Wedding Dresses with Sleeves are Popular (Again)

Glamour magazine has published their top choices for wedding dresses in 2011, and I am excited to say several of these dresses have sleeves!!!  Could it be that secular fashion is turning its back on exposed skin in favor of the modest looks from the past?  According to Glamour's taste for 2011, the answer is a resounding YES.  As fashion moves forward and we enter 2012, there is more than a glimmer of hope that modesty is making a come back, and the new modest fashion trends seen on the catwalk will make their way to your local stores.  Finally!  Here are some of Glamour's top wedding dresses of 2011:

How to Build up Bridesmaid Dresses

I have to admit that I went a little insane when trying to figure out the best choice for bridesmaid dresses that were modest yet stylish and unique (and inexpensive!).  If you already haven’t noticed, it’s hard to find off-the-rack bridesmaids dresses with sleeves.  One common approach to resolve this issue is to select a fabric and color to be used for building the dress and have your bridesmaids figure out the seamstress situation...the design, cut and cost of the dress.  I chose not to take that approach, mainly to ensure that the dresses were not too expensive.  So, what did I do?

1. The Look:  Find pictures of the perfect modest bridesmaid dress:  I used the internet to find inspiring long-sleeve styles. Check out these ideas.
2. Where to Purchase:  Determine whether the dresses that you found inspiring are accessible, reasonably priced, and can be purchased online or at a local store. 
• I couldn't access the dresses I wanted.  I found a great dress online that I would have purchased but it would take too long to arrive with enough allotted time for alterations.  Instead, I got the brand of the dress and the style number so I could refer to the dress when inquiring whether a seamstress could make it or order it and make alterations in time.
3. Reasonably Priced Seamstresses:  Assuming the dresses cannot be purchased online or at a store, find reasonably priced tailors or seamstresses that make custom gowns in your area.  This can be tricky since most seamstresses may not want to give price estimates over the phone.  They will say they need specifics such as the style and material of the dress.  Ideally, you should be prepared to email or refer them online to pictures of dresses that include the style number and designer’s name.  If they still won’t provide estimates, DO NOT give up –some seamstresses may be reluctant to provide estimates but trust me, there are seamstresses willing to work something out.  Find a seamstress willing to give an estimate, but don’t hang up until you have negotiated the best offer. 
4. Negotiating with the Seamstress:  You’ve already found the look you want and can refer to the brand and style number of the dress.  Have the seamstress go online and view the dress to determine if s/he can make the dress or order it and make alterations in time.  Show that the dress online costs x amount and state that you cannot spend over y amount per dress.  If there are at least a handful of bridesmaids, you can also sell the fact that you are buying in bulk.        
• After calling four seamstresses that were unwilling to provide estimates over the phone or were unwilling to try to work something out I was about to give up and give in to pulling out my hair.  I hung in there and called the fifth seamstress on my list.  She was amazing – right from the start it was obvious she was the one.  Why?  When I asked her if she had any Landa long-sleeve dresses and she said no, she immediately followed up with “but I can customize a dress just like that”.  I responded that a customized dress sounds expensive and her response was “what is your price range”.  I said the Landa dress was $150 and I wanted to pay somewhere in that ballpark.  We negotiated to $163 per dress… an amazing deal for tailored long-sleeve bridesmaid dresses that had the look and feel I envisioned.
• Who was this amazing seamstress?  Jacqueline from Staten Island (718.370.3936; jkline46@aol.com ), and yes it was 110% worth driving from Manhattan to Staten Island to get fabulous long-sleeve bridesmaid dresses at a discounted price. 
5. The Pseudo Bridesmaid Fitting (a fitting without having to go to the seamstress):  Now that you’ve negotiated a reasonable price, you need to have your bridesmaids fitted.  But this could be a problem if they live far from the seamstress.  No worries!  My seamstress was willing to have each bridesmaid fax over or email specified dimensions.  My seamstress provided the bridesmaids with a form that had a picture of a woman and all of the measurements needed for each part of the body.  This is a list of measurements she needed with sample inches per part:        
• Bust: 32"
• Waist: 27.5"
• Abdomen: 32" 
• Hip: 39" 
• Shoulder to Shoulder: 12.5" 
• Shoulder to Shoulder Back: 13.5" 
• Center Back Length: 15" 
• Arm Around: 10" 
•  Dress Length: 54"
• Sleeve Length: 15"
6. Since my seamstress was inconveniently located for my bridesmaids, I picked up all bridesmaids dresses and gave them to my bridesmaids at my bridal shower.  End of story!  It’s that easy :)

