Design Your Own Wedding Dress

Weddings are without a doubt some of the most glamorous and memorable occasions. It is therefore not surprising to see brides go into a frenzy trying to get a beautiful and unique dress to wear on their wedding day. Most brides prefer to buy ready-made wedding dresses. However, there are those who want their wedding dresses to have a personal touch. Such brides often opt to make their own dresses. It is easier today for brides to design their own wedding dress as they are under no obligation to follow most rules regarding the color, design and trains. You can then choose to design your own wedding dress and then hand it over to a tailor to make or design it and make it yourself.

Design Your Wedding Dress Online -- The Style and Color
The first step a bride should take when designing her own wedding dress is to consider the style she wants be it elegant, traditional, modern, sexy or classy. The bride should then turn to the smaller details. She should pick the desired color and ensure that he colour goes well with her skin colour and hair. A bride can create the perfect wedding dress by getting different ideas from already existing ones. Brides can do this by visiting bridal shops and trying on different designs, colors and lengths to see which one would fit them best. It will also be an opportunity for them to find out the newest available trends.

Design Your Wedding Dress -- The Fabric & Stitching
After looking at the available designs and picking out details to incorporate into the dress, the brides should then go out to fabric stores or to the internet to get the fabric they will use to make their wedding dress. If one does not like natural fabrics that easily wrinkle, they should opt for synthetic fabrics.

Once you design your own wedding dress and the desired fabric has been picked, the work of stitching can now begin. It is a great idea to make a sample before embarking on the real dress to practice on making the dress. However, it is advisable that an experienced tailor be sort for the job to avoid any mishaps. To enhance the dress, one may use crystals, embroidery, lace, beads and so on.

Wedding Dress Design -- Dress Shape
When designing the dress, one should make sure that the dress complements their body shape. Mermaid shaped dresses are normally tight at the top but flare down at the bottom. A-line shaped dresses are usually narrower at the top, work well with most figures and disguise the bottom heavy ones. Sheath dresses hug the body and have defined waists. They usually look good on people who are well toned. A ball gown, which comes with a full skirt and a fitted bodice, is good for hiding the less flattering places in one's figure.

Weddings represent a significant occasion in the life of any human being. Being able to design your own wedding dress is the best way to add that personal touch to one of the most memorable events of your life. For most brides, this opportunity to express them creates a sense of satisfaction and allows them to explore their creativity.

Wedding Invitations - Things Not to Do

When it comes to wedding invitations, you probably already know there are many things to remember. Usually these details can be categorized into lists of do's and don'ts. These lists can cover anything from your wording to assembling and mailing your invitations. Just as important as your 'do' list is your 'not to do' list which is what we are going to concentrate on in this article.

Here is a list of don'ts when it comes to invitations. For easy reference, they are arranged in order as to when each item may fit into your preparations.

• Don't order the same number of wedding invitations as the number of guests on your list - those numbers won't match. Couples should be sent only one invitation even though they count as two guests on your list. Also, be sure to order a few extras to be safe.
• Don't exclude wedding party attendants, parents and the officiator from your invitation mailing list. Even though you know they will be attending, it is still proper to send them an invitation if only to be kept as a souvenir.
• Don't finalize your order until you have proofed everything several times and had someone else also thoroughly review all the information.
• Don't abbreviate words except for name titles such as Mr., Mrs., etc. Names of streets, cities and states should not be shortened but instead entirely spelled out.
• Don't include your gift registry information or monetary gift request on your invites. This type of information should be spread by word of mouth or you may want to include an insert listing your wedding website if you have created one. Websites are a great place to reveal that type of information to guests.
• Don't print the words 'no children' on the invitations even if that is your wish. Instead, exclude their names as well as the phrase 'and family' on the envelope which should give the hint that they are not invited. Word can also be spread about this detail by family and friends.
• Don't stuff the envelopes until after they have been hand addressed to avoid an uneven writing surface and making indentations on your invitations.
• Don't use printed mailing labels when it comes to addressing your invitation envelopes. Names and addresses should be handwritten according to etiquette and for a personal touch.
• Don't include adult children living at home on the family invitation since anyone age 18 and older should receive their own invite.
• Don't include response card envelopes without postage already attached. It's a common courtesy so guests can easily mail them back.
• Don't mail your invitations without listing a return address so the Post Office can return any undeliverable ones.
• Don't guess as to how much postage is needed for mailing your wedding invites. Have one ready-to-mail invitation weighed at the Post Office to find out the proper amount required for each one.
• Don't overlook sending thank you cards to all those who attended, participated in your wedding or remembered you with a gift. Your thank you notes will be greatly appreciated.

When it comes to your wedding invitations, you can see there are many details you don't want to forget.