It's Engagement Season - 7 Things To Do After You Say "YES!"

We are in the midst of engagement season, which is the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day when many couple become engaged. If you are like all of us here at Venus Bridal, you'll immediately want to start shopping for your beautiful wedding dress, but there are a few other things that you may want to take care of first. 

Share The Big News
Once you and your soon-to-be-spouse have had enough time to enjoy the moment yourselves, start spreading the news to your family and closest friends. The sooner the better, because you don't want anyone finding out through the grapevine that you prefer to tell in person. As soon as they all know, you are free to share your joy with the rest of the world too.  

Pamper Your Hands & Nails
Make an appointment as soon as possible for a manicure, because you know that everyone will be asking to see that engagement ring. Start a good skincare routine for your hands and keep your nails strong and in shape so that they are ready for the close-up ring photos at the wedding in a few months too.  

Start "Window Shopping" For Dresses
It's time to start scouring wedding magazines, Pinterest, wedding websites, etc... to discover all of the possibilities for your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, and fashions for the guys too. A great place to start is www.VenusBridal.com. There you will find a wide variety of gorgeous gowns, plus a store locator so that you can find a bridal boutique near you when you are at the actual shopping stage of your wedding planning.

Set The Wedding Budget
Doing this early on will help to keep all of your plans in line without breaking the bank. It's wise to have a guideline for what you want to spend before you start buying things and making reservations. Decide this early so that you can begin finding the vendors that book up quickly, like venues and photographers. Knowing your budget can also assist in keeping the next step under control.

Gather Guest Lists
You may think you have time to worry about this later, but much like the budget, knowing the number of guests you will be inviting will shape many of your other wedding planning decisions. Start with four lists: the bride's, the groom's, the bride's parents, and the groom's parents. Put these all together, then begin make adjustments as needed.  

Schedule Engagment Photos
Many wedding photographers include the engagement session with their wedding packages, but it's up to you to pick a date to have them actually done. The sooner you take care of this, the quicker you will have professional photos to use on announcements, save-the-dates, and wedding websites. 

Make Bridal Shop Appointments
When the wedding dress shopping starts, it's best to call ahead and make an appointment at the bridal boutique. Brides-to-be with appointments get the undivided attention they deserve from the consultants, and they don't have to wait in line for a dressing room if there are lots of other women there at the same time. Also, many wedding dress stores require you to have an appointment, so it's always best to call ahead. 

There will be a lot more decisions to make before the actual wedding day, but getting the tasks above out of the way is a great place to start. It may seem overwhelming at first, but there are plenty of fun tasks to tackle along the way, like shopping for your dream wedding dress. When you're ready for that one, as well as all of the other fashions for the women in your wedding, we hope you begin your search with Venus Bridal. You won't be disappointed. 

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Thoughtful Ways To Thank Everyone In Your Wedding

It's Thanksgiving week, which has us thinking about all of the things that we are thankful for. When you are planning a wedding, there are a lot of people that pitch in to make it into the celebration you have always dreamed about. Venus Bridal has come up with a few creative ideas for you to show all of those people how very thankful you are to them. 

Wedding Party
More than likely, this is the core group that is always there for you through the entire process. Your wedding party is made up of your closest family and friends, and they want to see you happy on your big day. For all of the time, errand-running, fittings, late-night phone calls, and more that they have given to you, here are a few great ideas for telling them "Thank you!"

• Throw a party before the wedding so that the bridesmaids and groomsmen can get to know each other. It's like a pre-thank you before everything gets started. 
• Throw a party after the big day for the entire wedding party. Use it to honor them for all the hard work they put into your celebration. 
• Treat them by picking up the tab for a wedding-related item. This will depend on your budget, and can be anything from jewelry to wear at the wedding, to their hotel stay, to their tuxedo rental or dress. 
• While you've got access to a professional photographer, and everyone is looking their beautful best, arrange for the members of your wedding party to have a few shots taken of their own family. Don't forget those special shots of you with them too. 
• Make their gift something both useful and memorable. It can be anything that you know they will use regularly after the wedding day. Also, have it personalizd in a way that they will think back to your ceremony and reception every time that they use it. These gifts don't have to be the same for each person. Customize them to each one's special likes.  

