What to do with the wedding dress after happily ever after

The bride glowed, the guests have oohed and aahed, pictures had been taken and the vows have been said. After the wedding gown has served its purpose, brides are left with the dilemma of what to do with it. Tradition dictates that the dress be tucked away and preserved in hopes that a daughter or granddaughter will wear it someday. There are other options, however, that have begun to gain traction in the past years.

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With the economy only starting to recover from the recession, some brides take the practical route and sell their used dress. FOXBusiness.com best describes this option: “Brides who paid full price for their gown can save money by selling it after their big day. Although there is a lot of nostalgia associated with preserving a dress in hopes of future generations walking down the aisle in it, selling it guarantees it won’t sit unopened in a box.” A similar option is to donate the dress and get a tax rebate.

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Some brides can’t bear to part with their wedding dress, however, but don’t want to keep it in storage either. Framing their wedding dress in a shadow box has been a creative option for these brides.

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If a bride prefers to keep the dress in her regular rotation of clothes, one option is to redesign the dress or dye it. Altering the gown to a knee length dress will make it the perfect outfit for a formal event. Some brides go a step further and dye the dress a different color.

The Bridal Collection Inc., provides elegant yet affordable gowns for the everyday bride. More elegant yet affordable wedding ideas in this blog

REPOST: Styling woes to avoid on your wedding day

This article dishes out the common style blunders – from ill-fitting shoes to messy hair – which brides-to-be need to avoid on their big day.

A wedding day comes just once in a lifetime, meaning you have a lot of wedding planning to do to ensure they momentous occasion goes off without a hitch. While you might be worried about seeing your creative wedding ideas shine through, it's just as important to consider your look on the big day. You might think you have your hairstyle, beautiful wedding dresses and makeup all picked out, but there's no way to tell if all of these things will stand up on the wedding day. Luckily, a few been there, done that brides recently discussed what they would have changed on their day in terms of style, so you won't have to face the same challenges. 

Cute (uncomfortable) shoes
Sure, that pair of sky high stilettos might look fabulous with your gown, but if your feet start aching and throbbing within five minutes of wearing them - you need to put them back, one bride shared with Huffington Post. Even though you will likely slip into flats or flip flops at the reception, it's just as important to feel comfortable as you make your way down the aisle at the ceremony. Let's face it - you won't want your biggest memory of the event to be your sore feet.

According to It's a Bride's Life, there are a few styles you might want to look into as they tend to offer the most support. Sling backs are a great option as they leave little change of heel rubbing, while the strap could help keep you balanced throughout the long day. Picking up items like heel liners can also make wearing higher-than-normal heels more comfortable.

Image Source: www.perfectweddingguide.com

Heavy gowns
You might be crazy about that custom ball gown you tried on, but before saying yes to the dress, you might want to consider your wedding date and how well you tolerate being hot. For example, if you've been looking at garden wedding venues for spring or summer, it may not be the best idea to opt for a heavy gown as you'll likely start sweating in a flash. Instead, you could consider a lighter option, or look into getting two dresses - the one you're crazy about and a shorter reception gown - to have your cake and eat it too.

Hair in the face
Gorgeous soft curls are a common trend for bridal looks, but if you're the type of girl who likes to throw her hair up as soon as it gets hot, a fully down look might not be the way to go. Instead, you could decide to go for a half-up style that will keep your locks out of your face, or even a more dramatic updo to ring in your new life.

Bridal Collection Inc. makes shopping for your wedding dress fun and easy with its diverse collection of stylish and glamorous dresses offered at the best value. Browse through its catalogue of designer dresses on this website.

REPOST: And the bride wore... a white trouser suit

The New Zealand Fashion week features the latest in bridal gowns inspired by actress Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex and the City days.  Find out which of the designers' works took center stage in this article from the Independent Woman.

Transparent bridal trouser suits and headpieces that SATC's Carrie would be proud of took pride of place on the catwalk during New Zealand Fashion Week.

