Are Wedding Gloves Right for You?

By Cori Russell

Are gloves the right wedding accessory for you…

Nothing screams elegance and refinement quite like a pair of white gloves. Just the idea of them is enough to conjure up iconic images of Camelot or Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In fact, gloves used to be a must for all formal events. These days, however, they’re more of a fashion statement – and are completely optional. Unsure if you can pull off this once ubiquitous accessory? Read on to find out…

Fabric
Gloves are available in a number of fabrics. Kid leather gloves are regarded as the most formal; however, romantic lace, classic satin, crushed velvet, and sexy sheer organza also provide an elegant look.

Glove styles and lengths

Fingerless: Either long or short, fingerless gloves offer added convenience during the ring exchange, as your ring finger is already exposed.

Gauntlet: Extending from the elbow to the wrist, a gauntlet glove looks like a sleeve, as it lacks any material covering the hand.

Wrist length: These short gloves cover your hands to within two inches of your wrist, providing a simple yet sophisticated accent. This style is less formal than longer lengths, and looks great with long-sleeved gowns.

Elbow length: These gloves extend to just before or just after your elbow. This style is flattering for brides with toned limbs, as it draws attention to the upper arms. This length works well with short-sleeved dresses.

Opera length: The longest and most formal style, these gloves extend almost to the shoulder, ending at the upper part of your bicep. Opera-length gloves provide an alternative for those who want an open neckline, but prefer a bit more coverage. This glove style looks great with strapless and sleeveless gowns.

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How to Set a Proper Formal Dinner Table for Your Reception

Your wedding reception is a formal affair. Proper etiquette and good table manners call for the host to ensure the table has been set correctly. The place settings should reflect the menu choices and always be positioned correctly. Don’t leave anything to chance. It is best to consult with your catering manager to be sure everything will be set properly.

Place Setting Styles

There are three types of place settings: formal, informal, and basic with two common rules shared.
1. The utensils are placed in the order of use from the outside in.
2. With a few exceptions:
Forks are place to your left.
Knives and spoons are placed to your right.

Proper Formal Dinner Place Setting

The elements of the formal place setting are not complicated. There are many elements, yet each is used in the order of service. Once you visualize where each element is placed and see how each is used during the meal, you will appreciate the fine art and nuance of a formal dinner setting.

Elements of a Place Setting

SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS are generally unsightly. As they are important to the meal, consideration should be given to them as part of the table decor.

THE CHARGER PLATE is an oversized and decorative plate set in place for each guest. The use of a charger is highly recommended as it presents a lovely and complete look to your table before the food has been served. Once the food course begins, it will remain in position. The plate for each food course will be placed on top of the charger and removed, leaving the charger to decorate the table between courses.

THE NAPKIN is placed on top of the charger plate. In the absence of a charger, the napkin is placed in the empty space where the dinner plate will be placed. Although the napkin placement does not change, you do have a choice on how to present it. You may choose the fabric and color of the napkin as well as the napkin fold. Your napkin is also a great location to insert your menu card.

CHINA selection can be used as an added element of decor to your table setting. Choose a pattern that enhances your charger plate and that beautifully accents your table lines. Your dining china is made up of three main elements: bread or butter, salad, and dinner plates.

•THE BREAD & BUTTER PLATE is placed above the forks on the left with the butter knife placed diagonally on top of the plate. Place the handle facing the right and blade faced down.
•THE SALAD PLATE is a smaller than your dinner plate and, when served, is placed on top of your charger plate.

•THE DINNER PLATE for the main entree will be placed on top of your charger plate.

FLATWARE is equally important as a decorative element. You may select an elegant sterling-silver pattern that will blend in nicely with your tabletop decor or a more eccentric pattern with gold accents and engraving for more of a statement. No rules apply to selecting flatware other than making sure that you include the appropriate elements that will be used for your menu selections.

