HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT HAT FOR A WEDDING

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Finding the right hat for a wedding can be tricky, as the dress code can vary depending on whether it's a church wedding, formal wedding, bohemian wedding etc. Here are some top styling tips by Jane Taylor, founder of Jane Taylor Millinery.

Mother of the Bride
The Mother of the Bride plays a very important part in the day and you will want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident wearing your hat. You will spend a lot of time on the day meeting and greeting guests and having your photo taken. You will want to ensure you are visible underneath the brim of your hat so you may want to opt for side sweep hats or a perching hat such as cocktail and disc hats. 

Mother of the Groom
Traditionally, no guest at a wedding should outshine the host. In which case the Mother of the Groom should opt for a hat smaller than the Mother of the Bride, such as a cocktail hat. Should the bride and groom be hosting the wedding both Mother of the Groom and Mother of the Bride can wear whatever hat they like.

Guest a traditional church wedding
For a church wedding in a town or city, likelihood is that you will choose a formal, structured outfit to reflect the occasion. Compliment the outfit with a simple, tailored style such as a pillbox hat to tie the look together.



Guest at a country outdoor wedding
If you’re invited to a countryside wedding this summer, you can afford to wear a more comfortable, bohemian style hat that reflects the relaxed theme of the day. If you like to leave your hair down this is the perfect occasion to don a floppy hat and let your locks flow.

Evening guest 
Evening guest headwear should be elegant and glamourous such as a comb, headpiece or small cocktail hat with a bit of sparkle.

Tips for choosing the right hat for you:

1) Your hat should compliment your entire look so ensure you choose your outfit first. Your milliner will be able to help you choose a hat that is the right colour, size and proportion for your outfit or if you are shopping for your hat on the high street, take your outfit with you. 

2) When choosing your hat for a wedding, consider your entire silhouette and make sure your hat is the appropriate size to compliment and balance your look. For example, balance a full 1950s style skirt with a wide-brimmed hat, or for a more structured look opt for a cocktail hat. 

3) Choose the right hat to compliment your face shape. If your face is round, opt for an angular hat that cuts across the face or soften a more angular face with a rounded hat with soft trim. 

4) Your hat does not need to match the colour of your outfit exactly but you should choose a colour that tones well to pull your look together.

5) To ensure your hat is being shown to it's full potential, you should wear your hair neatly up or away from your face. Never wear sunglasses with your hat. 

10 Reasons Your Wedding Dress Looks Cheap

10 Reasons Your Wedding Dress Looks Cheap

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1. It's too white.

Bright, optic white can be a tough color to pull off. A lot of the details that make the dress special can end up getting lost, especially in photos, and the overall look can start to feel graphic and harsh, instead of soft and romantic.

Consider choosing a soft white, like ivory or cream, over pure white. And don't buy into the whole "wedding dresses have to be white" thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with incorporating color into your wedding look, whether all over or only as an accent.

2. It's made with low-quality, synthetic fabrics and/or cheap, machine-made lace.

Wedding dresses, especially the ball-gown variety, require a lot of fabric, and good fabric, like silk and handmade lace, is expensive. That's why many mass-market bridal brands favor cheap synthetics like polyester to help keep their costs down.

Choose a simpler dress made with higher-quality materials over something big and flashy made of lower-quality materials. A dress with a small amount of handmade lace will look much richer than one that is absolutely covered in the cheap stuff. And if you want that big, ball-gown look, but you can't afford the high-quality materials needed to do it right, consider buying your dress secondhand. Once it is tailored to fit your body, the only way anyone will ever know you didn't buy it new is if you tell them.

3. It's too shiny.

I'm blind!

Choose matte fabrics. Very often, even an expensive, shiny white dress still ends up looking like it's made out of sateen bedsheets, especially if it is a pure, bright white as opposed to a softer shade like ivory. And don't go too crazy with the rhinestones either. When it comes to wedding dress sparkle, less is definitely more.

     

4. It kind of looks like a sexy bride Halloween costume.

If you want a sexy wedding dress, great. More power to you. Just understand that things like visible corsetry, lace-up backs (or fronts, for that matter), and extreme cleavage can make an otherwise sophisticated dress look, well, not.

Instead of choosing a dress with illusion paneling and a high slit and a plunging neckline and lingerie-inspired details, focus on just one of those things. Maybe two.It's not that all those features together can't look sophisticated; it's just that they so often don't, especially when you are shopping on a budget and don't have the benefit of expert tailoring, fine fabrics, and high-quality embellishments to elevate the overall look.

