It’s here, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! First step – Get Engaged! Welcome all new bride-to-be’s, already married, as well as anyone looking up wedding planning or assisting their friend with the perfect wedding. You’re in the right place. You are probably wondering where we begin! It’s all in the timing of the process…. most engaged set their wedding a year to 2 in advance to plan and prepare for the wedding. But, there are many ways of celebrating your love – romantically eloping at a destination, traditionally walking down the aisle in your preferred church, the wind swaying across your shoulders on the beach (my choice, lol), going to the courthouse to officiate the ceremony of holy matrimony, picking a venue that is surreal, but, gorgeous in view – lights in a backyard, a barnhouse, somewhere with a sky view, and we’ve already mentioned the ocean, right?
First Kiss To Arranging Your Wedding Details
They’re the couple that people would tell when they were younger to just go ahead and tie the knot, already! And they did. But, in their way, they commemorate their special union for God first, themselves, their families third, friends, and anyone who cares about them last. God did arraign for their marriage to be as he brought them together to love and to hold each other, forever. They’re still solid to this day and have their way of sharing beautiful images on Instagram to let the world know that they Love. Photo courtesy of Cecilia, near The Kennedy Center in Virginia.
Working Out Your Marriage Plan
Your ‘Forever’ Partner. For some, it was visiting another country for travel stumbling down a block, and seeing her at the jewelry window, knowing a close mutual friend who introduced you on the occasion of “Hey! You’d like my friend, he’s tall, handsome, and is a real gentleman,” being friendship zoned as kids until you grew up realizing a deeper love had blossomed that was in the beginning, or D) all of the above and you’re high school sweethearts. Meet Denny and Cecilia, aka Cece, two beautiful people, Man and Woman, who woke up on a random day to officiate their boyfriend/girlfriend status on 08.01.2019, celebrating a 5th anniversary on Thursday of 2024. Nor telling a single soul that what they had in mind would be for plans that would progress their wonderful lives to this day. Knowing them since the Glory Days, ahem, Nina (aka the writer, writing this story), can attest to how close they are. And by glory days, I mean a chain food restaurant that we all served to develop some skills like customer satisfaction and creating crafty cocktails for our very special guests. It was at this place, that friendships were formed and each story developed. They quite literally pulled up afterward to their familias home with a marriage certificate in hand and guessing they said “HEY! It’s official.”
Funny Mr. and Mrs. Quiz for Couples
On your Wedding Day or for couples to play anytime with friends! There are various games to be played by the bride and groom, and of course many unnamed, but, they range from funny, quirky, knowledge-based (like how well you know each other), and some that can’t be named – you’ll just have to look it up! TheBlondeRaven asked a few “fire-starters” to interest our readers in some questions that can potentially be asked at the reception. The survey asked Cecilia the following & the bold is her response. Feel free to add these to your list of questions to ask your soon-to-be-married partner or friend getting married!! It’s hilariously wicked. Oh – and these can be interchangeably asked to whomever, but, for these purposes… we asked the Mrs. about the Mr.
The Bride Asks The Groom
- Who’s the better driver? He’s the better driver. I’m just a passenger princess.
- Where was your 1st Kiss? First kiss was at my mom’s house. We are high school sweethearts.
- Who would play him in a film depicting your love story? To be determined...
- Who spends the MOST money?? I’d probably say I spend the money on a daily. *Uses monkey emoji to hide face* Although, he’s a close second because PC gaming and other “expensive habits.”
- What’s his favorite alcoholic drink? His favorite alcoholic drink is definitely tequila.
- Name all of his cousins or family members off the top of your head? (Tricky to do for a bride if she doesn’t know him that well). He’s got a handful of family in the U.S. his mom: Luz, dad: Denys, brother: Chris, and cousins: Steven, Jason, and Miguel. I’d say his friend group has become like family to us too shout out to Jose, Juan and Oscar.
For more wedding preparation questions – you can check this out here. It helped inspire these questions up above! We love stories such as Denny’s and Cecilia’s, they are truly a match made in heaven!
