AisleDash

Sometimes all you need to make a dress special is gorgeous fabric. This strapless dress by Watters is made in shimmering brocade and it is just a lovely thing to behold. It's available in knee length or floor length, though we really like it short (as shown here) because we love the contrast of traditional brocade with the youthfulness of a short strapless dress.

Available in sizes 0-24. Visit Watters.com for more information.

Dear AisleDash,

My aunt's fiance wants to elope. He wants their wedding to be just him, my aunt, and her 14-year-old daughter, and then they will make a family announcement after the fact. My aunt and cousin don't want that, though. My aunt has never been married and she wants a small wedding, and my cousin doesn't want her mom to elope, either. She's waited a long time to find the right person and my cousin and I have agreed she deserves at least a small wedding. We are slowly convincing him. Any advice?

~R.

Dear R.,

No one should force their significant other into anything they really don't want. That means that your aunt's fiance shouldn't force her into giving up her wedding, but it also means she (and you and your cousin) shouldn't force him into participating in a wedding he's really against. This shouldn't be a deal-breaker; people that are right for each other are able to talk things over and reach acceptable compromises.

It sounds like that's what's going on now -- you say you are slowly convincing him. The key is to present your argument for a wedding without twisting his arm or begging him to do something he's not interested in. Instead, show him how the small wedding you and your aunt and cousin want doesn't have to be that different from an elopement. Some people can't help but think of giant spectacles when they think of weddings, so your aunt will need to assure him that what she wants is not at all the giant ordeal he's afraid of.

If you didn't have to think about the cost of your cake, what would you have? Would you have a cake made of Belgian chocolates and imported liqueurs? Exquisite French lemon cream? Surely you'd want it to be an edible work of art, right? For these requirements, and many more, look to Wildflowers by Lori wedding cakes.

Wildflowers cakes are made of nothing but the absolute finest natural ingredients, meaning that your lemon cake is flavored with real lemon, and that your chocolate icing is made of the very best chocolate. There are so many options to choose from that we can't imagine how you'd choose just one.

Aside from being delicious, the cakes are absolutely exquisite. The designs range from realistic to whimsical, full of color and texture and beauty. But, of course, for all of this you're going to pay a pretty penny -- they're priced from $12 a serving.

She's stood by you through thick and thin, and now she's even going to do that in satin, chiffon and high heels. If that isn't friendship, what is?

She's not a girly-girl. Never has been. She doesn't squeal with dismay at a broken nail, she doesn't grow faint at the sight of mismatched clothing. What do you get her? No perfume, pedicures or precious pampering for this gal, what she wants is something practical.

Well, maybe a little pocket-knife (and tweezers and screwdriver, etc) isn't 100% practical -- but it's gadget enough to warm her un-girly heart. We hope she'll forgive you the pink ...

(If you're interested in more information on this engraved pocket tool, follow the link!)

We've spoken with Jay's Bridal and Special Occasions about wedding gowns, and now we're moving on to our third part on tuxedos. Jay's is a one-stop bridal salon located in Gainesville, Florida and their tuxedo department is online at jaysformalwear.com. Throughout the series, we'll discuss everything wedding, ranging from bridal gowns to music to tuxedos. In this installment, Kristen Seymour will chat with the owner of Jay's, Paul Rhodenizer.

Men's fashion doesn't experience the same type of change as women's fashion -- it's much more gradual. Still, there are a few trends that are highly popular now, although just as with bridesmaids' dresses, not all styles are suitable for all body types.

When helping a couple select a tuxedo style for a wedding party, Paul tries to get a feel for the body types involved. "The groom might be tall and thin, and would look great in a three-button jacket, but if his best man is 5'8" and 300 pounds, that style isn't going to work on him." The multiple buttons on a jacket for a guy with a big belly is like a large busted woman wearing a button-up blouse -- there's going to be unflattering gapping.

Available in sizes 0-24. Visit Watters.com for more information.



Full views after the jump.

On your wedding day, all eyes are going to be on you -- no doubt about that. But what if you really want all eyes to be on your face. Perhaps you've put a lot of work into your make-up, or maybe you're a little self conscious about your body. Either way, there's a simple solution -- earrings.

By wearing fabulously stunning earrings, everyone's gaze will automatically be drawn upward. Larger, bulkier earrings are a good choice for brides with fuller faces, while brides with petite features might want to go a slightly smaller design.

Check out GlamForLess.com for fabulous and affordable bridal earrings.

From the ever-helpful people at The Kitchen comes this list of five important considerations when planning your reception menu. Whether you're doing it yourself, or planning with a caterer, whether you're having a dessert buffet or a sit-down, three-course dinner, these factors will apply.

1. Seasonality. Foods that are in season are less expensive and easier to find. Seasonal dishes make sense to your guests, too: people prefer lighter fare in hot weather, comfort food in cold.

2. Variety. Even if you're having a dessert buffet, as are the writers at The Kitchen, you can still provide variety in taste, texture, temperature, and color. With a less focused menu comes opportunity for even greater variety.

Because of my extremely small wedding, one of the only details I really had to plan and shop for was my dress. I remember going into one lovely bridal shop to have a look around. The saleslady asked me the date of my wedding. And I'll never forget the disapproving look she gave me when I told her it was only two weeks away. Clearly I had not followed the "rules" of weddings – or polite society for that matter. Clearly there was something wrong with me. Clearly, I left and bought my dress elsewhere.

