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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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Check out the latest bridesmaids’ gown designs here.

Bold and beautiful: Colorful wedding gowns

The wedding gown is perhaps one of the best representations of a woman’s personal style. That is why many brides-to-be take a lot of time searching for the dress. They want a gown that will make them look and feel stunning as they exchange vows with the man of their dreams—a perfect dress for a perfect day.

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In their search for the ultimate dress, most brides end up with the traditional long, all-white gown. Styles would vary of course, depending on the bride’s taste but as most style experts note, most would keep the gown very traditional.

But there are some brides who would defy tradition and opt for a dress that is unconventional for many; for example, choosing a colored gown over the traditional white. When Jessica Biel married Justin Timberlake last October, she joined a handful of celebrities who went for the blushing bridal look. Mrs. Timberlake’s cotton candy-colored Giambattista Valli dress featured light pink floral motifs and ruffles with a long veil decorated with pearls.

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If a pink gown is not modern enough for some brides, then perhaps a splash of lavender would do, like some of the dresses featured during the New York International Bridal Fashion Week. This includes the purple ombre dress with feathers by Kelly Faetanini.

But if a bride really wants to make a statement, then the gown for her would be the highlighter-yellow tulle ball gown by Max Chaoul Coutoure or the red masterpiece by Yumi Katsura. Both gowns are truly showstoppers.

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The Bridal Collection, Inc. offers a wide variety of wedding gowns and accessories at affordable prices. Visit this website to view its collection.