Wedding Dresses

Sadly, wedding planning causes stress and misery for many, ruining what ought to be among the happiest days of their life. Fortunately, here are some tips to help you plan for a memorable and joyous wedding day.

Make sure that at your wedding, there are enough refreshments for all of your guests. During the night, there will be a lot of dancing and conversing, which can lead to dehydration. Prepare accordingly by having a lot of quality water and soda in many different locations at your wedding.

An excellent way to save money on your wedding is not paying for a photographer. That doesn’t mean you can’t have video and still photos, it just means you need to be creative! Ask the best photographer in your family to do the photography for you, and then drop some hints that it would be great to get a photo album as a wedding gift. It worked for me!

When having an outdoor wedding, the food served can be greatly affected by the weather. If you are planning a wedding during hot weather, ask your caterer if they have experience in serving food when it is hot outside. If the food cannot be kept at the correct temperature, avoid foods that have mayonnaise and any other dishes that will need to be kept cold.

If you are planning a tropical destination wedding or honeymoon on the beach, opt for inexpensive sandals with a thin rattan or jelly sole. These shoes can be easily embellished to match your bridal gown or beach attire by adding on ribbons, vintage brooches, silk or fresh flowers, or even clusters of crystals.

If you want to save money on your destination wedding, have your honeymoon in the same location! You can usually get a great deal on the hotel for a longer stay, and you’ll only have to do research on the place that you’ve selected for your wedding. This will also give you more time to relax as you won’t be scurrying to the airport to get on your plane.

For both brides and grooms, it is important that you do not drink too much at your wedding reception. Although a few drinks are okay, getting drunk will just make you not remember your day and could cause you to do or say something that you are going to later regret.

Speak to your family and friends in regards to services for your wedding. You never know when you might have an overlooked relative who handles music or cooking. You may also find that your friends have connections to service professionals who can offer you a discounted price due to the referral.

Everything you purchase for your wedding can be negotiated! Wedding dresses are marked up by fifty percent or more. You should see if you can get a discount on the one you love, or maybe one that has a flaw that they’ve put away in the back. Even flowers can be bought at a discount if you’re not too choosy.

A wedding should be a magical and memorable moment so be sure to pick out who will be a part of it wisely. If you’ve got that obnoxious cousin that you aren’t the closest with this might be a good event to let them sit out. You don’t want someone to ruin it for you.

Cut your cost for photography by incorporating disposable cameras for your guests. If you allow your guests to handle the candid photography during the reception, you can cut your photo budget down to just pictures of the wedding, wedding members and family. You will find that these photos generate more memorable moments than one photographer could capture.

Try to avoid the holidays when you are planning your wedding. Yes, some weddings are going to happen on holidays for specific reasons. However, if your’s is not one of these, target a date that will not force guests to decide between your special day and a holiday trip. Find a neutral time that will allow for the best turnout.

This article can help you to get your wedding planning done without losing sight of what really matters. Start your relationship with that special someone off right by intelligently planning a wedding that you will never forget.

Weddings can be times of extreme joy, not only for the couple involved, but for their family and friends. Use the tips in the article below to help you plan and pull off a great wedding that you remember for the rest of your life.

When you are marrying someone, it is important to work as a team when it comes time to plan your wedding. Try to optimize your decisions by coming to a compromise on the disagreements that you have so that you can both be as happy as possible when your big day comes.

When sending out your wedding invitations, remember that it is your day, so avoid any person or combination of people that will ruin it in any way for you. It may be an insult to someone not to be invited, but if having them at your wedding will cause even the slightest of issues for you or your future spouse, it is really in your best interest to keep them off your guest list.

Even if you have hired a wedding planner, having a close friend inspect all the details of your big day will help to avoid unforeseen problems. From a food allergy to seating arrangements, the littlest things can sometimes cause the biggest scene so make sure to have a trusted adviser examine every aspect of your wedding long before you finalize anything!