•THE DINNER FORK is the largest of the forks and is placed to the left edge of the charger plate.
•THE SALAD FORK is placed to the left of the dinner fork. Should your menu require your salad to be served after the entree, the small salad fork is placed to the right of the dinner fork, next to the charger.
•THE FISH FORK is placed farthest to the left of the dinner fork because it is the first fork used. Only set a fish fork if fish is to be served.
•THE DINNER KNIFE is placed to the right edge of the charger plate.
•THE FISH KNIFE is a specially shaped knife placed to the right of the dinner knife.
•THE SALAD KNIFE is included if the salad is to be served first and is placed to the right of the fish knife.
•SOUP SPOON is placed to the right of the knives if soup is to be served as a first course.
•OYSTER-COCKTAIL FORK is set to the right of the spoons if shellfish is being served. Please note: This is the only fork ever placed on the right of the plate, and although very cute, in an effort not to confuse your guests, please do not place them on the table if you are not serving a fish or seafood course.

GLASSWARE
Glassware is placed to the upper right of your dinner plate and can number up to five depending on your beverage service. It is a very important element on your tabletop. It enhances the mark you are placing on your table decor. As with your china pattern, you may select from a variety of glassware to accompany your place setting. Your pattern selection may consist of clear crystal, colored glassware, or an elaborate pattern.

•THE WATER GOBLET is placed directly above the knives.
•THE CHAMPAGNE FLUTE is placed to the right of the water goblet.
•THE WINE GLASSES are set slightly below and to the right of your water goblet.
•THE SHERRY GLASS is placed to the right of the red and white wine glasses.

THE DESSERT COURSE

Depending on how much room you have on your dining table, you dessert spoon or fork and coffee spoon may be brought to the table along with the dessert and coffee or placed horizontally at the top of the dinner plate. In the latter scenario, your coffee spoon is placed closest to the top of the dinner plate followed by the dessert spoon on top of the coffee spoon. In this scenario, both spoon handles should be pointing toward your right.

Should your dessert require a fork, the dessert fork is placed on top of the coffee spoon with the tines pointing to the right, handle to the left.

COFFEE is served butler style with the coffee spoon on the saucer to the right of the handle. You may also elect to have the coffee spoon incorporated into your flatware presentation and is placed closest to the top of the charger plate. Your coffee cup and saucer will be in the same pattern as the china chosen for dinning.

The design of the table is a major visual factor when guests enter the reception room. A beautiful table has harmony and balance. The centerpiece is the anchor of the design and the place settings must be positioned at an equal distance from each other and from the centerpiece.


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Etiquette for for making a Wedding Website

Many modern brides today are spreading the good cheer and keeping their friends and family informed of the happy progression of their engagement by creating their own wedding Web site.

Setting up your own wedding website is easy, and is the most effective way to provide pertinent information related to your wedding. Your guests will never have to wonder what is expected of them because you have defined all the details. If there are any questions, a quick e-mail to you should get them back on track and alert you to make that point clearer on your Web site. This is such an invaluable tool because it provides the ceremony and reception location and timeline. You will be able to suggest travel and hotel accommodations, plus your wedding registry choices will make everything so clear.

Guests of all ages will be reading your wedding Web site, so let me share a few suggestions that will keep you on the etiquette track.

Etiquette for Wedding Websites
1. Write clearly and avoid slang terms may be misunderstood by a different generation.

2. Make sure the Web site represents you as a couple by choosing a design layout that reflects your personalities. Designing it in the color tones you will be using in your wedding is a clever way of hinting at what is to come.

3. Keep it as well organized as possible making it user friendly.

4. Keep it “G-Rated” and simple. Please avoid the temptation to share any intimate details regarding your relationship. Even the first kiss, details of dates, and so on should be left out. Of course, everyone will be interested in the romantic time you met and your proposal. Just try to keep it focused on the nature of your relationship and the pending union.

5. Do not list your Web site on your wedding invitations. The best ways to inform guests of your wedding Web site is by word of mouth, listing it on your save-the-date card, the response card, or map.

6. Electronic RSVPs through your Web site is acceptable; however, it is still necessary to enclose a response card as part of your invitation suite. You may put a line on the bottom of your response cards to make your guests aware of this new option by simply stating: You may also RSVP through our wedding Web site at: http://www.TheSmithNuptuals.com.

7. Avoid putting a huge emphasis on your gift registries. Use tact and discretion when including links to your registry retailers.

