Featured Post
By Sarah On June 25, 2009No Comments
On your wedding day, everything you do will be recorded for posterity. Each laugh, each sip of champagne, each lingering kiss with your new hubby. It’s wonderful to have all these memories on film for the future… but is also means that your makeup needs to be both perfect and perfectly timeless. Remember those photos of Aunt Carol with rainbow-shadowed eyes and orange lips at her wedding? Enough said.
Whether you’re having your wedding makeup done professionally and doing it yourself, the first thing you’ll have to do is pick a style you like. Your best option is to choose a makeup style that allow you to look more beautiful than ever… while still looking like, well, you.
Play up Your Eyes
A rule of thumb when it comes to makeup in general is to choose one feature to highlight, and stick to it. That’s even more important for your wedding, as most brides want to look fresh and natural. The best thing to play up is the eyes. Flip through magazines (bridal magazines in particular) and look for natural-but-striking looks that you think will work for you.
When choosing a makeup look, try to steer clear of eye makeup styles that use too much color or heavy layers of eyeshadow– you want a look that is classic and enduring. One of the most classic combinations is a light eyeshadow with thick-ish black eyeliner and black mascara.
Our eye makeup recommendations: Try a creamy, stay-put champagne eyeshadow with a slight shimmer, like Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit. For all-day eyeliner that will stay put no matter how much you cry, we like Smashbox’s Jet Set Waterproof Gel Eye Liner– but you need a good eyeliner brush to use it. Want dramatic but natural-looking lashes? Try Estee Lauder Projectionist (in waterproof, of course). It’s natural-looking and easily to layer, and never looks spidery or strange.
Our foundation recommendations: No matter what makeup look you choose, you’ll want your skin to look beautiful, too. While you’re out spending too much money on your wedding makeup, you might want to try a sample of Dior Forever Foundation. This foundation is becoming more and more popular with brides because it goes on light, covers beautifully, and stays put all day– yet still gives you the dewy, glowing complexion you want on your wedding day.
Play up Your Lips
Another classic wedding make-up look is the red or berry lip. No, you don’t want to go with fire-engine red– leave that for a night out with the girls. Instead, choose a rich wine shade or a deep berry in a stay-put formula that you can wear all night. Pair this dramatic lip with a simple eye to avoid overdoing it.
Our lipstick recommendations: There are plenty of drug store brands with decent long-last lips colors. But this is your wedding day– you can splurge on the name brands if you want to! So we recommend picking up a tube of Benefit She-Laq. It turns any lipstick into a stay-put lipstick, and works like a dream. You can turn your favorite lipstick into a color-stay formula, or choose from colors you already know work on you. She-Laq is a hefty $30 a tube, but if you’re one of those people who buys about ten lipsticks a month and never likes the color, this might actually save you money.
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Recent Posts
By Sarah On June 21, 2009
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It is supposed to be the most exciting, memorable day of your life. You have been planning this since you were five and you refuse to sacrifice anything. Then you realize that the biggest day of your life could set you back a year’s salary. You panic and are unsure how you can have the fairytale day you have always imagined on the limited budget you can provide. Help is here.
Here are 3 cost saving tips that can shave thousands off of your wedding budget.
1. Get Married on a Saturday… Morning!
A Saturday morning ceremony will cut down on the costs associated with food and liquor without sacrificing your Saturday date. Most venues will give you a weekday price for morning events and your guests are less like to drink at 11:00am as they are at 7:00pm.
2. Cut Your Guest List
Food and beverage will more than likely be your most costly expense. A wedding with 90 guests instead of 100 can save you 500 instantly. Weed out girlfriends/boyfriends of family members, guests whose names you don’t know and those you haven’t seen since college. This is your wedding and it should be filled with those most important to you.
3. DIY
By addressing your own invitations, printing your own programs, and creating your own favors you can save hundreds of dollars in printing fees. It is a time consuming task but it can definitely be rewarding by giving you unique one a kind items and memories you can cherish for a lifetime.
