Friday Frocks: Alfred Angelo 2244

This is a sweet dress from Alfred Angelo--a little bit of a whimsical take with some nice detailing on the bust. I have to say I was drawn to the adorable poof veil. I do love a shorter veil--it's so much fun. And I think this dress might have POCKETS, which I also love in a fancy dress. Either that, or she's doing one of those weird modeling things that seem to overtake people doing wedding dress shoots. On my wedding day, I didn't once lounge sultrily on a chaise lounge, or arch my back away from a moodily-lit pillar.

Alfred Angelo is pretty widely available here in Canada, and they offer a good range of sizes too. They also have some really elegant bridesmaid dresses, most of which come in white/ivory (although they will likely charge you the "I know you're trying to cheap out on a wedding dress" price gouge). They have a couple of other cute options for short wedding dresses, that I'll be featuring in the coming weeks.

Happy shopping!

Wedding Wednesdays: What To Ask A Wedding Photographer

So if you're reading this, you probably already know that hiring a wedding photographer is a big decision. For us and our teeny-tiny wedding it was the second most expensive thing in our budget (food and venue rental being the first). I, of course, was in love with the idea of capturing the whole day. And at the same time, I was gripped with anxiety over making the right decision. If you don't get it right, there are no do-overs. So obviously, you want to have confidence in the person (or persons) you hire to take your wedding photographers. Even though I'm not someone who sits down and looks at the wedding album every day, and even though there are things I would change about some of my experience with our photographer, I still love the way our pictures turned out.

The internet has definitely made it easier to look at portfolios, get an idea of price ranges in your area, and to get inspiration for photo style. After initially going through a ton of websites and thinking yeah, I love this person's style, or out of my price range, or yikes! Is it 1987? I picked a few photographers to pursue further. Here are some of the questions I found helpful in narrowing down potential photographers:

1. How long have you been photographing weddings?
2. What is your training? Do you belong to any professional associations?
3. How would you describe your style?
4. Do you shoot in color, black and white, or a mixture of both?
5. Do you have different wedding packages available? What is included?
6. How many hours will you be there on the wedding day? How much are extra hours?
7. How many photographers will be shooting? Will you be one of them?
8. Is an engagement session included?
9. Is retouching included? On how many photos?
10. Have you shot at our venue before? How did that go?
11. How will you (and your assistants, if applicable) be dressed on the wedding day?
12. Do you shoot digital or on film?
13. Will I receive the negatives/digital full resolution files? If not, what is the charge for this?
14. Can I speak to other brides whose weddings you have photographed?
15. Can I see a proof book? (This means all the photos a photographer took during a wedding, not just a finished album--getting a look at how they approach a wedding will give you an idea of whether or not your ideas are compatible)
16. Do you have backup equipment of the same type and quality as your regular equipment?
17. What happens if you are ill on the wedding day?
18. Can others take photos while you are taking photos?
19. How many photos will you take over the course of the day? How many rolls?
20. How long after the wedding can I expect to have the finished photos? How many are included?

Our wedding was out-of-town, so travel expenses became a factor in our budget as well. Many photographers also offer extra products like photo thank-you cards, or different styles of bound albums, or enlarged photo prints, or just about anything you can think of. And proofs are often available really soon after the wedding--many photographers let couples log into a secure area on their website to get a sneak peek.

Of course, finding a wedding photographer with all the "right" answers doesn't necessarily guarantee that s/he will be a perfect match for you. The photographer's personality must be a good fit as well, because a couple who's uncomfortable with their photographer will probably look uncomfortable in their photos.

I did check out craigslist and kijiji as well for new or student photographers--I was determined to have our wedding come in under budget, and as an artist myself I was drawn to the idea of giving someone a break. The person we ended up hiring took great photos, but ended up having a little too good of a time at our reception--hence there aren't a ton of photos of our family at the reception (which was pretty disappointing at the time). We did get great shots of getting ready, and the bridal party, and the ceremony, and the photos really capture the spirit of the day.

What advice do you have about hiring a photographer? I'd be interested in hearing other people's experiences--good and bad.

Interview with Dolly of Dolly Couture

Hey and howdy, tea-length brides! Apologies for my absence! Here's a wee interview with Dolly of Dolly Couture I originally did for Suite 101--I guess they aren't fans of the tea-length dress, since they got rid of it in their latest purge. But their loss is your gain--Dolly is... well, an absolute doll! She's continued to build her empire since this interview--the short dress is going to take over the world, one bride at a time!

Do you have a background in sewing or design?

I played around with sewing as a kid but learned all about couture stitching when I started Dolly Couture. Now we produce in a factory, we can reach so many more brides, but I sew very little. I miss it a lot!

I have degrees in Liberal Arts, Sociology and a masters in counseling, which can come in handy when I meet with frantic brides! I've also studied acting, and while I was working on my undergrad at UCLA I took drawing and painting classes, which were my favorites. I'm so glad working on my line has me drawing almost daily!

Why is tea-length still so special for brides?

Maybe because their mothers and grandmothers wore this style. Audrey Hepburn wore it in Funny Face and she might just be the fashion icon of all time. My mother wore a dress like the Edmonton, and I wanted something like that when I got married. I was so excited to hear short dresses were making a comeback, but nobody seemed to be making anything formal and special. Hence, Dolly Couture was launched. Also, this silhouette looks great on pretty much everybody. It flatters plus sized brides as much as it does petites.

Every so often bridal magazines proclaim "the short dress is back!", but it's nearly impossible to find one in stores. Do you think short dresses will ever be truly mainstream?

I sure hope not! I love catering to the unique bride and would hate to see a fad come and go. This style belongs to the '50s and early '60s and to the bride with an old soul.

What inspires you?

