Jayn Simpson Mother-ofthe-Bride outfit, from Blush Bridal (West Van)

Next to the bride, the next most important female role in the wedding is assigned to the mother of the bride.  She is front and centre during the entire day and will be the focus of much of the day’s attention.  With that in mind, what to wear becomes more than just a simple question for this very important lady.  And, an even greater question is “where do I find it?” 

Since we realize how important finding the perfect mother of the bride dress is, we thought we would take you on a cross country search to help brides and their mothers find that special dress that will make mom shine on the wedding day.  We start our search with mother-of-the-bride dresses in Vancouver; so all you west coast brides and moms, get ready to be inspired!

We’ve chosen this select group of boutiques for their non traditional approach to dressing the mother of the bride by giving her options that are not only modern but also flattering and comfortable.

Frocks-is-Fantastic!

Watters Mother of the Bride dresses, from Frocks Bridesmaids (Vancouver)

For sure… Frocks modern bridesmaids has two stores, one in Vancouver and one in Calgary. But they have more than just bridesmaids – basically they specialise in non-bride dresses So their mother of the bride collection is just excellent:  After Six, Watters, Dessy, Jenny Yoo and much  more..

The Blushing (mother-of-the) Bride!

Blush is basically Vancouver’s top bridal store. Their bridal gown selection is awesome. Their service is out of this world. And their mother-of-the-bride selection is not to shabby either With  Theia, David Meister, Jayn Simpson and Adrianna Papell, “your mom will look and feel her best!”

Venture into the Valley!

What was susprising (or perhaps not!0 is that some of the best selections (and collections!) were to be found in the Fraser Valley – in Abottsford and in Chilliwack. Both Champagne & Lace and Silk & White Satin, impress with the long and thorough brand lists:  Alfred Angelo, Capri, Cameron Blake, Jolene & Jade (by Jasmine Bridal),  HT , Joshua B, Obssessions, Romantic Bridals & Venus - the list goes on and on…

La Novia Bridal is a boutique specializing in wedding gowns, the most valuable and elaborate gown that a woman will own. This allows us to make the glamorous concept of haute couture a reality for women who otherwise would never have dreamed of the opportunity. Our gowns are made from the highest quality fabrics including shuntung silk, silk brocade, silk charmeuse and the most beautiful laces available. La Novia dresses are designed and created by elite local designer Jason Matlo. Matlo’s designs combine the most exquisite fabric, detailing, and structure. With his experienced seamstresses working at his atelier, Matlo has specialized couturier training which is very unique ability that is difficult to find in Vancouver. La Novia Bridal specializes in dresses from Matlo’s 2010 Bridal couture collection as well as designs created exclusively for our boutique. These high quality gowns are be inspired by high fashion, 1940’s haute couture, and the fusion of a variety of cultures. They are available to try on in a sample size and will be altered to fit the bride’s body perfectly.

A La Novia Bridal dress created by Jason Matlo

Haute couture garments are premium priced due to high quality fabric and the hours of labor it takes to produce each garment. Wedding dresses are created with these same types of fabrics and in this same painstakingly manner. In the height of the 1940’s, haute couture was considered a lifestyle reserved for high society and royalty women. Due to the elite form of design and price of the haute couture garment, only the world’s richest and upper class women could afford to wear the gorgeous fashions prepared by the master tailors of the day. Today, haute couture collections are being favoured by pret-a-porter and ready-to-wear collections that appeal to the average person, however a bride’s wedding day provides a unique opportunity for something more exquisite. La Novia Bridal strives to give fashion forward brides the opportunity that otherwise most women would not get to wear such an special garment, to make a social statement of taste and style for one special day and to wear a unique design being created right here by Jason Matlo, one of the top Canada’s top designers.

The mainstream popularity of haute couture has faded since the 1940’s and 50’s, but the legacy of artistry and craftsmanship still thrives in the remaining fashion houses of Paris and haute couture still has a strong influence and provides inspiration to designers across the world. La Novia Bridal will continue to be inspired, not only by current haute couture, but also by the elaborate creations from decades gone by. Haute couture is not just a garment, it is a piece of art and La Novia Bridal has created a boutique that is both a bridal fashion and art gallery to celebrate the creation of bridal haute couture in Vancouver and provide brides with an opportunity for the true couture experience.

Come visit the newly opened boutique to see these and many more of Vancouver’s highest quality bridal gowns. Click here for location information.

Alfred Sung –  Pure style #5236

Bridal fashions are constantly changing.  With every new season and new year, we see lots of differences in gowns, fabrics, accessories etc. 

For us here in the true north, a multitude of new canadian wedding ideas hits our runways just as often as they hit New York or Europe and with a great many prominent Canadian designers, we are just as modern and up to date as any of our counterparts.  

When one shoulder dresses became a fashion mainstay; our  gowns were in the forefront with many fabric and style options to satisfy most tastes and body types. 