8. Wedding Web sites are informative and fun, but you must still send a wedding invitation via snail mail and include all pertinent information related to your wedding as there may be a few guests who are not online.

9. Don’t stop at the wedding. Remember to use your wedding Web site to share the photographs from your honeymoon. Many couples are opting to continue their wedding Web site to keep their extended families up to date with their new married life.

You can create your own fun or luxurious wedding website with this FREE TRIAL

For more great wedding advice please visit our sister sites: Merry Brides Twitters or
Merry Brides

10 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Planner Before Making the Hire

Cori Russell

It may be the "bride's day," but remember that you can't get there alone. A wedding planner can be your advocate and your voice, especially when you're not around. The key to a successful working relationship begins with finding the right person to join forces with as an invincible team. Once you've decided that you'd like to hand over some wedding tasks to a seasoned pro, you'll need to schedule some phone or face-to-face consultations with a few in your area. These meetings should leave you with a clear idea of which planner best suits your needs and personality, so it's best to come prepared with the right questions. Here's what you need to know to find the perfect match.

1. The Know How - Does the wedding planner offer all the services you need? Come prepared with a list of things you'd like help with, and review your list together.

2. Money Talks - Does the planner's service fees work within your budget, and is the planner able to commit to your total wedding budget while planning your event?

3. The Right Connections - Does the planner have a network of reliable professionals and can s/he refer you to those that match your style and budget?

4. Prime Negotiator - Will the planner be able to help you save on any aspects of your wedding - either by negotiating the best prices, scoring vendor discounts or obtaining added extras?

5. Etiquette Guru - Is the wedding planner knowledgeable on etiquette matters, and can s/he steer you in the right direction?

6. Trend Savvy - Is the planner in-the-know on the latest wedding trends and styles?

7. Straight Troubleshooter - Can the planner coordinate all logistics with vendors and the wedding party to ensure everything runs smoothly? With a professional on hand - you should be able to enjoy your day like a guest and leave the details to them. To give you an idea, this printable wedding planner can walk you through each wedding task that the professional should be able to handle.

8. Personality Plus - In the end, it's all about a positive relationship and trust. Do you like this person? Try to get a sense for how well you think you'll work together.

9. Always the Professional - Ask to see the planner's business license, professional organization membership or any indication that s/he is a certified business professional and not just moonlighting as a wedding planner.

10. Seal of Approval - Ask to see reference letters. Be wary if s/he cannot provide any.

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Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cori_Russe

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Want unique wedding centerpieces? Hold the flowers!

Who says you need flowers to create spectacular centerpieces? When one of our Facebook brides asked us for unique ideas for centerpieces that don’t incorporate flowers, we couldn’t wait to come up with ideas to help her. Here are some of the options we brainstormed — and there’s not a petal to be seen!

1. Texture and Drama — Here’s your chance to get dramatic without spending a fortune on florals!

How to:

• Fill a clear large vase with gorgeous ornaments or decorative objects, like metallic spheres or glass balls.

• Gather some elegant feathers into a spray and tie together.

• Attach the feathers to the vase with wide, eye-catching ribbon.

2. Sparkle and Light — Artistic candles displayed in unexpected ways create a big impact.

How to:

• Fill a clear glass vase with beads or sand at the bottom.

• Add in shimmering candles (one large or three tapers) for sparkling light.

• Surround the large vase with candles in votive to reflect off the vase.

3. Double Duty — Display your favors creatively to double as an attractive centerpiece.

How to:

• Find beautiful trays and cake stands.

• Favor boxes and mix and match lids and bottoms

• Stack the boxes on the trays or cake stands to form pyramid shapes

• Add a note encouraging guests to take a favor from the centerpiece after your meal

4. Finishing Touches — Classic candles become “wow!” looks when you trim them to match your décor!

How to:

• Gather three different shapes or sizes of candles

• Trim each candle with layers of ribbon, decorative trim and beads

• Place candles on a mirror tray to reflect light

• Sprinkle crystals on the mirror for additional sparkle

Prada Infusion D'iris - Great Scent for Wedding

My new favorite perfume: Prada Infusion D'Iris

Tradition and innovation fuse into a dreamlike ideal in Prada's Infusion D'Iris, the new fragrance for the modern woman. Prada's exceptional quality ingredients evoke the classic ambiance of a luxurious Italian voyage, from the clean freshness of Florentine Iris Padilla to the warm, subtle glow of Sicilian Mandarin. Savor the floral citrus reverie of this scent's unique, elusive essence.