Designers at the Weddings Magazine Bridal Collection Show today sought inspiration from Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex and the City days with intricate headpieces and fashion-forward trouser suits.
 

Image Source: www.independent.ie

A delicate crochet trouser suit with chiffon ruffled sleeves stole the show among an assortment of flowing gowns.

The innovative design was by the 50 year-old New Zealand label Vinka Design. The fashion house strives to create gowns that move with the body and enhance the figure.

Robyn Cliffe’s piece echoed Carrie Bradshaw’s famous wedding look with a stunning rusty-pink headpiece. 

Her wedding gown floated down the catwalk with a detailed beaded waist and chandelier earrings.

The designer shares her love of lace and bead work, with accents of detail emphasizing the cut and style of her gowns.

John Zimmerman’s wedding look consisted of an off-white satin gown with belt that cinched in the waist. The look was completed with sprinkles of diamantes scattered across the dress.
 

Image Source: www.independent.ie

The fresh new designer has been called New Zealand's answer to Valentinoand is praised for his attention to detail in all his designs.

Another design showcased a detailed flower-lace design and billowing ruffles that elegantly swept the catwalk.

Korean designer Alma Wong’s bridal range is a clever mix of elements of past eras with contemporary styles to fit elegant modern brides.

Her design consisted of a powdery blue satin and silk gown with Grecian style draping.

Wong believes her secret weapon is fine detailing and embellishments and she executed this on the catwalk last night.

Sera Lilly’s model carried beautiful blossoms as she glided in a strapless silk gown. The minimalist dress was structured to emphasize the figure while still allowing the fabric to flow delicately.

Her design philosophy is a commitment to an excellent cut and feminine fabric.

With an extensive array of wedding gowns and prom dresses, Bridal Collection, Inc. has been the go-to place of brides-to-be and aspiring prom queens.  Find out why by checking out the company's website.

Not for keeps: Why some brides sell their wedding dress

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For most brides, preserving the dress for future generations is a no-brainer decision. But there are also those who have no qualms about parting with their wedding gowns for another bride to wear. It is not that these maverick brides don’t place any sentimental value on their dress. They just wanted other women to experience the same immense joy of wearing their fabulous gowns while walking down the aisle.

A survey by PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com, a website dedicated to helping women sell their bridal gowns, shows that this is a strong sentiment among new brides. Of the 2,766 women who participated in the online survey, 87 percent said they would "definitely" or "maybe" sell their gown. From this group, 30 percent explained they would do so because they want other brides to enjoy their dresses. The other reasons for selling their gowns cited by the respondents are:

• They want/need the money (26 percent); 
• They have no good reason to keep the dress (19 percent); and 
• The gown takes up too much space to justify keeping it (11 percent). 

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

While selling a wedding dress was certainly unheard of (and considered bad luck) in the past, the results of the survey by PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com just shows that a growing number of women think nothing of the small fortune and massive efforts at searching as soon as the ceremonies are done. Whether prompted by financial incentive or the influence of celebrities, some brides are just practical enough to give up forever on the dress.

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Brides may have a harder time parting with the exquisite gowns from The Bridal Collection, Inc. Visit the shop’s official website to view its assortment of designer gowns.

Why "Bridesmaids" should not be taken seriously

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Bridesmaids (2011) may be one of the more popular wedding films of recent years, but there’s reason to stash it just for laughs and keep it away from brides-to-be. The movie is actually a heartwarming nod to friendship, but it is an argument against having bridesmaids take over the wedding preparations. Not that the comedic extreme of the movie is any advice to take.

The bridal entourage is one of the most important teams in a wedding party. Each member, handpicked by the bride, should be a source of strength and guidance during wedding preparations. Later on, they also take on meatier roles in the couple’s marital life, such as godmothers to future children. In weddings, they are important backstage actors who make the event memorable.


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Bridesmaids is true enough in the sense that the bride’s relationship with the members of her entourage is fraught with tension. This could be big or small, with concerns ranging from gown fittings to friendships. The movie focused on the potential disasters this segment of the wedding party could rack up --- and while it all comes down nicely in the end, those mishaps are costly in terms of friendship and money.

