular designer Dresses for a Wedding

Style, colour and ceremonial importance of the bridal gown worn by the bride during the wedding ceremony depends upon the culture and religion of the couple getting married.

White is the preferred color of the bridal gown among the westerners. Creamy shades such as ivory, ecru and eggshell are also used in making bridal gowns. Queen Victoria of England, wore a white bridal gown when she got married to Albert of Sax-Coburg in the year 1840. Since then the white bridal gown became the norm in all marriages. In the earlier years, bridal gowns were made in any colour except black. Innocence of the childhood and purity of heart was symbolized by the white bridal gown.

A bride to be can spend weeks and sometimes even months looking for a perfect bridal gown because of the variety of designs and styles available. Determine three things ñ theme of the wedding, time of the year the wedding is held and the budget ñ with these three things finalized, picking up the correct gown will become easier.

Choosing dresses for a wedding depends upon the style and formality of the wedding function. In a formal wedding it is better to wear a formal bridal gown. Besides a white bridal gown, another appropriate choice is ivory which is also considered as a formal wedding gown. Bridal gowns in pink, peach and ice blue are also becoming very popular.

The average retail cost of dresses for a wedding is around $700. Prices of designer and premium gowns start from $2000.

Maggie Sottero, Mon Cheri, Marisa, Pronovias, Mori Lee, Davinci, Demetrios, Bonny, Eden Bridals and Mikaela are some of the popular designer bridal gowns.

When selecting the bridal gown, take someone close to you and who knows what is best for you. This will help in getting a gown which is not radically different from the usual style suitable for you.

It is better to ensure the bridal gown is comfortable and it is not restricting your movement. Getting a bridal gown can be a demanding process so initiate the process well in advance. Compare the designs from various fashion magazines and also go through family photo albums to know which will be the most suitable style.

Prior to committing yourself on a particular design, try different types and designs. If the bridal gown is custom made, allot six months for the making of any dresses for a wedding. Too many friends accompanying you during the shopping for gowns will only confuse you and you may end up making an incorrect selection.

Looking for a Paradise Wedding - Maui

Looking for a paradise wedding, or have friends that are looking for the perfect place to get married? We have lots of romantic ideas for a heavenly Maui wedding.

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At the beach, near a waterfall or in a chapel, with the fragrance of tropical flowers borne on gentle trade winds caressing your face -- a Maui sun bids Aloha to another day in Paradise. It is quite simply, the perfect place to celebrate your wedding vows.

Here are a few of the ingredients that will imprint your wedding day on your minds for years to come.

Maui, Hawaii is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago in both size and population, located some 1,800 miles off the south western seaboard of the United States.

Hawaii is one of the top tourist destinations for the majority of Americans and hence a Maui wedding is highly desirable, taking place in one of the worlds foremost wedding and honeymoon destinations.

The weather in Maui is also most attractive as it is year round tropical; however it is most consistently pleasant outside the months of January and February (dead of winter).

Maui offers several fascinating attractions, including the unforgettable sight of a surfacing whale, biking through wine country, snorkeling the tiny atoll of Molokini, or enjoying a stage production at the Historic 'Iao Theater.

A reasonable stay of seven days, or more is recommended if you want to explore more than one Hawaiian Island.

Maui, Hawaii offers the enamored an ideal place to declare their love. Several professional services for Maui Weddings are in great demand, and wedding providers such as ParadiseMaui.com are at hand to assist in every way, from classic beach weddings to larger formal affairs.

A beautiful wedding of land and sea, the island of Maui offers newlyweds any number of romantic options.
An authentic Maui wedding might require the services of a ëkahuí, which is a Hawaiian minister.

A Maui wedding may also include an elaborate ëluauí (pronounced loo-ow) celebration. A luau is a Hawaiian gathering of family and friends to enjoy good food, company and times.

In addition to the Hawaiian tradition of the ceremony, many couples decide to incorporate the exchanging of the lei, where each person gives their betrothed a lei. (A lei is a flower necklace.) For the bride, the pikake lei seems to be one of the most popular varieties because of its sweet fragrance and delicate appearance.

Pikake is a seasonal flower and has limited availability, but there are many other fragrant flowers to choose from. Grooms usually receive a maile lei, which is quite masculine and drapes loosely around the neck. The maile lei has beautiful green leaves which have a sweet smell and little fragrance. It also dries quickly and can be retained as a cherished keepsake for many years to come.

Another tradition that is sometimes performed is the conch shell announcement of the ceremony. Here a conch shell blower introduces the nuptials, and a Hawaiian chanter often follows in precession. A hula dance usually adds the perfect touch of Hawaii and can portray a beautiful message of love. Some brides have even taken it upon themselves to learn a hula dance and perform it as a surprise to their grooms. (The hiring of a professional hula dancer can be easily arranged.)

Hawaiian music can easily be adapted for any wedding. A soulful ukulele and guitar accompaniment can evoke the most melodic sounds. The Hawaiian Wedding Song is a popular request for many wedding couples here in Maui.

Maui Beaches

The island of Maui is home to some of the most amazing
beaches.  Some beaches offer swimming all year round,
while others are best for surfing or snorkeling
during certain times of the year.  Depending on
where you choose to stay, there are always some
famous beaches nearby.






West Maui beaches
If you drive along the west coast of Maui from Lahaina
to Kapalua, you'll see many breathtaking beaches
along the coast.    Kaanapali Beach will offer
you over three miles of white sand with a variety
of watersports, including surfing, sailboating,
and even catamaran rides. On the north end of
the beach is Black Rock, which is well known for
snorkeling.