Stylish Modest Bridesmaid’s Dresses

If you’re looking for long-sleeve evening dresses now is the time to find them.  As the winter months approach, several major department stores offer a wider selection of long-sleeve options.  Not to mention, you’ll find sales, discounts and perks like free shipping and free returns at these stores around this time.  I’ve found the best selection of stylish modest dresses to be at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Bloomingdales.  While some of these dresses can get pricey, most are affordable and don’t require a schlep to a seamstress for customized cuts.  

There are also certain brands that tend to offer long-sleeve options in their selection of styles.  Brands such as SL Fashions, Alex Evenings, Adrianna Papell, JS Collections, Maggy London, and Diane Von Furstenberg offer some elegant modest styles.

Check out these stylish modest bridesmaid’s dresses:

 Still can't find the perfect long-sleeve dress for your special occasion?  Feel free to contact me or type a  comment in the Comment section.

Jewish Bands that Rock: Orchestras / Bands for your Jewish Wedding

Any good band will claim to play pretty much anything the customer requests, but they may not be well-versed in the various styles of Jewish music.  Jewish orchestras and bands can play an assortment of Jewish music, from Klezmer to Tel Aviv techno to Israeli folk, like the back of their hand.  In our search for the perfect Jewish wedding band, we found that (at least in the metro-NY area) it seems several Jewish bands and orchestras choose from the same repository of musicians looking to play at a “gig”.  Thus, the name of the music group may differ but the actual musicians / talent in the group has overlap, and that overlap means the quality of the music being played may not differ by much between these music groups.  That being said, when we searched for our Jewish band our focus was less on the quality of the musicians in the group and more on how to get the biggest bang for the buck.  There is room for negotiation on Several Factors that Impact Price, such as:

the Number of Musicians needed, Type of Instrument (i.e., string, vocal, base, etc), Number of Hours needed to perform, if you or a family member or friend are “Connected”, and whether the band or orchestra is Willing to Reduce their Price to fit your budget.

We wanted a reputable Jewish music band and a reduced price, and that’s exactly what we got.  How?  The key to our discount was:

• Average Cost of a Jewish Band / Orchestra:  Establish the “going rate” by calling some of the reputable Jewish music groups and asking for price ranges to play at a wedding.  For us (in 2010), the range was between $4,000 - $10,000.

• Reputation Rules:  Ask family members or friends to think of the music groups used at Jewish events that they enjoyed most.  Word of mouth can help confirm the quality and professionalism of the band.  Several music groups offer music samples on their websites…listening to them may help alleviate any anxieties about their quality.

• Stay Local:  Choose a band that does not require you to pay for travel costs to get to the wedding.  Travel costs can add up.

• Use your Connections:  Some of your family members or friends may be “connected” to musicians in a band that can drop a name and help drop costs.

• Negotiate to Fit your Budget:  The strategy that worked for us was to inform the band that another reputable band was offering $4,500 dollars…much higher than our budget would allow—then we simply asked:  Can you do better?  This actually worked with the band we ended up choosing, and they did an incredible job.  Another notable strategy is to say flat out that you can only afford X dollars (fill in the blank), and ask whether they have options for reducing the price by only working for a shorter number of hours, using less musicians, or using instruments that are less pricey.

In our search for the perfect Jewish band for our metro-NY wedding, we asked several family members and friends to tell us what they think.  