Just as purple was hitting New York’s fashion week as the colour for winter 2010, our designers were already showcasing their bridesmaids dresses complete with purple and other rich jewel tone colour options.

When searching for the perfect bridal gown, you really have to go no further than to Canada’s own.  Alfred Sung, Sandra Sung and a slew of other hot designers having been making a name for Canada as a fashion leader for years.  Take some time during your search to try some local favourites and find out for yourself what the world already knows…Canada’s bridal fashion is hot and worth considering. 

Whether you are planning a beach destination wedding, a backyard affair, a cocktail party or a formal evening, you will not be disappointed in what can be created right here at home, not to mention, it’s so much easier on our bank book to shop locally.

When looking for a wedding dress, most of the fun is in the search but when you also make a point of looking at Canadian dresses, the search becomes not only fun but also meaningful.  Enjoy

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www.zimbio.com

Ask any typical bride about what she is looking for in a bridal gown and you’ll probably get a very similar response:  a designer dress.  Well, while “designer” anything is very popular, it is also very expensive and in today’s sensitive economic environment, it isn’t necessary a viable choice.

So, what does a typical Canadian bride do if she wants the designer label without the designer price?  She does what many of her fellow brides are doing these days, she visits the wedding classifieds for Canada and finds exactly what she wants without breaking anyone’s bank.

For many, using the classifieds is not a very glamorous method for finding your wedding dress but in reality, a used wedding dress has only been worn for a few hours once; so why wouldn’t it be a good idea to buy it at a fraction of its original price and reuse it?  One good clean and possibly an alteration or two to get the fit right and away you go!

For any bride but especially for those on a budget, finding a spectacular dress that normally would cost anywhere from $2000 and up for only $500 is a steal!  Just for visiting a few of the most popular “classifieds”  sites, you could potentially walk away with a designer gown at a bargain price!  Very cool and very chic!  And what’s best of all, no one needs to know where you did your shopping.  All they know is that you are wearing one phenomenal dress… 

In order to find these great deals you have to do a little research.  Pretty much all the big classifieds sites have a designated wedding section.  For example, www.ebay.ca, www.craigslist.org, www.kijiji.ca are excellent choices.  The only thing here is that you have to go from one site to the other to compare all the various items available.  Another excellent option is bride.ca.  Here you can visit all the big sites in one consolidated version.

Going to a recycled or used garment for your wedding is no longer considered taboo or cheap.  Since being frugal trumps all previous misconceptions, using a classifieds site to find your outfit is actually  in style and oh so 2010!

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Every bride knows that finding the right dress and the right shoes and the right veil are only one part of the equation and that no bridal attire is complete until you find that perfect wedding hairstyle.  And just like bridal fashions change with every season so do the hairstyles that go with them.

In 2010 for example, we can expect to see the return of the classic wedding hairstyle with a few fresh twists.  On the menu this year, we see the classic bun return along with the traditional up do.  What makes both of these looks fresh for the new season is actually their 50′s and 60′s retro style.  We are even seeing a reappearance of the 60′s favourite, the beehive.  Although these styles were very popular years ago, wearing them now makes your look retro, which in turn is very hot.

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In keeping with the retro feel of the day, how about a little chignon for your wedding day?  This popular ’40′s inspired look is very in.  It is timeless and elegant and the right dress should enhance this feeling.    

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Another very fresh approach to bridal hair is to wear your hair in a very loose and sexy manner.  For example, a messy up do or long way curls are both going to be very in for 2010.  Couple them with a straight, strapless number and you are in business!  Please note, both these styles look great on their own and really should not be worn with a veil unless it is inconspicuous and doesn’t take away from the hair.

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As with every year, we see some favourites return time and again, simply because they seem to work with most dress styles and with most faces.  One such hairstyle is the half up half down.  This style is fantastic with a veil and can be worn with most wedding dresses, traditional or modern. 

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When it comes down to choosing the right hairstyle for your wedding, there are a few key elements to consider.  First and foremost, it must suit your face.  Secondly, it should match your dress and lastly it should determine whether or not you wear a veil.  Choosing the right hairstyle is more than just a quick trip to your hair salon, it takes some research and some experimenting before deciding on this all important aspect of your bridal attire. 

A combination of asymmetrical ruching, bubble hems, pickups, and puddles make for a series of wedding styles that steal the show from head to toe.

All the most popular 2010 wedding fashion trends, like embellishments such as lace, embroidery, Swarovski crystals, and beading are also scattered throughout Allure’s collection to ensure that the bride is most memorable on her big day.

Style: 8677

The wrapped, fitted bodice of this satin-backed taffeta style lends a perfect contrast to the skirt and train’s asymmetrical ruching and bubble hem.

Style: 8675

Long pleats flowing from the cinched waist on this wedding gown gather at the floor in a dramatic bubble hemmed train.

