How to DIY Wedding Theme?

A wedding theme should remain personal and reflect the individual style and taste of the bride and groom.

A wedding theme can be designed based on a decorative element or wedding motif such as butterflies, stars or hearts and they can be designed on a cultural or historical element such as Chinese, Hawaiian or Medieval. 

A wedding theme can be designed using the couple’s favourite colours, flowers, decoration or even a favourite location.

Cultural wedding themes are a good idea if you are marrying into a family from a different cultural background. Take the best of both cultures, being respectful towards any rituals and symbols you might include in your wedding. For example Euro-Asian wedding can use a dramatic combination of colours, red and gold or hot pink and silver. For the decorations think bamboo, river pebbles, paper lanterns, fans or silks. You might hold a Tea Ceremony and involve the parents of the bride and groom in a spiritual way.

Wedding dress plaza says that the use of fashion to epitomize an era is another wedding theme idea. It may be a simple, subtle reflection made obvious in the style of your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses, or you can go all the way have your wedding guests dress from that era.

A 1920's wedding might might see you in a flapper style wedding dress with lots of beading and a cloche hat. The band you choose will play tunes from the 20's while your wedding guests dance the Charleston.

The location of your wedding and the wedding venue itself can inspire you to a particular wedding theme. It may be a beach side wedding venue, a wedding venue in the country or a grand hotel city ballroom built and decorated in the style of the 1920's.

When deciding on a wedding theme, don't mix and match your themes. To make the right impact choose a theme and stick to it.

Where to Begin

Firstly establish the level of formality, a colour and if you choose a motif.

Will you have a formal, traditional wedding with engraved wedding invitations addressed in the correct manner according to wedding etiquette with all your wedding guests in morning suit, black or white tie?

Or will your wedding be less formal with your wedding guests wearing cool linen shirts as you exchange your vows on the beach.

When deciding on a colour for your wedding, choose one or two colours with a base of white or black. If you are a rainbow bride make sure the colours you choose don't clash and sit well in harmony together.

Steer away from primary colours such as red, yellow, blue and orange, that will look a little too preschool. For brights try hot pink, yellow, lime green, turquoise blue and orange or for more subdued look use the same colour but in a soft pastel tone.

Tip:

If you are having bridesmaids in bold or multicoloured dresses make sure you, as the bride aren't the shrinking violet. Keep the bridesmaids dresses simple if they are in eye catching, bright colours and your wedding dress more elaborate.

The Wedding Motif

The wedding motif, if you choose to have one, becomes more a logo, symbolic of your wedding.

A wedding motif, can be carried throughout every element of your wedding, as decoration on your wedding stationey, the guests tables to your wedding cake. For example, you might choose starfish or sea horses if you are beach lovers and are holding a wedding by the sea, or a butterfly, dove or flower such as a rose for a garden wedding.

Alternatively choose to use your own personal monogram, this works well for more formal weddings

Tip:

The wedding invitation will be the first hint to your wedding guests of your wedding day. The colours in the ink, the formality of the address, the colours and the adornments on your wedding invitations will set the scene and prepare your wedding guests with anticipation for your wedding day.

Do You Want To Make Your Wedding Unique?

Each detail at a wedding speaks volumes about the couple. If a wedding is barefoot or catered by friends and family, then the couple is laid back. If the wedding is under the reigns of a wedding planner, then the couple is supremely selective. No matter which pairing you may be, it’s always satisfying to add some handmade, crafty goodness to the day. Wedding dress plaza shows you how to make your own shoes, jewellery and invites to make your wedding extra special and unique.

Make your own shoes

Since its launch in October 2009, online shoe shop Shoes of Prey has been a success. A completely personalised online shoe shopping experience, Shoes of Prey allows you to play shoe designer and design your own bespoke shoes for any occasion. With almost countless colour and style combinations, the shoes come in a variety of heights from flats to 4.5-inch heels and range in price from $195 to $350. For a classic bridal look, go for a subtle shade in soft Italian silk, or for a bolder bride with a striking wedding theme, choose a glitter, fishskin or snakeskin. Addictive and utterly exciting, it takes ten mere minutes to design the shoes and five weeks for them to arrive at your front door. With shoes often the hardest item to find for a wedding, it’s the place many brides are going to channel their inner Christian Louboutin.