Here is the compiled list of Jewish Orchestras / Bands (admittedly not a complete list, just those highly recommended to us):

• BaRock:  Contact Ari Green; http://barockorchestra.com/
• Greg Wall:  Contact Greg Wall:  201-294-3297; http://simchaallstars.com/klezmerfest/index.html
• Nafshenu Orchestra:  Call 516-371-6660; http://www.nafshenu.com/main/
• Neshoma Orchestra: Contact Jordan Hirsch:  201-837-1396; http://www.neshomaorchestra.com/
• Shalom Orchestra:  Call 212-875-1600; http://www.shalomentertainment.com/
• Shtreiml: Email Jason Rosenblatt; visit www.shtreiml.com
• Yitzi Spinner:  http://www.yitzyspinner.com

Please feel free to recommend your favorite Jewish orchestra or band.

Flowers and Chuppah’s and Mechitza’s Oh My: You and Your Florist

Some decisions that you’ll have to make with your wedding florist can be scary.  For one, the financial responsibility for paying for the Florist in a Jewish Wedding is typically provided by the groom (see FLOP and groom’s financial responsibilities).  This means you’ll have to work with your hubby-to-be on setting the price point.  While my vision for wedding flowers and decorations including hiring a high-end highly rated Manhattan Florist, my fiances vision was to spend as little as possible.  He even looked into organizations that donate flowers for weddings.  I’m not saying there is anything wrong with working with donated flowers for a wedding, as it does cut considerable costs (if interested, look into The Enchanted Florist at Allegro School).  Nonetheless, we did find a middle-ground but it did take some work to be able to keep my vision and at a reasonable price.  The high-end highly rated Manhattan Florist was willing to negotiate down to $8,000 but my fiance was determined to find a reputable florist that would cost half that price.  His determination paid off, literally, and we ended up spending $3,500 for all of the bells and whistles that I dreamed of having at my wedding.  How did we make it happen?

• Define your Vision:  Before approaching a florist, close your eyes and imagine how you envision your wedding venue decorated based on the “staples” that define the space of your venue, such as the entrance and rooms that will used during the wedding.  A traditional Jewish Wedding has several extra staples that should be considered including the tisch room, bedeken, chuppah / ceremony area, smorg room, yichud room, reception and dance space.  Prior to meeting with a florist, it’s a good idea to come prepared with an outline of how you envision the staples of your wedding space.  For me, I used this outline when going through my vision with the florist, and I brought pictures to show examples of the “look”:

o   Front Entrance Awning:  Decorate the entrance with some greenery, flowers, ice sculptures or lanterns.

o   Front Entrance Table with Name Cards:  Use a signature tree or flowers that drape.

o    Tisch Area:   The tisch area should be spacious enough to accommodate for the several honored family members and / or guests participating in signing and plate breaking.

o    Ceremony Aisle:   Simple decorations for the aisle express elegance while leaving the spotlight on you.

 

o   Chuppah:  The idea is to use branches, candles, and lighting...with little to no flowers.  This sets a romantic tone without hiking up costs.

 

o   Bride's Bouquet:  Smaller versions of the same arrangement can significantly cut costs while still providing the added beauty.

 

o   Bridesmaid Bouquet: Similar to the bride's bouquet, the bridesmaid bouquet does not need to be elaborate to make a statement.

 

o   Reception Tables:  Some venues may have on-hand vases or centerpieces they are willing to lend you at no additional cost.  Ask the venue to show you pictures of previous weddings that used their centerpieces to get inspired by ideas on how to transition them into your favorite look.

o   Boutonnieres:  These will typically be the less costly of flower-related purchases.  To further reduce costs, consider flowerless boutonnieres.

o   Bedeken:  The most beautiful “piece” to the bedeken is the bride and the draping of the dress on the chair.  That being said, elaborate decorations of flowers are not necessary to create an elaborate feel.

o   Mechitza:  Most secular florists may not be well-versed in Mechitza options.  Further, they may not even have a recommended rental place for this.  The easiest way to simplify things is to go with a florist that typically throws Orthodox Jewish Weddings.

o   Tip:  Bring pictures of the wedding venue to give the florist an idea of the colors that already exist at the venue and to ensure the flowers won’t clash.

