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

There are a few beauty matters that all brides-to-be and her wedding party must attend to when preparing for the big day. Not only is choosing the right dress imperative, so is preparing your skin to look its luminous best for the wedding photos. So get that flawless skin to match your perfect wedding dress, just follow a few of these steps to ensure glowing skin for the big day.

Use Gentle Cleansers & Moisturizers

Be gentle to your skin, especially the few months before the wedding. To prevent any allergic reactions on your skin and face, choose a cleanser and moisturizer matched accordingly to your skin type (i.e., oily, combination, normal, dry, sensitive…) and do not switch to too many different products. Constantly changing your cleansers and moisturizers can be very harsh on your skin and it might prevent you from pin-pointing the exact product responsible for your allergic reaction if you get one. So make sure to be gentle to your skin and wash with a non-abrasive cleanser and moisturize after washing.

Protect Your Face and Skin from the Harsh Sun

Obtaining that perfectly sun-kissed skin color for the wedding day is important, but make sure to protect your face and skin while doing so. Many lines of make up and moisturizers have sunscreen in it and are available at many drug stores and beauty counters. Sunscreen is an essential tool to prevent premature aging, skin cancer, and horrible sun burns. Flaky, dry, and wrinkly skin is really not an attractive look for your wedding day. Stay protected and always have sunscreen ready to re-apply if you are in the sun for a longer period of time.

Exfoliate for Bright and Luminous Skin

Exfoliating can be harsh on your skin, so exfoliate only once or twice a week. The process of exfoliating helps rid your body of dull skin to reveal the new skin cells underneath. Try to regularly exfoliate your skin to maintain a fresh and rejuvenated look. There are special scrubs, brushes, and wash clothes available for exfoliating all parts of your face and body.

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If you’re looking for a wedding dress, don’t forget to stop by Bridal Debut. They’ve been helping brides find their perfect gown for 14 years. They have a great selection of gowns in a wide range of sizes. Plus, they’re not just in Sherwood Park anymore - Bridal Debut’s has opened a second store in South Edmonton.

The South Edmonton location provides the same friendly, no pressure service that Bridal Debut is known for in a smaller, boutique like atmosphere.

The new location caters to brides only (no bridesmaid gowns). They carry designers including Maggie Sottero, Allure, La Sposa, Jai and Alfred Sung. There is also a full time seamstress on staff. It offers a wide range of shoes, headpieces, veils and a large selection of jewellery.

When asked about the Southside location in comparison to the Sherwood Park location, Manager Amy Maier says that even though it is a smaller store, the selection is impressive with a focus on the bride who wants something a little different. “We try to bring in things that are different and trendy but at the same time upholding our standard of impeccable quality and great fit. We also have a wide range of classic styles and gowns to fit every bride’s budget.”

This location offers gowns in sample sizes from 6-28 with styles to suit every body type and a good selection of plus size gowns.

The staff is knowledgeable, helpful and are more than willing to assist brides who don’t know where to start, “We don’t expect brides to know what they want when they walk in the door, it’s our job to help them figure that out and we try to make the entire experience from start to finish as stress free and fun as possible, selecting a wedding gown for your big day should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.” says Maier.

When shopping for a gown at Bridal Debut you are encouraged to take photos and bring people with you to share in the experience but Bridal Debut South recommends you try and limit your group to 2 or 3 as the store is smaller and can get a little crowded especially on Saturdays when the store is it’s busiest. If you have a large group just give them a heads up and they will make every effort to accommodate.

Brides who purchase a gown at either Bridal Debut location receive 10% off all accessories and bridesmaid dresses and the discount is valid at both stores.

Watch for Bridal Debut’s new website (coming soon) and the annual birthday blowout sale at the Sherwood Park location Sunday, July 11th.

For more information including store hours and location information, visit Bridal Debut’s website: www.bridaldebut.com

So you’ve gone online and magazine shopping, starting to prep for your big shopping day. You are going to get THE GOWN. But as you continue your research for the perfect dress you start to see terms you weren’t expecting. Off-white, bright white, diamond, eggshell - what the heck is going on? Relax - we’re here to help. See, wedding gowns come a variety of different ‘whites’, some of them not even white at all. We are here to direct you in picking the best shade for your skin tone.

stark white - this is the brightest and crispest white and looks fabulous on dark skin.

silk, diamond or natural white -  a shade off of stark white but it looks pretty much identical in photos. Most people look good in this colour.

ivory - you have a couple of choices here: ivory is also referred to as eggshell or candlelight. Some ivory dresses have yellow undertones and some are just a toned-down white. Check with the salon on which category your gown falls into.

Champagne - also called rum, this is a white with pink undertones that look nearly white in photos.

Which one is best for you? Know your skin tone and you will know exactly what colour of dress to choose.

fair - yellow/ivories but stay clear of stark whites as this will usually wash you out

medium (with pink undertones) - look for creamier colours

medium (with yellow undertones) - go for diamond white or champagne

dark - lucky bride! Most shades with complement your skin tone, however; stay away from yellow and ivory.

If you’ve found your dream dress but the colour doesn’t look right, ask your bridal salon consultant if it is available in another shade. Bridal shops carry samples but not usually one of each shade in the same dress.

Before you buy, make sure to take the time to try on as many different styles as possible because wedding gowns look very different on a body than they do on the hanger. You want it to be comfortable and your wedding dress should make you feel like the perfect bride. Try to establish some boundaries for yourself when you go shopping. Think about the neckline, sleeves, train type and gown type you are looking for to fit your wedding day.

Most wedding gowns need to be ordered, and this process can take up to six months or more so be sure to take this timeline into account when planning your wedding.

Take along someone who knows your style and whose taste is similar to yours, but you don’t need an entire entourage. One or two people should be fine; otherwise you will get conflicting opinions and this can make your dress shopping experience harrowing rather than enjoyable.

Talk with the shops’ professionals – they can advise of options you might not have thought of. Keep in mind it is easier to take a dress in than let it out if you are planning to lose weight for your wedding day.

Consider the undergarments and shoes when doing your fittings and picking out your wedding dress. Shop with reputable business and ask for referrals from friends and family.

Wedding gown designers use silk, velvet, satin, and lace – to name a few – in their gowns to create unique pieces for the bride. Many gowns have coloured embroidery or sashes for a bright splash of colour on your wedding dress. Silky fabrics with smooth lines and plunging “low” backs bring back memories of the jazz era while chic taffeta is a great fabric choice for the retro bride. For the bride who wants glitz and glamour, sassy sparkles make you the star and romantic lace in graceful folds are perfect for an understated wedding dress.