Style: 8672

The lace overlay on this dress extends to the perfectly pretty train, which puddles at the floor.

Style: 8669

The ball gown skirt on this gown uses plenty of pickups to create a sea of soft, romantic ripples that extend to the train. The train is also hemmed with tiny crystals for added sparkle.

Family and friends at your wedding will want to see your ring; and there will certainly be some photographs taken of your hands close up. For this reason, you want to your nails to look as good as they possible can. Heading to the nail salon in the days before your wedding is one way to make sure that you’ve got perfectly manicured hands, but don’t think you have to follow any certain set of rules when it comes to your wedding day nails.

Beautifully manicured nails with a bit of color can make an elegant impression. Here’s how to choose a color that’s right for your skin tone, regardless of the color of your dress.

Fair skinned brides tend to look best in lighter shades of nail polish to begin with. Neutral shades of nail polish with pink undertones are ideal for the bride. If you are fair skinned and want nails that pop for your wedding, you could opt for subtle or vivid. Subtle could be a French manicure with a strip of silver or gold beneath the white tip. Vibrant wedding nails for the fair skinned bride could be polished a bold red with blue undertones.

Those with olive toned skin look gorgeous in warm hues of gold and shades of sheer brown or beige. Painting your nails in polish with gold or gold undertones, your olive skin is sure to be complimented. You can paint nails red, as long as there are not yellow or green undertones in the color.

Dark skinned brides are the lucky ones when it comes to their wedding day manicure. Darker skin is complimented by a wide range of nail polish colors, including reds and even shades of purple. Even against a white or cream colored dress, dark or vibrant nails will stand out beautifully against dark skin.

Now, one hue that is said to look good on all skin types is a shade of apricot or coral. Opi is one brand of nail polish that is used by professionals in shops across the states, mainly because of the myriad of color options. If you are interested in trying a shade of coral for your wedding day, check out the selection of Opi colors at your nearest salon or beauty supply store.

Brides who want to stay with a mild look on their hands for their big day can opt for a sheer color or a traditional French manicure, while going a little wild on the toes. However, keep in mind that if you go bold on the toes, you should either wear the same color on your hands or wear a neutral shade up top. Two bold colors on your wedding day may be a bit much to stare at.

Chances are, you have had enough experience with nail polish to know what you like and what you don’t. Go with your gut and you’ll be happy.

Source: this article has been submitted by MyDreamWedding.ca, a wedding blog dedicated to highly interesting posts and articles and a free online wedding magazine about unique bridal accessories.

Besides a bounty of vintage-looking lace, beading, and embroidery, this year’s collection also includes a number of other ravishing retro features.

For example, the “crumb catcher” style, a neckline look created by hand using a special pleating technique – not unlike origami with fabric! It is a simple wedding dress that also manages to look glam!

Style Number 2334 from Eden Bridals.

The gathered fabric that is the hallmark of the crumb catcher also gives the bust-line an extra boost, creating a fully-feminine figure.

Eden Bridals is also heralding a huge comeback for the peplum skirt – a “mini skirt” style that overlays a more fitted skirt. Peplum skirts first became popular in the 1940s before making a comeback in the 1980s.

Style Number 2328 from Eden Bridals

The peplum, bodice and hem of this Eden Bridals design are all adorned with hand beading and corded lace.

We also like the intricate, ornate designs featured on many of Eden Bridals’ other wedding dresses, such as this strapless style with beaded champagne lace overlay and a tiered skirt.

Style Number 2259 from Eden Bridals

Their website also features photos of the backs of each of their gowns — some are corseted lace-ups, others are low v-backs, and there’s even some bustles in the mix.

This gown, “The Sofia” is just a sample of La Chatuise’s designer dresses. In the front, it’s got a fully-feminine bow at the bust and a sparkly pink sash at the waist – the perfect design for the bride who wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day.

If you’re not into poufy and pink, they’ve also got slinky silhouettes, mermaid skirts, and a diverse range of other designs for the bride-to-be.

Going shopping as a group for bridesmaids dresses can be a fun experience which builds excitement for the wedding – or, it can be a painful experience if mis-communication and disorganization abound. So what’s the best way to go about this sometimes-tenuous wedding task?

If you’re a bride-to-be, the easiest approach to mobilizing your maids for dress shopping is to communicate first and foremost before hitting the stores. This includes discussing budgets with your bridesmaids to ensure you’re all on the same page regarding the price range of the dresses and accessories, and who will pay for them. That way, there will be no surprises or awkward embarrassment when you come closer to making the purchases.

The bride-to-be should also get as organized as possible before the actual outing. This includes surfing the net to find some options with the right colour, style, size, and price. If you find something online from a local retailer’s website, call them in advance to make sure they have the those items in stock and in the approximate sizes before you head out with your bridesmaids.