No bride envisions that wild scenario, while real-life bridesmaids should not be remiss in their duties in the assumption that things could be worse. Bridesmaids are a real force in the wedding, and not maximizing their roles could be too costly for the couple.

Any member of the bridal entourage worth her salt would rise to the occasion and avoid dragging her issues into the wedding preps. Meanwhile, the bride’s only task is to know who her real friends are.


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That disastrous gown-fitting scene in the movie is translated to a comfortable reality at Bridal Collection Inc., which supplies ready-to-wear gowns for brides and their entourage. For more bridesmaid adventures, see this Facebook page.

The perfect wedding gown for the second-time bride

The perfect wedding gown for the second-time bride “Here comes the bride, all dressed in white.” The white wedding gown has long been a symbol of chastity, purity, and love. But what if it’s your second time to make that memorable encore down the aisle? Is it right for you to wear a white dress?

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Getting married for the second time around seems to bend acceptable codes and conducts. It’s not always the norm for repeat brides to wear a white dress on their wedding day because of etiquette reasons. Some of these brides have the so-called “second-time mindset” in which the guilt of first-time failure cows them into moving on to a second-time bliss, convincing them to settle for what’s just okay.

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There’s no point in getting around the widely held misconception on which brides can wear the dress. Try visiting local purveyors like Bridal Collection, Inc. and you cannot find a second-time brides category. This is because any bride can wear white, whether you’ve worn a wedding gown before. Being a repeat bride, you have deep life experience up your sleeve and this should give you a better sense of what really suits your personality and style, and not push you into conforming to a baseless trend that prevents you from looking your best. Your wedding dress is your personal choice, your own fashion statement.

Image source: groomsadvice.com

Being a second-time bride shouldn’t make you feel less of a person. It’s still your first time to marry the man whom you chose to spend a new chapter of your life with. Let your wedding dress speak this fact.

Saying ‘yes’ to a wedding dress can be difficult. Bridal Collection, Inc. goes the extra mile to find the perfect gown that suits you. Check out a vast collection of wedding dresses at TOBridalCollection.Com.

Don't say yes to the dress yet

It is quite understandable that the newly engaged can’t help but be ecstatic about the prospect of shopping for the dress. After all, if there is one part of the entire wedding preparation that brides look forward to, it is definitely shopping for their wedding gown.

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However, such early enthusiasm can be disastrous, explains Bridal Guide Magazine. The ideal time to shop is around 8 to 10 months before the date, and starting more than a year in advance is definitely a bridal blunder. Most of the time, a bride is not financially ready yet to buy a gown that early. Experts suggest having the rest of the wedding details in place first before shopping for a gown, since various factors about the ceremony, such as location and season, can influence the style of the dress.

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Shopping early for wedding gowns can also lead to brides buying a heavily marked down dress. This can especially happen during sample sales, which are becoming popular among brides these days. However, gowns in sample sales are just that— a sample. Most of the gowns have been tried on numerous times, and could have been torn, stained, or otherwise damaged during the process.

Image Source: realweddings.com.au

Though it can be a challenge for some brides-to-be not to try on wedding gowns, it is best to wait just a bit before doing so. Waiting for the right time to shop is similar to saying yes to true love. As Robert Browning once said, “I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever.”

Brides who are ready to shop for their wedding dress can browse through The Bridal Collection, Inc.’s online catalog.

Wearing the wedding dress many times over

What do brides do with their wedding gown after the ceremony?

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Most brides would just store the wedding gown, box it with acid-free tissue paper, and unearth it several decades later when it is the turn of their daughter to walk down the aisle in a vintage dress.

Some brides may opt to sell their dress, especially if wedding expenses piled up, leaving the couple a little cash-strapped post-ceremony. Others may re-vamp the gown, transforming the dress into chic evening wear.

Some newlyweds may choose to donate their gowns to organizations like Brides Against Breast Cancer, which sells the wedding dress to raise funds.