This post is about knowing who you are and what kind of wedding you're going to have and that your wedding is really no less a wedding than any other, no matter what your budget, location, time frame, religious beliefs...you get the idea. You see, there are people out there who will try to make you feel bad if you're not looking at the most lavish dress in the store, the most bodacious bunch of flowers or the most tender steak and caviar. These people are salespeople. And their duty in life is to use every means possible to coerce you into spending more on your wedding. It's not their fault; it's their livelihood (and you'll certainly meet some that are truly helpful and hold off the guilt trips). So, choose another shop where the staff is willing to help, not judge. You're no less in love and no less married than those $120,000 brides.

We've spoken with Jay's Bridal and Special Occasions about wedding gowns, and now we're moving on to our second part on tuxedos. Jay's is a one-stop bridal salon located in Gainesville, Florida and their tuxedo department is online at jaysformalwear.com. Throughout the series, we'll discuss everything wedding, ranging from bridal gowns to music to tuxedos. In this installment, Kristen Seymour will chat with the owner of Jay's, Paul Rhodenizer.

Compared to shopping for a bridal gown, shopping for the guys' tuxedos might seem like a piece of cake. However, while there aren't quite as many options regarding formalwear for the men, it's not all black and white. In fact, sometimes it's chocolate, khaki, or ivory, and then there are the accessories ... it's enough to get confusing, if you let it.

Before helping brides and grooms choose the tuxedos for the wedding, Paul spends a bit of time listening. "First, I try to find out a little about the formality of the wedding, but just as important is how the bride feels about things like color coordination. To some brides, having the groomsmen's vests match the color of the bridesmaids' dresses is really important, while other brides find it tacky."

The sage by Christos is a simple scoop neck empire-waist gown with a beautiful velvet ribbon detail at the waist that cleverly wraps around your bare back and ties up into a pretty knot. It's a very sexy detail thanks to the deep v-back. In fact, all of the embellishment is at the back - there are fabric buttons from the base of the v-back to the velvet bow detail at the chapel train, and that's it - but somehow it's more than enough.

Check out the Christos website for more information.

Money clip are one of those gifts that show up all the time on websites and in catalogues aimed at bridal couples. Looking for a gift for the men? How about a personalized golf ball, a silver flask, or a money clip? They're everywhere.

What this gift idea may lack in originality, it makes up for with its saying. It's a nice reminder, that the truly important, really valuable things in life cost nothing -- the love you share, for example. A sweet, romantic notion for the groom. For the father of the bride, who may be getting a little dizzy at how quickly his bank balance is receding, it might be just more than a little ironic. Could be the poor man will soon be thinking that the only things he ever will own from now on will be the ones that don't cost money.

Will you give it to him? Probably depends on his sense of humor ...

Five brides are competing to be the Modern Bride of the Year and grace the cover of Modern Bride magazine. Not a finalist? You still have a chance to win something: how about a $2,000 Macy's gift card?

That would certainly help with your wedding budget. Five ways you could spend a $2,000 gift card at Macy's:

1. Your dress - Macy's offers a nice selection of affordable wedding dresses.
2. Wedding party gifts - You could buy some nice "thank you" gifts for your brides maids.
3. Groom's gift - Surprise your groom with a thoughtful item just for him.
4. Housewares - Think of the great home or kitchen gadgets you could get.
5. Honeymoon - Buy yourself a nice honeymoon wardrobe.

We're certain there are many more ways to enjoy $2,000 at Macy's. So go ahead and enter the contest. Maybe you'll be a lucky winner!

Let's face it. Your friends love you, but if they're not getting married, there's a limit to how much and how often they want to hear you prattle on about your fabulous wedding plans, squabbling bridesmaids, and upcoming honeymoon. That's what the other brides on wedding Web forums are for. Although people can sometimes be a little heartless when they're typing in relatively anonymous fashion on their keyboards, you can garner a lot of support from the gals on the forums who are equally caught up in dresses and decorations and catering menus. There are countless forums out there, each with its own style and personality. You might have to try out a few (and you'll likely have to register with them) before you find one that feels like home. Look for one with lots of brides actively posting every day. Use them to get opinions when you're waffling on all those decisions, to get recommendations and referrals, and to vent frustrations without offending those close to you. These are your pals in your nuptial time of need.

We've spoken with Jay's Bridal and Special Occasions about wedding gowns, and now we're moving on to tuxedos. Jay's is a one-stop bridal salon located in Gainesville, Florida and their tuxedo department is online at jaysformalwear.com. Throughout the series, we'll discuss everything wedding, ranging from bridal gowns to music to tuxedos. In this installment, Kristen Seymour will chat with the owner of Jay's, Paul Rhodenizer.

While not every wedding is formal enough to require tuxedos, a majority of brides and grooms opt to dress their wedding party in them. But who all needs one, and what are the rules for matching?

Of course, the groom needs a tux, and one thing he should consider is the color of his bride's gown. "A majority of our dress sales are now in a shade of ivory," said Paul, "so we encourage the groom and his groomsmen to wear ivory shirts to go with that."