Make your own jewellery

Recently launched site StyleRocks allows you to design your own jewellery for the big day. It’s the perfect place to order and customise your wedding bands, allowing you to choose the style, the metal, the stones and the finish. We love the idea of couples having matching jewellery for the day, and if the groom isn’t a fan of rings, you can easily design the perfect pair of cufflinks for him with a sweet sentiment engraved on them. With a commitment to only using the best metals and stones, StyleRocks offers sterling silver, 9 and 18 carat gold in rose, yellow and white gold. Made in Australia and shipped within two to four weeks, prepare for your jewellery collection to suddenly expand.

Make your own paperie

One Heart Weddings is the beautiful brainchild of the Ellinée design house. Based in the crafty capital of the USA, Portland, Oregon, One Heart Weddings has everything you need for beautiful paperie for your wedding. The site contains dozens of charming DIY stationery templates that you can personalise online and print out at home. With designs to suit every taste, One Heart Weddings has got you covered for wedding announcements, save the date cards, invites, menus, programs and thank you notes. We love the video tutorial to help you get started and the Ellinée blog for clever styling ideas.

A groom’s guide to skincare

Wedding dress plaza reveals that everyone wants to look their best at a wedding – even the boys. Whether your man is a bit hopeless in the skincare department or is sneaking some of your La Mer, the following steps will sort him out. We recommend starting a routine at least three months prior to the big day so he’s guaranteed great skin for those wedding photos and for an extra boost in confidence.

The pro tip
“Speed and efficiency is the key to a new regime,” explains Sue Dann, the national sales and training manager for Omiderm (the distributors of great brands such as the men’s Manage Your Skin and Dr Spiller). “Who wants to spend time on something that doesn't work? So make the skincare routine simple but effective from the outset. The three step habit of cleansing, toning and hydrating is ideal, using products that will soothe the skin.”

Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing just after you rise in the morning, and at nighttime before bed is the most essential part of a good skincare routine. Cleansers remove dirt, excess oils, dead skin cells and other pollutants encountered throughout the day. We recommend Kahina Facial Cleanser, which is stored in a violet glass bottle that acts as a preservative for the natural product as it blocks damaging UV rays.

L’Heureux gets technical and explains the benefits of new cult ingredient Argan oil: “It’s rich in antioxidants, meaning it helps to treat signs of aging while helping to prevent future aging. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to calm redness and irritation, including those caused by skin conditions like eczema or dermatitis. The essential fatty acids present in Argan oil recondition skin tone and texture, making it more supple and restoring healthy collagen structure. High in vitamin E, Argan oil treats scars and surface irregularities. Finally, plant sterols in Argan oil are naturally antibacterial – a major factor in preventing breakouts.”

As Dann mentioned above, toning is also a part of a good skincare routine. Not essential for everyday use, a toner is great for occasions when you have more dirt on the skin than usual, such as after a big gym session, a rugby match, or after a day at the beach using thick sunscreen.

Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliating is a simple twice a week step. Most exfoliators contain tiny granules that buff the skin, remove deeply embedded impurities and aid in the process of cell turnover leaving skin super clean and fresh looking. Try Biotherm’s Facial Exfoliator gel or Dr Spiller’s Jojoba Peeling Cream.

Step 3: Hydrate & protect
Hydrating the skin with a gel, lotion or cream moisturiser after cleansing helps protect the skin from the elements and maintain balance. There are generally four different skin types (dry, normal, oily or acne prone) however it is quite common that one may have two or more of the types at the same time. Wedding dress plaza explains the best way to figure out your skin type: “If you can feel a sensation on your skin e.g. tightness, sensitivity or oiliness, then you have a skin concern or type. One way to think about this is that if you can ‘feel’ your skin there is a problem with it. Healthy skin is similar to any other organ – if it is balanced and functioning then there should not be any sensation connected to it.”

Sunscreen (with UVA and UVB) is essential in daily moisturiser. Thankfully, most moisturisers with sunscreen have a very neutral smell or don’t smell at all. Try Palmer’s Daily Facial Lotion SPF 15 and in the evening a sunscreen-free moisturiser such as Manage Your Skin’s Daily Moisturising Fluid. 