Parents
These are the people that not only have been there for you during the wedding planning, but also your entire life. They helped to make you into the person you are today, the person your soon-to-be-spouse fell in love with. The following items are a great way to thank them.

• Rather than a short thank you note, jot down all the happy memories that you have with your parents in a notebook. The final entry can be all about how important they were on your wedding day, and the ways you and your spouse plan to cherish them in the future. 
• Take the time to not only get full family photos, but also special shots of you alone with each parent. You can find a specially engraved frame to present the picture to them in.
• If you know there will be a few tears shed on your wedding day, a handkerchief with an embroidered saying or thank you is a lovely gift to give both moms and dads.
• Say thank you publicly by writing a special dedication to them in your wedding program. It will be even better if it's a surprise when they sit down and read it along with everyone else. (This may be the reason they will need that handkerchief!) 

Vendors
Professionals don't necessarily expect a thank you. After all, you are paying them for their services. When you have a wedding vendor that goes above and beyond what is expected of them, you may want to give them a little something extra. Tips are always appreciated, but the following things are touching gestures. 

• Pleasant reviews are always the very best thank you that a vendor can receive. It helps to boost their business by letting other brides know what a great job they are capable of. (It's especially nice when you share a wedding photo with the review!)
• Include a picture of you with them or the work they provided in a hand written thank you note. 
• Surprise them with a gift basket at their office after the successful wedding. 

Your Spouse
Wedding planning can be a long and stressful process. Sometimes it can take a toll on the relationship, even though you are planning for the event that will join your lives together. Once everything is over, make a special effort to do something extra nice, just for the two of you.

• Have a secret photo taken especially for them. If you are extremely sneaky, hold up a sign with a speical note for them behind their back during a wedding photo of the two of you embracing. Budior photos are also an exciting suprise for your groom. 
• If you won't be taking a honeymoon right away, arrange for a short overnight trip someplace quiet and romantic. Even if it's in your hometown, it's always nice to get out of the house and away from day-to-day tasks and worries. 
• Just like we mentioned for your parents, gift your spouse with a notebook full of all the happy memories that you have made together. Include photographs too.
• Give them a calendar marked with a date night every week (or at least every month) for your first year of marriage. If you've had enough time to plan ahead, also include a packet describing the date or holding items for that date, like concert tickets or restaurant reservations.
• Make a vow to say both "Thank you" and "I love you" every single day of your marriage, in both words and gestures.  

Thank you for taking the time to read today's blog. All of us at Venus Bridal hope that our weekly writings are helpful in a variety of ways, from helping you find the most beatuiful bridal gowns and other wedding fashions to different aspects of the wedding planning and beyond. 

We would love to hear your comments about what we are writing, as well as any suggestions for topics that you would like to learn more about. Comment right here on the blog or on any of our social media channels listed below. If you will be wearing or alrady wore Venus Bridal dresses at your wedding, be sure to share your photos on our social media too. We love seeing how amazing that the beautiful brides and bridesmaids make our gowns look!   

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Tips To Help You Find The Perfect Wedding Rings

Your beautiful wedding dress is not the only important fashion decision that you have to make for your wedding day. While you will only be wearing your elegant bridal gown for one day, the wedding rings that you and your groom choose will be worn every day for the rest of your happily ever after. Venus Bridal has a few tips to share with you so that you find exactly what you want. 

Make It A Joint Decision
Even if your gentleman is letting you make the majority of the wedding planning decisions, choosing wedding rings is a wonderful task for you to work together on. It always looks lovely when a couple wears wedding bands that complement each other. Begin your search at the jeweler where the engagment ring was purchased, because many jewelers offer special pricing for repeat customers. 

Set A Price Range
Just like with the wedding, over-spending now can lead to bad feelings later on. Paying more than you can comfortably afford will result in debt long after the wedding. The suggested price range to spend on an engagement ring is about 2-month's salary, and about 1-month's salary for the bands. 

If you have planned ahead and saved, this may be no problem. On the other hand, if that's a bit too rich for your blood right now, opt for a simpler set of rings that can be upgraded in the future for a special anniversary. 