If you live in a larger city, consider looking into smaller cities for a location to have your wedding. Venues are more expensive in the large cities. If you have a small city close to where you live, check out what it has to offer. You may find a great venue for a reasonable price just by changing your venue city.

Should you want to cater the food yourself, look to wholesale stores like Sam’s. This is no secret but buying your foods from the big club stores will save quite a bit of money over retail grocery chains and that is considering the membership charge. Try asking friends to split food costs.

Give your husband-to-be, some cuff links and a tie clip on the morning of your wedding, so he can match your jewelry. It looks great in photos, when there is a splash of sparkle and color on both of you and it will be very meaningful for him to know that you were thinking of him on your big day.

If you are a bride, you should treat the groomsmen to a professional shave and haircut, the day before the wedding. This will ensure that they look as sharp as possible, so that everything is aesthetically beautiful at your wedding. Proper grooming is essential to maximize the look of the important components to your wedding.

When you are walking down the aisle, look directly into the eyes of your groom at all times. This will be a special moment that you two will share for the rest of your life, as you will want to see each other when it happens. Look and smile at your groom to make the best of the moment.

Try to use a limousine driver that you know and trust so that you do not have to get worried on the day of your wedding. Make sure that he shows up in advance and pay him the extra hour to sit and wait for you. This will ensure that you arrive on time.

To save money on your wedding, you may want to consider asking a family member or friend to make your cake. Wedding cakes can go for hundreds of dollars, which is an unnecessary expense if you know someone that is good at baking. Perhaps having a family member or friend make your cake can be their wedding present to you!

For destination weddings, a fantastic gift to give your guests is a basket full of goodies that is delivered directly to their hotel room. Fill the basket with useful, fun items like a map, camera, sunblock and brochures from local attractions. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.

An improperly planned wedding can go from joyous occasion to disaster in a disturbingly short amount of time. Read these strategies carefully, and apply them when you are planning for your wedding in order to make the process easier.

Bristol brides search high and low for wedding dresses in the UK, especially for those looking for a sophisticated, distinctive look. La Reine Bridal carries a variety of designers, including Eddy K. If you have never seen an Eddy K gown before, our team can think of four huge reasons you’ll want one for your big day.

If you’re looking for elegance
Eddy K gowns are designed and created in Milan, the fashion capital of the world. With so much inspiration in just the city they are manufactured, every Eddy K gown exemplifies some form of elegance and class unlike any other.

If you want unique materials and designs
On top of being created in one of the most ideal cities in the world, every gown is designed with the influence of Italian elements and fabrics. Instead of the many French laces and fabrics used for gowns, Eddy K takes gowns to a different level.

If you want a gown that photographs beautifully from all angles
Not only are Eddy K gowns stunning from the front with every neckline and sleeve combination you can imagine, but he also pays impeccable attention to the back. The details embedded throughout these dresses is breathtaking.

If you’re searching for affordable gown options
With so many luxurious elements and design features, Eddy K gowns appear to be far pricier than they actually are. His collections often range from £1,500-£2,500, which gives many brides the chance to feel like a queen at a reasonable price.

As one of the best bridal shops in the Bristol area, La Reine Bridal provides our brides and their guests with the best experience the moment they walk into our boutique. We are not only focused on making this day memorable but also help you choose your wedding gown. There are so many designers to choose from, our team can think of a few reasons you might consider a Rosa Clara gown.

High design style
Known for her sleek lines and intricate features, Rosa Clara is perfect for brides searching for romantic wedding dresses. She often pulls inspiration from the fashion of earlier generations to create vintage yet modern-feeling gowns that are both detailed and simple at the same time.

Craftsmanship
Every dress designed by Rosa Clara has received the attention and care it deserves. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, these dresses are constructed with their brides in mind to showcase the elegance and beauty of each woman on their wedding day.