• Get Inspired:  If you’re the kind of person that has not always had a vision of how you want your wedding decorated, the least costly first step is to look at wedding magazines and start cutting out pictures you find most inspiring.  Eventually, you may find that you will start to gravitate to certain types of flowers or colors, and this will help build your vision.  Be sure to keep the pictures of the ideas you like most so you can easily refer to them when expressing what you like to your florist. 
  
• Leverage the Free Stuff:  That’s right, I said “free”.  Yes, unbelievably some of the wedding vendors that you are using will lend you items that you do not have to spend a dime on.  For instance, the wedding venue I used was kind enough to provide us with candelabras that were used as the centerpieces for the tables at no additional cost. 
• Embrace Minimalism:  Sometimes the best (and most cost efficient) way to decorate is to think like a minimalist.  Big is not always better when deciding on flowers.  Even Kate Middleton chose a smaller size bouquet than expected, and this only put more focus on her gorgeous gown.  The chuppah does not need a tremendous amount of flowers to get the “bling” effect (check out pictures of chuppah’s with little to no flowers).  Branches, candles, flower petals, and different shapes and sizes of glasses or vases can help reduce the number of flowers needed to enhance the atmosphere.
• Get the “Best” Ideas:  Admittedly, the experience at the high-end florist took my vision to the next level, as they offered outrageously exquisite ideas and while we did not end up going with them, they showed the best of the best.  This exposure helped see what would be worth passing up versus what would be worth “fighting” for. 
• Solidify your Vision with your Florist:  For each piece that you have gone through with your florist, make sure you are happy with the quality of what they will be providing by physically having them create the samples that will be used and going to their grounds to test it out and explore other options they offer.
• Reputation is Key:  While I did my research to find the “best” florist on the internet and was driven by reviews from several wedding sites, my fiance did his research by hearsay which turned out to be not only the most affordable choice, but a great choice with spectacular results.  The florist he chose was from the depths of Brooklyn, a Haredi woman, and when I tried to find anything on the internet about her I found absolutely nothing.  I was nervous and even more so when we traveled to Brooklyn into a very religious neighborhood and found what seemed to be a ghetto work space where she provided samples.  After having already experienced the high-end Manhattan florist, I initially shunned the idea of using her.  But a second thought, and with the consideration of price, we walked through our requirements of what we wanted for the wedding and she said she could do it all. I believed in her mainly because my fiances contacts acclaimed the quality of her services and for the ease in speaking to her about ideas on decorating religious-related staples such as the bedeken, chuppah and mechitza.  This was second-nature to this religious Jewish woman whose business was booming not because she marketed herself but because she earned a well-deserved reputation within a community that extended beyond the boroughs.  Sometimes hearsay on reputation pays off, and more importantly, working with a florist that is an expert on throwing Orthodox Jewish Weddings makes life a bit easier when planning a wedding.   

Any questions?  Feel free to contact me.
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Jewish Wedding Ceremony Program: Sample

As with other customs, there are several traditions that take place at an Orthodox Jewish Wedding, yet not all guests at the wedding may know these traditions or have ever been exposed to an Orthodox Jewish Wedding in the past.  To enhance their experience, it is always beneficial to provide a Ceremony Program that includes an explanation of the Orthodox Jewish Wedding traditions.  But writing a Ceremony Program that is both concise and well-rounded can be difficult.  For those of you looking for an Orthodox Jewish Wedding Ceremony Program template, look no farther.  Below is a sample ceremony program template that does a great job describing the symbolism behind traditions in a Jewish Wedding, along with an overview of key features before the wedding ceremony and after.  Since this is a template, personalize it by inserting the groom or bride's name (or other indicated name) in the places that are bracketed.

Jewish Wedding Ceremony Program Template:

Welcome!

Thank you so much for joining us for our wedding. We are very happy that you have come to share our special day with us.  We have prepared this guide to the ceremony and customs of the traditional Jewish wedding to enhance your participation in the celebration.