   

5. Your breasts look like they're being punished.

Don't squash them down like that!

You want to look like you've been poured into your dress, not like you're about to come pouring out of it. Luckily there are tailors and seamstresses to make it all better. Nothing is more important than a proper fit. Nothing.

6. It's got way too much going on.

Ruffles, bows, beading, three-dimensional lace, and gathered skirts held in place by giant rhinestone clips? All on the same dress? It's too much. It just looks like you couldn't make up your mind.

Don't be afraid to focus on one main decorative statement across your entire dress or to let parts of your dress go unadorned, since doing so will make your whole look feel more balanced. And be extra careful with three-dimensional embellishments. If they are too bulky, they can start to look cheap and stuck on, no matter how much they cost.

   

7. You decided to go strapless and now you keep hiking your dress up around your breasts.

That's right, reaching your thumb into your bodice to pull your dress up makes your whole situation look cheap. Whether you are doing it because your dress actually doesn't fit properly or because you're just not used to the feeling of wearing a 30-pound strapless gown for 10 hours straight makes no difference.

If you wouldn't wear a strapless dress on any other occasion, don't wear one on your wedding. Straps help keep everything in place. They support you. Straps are your friends. Don't you want your friends to be at your wedding? If the dress you like doesn't come with straps, add them. You'll be glad you did.

8. You went overboard on the accessories.

Most wedding dresses really don't need much in the way of extra bits and pieces to complete the look, especially if they are already embellished, and few things cheapen a wedding look, or any outfit, faster than heavy-handed accessorizing.

Dial the jewelry back a bit and limit yourself to one attention-grabbing accessory at most. That means choosing either the jeweled belt or the tiara. Not both.

  

9. Two words: mullet dress.

It should go without saying, but high-low wedding dresses always look cheap. Always.

Pick a length. Do you want it long, or do you want it short? Either is fine. Just pick one.

  

10. You were going for "Disney princess" and ended up with "Gypsy bride."

If you base your look on a cartoon, there is a very real possibility that you will wind up looking cartoonish.

If you are going to attempt to channel royalty on your wedding day, take a page from Kate Middleton's playbook and keep it simple. Look for an A-line gown that flows smoothly out from your waist instead of puffing up and out, and limit yourself to just a few understated accessories, so that they don't compete with the drama of the gown.

Things remembered coupon code 40%: Choosing the Right White Wedding Dress

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There's no other tradition as synonymous with marriage as the white wedding gown. But white is never just white—there are varying shades to choose from. What's important is choosing the shade of white that looks best on you. The easiest formula to follow: The darker your skin tone, the brighter the white you can wear well.

Stark white

The brightest, crispest white you can get. This whitest white is best achieved with synthetic fabrics (satins, taffetas, polyester blends). This color looks stunning against dark skin. Fair-skinned beauties should stay far away -- it'll wash you out.

Natural white

Also called “silk white" or “diamond white," this is the whitest white for natural fibers—a shade off stark white. It looks pretty much the same in photos but is much more flattering to most skin tones (especially skin with yellow undertones).

Ivory

Also referred to as “eggshell" or “candlelight, some ivory dresses have yellow undertones, making them look creamy, while others are just a “quiet" white. Fairer skin tones and women with pink undertones in their skin look best in yellow-ivories.

Champagne

Has pink and gold undertones, but looks nearly white in photos, so it's great for dark complexions or yellow/olive undertones.

Colors

There's no rule that says you must wear white at all. In recent seasons, designers have created dresses in soft shades of lavender, rose, even blue, or with color in the details: embroidery, lace, bands of satin. If your complexion gets totally washed out by white—no matter what shade—send up the white flag and try a color.

How to Choose Wine For Your Wedding

How to Choose Wine For Your Wedding

Much like wedding planning, choosing the perfect wine for your reception is influenced heavily by your personal taste. So while you may think the season or menu always informs what’s in your glass, we’re happy to report that whether you love reds, whites or rosés, all three are always in style.

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Oenophiles have no problem selecting their favorite wines for dinner parties—but on a larger, wedding reception scale, wine experts and novices alike might not know the ins and outs of serving vino for hundreds of guests. From temperature and menu pairings to the much-debated question of how many bottles to buy, follow these expert tips to pulling off a perfect pour with every glass. But full disclosure: You should always choose varietals you and your fiancé enjoy, since wine can actually say something about you—even better if it's part of your love story.

