The Classy Reception Dress

One of the wedding trends that we love most is the appearance of reception dresses.  Wedding gown styles differ dramatically, but many of today’s designers are including fuller skirts, soft, flowing lines, and elaborate embellishments.  While these are ideal for walking down the aisle and saying, “I do,” they are not designed to dance the night away.  The reception dress comes to the rescue.  With a slimmer silhouette, this dress can go the distance.  The reception dress has to be ready to handle a variety of duties; it has to allow you to move and be comfortable, help you achieve the look you want, and be affordable.  How do you choose the best one for you?

• Think about length.  Short or long is perfectly fine, but make sure you can walk, move, and dance comfortably.  Long reception dresses with a sweep or one inch train are trendy items at the moment.
• What color?  You could go with classic white, but many brides are tying their reception dress in with their wedding theme or colors.  If your main color is light tangerine, for instance, a darker shade of that same color will tie into the theme while helping you stand out.
• Complement or contrast your theme. If your wedding was very formal, you could either continue that theme with a prim and proper reception dress, or you could use the opportunity to loosen up with a Grecian-inspired frock, for instance.  Remember, your comfort is key.
• Stand out.  The risk that comes with wearing a reception dress is that you may be mistaken for a dress.  That will not do!  While it may be simpler than your wedding gown, you may want to inject some style and embellishment.
• Be you, and have fun.  It is your wedding, and since reception dresses are a relatively recent trend, there are not a lot of “rules” to worry about.  Worry, instead, about what works for you.  Above all, make sure you look and feel fabulous.

Bridal Boot Camps: Kick Your Bridal Butt Into Shape

A marriage is about celebrating the love between a couple and about the commitment they are making to love, honor, and respect each other…but a wedding is about the bride.  Everyone looks eagerly down the aisle when the wedding march begins to play, and besides the cake, the gown is the most hotly anticipated component of any wedding.  Every bride wants to look her best, and this has caused an explosion of interest in bridal boot camps.  While any boot camp-style workout will help you lose weight and look great, a workout routine that is geared towards brides may give you the extra motivation you need to achieve your goals.  Here are some suggestions to get you started.

The Healthy Bride’s Bootcamp Workout DVD. This video has strong reviews and is praised for its intensity and its targeted instruction.  One bride commented that she loved it because it worked her arms, which would look great in her strapless gown.  ACSM-HFI and NSCA-CPT certified fitness instructor Christi Masi leads you through cardio, ab and pushups, weight training, and fully body stretching routines.  In addition to losing weight, you will achieve a more toned body and have plenty of energy to dance all night.

Women’s Health: The Wedding Workout. Planning on wearing a form-fitting dress?  Start here.  This video has warm-up, power cardio, upper body, lower body, abs and core, and cool-down segments that are customizable.  Mix, match, repeat: create the perfect workout for your goals.  Reviewers tend to love the bonus segments – Love Your Honeymoon, a little intro to striptease, Walk Gracefully, and Eat Smart.  Some hard-core exercise fans say this is a little easy for them, but if you are a beginning or moderate exerciser, then it will whip you right into shape for the big day.

Seven Day Boot Camp for Brides (paperback). This isn’t a workout, per se; instead it is a guide for looking – and feeling – great on your wedding day.  Stress, anxiety, and fatigue can take their toll on anyone, particularly frazzled brides who have to plan, plan, plan.  This book is full of exercise and nutrition tips, garnered from respected experts in the field.  It can also help you relax and enjoy taking care of your body and mind.

PX90. This system includes proper exercise and nutrition for a healthier, fit body.  It is built on the idea of “muscle confusion.”  That is a euphemism for “These workouts are so hard that your body will have no idea what’s coming next and you will work so hard that all you will want to do is hold yourself in a fetal position.”  That would not fit on the box, so PX90 it is.  Muscle confusion, though, is effective because it ensures that your muscles are never complacent, that they are always working, and that they get maximum benefit from each workout.

Personal trainer. Imagine having Jillian Michaels whip you into fighting shape?  You’d be proud to show off your back, arms, abs, and everything else.  You may not be able to get Jillian, but go to your local gym to sign up for a few sessions with a personal trainer.  They can help you design an exercise program that helps you reach your goals, as well as help you with proper, safe form and technique.  It can also be incredibly motivating to have a professional cheering you on.

One of the traps that brides fall into is putting off diet and exercise until it is a few weeks until the wedding.  This is where fad diets and unmanageable exercise routines come into play.  Not only do these increase anxiety, they can be unsafe and unhealthy.  Eat.  There is no point in starving yourself to fit into a wedding dress if you are not going to have the energy to enjoy the big day.

The key to both exercise and diet is to start immediately and take a “slow and steady” approach.  You cannot lose 20 pounds and be healthy in a week; your body needs time to do this.  Do not have unrealistic goals for yourself; you may not be able to lose 50 pounds in six months.  That’s fine.  Do what you can, and then get a fabulous dress that celebrates your shape.

When planning your wedding, make sure to plan time for exercise, eating right, and resting.  These are really the keys to looking your best all the time, not just on your wedding day.

2012 Wedding Dress Trends: What’s Your Style?

What is the stylish bride wearing in 2012?  From cap sleeves to two-tiered skirts, designers and retailers have identified the hot trends for next year’s bride.  In 2011, brides began moving away from very simple gowns to those that incorporated more elaborate or whimsical details.  This continues in 2012.  While classic, simple gowns will always be in style, today’s bride is looking for something a little more.  These styles give it to them.

Cap Sleeves. Strapless gowns have dominated in recent years, but the more modest look of cap sleeves are coming back in style.  They add a delicate, elegant touch to a gown.  Brides who are self-conscious about their arms but do not want to wear a full sleeve may find this to be a great “compromise.”  Some fashion experts also say that this style can help minimize a fuller bust as well.

Floral Details. Floral details, the larger the better, have made a big impact on the runway.  Slim fitting gowns with flaring, mermaid-style skirts feature very large 3D flowers.  If this a little too “runway” for your wedding, though, Rules of Engagement star Sara Rue wore a lovely alternative.  Her “Dahlia” dress from Amsale was a strapless silk taffeta ball gown with ruched sweetheart neckline.  The skirt featured hand pleated floral embroidery for a look that was both subtle and gorgeous.  Whether you choose large 3D details or embroidered ones, flowers adds great femininity and elegance to your gown.

Ruffled Skirts. Another elegant, yet dramatic, feature is ruffled or “crinkled” skirts.  A slim fitting bodice leads to a very full skirt that is multilayered and luxurious.  Monique Lhullier specializes in just this type of gown.  Celebrities like Carrie Underwood and Amerie Rogers have donned Lhullier’s gorgeous creations, and her more affordable “Bliss” line means you can too!

Other top trends include lace, illusion necklines, two-tiered skirts, light silks like organza and taffeta, bolero jackets, ornate belts, blush-colored gowns, lingerie-inspired bodices, and full length lace sleeves.