A wedding reflects a new beginning for the couple, a day likened in significance to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar. As on Yom Kippur, when repentance wipes the slate clean between G-d and humanity, today the couple begins a new phase in their lives. The parallel between Yom Kippur and the wedding day is also reflected in the clothing [groom's name] and [bride's name] wear. As a symbol of purity and forgiveness, they both wear white – [bride's name] in her wedding gown and [groom's name] in a kittel, a robe typically used for prayer on the high holy days.

Kaballat Panim:

Greeting the Chatan & Kallah

On their wedding day, the Chatan and Kallah are treated with special honor, as guests endeavor to fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) of mis’ameach Chatan v’Kallah (gladdening the groom and bride) in the time prior to the ceremony where guests have the opportunity to greet them. While [bride's name] receives guests in one room, [groom's name] sits in a separate room at the chatan’s tisch - literally, the groom’s table.

The Ketubah (Marriage Contract)

At the Chatan’s tisch, the contractual obligations surrounding the marriage are finalized. [Groom's name] accepts the terms of the ketubah (marriage contract), a two-thousand-year-old Aramaic text which obliges [groom's name] to honor, support, and maintain his future wife, [bride's name].  The signing of the ketubah expresses the idea that any declaration of love must be accompanied by both legal obligations and moral commitment.

[Groom's name] formally accepts his obligations by accepting a token physical object (a handkerchief), which [the Rabbi's name] hands him. Two witnesses then sign the ketubah, as required by Jewish law. At the conclusion of the tisch, guests accompany [groom's name] with dancing and singing as he walks to [bride's name] for the bedeken.

Bedeken (Veiling of the Kallah)

The word “bedeken” has two meanings, each originating from a particular episode in Genesis. The first definition for the word is “to check” so that the groom will not find himself in the same predicament as the patriarch Jacob who, after working seven years for Laban to earn Rachel’s hand, was deceived and given Leah instead (Gen. 29:21-25). The second meaning is “to cover” as illustrated in the story of Rebecca who covered herself with a veil when she saw her husband-to-be, Isaac, for the first time (Gen. 24:65).  At the bedeken, [Groom's name] looks at [bride's name] face and confirms that she is his chosen bride and lowers the veil, thus symbolically setting her apart from others.

After the bedeken, guests proceed to the ceremony room and take their seats. 

The Ceremony

Chuppah (Marriage Canopy)

The chuppah is a symbol of the home that [groom's name] and [bride's name] will build together.  All four sides are left open so that the public may be part of the ceremony and as a representation of the tent of Abraham and Sara that was also open on all four sides emphasizing the Jewish value of hospitality towards guests.

The groom and bride are each escorted to the chuppah by their dear parents, [groom's name] by his parents, [groom's parents names], and [bride's name] by her parents, [bride's parents names].  When [bride's name] reaches the chuppah, she circles [groom's name] seven times. There are many explanations for the seven circles.  By circling the Chatan, the Kallah symbolically supplies walls to the chuppah, thereby separating the couple from the rest of society, a private space where only the two of them may enter.  The seven circles also represent each of the days of creation and a link to the seven patriarchs and matriarchs. When [bride's name] has finished circling [groom's name], she stands at his right, in remembrance of the verse, “At my right hand does the queen stand.” (Psalms 45:10). 

The ceremony proper has two parts - Kiddushin (betrothal) and Nissuin (marriage blessings). Each of these components begins with a blessing over a cup of wine, the traditional Jewish mark of joyous ritual.

Kiddushin (Betrothal)

The Mesader Kiddushin (officiating Rabbi), [the rabbi's name], begins the ceremony reciting the Birchat Erusin (betrothal blessings).  Introducing the people being called up for honors will be [name of the person introducing the people].  The first blessing is over a cup of wine and the second blessing expresses gratitude to G-d for allowing the sanctification of the relationship through marriage.  After the blessings, [groom's name] and [bride's name] drink from the cup of wine.

This is followed by the central act of the entire day – the giving and acceptance of the wedding ring. Since marriage in Jewish law is a contract between a husband and wife, it is transacted symbolically with a transfer of an object of worth.  The ring is a solid band of metal with no stones set in it, so that its value may be easily ascertained and to show equality to all.  As a ring has neither a beginning nor an end, it is representative of the cycle of life.

