The Bands

Not the music. The rings! Wedding rings should be stylized to the duo's tastes. Of course, I'm still waiting for feedback, but what I love is Rose Gold. Rose gold has a fire to it that shines in the light with a reddish tint. Traditionally wedding bands are just that, bands, but there have been rings with stones in them, typically for the lady.

Of course, there's no limit to the kind of ring you get. The engagement ring is meant to be the real shocker, but the wedding ring should be agreed upon for matching. Of course, some traditionalists tend to pass down heirlooms from kin to kin, and while it saves on cost, it's also a memento that has more than new value. The only issue is sizing, which is why some new couples choose to do their own wedding bands anyway.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with either way. Generally it's left up to the wedded to decide. I'm of the 'it never hurts to look' persuasion myself. Ideally, I lean towards the simpler styles, as I don't want something that will get hit too much, or cause a problem with daily wear.

A fun fact: In Hindu weddings, the bride is given a Mangalsutra that she will wear for the rest of her married life. It's kind of like our version of the wedding ring.

Research: Disney Weddings

The times have certainly changed. You can now have a 'dream' wedding at Disney World, Disney Land, Or on a Cruise Line. Playing around on the website, you're more than welcome to play with all the options and create your special event with a budget of "I'm Just Dreaming." 

With the selections you can choose from come numbers for amounts of guests, entertainment, venues, flowers, cakes, and addons. You're provided with a wedding planner to help you make your special day included in the cost of the entire event. 

Just to mess around, I picked Magic Kingdom and set the 18 guest option. Along with what's included you're able to add, for an additional price, band members, photo options, and specialty photoshoots, including a Trash The Dress album. Now that's dedication.

Your options for the wedding are available from loads of resorts, or for the right number of guests, the castle inside the park. Be warned, depending on your venue, you're going to pay for it. My base price of 4,800 USD jumped to 12,000 USD really fast with just a few photo add-ons, and a visit to the Gran Floridian. Included though, was 2 annual passes for the bride and groom. Pretty useless if you're from out of state, but still nifty.

All in all it's actually a pretty sweet deal all things considered. Weddings can cost upwards of 10,000 USD by themselves regularly. Now you're giving Disney the responsibility of the hassle, the wear and tear, and entertainment. So, I actually have to say it may be worth the ride. 

If you're curious and want to make your own dream, see what you can do.

The Setting

Weddings are always so meticulously planned. Like a good book the setting is everything to create a bigger picture. Some are held at beaches, outside, at recreational centers, at churches, even in rented mansions for the occasion. It all comes down to the price when you're planning your special day. One of the most expensive parts is going to always be planning the location, gauging how many guests you're going to need room for, deciding if the reception and ceremony are going to be in the same building, and even deciding if you want to take the chance in dirtying a dress by having an outdoor event.

Above are pictured two different settings. One is quite obviously a traditional Indian-style ceremony stage, while the other is a small recreational center. Both are indoors. Now, the perks of having an indoor ceremony are dependant on where you are. During the rainy, or snowy seasons you'll definitely want to keep your guests indoors to prevent any dresses from being ruined, and to keep any children satisfied long enough to sit through the event. If you're in a hot and muggy state, it's also probably better to stay indoors unless you're not worried about bugs or sweating makeup and hair out of your precious do's'.

If you want to be outdoor, there's always the option of a pavillion or setting some covering up depending on how much room you'll be needing. It's by far the cheapest way to go sometimes, because of the space being able to be rented or requested from a park, and the room for your guests is nearly limitless. The only considerations you'll need are how many tables and chairs you'll have to rent, and what the costs of building a covering will cost. You'll have to work with some time restraints with getting things up or down, but it really does 'set the stage'.

Alternatively, the church is always a consideration because of everything already being right there. You've got your minister, your pews, and usually some sort of piano or organ for the typical wedding march if that's what floats your boat. My only gripe is that I'm not religious. I'd of course go with whatever floats Tony's boat in this case, but different churches adhere to different traditions. It can have an impact on your ceremony if you choose to follow them. 

Being from Florida, an outdoor event is out. There's no way I'm getting my hair done only to have it turn to mush in less than an hour. Then there's the fact I'd like to have a train. It looks like my options are the church and the recreational center. Then again, we may be married somewhere else. It's still nice to dream. 

Alternatively, if you're feeling froggy you can also have the real 'fairytale' experience. Disney will do weddings and your honeymoon can be a ferry or monorail ride away. Good luck with the price. 

Ironically I'm always pining for a disney wedding.

The Veil

The veil, though now not used quite as often anymore is a staple of the traditional wedding. Usually it's worn walking down the aisle, and is lifted once at the end. Most of the time it's made of lace and can have some pretty fancy trims or designs in it, range from two-to longer than ten feet, and can act as a train instead of the dress itself. 

What I've got my sights set on here is a veil sheer enough to not hide any of the dress in the back, have some sort of color to it, and to have some pretty nice embroidery. It's been pretty agreed on by both of us that the cathedral length is what we should be setting our sights for, because hey, even a medium veil will probably hit the floor for me anyway. 

Though again, the veil color and design heavily relies on the color and cut of the dress, it's actually pretty easy to find a veil to match whatever you're looking for. They can also be purchased from a place such as David's Bridal and have the trim dyed to match whatever you're looking for. Though, I wouldn't rely on anything like that for any kind of extravagant trim unless they've already got it in stock. 