Honeymoons You'll Both Love: Lisbon and the Algarve, Portugal

WHY YOU'LL BOTH LOVE IT.... You can sightsee and get your culture on in Lisbon, then head south to lounge on the Algarve's beaches.

EXPLORE In Lisbon, seize your chance to sight see it up. A sample plan: Wander the narrow alleys of the Alfama district (one of the oldest in the city) and visit the 12th-century Sé de Lisboa cathedral, then continue to the Castelo de São Jorge for a gorgeous view of the city. (If you're sharing this experience with a foot-dragging spouse, sweeten the pot by ending the day at a fado café, sipping sangria and taking in the sounds of the country's signature folk music.)

For a more modern snapshot of Lisbon, head to the waterside Parque das Nações, where you can take a cable-car ride over the entire park along the Tagus River, then end the day with an evening at the Casino Lisboa. Other must-see spots include the Belém district, where you'll find historical sites like the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and the Belém Palace (now the home of Portugal's president) as well as museums like the Museu Colecçáo Berardo at the Belém Cultural Center, which houses works by artists like Picasso and Dalí.

You might also take a palace-themed day trip to Queluz and Sintra. In Queluz, you can wander through the gilded halls of the Versailles-like Palácio Nacional de Queluz (don't miss the mirrored Hall of Ambassadors). Continue on to Sintra, where you can tour the colorful 19th-century Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, the former summer residence of the country's monarchs. Be sure to sample the town's signature pastry: an egg, cheese, and cinnamon tart called a queijada de Sintra.

RELAX The Algarve, the country's southernmost region, features hundreds of beaches and many coastal resort towns—this is where the "rest and relax" portion of the honeymoon will commence. Start out by hitting the beach at Praia de Dona Ana, near the town of Lagos. Sheltered between dramatic cliffs, the white-sand beach and calm, blue water are gorgeous—take that, French Riviera! In town you can easily while away the rest of the afternoon hopping among the cafés and bars and watching the yachts cruise into the harbor. The coastal city of Albufeira is also populated by modern beachside resorts, although the town's Cerro da Vila, with its narrow streets and whitewashed houses, offers a lot of Old World charm (à la Santorini, Greece).

While you're in the Algarve, visit one of the thalassotherapy centers, where seawater is the basis of spa treatments. For dinner, try the local specialty cataplana (a combo of steamed shellfish and pork). Souvenir hunters (or, shall we say, shopaholics?) should visit Porches Pottery, named for the town it's in, located between Lagos and Albufeira. This studio is renowned for its hand-painted ceramics; visit the farmhouse-style workshop to see the famous majolica technique in action, and pick out a piece of tin-glazed earthenware, which makes a perfect keepsake. If you want a break from the beach, head north for a night in the picturesque Caldas de Monchique, a spa town in the mountains known for its therapeutic hot springs.

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* For more great wedding advice be sure to check out our sister sites Merry Brides and Merry Brides Twitters

15 Questions to Ask Before Renting a Wedding Venue

Once you've found a suitable venue for your ceremony, ask a lot of questions before signing an agreement or contract. Here are suggested questions you may want to ask What is the legal occupancy allowed for the venue?

Will the venue be available of the date/time of your ceremony?

Are any other weddings scheduled for the same day?

What is the rental fee for the venue? How many hours does this include? Does it allow time for decorating and un-decorating? Is it available for the wedding rehearsal? If so, is this fee included, or is it extra?

Are there any other extra or unexpected fees that may be charged? If so, what are they?

How are fees to be paid? A deposit now? The balance when?

Do you provide such things as an aisle runner, silk flower arrangements, candles, kneeling bench, and so on?

Do you furnish a lighting technician, wedding coordinator, janitorial services, musicians, and so on? If so, are there extra fees for these services?

Are there any restrictions regarding the decorations, such as attaching floral bouquets at the end of each pew or aisle? to the walls? To candle scones?

