Bride-to-Be and Baby Makes Three!

“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Katie with the baby carriage….” While this old rhyme used to reflect tradition, it’s not so these days. Many of our brides have a child or children already and sometimes, when we meet them, they’re expecting a child. Love is love and we’re excited to be a little part of this amazing journey! P.S. We’ve had a few babies of our own so we understand the pregnancy experience too! GL061

In order to make the shopping experience enjoyable, here’s a few tips to keep in mind when bridal gown shopping with a baby on board:ball-gown-beaded-sweetheart-strapless-corset-back-wedding-dress-2

1. Shop for a Flexible Silhouette. The most obvious challenge when shopping while pregnant is clearly that a woman’s body is shaped very different. If it’s a first pregnancy, this can be a bit of a guessing game on how much the bride’s body will change during and after the pregnancy. When a bride is not very far along in her pregnancy, it’s easy for a professional to get an idea of body shape and size in order to make recommendations on gown silhouettes however if mama is closer to her due date, sometimes it’s just helpful to be able to show a picture of her pre or post-baby body shape. Gown silhouettes like an empire waistline allows for a woman to either conceal her bump or if she isn’t sure what shape she’ll be at the time of the wedding. If the bride is happy to flaunt her baby bump, choosing a silk jersey or satin underlay with lace overlay can accentuate the baby-to-be. A few features that offer a variety of fits are corset backs and straps. Corsets can easily be adjusted by lacing vestido-de-noiva-para-gestantedifferent or creating a different panel. This is helpful if a bride finds herself bigger or smaller than expected. Straps can easily be lengthened or shortened. This can be helpful if a bride finds her “girls” to be bigger or smaller than expected.

2. Take it Easy. A pregnant bride is shopping for two so it’s important not to get worn out by shopping all day. Take shorter trips and make an appointment during a time a day when energy is at it’s highest and morning sickness has passed. (By the way, morning sickness can occur any time of day. Been there, done that. It can be survived! Just pack some crackers.)

3. Take Your Time. The due date clock is ticking so it’s important to get to shopping for the perfect gown however that doesn’t mean the big decision should be hasty. When shopping with less than nine months to the big day, understand that some lines or custom options may not be available. On average though ordering a bridal gown will take 4-6 months so the dream dress should still be available. If shopping with an even shorter time-frame, like less than a trimester, know that there is always an option to purchase directly out of the store and when designers have lines in stock, those dresses will ship quickly.

4413twxh.kro084. Consider the Budget. The bride / mama-to-be now has baby outfits and her own bridal gown to purchase. It’s important to be take the big budget into consideration. Preparing for baby and the wedding at the same time may change what a bride wants to spend. This is also a perfect spot to share a quick reminder. When setting the bridal gown budget, remember alterations. On average alterations can run $100-$300. Be sure to add the alterations budget into the bridal gown budget in order to avoid any surprises. s-kennedy-510-ivory

5. Go For Comfort. Brides should go for as much comfort as possible on the big day. Choose comfortable shoes. When a woman is expecting her center of gravity changes. In order to be comfortable to dance the night away and to easily walk down the aisle, flats are key. Don’t worry, style doesn’t have to be sacrificed for comfort! There are lots of beautiful choices for bridal flats.

201206272012096676. Find Your Color. In the past, tradition would say that white is reserved for virgins only. These days, there is so much more than white or ivory to choose from that tradition has gone by the wayside. A bride should choose the color gown that best compliments her skin tone and the style of her wedding, if that happens to be white, go for it!

7. Trust the Professionals. Fear not, the professionals (that’s us!) are here to help create the best plan for getting the perfect gown with the best fit for our mom/bride-to-be. Also we’ve had babies so we’ve been there too!

If you’re a bride with a baby on board, we hope these tips have provided some great ideas so you can “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful.”

 

 

 

 

 

Invest in Your Undies!

From $500 to $5000, purchasing a bridal gown is a significant investment. 4413twxh.kro08What you wear underneath your gown should be included in that investment. Selecting the correct foundations and shapewear can make all the difference in the fit of your gown and how comfortable you feel throughout your big day!

thumb1Try on a variety of undergarment or shapewear styles to find the best fit for your gown. Seek styles that won’t show with your gown and that you’ll be comfortable in all day. This can include a strapless bra, a Squeem bodyshaper and comfortable panties that won’t show a line.