Planning your wedding is an exciting time that does not have to be draining to your wallet. Be creative and watch your dream become a reality.
By Sarah On June 15, 2009
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Food, flowers, favors… now footwear? There’s just so much to think about when you’re planning a wedding. Fortunately, deciding what you’re going to be wearing is one of the fun parts– and what woman doesn’t love an incredible pair of shoes? If you’re getting starting bridal footwear shopping, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Comfort
Nothing will ruin the fun of your wedding reception like uncomfortable shoes. So while style is important, it’s even more important to consider the comfort of your wedding shoes—especially for larger plus size girls, who are more susceptible to foot and ankle strain when wearing high heels.
To avoid bleeding blisters on your wedding day, it’s best to shop for your wedding shoes far in advance. Then, soon after buying your shoes, spend a few hours wearing them around the house. Leave them on for at least three to four hours to see how they feel. Are your feet pinched and sore or are you developing blisters? Take them back, even if you love them.
If you have a pair of gorgeous wedding shoes and can’t bear to pass them up even if they’re uncomfortable? Buy two. It’s become something of a tradition for brides to wear a pair of fancy heels for the ceremony and the photographs, and a simple pair of ballet flats, flip-flops, or even cute white Keds for the reception. That way, you get the best of both worlds.
Hubby-to-be’s Height
Sure, they’re your shoes and it’s your choice… but you may want to consider your husband-to-be’s height before choosing a pair. If the two of you are close in height, you may want to opt for flats or teeny-weeny heels if you want to let him look taller. Is your fiancé a giant? Shop for some platforms so you don’t look like an elf standing next to him. After all, this is your wedding, and you want to look great together!
Your Dress and Your Style
Now we get to the fun part. You want to pick shoes you love! But you also want to pick shoes that go well with your wedding dress. A rule of thumb to keep in mind? Fancy dress, simple shoes. Simple dress, fancy shoes. Matching any lacing, beading, or embellishments with your dress is practically impossible– so don’t bother. Instead, try your best to match the color. Bring swatches of your dress’ fabric along when you go to buy your shoes.
Also, be sure to buy your shoes far enough in advance to bring them to fittings. Shoe height really does make a difference, and you don’t want a dress that’s too long or too short. You have to have them anyway, so what does it matter if you buy them a few months early?
One last thing to keep in mind when choosing bridal footwear is your gown’s style and your body shape. If, for instance, you’ve chosen a sheath dress and want larger thighs to appear thinner, wear the highest, most dramatic heels you can. If, on the other hand, you’ve chose a retro-style tea dress, be sure to choose wedding shoes that go with the style you’ve chosen.
By Sarah On June 5, 2009
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As most of us girls know, accessories are everything. And while it’s important to spend plenty of time and effort on finding the best wedding gown for you (and your body shape), you shouldn’t overlook accessories. Just as they can with any outfit, the accessories you choose can make or break your look on your wedding day. So read on for tips on making the most of your wedding accessories.
Before you begin shopping for wedding accessories, you should try to have a particular look in mind– because one of the most important steps in choosing accessories for any outfit, including your wedding gown, is to choose them in a way that brings the outfit together. One of the easiest ways to do this is to “pick something.” In the case of wedding accessories, that means:
- Choose a feature you’d like to highlight,
- Choose a look you’d like to go for, or
- Choose a particular accessory (for example, your grandmother’s old brooch) to work around.
Wedding Jewelry
In general, the rule for wedding jewelry is “the simpler the better.” However, if you have one gorgeous statement piece, you can center the rest of your accessories around it. If, for example, you have a dramatic 1940s necklace you want to wear for your wedding, choose stylistically similar accessories to highlight it. Similarly, if your wedding gown has a particular feel to it, say princess-y or sleek and dramatic, choose accessories that fit the look and feel of your gown.