If it's a religious venue, are there any restrictions regarding musical selections, modesty of wedding attire, flash photography, readings, poems, use of lighted candles, and so on?

If it's a religious venue, are there also restrictions as to who may officiate? Are we obligated to use the venue's clergyman, rabbi, or priest? Or may we have our pastor or civil officiant marry us?

Are there any restrictions on tossing items (rice, petals, bird seed?

What type of guest parking is available?

Are there bride and groom dressing rooms?

Does the venue have wheelchair accessibility?

Does the venue offer outdoor facilities?

Ashlee Williams is a wedding planner and editor of Merry Brides. She will help you plan a fabulous wedding while staying on a budget. You can also check her out on Merry Brides Twitter for a lot of great wedding advice and ideas.

How to Protect Your Engagement Ring

PROTECTING YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING

Each diamond is rare and unique—that's part of what you're paying for. The proper care will help you get your money's worth.

Safe storage

Jewelry boxes and dresser drawers are often the first places a thief will look for your valuables, so choose a secure hiding place that is inconspicuous yet convenient for you. Consider installing a home safe, or if you only plan to wear your engagement ring only on special occasions, store it in your bank's safe-deposit box.

Everyday wear

Being extra mindful of your diamond while performing daily tasks—like putting on gloves, which can catch prongs—will decrease the likelihood of your ring being damaged or misplaced. When removing your ring to wash dishes, shower or sleep, designate a save spot—in small bowl or in your jewelry box—that's away from sinks or surfaces where it can be forgotten or lost.

On the road

When flying, always keep your engagement ring with you—either on your finger or stowed safely in your carry-on. When you aren't wearing your ring, stash it in the hotel's safe-deposit box, never the safe in your room or, worse yet, your luggage. And if you find yourself in a place that makes you uneasy, turn your engagement ring upside down so the diamond doesn't attract unwanted attention.

Care tips

No matter which metal you chose, daily wear can take a toll on your ring, so check prongs periodically for loose stones. If you bump your ring, examine it for damage and, if necessary, take it to your jeweler for inspection and repair.

DIY cleaning

A yearly professional cleaning and polishing is recommended, but periodic at-home cleanings will keep your diamond super-sparkly between trips to the jeweler. In a small bowl away from the sink, soak your ring in warm sudsy water. Then use a soft toothbrush to clean between crevices. After rinsing, dry it with a lint-free cloth.

Playtime

To avoid accidentally damaging it, remove your diamond before swimming, sports, gardening or household chores. If you lead a very active lifestyle, you may want to consider a bezel or bar setting (which hold a diamond more securely) over a prong setting.

Insure your ring

This is the wisest thing you can do to protect your sparkling investment. Insurance guarantees your diamond will be replaced if lost, stolen or damaged.

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7 New Wedding Cake Trends

By Cori Russell

Much more than a sweet finale to the reception meal, wedding cakes are a major style statement. And trends in wedding cakes, like all other wedding details, evolve with the times. The wedding cake presents a perfect opportunity for creative brides to play with shape, color and embellishments. For those of you who need a little inspiration, consult this list of top trends for wedding cakes in 2009.

Back to Buttercream

Buttercream was once the traditional frosting for wedding cakes, but sleek cakes came into favor, and rolled fondant became the frosting of choice. Not any more - thanks to advanced tools and techniques that allow buttercream to look as smooth as fondant, cakes iced in buttercream are again the norm. We love this trend, since buttercream frosting tastes better, has natural ingredients, and costs less than fondant. Now you can literally have your stylishly sleek cake – and eat it too.

Chocolate Face

Brides have bucked the traditional white wedding cake for the last few years, but today´s brides are no longer hiding decadent chocolate behind a shield of white frosting for appearances sake. Dark chocolate is now front and center on the face of the cake, as chocolate or mocha cakes are appropriately decked in chocolate mousse or whipped chocolate frosting. The result is a full blown chocolate dessert that tastes as good as it looks.

Blue Rules

Shades of blue dominate the 2009 wedding décor palette, and your wedding cake is a perfect canvas to incorporate this hot shade. Consider a cake saturated in turquoise, periwinkle, or even navy, and embellish it with complimenting colors like silver, white, grey, lavender, or yellow.

