Fairy Godmother
“Someday, when I’m awfully low, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight.”
~”My Best Friend’s Wedding”
Choosing a veil can seem like a very daunting task if you don’t know what you’re looking for. One-tiered or two? How long? Beaded, ribboned, or unembellished? The wearing of the bridal veil dates back to the days of Ancient Rome, and though its style and cultural meaning has changed over time, it continues to create an overall aesthetic that is both feminine and elegant.
Of course, the style of your gown is also important when selecting a veil. Styles are now available that have crystals and pearls worked into the tips, which tie in beautifully with gowns with lots of beaded embellishment. For a lace gown, try to find a simple veil, or one edged in a lace with a similar pattern to your gown. There is no one style of veil that suits all gowns. There are many different styles, and each results in a different effect when paired with your dress.
Elbow-length veils are the most popular in bridal fashion. Their length highlights any embellishment at or around the waist of the gown, and is ideally paired with a gown without a train. This style looks best with full-skirted gowns, especially in princess style, and is mostly used for formal and semi-formal weddings. This veil is a good choice for taller brides. Women who are shorter in stature should avoid this style because it hits right at the waist and does not compliment their height.
A fingertip-length veil is long enough that the end of it rests at the bride’s fingertips when her arms are relaxed at her sides. It is best worn with full-length gowns, and is not recommended for dresses with trains. Like the elbow-length veil, this style is ideal for formal and semi-formal weddings, and is not advisable for the shorter bride.
A chapel or sweep-style veil is more formal, and drapes all the way down to the floor. As it is more voluminous, it is best suited with a mermaid or column-style gown, or something with a cathedral-length train, and can be paired with a blusher. For convenience, brides who favour this style may want to order this veil so that it is detachable and can be removed before the reception.
A cathedral veil is the most formal style. Often called a “royal” veil, it is ideal for a grand church entrance. Approximately 126” in length, it is most suitably paired with a gown that has a cathedral train. This veil extends at least six inches past the train for a very dramatic look. Like the chapel veil, it looks best with a gown that is slimmer fitting, as this particular style can be paired with a blusher and has up to three layers. If you want to pair this style with a fuller skirt, try using only the single layer of tulle to avoid looking like a frosted cupcake. Keep in mind that this style can be difficult to maneuver in, and brides may consider finding a style that is detachable so they can take it off before the reception.
A mantilla veil is an oval-shaped veil, and is either made from lace or lace-edged tulle. This is an alternative option to the more formal and traditional veils, and is best for formal or semi-formal weddings. Mantilla veils usually range in length from elbow- to calf-length, and when paired with a smoother hairstyle, a timeless and elegant look is achieved.
For a more informal, playful look, try a birdcage veil. It’s perfectly suited for creating a more classic look reminiscent of the 1940’s and -50’s. This particular style has been very popular over the last few years, and is characterized by a stiffened layer of loose-weave French net, fastened to a small hat or hairpiece. Ideal for short hairstyles, it fits close to the face, and is usually just long enough to brush the chin. However, different looks can be created depending on where the veil is pinned. For a flirtatious look that covers only the eyes, secure the veil towards the back of the head.
For those brides who really do not want the fuss of a veil, try working sparkling bands and clips worked into your hairstyle. Jeweled and feathered combs can be secured at any angle to compliment an up-do, or be paired with long, loose hair for a sleek and elegant appearance. For the outdoor or destination wedding, fresh flowers create a look that is both natural and romantic.
Make sure to bring a friend with you who can help you examine all of your options. That way, you are sure to find a style that that not only flatters the shape of your face, but also compliments your chosen gown. Have fun trying different styles and veils, and comparing the looks. Every choice you make takes you closer to that moment when you take that long-awaited walk down the aisle and into his arms.
Yarrow Elfshimmer
1) Having a wedding planner will save you time, giving you a chance to be inspired and creative.
2) Wedding planners are always looking for new ideas and researching to find all the new wedding trends. Our knowledge is at your fingertips, let us be creative with you!
3) Wedding planners have contacts in the industry that we deal with on a continuous basis. Not only are we confident in their work but we also get discounts from most vendors as well, making it easy to find exactly what you are looking for while staying in your budget!
4) The stress of a wedding is not exclusive to the couple. Family and friends often take on so much responsibility that they are not fully able to enjoy special moments. Wedding planners take on this responsibility so you and your loved ones can enjoy your big day.
5) Nothing is more beautiful than a relaxed bride!
Abride Within Wedding Planners would be honoured to help plan your wedding. With our passion and your vision we promise your wedding will be THE wedding!