As [groom's name] places the ring onto [bride's name] right forefinger – in the presence of two honored witnesses – he states “Haray aht mikudeshet li b’tabaat zo kidaat Moshe v’Yisrael” -  “Behold you are consecrated to me with this ring in accordance with the law of Moses and Israel.”

In the Garden of Eden, G-d took one of Adam’s ribs (or sides) to create Eve, Adam’s wife. In this way, Adam was no longer complete, having had his rib/side taken from him. The Bible then continues, “Thus a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Thus, in our wedding ceremony, when [groom's name] makes the “Haray Aht” statement, he is acknowledging to [bride's name] that by marrying her he is finally complete.

It is [groom's name] giving and [bride's name] acceptance of the ring that joins them as husband and wife. As soon as [groom's name] places the ring on [bride's name] finger, they are considered legally married according to Jewish law.

Reading of the Ketubah

The ketubah is read aloud in the original Aramaic and repeated in English  It is then given to [bride's name] to keep, confirming her acceptance of its terms. 

Nissuin (Marriage Blessing)

This part of the ceremony consists of Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) recited by a number of honorees.  The Sheva Brachot put the marriage in a historical and spiritual context and thank G-d for: 1) the fruit of the vine, the traditional symbol of joy and sanctity; 2) the creation of the world; 3) the creation of humanity; 4) the wisdom, intelligence, and free will with which every person is endowed; 5) the joy and happiness of Zion; 6) the joy of the bride and groom; and 7) a wish for the couple’s delight, cheer, love, harmony, peace and companionship in their lives together.  After the final blessing over the wine, [groom's name] and [bride's name] drink from the second cup.

The Breaking of the Glass

The service is concluded by the singing of  “Im eskachech Yerushalayim tishkach yimini” - “If I forget Thee Jerusalem, I should lose the power of my right hand”.  [Groom's name] then shatters a glass, symbolizing that even in the midst of our great joy we remember the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (the holy temple in Jerusalem) two thousand years ago.  The breaking of the glass completes the ceremony.

After the Ceremony

Yichud (Togetherness)

Immediately following the ceremony, [groom's name] and [bride's name] will recess to a private room for the period known as yichud.  Two shomrim (guards) are posted at the door and no interruptions are permitted. This allows the couple to break their fast and to savor the first few moments of married life together. After the seclusion, the couple will return shortly to the guests.

Seudat Mitzvah (Wedding Meal)

The mitzvah (commandment) of mis’ameach chatan v’kallah (gladdening the groom and bride) continues at the wedding meal.  As the newlyweds enter the reception room, they are greeted by traditional dancing and singing. In accordance with Jewish tradition, men and women dance in separate circles. It is customary for as many of the guests as possible to dance individually with the bride and groom in the center of their respective circles.  Since it is the spirit of the dancing, not the choreography, that is important, we encourage every guest to join in. More dancing and celebration takes place between courses. Before dessert is served, we recite the Birchat Hamazon (Grace after Meals) and a repetition of the Sheva Brachot (seven blessings). Dessert and more dancing will follow.

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The Ceremony Program then concludes with the Groom and Bride's Procession, listing out the names of family members and / or friends that will be walking down the isle by order of appearance.

Hebrew Wedding Invitation Ideas

Hebrew / English wedding invitations that compete with the crème de la crème of modern wedding invitation designs offered by the elite of wedding invitation venues can be challenging to find, especially at the right price. While there are certainly exclusive places that will customize anything at the “right” price, most wedding invitation venues (that do not cater to the Jewish target) do not offer off-the-shelf Hebrew wedding invitation designs. In fact, they will tell you the challenges if they were to design a Hebrew wedding invitation such as:

• They don’t have a Hebrew translator on staff: You, the customer, will need to find someone to provide the Hebrew typed out and edited.
• Font size will be too small: Font size will be too small to fit on the invitation designs they offer to include both English and Hebrew.
• Your personal symbol cannot be printed on the invitation: While it is traditional for the kallah and chosson to design a symbol that represents their unity as husband and wife (typically, entwined Hebrew letters representing each of their Hebrew names in the form of some design and found on the wedding invitations, benchers, and / or ceremony booklets), the invitation venue may not be able to print your symbol on the invitation unless you provide a high enough quality graphical image.