Square Mini Cakes

Cupcake towers in lieu of wedding cakes have been around for awhile, but brides are making cupcakes interesting again by playing with shape and size. Brides are stacking square shaped mini-cakes (slightly larger than cupcakes) adorned with flowers or dressed as presents for a completely different take on the cupcake frenzy.

Think Pink


Pink – the perpetual hot color for weddings – had begun to fall out of favor as brides experimented with more non-traditional hues like browns, grays, orange, and even black. But pink is back in a big way, and brides are incorporating the hue into their wedding cakes. Pink instantly freshens-up classic white: Tone down an all pink cake with white floral or lace details, or dress up a white cake with pink embellishments.

Scripted Text

Wedding cakes adorned with calligraphy-style motifs and writing is one of the year´s hottest trends. Create an antiqued look with black writing on a white or ivory cake, and get creative with the text. Some options? Write a favorite poem or verse, your wedding vows, or words representative of your wedding theme - such as names of flowers for a garden wedding or types of shells at a beach wedding.

Groom´s Cakes

The old Southern tradition of the groom´s cake is shedding its regional trappings and growing in popularity throughout the nation. And no, it doesn´t have to be the iconic red velvet armadillo from "Steel Magnolias." Today´s grooms cakes, now just as elaborate as the wedding cake itself, often reflect the groom´s interest in a dramatic and whimsical expression; a deer grooms cake for an avid hunter, shaped like a race car for an diehard Nascar fan, or decked with his favorite sports team logo.

Recommended Cake Idea Books

Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding Cake




Wedding Cake Art and Design: A Professional Approach

About the Author: Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete weddings resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, how-to guides, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to walk brides and grooms through every step of the planning process.

3 Bridal Shop Scams to Avoid

Scam #1: Bridal Shops Cut The Dress Manufacturer Labels Off Wedding Gowns

How the scam works: Some bridal dress shops remove the dress manufacturer's label from wedding dresses on the racks to prevent you from comparison shopping with other stores. If you can't tell which model of dress it is, then you are shopping blind. This wedding gown label removing scam is illegal and unethical, yet many shops who pull this scam on you will use all sorts of Jedi mind tricks to "prove" they are within their legal right, when of course they are not. Some bridal shops do it as a means to substitute cheaply made knock offs for the original higher priced custom made couture.

How to avoid the scam: If you walk into any bridal shop and you see this nonsense, just turn around and walk out. Any bridal store that thinks this low of you, with no regard to your legal rights and operates in this unethical mode, will surely pull other tricks on you later.

Scam #2: Bridal Shops Sell Used or Damaged Wedding Gowns as New

How the scam works: The typical scenario is you order what you think is a brand new wedding dress, paying in full by cash or check, because the bridal shop does not accept credit cards. They promise you the dress will arrive in 2 to 3 months in plenty of time for your wedding. The bridal dress shop is supposed to order your new dress from the manufacturer, which is usually how wedding gowns are purchased, as they are generally custom made to your measurements. After several months go by, longer than you were told of course, you begin to panic, the bridal shop keeps stalling you, if they even return your phone calls at all. Your wedding dresses somehow mange to arrive at the shop, but only within a week of your wedding. You quickly find out your wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses are either store samples, or have been used before. They either have damage, or they are dirty and dusty on the bottom, another sign indicating prior use of your dress. Of course your dresses are in the wrong size too, another indicator that something is afoul. It's obvious this is not the order you placed, and the bridal shop is scrambling to make it appear that is the order you placed even though the dresses appear to be too big. Since the dresses don't fit, now you and your bridesmaids are required to shell out hundreds more to the bridal shop to make the alterations for the dresses to fit you.

Possible root causes for this scam: Maybe the bridal shop forgot to place your order. This happens all the time and with your wedding drawing near, they know they must produce something quick, so they find something that looks close and pray you don't notice any difference. They may cut off the label so you don't know that your wedding dress is not the real Demetrios wedding dress or the real Vera Wang wedding gown. Another possible reason would be the case of a real unscrupulous salesperson who has some previously used wedding dresses lying around that they cannot unload, and they just happen to be close to your size. So they let you order your new wedding dress, but substitute these used wedding gowns or samples instead. Often the wedding dress will have damage or residue from cosmetics on them.