Shannon & Jaime
Abride Within, Wedding Planners
Visit Abride Within’s Website
Thorn Yewtree
Enter to Win!
It all started last July when Reed Palmer, the owner and designer of Soleil Shoe Company , attended a wedding. He saw the bride and bridesmaid had kicked off their heels and were all dancing barefoot at the reception. Dancing barefoot in dresses that cost hundreds of dollars! 
He thought to himself “there has to be a more practical and fashionable solution.” He designed a ballet flat that can roll or fold to fit into your clutch or purse for those all too common occasions when your feet have just had enough of those painful heels. Each pair of shoes comes in a designer gift box with a tote for your heels - how perfect is that! Comfortable, fashionable flats for you and your bridesmaids. These awesome flats make great bridal gifts!
Bridal Fantasy Sweepstakes has teamed up with Soleil Shoe Company to offer 3 prize packages to our lucky brides-to-be. Package one is a set of four (4) Soleil Shoes - one for the bride and up to three bridesmaids. Each of the girls will receive their very own pair. Two more brides-to-be will each receive their own pair of these fashionable flats. Head over to the sweepstakes page at BridalFantasy.com to enter now for your chance to win!
Yarrow Elfshimmer
We’ve all been there, sitting at a beautiful wedding ceremony when the music stops and there is “dead air”. The CD or MP3 recording has stopped and the bridesmaid is not quite down the aisle. Instantly, the romantic atmosphere of the entire ceremony is in jeopardy. Live musicians ensure that this won’t happen to you. Your music will be seamless, uninterrupted and totally unique to you on your dream day. Live musicians can also enhance your cocktail hour by entertaining your guests with some of your favourite tunes.
Think about the ways that you can personalize your wedding with live music. You can choose music unique to your style and have it played in a manner that suits the atmosphere of your wedding day. Musical selections can be tailored in length and tempo for the various components of your wedding. There will be no awkward silences or stunted endings. You can choose the instrument or ensemble that best reflects your personality. A hot trend for weddings this summer will be elegant piano music that will up the romantic ambience of your day.
Wishing you a wedding with unforgettable music and moments,
Laurie & Barb, Occasional Notes, www.occasionalnotes.net
Columbine Rainbowwand
With just one day until Valentine’s Day, one question is on all of our minds: what to get that special someone? Chocolate just doesn’t seem to be enough, and jewellery can be pricy. Flowers are a perennial favourite that suit every taste, budget, and occasion.
Giving flowers to a loved one is a tradition that is revered around the world, and of course one of the most common reasons to give flowers is to express feelings of romantic love. No special event, whether it is a wedding, prom, or Valentine’s Day, would be complete without them.
Roses are a romantic classic, and are available in different colors throughout the year, but there are many other kinds of flowers that be combined to create a unique and heartfelt message from you to your loved one. Elegant lilies, an eternal symbol of beauty, can be presented in a bouquet, or alone for a more simple approach that is no less romantic. Irises, orchids and painted tulips can bring a burst of color to snowy February, and their elegant shape will be a highlight in any home. For those with simpler tastes, carnations and daisies are perfectly charming and are available all year round.
The colour of the flowers that you choose is just as important as the type of flowers, as each colour has its own special meaning. White flowers are a unique choice for Valentine’s day. They symbolize purity, innocence, and hope, and a perfect for a new relationship. Red flowers, particularly roses, are a Valentine’s classic, as they represent love, passion, and desire. Pink is playful and romantic, ideal for the young couple as well as the young-at-heart. Sunny yellow is for friendship and joy, more suitable for friends and family than for lovers, and for those wanting to turn that friendly relationship into something more, yellow flowers with red tips are the perfect gift. Purple or lavender flowers are a sign of devotion and enchantment, and are usually associated with long-lasting romance. Blue flowers are a unique choice, and are a symbol of trust and stability. However, they can difficult to find, especially in the winter.
Hand-selected combinations of these are a wonderful choice, creating something beautiful and unique that suits your beloved’s taste as well as your own budget. Another option is to select a single bloom tied with a ribbon, or floating in a decorative glass bowl with colored stones at the bottom.
For the expert opinion, consult your florist about what arrangements suit your taste and budget. Edmonton is home to many great florists including Heathers Grower Direct, La Piazza Dasee Flower Market, Heather de Kok Floral Design, Kuhlmann’s Floral Boutique, and The Wild Orchid. Flower Fusion of Calgary is another great choice for affordable flowers. Or for one-stop Valentine’s gift shopping, Opal’s Flowers and Balloons designs custom arrangements and gifts to fit every price point.
