"What you should be looking for when shopping for your wedding day shoes?"..

White by Vera Wang

Should a bride be concerned what her bridal shoes look like if no one can really see them under her wedding dress? The answer to that is a big...YES!!!

Bridal shoes have always been an important component in the bride's wedding day attire but in 2012, the bridal shoes make a real statement.

What you should be looking for when shopping for your wedding day shoes?

2012 Wedding Shoe Trends

Versatility

The economy is on everyone's mind; so, choose your shoes wisely and make sure you can wear them long after the wedding is over. A versatile wedding shoe is very trendy this year.

Pronovias Camille

Bling

Sparkle all the way down the aisle! Rhinestones, crystals and shimmery metallics like silver and gold are the way to go.

Benjamin Adams Charlize

Accents

Something borrowed perhaps? Adding a brooch or floral accent to your shoes is another stunning wedding shoe trend for this year.

Christian Dior 2012 wedding shoes

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One of the possible designs from InvitationInABottle.com

The Perfect Destination or Beach Wedding Invitation?

Yes, a wedding invitation in the form of a message in a bottle is the latest trend to hit wedding planning. Mysterious, fun, and very unique... a message in a bottle wedding invitation really sets the tone for a whimsical destination or simply beach or just beach-themed wedding.

.. But not Only

We love this idea because it takes a very traditional aspect of a wedding and flips it into one of intrigue and adventure. It creates a "moment" long before the wedding even takes place. From destination weddings to formal affairs, couples can engage their guests and leave them with the anticipation of what excitement is yet to come...

Sample of what the actual paper part of the invitation can look like; © InvitationInABottle.com

Why not DIY?

A Simple DIY Kit from InvitationInABottle.com
Some FUN Assembly Required :-)

Invitations in a bottle are just about the easiest DIY wedding project!

• Do-it-totally-yourself: Simply visit your local craft store for bottles, corks, paper and ribbon. Print your "message" (invitation) on the paper, roll it up and place it in the bottle. Cork the bottle, label it and voila!
• Buy the Entire Kit Ready: from InvitationInABottle.com. You can either print your own message on the supplied paper or have them preprinted and sent to you with the DIY supplies. It doesn't get any easier than that!

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Your wedding day's just around the corner and you've been counting down the days, right?!
Mani, pedi, wax...check!
Gorgeous hair and sublime makeup?...check!
You got a few good nights of sleep and you look refreshed BUT you've woken up to find an uninvited guest, Mr. Zit, sitting nice and pretty right smack in the middle of your face!

What to do?

• To get the red out, apply a few drops of Visine on the pimple.
• To reduce swelling, run an ice cube over it.
• To eliminate any crustiness, dab a bit of Vitamin E or Tamanu oil on it.
• For a whitehead, apply a hot compress, then gently (and I really mean gently) squeeze and dab the area with rubbing alcohol. This prevents infection.
• If none of these methods work or you're in need of an overnight super quick fix, visit your MD for an emergency cortisone shot.

Tips for Covering "it" Up

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Captivating Courtenay!

(*) Our Beautiful Bride! Series

Great photographs of real Canadian brides, exemplifying "bridal beauty": style, grace, poise and emotion; a picture-perfect image for a picture-perfect day!

..And the Winner is..

Nicole & Jarrett, London, Ontario, July 2011
photo : HRM Photography, London

Tied for Second (only one point behind first!)

photo : Neel Mehra, Blushing Bride Studio, Montréal

Meghann & Cole Faulkner, Pitt Meadows, BC
photo : Jon-Mark Wiltshire, Victoria

Tied for Third Place

Candace & Jeffrey, Quebec City, Feb 2011
photo : Avant Garde Studio, Montréal

Kristi & Patrick, Victoria
photo : Jon-Mark Wiltshire, Victoria

Helen & Kevin, Komoka, Ontario, June 2011
photo : HRM Photography, London

Cheryl & Noel Lukasewich, Sept 2011, Edmonton
photo : Trina Lewis, Creations Photo, Edmonton

Brynn & Chris, Fort langley BC, June 2011
photo : Will Pursell, Burnaby

Runners-Up / Honourable Mentions..

Loose Braid over a gorgeous Lazaro gown;
story on Dress Safari

What came first, "The Hunger Games" or the side braid?

The popularity of 2012's blockbuster hit, "The Hunger Games" has also made the side braid (worn by one of the movie's main characters) one of the most popular hair styles of the season. Although it was meant as a casual, bohemian look, you can dress it up to make your wedding day hairstyle both modern and formal.

top: French Braid on the Side
left: photo byElizabeth Messina
right: photo by Jessica Janae Photography

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On your wedding day, you'll want to look your absolute best...but most brides think that this simply entails finding the perfect wedding gown. What they often forget is the huge impact that bridal jewelry has on their entire look. Add a bold statement piece or a classic heirloom or vintage piece to your bridal ensemble and you'll be turning heads all night!

Necklaces: Many brides who choose embellished dresses with beading and other eye-catching accents will often wear a simple necklace with a small charm or locket hanging from it.

Those with plain dresses can opt for a bolder style with pearls or diamonds that will add some sparkle to their outfit!

Earrings: There are many options when it comes to bridal earrings, however this also depends on the dress that the bride is wearing. For dress styles that have sleeves or embellished straps, simple diamond or pearl studs will look beautiful. This is especially true if the bride is wearing a bold necklace...large earrings would be too overpowering in this case. For strapless styles, dangling earrings will be best, especially if the bride's hair is off the shoulders, in an up-do. A style like this would work perfectly:

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They Call Me "Mellow Yellow"!

Just about the perfect, DIY backyard event, this gorgeous, intimate, BRIGHT California event can be your best starting "template". So many good ideas, such lovely style indeed! We found it on one of our favourite wedding blogs : Oh Lovely Day - definitely worth bookmarking!

In the bride's own words:

We wanted to have a pretty laid back wedding where people could feel comfortable and where we could invite all of our friends and family and not exclude anyone. I made the pictures on the centerpieces, the goody bag tags, the card box sign, my aunt made the ring bearer pillow and my hubby made the programs and the save-the-date's. We got our invites from weddingpaperdivas.com, we bought our burlap goody bags online and put salt water taffy inside, which we also got online at acandystore.com. We got the tins for our centerpieces at Shinoda in Coasta Mesa. Our florist, Kyndra Frank, who is one of my mom's good friends, did all of the florals.... [full story..]