By Georgina Clatworthy

Black & white is possibly one of the favorite wedding color schemes of all time.  It oozes sophistication & elegance & is very easy to put together.

I have put together two black & white schemes to inspire you.  The first is a vintage style scheme & the second a modern, contemporary scheme.

Vintage Black & White

This scheme relies upon the use of heavy patterns such as toiles, damasks & florals.  It is feminine but not overly so, so it should please the groom as well!

This scheme would fit many different styles of venue & wedding styles.  You can dress it up for a formal wedding or tone it down for a more casual affair.

Dress your bridesmaids in dresses with a black & white pattern, either printed or embroidered.  You should look for a wedding dress with a vintage style & add some black accessories such as a belt or fancy jewelry.  If you are having a casual wedding then look for a less formal gown & wear a black silk flower in your hair.

You can add some feather butterflies to your centerpieces & other floral arrangements & dress your tables with damask table cloths & pretty vintage style china in plain white.  Balance the busy patterns with some plain elements or a simple geometric pattern, for instance add a black & white dance floor to the center of the room which will draw the eye.

If you wanted to add an additional color you could try blush pink for a truly vintage feel or swap pure white for pale cream or ivory to soften the look.

Modern Black & White

This scheme is for uber sophisticates & is extremely elegant & stylish.  It relies on clean simple lines & geometric patterns to add symmetry.  There is nothing flouncy or fluffy here either but the scheme is not cold or hard to the eye.

Avoid the over use of pattern as this would be too busy & look over done.  You may prefer to use patterns in small doses, such as ribbons on menus & patterned napkins.

Your bridesmaids can be dressed in stylish black dresses with white sashes, whilst you choose a modern mermaid style gown with a black sash or if you prefer simple black jewelry.

For your flowers look to the elegant calla lilly in black & white.  You can choose to use one color on its own or mix the two together if you feel it is too overpowering.

If you wanted to add additional colors try grey which is very trendy at the moment or for a gothic feel you can add scarlet red.  Add sunny yellow for a spring wedding in the form of contemporary flower arrangements.  The yellow acts as a nice foil to the static black & white.

There is a temptation here to add in sparkly crystal & mirrored accessories.  Personally I would avoid using them as it could make your scheme look like a tacky nightclub.  That said though, a few mirrored coasters under your centerpieces could add a nice accent to your tables.

This scheme would work best in an environment which is all white.  Imagine a grand ballroom with white marble columns & floors & plain white walls with crystal chandeliers.  A tall order I know, but you get the general idea!

By Georgina Clatworthy

Whilst you may be thinking about the wedding gifts you yourselves will be receiving, you shouldn’t forget that you will need to purchase a range of gifts to give to members of your wedding party & others who have been instrumental in helping you with your wedding.

Here is a list of those people who you should buy for & some who you might want to consider purchasing a small gift for.

Maid of Honor – As your chief bridesmaid they have probably been your main source of support throughout the wedding planning stages & during the wedding day itself.  They are probably your closest friend so choosing a gift for them shouldn’t be too difficult.  Many brides will choose jewelry such as a locket or bracelet in silver as a way of saying thank you.

Bridesmaids – They, like your maid of honor will have helped you throughout the wedding planning & will be your support during the wedding.  Some brides choose to gift their bridesmaids their wedding outfits or maybe just their accessories.  Others will give necklaces or earrings on the wedding morning.  Jewelry is often the favored choice but think carefully about the things they like if you want to give them a gift with a difference.

Best Man – He is probably your Groom’s best friend & like your chief bridesmaid will have been his source of support before & during the wedding.  It also often the case that the bestman’s duties will extend beyond the wedding itself: driving you to the airport, returning the suits to the hire shop & tying up any other loose ends. Cufflinks are possibly the most popular choice & often the groom will pick matching sets for all his groomsmen.

Ushers – Their role on the day may be a small one, but it is still important so you should reward your ushers equally.  As mentioned above cufflinks are a popular choice although gift vouchers maybe a good alternative.

Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom – It is traditional to give something to the two mom’s to thank them for their roles in the wedding planning (even if they have been a thorn in your side!).  Most brides will give large bouquets of flowers, but you could also consider a decorative gift; perhaps they collect a certain type of porcelain or design range.  Give their gifts some deep thought if you want to come up with something special.

Father of the Bride & Father of the Groom – Traditionally they wouldn’t receive a gift, but you might want to think about giving a gift to both sets of parents to share.  Perhaps a bottle of wine or champagne (vintage or at least an expensive label).  Another suggestion could be tickets to the theatre, a weekend break or a dinner for two.

Other People – You might want to consider a small gift for your wedding planner or coordinator if you had one.  Although you are paying for their services, they will still have worked hard on your behalf & will be on hand during the wedding day to ensure any crisis is swiftly dealt with.  This needn’t be any grand gift, a box of chocolates, a gift voucher or even one of the table centers or floral displays would be a nice gesture.

Also think about those who couldn’t attend particularly if they are close to you.  Perhaps illness or some other event has prevented them from joining you, so it would be a nice gesture to send them a wedding favor or a piece of the wedding cake.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Your wedding stationery & more importantly your wedding invitations will provide your guests with their first glimpse as to what style your wedding will take.   Today there are many choices available for the style of your stationery & your wedding invitations.

Your wedding stationery will cost a sizeable portion of your budget if you choose to have the expensive engraved type from a printer.  However, printing your own at home can produce equally as stylish results & save you a packet as well!

Here is a guide as to the various elements you will need for your wedding stationery:

Save-the-Date Cards: although technically not part of your wedding stationery, they do have an important role to play.  They are sent out as a precursor to the formal invitation & are intended to ensure your guests keep your wedding date free.

Lots of printers & online sites offer a wide range of designs to choose from.  You can also have them made into fridge magnets.  The design of your save-the-date cards does not have to match that of your other stationery.

Send these out as soon as you have set your wedding date & booked your venue.

Wedding Invitations: these are the first glimpse your guests will get of how formal, traditional or casual your wedding will be.  There is a whole lot of etiquette to follow with your wedding invitations, especially concerning who they should be from, reply cards & gift lists.

The choice of invitation style is very wide ranging, from traditional single sided flat cards, folded cards, pocket styles & styles with extra ‘pockets’ for important enclosures.

Choose a design & style that will reflect that of your wedding, particularly if you are having a themed wedding. 

Invitation Enclosures: traditionally only the invitation itself would have been sent but these days it has become the norm to send the invitation with a range of other informative enclosures as well.  The jury is still out on whether or not these conform to wedding etiquette but there can be little doubt that including as much information as possible can save you a lot of time & phone calls!  Typical enclosures include:

• RSVP card & envelope
• Menu
• Directions to ceremony/venue
• Travel information for those who are not local
• Accommodation information
• Gift list or registry details

Wedding Programs: these are designed as a schedule for your ceremony intended to let your guests know what will happen during the ceremony & in which order.  They are also known as Order of Service. 

Traditionally these were simple fold cards detailing hymns & readings, but like so many things to do with weddings, they are far more than that these days.  Some couples choose to turn them into mini books about themselves & include stories, poems & prose significant to them along with photographs of themselves.  The idea is to create keepsakes of the wedding for the guests.

Creative ideas for wedding programs include printing them on silk fans, making them into scrolls & even creating fans from them.

Other Stationery: this includes menus (if you haven’t included them with your invitations) which you can display on the tables or give one to each guest on their place setting. 

Place cards – etiquette says that these should be handwritten but I have seen plenty that are printed.  Traditionally a small folded card, creative brides have come to use pebbles, wedding favors & even cookies as alternatives.  You can also present your name cards using small frames or pretty holders which you guests can take home with them afterwards.  

Seating Plan – this is a large board displayed at the entrance to the reception room as an aid to helping guests find there tables & seats.  You can make these yourself or have one custom made with your wedding colors in the design.

Table numbers – strictly speaking not stationery but an important consideration none the less.  These are just cards which display your table numbers or names so your guests can find there tables.  If you have table numbers then you will need to have some kind of seating plan on display.