Visitors like the sandy beach at Napili Bay,
because there are no high rise buildings around,
and the bay is protected well from waves.  The
Kapalua Resort in west Maui is home to Kapalua
Beach, Oneloa Bay Beach, and the D.T. Fleming
Beach.

South Maui Beaches
The rule with Hawaii and Maui is that the further
south you travel, the less crowded the beaches
will be.

Kihei offers you a series of beaches along the
six mile coastline, some even offering lifeguards,
restrooms, and picnic areas.  Polo Beach and
Wailea Beach offer both restrooms and equipment
rentals.  Or, if you prefer a more secluded beach,
you should visit Maluaka Beach at the Maui
Prince Hotel - where you may even encounter some
green sea turtles.

A few miles past the Maui Prince Hotel is the
Big Beach of Makena, which is one of the best
beaches on Maui.  As the name implies, the beach is
quite large, and best of all - empty.  It offers
white sand, picnic facilities, and even restrooms.

East Maui Beaches
The beaches of East Maui are unlike others in
Hawaii.  Surround by lush scenery, the beaches are
secluded, scenic, and very colorful.

Hamoa Beach is a must visit if you plan to visit
East Maui.  As you approach the beach from the
main road, you'll walk past colorful plants and
palm trees surrounding Hamoa Beach.  Just off Hana
Highway is Hana Bay Beach, which offers black
volcanic sand.

The Red Sand Beach is difficult to get to, you'll
need to find a narrow path along the coast.  The
beach offers plenty of swimming and snorkeling,
and you should be the only one there - which is
great for those looking for privacy.  Even though
it is hard to get to, Red Sand Beach is truly one
of a kind.

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Tips on Choosing the Right Dresses for your Bridesmaids

Choosing bridesmaids dresses is no easy task, but it´s one of the most exciting and often the most emotional parts of the wedding planning process.

Inviting the special women in your life to be your bridesmaids; your sisters, your lifelong friends, your cousins and special family friends; is a way to seal important friendships during this very special time in your life. Choosing the bridesmaids dress, whether you do it yourself or together with your bridesmaids, is an integral part of the tradition.

Tips on Choosing the Right Dresses for your Bridesmaids

1. Naturally, it´s the bride who will be the focus of attention on her wedding day, but it´s important for the bridesmaids to look gorgeous too. Choose something simple and not over decorated or detailed, but which will make your bridesmaids look elegant, sophisticated and feminine.
2. It´s important to choose a dress style which will flatter everyones figure. This is never an easy task, but empire waists and A-line or princess skirts will tend to suit most shapes and sizes. 
3. If your bridesmaids have very different figure types and heights, and you think they might feel uncomfortable in matching dresses, a nice alternative is to choose the fabrics and colors, and allow each individual bridesmaid to choose her own dress style.
4. Always keep a budget in mind for your bridesmaids gowns. It´s very unfair to expect your bridesmaids to buy overly expensive dresses, and it may damage your relationship with some of the most important women in your life. Around $100-250 each dress is generally considered a reasonable cost. If you have your heart set on a more expensive gown, you might consider making up the difference yourself.

Classic Looks for Bridesmaids

Any kind of formal gown, semi-formal or evening dress can be chosen as a bridesmaids gown, so you have literally thousands of options. Satin, organza, chiffon, georgette, tulle, lace, brocades, and crepe are all classic fabrics for bridesmaid dresses. Whether you choose real silks and imported laces, or more economical alternatives will depend on your budget.

It´s traditional to choose a one-piece dress or gown, but separates are definitely an option. Mixing and matching separate blouses and skirts makes it easier to find a style which suits each individual bridesmaid.

You should think about the time of year you plan to hold the wedding, and how this will effect your gown choices. Choose lighter fabrics for summer, and a sleeveless or even a strapless dress style. If your wedding is planned for a cooler time in the year, long skirts and sleeves are best, or include a shawl or wrap as part of the outfit.

It´s a nice idea to choose your colors according to the time of year also. Fresh, soft colors are lovely for spring and summer; golds, copper tones and rusty reds for fall, and deep marine blues, teal green, deep burgundies and plums, or platinum shades for winter.

Choose colors which will match the flowers which are in bloom at the time of year, so your gowns will tone in nicely with the bouquets. Discussing your color ideas with your favorite florist will make the job of choosing colors much easier.

floral arrangements tips

For a very sophisticated, formal look, black or black and white never goes out of style.. Alternating black and white solid panels has a very dramatic effect.

For a more romantic look, use white or a solid color overlaid with black lace, either as a feature of the dress itself, or as a shawl or wrap.

Soft, pretty pastel shades like lilac, powder pink, cream, platinum and eggshell blue are always popular colors for bridesmaid dresses, because they always look good together with the white or ivory shade of the bridal gown. Adding dramatic color accents in the bouquets creates a very attractive look for the wedding party as a whole.

Another idea which works very well for bridesmaids gowns is to use a silk or satin fabric with a subtle crossweave in a contrasting color, and match the bouquets to the crossweave color. The bouquets will bring out and enhance the color highlights in the dress fabric, which has a very pretty effect.

Accessories for Bridesmaids

The simplest look will tend to work best, so accessories should best be kept to a minimum. Often a simple pair of earrings, a brooch or necklace is all the jewelry you´ll need. It´s traditional for the bride to give the bridesmaids their jewelry as a gift, which is a lovely idea.

For a very formal look, shawls, gloves and even small tiaras are always appropriate as bridesmaids´ accessories.

Keep comfort as well as style in mind when you choose shoes for your bridesmaids. Very high heels may be uncomfortable to stand in for any period of time. Also consider the fact that the bridesmaids will most likely be wearing the shoes for the wedding ceremony and the reception, so choose shoes which will be comfortable to wear all day, then dance away the night.