Reasonable pricing
Though Rosa Clara focuses on high designny of her dresses and designs are moderately priced. If your dream has been to drip style and sophistication on your big day, Rosa Clara has the line of gowns that are likely to be in your price range and overall aesthetic.

The La Reine Bridal team wants our Bristol brides to feel beautiful on their big day, and for that, we host trunk shows so our clients can see all that a designer can offer for their big day. May 18-27, we will be hosting a Rosa Clara Trunk Show. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for live updates as we show off some of the more desired dresses with the latest styles.

The excitement from your engagement is still lingering, and La Reine’s team couldn’t be happier for you! This next big step in your life is exciting yet daunting, and you are just about ready to start planning your wedding day!

Budgeting is an essential part of the part of the planning process, and you’ll want to be sure to leave room for all of the most important aspects of your big day. As a bridal shop just outside of Bristol, we know first-hand just how essential it is to stick to our bride’s price point.

Sitting down with your significant other and deciding on a price you are both comfortable with means taking some of the stress out of your big day. Choose a realistic number that works with both of your must-haves while also being lenient towards the items that you might be able to do without to save a little extra. Once you come up with an overall budget, determining how that budget will be used takes a little extra time.

It first starts with the dollar amount you might be comfortable with spending. Creating a limit for yourself can prevent wasted time trying on dresses outside of your price range or worse, fall in love with a dress you just can’t afford. If there is a number in mind, never be shy to share it with the professionals during your consultation.

Every bride is different, and the importance of the perfect gown can vary. For many, the gown is one of the top priorities for preparation long before the wedding day and budget, and some are willing to spend 20% above their original number if they find the right dress, even without the additional charges for tax and alterations.

Fortunately, there are bridal shops out there who have the selection and expertise you need to get the dress of your dreams. La Reine’s team is skilled at helping our brides choose from our hundreds of options to find a dress they love and fits within that dreaded budget.

An experience like shopping for your first wedding dress only comes around once. The experience is an emotional one and your family will have their say on your dresses, your colors and nearly everything you choose. While the whirlwind will not stop until you say “I do” and walk down the aisle with your significant other, there is one emotion that makes all of the planning, sweat and tears of planning your perfect day. That emotion is what you feel when you finally find the bridal shop that has “The Dress” that you know is the one you will walk down the aisle in.

There is nothing you would change

When it comes to finding the right dress, you could be there hours trying to find the one that you love. There will be dresses that you see that you wish you could alter or change and that is normal. However, when you find the dress, there will be nothing you would want to change on it other than the alterations. The dress is perfect on you and you won’t think of anything that you would want to change drastically about the dress. If you find that dress, that is the one you are meant to have.

If you keep returning to the dress

They say that things that are meant to be have a way of coming back to you. The same should be said about wedding dresses. When it comes to wedding dresses, if you keep eyeing one dress, you should try it on. Now once it is on you may feel differently due to your own interpretation of how the dress should feel once it is on, but for the most part, it will be your gown. With being able to preview dresses online especially, if you keep finding the same dress and printing out that dress every time without realizing it for when you go to try on the dresses, you can be sure you will feel beautiful.

You feel beautiful

This is the most important part of trying to find “The Dress”. After trying on dress after dress, you will know what makes you feel okay and what makes you feel pretty. You will find that dress that when you look in the mirror, you stop. You will feel gorgeous and beautiful, especially when you get the veil and jewelry added to complete the look. The most important person to think you are beautiful in your dress is you and if you feel beautiful it will make the dress all the more radiant. So, the final thought you should have when finding “The Dress” after you wouldn’t change the dress, you kept going back to the dress, is “I am beautiful”.

Looking for the right bridal shop that has your dress can be difficult. There are many options and places to travel but it will be worth it in the end when you find La Reine Bridal. We have many designers and just maybe, we have the designer for you that you have not found yet.