Wedding jewelry can also be used to highlight your own features. Want to bring attention to your glowing face? Wear a sparkling pair of earrings that will draw the eye. Have a gorgeous collar bone and shoulders? Choose a short, sparkling necklace to highlight it.
Wedding Veils
Oftentimes, the right wedding veil will almost choose you– that is, when you consider your dress and the look you’re going for, the right choice should be fairly clear. Today, most brides choose a simple comb veil than hangs down the back of the head. However, if your dress is dramatic or your ceremony traditionally religious, you may choose an over-the-face or a full-length veil. Going for a retro vibe? Think about a short fishnet veil attached to a small hat.
Shawls, Gloves, and Bags
Shawls, gloves, and bags can all play important roles in your overall wedding look. But remember, these are items you’re not going to be wearing at all times. You won’t carry a small purse down the aisle, for instance, and will probably take off a pair of gloves when it’s time to eat.
But this also makes these items a lot of fun. Since you may not be wearing a shawl or carrying a purse down the aisle, you can make these accessories into statement pieces. Have fun with them. Use a sheer shawl with jewel-colored embroidery. Buy that vintage purse you saw downtown with the beaded green frog stitched on the front. Use your wedding accessories to express who you are– especially if you’re wearing a simple white gown.
By Sarah On May 25, 2009
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White Gowns
Funnily enough, the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is a fairly new one - it began with Queen Victoria in the 19th Century. She wanted to use up some white lace she had handy, and so decided on a white dress. Today, her whim is our die-hard tradition, and a white wedding dress has come to symbolize purity (though not virginity for most of us!). So if you’re planning a traditional wedding, a white dress a wonderful gesture.
White dresses flatter many skin tones, though pale girls tend to suffer with them. Dark-skinned women in particular look wonderful in a white dress, as do pink and paler-skinned women with a nice tan. Want to look sweet and gorgeous and just like the princess you are… but don’t want to look washed-out? Ask about dresses in a soft diamond white– it’s just a step away from a true white.
Cream and Off White Gowns
Choosing a cream, off-white, or very light pastel dress is a nice compromise between tradition and self-expresion. With an off-white wedding dress, brides can break out of the uniformity of the white dress while still adhering to traditions.
When choosing not-quite-white wedding gowns, you have several options. Ivory, for instance is an almost-white with a touch of yellow that give the dress a gorgeous creamy sheen. Champagne-colored dresses show up white in photos, but tend to have a slightly pink undertone to them. Cream-colored dresses flatter lighter skin tones with a deep cream shade that tends a bit towards yellow.
Color-Accented Gowns
Colored accents are becoming more and more common on traditional wedding dresses. What makes colored accents so wonderful is that they allow you to stand out and express your individuality with both color and style. You can find them in any color and in any place on a dress.
Some of the most popular colored accents are found at the waist (try a simple jewel-colored ribbon, for instance, to bring out your waist) and the hem of the skirt. You can also buy a dress with bright ribbon accents at the straps or neckline (or add them to an existing dress). Another option is to choose a two-toned gown or a gown with subtle colored embroidery. The sky’s the limit.
Colored Gowns
Most people think white gowns symbolize purity, always have, and always will. But as you’ve just read here, that’s not really true. White gowns are simply a tradition, and for most of us don’t actually symbolize a thing. So why not flout tradition? It’s become more and more accepted for a bride to wear a colored gown– in fact, in most cultures it’s tradition. In China, for example, bridal wear is bright red to symbolize happiness and joy. In Morocco they wear bright green or yellow. So why can’t you?
If you’re the statement-making type, go ahead and choose a dress in a vibrant color such as a jewel red or blue. You may hear one or two gasps as you walk down the aisle, but that’s just part of the fun. A bonus? Darker colors are slimming, and will flatter fuller-figured women better than white.
