Archive for February, 2009

If you are a shoe lover, then making sure that the shoes you wear on your wedding day are just wondrous is of great importance. Before you attend the first fitting for your wedding gown, you should have picked out the shoes you plan to wear (or at least have an idea of which pair you plan to purchase).

The reason for this is because the heel height needs to be known before your dress is fitted. In that way, the gown can be altered in such a way that it will work well with the shoes you choose. You don’t want to trip on your walk down the aisle. That is one unpleasant memory that no bride wants to be left with!

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when you shop for your bridal shoes:

-If your wedding has a theme, then choose shoes that fit well with it. For example, a beach wedding might be the perfect time to don wedding flip flops.

-The season of your wedding is relevant as well. For example, sandal-like wedding shoes or strappy open-toed shoes are more appropriate for late spring or summer weddings as opposed to autumn or winter weddings.

-The most comfortable heel height for most brides is two inches or lower. Remember that you will be wearing these shoes for the duration of the ceremony and the reception. (Also, if your groom is not especially tall, then you do not want to tower over him!).

-White or ivory colored shoes are standard fare, as they are well matched for a wedding dress. However, depending on the time of year when you are getting married, it may not be easy to find a suitable pair of white shoes. As well, you might not be a fan of white and would prefer a little more color in your shoes. Metallics such as bronze, gold or silver are excellent alternatives. You also might want to choose a color that matches your wedding color, such as pastel pink or light blue. Dying your shoes is another option worth exploring.

-Add embellishments to your shoes, such as small flowers or lace if you like. However, make sure they will not interfere with your ability to walk!

-Light colored shoes tend to make the feet look larger. If you are bothered by your foot size, then select a wedding shoe with a rounded toe.

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You cannot wait to marry the man you love. You just know that everything would be perfect if only you could lose a few pounds and tone your body before your wedding.

Sound familiar?

If you have tried various types of diets and every form of exercise imaginable but are still unsatisfied with the look and feel of your body, then it is time to consider a Middle Eastern style of dance that has been made popular in western culture. We are talking about belly dancing!

If you have never thought of shaking your booty and gyrating your hips as you do a dance that is a universal celebration of being female, then it is about time you did! Belly dancing is an excellent way to lose weight for your wedding and to tone up, not to mention to improve your posture.

Often thought of as the new Pilates, belly dancing is considered to be an art form, a way to have fun and an excellent workout for the body, inside and out. If you attend belly dancing classes regularly, you WILL notice a different in the appearance of your body. You also will feel better.

Belly dancing uses muscles that you do not use through many ordinary daily activities. This gives way to movement in all of the muscle groups, and it makes a bride-to-be have a more flexible and limber body. Overall toning of the body is also possible with belly dancing. If you are a sloucher, then belly dancing can help change this as it will strengthen the muscles in your back.

Weight loss and fat burning are a given when you participate in regular belly dancing classes. Belly dancing is made up of a variety of moves including contractions, snake arms, ribcage arches and hip lifts. These moves aid in burning fat as quickly as possible. Did you know that a one hour belly dancing class can burn about 350 to 500 calories? It can. That is something to smile about for sure!

If you would like more strength in your arms, then belly dancing can help accomplish that for you. It also firms your leg muscles and gives them a more toned appearance.

Belly dancing is also an excellent way to release pre-wedding jitters and to get you in touch with your sexy, sensual side- just in time for your wedding night!

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When it comes to finding inexpensive bridal shoes, you need to be creative and shop around. Payless Shoe Source is not called “payless” for nothing. This is one of the best shoe shops to find stylish and inexpensive bridal shoes, regardless of whether you are looking for a traditional pair of shoes or a more modern looking pair. The average price for pumps and strappy sandals is $25 to $40. Shoes can be purchased online or at a store in your area. Visit http://www.payless.com to browse the selection they offer.

Wal-Mart may not be the height of sophistication and wedding allure, but the department chain carries a wide selection of dressy shoes that would be appropriate for wedding wear. Whether you are looking for a strappy pair of heels in off-white or a lower heeled more modest shoe in white, Wal-Mart is the place to look for value. If you shop at end of the season, you will be greeted with plenty of shoes on sale.

Thrift stores and consignment shops are full of inexpensive items such as bridal shoes. These are excellent places to find many bridal accessories as well. If you are a shrewd shopper and are willing to spend some time searching, then you will be rewarded with finding shoes that have been barely worn and still have a new appearance. If your shoes just need a little extra something to give them more punch for your wedding day, then visit http://www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com/rhinestone-shoe-clips.html for some rhinestone shoe clip ideas that you can make yourself for only a few dollars!

Other Tips for Your Wedding Shoes:

-Do not buy the first pair of wedding shoes that appeal to you. Instead try on a variety of pairs before you make a final decision.

-Always go shoe shopping in the late afternoon or evening.

-Buy a pair of shoes that are comfortable to walk (and dance) in.

-Buy shoes that are “you”. If you rarely wear heels, then don’t buy a pair with three inch heels and expect to look natural wearing them.

-Try your bridal shoes on with a pair of stockings in the same color that you will be wearing on your wedding day.

-Once you buy your shoes practice walking in them at home in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding. If any shoes need to be broken in, they are your wedding shoes!

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When it comes to your wedding ceremony would you choose to wear a veil or not? For some women this decision is a simple one, but for others it is not. In days gone by men and women did not socialize together and marriages were arranged so a groom did not see his bride until the heavy veil was pulled back from her face as the two of them stood at the altar ready to take their vows. Other folklore says that women wore veils over their faces so no other man could kidnap them on their wedding day because their faces would be hidden under a thick veil until they were ready to pledge themselves to their chosen grooms.

Due to these outdated traditions, plenty of women today choose not to wear a veil. The decision is entirely up to you. The veils of today are much lighter than the veils of years past, and they can provide a bride with a very elegant look on her special day.

The choices of veils are many, so finding one that compliments your wedding gown is easier than ever. Your choices include a chapel veil, a cathedral length veil, an elbow length veil and a fingertip length veil.

If there is a family veil that has been passed down through the generations, then you may decide that you would like to continue the tradition. This is sure to make your mother and/or grandmother very happy! If the veil needs some alterations in order to make it look more up-to-date or make it well suited to your dress, then this can be accomplished easily.

If you always enjoyed watching storybook weddings in movies, then you probably adored the look of a veil trailing behind the bride as she glided down the aisle. The tulle of a veil is romantic and also speaks of wedding drama. For the lady who enjoys these type of moments in life, a veil (make that a full length veil!) might be exactly what she needs to include as part of her wedding ensemble. It is your day so you should adorn your dress however you please!

If you decide to wear a wedding veil, then you must decide if you wish to wear a blusher with it or not. For some brides going all of the way with tradition is important, for others it is not so much.

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