Feather Elfwand
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so why not pick up something for your sweetheart that’s sure to make them melt? Chocolate is always a classic when it comes to gift-giving, appealing to the sweet-tooth of men and women the world over.
Though originally bitter in taste, chocolate can be tempered and mixed with a variety of flavours to create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth treat that is enjoyable to every palate, as well as shaped and decorated to create something that is aesthetically pleasing as well as delicious.
Calgary’s Manon’s and Leonidas Belgian chocolates are a great choice for the chocolate connoisseur in us all, and one can never go wrong with The Newget Kompany of Edmonton’s organic chocolate treats. For those who are looking for something a little more elaborate, Edmonton’s The Art of Cake creates custom cakes embellished with fun and elegant pieces made entirely of chocolate. For a truly unique dining experience, try The Melting Pot, an intimate and interactive restaurant that offers a memorable four-course fondue dining experience — the dessert portion of which is, of course, mouth-watering chocolate fondue — opening in Edmonton in March of 2010.
Aside from its rumoured properties, chocolate has many other uses that one would never expect. In the eighteenth century, it was believed that chocolate could be used to prevent or cure stomach aches. Also, it has been proven that cocoa butter contains antioxidants, making it very good for the complexion, and for those who complain about sweets being bad for your teeth, studies have shown that chocolates is better even than fluoride for preventing cavities.
As it is available for all budgets, chocolate is considered one of the simplest of gifts. However, that was not always so. It was once reserved only for royalty and for religious events, remaining a high-status delicacy until the nineteenth century. Now it is associated with romance and sensuality, and it is said that the famed lover Casanova preferred chocolate over champagne as an aphrodisiac, though studies on whether chocolate truly possesses such qualities were never conclusive.
Romance is about creating a special feeling with your surroundings. It is about love and intimacy and bringing pleasure to your partner in a way that does not have to be sexual in nature. A sweet kiss as a greeting, or a gently hug from behind, a little bit goes a long way. Chocolate is a food that is perfect for creating romance. Its soft, sensual texture melts on the tongue, and it provides the perfect opportunity for the intimacy of sharing this treat with your partner by hand.
So this Valentine’s Day, get some chocolate, arrange for some time alone and give you and your partner a treat for all the senses.
Columbine Rainbowwand
As Valentine’s draws near, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to do this year to make your special someone feel, well, special. A tasty homemade meal is a tried and true way to get to anyone’s heart.
The Wisewoman’s Cookery: Food, Sex, Magic & Merriment, by Shannon Loeber and Mary Elise Edwards, has an abundance of great tasting recipes, including “Amorous PIzza.” Plus much more. Wisewoman’s Cookery shows you how to conjure intimate loving through food and manifest magic in the kitchen to increase fulfillment of life and sex — real sex, not just romantic dinners.
Amorous Pizza
Add 1 clove of chopped garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano into 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Let marinate while you prepare the pizza.
For a quick and easy solution to the pizza crust, buy premade frozen bread dough; we find it’s quick and affordable and has that homemade taste that makes this pizza special. Let the bread thaw out on a plate. One loaf makes one 12 inch pizza. Sprinkle flour onto a clean, dry counter. Roll the bread dough onto the flour, completely covering it. Place the dough into an ungreased baking pan (either a pizza pan or a cookie sheet). Knead (punch, to get the air out) and stretch the dough into a flat pizza crust.
Now paint the crust with a thin coat of the marinated oil. Cover with 2 cups of thinly sliced mozzarella cheese. Add sweet onion, garlic, potato, sweet potato, salt and black pepper. Bake at 400 degrees until the crust is golden brown.
Visit http://www.wisewomanscookery.com/ for more inspiration.
Columbine Rainbowwand
What a wonderful time! Both Calgary and Edmonton Bridal Fantasy were huge successes - thanks to everyone who came out to the show :)
Melanie Sinneave, our Calgary Fantasy Wedding Package grand prize winner (groom-to-be is Steve McDonald) is shown here with her mom (right) and Gay Derk (left), the owner and producer of Bridal Fantasy. Her prizes include a 7-day honeymoon trip to Barbados courtesy of AMA Travel, a $2500 wedding gown from Bells & Bows Bridal Centre, a $5000 wedding planning package from Tying the Knot and so much more! Congrats to Melanie and Steve.
