Manolo for the Brides

I saw a recently-engaged friend of mine the other day. She and her fiancé took a while getting a ring and so I’d been hungrily waiting to see what they had picked out together. I prefer surprises, but different strokes for different folks! She was wearing a absolutely gorgeous sapphire engagement ring like the one above from FineJewelers.com.

You may be aware that Prince Charles gave Diana Spencer a sapphire engagement ring and that sapphires are traditionally a symbol of faithfulness. You may also be aware that sapphires range in color from deep blue to violet to orange to white. You may not know how to choose a quality sapphire. I didn’t. Every gem is different and thus there are different guidelines for choosing different sorts of gems!

EHow has a few tips to help novice sapphire lovers find the right stone.

Ask if the stone has been treated in any way. Some common treatments to enhance gems include irradiation, heat treatment, dyeing and coating. Not all of these treatments will devalue the stone, but always ask so you know what you’re getting.

Study the color of the stone. The most valuable sapphires are deep, pure blue, and do not change color when moved into different light. Stones that are too dark or too light are of less value than royal blue stones.

Make sure there are no visible inclusions in the stone or scratches on the surface.

Examine the cut of the sapphire. Oval shapes – like Princess Diana’s ring – are popular, but sapphires come in a variety of cuts. Make sure the light reflects evenly off the surface of the stone when it is held face up. Look at the surface of the stone from several angles to be sure.

As an aside, if you want to say “Awwwww” today, have a look at this illustrated story.

Up until today, I’d never really considered the plight of brides with hay fever or pollen allergies. What bride wants to walk down the aisle with watering eyes and a runny nose? Sure, there are always silk flowers and greens, but a lot of the silk bouquets out there look cheap. Reader Deena pointed out a fabulous and funky alternative: the crystal bouquet!

Like flowers and floral arrangements, crystal bouquets come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and, of course, prices. You can buy them pre-made or you can try making your own with a kit. A crystal bouquet featuring large Swarovski crystals can cost as much as $1,000 while less luxurious bouquets go for about $100. A kit from Wedding Day Originals will set a future bride back about $50 but I’m not sure wire weaving is for everyone.

Unlike flowers and flower arrangements, a crystal bouquet won’t wilt in the heat, doesn’t need to be preserved, and can be tossed about a bit without losing any of its beauty. The stunning bouquet above is sold by Advantage Bridal and features over 150 large Swarovski crystals on beautifully woven silvery stems.

Because I’m sure that many of you are absolutely stuffed with Easter sweets like I am, I thought, “What’s the harm in just a little more sugar?” I love cake. But I love love love imaginative and crazy cakes. The fabulous and whimsical cake above was created by Charmaine “The Cakediva” Jones. The Cakediva specializes in cakes with one-of-a-kind flair and can create confections that will feed up to 1,000 people. The cakes come in flavors as diverse as pink champagne, banana, and tangerine. And available fillings include guava, coconut, and Bavarian crème. Some of her more extreme creations include a bust of Michael Jackson, a ski boot, a whole piano, and a well-lit haunted house with edible windows.

Her client list reads like a Who’s Who – The Cakediva has made cakes for the likes of Erykah Badu, Michael Jordan, Jay Leno, and Susan Sarandon. But she’ll make you just about any wacky cake you desire. Including a box of Total Cereal!

Despite the fact that I usually avoid anything that includes the words “pod” or “iWhatnot,” as well as weird Internet slang, I am totally digging the Wedding Podcast Network. Contrary to what some folks believe, podcasts do not require listeners to have an iPod.

The WPN, as it’s calling itself, features a variety of programs led by wedding industry experts like John Mahdessian of Madame Paulette, wedding cake designer Sylvia Weinstock, and Tatiana Byron from 4PM Events. The podcasts address everything from event planning to gift registries to relationship advice. While most of the programs likely appeal to future brides, they even have a program called ‘Grooms With a View‘ that features real husbands talking about how they took part in the wedding planning process.

To check it out, just visit the site and download the podcast mp3 of your choice. The WPN is shaping up to be a great source of advice that brides and grooms to be can listen to on the go.

I love perusing the pages of Siri’s online catalog on days like today when the weather is crummy, I’m tired, and my to-do list is pages and pages long. Looking at their gorgeous dresses cheers me up in no time flat because going through their selection is like feasting my eyes on a rainbow. They have wonderful patterns and fabrics, of course, but, oh, the colors! All those vivid greens, oranges, blues, yellows, and pinks – it’s springtime in dress form!