Image source: shawnaherringphoto.com

And then there are brides who decide to just wear their wedding gown many times over while traveling the world.

This is exactly what Jennifer Salvage did -- she has worn her dress over 100 times to countries like China, France, and New Zealand. And her husband Jeff has immortalized her travel adventures with her wedding dress in stunning photographs.

Image source: today.com

Jeff’s idea of capturing Jennifer in her wedding dress started in Easter Island, Chile, the site of the couple’s 2008 wedding. Jeff asked his bride to pose all over the island, and photographed her in a series of striking photos.

From then on, Jennifer repeatedly wore her Maggie Sottero gown, a request of Jeff’s, so he can photograph her under different lighting conditions and various locations, from the waters of Jamaica to their very own backyard in southern New Jersey.

Indeed, one of the best ways to keep wearing the wedding dress is traveling the world in it.

Image source: today.com

The Bridal Collection, Inc.’s extensive wedding gown collection includes the creations of Maggie Sottero. Browse through some of the designs here.

Wedding gown trends for Spring 2013

Spring paints the picture of blooming flowers, and signals the start of the wedding season. Couples planning their wedding this spring can get some wedding gown ideas from The Knot:

Image source: fiftyflowers.com

1. Sheer overlays
Sheer fabrics are light and airy, making them the perfect reflection of the spring season. This season's bridal runways featured gowns with sheer overlays, giving the dress some shape and silhouette.

2. Soft peplum skirts
Wedding gowns that feature peplum skirts accentuate the waist, and give the illusion of an hourglass figure. Brides magazine says that the secret to nailing this trend is in “finding the right proportion, be it oversize and asymmetrical, sleek and simple, or cropped and airy.”

Image source: weddingsonline.ie

3. Lace tattoos
Designers are making a new trend in lace wedding gowns by crafting lace tattoos, strategically placed on the sleeves, back, or torso to look like the brides’ second skin.

4. Convertible dresses
Convertible wedding gowns are fun and functional. They can be worn as a two-in-one dress for the wedding ceremony and reception. "This dress is perfect for a bride who doesn't plan on leaving the dance floor but also doesn't want to bother with a time-consuming costume change," notes this Huff Post Weddings article.

5. Sleeves
Taking inspiration from the wedding dress of Kate Middleton, wedding gowns with sleeves look sophisticated and royal. This type of style is making a comeback because it looks delicate, playful, ethereal, glamorous, and romantic.

Image source: wedding-pictures.onewed.com

Brides-to-be who need help in searching for their dream wedding gown can talk to the wedding experts at Bridal Collections, Inc. Browse its online shop at www.tobridalcollection.com.

Wedding dilemma: Dressing the bridesmaids

One of the dilemmas that brides-to-be face during the wedding preparation is how to look most beautiful in a wedding gown without making the bridesmaids feel uncomfortable and look frumpy in their dresses. The TLC reality TV series Say Yes To The Dress: Bridesmaids had shown many times how friendships are ruined because of the differing preference of the bride-to-be and her bridesmaids when it comes to choosing the latter’s gowns.

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While the bride must be the most beautiful woman on her wedding day, it doesn’t mean that the bridesmaids must resort to wearing tacky dresses. After all, they are part of the wedding entourage and their look contributes to the total wedding presentation.

To choose the bridesmaids’ gowns, the wedding motif must be considered. The gown of the bridesmaids must have the color and fabric that match the theme of the wedding. The fabric must be comfortable to wear and the style must complement the bride’s gown.

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Although same-style bridesmaids’ dresses are the norm, the gowns must be tailored according to each bridesmaid’s fashion taste and body figure. If gown-matching is not required, the bridesmaids can wear gowns in different styles but in the same fabric and color. Simple rules like “no black dresses” or “no leg-baring mini-dresses” can be made in order to manage deviation.

If budget allows, it is advisable for the bridesmaids to go shopping with the bride in bridal boutiques like Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier and Bridal Collection, Inc. to choose the style they like.

Image source: bridalguide.com

Check out the latest bridesmaids’ gown designs here.