Guestbook – some online stationers will also offer a coordinating guestbook to match your wedding stationery, you may also be able to purchase a matching wedding album too.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Now you have your own wedding attire sorted out it is time to turn your attention to your bridesmaids.  It is important that everyone in the bridal party coordinates & matches with your wedding style & colors.

Read on to find out why this may not be as easy as your first think!

Dresses – It is a fact of life that we humans are unique in many ways, which is why you will undoubtedly find that your bridesmaids will vary in terms of size, shape, height & taste.  This can present many brides with a major headache.  Many of us have an image of bridesmaids all looking exactly the same, same dresses, same shoes, same jewelry etc.  But what suits one may not suit another & an unhappy bridesmaid will stick out a mile on the day!  Get your attendants together & go through some magazines, brochures & websites to gauge an idea of how everyone feels about certain styles, colors & shapes, then you can hit the boutiques.  For a formal wedding go for long dresses, whilst for a casual wedding shorter tea length dresses are fine. 

Often the biggest problem can be with the style of the dress.  Not everyone is comfortable in strapless dresses, whilst others may not like tight fitting styles or cocktail length skirts.  Luckily dress designers can provide you with a range of different shapes & styles which are available in just about any color you could wish for.  If color is a problem then you may have to bring two colors into play.  For instance, a blue & brown scheme could see some bridesmaids in blue dresses with brown sashes & the others in brown dresses with blue sashes.

Compromise on both sides is the name of the game here, so give yourselves plenty of time to find the right look.  Try on different shapes & styles to see what works & what doesn’t & always make sure that you have every one of your attendants with you when you visit bridal stores.

Shoes – Another headache! Some like them tall, some like them flat, some like slingbacks, some like pumps!  As with the dresses compromise is the name of the game.  You may strike lucky & they all choose the same style, but if they don’t then you will have to let them choose their own style.  Comfortable shoes are vital, just as they are for yourself.  Your bridesmaids are likely to be wearing them far longer than you are yours, especially if you change shoes later on, so they need to find shoes that fit well & are comfortable.  Check out the Dyeables range of shoes which come in many different styles & can be dyed to match your wedding colors.

Hair Accessories – Choose your attendants hair accessories according to your wedding style.  A casual wedding could call for flowers or simple jeweled hair pins, whilst a more formal wedding could see small beaded tiaras.  The style of your attendants is another problem to consider.  Those with long hairstyles will no doubt have up-do’s allowing for a variety of hair accessories, however, those with short styles may be more restricted.  A lot will depend on the style of the wedding & how you want your bridesmaids to look.  Small tiaras or combs & hair pins or clips can offer the easiest solutions.

Jewelry - It can be nice to present your bridesmaids with jewelry as wedding gift to say thank you from you both.  This then gives you cart blanche to choose matching necklaces, earrings or bracelets.  If your bridesmaids are all dressed similarly but not the same then follow this through with their jewelry for instance, a couple wear pearl necklaces, a couple wear pearl bracelets & a couple wear pearl earrings.  Kitting them all out with matching sets may look too fussy & spoil the effect you are going for, so try to get them wearing matching styles & colors but in different types of jewelry.

Accessories - Depending on the time of year you may want to equip your bridesmaids with wraps, shawls or boleros.  The latter being a nice addition to a formal wedding style.  For a winter wedding, gift them beautiful faux fur wraps to keep them warm.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Traditionally you would let the groom decide on how he & his attendants will look on the day, but many brides like to have at least some input into his decisions, especially as most don’t trust their other half’s taste or judgment!

If you have full confidence in his ability to choose the right attire, then you may like to print out this list just to make sure he doesn’t miss anything out!

Suits – The choice of suit will depend on the style of the wedding.  A formal wedding would call for morning suits, whilst a casual wedding would call for a less formal suit & tie combination.  If you are having a formal wedding then it is usual to hire all the suits required, this includes:

• the groom
• the best man
• the father of the bride
• the father of the groom
• the ushers
• page boy

As with bridesmaids it is important that everyone comes together at the hire shop to try on suits & get measured.  The attendants at the shop will be able to advise on styles, accessories & shoes to complete the look.  Just make sure your groom is fully aware of the style or theme of the wedding & your chosen color scheme as accessories can be added to match.