Think less seasonally…

Traditionally, the assumption is that a fall or winter wedding automatically means red wine, just like a spring or summer celebration is synonymous with white wine. But actually, it doesn't matter what time of year it is, just so long as it fits in with your menu. “Most people want to drink what they like whenever they want to, which explains why rosé has leapt from a springtime sipper to a year-round superstar," says Anthony Giglio, wine director at The Centurion Lounge by American Express. “People like how it bridges white and red as somewhere in between."

…and more about your menu.

You don't need a seasoned sommelier to suggest great wine and food pairings; it's as easy as knowing that wines and dishes that carry similar flavors will complement each other. Eater Drinks editor Kat Odell suggests the following pairings:

Chicken

A red or a white that's on the medium to lighter side is a safe bet.

Fish

Greek wines or other lighter, mineral-y whites go well with seafood.

Beef

A strong grenache or pinot noir (both reds) complements beef.

Pork

Go for a bolder white with pork, like a white Burgundy.

Overall, choosing well-balanced, trustworthy wines that can be matched with a variety of dishes will give you one less headache, and your guests will enjoy their meals even more.

Have a simple variety.

"A bottle of white, a bottle of red, perhaps a bottle of rosé instead" aren't just lyrics from a Billy Joel song, they're also words to live by as you select the wines you'll serve at the reception (save the rosé, which you may want to swap for a bubbly beverage). "You don't want to make it too complicated," says Gillian Sciaretta, associate tasting coordinator at Wine Spectator. "Just picking a white, red and sparkling is a good way to go; people who have very different preferences will still enjoy the wine." To keep it simple, choose a white wine that's light and refreshing (like a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio), and stick with a red that's a little bit on the crisp and fruity side (like a pinot noir), since both can go well with a variety of food. Then pick a mild champagne or prosecco to hit the bubbly note. "As long as the wines offer pleasant flavors that appeal to a large crowd, you should be good to go," Sciaretta says. "People are always just happy to have a good glass of wine in their hand."

Make sure the temperature is right.

Even if you're having your wedding reception on top of a snowy mountain in the dead of winter, serve all of your wine cold—that goes for red too. "Whites and sparkling should be served on ice. Even reds—particularly lighter ones—can benefit from half an hour in the fridge before service," says Nicholas Jackson, Sotheby's wine buyer. "While wine that's too cold can warm up, warm wine is a loss from the beginning." Sciaretta agrees that temperature control is important, noting that red wine should be served at 55 degrees and white wine somewhere in the high 40s. (If the bottle doesn't need to breathe, keep it unopened until the last second, so the flavor isn't lost.)

Keep heavy pours to a minimum.

If there's one thing you want to make sure your bartenders and waitstaff do, it's serve the wine properly. Heavy pours are usually welcome at bars, but at your wedding, it's more important to keep the flavor and bottle count in check. "Guests should be poured three ounces of wine, over and over again," Giglio says. "This keeps the wine from getting warm in their glass." A quick calculation will keep any wine from going to waste: There are 25 ounces in every bottle (round down to 24 for human error when pouring), so if there are eight guests at the table, the server should be able to pour eight three-ounce glasses without running out. Jackson also suggests that unless your sparkling wine is very inexpensive, don't use flutes—you can't get any of the flavor out of the wine due to the shape of the glass. Sparkling wine should be served from good-quality, tulip-shaped white wine glasses.

Use the one bottle per person rule of thumb.

So now that you know how much should be poured, how much wine do you need for the reception? "We work on the basis that for a whole evening, at least one bottle of wine per head should be counted on," Jackson says. "And then add a cushion—if you're expecting 150 guests, get 180 bottles. There's nothing worse than running out of wine." (Pro tip: Champagne also has eight pours per bottle. So if you're planning a champagne toast for 150 guests but not offering it at the bar, you'll only need 20 bottles.) Keep in mind that as long as the staff isn't preopening bottles, the leftover wines can either be sold back into the venue's inventory or taken home to be enjoyed during the honeymoon and beyond.

Bulk wine packages should be both good quality and affordable.

To be safe, always speak to your venue's catering or wine professional to make sure you're getting the best deal, as well as ordering the correct amount of wine for your budget—but neither should compromise the quality, Giglio notes. While it's the job of the venue's catering director to offer you a wide variety of the least-expensive wines available, you should feel comfortable to step in and ask for less variety with a more thoughtful selection. Be prepared with a list of wines you both like to drink (be reasonable and choose bottles under $20, unless you have more room in your budget). If your wedding is in the same state as where you buy your wine regularly, your venue can likely order that wine for you, or at least try to accommodate your request—but it's best to talk about this before you sign any contracts. And if you're going with wine that your venue suggests, always do a tasting to make sure you like it and it fits with the foods you'll be serving.

TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING PHOTO ALBUM

Your wedding photographer has sent you a CD chock full of photos, it’s fantastic to see the big day all over again, and the photos look amazing – but there are over a thousand to choose from! How on earth are you going to choose the best ones for your album?

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The best albums tell a story

They’re not a minute-by-minute account of every smile and every pose, they show the highlights of your day, the parts you’ll most want to remember.

Vary your choice

Photographers can get a little snap happy. You’ll inevitably end up with a lot of similar photos, so avoid replicas and try to select the best few from each part of the day: getting ready, travelling to and arriving at the venue, the ceremony itself, drinks reception and so on.

Give your photos room to breathe

The more photos you try to cram in then the smaller they will have to be and the design will look messy. Professional companies like Photo Productions use ‘lay-flat’ pages, which allow your photos to be displayed right across the spread, so the fewer photos you have the bigger they can be, and the more impact they’ll make when the album is opened.

Think about colours and contrasts

Crisp blue sky, plush green grass, snow covered buildings, and even guests in brightly-coloured dresses can make photos leap off the page. This works especially well when contrasted with black and white photos, and darker indoor photos.

Cover to cover

Choose photos for the front and back covers. Something simple always works well for the front, as do colourful flowers and backdrops. (White bridal dresses look great with a colourful bouquet!). Go for black and white if you want something a little more classic. For the back cover, choose something that finishes the story of your day – perhaps a photo of you leaving the wedding or your guests waving goodbye.

Don’t worry about the orientation

Any reputable album company offering a professional design service won’t mind if your photos have been taken in portrait or landscape – they’ll ensure the photos flow and the design looks great either way.

Smile for the camera

Once you’ve got your final selection, check them over to make sure everyone is looking happy and engaged with the event. You want your guests to look like they’re enjoying themselves, not having a sneaky nose-pick in the corner of the room!

Quality not quantity

Definitely true for wedding albums. Enlarge your photos on the screen to check they don’t blur and pixelate. If they do then they won’t look so great when printed. Also check for any marks on the photos, people out of focus, and so on.

So that’s how to choose the best photos for your wedding album. Putting a little time in now can reap big rewards, and you’ll end up with a fantastic album full of memories that you’ll treasure forever.

5 TIPS FOR BUYING THE RIGHT WEDDING GIFT

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It's wedding season, which means a plethora of presents needs to be purchased for all of the happy couples you'll be watching march down the aisle this summer. 

If you're not sure what to buy, whether to give cash instead of gift or how much is appropriate to spend, we have you covered.

Hana Abaza, the cofounder and CEO of weddingrepublic.com, knows firsthand that shopping for a wedding gift can be tricky. She offers five expert shopping tips to keep in mind when making a final selection.

1. Start with the wedding registry

If the couple has created a wedding registry start your shopping there. A registry is a no-fail option since it's a list of exactly what the couple wants and needs.

"While in some cases it might feel less thoughtful, studies have shown that gifts from the wedding registry are actually appreciated more than boxed gifts that are chosen by the guests," says Abaza.

2. Know when to shop off-registry

While buying a gift from a wedding registry is ideal, in some cases it just doesn't make sense. For example, if almost everything on the registry has already been purchased and the remaining gift options are out of your price range, you might want to consider an alternative, advises Abaza. "In this case, we recommend a cash gift, which in the vast majority of cases is preferred by the couple," she says.

3. Give the wedding couple something memorable

If you're unable to attend the event, you aren't obligated to send a gift, says Abaza. "Generally speaking you're not expected to give a gift if you aren't attending the wedding. However, if you choose to do so, be sure to choose something from the wedding registry," she advises. This way you're gifting the newlyweds with something memorable that they want, even though you couldn't be there with them on the day, she explains. 

When in doubt, choose something with meaning. For example, if you and the bride often meet for tea and the couple is registered for a kettle, teapot or tea cups which are in your price range, that's a great choice, says Abaza. Package your selection with a special blend of tea for an added personal touch.

4. Know when to buy and where to leave the wedding gift

"Traditional wedding registry etiquette states that you have up to one year following the wedding to give your gift, but we recommend making your purchase in the few days surrounding the wedding," says Abaza.

If you're making your purchase online, then shipping the gifts or transferring the funds (in the case of a cash wedding registry) is typically handled by the retailer or service provider. Just be mindful of timing to ensure that your gift is ready by the wedding date should you want to bring it with you to the event.