6 Ways to Weather-Proof Your Summer Wedding Hairstyle

Sticky and humid conditions mean frizzy locks, while dry and scorching temps can flatten your style. Here are the tips and tools to keep volume under control provided by wedding dress plaza.

Get comfy in that chair
For brides in both humid and arid pockets of the country, patience is key: While it's no fun to sit through a lengthy blowout when it's 90 degrees outside, hair has to be bone-dry to hold a set, whether it's a chignon or bouncy waves. "When hair is moist, it's heavy," says Ouidad Salon senior stylist Morgan Willhite. "That weight can collapse an updo."

Have a cocktail 
Chances are you'll need more than one hair potion to achieve the look you want. That can mean layering—e.g., a gel followed by a serum. But it can also mean mixing two products together to create a customized cocktail. Why the double whammy? "I don't care how great it is; one product can't do everything," says salon owner Antonio Prieto. Cocktailing is key during the tricky summer months, so if that's when your wedding is, be sure to address it in your hair trial.

For frizz prevention, apply gel or serum liberally
"Be organized with your application," advises Willhite. "If you have a lot of hair, sectioning first is a great idea."

To short-circuit flopping, rollers are the bomb 
In Denver, where dry heat can make hair droop, salon owner Matthew Morris swears by hot rollers. "They really make the style last," he says. His other big-hair musts: Volumizing shampoo and thickening spray.

Don't overdo it 
One mid-reception blast of hairspray or dab of flyaway tamer is fine, but don't go overboard with the touch-ups. "A lot of brides go crazy, and their hair winds up looking crispy," says Prieto. "If there's a little bit of frizz, it's okay." Seriously. It's okay.

Consider keratin
Though the recent "keratin controversy" turns out to be more of a health issue for salon staffers than clients (refresher: The Brazilian Blowout came under fire in 2010, when stylists using the company's formaldehyde-based hair straightener complained of nosebleeds), it paved the way for a host of gentle, formaldehyde-free at-home retexturizers. One application of Bumble and Bumble's new defrizzing Concen-Straight Smoothing Treatment (above, right; $45) lasts for 30 shampoos, and it can be deployed in tandem (or not) with a salon treatment of the same name. Similarly, Pure NV BKT Keratin 2 Go ($50) is the take-out version of the company's straightening services. Salon Sally Hershberger Keratin RX (above, left; $24) is even milder; infused with what Hershlberger calls "cashmere extract," it can be spritzed on every day. Now we can all breathe easier.

How to get breathtaking wedding day-ready skin in 30 minutes?

Blah complexions begone! Get the treatment known as the Madonna facial from Australian skincare brand Intraceuticals. The Queen of Pop is rumoured to have two oxygen tanks in her home for weekly treatments of therapeutic-grade oxygen that infuse natural moisture-binding hyaluronic acid, vitamins and green-tea serums into the skin for a plump, pristine complexion. Celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke revealed to wedding dress plaza that I introduced it to Madonna and Naomi Campbell, and now everyone is using it.

The specifics
The Intraceuticals Infusion is a mega moisture boost perfect for tired skin and is ideal for big events when you want to look like you’ve slept for days. Just ask Eva Longoria, Katy Perry and model Jessica Stam who’ve all had the treatment the day before red-carpet events. After all it’s a non-irritating treatment with instant gratification. For longer lasting and more impressive results, six sessions are recommended leading up to the big day.

The process
The Infusion is a no-fuss, relaxing half hour out of the day. During the treatment, skin is thoroughly cleansed and primed for the infusion. A fine mist of serum is then sprayed onto the skin and infused using pressurised oxygen. Areas of concern, such as fine lines, acne and pigmentation, are given more time and attention under the oxygen and the Intraceuticals range of products are layered onto the skin to seal in moisture and prolong the effects.

The results
The Intraceuticals Infusion leaves skin brighter, firmer and looking plump and perfect for three to four days. For longer lasting effects have weekly treatments combined with the Intraceuticals at-home skincare range.