Shoes – Let everyone choose their own shoes, as long as they are in keeping with the style of the wedding – cowboy boots may not be appropriate!  Make sure that they all choose the same color as well – black or brown.

Accessories - This can be quite an extensive list & they say its women who love to accessorize!  First up, waistcoats – traditional with morning suits & often available with a formal suit, it is really up to you whether or not you opt for them.  For a formal wedding you could choose fabrics that match your wedding colors, which can create a nice coordinated look amongst the groomsmen.  This brings me on to the next item – ties or cravats, these too can be made from the same fabrics as the waistcoats if you are having them.

Top hats are feature of traditional morning suits & are the finishing touch to formal wedding attire.  Be careful though as to hire them can often attract a premium as they are one item that can be damaged quite easily.  Cufflinks may also be required, but many couples choose to buy these as gifts for the groomsmen instead of letting them buy or use their own.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

After you have decided on the venue & the style or theme of your wedding it is time to turn your attention to your reception room by bringing together everything you will need to create the ‘look’.

This is an exhaustive list, & by no means a complete one, as creative brides will often think up other little extras to add in.  But I have tried to cover the basics & it is up to you to then add in anything else you feel is necessary.

Furniture – The venue may provide all this for you, including tables, chairs, extra side tables etc.  If you are perhaps hiring an empty hall or erecting a marquee in the garden then you will need to bring in your own.  A marquee company may have furniture packages for you to choose from, although you might want to look elsewhere to get better prices.

You will need to hire in:

•  Tables – top table & smaller tables for your guests to sit at. If you are having a buffet then you will need long tables on which to layout the food.
• Side tables – to display your wedding cake on & one for the wedding gifts & guestbook. You might also want some small tables to display your flower arrangements on.
• Chairs
• Other items to consider are sofas, couches or benches so your guests can sit in comfort & relax in small groups, perhaps during the cocktail hour before moving to the dinner tables.

Table Linens – This includes table cloths, which can be large covers to cover the full table with smaller cloths over the top.  These are often presented in two colors according to the wedding scheme, for instance, a white cloth underneath with a pink one over the top.  Napkins in your chosen main wedding color, perhaps to match the top table cloth & chair covers.  Many brides choose to add these to bring some extra color or to hide ugly chairs.  Usually they are white but you may be able to get them in a range of other colors.  It is more common to use white ones with a colored sash tied around the top.

Don’t forget to hire in extra cloths for any additional tables & make sure you take into account the shape of your tables, round, square, rectangular, long.  Square cloths on round tables doesn’t work very well!  Be aware that is you hire in linens you will likely have to pay a cleaning charge as well.

China & Crockery – Again your venue may provide this but if it doesn’t or you do not like it then you will need to look to hire it in.  There a re many hire companies out there who can give you a range of styles & options to choose from, from classic white to vintage patterns, you can find crockery to match just about any wedding scheme.  Make sure you hire enough pieces & don’t forget that you will need plates for each course, bowls for dessert, side plates, serving plates & a few spares.  You should also think about coffee & tea cups along with milk jugs, coffee/tea pots & sugar bowls & extra plates on which to serve your wedding cake.  Take note of any charges for breakage & collection/delivery costs.

You might also want to look at adding in charger plates, which are large decorative plates which take the place of traditional place mats & sit underneath the main crockery.  They do make a nice decorative addition to your tables & are well worth considering.

Cutlery – From kings pattern to simple contemporary styles your choice of cutlery should also tie in with your wedding style.  A traditional wedding with lots of flowers & opulent touches would be complete with some luxurious gold plated kings style cutlery, whilst an Asian theme would be set off with some contemporary cutlery with bamboo style handles.