Bridal shops around Bristol host brides-to-be and their loved ones while searching for their perfect wedding gown. Often times, brides will enter La Reine with styles they love, including their favorite necklines. If you’re still searching for your inspiration dress, here are a few popular dress necklines our brides love:

Off-the-Shoulder
If you’re looking to highlight your collarbone and shoulders, off-the-shoulder is a great option. This neckline has been mixed with strap and sleeve options and also usually incorporates some other neckline, such as sweetheart or square.

Sweetheart
This cleverly named neckline mimics the shape of the top half of a heart. Sweetheart necklines are very versatile and are combined with other neckline options. Sheer or lace fabrics might be used above the neckline to accentuate the detail.

Scoop
One of the most classic and timeless neckline options out there is the scoop. This “U” shape is perfect for women of all sizes and can vary in depth. Short, long, and quarter sleeve dresses have all been created with this neckline and look beautiful.

V-Neck
Similar to the scoop neckline, v-necks dip in the front and can vary in their depth. This neckline is one which has been used in edgier designs and stand-out gowns that so many women love. Some designs also include a dip in the back, as well.

Jewel
What many call the t-shirt neckline, this elegant option is often created out of sheer or lace fabrics and used with another neckline, such as sweetheart or scoop. Jewel is another timeless option that many brides seek out.

Portrait
This neckline is also referred to as the portrait collar. From a distance, portrait looks similar to an off-the-shoulder style but uses more fabric. It frames the neckline and rests on the edge of the shoulder blades and can be used with straps or sleeves.

Still not sure? Our team would love to help! We want your big day to be magical, and that starts with a one-of-a-kind gown shopping experience. Make an appointment with our experts; we are ready to help you find the dress of your dreams.

With comfort and intimacy often being two ways brides wish to remember their wedding day, the entire experience leading up to the “I do’s” should only add to the atmosphere. Sharing these moments with the people you love should be done with care and excitement throughout every step of the process, including wedding gown shopping.

La Reine can think of hundreds of reasons every bride should have a private room and audience when they try on gowns for the first or last time, but we’ll just name a few.

It allows you to be vulnerable
Getting married is an emotionally-driven decision, and buying a dress can be a rollercoaster that even the calmest person can anticipate. Expressing yourself during these exciting, scary, and memorable moments can be hard without the privacy with your closest friends and family you feel secure and safe.

It allows you to be comfortable
As a bridal shop who has worked with brides from every walk of life, not every woman is thrilled about the idea of dress shopping. For one reason or another, they might feel awkward or unsure of themselves, and it can be a difficult process to go through in front of an audience. Being surrounded by people who love and support you can ease these tensions and help a bride feel more confident about their gowns as they show them off.

It allows you quality time with people you love
The months leading up to your wedding move quickly, and before you know it, you’re starting a new chapter with the love of your life. Enjoying the time you have with your family before these significant changes give you the quality time you might not get otherwise. Even just a few hours together trying on dresses is a memory that lasts a lifetime.

At La Reine, we are focused on your experience with us. We want each bride to choose her dress in an environment that gives her the most confidence and truly appreciate the time and emotions with the people you love most. We accomplish this by requiring scheduled appointments and private rooms for each of our guests.

The team at La Reine Bridal has helped so many lovely women find the wedding dress of their dreams for their big day in MA, and every experience is different. Over the years, we have learned many tricks and tips along the way for making the most of your shopping experience, and as a premier bridal shop in the Bristol area, here is our professional advice for starting your gown search:

Spend some time learning what you like and don’t like
You don’t have to go into your appointment knowing exactly what you want in your wedding dress because your thoughts might change after you try something on! It can be helpful, however, to go into your appointment knowing the styles you’re attracted to, what you believe will look best on your body type, and other items similar to narrow in on your perfect gown.

Call your preferred boutique in advance
Many, if not nearly all wedding gown boutiques will require an appointment to ensure you have the perfect experience, so be sure to call in early! Not only does this allow the boutique team to cater your appointment to you, but it also gives you plenty of time for the alterations once you find the dress you love!