Our Edmonton Fantasy Wedding Package grand prize winners are Lindsay Friedley and Mario Audette. Lindsay is standing with Gay Derk, owner and producer of Bridal Fantasy. Lindsay and Steve also won a 7-day honeymoon trip to Barbados, courtesy of Farlie Travel, along with an Ultimate Wedding Package from HBC National Gift Registry, a ‘Rock Your Reception’ package from PremiereDJS.ca and tons more! Lindsay and Mario, congratulations and happy planning.
We would also like to say congratulations to all of the door prizes winners for both shows. Head over to www.bridalfantasy.com and look under ‘Bridal Shows’ to see all of the winners’ names.
We also did the draw for the Volvo c30 at Bridal Fantasy Edmonton on the 24th. Mark Reynolds of Edmonton was the lucky winner! Mark is here with his fiance Terri-Lynne (right) and Pauline Haviland from Volvo of Edmonton.
Fairy Godmother
Bridal Fantasy is the leading one-day bridal show in Western Canada. With shows in Edmonton and Calgary , brides are sure to find everything they need for planning their special day. With an amazing professionally choreographed bridal fashion show, and an eclectic mix of exhibitors, brides and grooms can have all their wedding day questions answered.
Plus you can win Fantastic Prizes - Like a Volvo c30 courtesy of Volvo of Edmonton, and so much more! Enter Our Sweepstakes Draw Here.
You can win this Volvo c30 outright - this is NOT a lease - $33,000 Value
Features like destination wear, flowers , and formalwear for the groom will make this an amazing wedding event no bride will want to miss. With everything from supplies to wedding venues, photographers to cake artists , there’s something for every bride at Bridal Fantasy!
Bridal Fantasy is an amazing way to find out all the unique and accommodating options available for brides. We invite you to shop around and enjoy all the free samples and luxuries provided at our bridal show. Don’t miss out on the coupons, specials and prizes that will help you cover your costs and stick to your budget. See you soon!
Calgary Bridal Fantasy - January 17, 2010 at the TELUS Convention Centre
$100 000 In Prizes and Gifts
Morning show: Doors open at 10:30 am, fashion show at 12:30 pm
Afternoon show: Doors open at 1:30 pm, fashion show at 3:00 pm
Buy Tickets Now
View our Calgary Exhibitors List Here
FEATURED CALGARY PRIZES:
Come to the Show and You Could Win Fabulous Prizes including the Fantasy Wedding Package which includes a 7-day honeymoon trip to Barbados! (courtesy of AMA Travel, Almond Beach Resort, WestJet and the Barbados Tourism Authority)
Other prizes include:
- A Seven Day All Inclusive Honeymoon Trip to Jamaica’s Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa, Courtesy of the Jamaica Tourist Board and Sunset Resorts Jamaica
- A $5000 Wedding Planning Package from Tying The Knot
- A JenniferScott Custom Bridal Gown
- $2500 Wedding Gown Courtesy of Bells & Bows Bridal Centre
- A Two Hour Engagement Session with Hair, Makeup & Styling from Deans Pictures Weddings
- A Two Night Bed & Breakfast package at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Edmonton Bridal Fantasy - January 24, 2010Â at Northlands
$150 000 in Prizes & Gifts
Morning show: Doors open at 9:30 am, fashion show at 11:30 am
Afternoon show: Doors open at 1:30 pm, fashion show at 3:00 pm
Buy Tickets Now
View our Edmonton Exhibitor List Here
FEATURED EDMONTON PRIZES:
Come down to the show and you could win tons of great prizes, like the Fantasy Wedding package, which includes a romantic honeymoon trip to Barbados! (courtesy of Farlie Travel and the Barbados Tourism Authority)
- A Pampering Session (manicure, pedicure, haircut, massage and wax) from In Motion Style Group
- A JenniferScott Custom Bridal Gown
- A $500 Gift Certificate from Kuhlmann’s Floral Boutique
- A Bridesmaid Package from Wedding World Bridal
Bridal Fantasy 2010 Magazine Now out - Free issue for every bride at the show*
Tickets for both shows are only $20 each (this includes GST) and all brides receive a FREE copy of the newest issue of Bridal Fantasy Magazine ($6.95 value) and the Bridal Fantasy Wedding Planner & Survival Guide ($14.95 value) while supplies last. Don’t miss out on the coupons, specials and prizes that will help you cover your costs and stick to your budget. See you soon!
*While supplies last.
Fairy Godmother
On gowns… top three:
The fabulous, elegant ball gown is making a comeback for this next bridal season.
On the other side, we are still seeing the body-hugging silhouette, great for a girl with a fab figure.
Fifties-style glamour is back in with its full-out Hollywood style and glamour. Big bows, belted waistlines and the absolutely stunning couture you see in “Mad Men”.