These were some of the barriers that I experienced when working some of the highest rated wedding invitation venues out there. Thus, the easier route is to find a wedding invitation venue that caters to the Jewish crowd. Unfortunately, their presence on the web may be disappointing, not providing enough wedding invitation samples online to give you the motivation to go visit their store or order a sample. Further, once you visit their store and are shown samples, you may be sifting through hundreds of samples before finding the sleek, modern or unique varieties you had in mind. But being prepared with samples that you can show these venues will help resolve (most) of the challenges you may experience. Here are some Hebrew wedding invitation varieties to consider:

Redcherry Press offers both traditional and contemporary designs:

Cohen Printing and Invitations offers several Hebrew invitation layouts that can be viewed online:

Stephita provides stylish bilingual options:

Invitations Online offers Hebrew invitation designs:

Questions?  Email me or post a Comment.

Bridesmaid Dress Coupon

If you're looking for deals on modest and stylish bridesmaid dresses, look no farther.  I am excited to say that not only is Macy's offering a $25 Off coupon on bridesmaids dresses, some of these dresses are actually affordable and modest / can easily be made more modest.  To learn more about making a dress more modest, click here for ideas.

Take $25 Off Bridesmaid Dresses at Macy's, ends 6/15/11! CODE: BM25
Check out some of Macy's highly rated and affordable bridesmaids dresses that can easily be made more modest:

 Comments?  Feel free to post a comment or email me.

Modest Celebrity Wedding Gowns

When it comes to fashion, it seems celebrities help dictate trend setting, and it is quite refreshing to see some trends that promote modest styles.  One particular trend is celebrities that have opted to sport more modest wedding gowns.  In recent years, celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Kate Hudson, Ivanka Trump, and Nicole Kidman have walked down the aisle showing less skin, leaving a little more mystery for the bedroom.  To date, they are all still married to their respective spouses, and maybe the mystery will continue to keep on giving.

The Perfect Wedding Venue: Wedding Venue Costs in New York & New Jersey

The cost of the wedding venue on top of the cost of kosher catering can make up almost 50% of the total cost of the wedding budget.  The best way to reduce kosher wedding costs is to choose a wedding venue that includes in-house kosher catering at the venue.  But finding the perfect kosher wedding venue and caterer can be slim pickings for those of you desiring to walk outside the cookie-cutter lines of a traditional Jewish wedding venue and stay within budget.  If you are interested in comparing the costs and capacity of a variety of wedding venues across New York and New Jersey I've done the research for you.  All listed venues either allow kosher catering or offer in-house kosher catering.  Cost estimates are for the wedding venue site fees and are a reflection of Winter 2010 rates for a Sunday evening wedding after negotiations.  These tables can best be used for distinguishing between venues that fit within High, Medium and Low Budgets.  Venues that are italicized and bold include the cost of kosher catering within their Venue Cost.

Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown: Royally Modest

As predicted, Kate Middleton’s wedding gown was designed by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton.  A beautifully elegant gown made of ivory and white satin gazar that some have already compared to Grace Kelly’s wedding gown.  The A-Line cut is flattering to Kate’s figure.  The ivory lace overlay that covers her shoulders and arms and sweetheart neckline give the dress a romantic and vintage feel.  The crispness of the folds from the waist down provides a classic and sleek finish to the shape.

Kate’s wedding gown is not quite as dramatic as one could have expected with an Alexander McQueen dress, but  Kate looked stunning as the bride and as her first appearance as Princess Katherine.

The diamond earrings gifted to Kate by her parents are what I believe take the dress to the next level and provides a subtle addition that lifts the dress into a more modern and youthful feel…possibly a reflection of Princess Katherine’s character as a new addition to the Royal Family.

But the day is not over yet, and Kate may be wearing a couple more dresses before the evening ends.