{Wedding Advice} With this ring...

As a bridal salon, we get a lot of questions from brides about how brides choose to wear their engagement ring both during the ceremony and after the wedding, into the marriage.  So we decided to post a little blog dedicated to those lovely little sparkles, the engagement ring and the wedding band.

Source: snapknot.com via Cici on Pinterest

So where did the tradition of what finger to wear the wedding rings come from?  It is believed that the tradition of wearing the engagement ring and wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand can be traced to the Egyptians, who believed the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of this finger. (source: theknot.com).

Another question we get a lot is: in what order do the rings go on once you have a wedding band to compliment the engagement ring?  Well, the tradition is that the wedding band will go under the engagement ring, closest to the hand, therefore closer to the heart.  (awwww.)

Source: media-cache5.pinterest.com via Susan on Pinterest

Lastly, a lot of brides seem to wonder how to wear their engagement rings during the ceremony? Well ladies, it's up to you!  Some brides choose to go ahead and wear the engagement ring on the left hand ring finger, having the groom place the wedding band on top of it, thereby switching the ring order sometime after the ceremony, before the reception.  Another option is wearing your engagement ring on your right hand ring finger, so that the wedding band is placed on the left hand, already first in line and closest to the heart. :)

How will you compliment your engagement ring?  With a matching band?  Or perhaps no band at all?  The possibilities are endless!

Source: amazon.com via Madison on Pinterest

{Trend Alert} Reception Dresses

Hey ladies! Alright, let’s all be honest, the wedding industry has changed A LOT since our beautiful mommas walked down the aisle, am I right? And one of the trends that has been on the rise in the more recent years is having a reception dress, along with your ceremony gown, for your big day. Let’s explore that a little bit, shall we?

There are some great reasons to have a separate dress for your reception. Reason number one: if you have always dreamed about having an elaborate, beautiful grand gown gracing your bridal body when you float down that aisle towards the man of your dreams, maybe you haven’t quite considered how hard that baby may be to mingle, dance, and celebrate in at your beautiful reception. So why not have a reception dress to change into? Look at it as a time to show more of your personal style, whereas your ceremony gown may have been perfect for highlighting your bridal style. The reception dress may be influenced by your bridal gown or it may even be of a different style altogether. The reception dress can be long or short, either way. There really aren’t any rules as to what “qualifies” as a reception dress. The main focus here is comfort and hopefully that it does not require help from a bridesmaid in order to use the ladies’ room. Secondly, climate and the theme of your reception are factors that should definitely be considered when choosing whether or not you want to incorporate a reception dress into your special day. For example, maybe you’re getting married outdoors in the Texas summer and would like something a little more airy and easy to party in after you’ve said “I do.” If so, go for it! Here are just a few styles that we have in our bridesmaid collection here at Bliss that we think would be great for reception dresses:

 

WTOO Style 302

 

Watters Style 2252

Watters Style 2258

Watters Style 2412

Let’s face it, some of you will want to spend as much time as possible in your bridal gown on the day of your wedding, which is completely understandable!  The way you see it, it is the gown you’ve chosen to get married in and since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, no one will be able to pry that thing off of you until you’re boarding a plane to your Honeymoon! If this is you, then GO GIRL! A reception dress is not for you and that's perfect!

All in all, the question that will ultimately make the decision whether choose to have a second dress or not is quite simple: "Do you want one?" One of the most exciting things about planning a wedding nowadays is that you can personalize and tailor your wedding to pretty much anything you want to do, as long as it fits in your budget. So, as always, stay true to your vision, and remember that your dress (or dresses) is/are no exception to that rule!

Why are wedding gowns White?

Prior to the sixteenth-century, bridal gowns were more akin to everyday garmets in style and color. During this sixteenth century, European nobility dictated that white would symbolize purity for the bride. At the time, pale or white garments cost more than dark colored ones because bleaching cloth was an expensive process, available to only the affluent.Other symbols of purity worn by more common brides included a coronet of flowers on her head, a veil over her face, her hair down, and orange blossoms or daisies.

White as the symbolic color of maidenhood resurfaced in the culture when the virgin Queen Victoria married Albert in a white gown.The trend has changed little since and in Europe and the United States, most brides still wear a shade of white or ivory.

Fun facts:
In Scandinavia, black is a popular choice for the bride's dress.
In Ireland, green is often worn.
In most Asian cultures, the bride wears red, the color of luck, joy and prosperity.

A Hopi bride's white dress is woven by the groom and any men in the community who wish to assist him.
For more fun facts see "A Bride's Book of Lists" by Marsha Hackman.