By Sarah On May 14, 2009
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Want to wrap your curves in elegance on your wedding night, and during your honeymoon, but have trouble finding quality lingerie in your size? Fret not! Look through the options below I have hand picked for you, all available in plus sizes and make perfect bridal lingerie.
1. Chiffon Trim Chemise & Robe Set
2. Three Piece Peignoir Set
3. Long Gown Peignoir Set
4. Romantic Lace Tricot Gown
By Sarah On May 12, 2009
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One of the best things about shopping for a wedding dress is the sheer variety of styles. There are just so many different necklines and skirt styles and shapes to choose from… some of which look great on full-figured women, and some of which don’t. Shopping for a wedding dress and feeling a little overwhelmed? Read on for an easy-to-understand summary of the main wedding gown styles and who should wear them.
Main Dress Styles
The Ballgown or Princess Style: This is probably the most traditional silhouette for a wedding gown, and happens to be one that really flatters most full figured women. With this style, the bodice is fitted while the skirt flares out at the waist, hiding anything you don’t want seen underneath. Large-busted girls should be careful with this shape– if you have a bit too much on top, the wide skirt can make you appear apple-shaped.
The A-Line Gown: Like its name implies, the A-line gown has the silhouette of the letter A. It starts off narrow at the top and tapers in a smooth line to a medium-full skirt. This is a very popular gown silhouette as it flatters any shape. It works particularly well on full-figured brides, as it creates long, elegant lines and easily covers figure flaws.
The Sheath: A sheath is an incredibly sexy wedding gown style. It sits close to the body, hugging your shape from head to toe. Most plus sized women (heck, most women in general) want to be careful before choosing a sheath, as it works best on very slim women. However, if you find the right cut, a sheath wedding gown can flatter and add length to the body
Wedding Gown Necklines
Strapless or Sweetheart. These are some of the most popular wedding gown necklines. A strapless gown has no straps and is generally cut straight across at the top of the bust, while a sweetheart dips into a “V” at the front. Both flatter women with broader shoulders.
Off-the-Shoulder. With this style, the neckline dips below the shoulders, and thin straps lay across the upper arm. Works well on women with pretty collar-bones and shoulders and fuller busts.
Scoop or Square Neck. A scoop style wedding dress is also called a ballerina neckline. It scoops down into a u-shape, showing just the right amount of skin. A square neck is similar, but provides a bit more coverage and support. Both styles flatter every shape, and work especially well on fuller-busted women.
V-Neck. This style neckline dips down into a “V” shape in the front. It works well on medium-busted women, slimming and lengthening the neck.
Wedding Gown Bodices
The Corset Style. This style enhances your figure while pulling everything into place with tight lacing up the back. Just be sure to allow room to breathe!
The Insert Bodice. Often used with deeper necklines, the insert bodice places a piece of (generally sheer) material in the deepest part of neckline.
The Crumb Catcher. It doesn’t sound like a flattering name, but it’s definitely a flattering bodice style. One piece of fabric hangs slightly loose from the gown while a sheer piece of fabric underneath hugs the body.
By Sarah On May 7, 2009
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If you’re currently planning your best friend’s bachelorette party, and need a little inspiration, you might want to check out our top 10 recommended bachelorette gadgets and accessories. These will definitely help you organize a fun and memorable bachelorette party!
- Pecker Party Straws
- A Satin Blindfold
- The Bachelorette Tiara
- Captain Pecker - 6′ Blow Up Penis
- Bridesmaid Sash
- Bachelorette Party Veil
- Penis Pop - The All Day Sucker
- Bachelorette Party I. D. Buttons
- Pink Bachelorette Sash
- The Giant Penis Pinata
By Sarah On May 5, 2009
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Today we’re taking a look at this gorgeous gown from renowned designer Alfred Angelo. Design 1505W features satin and chiffon over satin fabric, which is accented with embroidery plus crystal and pearl beading on the bust area. This style of dress is very flattering to the plus size figure as it comes in an empire waistline. It can be worn strapless, or with the optional spaghetti straps which are included.