Shop Early Enough To Order
Many wedding rings will need to be specially ordered, so you will definitely want to make your final decision with plenty of time for them to arrive. Strive to have them ordered around 6 months before the wedding date. Don't forget that you will also need a little extra time if you would like to have something engraved on the inside too. 

Match Your Lifestyle
When you are picking out an item that will be worn at all times, comfort is a very important factor. If you lead a very active lifestyle, you may want to find a band that is more streamlined and less bulky. Once you find a few styles that you like the look of, really get a feel for them by trying each one on.  

Choose A Ring Material
Your wedding ring will rest on your hand right next to that gorgeous engagement ring, so you will want to make sure that they look good together. Look for a metal that matches or works well with the one your engagement ring is made from. Also know that different metals wear differently over time. Here are some general things to know to aid in your decision:

• Gold: Available in white, yellow, or rose. Buffing this metal will keep it shiny and smooth.
• Sterling Silver: To make it more durable, this is actually pure silver mixed with copper. Even though the mixture makes it stronger, it can still get scratched easily if you aren't careful. This choice is a very affordable one.
• Platinum: This metal is extremely durable, but over the years it will show wear and scratches. A jeweler can professionally polish away most blemishes.
• Silver & Gold: The best way to make sure your wedding ring matches a variety of other pieces of jewelry is to choose one that features both of these metals. There are many beatiful options available. 

There are lots of decisions that go into the planning of a wedding, but the more you know going into it, the easier they all are to take on. We hope that the tips above help to make this task simpler and fun for you both as a couple. Once you fall in love with a ring, we can't wait to see what it looks like worn along with your fabulous Venus Bridal wedding dress! 

The feeling of romance.. the essence of glamour.

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How To Choose The Most Magnificent Colors For Your Wedding

Color plays a very big part in the look and feel of your wedding. Lots of color displayed everywhere can really make your beautiful white wedding dress stand out. A more neutral palette with touches of color here and there can also be gorgeous with a wonderful flow. 

Your color choice will be evident in many different aspects of the wedding: bridesmaid dresses, stationary, florals, table decorations, favors, groomsmen accessories, and possibly even the wedding cake. Some brides even like to pull the wedding color into their own fashion with the accessories like a sash or jewelry. There is an infinite number of choices to pick from, so today Venus Bridal has a few tips to help you narrow them down.

Stick with what you love
If you have had a favorite color your entire life, so much so that your friends immediately think of you when that color is mentioned, then that one is the obvious choice. A wedding celebrates love, and surrounding yourself with things that you love only makes sense. Then your only decision will be which shades to use, and if you will add in a few complementary colors.

For those of you that don't think you have a favorite color, take inspiration from the things you have around you regularly. Open your closet and take notice of what colors pop up the most, or look around your home and see if one particular color keeps catching your eye. If you love the beach, go for ocean blues and sandy browns, or if you prefer the country, lean towards earthy tones like that of the trees and flowers found there.  

Convey a feeling
The use of color is an excellent way to set the mood for your special day. Light, airy pastels seem romantic and sweet, while bolder, bright shades give off a livelier vibe. Red can make you think passion, yellow - warmth and happiness, and blues are often serene. Don't feel like you have to stick with one feeling throughout the day. Use romantic shades of a color during the ceremony, then take that same color and jazz it up with darker shades to add excitement to the reception.

Take cues from the venue
Some wedding venues are like big, blank slates before you begin decorating, but there are quite a few that already have a main color scheme in place. If it's a color that you like the look of, that will work perfectly. If it's a color you can't stand, you may want to consider looking for a different venue. Initially, you will want your decorations to blend well with the decor that is already set in the room. For weddings taking place outdoors, let the nature around you inspire the colors that you choose.

Borrow from the season
Even if your wedding will not be an outdoor one, nature can still be a wonderful inspiration for the colors that you choose. Warm colors in the fall, bright whites and metallic shades in the winter, delicate pastels in spring, and bright, sunny hues in the summer. Holidays are wonderful places to turn to influence your decision too. Reds and greens around Christmas, or even deep purples and blues. New Year's Eve weddings may be done in a formal way with blacks, silvers, and golds. Valentine's Day could have romantic pinks or bold, sexy reds.    

