(ARA) — Get engaged recently? According to Conde Nast Bridal Media's American Wedding Study, this is one of the most popular times of year for proposals. Twenty-five percent of brides get engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

With all of the excitement comes the planning and countless decisions. To simplify the process, follow these helpful tips to ensure that preparing for the day of your dreams is a piece of (wedding) cake:

* Mind Your Money: The first step to planning a wedding is establishing a budget. According to the American Wedding Study, 32 percent of couples pay for their wedding themselves. You don't have to compromise style just because you're keeping finances top of mind. Try a store like David's Bridal that offers affordable luxury with fashion-forward and designer gowns from $299 to $1200, allowing couples to save more funds for life after the "big day."

*Be Prepared: Bridal magazines, websites and bridal shows exist for a reason! Take advantage of these sources to determine what type of bride you are and what type of wedding you want to have before you hit the stores. Try Dress Your Wedding, an online tool that recently launched on the David's Bridal Web site (www.davidsbridal.com). Here, brides can create the "virtual" wedding of their dreams, experimenting with themes, colors, fashion and accessories, while customizing the skin tone, hair and facial features of their wedding party. With every bridal gown, bridal party dress and accessory, as well as floral arrangements and tuxedos available in a wedding album format, it's a breeze to coordinate wedding fashions. You can even email a shopping list to your wedding party so that they can print it out for a stress-free shopping experience!

* If the Dress Fits: Squeezing into a gown that is not the right size can take away from the evening and make dancing and mingling with guests more difficult. Be sure to purchase a gown that fits properly and allows you to move freely. Look for a store that carries a wide assortment of gowns in all sizes, so that you can try on a gown in your actual size. In addition, allow at least six to eight weeks prior to your wedding for alterations. Remember to wear the proper foundations and shoes during the fitting so you can envision exactly how the gown will look on your wedding day.

* Enquiring Minds Want to Know: To assist in the decision-making process, it's always a good idea to bring one person along whose opinion you value to assist with bridal gown shopping. Having someone with you will make the experience more enjoyable, ease concerns about selecting the right gown and provide an extra hand when changing from dress to dress. Also, listen to the advice of educated consultants, as they are there to help and suggest styles that will fit and flatter your body type.

* Keeping it Coordinated: Every aspect of your wedding should reflect your personal style. To ensure a customized look, try a one-stop-shop that allows you to carry a preferred color theme throughout all aspects of your wedding. From a splash of color on the bridal gown and complementing bridesmaids' dresses, to matching accessories, invitations and even reception favors, David's Bridal offers color coordination both in store and online, ensuring a seamless look.

* The Icing on The Cake -- While the bridal gown is the focal point of wedding fashion, no ensemble is complete without accessories. Many bridal retailers carry coordinating accessories or can recommend options that work well with your gown, so it's always good to explore this option first. From tiaras and veils to shoes, handbags and jewelry, it's the small details that are essential to complete the wedding day look.

* Time Saving Solutions: Many women don't have the luxury of taking time off to plan their wedding. To save time, look to the Internet for solutions. Sites like OurWeddingDay.com have a variety of helpful wedding planning tools such as email-able "save the dates," a personalized wedding website and an online wedding planner that helps with task lists, table planning and gift tracking. Try purchasing smaller items on a site like DavidsBridal.com that includes hundreds of creative ideas, as well as the option to design, preview and order invitations online; a key time saver.

* It's Your Party: Advice from friends and loved ones should be taken into consideration, but you should never let their preferences dictate your choices. If you want to get married on the beach while mom wants a big church wedding, talk it out, explain your feelings and ask that she be supportive. It is important to remember that this is your day, every aspect should be 100 percent "you."

While planning a picture perfect wedding does take time, following these simple suggestions will help to make the process both easier and more enjoyable. So when the special day finally arrives, you can have your (wedding) cake and eat it too!

Courtesy of ARA Content

Editors Note: With more than 50 years of bridal experience, David's Bridal understands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted dresses, available at affordable prices. Today, with more than 270 locations nationwide, David's Bridal continues to expand its retail store locations, while maintaining its philosophy of superior quality, value and service. To locate a store nearby, consumers can call (877) 693-BRIDE or visit www.davidsbridal.com. David"s Bridal is a division of The Federated Department Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FD).

← BCW.com Home Page | Top of Page ↑ | Related Page →

(ARA) - It's no surprise that weddings are a serious business. They are, after all, a $25.3 billion industry.

Not only does the average bride take 7 to 12 months to plan her wedding, but she will also spend some $25,000 making it one of the most memorable days of her life according to the Web site, www.hallmark.com. Of that budget, some $3,000 or more can go to a wedding dress according to about.com.

So with all that riding on the big day, what does today's average 18-year-old dream about when she conjures up her own wedding day?

Well, she may not be average, but Elana Bloom, winner of The Art Institutes first Passion for Fashion competition, and a $70,000 scholarship to study fashion design at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, has given the subject some thought and she's decided she wants something, "sleek and sexy."

Sleek and sexy is one of the hottest trends in wedding style today. "Less pouf and more sheer fabrics that accentuate a bride's body and offer sleek silhouettes," says Bloom.

According to Jacqueline Peterson, senior academic director of fashion marketing for The Art Institute of Phoenix, Bloom's take on wedding style is right on target. "Choosing simpler styles over showy flatters every bride, no matter their shape or size," she says.

"For embellishment, today's modern bride may look for stunning bead work or other simple accents to draw attention to her dress, rather than lots of lace, bows or other details that may take away from the fit or fabric of a dress," she adds.

In addition to a wonderful dress, accessories are one of the most important ways a bride can personalize her wedding look. If you weren't lucky enough to inherit a wonderful piece of antique jewelry, you can find a bracelet, necklace or earrings by checking out a few key Internet sources.

"There are so many retail shops operating online these days that anything in a store can be found online and for accessories, the Internet is ideal," says Peterson. For example, Peterson likes E-Jules.com, a great site for jewelry accessories, necklaces, bracelets, broaches, earrings and more. The prices are very "friendly" she says, especially when you want a particular piece to tie together your wedding look, but don't want to spend a fortune.

Like most teenage girls, Bloom says hair is always an important accessory, "on a wedding day, or any day for that matter, brides need to remember not to lacquer their hair to their head. Instead, brides should look as natural as possible with a swept away up-do." Add a dainty necklace and jaw dropping earrings. Keep make-up simple, she recommends. "Lots of mascara, a dust of bronzer and a sheer tinted lip-gloss are all a bride needs."

More important than a dress, jewelry or make-up is the day itself, the whole wedding experience. And even though Bloom, at 18, is a few years away from her own wedding, she sounds like she has the right idea.

"I want my wedding to be about dancing and all-around family fun. People should leave my wedding with sore feet from too much dancing! That's my idea of a perfect wedding day," she says.

To learn more about The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion scholarship, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/passion4fashion.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Editor's Note: The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) with 32 educational institutions located throughout North America, provide an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

← BCW.com Home Page | Top of Page ↑ | Related Page →