You will need to order the following items according to your menu:

• Knives & forks for the first course
• Soup spoons
• Fish knives & servers
• Knives & forks for each additional course
• Steak knives
• Dessert forks
• Dessert spoons
• Tea spoons
• Side knives – for bread & butter
• Servers – knives, spoons, tongs etc.

Don’t worry though as the hire company will be able to guide you, just furnish them with your menu & number of guests & they will do all the calculations for you.

Glassware – From cut crystal to smooth contemporary lines, your glassware can add the perfect finishing touches to your tables.  Some brides don’t like to use those often provided by venues as they can appear scratched or worn from years of being washed in a glass washer.  If you are a having a particular style or theme you may want a particular type of glassware to coordinate.

Glasses you will need to consider ordering include:

• Red wine glasses
• White wine glasses
• Champagne glasses
• Water glasses

These are the main types of glass usually found at a formal place setting.  Other types of glass such as beer or tumblers, will be provided by the venue or if you need to hire them in as well, you can choose a cheaper type as they won’t be part of your table settings.

Other items – You may also want to think about items such as hot food servers, chillers, serving platters, wine coolers or champagne buckets. A wedding cake stand if not provided by your cake maker.  There is also your entertainment to consider, things such as a dance floor, seating for your entertainment & tables.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Once you have the basics in place for your reception – tables, chairs etc, it is time to turn your attention to the details.  I have already discussed table cloths & linens in the reception shopping list & other items such as charger plates, so this is about all those other little details that will transform your reception room from bland & boring, into fabulous & wow!

Centerpieces – These are the decorative arrangements that will sit in the center of your tables.  Traditionally floral arrangements, these days anything goes & creative brides are coming up with ever more unusual versions for their reception tables.

You will need centerpieces for each of your guests tables, arrangements for the top table, in which you might want to include your bouquet in front of yourself & your groom & arrangements for additional tables such as the wedding cake & guestbook/gift tables, although many brides will use their bridesmaids bouquets for these tables.

Seating Plan - Essentially a map telling your guests where they are seated.  It is usual for the seating plan to be presented on a large board displayed at the entrance to the reception room.  You can make one yourself or have one custom made for you in your wedding colors & to match your wedding stationery.

Lighting - Lighting can be vitally important for your reception as it will help to set the tone & atmosphere.  Your venue may already have a good lighting system in place allowing you to adjust the lighting in certain areas as you want.  Alternatively you may have to introduce additional ceiling lights or change the shades on the existing one (get permission first!) & add in some table or floor lights too. 

Take some time to think carefully about your lighting, if possible visit the venue at different times of the day so you can see how the natural light plays out over the course of the afternoon & into the evening, this will help you come up with a lighting scheme that will keep the atmosphere at a constant.  Adding some candles to your tables or into your centerpieces will also help the ambience, but ask the venue first if you can light them.

Place Cards – Such an important addition to your tables is often overlooked by brides.  Your place cards will provide the final finishing touch to your place settings so take some time to consider how to best present them.  In their simplest form they are handwritten tent cards, but you can also purchase small frames or holders to set them off to perfection.

Wedding Favors - These are the little gifts you give to your guests as a token of appreciation for joining you on your wedding day.  Never overlook wedding favors, many guests will expect them!  Coordinate them with your wedding style or theme, including the packaging.  You can double them up as place card holders or make the place card holders the wedding favor! 

Additional Decorations - These can include floral arrangements, which you may have brought over from the ceremony site, banners, garlands, paper lanterns, ornaments.  Whatever your style or theme make sure you add to the whole scheme with some additional decorations to complete the look.  Check out hire companies which specialize in props or interiors for some interesting items.

Extras - This includes your guestbook, post box for cards, cake stand & servers.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

Flowers are an integral part of a wedding & can account for a large portion of your budget.  Here is a shopping list for all your floral requirements for your wedding.