Time For The Wedding
Upon the engagement, it’s best to start thinking of a date or time in mind that is 12 months or more ahead. Start thinking of your favorite months, colors, family, and friends you want to be in your bridal party, and where to host the reception – but first, the engagement ceremony! For a list of venues, you can check out The Knot online or here for ideas to get your wedding planning going. Keep in mind you’ll want to book amazing entertainment, save-the-date cards, a caterer, a florist, and a photographer/videographer to save the important moments from your special day. Our goal on this blog is to help provide color suggestions and ideas for bridal wear, bridesmaids’ dress ideas, and how to find your perfect Wedding Gown.
Within the 6-8 month mark, you’re going to want to purchase your bridal gown dress that is your perfect outfit for this day to remember. The colors for your bridal party matter too, so you ought to think of colors that you like that go well together, such as the following:
Color Pairing For Theme Of Wedding
Wedding planning consists of choosing the most compatible and your favorite colors that go together. Like “orange and pink, green and blue, black and white, yellow and cream, purple and brown, and turquoise and red!” as suggested in the ultimate wedding planning book, “The Knot Book of Wedding Lists” by Carley Roney and the website editor directed to you prior. Of course, there are many more colors to pair and match, go with inspiration from nature and colors you might find in flowers or at your favorite park. Colors even like lilac purples, bumblebee yellows, oranges and browns, olive green and teals, and “pastel pinks and blues” or yellows (as written in Vogue Issue Predictions for 2024 “The Biggest 2024 Wedding Dress Trends to Know From New York Bridal Fashion Week” written by Shelby Wax) can be perfect pairings, so please take a look at the color palette above. Based on your decision for colors in your venue and even flower assortments, you can then pick a dress for yourself and your bridesmaids that goes well with your ‘theme’ (but we’re not stopping you from making a choice, either).
Where To Begin Dress Searching
There are beautiful dresses at non-profit organizations, such as St. Anthony’s Bridal in Fairfax, Virginia for dresses $225. Yes – they may have been previously worn but oftentimes there are special anecdotes from previous brides for the next bride to read! Almost like a ceremonial right to have received! The image depicted is the inside of this local bridal shop our founder, Nina, has volunteered at on the weekend to gain more experience with this sort of wedding stuff.
You can narrow the wedding planning hunt down as well as the expenses for your special day by thousands by shopping locally. Most likely there will be alterations necessary to be done. Yes. But, sometimes the dress just fits perfectly with no further adjusting. If done locally, there are many affordable ways to have your true sizing and measurements done. Many shops have their own recommended seamstress for alterations, so, be sure to ask for a card and pricing details. In the picture, there is also a tiara displayed – ONLY to represent all the beautiful brides that are to be treated as queens! This non-profit was founded by Catholic, Melanie Cameron, who is President of the organization and for a good cause says it “serves all kinds of people, including immigrants, teachers, soldiers and the terminally ill” says Cameron. She has written a few books on wedding planning for cost-effective planning and brings a fresh outlook with her more than 14 years of experience to the DC Metropolitan, Virginia, and Maryland area. Check your local community to find a similar bridal shop or boutique that focuses on the importance and quality of your relationship to be set for a date! Otherwise, you’ll just spend empty dollars on a meaningless wedding which you can rather save for your honeymoon or savings. Would pinpoint St. Anthony’s as a one-stop shop for your Perfect Dress needs, so book an appointment! The dress featured in the ‘Mom and Bride‘ duo featured below is of blog writer, Miss Nina, and was more importantly bought at this local bridal shop in Fairfax, Virginia. As a reminder, their wedding dresses are donated and you can take a look around for many high-quality names for dresses like David’s Bridal and Sottero & Midgley by Maggie Sottero, dresses, check those types out online to get a feel for what good finds you can find. You can also check out Azazie Online Gowns if you’re going to ‘buy a dress online and customize it when received route.’
