Calling all brides-to-be. HITCHED!, the bridal wear boutique that brings you a number of international designer collections such as Temperley London and Rivini is having a whopping sample sale. Starting this coming Monday, 19th August, you can snap up selected gowns and accessories for up to 75% off their original price. Hurry up and make that appointment now!
We all know that girls (or at least most of them) like their bling but who can fork out tens of thousands of bucks on jewellery that they can only wear every so often? In comes CARAT*, the London jewellers that will make you feel like a princess and may even become your new best-friend. All the sparkly jewels that you see are made from hand cut synthetic gem stones and to the untrained eye, looks as good as the natural stones but at a fraction of the price. When I visited the shop last month, I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between my natural diamond ring and the CARAT* solitaire version (I hope my hubby doesn’t read this). And because the prices are so darn reasonable, you won’t need to lock it up in the safe and only wear it on your wedding day. You can even be the gracious bride and treat your bridesmaids to a sparkly gift and not feel like it’s costed you an arm or a leg. To top it off, if you visit the newly opened Bridal Room in Harbour City, you can even bring your wedding outfits in and match CARAT*’s array of jewels with your gowns. Now, there’s no more wondering whether you’ll look picture perfect on your big day.
Photo credit: CARAT*
We Love, Yu. Yes, we do. And it’s not only because we like supporting a fellow Chinese. The Singaporean designer Ee-Lyn Tang’s frocks are designed with the modern bride in mind; soft and clean lines that will take you from the aisle all the way to the dance floor. See for yourself how Love, Yu’s collection will flatter your hot bod and bring out the best in you at Miss Bride Wedding Shop’s first ever trunk show from 4th – 12th May 2013. What’s more, if you order your Love, Yu dress during that period, you’ll even bag yourself an extra 10% discount. Make your appointment now!
Photo credits: Shopbop **N.B. Gowns are selections from Shopbop and may not necessarily be available at Miss Bride Wedding Shop.
Gone are the days of sky high heels that make you look more Pretty Woman in her former life than a classy bride. Even Victoria Beckham has been seen ditching her heels and replacing it with more sensible flats. Who can blame her? They’re comfy, cute, practical and the choices out there now mean that you don’t skimp on style. Perfect for outdoor weddings where heels can easily sink into the sand or grass, you won’t need to worry about tripping or making a fool of yourself when walking down the aisle. Now, you can dance the night away with your hubby and not have to care about your delicate feet.
Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Maharani Weddings, Meg Smith Photography via Snippet & Ink, Blueberry Photography via Style Me Pretty, Jeff Wallace Photography via One Wed, Jose Villa via Yes Bride
Where to buy your wedding flats….
Photo credits: 1. BHLDN ; 2. J.Crew ; 3. Zara ; 4. ShopRuche
What a lovely day. With humidity at 97%, even that dehumidifier ain’t helping with the dampness nor is it doing wonders for my hair. It makes me want to go for a bold chop (again) to a hairstyle that’s more manageable and one that feels a whole lot lighter. It’s fine for me as I’m married already (better not let the hubby read this) but what about all those brides who want to go for the chop but are worried about their hair on their wedding day? After all, photo after photo shows brides with long flowy hair or done up in a bun. Don’t be afraid to be different and show off your pixie cut. Iconic beauty, Audrey Hepburn did it when she married Mel Ferrer back in the 50s and so did Anne Hathaway when she said ‘I Do’ to Adam Shulman in her custom Valentino gown and veil. If you want to create a softer look, add romantic headpieces such as a birdcage veil or a sparkly headband. Embrace your youthful look and rock on.
Photo credits (clockwise from top left): Cly Creation via Lovely Bride, Austin Gros via Style Me Pretty, Vogue via Bella Naija, Heather Jowett via Wedding Obsession, Access Fashion, J Frey Photo via Ornent – Etsy, Christa Elyce
Happy Women’s Day pretty ladies! If you’re having a hen night (or bachelorette party for the American folks), have you thought about what you want to do or are you happy leaving the task to your bridesmaids? To give you a glimpse into how the celebs do it, our guest blogger at Polestars, has rounded up some pretty funny and unconventional parties.
“The boundaries of what is possible for your hen party are almost non-existent; the world is your oyster, and you can do whatever you want on your special night (or day!). As way of inspiration, here are some of the most fun and unusual hen party and stag do ideas we’ve heard of here.
Photo credit: Mike Colón
Making a profit
Ever seen “Real Housewives of Orange County”? No, neither have most other people. But that didn’t stop TV star Tamra Barney from charging $100 a ticket for 200 members of the public to witness to her bachelorette party in a U.S. bar.
Barney’s big event was a relatively tame three-hour cocktail party on a Wednesday evening, at her local watering hole. With speciality drinks, Mediterranean tapas, and gift bags for guests, it was classy- and quiet.
Combining a public appearance with a personal celebration might not be possible for us non-famous ‘civilians’ out there, but it could serve as inspiration as a way to combine raising money for your favourite charity or honeymoon fund!
Photo credit: Wenn.com via Posh24.com
Going Double
When Sir Eton John married fiancé David Furnish, they opted for a joint stag do the night before the wedding, so that they could party as a two and start as they meant to go on.
With celeb friends like Liz Hurley, Orlando Bloom and Sir Ian McKellen close to both men, it meant that nobody had to pick who to celebrate with- it was just a big old love-in at one of London’s trendiest Cabaret clubs. (Partying together also meant they could enjoy the naked waiters together, too…)
Surprisingly for one of the wealthiest couples around, the duo saved a bit of cash for their wedding by serving sparkling wine over champagne, and having their (albeit very famous) friends perform for them for free. Even the stripper was a boy band member!
