Now that you’re engaged, don’t be surprised if your mom pulls out a dusty box from storage with her old wedding dress in it to reminisce.

When you’re styling your bridal gown, keep this saying in mind: “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue.” Finding something new, something borrowed and something blue is the easy part; but finding something old can be a little trickier.

Brides are putting a modern spin on this trend by incorporating either their mom’s and/or grandmother’s wedding dress into your dress.

It is the perfect something old to complete your wedding gown. You don’t need to use the whole dress but, if your mom and/or grandmother are comfortable with you cutting up their gowns, use pieces from their dresses and sew them onto your gown/ veil in a creative way. Use a piece of lace, an embellishment and/or fabric from their dress and make it your own. Even if you would rather not add it in your gown you could tie it into your wedding bouquet, use it as a hair piece or as a handkerchief. Now your modern look will have an heirloom twist!

Inspired by this wedding ritual, Malene Grotrian Design helps brides to restore their mom’s or grand’s wedding dress and turn it into a modern couture wedding for the new bride-to-be. Each vintage dress is altered to each bride’s exact desires to create the wedding dress they’ve always dreamed of. Malene has brought a fresh and new approach to a beautiful tradition.

Not only are Malene Grotrian’s brides walking towards their groom wearing the gown of their dreams; they also have something that is both old and new - a wedding dress that is truly special. The beauty of Malene’s art is that the special memories of the past and present will carry on for another lifetime through each wedding.

Resources used:
http://www.somethingoldsomethingnew.co.uk/

If your groom decides to purchase rather than rent, then the sky is the limit when it comes to buying a tuxedo or suit. From wild cuts and fabrics to the classic black one button, anything is possible.

There are many variables to consider when choosing a suit: time of day, location of event, themes, etc. Discuss what you both want (and what you don’t want). Your personal tastes will come into play when choosing the attire for the big day.

Suits in particular have gained a lot of attention recently. From Fashion Television to GQ, everyone is excited about the various ways to dress up and dress down a great fitting suit for any occasion. There seems to be no better time to buy than now, but remember to choose wisely when purchasing a formal outfit or suit.

Since formalwear is not a typical daily outfit, most people want to purchase something that will last them at least eight to ten years. Most formalwear specialists will recommend opting for a more classic design to get the most out of your purchase.

From neckties, bowties, cummerbunds, and cufflinks, there seems to be a never-ending selection of accessories that men can choose from. Experiment with your accessories, shop for the occasion, and don’t be afraid to break free from your usual conservative style.

Another option is to pair a classic, basic colored suit with a dressy shirt and accessories. Opting for a suit rather than a tuxedo is a practical choice as you can get a lot more wear out of both the pants and blazer of your suit. Once the big day is over, you won’t need to hang your suit in the back of your closet. Simply pair up dark denim with your suit blazer and you will be set for a casual dinner or outing. So be creative in putting together different outfits with your suit pieces. Opt for suits like Ted Baker’s Passion Kier and Worlds suits (first two suits above) which are great for versatility and easily able to be dressed up or down.

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We’ve heard the same story time and time again, you’ve been with your significant other for years and now you’re scared that he will never ask that four-word question you’ve been dying to hear for so long. If you’ve been dating for a while and you two are clearly right for each other, you need to figure out what is holding him back and help him to see that you are The One.

Fear of commitment can definitely hold a guy back from settling down. It isn’t that he doesn’t love you, but that he is afraid that as soon as he settles down, he will meet the “perfect” women and regret his decision to get married. The best thing to do is give him time and avoid pressuring him. You don’t want to push him even further from the idea of marriage by making him feel you are trying to force him to marry you. Try to be understanding of his fear, but also let him know that it’s not realistic and fair of him to make you wait forever. One healthy way to do this is to just be yourself – be the woman he fell in love with. This should help him see that you are his “perfect” woman.

Many people hate or fear change as its affects can be so unpredictable. This applies to marriage too -some men really fear the changes that will come with life after marriage. He might feel like he’ll lose time with his friends and family after he ties the knot. If the two of you spend everyday together, try giving him more space and freedom to spend time with his family and friends. Help him too see that marriage will not rob him of the time he needs to explore his interests and spend time with his friends.

Aside from a fear of commitment, there is an opposite force at play too in some cases. A sense of chivalry. Even in today’s modern society, men still instinctively feel the need to provide and care for their wives and families. He might still be looking for his dream job, and may not think it would be fair to marry you just yet. However, if you know that with all his passion, intelligence, and skills there is nothing that will prevent him in securing his dream job, show him that you are in for the long haul, and that you want to work with him to overcome any of the obstacles that might get in the way. Let him to see that working with you to mold the future you both dream of will make the life you’ve created with each other so much more meaningful.

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One trendy post processing technique is called Texturing. The key to texturing is picking the right type of textures, and the right combination to give the photo a special feel.

Boe Lefebvre, of Pokedog Photography, utilizes a variety of techniques. For example, he says:

"I might overlay an image of a scuffed up cement wall to give the image depth, and then add a vivid image of green grass for color, and finally a blurred image of bright street lights to vary the tone and exposure. There can be millions of combinations and unlimited layers created to craft a work of fine art that a wedding couple could have printed on canvas to hang on their wall as a conversation piece, without feeling the need to pull it down after the one year anniversary."

www.pokedog.com

When choosing a ring, it is wise to consider what type of wedding band you will wear. Is it part of a matching set? Will you wear it alone? It is important to consider all these factors. Today some brides choose to wear only a wedding band. Most grooms all wear a wedding band. Whatever your choice make sure you’ve done your homework before making this big purchase. It is best to know when purchasing a ring the “Four C’s” Cut, Carat, Colour, and Clarity. In Ring Bling Part 1 Cut and Colour were defined. Here are the following two

Clarity:

• Is the most impressive quality of all.
• The more irregularities there are, the lower the value of the diamond.
• A flawless diamond must show no surface blemishes or interior inclusions when examined at a 10-power magnification.

Carat:

• The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats.
• The weight of a diamond is the most important factor when determining its value - however, a smaller carat diamond with better colour, clarity or cut can easily cost more than a larger carat diamond.

Most importantly, your ring’s cut, setting and stone should all be a reflection of your own tastes, opinions and backgrounds.

Sharpen your sparkler know how before making the big decision!