4 people you will need to gift before your wedding

For the bride-to-be, every week may start to feel like Christmas, when gifts start arriving at your doorstep throughout the wedding adventure. You'll see the items fly off your registry, and you'll start to get paper cuts from the envelopes filled with delightful cards and generous gifts on your wedding day. But before you take inventory on the presents addressed to you and your fiancé, spend some time picking out the perfect gifts for a few key players helping you out with your wedding. Here are four people you'll want to wrap up something nice for. Customized wedding dresses 

1. Your Gals
When you select your bridesmaids, you'll want to ask them to take on that fabulous role with a fun, little gift and perhaps a sweet card too. On the day of the wedding, you can also surprise them with another — thank you for being here for me — gift. Whether it's a piece of jewelry they can wear with their bridesmaid dress or something more casual like a robe to get ready in — or a decorative tote bag to carry around — bridesmaids gifts are essential for the day.

2. Your Groom
Consider getting your groom a surprise gift to send over to him on the morning of the wedding. The gift can be something personal and meaningful between the two of you or something fun you think he'd like to wear on the wedding day— think funny socks or cufflinks.

3. Your Tag Team of Helpers
Maybe it's your mother and the mother of the groom — or a close family member or friend — that's been by your side through the planning process and helping you with all the decision-making. To say a giant thank you to them for their time and brainpower, you can get them a little gift — like a gift certificate to a spa or take them to get their nails done before the wedding.

4. Your Trusty Vendors
Most couples will tip their vendors on the day of the wedding, but if you don't want to give them cash, you can get them a small gift instead — especially if they've gone above and beyond for you and your wedding day.

Jen Glantz is a "Professional Bridesmaid" and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She's the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

How to plan for wedding-day troublemakers

Basic bride, you are not! You're the type of girl that aspires to start Pinterest trends, not follow them, and you'd rather die than have your wedding be called cookie-cutter (okay, not actually die, but you do desperately want it to be different than the five you've already attended this year!). So how do you go about achieving that one of a kind, infectious vibe? For a wedding that's so you (and your groom!), try these ideas on for size. Fashion wedding gown

Avoid booking a package deal
Take some time to really research and check out potential venue options in person, and find out if you're locked in to using a certain caterer, bar service, etc. if you sign on the dotted line. The more freedom you have to bring in vendors that align with your particular style and preferences, the more unique your wedding will naturally be. Why? Well because you're literally curating everything, from the chair rentals to the dinner menu.

Write your own vows
It's one of the most intimate and special ways couples can personalize their wedding, and you can guarantee that no other ceremony will be quite like yours. With that said though, reciting the traditional vows doesn't automatically doom you to having a "basic" big day. Just like mixing high and low in fashion, it's nice to mix the modern with the classic in weddings.

Think outside of the box when it comes to music
In other words, don't haphazardly pick popular hits like Ed Sheehan’s "Thinking Out Loud" for your first dance song just because it's such an easy choice. Opt for something upbeat and happy, as opposed to sweet and sappy, that truly speaks to you as a couple. Or search for a cute indie tune that sums up your relationship perfectly. Warning: this could take some time, but your efforts will totally pay off!

Get creative with food
Forget the standard steak, chicken and fish dishes, and excite your guests with wedding food that's as creative as you are. This could be in the form of small plates, chef stations, a family style meal or heck, you could even bring in a bunch of food trucks to feed everyone. Rather than the typical "sliders and fries" or tacos as a late night snack, LA-based wedding planner Lisa Vorce recommends passing snacks or treats that evoke a touch of home. "Grandma's famous peanut butter cookies anyone?"

Make your cocktail hour interactive
Your wedding guests will eat this idea right up! For example, you can create a specialized vintage wine bar(perhaps from the year you met?) and a cheese display comprised of all your favorites, suggests Vorce. "Then bring in a sommelier or a fromager to give a little history and education of the wine and cheese." No doubt your friends and family won't soon forget this experience.