Let's talk about: The Culture Red

Red is a very traditional color no matter where you go. It has deep symbolism in every country for very different things.

In India, the red dress is symbolic of luck and a sacred color to the Hindi religion. It is very much like white is for the traditionalist church-going wedding. Some of the indian sari are beautiful in their vibrancy, and the wedding can truly feel like a royal affair with the colors of gold, red, burgundy, and earth tones.

A little further East, China uses red as their wedding color of choice because of the symbolism of joy, love, and prosperity. In most Chinese traditions, the wedding envelopes are red, baskets are red, and gifts are given in red. These days, some traditions have westernized and utilize the white dress. Once again gold is a heavily used color in the designs.

It is much the same in Japan, where the red-lined kimono means new beginnings and happiness. Most kimono are very heavy, having so many layers that all must be put on with help, and again have the traditional headpiece. The ladies who wear them tend to almost look ethereal. Though the tradition is red and white, I found the one below too gorgeous to pass up.

Korea and Taiwan also use the traditional Asian red, but the note here is the symbol of the color. In America red can be said to be love, passion, or ferocity. On the other hand it is associated with anger, fury, or fire. The color has a very regal look to it to me. Perhaps not as much as purple, but it stands that the color is beautiful and should be used, not shied away from.

Let's talk about: Corsets

Corsets have been a huge influence on the wedding dress look. A corset slims the brides' waist and allows for a second skirt to be used during the reception so that transferring from ceremony to reception is less of a problem.

A lady with an hourglass figure may find it easier to wear a corset top to keep the pains of having the dress seriously altered off the playing field. Some dresses are just not made for a woman with a larger bust, and larger hips. This is also true for bridesmaids. 

Corsets not only give the front of the dress a bit of interest, but give the bride or dress-wearer the option of choosing a colored lace for the back of the dress and add some beautiful interest to the back of a gown. Of course, the usual perks of wearing a corset apply. The curves are accentuated, and torso is thinned out so that the wearer has a more interesting shape, and no shapewear needs to be worn beneath. The corset also gives the wearer bust support, which is incredibly important for the woman with a larger bust. 

Of course, the corset also gives the bride options for a two-toned dress as well, and the base of the corset may either be hidden by a slip-over cover or a sash to make the dress look more like one piece. Some corsets are made to be shown off, and have no need to be hidden at all. The possibilities of the corset are endless, and can really add to a classy look when paired with a lace sleeve-jacket, or worn with the proper skirt.

The Dress Part 2

Scouring the internet for a red and white dress that doesn't look cheap or trashy is hard. Therefore, these dresses below are dresses that will all work with a separate, custom red sash that can be tied up into a bow before the ceremony, and still add to the image instead of taking away from it. Some of them have sleeves, some of them do not. My personal favorites are the second and last image. I feel the lace sleeves are beautiful with the open neck in the second, and the entire lace top is absolutely stunning.

The Bridesmaids

I know the traditions. The bridesmaids should all be the same, and wear boring dresses to not take away from the bride. I don't agree with this tradition. I invited a select few people to stand with me so that they would be noticed, and would feel beautiful and special. Therefore, this tradition is made to be broken.

It would be best if I could find a specific dress that came in a number of styles, short, medium, long, sleeveless, sleeved, to fit the wearer's needs or body type. They shouldn't feel uncomfortable standing at the front, or be judged for anything. Below are a couple of dresses I've picked (assumedly they will be red) that have something to them that makes them interesting. Of course, the bridesmaids will all carry their flowers, and all be allowed to pick their shoes (whether they be flats or heels) as long as they get the correct color.

Davids Bridal offers what I look for in dresses, however have the option of dying the shoes Apple, to fit the needs of the Wedding Party. That will probably be what happens.

Of course, the maid of honor is the star of the show, the cream of the crop, and I'd be speaking with her about everything she'd be wearing. I want her to give me as much input as I'm telling you guys. She will have the option of choosing her dress from a number, depending on what I feel she looks the best in.

It all comes down to the fact she should look the most interesting. Though compared to the chosen dress some of these have more interest, keep in mind the 'chosen' dress isn't final, and depending on the bridesmaids and maid of honor, I may decide just to change it altogether to fit.

The Groom

One thing Tony and I agree on completely is that bow ties are absolutely idiotic. The tie is the way to go, giving the groom the opportunity to bring more color to his outfit as well. While we haven't actually looked at tuxedos yet (I'm leaving that to him,) we have looked at some sample vests.

the color will be dependent on the wedding dress accent, but it would be nice if the tie were two-toned as well. I'd like him to be the talk of the wedding, after all it's his day too.

The Nails

The fastest way to scare Tony is to show him nails that can destroy him. Remember, my goal is to keep everything solid or simplistic. The design below caught my attention, of course without the hearts, but the nails are far too long to even consider when getting into the dress.

The shine is interesting, and the bows are absolutely adorable, but they're way too long, and the design can absolutely not be transferred to the toes, especially in closed toe shoes.

On the other hand, these have a very light design that doesn't overpower the fingers, look gaudy, and can have more done to them if desired. The nail length is short but sweet, keeping the nails from tearing the dress or veil by accident while dressing or moving around.