If you are bringing your gift, most weddings typically have a gift table where guests can leave boxed gifts, cards and cash gifts -- but be careful. 

"Unfortunately the incidents of cash-stuffed envelopes getting stolen at weddings are higher than you would think," says Abaza. She suggests writing a cheque rather than leaving cash so it can be cancelled if needed.

5. Choose cash contributions wisely

While the industry average is between $100 and $150 per guest, how much you give really depends on several factors, including how close you are to the couple, whether or not you had to travel to get to the wedding and whether you're in the wedding party, says Abaza.

"A good general rule of thumb is that the gift should be enough to cover your place at the wedding," she says. If you are particularly close to the couple, you may want to give more, depending on your comfort level and financial situation. 

If you're in the wedding party, whether or not you give a gift can be dependent on what the couple wants. "In some cases, the bride and groom will ask the bridal party not to give gifts as they've spent enough money on wedding events, attire, etc.," says Abaza. But if this is the case they'll make you aware of it – don't assume.

When it comes down to it, there isn't a right or wrong way to go about choosing a wedding gift. There are many circumstances and situations that will affect what you purchase and how much you ultimately decide to spend.

Things remembered coupon code: Guide to Choosing a Wedding Gift

At first thought, finding a wedding gift does not seem to be that hard. Just run out and buy a toaster or a crock pot and you think you have the perfect wedding gift. Well, these days choosing a wedding gift of traditional kitchen appliance probably won't be the perfect gift. Here are a few tips on wedding etiquette gift giving to help you know how to buy a wedding gift.

Check out Their Registry

Many couples will register at their favorite stores and/or they will use a universal gift registry where they can list gift ideas from many places. Typically the couple has spent some time in choosing the gifts to list on their registry and purchasing a gift from the wedding registry should always be a safe gift. Typically when utilizing the gift registry you will have a variety of items to choose from that maybe from stores you can buy from in person and online websites. Couples just starting out will list gift ideas for starting their new home like kitchenware, bed and bath needs, and some will even give ideas for décor items. If you purchase the gift directly from the store where the couple is registered make sure you follow the stores procedure for gift registry purchases. This will ensure that the gift is "marked off" the list so no one else purchases the same gift. If the couple used a universal gift registry, ensure you also follow the procedure for "checking off" your gift.

Who is the couple?

If you decide not to go with a gift on the gift registry or the couple did not set up a wedding gift registry, give some thought as to the interests of the couple. A wedding gift that appeals to both the bride and groom is important. What types of things do they enjoy doing together - do they enjoy nature or prefer city attractions? If the couple is close friends of yours, then this should be easy, but if you are not intimately acquainted with the couple, ask questions. Talk to the couples friends and family to get ideas on types of wedding gifts that would be good. Other considerations would be if they are a young couple starting a new home where gifts for the kitchen like appliances or cooking essentials are appropriate gifts. If they are a couple who has already had households set up, or a second marriage, the types of gifts needed are different. This is where talking to friends or family is helpful and could mean the difference in a gift that is "perfect" and a gift that is returned or re-gifted.

Sharing the Expense

Sometimes the perfect wedding gift is an expensive gift. One that you can't afford. Some couples will put higher ticket items on their registry to allow a group to purchase. These are usually luxury gifts they could never afford themselves. This will allow a few people to go in together and purchase a gift. Sharing the appreciation from the couple is OK when you know that the gift really is "perfect" and you are probably helping out others in sharing the expense.

The Flip Side

Today many couples are choosing to have non traditional weddings. This could be for several reasons, being socially conscience, a second marriage, or the expense of a wedding. Your wedding gift should also reflect the wishes of the couple. If they have not specified a registry, ask the bride or a family member. If the couple has requested no wedding gifts, a donation to a charity in their name would be appropriate. On the budget side, creating a scrapbook with photographs and memories of the couple as a gift would be cherished. You can also offer your time and/or services when it is a second marriage or no gifts have been requested.

If You Don't Know the Couple Very Well

Checking out the gift registry would probably be your best option. If you don't see a gift you would like to give or the couple doesn't have a registry a generic wedding gift would also work. Gifts like picture frames, vases, monogrammed bath robes, or a gift basket filled with fruit and cheese will still send well wishes to the couple.

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Always Include the Gift Receipt

Even if you feel you have chosen the perfect wedding gift for the couple, always include the gift receipt. It is much better that the couple can return the gift, if needed, then have it sit in the back of the closet or end up in their first garage sale.