Spoil your out of town guests with gifts they'll actually use
Instead of a handing out a single welcome bag full of goodies at the beginning of the wedding weekend, why not break up your gifts into mini amenities to be enjoyed throughout? "For instance, you can deliver donuts and coffee to each guest's hotel room the morning of the big day and have an evening sweet treat waiting on them when they get home from the reception," says Vorce. "Guests love being thought of and love being spoiled with surprises even more!"

What’s Hot in Bridalwear for 2016

We visited the Bridal Buyer show in Harrogate, which is where many of the bridal boutiques and stores will order their new range of dresses for 2016. There were so many new styles and designs on offer, we’ve created a snap shot overview of our favourite finds.

Full Gowns – Not quite ‘my big fat gypsy wedding,’ but the full skirted ball gown is well and truly back in fashion. This time the style is designed with structured pleats and layers of delicate tulle to provide a stunning look for the bride wanting that fairytale inspired dress.

Sparkle – Glitter, sequins and layers of sparkling material were a frequent sight sashaying down the isles of Harrogate, with many of the designers displaying plenty of glitz and glamour. If you’re a bride who loves all things that shimmer and shine then this bridal trend is perfect for you.

Embellishment – Downton Abbey inspired sequins and vintage lace were a very popular theme, teamed with figure hugging gowns and fishtail hem lines. The intricate detailing and hand sewn embellishment coupled with textured fabrics provide truly stunning dresses that will give you a perfectly unique wedding look.

Colour – As brides become more adventurous and steer away from the traditional white gowns, retailers are finding their confidence and opting to stock a variety of alternative colours.  A big trend we’ll see in 2016 is gowns in blush, oyster, light gold and muscado.

Trains – Whether it’s short and sweet or long and lacy, the train is definitely back on trend creating a dramatic look as you walk down the isle.

What should I do if I can not afford to buy a wedding gift ?

Between engagement parties and bridal showers on top of travel expenses, the cost of being a guest can add up quickly. If you can't afford to buy the happy couple the cook set of their dreams, there are plenty of alternative ways to give them a memorablewedding dress  gift.

Start by calculating what you can afford and then be proud of what you buy, even if it is small. We recommend choosing a singular, stand-alone item like a vase or bowl rather than pieces to a set, because the present will feel more complete and substantial. But if budget concerns are seriously strict, think outside the box to design an alternative — and oftentimes more personal — wedding gift.

A three-month commitment of homemade goodies like muffins or fresh bread is a lovely surprise, and chances are, you have the majority of ingredients in your kitchen already. Or, well before the wedding, give the bride and groom a thoughtful card telling them how much you value your relationship and offer your services in a last-minute task like picking up grandma from the airport and delivering her to the hotel, dog-sitting during the honeymoon, or spending the night before the wedding tying programs (trust us, this is truly invaluable, and every single bridesmaid would thank you).

Either way, remember that your presence is what should matter most — especially if the wedding requires travel — and the bride and groom will appreciate your attendance as the best gift of all.

Tips for you to modernize your mother's vintage wedding dress

Choosing to honor your mother by wearing her vintage wedding gown at your own nuptials is a beautiful way to incorporate your family into the big day. However, your wedding gown should reflect your personal style even if it was originally your mother's choice. Here are five designer–approved ways to modernize your mother's wedding attire for your own big day.

1. Customize the Color
Nothing says modern romanticism like a wedding gown in an alternative color. Designer Kathryn Conover is well versed in devising contemporary classics for her bridal clients, and favors adding pastels into her gowns for a dash of modernity. One of Conover's bridal clients asked the designer to update a gown worn by her grandmother in 1969, and by her mother in 1985. “Her 2015 version is a strapless gown with lace appliqués and a blush overlay,” explains Conover, as a pop of pink can mean the difference between staid and stylish.

2. Embrace Vintage Lace
If you want to pay homage to your mother's panache without overshadowing your own look, incorporate some of the gown's fabric into your ensemble. Beloved bridal designer Anne Barge suggests that vintage lace is the most suitable material for such a gesture, stating, “Lace can be taken from the vintage gown and applied to a mantilla style veil as well as be mixed with newer laces. The vintage lace can also be applied to the bride's gown, petticoat, handkerchief, prayer book, ring pillow or bride's book.”