Wear your shapewear or foundations during your bridal fittings. Wearing them can change what alterations need to occur on your gown. For example, your boobs might will sit higher when wearing a strapless bra or corset. Get “the girls” situated where you want them and where you feel secure using your foundations before making any adjustments to the bodice of your gown.

Be sure to wear your “Something Blue!” While foundations and shapewear can enhance the look and fit of your gown, it can also serve a special purpose like your something new and something blue! Leave the old and borrowed for pennies, brooches and hankies!

High quality undergarments will help you achieve the best look for your best day. Budget for these items – this is not a place to cut corners. Good quality shapewear will begin at $50 and up. A really great strapless bra will be $40 or more and low back or corset style bras will be $50 or more as well. Our goal at Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear is to help you find a gown that fits so well you don’t need much extra to create the shape but sometimes it’s unavoidable. In those cases, we make sure to recommend the best, most effective undergarment for your big day! We want you to “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful”!

Do’s & Don’ts for Guest-of Wedding Wear

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We have lots of guest-of shoppers who are looking for the perfect attire when attending a wedding. We love helping each and every one of them find the perfect style. Here’s a few Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to guest-of wedding wear:

Don’t wear white or ivory. Our first suggestion should come as no surprise when we tell you to never, never, never wear white or ivory to a wedding. There are rare occasions when a bride will want some particular guests to wear those colors but unless you are specifically asked to wear it, avoid them. Even color blocks of them. It’s not your day!

Do pay attention to the wedding colors. Use the Save-the-date and wedding invitation as a cue for the couple’s wedding colors. Then avoid those colors. You’d sure hate to show up and look like a lost member of the bridal party.nottowear

Don’t wear cut-outs.  Revealing clothing should be left for the club, so unless you’re attending a late night wild elopement in Vegas, keep your attire modest. All eyes and conversation should be on the bride and groom, not your outfit and whether or not a body part will pop out. Keep it classy!

Do beware of the glitter. While every gal loves some sparkle, heelbe careful of wearing sequin or sparkly details. Unless this is a black-tie wedding, leave the sparkle to the bride and her beautiful ring!

Don’t wear super high heels. While a great high heel can give you a set of stunning looking legs, you’ll want to make sure you can dance the night away. If you’re heels get too high, that could be trouble. Keep the heels to a minimum or just be sure to pack some stylish flats for the reception!

Do accessorize to dress up a casual dress. unnamedWhile your Easter dress might be a good one to wear to attend a wedding, you may want to glam it up a bit for your friend’s big day.

Don’t miss out on the fun! While being dressed appropriately is important, dressing comfortably is also a must. If what you’re wearing is not something you can move and groove in, you just might want to re-think your attire.

Dancing With My Dad

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I was thinking about my Father-Daughter dance at my wedding. I actually had two. First, my dance with my dad. I remember crying as we danced to Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” He said to me, “You picked a really good guy. I’m proud of you.” The year leading up to that dance with my dad had been a roller coaster. Life had presented some unexpected but amazing experiences and arriving at our wedding day felt like we were crossing a finish line. I don’t know that I could have survived that wild year without the consistent reassurance from my dad. The second Father-Daughter dance at my wedding was my husband, my daughter and me. We swayed to Kenny Chesney’s “There Goes My Life” and tears streamed down our faces. We’d made it. The emotional changes we’d gone through in the past year, all came flowing out. There wasn’t a dry eye at the reception. I remember my husband saying, “I knew if we could just make it here, everything would be alright.” Nearly 10 years later, we still tell our daughter, Mackenna, about the beautiful dance we had together.

In honor of Father’s Day, we wanted to share some popular Father-Daughter dance songs. We hope your dance with your dad is amazing, emotional and memorable for your big day! Cherish the moment!

  1. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
  2. There Goes My Life – Kenny Chesney
  3. Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
  4. My Wish – Rascal Flatts
  5. You Are The Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
  6. My Girl – The Temptations
  7. I Loved Her First – Heartland
  8. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
  9. My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
  10. I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

 

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