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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.
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."




Continue reading Choosing your tuxedo accessories and saving money: Interview with Jays Formalwear, Part Two


We've seen the camouflage-themed weddings a time or two here at AisleDash, and we can say with certainty that it wouldn't be our choice. But, far be it from us to deny anyone out there who is just dying to incorporate camouflage into as many aspects of her wedding as possible.

For you special camo-minded brides (and grooms), we present to you Just Camo USA, a site that, as you can well guess, is devoted to camouflage. Here you'll find gems like a camouflage guest book, camo tux jacket and pants, pre-tied camo ties, and a backless, reversible camo vest (because you know the good ol' boys are going to want to get down on the dance floor).

If camo is your thing, check out the gallery to see things you probably never even dreamed of finding in camouflage. Or, if you hate camouflage, you still might get a kick out of seeing what's offered.
We've already mentioned that we think a fun purse is a great gift for bridesmaids, and if you're having a Parisian-themed wedding, we still think it's a great idea. Of course, you also need a fabulous bag for yourself ...

We've got it right here -- the Eiffel Tower Bag by Timmy Woods. Granted, they're $375 a pop, so, even if you won't be able to give one to each of your bridesmaids, you might be able to splurge and get one for yourself! There are always other Parisian gifts to give your girls.

This purse isn't only good for your wedding, either. It's one of the bags being featured in the Sex and the City movie, carried by none other than Miss Carrie Bradshaw herself. So not only will you be a beautiful bride, you'll also be a serious fashionista any time you carry it!
In case you haven't noticed, guys often don't like to put a lot of work into what they wear. That's not to say they don't want to look good -- they just don't want to spend a lot of time figuring out how to make that happen.

Dressing for a wedding, therefore, isn't all that tough for men. They wear either a suit, a shirt/tie/slacks combo, or, if it's casual, khakis and a button down. That's great and all, but it's also nice if they can add a little extra style. It's even better if what they add is functional as well.

Enter the sunglass. For an outdoor wedding, this accessory can't be beat. The right style can make a man look infinitely more chic and fashion-forward than he actually is, while wearing a sport glass will do exactly the opposite. We don't mind even seeing the groomsmen and the groom in shades before the wedding, provided the frames are removed in time for the bride to come down the aisle.

Here are some of our favorite styles for men -- some are a little trendy, some are classic, but all of them are appropriate for a wedding-type of affair.
Spring and summer are upon us, and that means we'll likely be heading out to some fabulous outdoor weddings. We love an outdoor wedding -- it offers extra opportunities to accessorize!

Here are a few of our favorite styles for this summer -- some are best left to the guests, but some of these would be adorable on bridesmaids, or even on a bride in the right wedding. However, we have a few suggestions for the ladies regarding sunglasses at weddings:

Continue reading Sexy shades for brides, bridesmaids, and female wedding guests

Are you thinking jewelry, jewelry and more jewelry? We gals know that a little well placed bling can add the finishing touch that makes an outfit great. For you and your bridesmaids, choosing jewelry accessories to match your gowns can sometimes feel like one more pesky decision in a sea of stress. If you're looking for a place to start and a little inspiration, try this forum of brides in Australia. They're sharing their maybes and must-haves when it comes to wedding day jewels.

We just love Etsy. The online mega-craft fair is a great place to look for all kinds of wedding supplies and accessories like invitations, cake toppers, decorations, and so much more.

If you're having trouble finding exactly what you want on Etsy, have no fear! The site's Alchemy feature is there for you. You simply post on the request board exactly what you're looking for, even the price you want, and vendors can make bids for your business. This way, you don't have to settle for something similar to what you want -- you get it exactly the way you've envisioned it all along.

If you do come across an Etsy store that you just love, it's also a good idea to contact the owner and ask if he or she does custom work. Maybe you feel like you're being too picky and specific, but you never know what these artists can do for you if you never ask!


Brown is one of those colors that you either love or hate. Champagne diamonds are a good reason to love the color. As colored diamonds gain popularity in engagement rings and wedding jewelry, more of these sparkling brown gems are hitting the market.

Brown diamonds are known by several aliases, most commonly "champagne" and "cognac". Their color can be anywhere from very lightly tinted brown to very rich, dark chocolate brown. Diamonds with more intense orange shades will fetch the highest prices in this group, but because brown is the most common naturally occurring diamond color, these stones sell for significantly less than their colorless counterparts. Expect to pay anywhere from $500-$5000 per carat, depending on the intensity of the color and quality of the stone. High clarity stones with intense natural color will command a higher price, but you should be able to find plenty of beautiful choices without exceeding the $5000/ct range.

If you want a rich brown gemstone, diamonds are about your only option on the market today. Other gems exist in brown, but they don't have the sparkle and shine that diamonds posses, and haven't seen anything like the demand for champagne diamonds. Whether you want a champagne diamond engagement rings or just some brown accents in your wedding jewelry, flip through the gallery above for some ideas.