3. Rethink the Sleeves
Wedding gown trends may come and go, but sleeve length and style often serves as an indicator of which decade a dress harkens back to. For example, the fashion industry embraced voluminous sleeves in the 1980s, Conover recalls. Removing these telltale details in favor of a streamlined strapless neckline or halter design can bring a gown into the 21st century, suggests the designer.

4. Say Yes to a Vintage Veil
Modernizing your mother's wedding attire may be as simple as gliding down the aisle in her vintage veil. Instead of attempting to update a complete gown, Barge recommends transforming a veil into an antiquity passed between generations of brides and customized by each one. “I love the idea of a family heirloom veil which is monogrammed at the hem with each bride's name and wedding date,” says Barge.

5. Adjust Your Neckline
Despite the fact that your grandmother may recall a time when brides wore fabric up to their chins and down to their toes, the fashion industry has embraced a host of new silhouettes for 2015. If you favor a modernized look, Conover recommends starting with a gown's neckline. Scrapping the mock neckline will take a gown out of the Victorian era and into modern day in one quick snip of the scissors, as will sculpting a sweetheart neckline or adding an asymmetric strap.

If you are getting married in the colder months ?

The great outdoors provides a wealth of inspiration for wedding décor, but not all weddings have the option of al fresco seating. When the temperature drops to freezing, the last thing wedding guests want is an outdoor ceremony amidst the icicles. So how can a bride who adores the outdoors incorporate natural elements into the wedding? Our etiquette experts weigh in on the issue. Here are beach wedding style

First, work with your florist to devise a décor scheme that incorporates rustic, naturalistic accents to your venue. Consider commissioning an arbor or chuppah out of intertwined branches and vines. Embrace organic accents such as crisp, vibrant leaves combined with full boughs to serve as wall adornments, and add abundant blooming touches to your table centerpieces. If you have sufficient room in your nuptial budget, you may even wish to place small, potted trees amongst your reception tables or line your aisle with lush greenery. If you are more entranced by flowers than branches or boughs, create a floral wall with your favorite blooms to serve as an aesthetic focal point for your celebration. You may also wish to incorporate nature into small details such as your place card table by inscribing each number and name on a wooden slab, and present the collection amidst plantings or moss. 

Furthermore, seek a wedding venue with resplendent views of the great outdoors to serve as a backdrop for your fete. Whether your preference is a hotel ballroom with a sweeping panorama of the surrounding foliage or a glass-enclosed greenhouse on an estate property, your location should embrace the outdoors in some small manner even before you add decorative flourishes.

elegance wedding style for you at bellasdress.com

Here’s a new concept for couples wanting an informal daytime wedding experience to really make the most of the Ibiza sun and sea. The Matinee Beach Wedding was created by the brilliant people at bellasdress Wedding Shop. It’s a chance to kick off your shoes and wedding gear after tying the knot and enjoy a bikini-clad beach day with all your closest friends and family.

How a Matinee Beach Wedding works

In Ibiza’s beautiful Sa Flama, after a morning to get ready, there is a glorious midday ceremony next to the beach. The reception is then held at the popular Sa Flama Beach venue set along the beautiful San Antonio Bay on the west coast of the island. Guests enjoy a charcoal grilled BBQ and chill DJ creating the relaxing beach house vibe for the afternoon. Candi at Ibiza Wedding Shop told me: “We find this is ideal for wedding parties with children as they are able to enjoy the day on the beach without feeling the need to worry about late nights and babysitters.”

Planning your beach wedding ceremony

Planning any overseas wedding is easier with a little help from an expert  based in the country who are there to help with every stage of your wedding planning. It is important to note that you can only be legally married in Ibiza if you are either resident there, or a non-resident couple where either one or both partners are Catholic.

Wedding reception at Sa Flama, Ibiza

If you have fallen in love with the idea of a matinee beach wedding in beautiful Ibiza then you can still hold your wedding ceremony and reception on the beach after having the legally binding marriage in your home country. If you want to include a spiritual element into your wedding, consider having a blessing in one of the island’s pretty white washed churches after your beach ceremony.