Photo credit: Fanpop
Wearing a nappy
Apparently, at Hollywood star Jimmy Stewart’s bachelor bash, way back in 1949, guests were paid to call him ‘daddy’ all night. Even more bizarrely, the guy who played the munchkin in Wizard of Oz, Jerry Maren, put on a baby costume and was supposed to pee on the guest of honour.
It’s not what you’d call a conventional stag party, but at least Stewart’s attitude goes to show that no matter how crazy your demands, anything goes…
Photo credit: Jonathan Short via News.com.au
Being the flyest kid on the block
Nobody will ever out-rank Kate Moss in the cool stakes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few tips from her hen weekend.
Before wedding Jamie Hinch, Moss took a group of gal pals to a music festival VIP-style, holing up in a nearby posh hotel, running amok on fairground rides, and getting about in giant pink Hummers.
And even though her uber-awesome guest list featured some of the best-known names in fashion, proceedings were pretty much as you’d expect for any hen party. Lots of drinking, lots of laughing- and what happened at the hen party STAYED in the hen party!
Photo credit: Swns.com via Daily Mail
As a last dying wish
Finally, for some a hen party will always remain a dream. For 21-year old Sarah Knight, a hen party is something she knows she’ll never have- because she is dying of terminal cancer. But, in an inspiring show of positivity and bravery, Sarah declared she didn’t need to be getting married in order to get a full hen party experience. As part of her “Bucket List” she threw herself a pretend hen party at her local pub.
On hearing of her party, the Duchess of York sent through a generous hamper of goodies to help get the mood set- including feather boas, cocktail makers and ‘L’-plates.
How lovely is that?!
You better get your credit cards out because there’s a 20% discount off selected collections at J.Crew‘s wedding shop, which includes wedding dresses and accessories for your gorgeous self and the colourful frocks for your bridesmaids. Make sure to read their terms as some items are not entitled for the discount. Having said that, there’s still plenty for you to choose from that’ll make you and your girls look deliciously chic.
**Discount code: LOVE**
**Discount valid till 3rd March 2013 11:59pm ET**
Photo credit: J.Crew
You’ve been indulging over the holidays, the stress of the wedding planning is getting to you and you’re breaking out. Don’t worry, our guest blogger Laura Jane Williams is here to help. Read on as she gives you some tips on getting and maintaining good skin. She’s even released a free adult acne guide that every bride-to-be should read in preparation of her special day (and it’s fun to read too!).
Photo credit: Court House Clinics
“Let’s talk about spots on your wedding day. I know, I know- acne is a bride’s worst nightmare. But it’s because of this that it pays to do a little research about how the lifestyle you have in the run-up to your wedding can aggravate skin. Forewarned is forearmed, after all…
What do you do when you wake up on your wedding day and a spot or blemish has appeared overnight? Consider some of these foolproof tips for bridal-acne nightmares, from emergency tricks, to self-confidence boosts; everything that will get you to the alter feeling and looking like the princess bride that you should be.
Get a massage
Before we look at external things you can do for your skin, it’s important to remember that as the body’s largest organ skin health has a lot to do with what we do to our insides. A manual lymphatic drainage massage can get all the important fluids in your body moving, curing any blockages that might be causing you to retain nasty toxins and threatening your bridal glow. Combined with oodles of water, this should ensure that your insides are as clean as clean can be, and help avoid any nasty acne surprises.
Cleanse
A backed-up colon can be responsible for dull complexions, so think about one or two sessions of colonic irrigation in the weeks before the wedding. Flushing out your colon will not only help your body continue to detoxify, but there is evidence to suggest that you’ll look noticeably slimmer after purging yourself of what might have been bringing your body down.
Exercise
Continuing on the theme of toxin-fighting: exercise. Working up a sweat for thirty minutes a day has several benefits. One, you’ll release endorphins, making you happy. Two, if you are happy, you’ll handle the stress of wedding planning better, and thus fight the free radicals that come from a building blood pressure. And three, you’ll purge yourself of the stuff waiting to give you acne. In fact, can you spot a theme here? PURGE, PURGE, PURGE. Combine this with a five-day juice detox and you’ll be sure to have expelled all the bad stuff that could threaten a breakout.
Spot Management
If, after all this, you wake up with a blemish on your big day, DON’T PANIC. There are a couple of crucial things you can do:
Normally, you shouldn’t squeeze or touch a spot. BUT. If you wake up to a yellow head on a zit, this is the one time you have permission to blitz it.
1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Steam your face for ten minutes- pop some tea tree in the water for extra help.
3. Use a magnifying mirror and with a tissue gently squeeze the spot until the puss eases out. Don’t squeeze too hard, or else you’ll bleed.
4. When the head is gone hold the tissue over the area to soak up any fluid, and then use an ice cube to reduce the swelling you will have caused.
5. Use a Q-tip to apply tea tree oil to the area to make sure you don’t get an infection. It might sting a little.
Once you’ve dealt with the head and made up your face as normal, forget about it. No-one cares if you have a spot. YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED! Nothing is bigger than that.
And as for the photos? That’s what airbrushing is for.
I officially have Miranda Kerr envy. Who doesn’t? She’s got those dimples, the piercing blue eyes, the body AND married to Orlando Bloom. And now, as if she hasn’t made most of us jealous enough, she’s gone onto model Victoria’s Secret’s new bridal line campaign. It’s a collection of lace-y treats that’ll make your hubby wish he’d married you earlier. Perhaps don’t show him the below photos.
**Victoria’s Secret ships internationally!**
Photo credits: Victoria’s Secret via
