Choosing Your Veil

The spring/summer 2013 issue of The Knot Florida (TheKnot.com/florida) features an informative piece that helps brides choose which type of veil best suits their overall desired look. The Knot briefly details three different veil styles: the cage veil, the blusher veil, and the fingertip veil.

The Knot writer Jennie Ma says that the cage veil is a shorter style that covers and frames just the face. The result is a minimalist statement. The best way to wear this style of veil is to let the edge of the veil fall just below the nose.

The “blusher” in blusher veil refers to the piece of tulle that covers your face. Ma says this veil may come in at the chin, shoulder, or fingertip length. The blusher also works as a double-tiered veil where you have two layers of tulle. One of the layers is pulled over your face, and the other layer is draped behind your head. Both styles should be fastened on the crown of your head.

Ma details the fingertip veil as one that falls below the hips and extends to the fingertips, of course. This veil can be worn secured at the crown of the head, slightly behind the crown of the head, or if the hair is worn up, just above the updo.

Choosing a veil comes down to the bride’s personality and which style makes her feel most confident. Trying on veils on the day that you find a wedding dress is a great way to ensure that you’ll get a veil that compliments you and your dress in the best way possible.

Photo credit: Photos found on Pinterest under utterlyengaged.com; Photos by James Hong of Perpixel Photo (perpixelphoto.com) 

10 Tips For Reaching Your Desired Wedding Day Shape

When it comes to preparing for your big day, getting into the physical shape that you desire is hard work. In Gulf Coast Bride Magazine’s Spring 2013 issue, writer Geoff Kalmbach details the following tips for helping you reach your desired wedding day shape.

1) Forget Counting Calories

 - Eliminate the inflammatory and high-glycemic foods, and instead focus on natural options. Just remember, quality over quantity.

Photo credit: Pinterest at henrylivelylist.blogspot.com

2) Eat Snacks in Moderation

 - The easiest way to measure how much you should be eating per snack is to use your hand as a measuring device. Snacks should not exceed more than one handful of food.

3) Workout in Pairs

 - When you’re lacking the motivation to go for a run or hit the gym, a workout partner will get you back on track. Plan out days that you can exercise together ahead of time, and you’ll feel motivated to workout on those days if someone else is joining you.

4) Drink Green Tea

 - Green tea contains high concentrations of catechin polyphenols, which work with other chemicals in your body to intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermo genesis. Drinking at least 16 ounces a day will have you feeling and looking better.

Photo credit: Pinterest at http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

5) Go on Walks

 - During you lunch break, make a habit of going for a walk. Walks not only get your heart pumping, but they also help to reduce stress. A brisk walk will get your muscles moving and release endorphins; a chemical that relieves stress and promotes mental clarity.

6) Take the Stairs

 - Whenever possible, take the stairs over riding the elevator. It’s a great way to get a quick spike in your heart rate and activate your glutes.

7) Eat Vegetables

 - Try to include vegetables (especially the green ones like broccoli, kale, spinach, and collard greens) in every meal that you eat. With their high fiber content, vegetables keep you fuller longer and leave you energized.

Photo credit: Pinterest at http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/

8) Consume Nutrient-Dense Foods

 - Eating foods high in nutrients will provide nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life. These foods contain vital vitamins and minerals, as well as energy support.

9) Steer Clear of Processed and Refined Foods

 - Processed and Refined foods promote internal inflammation, which has been linked to most of our country’s health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s. Not only will eliminating these foods have you feeling better, but you will notice a dramatic difference in commonly bloated features such as your face and abdomen.

10) Limit Grain Consumption

 - Due to most grocery store grains being over processed, our bodies can’t properly digest the food. Weight gain, water retention, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a list of other health problems result. Limiting your grain intake will help prevent these health conditions and, of course, have you feeling energetic and lighter on your feet.

Not only are these tips great for incorporating into your life in the months before your wedding, but they are also great to incorporate permanently to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Finding THE Dress

One of the most exciting purchases before your wedding is your dress. There are so many different dress features to decide on that make finding the perfect gown you'll walk down the aisle in a little challenging. But, the best part about the challenge is experiencing that heart fluttering moment when you finally find THE dress.

Dresses vary according to neckline (halter, scoop, strapless, etc.), waistline (Basque waist, dropped waist, empire waist), straps/sleeves (cap sleeves, long sleeves, spaghetti straps), and silhouette (A-line, mermaid, princess/ball gown). The dresses are also divided by their creators. Today’s blog feature wedding gown designer is Vera Wang. David’s Bridal in Pensacola is a local carrier of Vera Wang.

This A-line gown features a sweetheart top with a raised neckline design, delicately covered in a classy, lace pattern.

Strapless ball gowns with a fitted waist make a huge statement in elegance.

This mermaid gown with a sweetheart top is perfect for the bride wanting to emphasize her curves.

With hundreds of wedding gown designers in this world, brides have plenty of styles to choose from. Gulf Coast Bride will feature a couple of different gown designers each month to keep our readers up to date on the latest in bridal fashion.