Ceremony Arrangements – If your venue isn’t already decorated with flower arrangements then you might want to look at adding some.  Typical arrangements for a religious service include:

• Large floral arrangements on stands for the entrance
• Large floral arrangements on stands for either side of the altar
• Door or archway garland
• Pew ends
• Altar arrangement

If you are having a civil ceremony either indoors or outdoors then here are some additional arrangements to consider:

• Arbor
• Gazebo
• Top of the aisle

Reception Flowers – You may want to think about transporting your flowers from your ceremony to your reception venue, although this is easier said than done!  Flowers for your reception include:

• Large standing arrangements
• Table centers
• Top table arrangements
• Floral garlands for decoration
• Cake table flowers
• Guestbook/gift table flowers

For these last two many brides choose to use their bridesmaids bouquets instead.

Buttonholes – Also known as boutonnières.  These are the small single flowers worn by the wedding party & any other guests on there lapels or in their buttonholes.  Usually they are a flower which is included in the bride’s bouquet along with a piece of foliage.  The design of these is entirely up to you, although the grooms buttonhole should match the bride’s bouquet.

Corsages - These are floral wristbands or pins given to female guests.

Bouquets - Work closely with your florist to design the perfect bouquet for you in accordance with your wedding style & your wedding dress.  Bouquets you will need to order include:

• Yours
• Bridesmaids bouquets, posy’s or pomanders
• Flower girls posy or pomander or basket

You might also want to order an additional bouquet for you to toss at the reception, particularly if you want to keep yours.

Additional Flowers – You might also want to order additional arrangements to give to your mother & mother-in-law as gifts.  You may want floral arrangements for your hair, your bridesmaids hair or a floral circlet for your flowergirl. You might also want small arrangements for your wedding car.  If you are hiring a car then they may add some flowers as part of the hire package, but if you are using a personal car then you may want to add some flowers to the back parcel shelf & maybe to the front of the car too.  Some brides like to decorate their wedding cakes with fresh flowers rather sugar ones.  Ask your florist to make up some small arrangements to go on top of the cake & to decorate each tier.

By Georgina Clatworthy

Wedding planning is an extensive process & one which will see you creating a hundred lists or more!  Aside from booking venues & suppliers, you will also be doing a far amount of shopping, be it on the high street or online or both.

So I have decided to produce a series of handy shopping lists to help you plan your retail excursions & hopefully to ensure nothing is left out!  This first list will focus everything you need to complete your wedding day outfit.

1. Wedding Dress – You may have something in mind already, but if you are not sure where to start then take a look through some bridal magazines to begin with.  Clip together images of those dresses you like the best & take them with you when you visit the bridal salon.
2. Bridal Shoes - Make sure you step out in style with the perfect shoes.  Choose shoes based not only on looks, but also comfort & practicality.  Consider heel sizes & whether or not you will be able to dance in them later, many brides will purchase two pairs – one for the day time & one for the evening party.
3. Tiara - Possibly the most popular choice of bridal headwear, tiara’s come in a range of styles & colors.  Your bridal salon may have a selection to choose from, but you will find more extensive ranges online, along with customizable designs.
4. Veil - If you want to wear a veil then try to purchase one from the same store as your wedding dress so you can try the two on together.  There is a range of styles & lengths to choose from & the store assistant will be able to advise you on the best choice for you.
5. Lingerie - What you wear under your wedding dress is vitally important.  Good lingerie will not only provide support, but will also help with whole look of your wedding dress & provide the perfect silhouette.  Again it would be preferable to try on your lingerie with your wedding dress but this is not always practical!  Take a look at our article How to Choose your Wedding Lingerie for tips on selecting the right style of lingerie to suit the style of your wedding dress.
6. Hair Accessories - Aside from tiaras & crowns there is a wealth of other options for accessorizing you hair do.  Pretty combs, slides & pins are all popular choices, others include alice bands, silk flowers or real flowers attached to combs or made into wreaths.  As with tiaras, you will find great choice online as well as customizable options.  It is a good idea to know what your wedding hairstyle will be before purchasing any hair accessories.
7. Handbag - You will need something to keep all those little essentials in that you may need during the day.  Items like tissues, make-up & your bridal emergency kit will all need to be stashed somewhere.  Choose a bag the coordinates with the style of your dress, for instance a dolly bag would be nice with a less formal gown, perhaps for a beach wedding, whilst a box bag would suit a more formal style.
8. Garter - Many brides go in for the tradition of wearing a garter & tossing it at the reception. 
9. Jewelry - You may already have an idea of your wedding jewelry; many brides like to wear something that is sentimental to them or maybe jewelry given to them by their parents or parents-in-law.  If you are going to buy jewelry specifically for your wedding think about what will suit your wedding dress, the style or theme of your wedding & cost! There are some beautiful costume jewelry pieces available on the high street which won’t break the budget or go online to Ebay & look for inexpensive vintage pieces.
10. Shawls, Wraps & Bolero’s - Many designers have a range of these available as separates to their dress designs.  Usually made from lace, chiffon or tulle they can make a nice accessory to your wedding outfit, especially for a spring or fall wedding when temperatures can be a little on the cool side.  For a winter wedding consider a faux fur wrap or even a velvet cloak.
11. Other Items - Gloves can be a nice accessory to a wedding dress, especially to a winter wedding or maybe a fairytale theme (think opera length gloves with a tulle skirted ballgown).  Petticoats maybe required for the style of dress you want.  They may just be simple net crinoline style petticoats or larger hoped skirts for a full skirted gown.  Make sure you know how to put them on & in the case of a hooped petticoat – how to put it together!  Sashes or belts are available for some styles of wedding dress & can be customize with colors, beading or embroidery.  Even if your dress doesn’t include one, you may want to add one to help coordinate your wedding colors with the other members of the wedding party.