My idol in business is Xavier Roberts. Yes, the Cabbage Patch guy. I love how he turned a wonderful idea into one of the most well-known and beloved toys of all time. I'd like to think my dresses are as unique and wonderful as his soft-sculptured treasures. I'd like to start a line for flower girls that are one-of-a kind collectors items, but am still working out the details.

What advice do you have for brides thinking about a custom wedding dress?

Contact us! We can turn any vision into a reality. Since most of our gowns are mail order, we always recommend having a local alterations specialist lined up. So many of our brides are lucky enough to need no alterations, but I always think it's nice to have your gown fitted perfectly to your body. Since our prices are only around $500, brides can use their own tailor and still stay within their budgets.

What's next for Dolly Couture?

We have some new dresses coming out, and flower girl dresses! We are especially excited about our little dresses for the girls. These mimic our most popular wedding gowns and I hope they'll be a big hit.

Our greatest hope for Dolly Couture is longevity and lots of happy brides who will remember us forever. We are so grateful for the opportunity to do something so creative and wonderfully fun for our brides. We love more than anything to see photos of our smiling happy brides on their wedding day.

Does Dolly Couture have a motto?

We have two: "No unhappy brides", and "Dolly Couture: it's better to show your legs!"

Friday Frocks: Maggie Sottero RD1105

This dress is from Maggie Sottero's Destinations collection. It's got some cute details (those flowers!) and I do like the structure of the bodice. It's a little bit shiny for my taste, but overall its a cute yet elegant gown that would be at home on the beach, on the farm, or at an intimate restaurant reception!

Friday Frocks: BHLDN Pinwheel Tea Dress

I just love the dresses and the styling at BHLDN. Such a great blend of casual and elegant, quirky and romantic. This particular dress would be a little beyond my budget at $1400, but it's made of sumptuous dupioni silk. I love the wrap detail on the bodice, the monochrome appliques, and the layers of tulle peeking out at the bottom! And naturally this dress gets high marks from me because it has POCKETS!

Using Christmas Sales To Save Money On Your Wedding

This is a little off-topic from the usual posts about wedding dresses, but seeing the Christmas displays set up in stores got me thinking--the holidays are a great time of year for anyone planning on doing a lot of diy for their wedding, or who are looking for deals on wedding decor. Of course, if you're planning a December 2012 wedding, you're probably on it already, but even those of you planning for next summer should be checking out holiday and post-holiday sales.

So many people are planning parties, decorating, and entertaining during the holidays season, so a frugal bride can find a lot of great stuff on sale that they can use for their wedding--even if it isn't Christmas-themed. And spreading out your purchases over the year can make it much less financially overwhelming. Plus you can feel prepared, which is something I didn't feel too often in the months leading up to my wedding!

Here are a few things you can find on sale either pre-Christmas, or on the holiday clearance rack:

Christmas Lights

Yes, some wedding venues do have decor packages that will include these, but what if you're diy decorating a community hall or other location? If you can't borrow twinkle lights in large quantities, these are a great deal right after the holidays--buying them at other times of year seems to incur the "wedding tax" and makes them ridiculously expensive. And that's if you can find them at all! White lights are always elegant, and can be used to improve the lighting situation at many venues. You can create a border around tables, along the walls, string them from the ceiling--really the possibilities are endless. And it's a cheap way to create a festive, romantic atmosphere.

Christmas Decorations

While you might not want to use Santa centrepieces in August, Christmas decorations can still have a place at your wedding any time of year. Christmas balls in your wedding colors, colored ribbon, tree branches, and artificial flowers can all be used as decorations for the ceremony, the reception, or both. Red, gold, and silver are always popular in wedding color palettes, and these are in abundant supply during the holidays.

Candles

Candles are everywhere during the holiday season, and the clearance racks are a great place to find these on sale. If you're planning on using candles as centrepieces, you should always check with your venue for their policy on open flame. Fortunately, the hurricane jars or other candle holders you're looking for will probably also be on sale in the holiday section.

Picture Frames
We used picture frames for our centrepieces, and I never realized how expensive they could be, or how hard it could be to find a lot of matching frames. These can sometimes be found on sale, and they don't necessarily have to be matchy-matchy to have an elegant impact--we also used them for the seating plan, and I've seen many weddings that had a memorial table to display photos of loved ones who had passed away, or for family photos.

Linens and Accessories
Table linens and accessories are often on sale after the holidays, often in a variety of colors. Brides planning a low budget wedding can find tablecloths, napkins, napkin rings, table runners, and charger plates on sale.

Craft Supplies

Since Christmas is such a craft-inspiring time of year, you may very well find crafting supplies on sale after the holidays--from "evening wear" fabrics, to lace, to card-making supplies, to stamps, to anything else you can think of can often be found at reduced prices in pre or post holiday sales.

Remember, your wedding doesn't have to look like Christmas in July for you to save money using holiday stuff. What else have you found around the holidays that might be useful to someone planning their wedding?

Friday Frocks: Beach Wedding Dress: Dessy 1030

Our honeymoon was at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, and naturally, I saw more than a couple of destination weddings. I remember one bride had the full-on giant taffeta dress with a train, and beading, and sequins, and the whole nine yards. I would have nightmares trying to transport that dress--what if my luggage got lost or damaged? The rest of the wedding party was pretty casually dressed, but the bride really stood out in her giant dress.

Obviously it's not for everyone, but I think a more casual beach wedding is the perfect opportunity to wear a shorter dress--you'll be breezy and carefree in a hot climate, and you can even dip your toes in the ocean without having a team to hold up your dress!

I'm liking this Dessy destination wedding dress. It's sweet and easy, could be dressed up or dressed down, and won't take up a lot of room in your luggage. Plus, I'm a sucker for pockets in fancy occasion dresses!