As an added bonus, their styles tend toward the kind of classical patterns that work on a variety of figures. The halter, A-line, tea length dress above (known as the Siena Sundress) is summery and definitely re-wearable. While I like it in the creamy yellow Venus & Mars, this dress comes in a variety of other absolutely fabulous fabrics and colors.

I’m all for brides doing a bit of extra exercise before the wedding. A good workout makes you feel good, gives your skin a rosy glow, and helps you walk down the aisle with a spring in your step. There are some fabulous wedding exercise plans, such as The Complete Bride’s Workout Guide and Wedding Workout, that are healthful and realistic and strive to make brides of all sizes feel good about themselves.

What I can’t get behind are ads like the one above (and the two others featured on the lovely blog Wedding Thoughts) created by Grey World for Slim Fast. They imply that there is something wrong with not being a Skinny Minnie on your wedding day. First off, Slim Fast is nasty and not as healthy as simply eating right. Secondly, to make this ad campaign even more ridiculous, the cake topper brides in those ads are not particularly plump!

I say, grrrrrr!

Though we live in a world obsessed with beauty, many women (including me) don’t regularly wear make-up. There are as many reasons for not wearing make-up as there are for wearing it: A lack of time. A career that doesn’t lend itself to the wearing of cosmetics. Sensitive skin. Or (and this describes me very well) sheer laziness combined with a work-at-home job. My mom also never taught me how to apply the dang stuff.

This cosmetic innocence, however, can be a problem on one’s wedding day. Many a woman who might otherwise eschew make-up will readily slather it on when she is to be the center of attention. Unfortunately, this can lead to brides that are less blushing and more Tammy Faye. These brides can do one of two things: They can hire an expensive professional. Or they can read everything they can about make-up and do a few test runs before the wedding.

Guess which solution I prefer?

Now, when I think bridal beauty, I think simplicity. I think most brides look their best when they have used natural colors of cosmetics to highlight their innate prettiness. It’s a stereotype, but one I can appreciate: the dewy, rose-cheeked, pink-lipped blushing bride.

So, when considering wedding day make-up, whether in the morning or the evening, think deep colors (for a touch of drama) and natural shades. If you’ve never worn foundation, concealer, or powder, consider giving it a try – ask a department store make-up counter consultant to help you find the right hue and to teach you what to do with it.

Eyeliner: A light brown eyeliner, gently smoothed upward toward the temple looks striking but doesn’t scream, “Made up!” Practice makes perfect.

Eye shadow: Pastels will look pretty but stick to sheer mattes, because overly shimmery shadows can look shiny in photos. Two or more shades artfully blended can look just as subtly beautiful as a single color. Experiment. A lot. Before the wedding.

Blush: Glittery blushes can make you look shiny (i.e. oily) in photos. Cream blush set with translucent powder typically looks the most natural and tends to last throughout the day. Blush, however, can be tricky. And if you have naturally ruddy cheeks like I do, you might want to forgo it altogether.

Lipstick: I used to doubt the truth of those adverts for 8-hour lipsticks. Then I bought a tube of Revlon Colorstay Overtime. They are not kidding when they say it won’t kiss off. Try colors that are close to your normal lip color.

Mascara: Whether you go for black or brown, use a waterproof formula. You should be able to cry without worrying about raccoon eyes. If you have long, dark lashes, try clear.

There is no rule saying you must buy a make-up case worth of new products for your wedding day. I guess there is also no rule saying you have to wear make-up at all on your wedding day. But if you’re going to, play around with it in the weeks before the big day to find a look you like. See how your make-up looks when paired with your gown. If you need more help, books like Makeup Makeovers: Stunning Looks for the Entire Bridal Party offer cosmetic hints and tips. And DVDs like The Perfect Wedding Series: The Beautiful Bride will demonstrate wedding make-up application in easy-to-follow steps.

The most excellent Manolo pointed out a caption contest being held over at Dlisted. Unfortunately, the contest is now closed, but I would definitely recommend that you go check out the more than 260 captions that Dlisted readers thought up to describe the keg-standin’ bride above. My particular favorite:

Something old
Something new
Something borrowed
Something brewed.

That makes me giggle every time I read it.