 By Georgina Clatworthy

There are many accessories to compliment your wedding dress & knowing which ones to choose can be something of an art form!  Those accessories which are essential to your wedding outfit are your shoes, your lingerie & your handbag, all of which should be chosen with comfort, practicality & style in mind. 

Here are some top tips to help you decide on the essential bridal accessories you should buy.

Shoes – It is common practice today to purchase two pairs of shoes – one for the ceremony & reception & a second pair for the evening party.  This is because the majority of bridal shoes are built more for style than comfort & unless you have spent a lot of time breaking them in at home, you could find that after a couple of hours your feet begin to ache or become sore.  Comfort aside there is also a practicality issue, with many brides choosing a second pair of shoes simply because they would be easier to dance in!  Remember that you will be in your first pair of shoes for a long time; you could be standing around for long periods, particularly when you have your photographs done & you could be walking about a fair bit too.

Another consideration is the heel height.  With many bridal shoes sporting 3″ heels & upwards, you will need to consider your own height relative to that of your groom.  You don’t want to be towering over him on the day!

You will find a wide choice of styles when it comes to bridal shoes, but the best advice is to stick to a style that you know & that you wear everyday.  Slingbacks or mules can be difficult to become accustomed to if you are not used to wearing them.

Lingerie – Your bridal lingerie is vitally important.  It will help make the most of your shape & the way your wedding dress fits.  The right lingerie will help to tone & lift you in the right places & as a result create the perfect silhouette.  Aswell as bras & chemises, you will also find corsets, basques & bustiers in many bridal ranges.  However, your lingerie needs to be comfortable & shouldn’t suffocate you!  Some brides have fallen in to the trap of choosing a corset which looks fabulous when they are standing but prevents them from sitting comfortably & in some cases even restricts the amount they can eat!

If at all possible try your lingerie on with your wedding dress to find the perfect style for you.  A good idea would be a lingerie party for your bridal shower at home.  You can have great fun choosing your lingerie not only for your wedding day but also for your honeymoon!

Handbags – If you are the type of girl who is known to be never without her handbag then you will definitely have one on your shopping list.  Even if you don’t usually carry one, you should make an exception for your wedding day.  A bridal handbag is a must to carry all the little things that you may need during the day – make-up, tissues & your bridal emergency kit (or part of it at least).

Many of the bridal shoe designers have a range of matching or coordinating handbags alongside their ranges.  You will find many styles to choose from including handheld, box style & dolly bags.  Make sure you get one big enough for your needs but not so big it overwhelms your look.  You don’t need to carry it during the ceremony & it is usual to entrust it to your mother during this time.