At the end of the day, you really don't need to overthink it. Keep your eyes open for colors that draw your attention when you are out and about during the day. Once you take notice of that, your color scheme will begin to emerge. This wedding is for both the bride and the groom, so work together to find the colors that you both want to incorporate into this special day. 

Once the decision is made, you'll be ready when the bridesmaid dress shopping begins. Venus Bridal has a large selection of colors, fabrics, and styles to choose from. Many of the color choices that we offer work beautifully together if you want to incorporate the mismatched bridesmaid look. Our dress color charts may even help to inspire your final color choice. It's definitely worth a look!   

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Holiday Weddings - Yay or Nay?

Labor Day Weekend has brought up a subject at Venus Bridal that people seem to have varying opinions on - holiday weddings. There are many pros and cons to planning your ceremony and reception during a holiday weekend. 

On one hand, a holiday with a 3-day weekend allows you extra time to celebrate, plus most venues already have some decor of their own up. On the other hand, a lot of people look at holidays as family time, and working someone else's wedding into those plans may not be their idea of fun. We've come up with a few tips for any brides and grooms that may want to host a holiday wedding that will help everyone to enjoy themselves.  

Definitely Send Save-The-Dates
Most people make special plans when a holiday rolls around. If you want them to make your wedding a part of those plans, you will need to give them plenty of advance notice. These may require a little more information than simply the date. Hotels, airlines, and car rental businesses get busier during holidays, so you will want to let your guests know where the wedding will take place so that they can make arrangements to get there. 

Block Hotel Rooms Early
As we mentioned, hotels get busy during holidays and many tend to sell out of rooms. Make sure that you have enough rooms set aside for your guests early on so that they don't risk not having a place to stay. Hopefully, if you are booking enough rooms, you can work out a discount on them, because hotel rates generally go up during holidays. 

Incorporate Holiday Traditions
A complaint from guests is that they have to miss out on their holiday traditions if they have to go to a wedding. One way to keep them happy is to somehow work those traditions into your wedding. If you get married on the 4th of July, plan to have a big fireworks display during the reception. If your wedding is on Thanksgiving weekend, incorporate turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and the like into your menu. Don't go overboard, because the main focus should be the wedding, but try to bring in that holiday feel in a tasteful and fun way.

Expect That Some Won't Be Able To Come 
Prepare yourself for quite a few "no" RSVPs if you will get married around a big holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving. These are generally spent with family, and while your own family may be able to make the adjustment, some of your friends may not be able to be away from their own families.


Things To Keep In Mind
Travel expenses will most likely cost more for your guests over holidays, making it harder for some to attend. If you will be getting married in a busy area, there is a good chance that there will be lots of traffic and more people than usual in town. Your own budget may see the strain too. Venues often charge a bit more to use a reception room on New Year's Eve, and flower prices tend to go up around Valentine's Day. 

Do What Makes You Happy
If there is a holiday that is special to you as a couple, then that may be the best date for the two of you to choose. On the other hand, picking a day with no particular meaning to anyone else makes your wedding anniversary a holiday all its own. 

As with most wedding decisions, if it makes you happy, then go ahead and do it. It's your special day. Venus Bridal realizes the importance of this day, and we do our best to help make it extra special through the exquisite bridal gowns that we offer. No matter what your style, personality, wedding date or venue, you will find something perfectly made just for you within our fabulous wedding dress collections. 

The feeling of romance.. the essence of glamour.

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9 Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

Wedding dress shopping is an exciting time in a woman's life, but the large variety of shapes, styles, and fabrics that you have to choose from can seem overwhelming. There is a multitude of gorgeous bridal gowns available from Venus Bridal, so today we are offering a few wedding dress shopping tips to make the decision a little easier.

Do some research

This is one of the fun parts! It's time to pick up a few wedding magazines or hit the internet and begin daydreaming about your perfect bridal gown. Take note of the styles that you gravitate toward. This will give you a place to begin when you start trying dresses on.

Make an appointment

Start shopping early in your wedding planning process so that you have plenty of time to order the dress and have necessary alterations made. Most bridal salons require an appointment, but even if they do not, having one will guarantee that you are assisted by someone from the store while you are there. If you just "pop in" it's very likely that they may be too busy to give you the attention that you deserve. Once you make an appointment, don't be late. You don't want to feel rushed while you shop. 