Eight Steps To Get Gorgeous Wedding Skin

It's a month before the wedding, and your skin's not exactly aglow? Don't fret. This speed guide will get you there fast

1. Don't Starve
"Skimping on nutrients leads to tired-looking skin," warns wedding dress plaza. "Eat lots of protein, avocados, almonds, and olive oil."

2. Hydrate
"Water can smooth out wrinkles; alcohol does the exact opposite," warns Carla Watts, lead aesthetician at Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie. Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator ($36) works well as a topical catalyst.

3. Pill Pop
Nature's Life Marine Collagen supplements ($17) contain vitamin C, key for healthy collagen, explains hormonal specialist Rebecca Booth, M.D. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution ($50) clarifies skin sans meds.

4. Sleep
"It's vital for keeping a vibrant color," says skin-care expert Nerida Joy. Over-the-counter diphenhydramine—Help I Can't Sleep caplets ($4)—safely puts insomniacs to bed.

5. Perspire
"Increased circulation boosts detoxification and cell renewal," explains Watts. Skyn Iceland Glacial cleansing cloths ($15) keep pores oil-free.

6. Ditch Coffee
Holistic physician Michael Finkelstein recommends Teatulia "Neem Nectar" tea ($5 for six bags) to reduce redness, fade acne scars, and restore balance to the skin.

7. Scrub
"Exfoliate twice weekly to shed millions of dead skin cells. Otherwise they'll plug pores, and bacteria in follicles will erupt," says wedding dress plaza. Try Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Retexturizer ($38).

8. Depuff
Aesthetician Renée Rouleau suggests applying his vitamin C eye serum ($43), chilled, the night before the wedding—especially after all those teary rehearsal-dinner toasts.

How To Lose Weight For Your Wedding

One of the first things on a bride’s mind after she becomes engaged is likely to be how she is going to look in a bridal gown. Most brides aim to lose a bit of weight before they get married, even those that are fairly slim to begin with. Unfortunately, many brides decide to starve themselves before the wedding to get the look they want, only to pile weight back on after the honeymoon.

Wedding dress plaza recommends that to lose weight effectively and keep it off, you need to look at making long term lifestyle changes, rather than going on a short term diet. You should look at the following five areas and see where you can make gradual changes:

1.  What you eat. Keep a food diary detailing what you eat each day and see where you can substitute healthy alternatives to foods that are high in calories.

2.  How much you eat. One of the simplest ways to lose weight is to cut down your portion sizes. Serve food on smaller plates and only eat until you feel full, not until you feel bloated.

3.  When you eat. Do you eat a large meal late in the evening? Perhaps you could consider eating a larger lunch and just having a light snack in the evening. Make sure you aren’t skipping breakfast, and try to avoid snacks between meals.

4.  What you drink. Do you regularly drink alcohol, sugary fizzy drinks or hot drinks with milk and sugar? Try to cut down on these and look for healthier alternatives such as fruit teas. Make sure you drink six to eight glasses of water every day.

5.  How you exercise. Find a form of exercise you enjoy, whether it is a brisk walk in the park or a dance class, and make sure you do it for an hour at least twice a week.

Weight loss timescale

Many brides leave it too late to start losing weight, resulting in crash dieting or near starvation in the weeks leading up to the wedding. To lose weight but stay healthy, your lifestyle and fitness regime should start around eight months before the wedding. You can safely lose around a kilogram a month and you should aim to reach your target weight about two months before the big day ready for your final dress fitting.

Tips for losing weight and keeping it off

Set a target weight and keep a weekly record of how your weight loss is progressing. Indicate milestones along the way and give yourself a little treat each time you reach one. Maintain your record after the wedding so you can see if the weight is staying off and give yourself a treat each month if you stay within a set weight range.

Flick through a wedding magazine and choose a photo of a bride you would like to look like. Pin it to your fridge door or store cupboard to remind you to think twice when you’re reaching for that snack food. Once you’re married, replace the photo with one of you on your wedding day to remind you how great you looked.

Joining a weight loss group, or finding a friend to lose weight with will keep you motivated and will make sure you weigh yourself regularly so the weight can’t creep back on without you noticing. Letting friends and family know you are trying to lose weight will stop them tempting you with sweet treats.