I do love cute shoes but for me, comfort is a priority. I am constantly on my feet so flats are usually what I turn to. Here are some really nice flats I found for a reception (or the whole wedding is you want!).

Like most women I love shoes! Who wants weara plain pair of white shoes. This is your day to be glamorous! Wear shoes with bling, color, whatever you want! Splurge a little or wear something you would not normally wear. Also, consider comfort you will be wearing these shoes for a very long time. Or have a second pair of shoes for the reception. 

There are so many different types of bustles. How do you decide on what kind?

Over Bustle

The over bustle, also known as the ballroom bustle, hides the train after the ceremony and makes the wedding dress look like a traditional ballroom gown. Over bustles are create by positioning buttons or hooks at the waist. A tailor adds loopholes into the train to hook onto the buttons. This results in the bottom of the dress being one length all the way around.

Tufted Bustle

Tailors can create a tufted bustle by applying a series of jeweled hooks around the waistline of the dress. The gown's train has coordinated holes to loop onto the jeweled hooks. The bride or her maid of honor then gathers the train of the gown in sections and hooks it around the waist. This creates a layered, or tufted, look. The jeweled hooks show through the bustle to add extra detail.

French Bustle

Tailors create a French bustle, also known as the under bustle, by tucking the train underneath the skirt of the dress. To create a French bustle, fold the bottom half of the train underneath the skirt, and tie it securely in place.

Pick-up Bustle

The pick-up bustle is ideal for slender, tighter-fitting gowns that have shorter trains than traditional ballroom gowns. To create a pick-up bustle, attach one hook or button to the back of the center of the waist. Gather the train in two sections. There are two holes on the bottom of the train that hook onto the one button.

French Pick-up Bustle

The French pick-up bustle is a combination of the French and pick-up bustles. One hook or button attaches to the waistline of the skirt underneath the train. Then, fold the train in half and the bottom half under. Loop a hole on the bottom of the train onto the button to hold the train in place.

Carat, cut, color, clarity ..... what does it all mean? Hopefully this will give you a little guidance. I learned all about the 4 c's during my time working at Tiffany's. (I had a lot of fun trying on a lot of jewelry too, including a 10kt diamond ring!) 

Carat
I'm sure most of you know the carat is the size of the rock. It is measured by the diamonds weight. The higher the weight, the bigger the diamond.

Cut

Top Row: Princess, Cushion, Emerald
Bottom Row: Marquise, Oval, Round



Color
The color of a diamond is grading the whiteness of a diamond. D is the highest (the best) and Z is the lowest. A D-F diamond is colorless, G-J is near colorless, and K-Z is noticeable color.  Obviously the less color, the higher the price. A "D" is very rare. I reccommend looking for an E-H. 

Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to the imprefections of a diamond. Some imperfections are so microscopic you will never see them. The more imperfections a diamond has the less it will bling. Here is a chart that shows the different grades of clarity. 

 

Sheila Rossetti does amazing makeup. She does makeup on location for weddings and other special events. She is known for her airbrush foundation and awesome eye makeup application. I met Sheila at a bridal show back in February. She offered to do my makeup for a special event so that I could experience it for myself before telling brides about it. So she came over to my house on April 3rd to make me look fab for the Before You “I Do” event. She spent a lot of time making sure I looked perfect. She prepped my skin, made my eyes beautiful, and airbrushed my face. It was really relaxing to sit there with my eyes closed for a while before a big event. I loved the way it looked and felt. My husband loved it too J I didn’t want to wash it off at night.  I recommend it for all brides and their whole bridal party. And her prices are really great.

Sheila loves makeup! She invited me over last night to “play” with some makeup. We had fun trying on some different colors and finding what works for me. She also sells Beauti Control products so if you want to buy something like lipstick to touch up throughout the event she will likely have it on hand.

Sheila Rossetti
734.276.5779
sherossetti@gmail.com

Some dresses I love.....

Having a signature drink is a fun way to personalize your wedding. If you want to save money on an open bar you could offer beer, wine, a signature drink, and skip the rest of the liquor. There are so many different drinks out there to choose from. But why not come up with one on your own? Take your fiancé and head out to a bar. I would go at a less busy time, like a Saturday afternoon so that you can get the help you need from the bartender. Come up with different concoctions until you find something you both like and give it a name. You could choose colors to match your color scheme. You could choose a drink to go with your theme, if you are having a beach wedding you could choose a tropical drink. A drink with Bailey’s would be great for a winter wedding. You could name your drink after yourselves, The Brad and Alicia or even put your names together The Damity (Dan and Amity). Or get creative and think of something really fun.

The location and style of your wedding should be a part of determining the dress you choose. After all, a ball gown would not work out so well for a beach wedding. Also, the location and season should play a part in the fabric you choose. If you are having a garden wedding in the middle of July you will want to choose something thin and breathable. For a winter wedding you may want to choose a thicker fabric.

Gloves are a fun accessory to add to your bridal attire. Some guidelines for wearing gloves on your wedding day:

·         Be sure to show some of your arms, you do not want the gloves to cover your entire arms.

·         Decide the length of your gloves by the style of your dress. Wear opera-length gloves only with sleeveless dresses. Short gloves look nice with cap-sleeves.

·         Forget the satin gloves! Go for lace, leather (matte), cotton, or organza.

·         Don’t forget to take your left glove off for the ring exchange and for eating and drinking.

There are so many different fabrics out there, how is a bride to know what any of it is or where to start? Hopefully this will give you a little guidance on the fabrics frequently used for bridal gowns.

Brocade- Jacquard-woven fabric with a raised design.

Chiffon- Transparent fabric of sheer silk or rayon.

Crepe- Soft fabric with a crinkled surface.

Eyelet- Open-weave embroidery.

Damask- Similar to brocade, but lighter in weight.

Duchesse Satin- Silk-and-polyester mix woven to create a satiny finish.

Doupioni- Silk with a thick, coarse finish and a slight sheen.

Illusion- Fine, sheer fabric often used on necklines and sleeves.

Organdy- Stiff, transparent silk or rayon fabric.

Organza- Sheer, stiff fabric of silk or synthetic material. Similar to tulle, but less coarse.

Satin- Smooth, heavy fabric with a high sheen on one side.

Shantung- Plain-weave silk or cotton fabric with a rough surface.

Silk- Smooth, soft fabric that is the priciest wedding dress material.

Silk Mikado- Blended silk that's heavier than regular silk.

Taffeta- Crisp, lustrous, light-weave fabric.

Tulle- A fine, starched netting of silk, rayon, or nylon.