Have an average price point in mind
It can be devastating for a bride to try on every dress they love and find out later their favorite is far too out of their price range. Have a budget in mind, inform the consultant you are working with, and you’ll avoid the disappointment of your dream dress not being an attainable option for your wedding day.

Keep your party small for try-on day
We love to host larger parties, but our team has found brides have a hard time choosing their dream gown when there are so many opinions, especially if multiple loved ones don’t agree. Keep your party small, enjoy the intimate time with one another, and share opinions with those you care about most.

Ask for advice from the boutique professionals
Bridal consultants are trained and skilled at finding the perfect dress for a variety of brides with different body shapes and budgets. Teams like those you find at La Reine are dedicated to helping you find the gown you have always wanted and will only enhance the wedding planning experience.

Our consultants have 67 years of combined experience in the bridal business, these are our best tips to help you find your dream dress without stress!

Let the Bridal Consultant Help

The bridal consultant is there for a reason. Their job is to help find you the perfect gown for your walk down the aisle without you having to trudge through endless dresses with no direction. At La Reine Bridal our consultants always start the appointment by sitting down with you and talking about what you’re looking for. Share with her any pictures you have and let her know what you have and haven’t liked about other dresses you’ve tried on. She will be able to take all of that information and direct you to the dresses you will love!

Chose the People You Bring Wisely

The last thing you want during your bridal appointment is a huge group of opinionated people. Bring a few people whose opinions are important to you and leave everyone else behind. Having too many people in the room can make what should be a fun experience extra stressful. Ultimately you’re choosing your wedding dress and the only person that has to love it is you!

Not sure how to tell all of your bridesmaids, in-laws, and everyone else who wants to be there that they can’t all come? Just let them know that you want your dress to be a surprise and only mention your dress shopping plans to the select few that you want to come.

Although you should limit your group it is just as important to make sure that the right people are there. You never know when you’re going to find your dream gown so make sure your mom, best friend, or anyone else you won’t be able to make the final decision without is there. That way you won’t have to scramble to FaceTime your mom for approval or wait to come back a different day.

Know What You Want to Spend

Before you walk into the bridal salon you should know how much you are willing to spend on your dress. Weddings are already very expensive so the last thing you want to do is blow your budget. Let the bridal consultant know what you want to spend and we will respect your budget and show you dresses within your price point.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Sometimes it can be intimidating to make such an important purchase. You are purchasing a once in a lifetime gown so you want it to be perfect. For some brides this means they find themselves in an endless search for the perfect dress. To avoid this stress it is best to limit yourself. Too many choices will drive you crazy. Be selective in what dresses you try on and don’t be afraid to buy at the first bridal salon you visit (hopefully it’s with us!J) Sometimes seeing more dresses can just confuse you and you won’t be able to remember which dress you liked the most.

When You Love it, Buy it!

If you find a dress that you love you should buy it as soon as you are sure about it. If you wait too long to order the gown you run the risk of the designer discontinuing the style or changing the price which will just cause more stress later on. You shouldn’t feel obligated to visit more shops and try different dresses just for the experience, this will just create confusion and extra stress which is the last thing you need as you prepare for your wedding. When you find the dress you love buy it and move on to the next step of your wedding planning.

Don’t be Afraid to Buy Off the Rack

If the gown that is in stock in the store is your size and in the color that you like there’s no reason why it can’t be the dress you wear on your wedding day. At La Reine Bridal our gowns are kept in pristine condition, they are kept in garment bags and are only taken out for a short time if a bride wants to try it on. Our bridal consultants ensure that no damage is done to the gown so there is no difference between the dress you try on when you come to our shop and the dress that you order that arrives months later. Buying off the rack can save you the stress of waiting for your dress to arrive and you already know that it’s perfect!