Photo credit: www.verawang.com Fall 2013 wedding collection

Latest Trends in Jewelry: Think Bling and Think Big

The latest in bridal and anniversary jewelry as seen at one of Gulf Coast Bride’s jewelry store advertisers is quite eye catching. The trendy fashions for women include show-stopping rings and charm bracelets. While the men’s fashions entail large watches. Gulf Coast Bride spoke with the manager at Beré Jewelers of Pensacola, Ashleigh Bigby, for her input on these popular styles.

When it comes to recent trends in bridal and anniversary jewelry for women, Bigby said that halos are still popular. The halo ring design entails diamonds circling the larger, center stone. “Forevermark is a new brand that we started carrying and it’s been a huge success,” she added.

Bigby said the Forevermark collection, with a campaign slogan “The Center of My Universe,” is especially popular for both bridal and anniversary jewelry for women.

As for men, watches are the go-to gift for jewelry. “Specifically Breitling, which is an aviation-inspired brand,” Bigby described. Chronographs and oversized (larger than 45 mm) styles are being swept off the shelves for their appealing and bold features.

Another rising trend that Bigby has witnessed is the demand for Pandora bracelets. The unique charms make each bracelet stand out from the next. There are so many charms to choose from with each obtaining its own character and flair.

 

Dazzling rings, oversized watches, and charm bracelets are not just the latest trends in bridal and anniversary gifts, they're also a great and fun way to celebrate your special occasion.

Photo credit: Beré Jewelers Facebook page

Get Creative: DIY

There’s almost nothing brides love more than saving money on their wedding. The easiest way to cut some costs on wedding details like centerpieces, aisle vases, and wedding favors is to create them yourself.

Centerpieces are one of the first things that catch the guests’ eyes when they walk into the reception area. They can also be one of the most expensive details in a wedding as the beauty of flowers can be quite pricey. Why not use less expensive, but still beautiful flowers like carnations and fashion the centerpieces on your own?

DIY Wedding Centerpieces. Idea and photo from www.diyweddingsmag.com

Materials:

Candlestick, oasis floral foam sphere, and lots of carnations

Directions:

Step 1: Start with a candlestick. The entire bouquet ball will sit on the candlestick.

Step 2: Use any floral foam sphere. Soak it in water for 45 minutes, then drain on a paper towel.

Step 3: Work the carnations evenly around the foam sphere to distribute the weight until the sphere is fully covered.

When trying to present the perfect aisle to walk down during your first steps as man and wife, these vases with an assortment of flowers will make it special.

DIY Wedding Aisle Vases. Idea and photo from www.oncewed.com 

Materials:

Bygel containers, spray mount, fabric (to match your wedding decor), twine, scissors, and flowers

Directions:

Step 1: Cut a piece of fabric 14″ by 9″

Step 2: Using the spray mount, go outside and spray the entire container. Make sure to spray a little on the inside rim as well.

Step 3: Take your fabric and tightly wrap it around your container. Make sure to press the fabric firmly against the container and smooth out creases and air bubbles. Tuck the fabric at the top inside the container, then cut off any excess in the back to make a smooth line.

Step 4: Add twine or ribbon by tying it around the “hook” on the back of the container.

Step 5: Add flowers (real or fake)

Of course, what would your wedding be without the guests? Tell your guests thank you for being a part of your special day by making these cute and lasting wedding favors.

DIY Message in a Bottle Wedding Favor. Idea and photo from www.rosepedalsveganweddings.com 

Materials:

Glass or clear plastic bottles with corks (from a crafts store), paper for the messages (either white or a color that coordinates with your scheme), embroidery floss in a color that coordinates with your wedding colors, a pen, and scissors

Step 1: Choose a special message or meaningful quote for your bottles.

Step 2:  Cut your paper into ½ inch wide strips. The length will depend on your message. Handwrite your message onto the papers, and then roll them into tight scrolls.

Step 3: Tie your scrolls closed with the embroidery thread using a double knot. Trim the ends about ¼ inch short.

Step 4: Place corks in the bottles securely. (Note: Favors not suitable for small children that could swallow the corks.)

One thing is for sure, finding ways to save on your wedding bill by doing projects yourself is not just money smart, but it’s also a lot of fun!

Welcome to Our Bridal Blog

If you’re planning a wedding on the beautiful Gulf Coast you’ve come to the right place for guidance! Gulf Coast Bride Magazine’s goal is to aid brides-to-be in their process of finding the best venues, reception locations, caterers, florists, photographers, and so much more for their perfect wedding.

The beach makes for a stunning wedding ceremony location. Photo credit: Paige Budde Photography

Gulf Coast Bride Magazine is excited to share even more helpful information on all things wedding with its viewers via blog. We hope the blog inspires beautiful wedding day scenes and memories that will exceed every couple's dreams.

Throughout our blog journey, we will share with viewers information on the release of new issues of the magazine, helpful hints lists involving getting wedding day ready, features on upcoming local wedding-related events, DIY (do it yourself) projects for wedding décor and accessories, articles on couples that we’ve featured in our magazine, information about our advertisers, and more.

There are so many DIY projects out there for weddings. This is just one example of a unique, flower girl's basket. Photo credit: img3.etsystatic.com. 

We’d love to hear your feedback! If you ever have any questions or comments about a blog post, or maybe have an idea for a future post that you’d like to see us write about, please contact us at GulfCoastBride@gmail.com. For more information, please visit our website at www.gcbride.com or follow us on Facebook.