Wedding Invitations, Florists, and Venue Picking
Planning an extraordinary wedding in simple ways because “Two is better than one” for sure, as depicted in the second black and white image in the slideshow below which is a photo courtesy of a real wedding from Canva images. (Quick Tip: Canva or Vistaprint serve as great tools to create save-the-date cards, invitation cards, or wedding table arrangements for your wedding. As long as you have a good eye or know a friend who can create them for you, it’s one subscription and some clicks away from having a design format for your wedding. Playing around with this is a good idea to also decide on colors for the ideal location, thinking of any spots, yet? If not, no worries. You can also check out The Knot online for funny and more creative ways to invite guests. Future blog posts with more information will be posted addressing some beautiful and worthy reception areas, or you can click here to be redirected now for some ideas in Northern Virginia. You can also continue to check vendors listed by checking The Knot’s lists online, or Melanie’s e-books which can be purchased on the bridal shop’s website, or here by scrolling down to the bottom of her website’s page and listing to the right – Good Investment, truly. Start thinking special like, do you want several flowers at each table and behind each chair or table? Do you want to get even more specific and have them specially hand-picked for each guest who’s special in attendance or send them with your cards? Resources are mentioned above and for any clarification, I can update this post or answer any comments or questions to simplify the beginning process even further.
“Hey there!”
Spent some time with my now-married, beautiful sister, picking her gown. As I’ve mentioned, she picks the dress you see up above on her second visit to the local bridal shop. Of which, looks very pretty on her. She owned this perfect look. This is me saying “Hey there! Let’s find you a perfect ensemblé to match that pretty face!”
Choosing the ‘Perfect’ Gown, dress, or Fit
Finding a gown that speaks to you and you love is important when wedding preparing. Lucky for you — we will go through a basic comprehensive guide of questions you need to ask yourself when shopping around. There are different types of fabric and shades of white – Super White dresses are currently in right now, based on my volunteering at St. Anthony’s Bridal, Vogue says otherwise predictions are ever-changing and the dress standard for Wedding Gowns of 2024 trending here are more than desired gowns and dresses, it’s jumpsuits, pants and even “drop-waist silhouettes” in different colors than white, but portrayed as white to emphasize the unique creation and symbolism for each bride of her wedding. Would love a sophisticated jumpsuit such as the one below, even attending your own wedding in white maybe, or as a wedding guest as a bridesmaid or attendee! You can purchase the Jumpsuit With a V-Halter Top Section and Long Pant Leg Wedding Rompers here via Amazon Affiliates. The navy blue and burgundy colors can give your wedding a cool, calm look. Perhaps it’s the perfect choice or ‘idea’ for an outfit for your dressing code on the Big Day! It’s a bold measure to be seen differently than what might be the local norm in your community, but unique – Try Out Something New. My mother wore a Red Sequin Dress she made for her Marriage Ceremony – so maybe this trend is making a comeback. She is pictured at the very bottom of the article below, photo courtesy of The Family Album.
A More ‘Traditional’ Approach To Dresses and Gowns
Besides jumpsuits in many different colors and selections, we do have our traditional style gowns and dresses. Let’s start with the Minimalist approach with an example linked here. The lady in this linked image is wearing a simple style silk crafted dress with a Mantilla veil, especially with a “long circular piece of lace framing the face, secured typically with a comb” (The Knot Book of Wedding Lists, Roney, Pg. 142). The veil adds a bit of contour to this already simple style and frames the face as she appears diagonally “looking down” at her right side, gracefully. (“Would you all love some photography posing tips in a blog post? Can ask my photographer friends for some ideas” -Nina). This dress type does not take away from the beauty of the bride. Instead, it compliments her, and since the ceremony is more important than the actual wedding it signifies a bonded union centered through Christ, our Lord. (“Will be working on a post that signifies the utmost holy importance of our marriage to God to each other” -Nina). Along with a perfect Glam team, this dress type can make a naturally beautiful bride (and all women & men are all naturally beautiful, FYI) look special as always been, but with some extra *sparkling fireworks* on this day. Just to note, there are a variety of different styles of dresses, gowns, necklines, waistlines, embellishments, colors, veils, and length styles of trains added onto many styles of dress. For example, a Cathedral veil or train added to the waist of a skirt of the dress can be “one of the most formal veils available, it falls 3 1/2 yards from the headpiece” and for the train “it extends 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet from the waist” almost like a legit Queen wedding ceremony in a Roman Cathedral Church (Roney, Pg. 142, 139). For now, we’ll keep it simple by stating the different styles of gowns out of Roney’s book, and they are Princess, so think Disney Princess ball gown, ahem, A Cinderella Story, or Princess Tiana, Traditional, passing down a legacy wedding dress and pairing it with your “mother’s pearls, a clutch, and proper pumps” (Roney Pg. 136), Romantic, full of lacey patterns and designs all over, Vintage, take a look at these ‘Vintage’ wedding ideas here on Etsy for the idea, Glamorous, so picture Beyoncé wedding dress which is pictured on Pinterest for style inspiration and see related posts that are oh – so, Glamourous!, and the first mentioned, Minimalist.