To learn more about how to shop for diamonds, read the posts in the Personal Gemologist series.

If you're looking for something beyond the basic string of pearls to accessorize your wedding day look, it's worth checking out the jewelry designs of Tracy Matthews. Also an avid yoga instructor, Matthews is most inspired by the elements of nature, its forms and designs clearly identifiable in her jewelry. From the natural leaf and coral shapes to the more eastern-inspired Kasmir designs in gold and sterling silver with diamonds or colored gems, there's beauty for every eye to behold. True to her natural heart, Matthews also uses renewed gold, which is equal in quality to new materials but recycled to avoid the harmful effects mining has on the environment. Click below to see a selection of her beautiful and unique designs.

When you picture your bridal jewelry, the first thing that comes to mind is probably pearls. The gems make lovely jewelry, and it certainly complements a white gown nicely -- but maybe you're not a white-gown-and-pearls kind of bride. In this day and age, pearls are losing their monopoly on the bridal market, after all.

Our friend Melissa at Brides.com discovered Aleksa Designs in Atlanta, Georgia, and we agree with Melissa that these pieces will make lovely, if not exactly traditional, accessories for you and your bridesmaids. If you're not ready to entirely let go of the idea of pearls on your wedding day, that's no problem -- Aleksa has plenty of contemporary pearl pieces that could be perfect for you.

Designer Dahli Patel combines eastern and western influences in her artwork, which consists mainly of gemstones and sterling silver. Pieces start around $45, so they're not only beautiful, they're totally affordable. Flip through the gallery below for some examples of Patel's work.

Kristen recently pointed out the shocking truth about charitable donations as wedding favors -- apparently, you're going to upset some people if you give to charity instead of providing things as favors at your wedding. Setting aside the question of why you have people like this on your guest list in the first place, what if there were some sort of loophole? There is. With The Hunger Site and its partner sites (Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy, The Rainforest, and Animal Rescue), you can shop for gifts and trinkets in a store where the money you spend will go to a great cause.

Each of the above sites has an online store full of great fair trade and eco-friendly gifts, large and small. You can find ideas for wedding favors -- how about some organic teas or inspirational candles? -- as well as gifts for your attendants, like these floral tote bags or some cute silver earrings. But you really should see the store for yourself, as there are thousands of items to browse through. And you may want to check out the jewelry for yourself -- there are lots of pieces that would make lovely wedding accessories.
The jewelry industry is great at giving people reasons to spend money. Whoever came up with the idea that engagement rings should cost three months' salary was a marketing genius -- and an evil, evil person. Birthstones, too, are all a creation of the marketing gurus to make sure jewelry will sell year round, and not just at the major holidays. One of the latest traditions created by the jewelry industry is the past present future design, to symbolize your past, present, and future in love.

Past present future jewelry can be any three stone piece, but diamonds are the most common, especially rings and pendants. The first stone represents past, the second is present, and the third is future. Often the stones are graduated with the smallest on top and the largest at the bottom, or in a ring, with one larger stone between two smaller ones.

Though the design may be a marketing ploy, it's a popular one. The specific symbolism is especially appropriate for weddings, and many brides choose to accessorize with this style of jewelry. Past present future designs also make popular anniversary gifts.

A dress with its own accessories (or flair, or oomph, or whatever you want to call it) holds a lot of appeal for a girl like me who wants a gown that is really unique. That's why mine had a couple of big ol' flowers on one shoulder (see picture to the right).

However, when your dress comes with a focal point, sometimes it's difficult to figure out what kind of jewelry to wear with it. If your dress has a halter neckline, should you wear a necklace with a pendant that drops within the neckline? If the neckline has lots of embellishment already, should you avoid a necklace?

The answer depends, of course, on two things: the actual dress and how it fits you and your personal style. This slideshow from Brides.com might give you some good ideas, though. It gives advice on whether to wear a necklace or not, what kind you should wear, and appropriate earrings. Plus, the gowns they show are really pretty. Even if you don't need advice, you should check it out. Enjoy!
Helen Mirren puts me to shame. At 60+ years of age, she continues to merge beauty, class, and sex appeal into one spectacular silver bundle. In a world where designers are clamoring over who can dress the next hot young thing in the wildest gown, Mirren consistently wears dresses that cause the jaws of men half her age to drop while still, somehow, remaining age appropriate.

This outfit is a perfect example -- it would also work perfectly as a wedding gown for anyone looking for a slightly more mature look. Here's why:
  • The dress itself is strapless (or at least looks strapless), which right off the bat is sexy. It shows off a bit of decolletage (what lotion does she use -- her skin looks flawless!) without being too much. Depending on your own bust, you might opt for something that comes up a bit higher.

Continue reading From Red Carpet to Altar: Helen Mirren

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