From PlusSizeBridal.com this dress currently is available for the great price of only $295.
It is available from size 16W to size 28W.
By Sarah On April 30, 2009
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Every woman has dreamed of a beautiful wedding ceremony, complete with lush flowers, soft lighting, and… the wedding dress of her dreams. Sound familiar? And just because you’re not starlet-slim doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding gown you always dreamed of. With a little extra attention to covering what you don’t like and flattering what you do, you can find a gorgeous wedding dress that looks great on your full figure.
And no matter what you do, remember this - even if a salesperson is pressuring you to do so, don’t buy any dress just because it fits you (or comes in your size). Buy it because you love it!
Skirts & Silhouettes
Some of the main wedding dress styles are sheath, empire-waisted, A-line, and princess style. Most plus sized brides will have no problem wearing A-line or princess style dresses, and some will be able to pull of a sheath - it just depends on your particular shape and the cut of the gown. Empire waist gowns can be flattering or unflattering, depending on just what you’re trying to hide; if you have a large stomach, the under-bust waist can tend to make you look pregnant.
Skirt & silhouettes that flatter your shape: Have a good idea of just what you want to cover (and flatter) most? If you’re looking to disguise large hips, a princess style dress with a basque waist (in this style, the waist makes a little “V” where it meets the skirt) will visually diminish the width of the gown at the waist and hips. Just try to avoid to bustles or tiered fabric at the hip area. If you have a large bust, choose a simple silhouette with a full skirt. For large tummies, A-line gowns work well, as they sit under the bust and flow around the body.
Necklines
Some of the most popular wedding dress necklines are ones that will make fuller-busted plus size women feel a little uncomfortable. Halter, spaghetti-strap, and strapless style dresses just don’t seem to offer enough support. That said, if you love halter or strapless style dresses but feel unsure about how they’ll look… try one on! If you’re not too big-busted, it may flatter you more than you think.
Necklines that flatter your shape: Though busty girls are a limited as to which necklines they can choose, they still have plenty of options. Scoop and square necklines, for instance, flatter every bride, providing just the right support yet showing a nice amount of skin. Larger-busted women also look very sexy in a sweetheart neckline. Portrait and off-the-shoulder necklines are great for full-figured women with pretty collarbones and not-too-wide shoulders. Are your shoulders a bit on the wide side? A v-neck style neckline will help to slim them down.
Sleeves
Most of the fashionable gowns you’ll come across will be sleeveless, strapless, or tank style– they show a lot of skin. But the most important thing is that your dress flatter you… so depending in what you want to highlight and what you want to cover, you may have to opt for sleeves.
Sleeves that flatter your shape: For women with large upper arms, it’s important to wear a sleeve that makes you comfortable. If you’re not comfortable wearing a tank top to the grocery store, don’t choose one for your wedding gown. Instead, choose a gown with simple, not-too-tight sleeves. Feel comfortable showing them off? Then the sky’s the limit.
By Sarah On April 24, 2009
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First off, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Getting married is a wonderful thing, but often times it can also be a pretty stressful experience. There’s so much to do, and if you have little time to do it, well let’s just say it’s not the most relaxing of situations.
Being a plus size bride myself I understand the difficulties full figured brides me might come across, especially when coming to choose the perfect wedding gown, and other accessories.
Throughout my wedding planning process, which is still ongoing by the way, as I am getting married in October this year, I have spent countless hours researching different things, and have found some excellent resources, and stores offering beautiful plus size bridal gowns. I wanted share all I have found, and a bit more, with all the curvy brides so that is how this blog was born.
So ladies, make sure you bookmark this blog, subscribe to the RSS feed, or free email updates to make sure you do not miss new posts; they will be jam packed with bridal fashion tips, shopping resources, advice, and much more.