Limit Your Helpers

You may have tons of family and friends that want to go wedding dress shopping with you, but a large entourage is never a good idea. Too many opinions can make the experience confusing and frustrating. Take along only a few people that know your personal style and have your best interests at heart. Don't bring children to your appointment if it can be avoided, and if they must come along, have someone there to entertain them so you can focus on the task at hand.

Power Up

Dress shopping can be a long, exhausting day, so don't go on an empty stomach. Eat something light before your appointment so that you have plenty of energy for the search. 

Don't be shy

The bridal consultants at the store are there to help, and they have plenty of experience finding dresses for clients. Ask them every question that pops into your head. Use their knowledge to find exactly what you are looking for, but don't be afraid to tell them if you don't like a suggestion that they make. 

Take along your "must-haves"

If you have something that you will be wearing on the wedding day, like a family heirloom or an amazing pair of shoes, bring that with you. You will want to see how it looks with the different gowns that you will be trying on.

Wear proper undergarments

Make sure that have a supportive, strapless bra to try dresses on with. It may not be the one you will wear on the wedding day, but it will give you a better idea of how the dress will look and fit. Your underwear should be white or nude. The consultant will most likely be in the dressing room with you for assistance, so if you're shy, wear underwear that covers everything.

Try on lots of different styles

Dresses look much different on a body than they do on the hanger, or even on the models in the magazines. Depending on your body type, it may fit you much differently than the picture you saw. Test a variety of styles until you find your favorite, then begin trying on only gowns in that style until you find "the one."

Enjoy the experience

More important than anything else, take the time to sit back and take in the entire experience. This is a very special time in your life, and it should be a fun and happy memory when you look back. 

If you will be purchasing your wedding gown online, make sure that you check Venus Bridal's "Where To Buy" page of our website to find out if that business is authorized to sell our dresses. If they are not listed, then you may be looking at a fake!

The perfect wedding dress may show itself right away, or it may take a bit of searching. Don't worry if you don't find it immediately. Venus Bridal has an amazing wedding dress designed just for you. When you finally try it on, you'll know. 

The feeling of romance.. the essence of glamour.

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A Rainbow of Color Choices for Your Wedding

There are a few different methods for choosing the colors that you will be using for your wedding. One thing that should factor into that decision is the color that you want your bridesmaids to wear. Venus Bridal has a very large selection when it comes to available colors for our beautiful bridesmaid gowns.

The trend in the past was to always put bridesmaids in the exact same dress. That look can still be beautiful today, but there are many brides that choose to put their bridal party in different looks with a coordinating theme. This could be a variety of styles all in the same color, matching gowns in a variety of complimentary colors, or a mix of varying shades of one main color.  

Mixing Styles

Not everyone looks good in every dress, so allowing your bridesmaids to wear different styles is a good way to make sure they all look their best and feel comfortable. You will want to make sure there is one unifying element, like color, to tie all of the looks together. 

Keep in mind that different fabrics, even when dyed with the same, may vary slightly in color. Compare swatches closely before ordering bridesmaid dresses, or insist that all of the gowns be made from the same fabric. That way you know they will all match when the orders arrive. 

Mixing Colors

Another option is to pick one style for all of the bridesmaids to wear, but put each on them in a different color, or varying shades of one color. The important thing is that they all compliment each other. Consult a color wheel to refresh your art class memories about which ones work the best together. You can also use the season or the wedding venue to pull color inspiration.

The Rainbow of Venus

You will see the wide variety of color choices for your bridesmaid dresses on our Venus Bridal website color chart. There are far too many to list here in the blog, but you will see names and samples on that page. Please realize, though, that depending on the way you are viewing our site, colors may vary slightly due to different screen resolutions. 

Use the website as a guideline to help you with your main choices, but visit one of our authorized Venus Bridal retailers to see fabric swatches in person for the most accurate color matching. The colors that you choose for you wedding can help to tell a story and set the mood. Once you figure out the way you want the overall event to look, Venus Bridal is here to make sure your wedding day fashions fit into that picture perfectly. 

The feeling of romance.. the essence of glamour.

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