How To Avoid The Scam: It's pretty hard for you to prevent another human from lying and cheating you like this. But you can improve your odds by screening your bridal shops before you go shopping there to avoid shops that have a history of complaints for this scam. You should check any wedding vendor you plan to employ in the Better Business Bureau database or on RipoffReport.com.

Scam #3: Bridal Shops Lie About Being An Authorized Reseller for Your Wedding Gown

How the scam works: You visit a local bridal shop who claims to be an authorized reseller of Demetrios wedding gowns, or Vera Wang wedding gowns or other name brands, so you place your order. Of course they only accept cash or check and there are no refunds allowed once the order is placed. When your dress finally arrives (If you get anything at all), it's completely the wrong size, or the tag is removed. Sometimes you find out the bridal shop lied and your wedding gown is a knock off, not the genuine article from the genuine manufacturer as they claimed. This happens even more with online wedding gown websites, where your risk of getting scammed is much higher. In fact some wedding dress designers warn you not to buy your wedding gown online, and they don't even allow any of their legitimate resellers to sell wedding dresses online. Unauthorized bridal shops sometimes obtain your wedding dress by just ordering it through another retailer who is an authorized reseller. But this adds levels of complication and more risk for calamity.

Possible root causes for this scam: Sometimes the bridal shop can be in bad financial trouble, and can't even afford to buy your wedding gown from the designer. In desperation they'll pass off samples to you as the original couture. But former employees of bridal shops go online all the time to confess that with their previous bosses, this was business as usual.

How To Avoid The Scam: This scam is also highly prevalent because brides don't take very simple steps to protect themselves. If you know which manufacturer dress you want, go to their web site and print out the list of authorized resellers. If the bridal shop you're going to is not on the list, then you know they are not authorized to sell that brand. You should also print out available web sites of local bridal shops you plan to visit and verify all their claims of authorized reseller for the manufacturers they list. Always call the manufacturer and get from the horse's mouth. When you get to the bridal shop, ask to see their proof of license to sell a particular brand of wedding dress. If they give you any grief about it, and I can't imagine why any legitimate business would, then you should consider leaving immediately. If I was a legitimate reseller for Demetrios, you can bet I'd have signs everywhere, and my copy of the reseller agreement up on the wall. Don't be fooled by posters, you want to see the official approval from the wedding dress designer.

Additional Wedding Advice:
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Create Your Own Wedding Website- Great way to keep your guests updated on your wedding!

15 Things a Great Bridesmaid Will Do

While every bride would love to have her bridesmaid take away all the stress of the wedding, that isn't always reality. But here are some ideas on how she can make the process a bit easier.

1. GIVE YOU HONEST (but gentle) opinions as you try on dresses.

2. WEEP (along with your mom) when you finally emerge from the dressing room wearing The One.

3. CREATE a "tasteful" bachelorette-party wardrobe for you—diamond tiara, fluffy pink boa.

4. OFFER to do your hair and makeup on the wedding day.

5. STUFF 167 candy-favor bags without complaining or eating one single jellybean.

6. RECORD GIFTS at your bridal shower (in legible handwriting).

7. RUN OUT to pick up last-minute items on the wedding day.

8. CALL YOU OUT for bad behavior (i.e., making the matron of honor promise not to get pregnant before the wedding).

9. LEND YOU a shoulder to cry on when the stress gets to be too much.

10. SPEND THE NIGHT before the wedding at your place to talk, laugh, and calm your nerves.

11. DECORATE the outdoor-reception venue in scorching afternoon heat, minus any whining.

12. START DANCING to get the reception crowd up.

13. GIVE YOUR MOM special attention at the wedding—it's her day, too.

14. DEAL WITH THE DJ the second he starts spinning "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
which she knows is song number one on your "don't play—ever!" list.

15. TEXT YOU post-honeymoon for drinks on Thursday night...like always.

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Wedding Day Essentials at Bare Necessities

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Additional Wedding Advice:
MerryBrides
Fun Weddings
Create Your Own Wedding Website- Great way to keep your guests updated on your wedding!