It’s a beautiful day to Get Married.
Also, “if you’d all enjoy a blog post about specialized invitation cards for creatively hand-picking your bridesmaids, I gotchya, will be posted in a future article, stay with me” -Nina. An Important Tip learned from Roney’s book is to check with your “ceremony officiant” so whether it be a Church to check if there are any religious appearances and wear guidelines like covering your shoulders. The location of the wedding should also play a factor in deciding what gown suits you best — whether you’re on the beach or not- and the weather plays a key role as well. Depending on what type of look you’re going for, there are ways to narrow down your search. There most definitely is the Cinderella effect which is mentioned above already. The ball gown esk, a type of gown where she’s at the party on this perfect day with friends and family. You’ll be wanting to look your best so find any styles that look gorgeous from head to toe! If you’re working with a bustier top, you’ll still want to accentuate your features but perhaps a more “natural waistline” gown that does not maximize the chest as the main focus is more, less is more. Remember, this is your Special Wedding Day to share with your partner and family. You should be extremely happy in the fitted dress, gown, or suit you choose. Get perfect measurements and come back to an outstanding fit. There are typically three fittings after initial sizing, the first, 6 weeks before the wedding or when it arrives, the second, one month before the wedding, and the final, one to two weeks before the wedding day. So excited for you to put your Wedding “Dress” on!!
Future Dreams of Designing
My interest in all this wedding stuff manifested from wanting to design wedding dresses and bridesmaids outfits for a “special day” to remember. Something about the fact that this day is commemorated and memorized as important… speaks volumes to the way I feel about different looks in my own approach to stylizing myself and serving as a muse for others (I can only share what I learn). My/our Brand is ever-growing in its details. As for now, we are simply a Blog out of Fairfax, Virginia, that highlights wedding stories and planning inspiration, health & wellness articles for lifestyle, beauty, and trying on make-up products aka recommending the best of the best oldest and latest trends that are flawless, and spreading Our Mission: the centered truth that Our Lord + Savior, Jesus, is King and the only God. Nina, our Founder, is working on deciding what she wants to do exactly with all this. Yes, certain looks and styles are loved more than others, but where does the true Joy come from? The more I, Nina, write about these beautiful stories centered around real life and the beauty in designs of other people’s ideas and thoughts, the more that comes to life. Just check out that VOGUE article, if we’ve not already mentioned enough earlier, lol. The more I am inspired to share what I find to the masses, that includes you. And since my blog is in the beginning stages and ready to grow, I will be doing my best to stay consistent with the posting and generate more ideas that are popular, trendy, and of course can’t leave out Original. The real source of our imagination is the original thought behind it – the thought no one else thought of, but really, something always is inspired by another’s work, so, this is my beginning story.
Comeback Trending Red Dress? I think yes!
What style ‘wedding dress’ do you think mama wore? – She wore it best too! For further clarification, you can check the section of this article, “Choosing the ‘Perfect‘ Gown, dress, or Fit” written up above. Personally, it seems very Vintage (now) and ‘Romantic‘ during the time due to the many sequins as embellishments. Circa October 15th, 1993, whaddya think?
Online Sources and Printed Material Used For Reference
Roney, Carley. “The Knot Book of Wedding Lists,” 2007, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
Wax, Shelby, “The Biggest 2024 Wedding Dress Trends to Know From New York Bridal Fashion Week,” The Best Of Vogue Weddings, 18 October 2023, https://www.vogue.com/article/new-york-bridal-fashion-week-2024-wedding-dress-trends
