Because mom strives to make you feel special for every occasion, it’s only fair that you return the favor when you’re helping her select her gown for the big day. We’ve answered  a few of the most common mother-of questions to help you both out along the way:

Q: Is there a protocol for purchasing mother-of attire?

A: Generally speaking, the Mother-of-the-Bride purchases her dress first. Her choice of color, cut and length are meant to subtly dictate what the Mother-of-the-Groom will wear. This will help prevent under- or over-dressing and clashing outfits in your wedding photos. While this process is a long-standing tradition, it is by no means required. Today’s mothers may feel more comfortable finding their attire entirely on their own. Still, the groom’s mother might be awaiting the dress details, so it would be common courtesy to have the bride subtly pass the details along or even have the Mother-of-the-Bride give a call herself.

Vera's Ladies Apparel

Q: Are the any color restrictions we should be aware of?

A: Yes! We highly suggest avoiding mother-of dresses that are white, ivory or champagne! We can understand wanting to be more progressive/modern in your fashion choices, but the simple fact is that it’s your wedding day. Mom can still be a knockout, but you should be the only star in white today! Also keep in mind that black or red gowns are somewhat risky, too. Black seems to suggest mourning; red, on the the other hand, can be too flashy.  As the bride, you should have some color schemes in mind before the shopping trip.  Shades of purple, green and blue usually make for great selections!

Q: Should the Mother-of-the-Bride’s dress color match the bridesmaids’?

Q: How far in advance should the Mother-of-the-Bride purchase her dress?

A: Aim to have made a decision at least one month before the wedding — definitely more if you’re trying to coordinate with the Mother-of-the-Groom or others in the wedding party. Above all, mom should keep the bride informed of here progress.

Peneventures

Q: How much say should the bride have in mothers-of attire?

A: It really depends on the bride. Some brides need minimal information, while others will want to be involved in every aspect of the planning process. At the very least, moms should be communicating what color and length they’re thinking about. On the other side of the spectrum, some brides may see the gown firsthand if they decide to go shopping with mom. Keep in mind, however, that the bride should not be the sole decision maker here. While it’s perfectly fine (and even expected!) for you to give guidance, mom should ultimately be happy with the final decision, too. After all, she will be the one wearing it!

We hope we’ve helped clear some of that up for you! If you’re looking for more advice, we recommend consulting with local gown experts — they’ll have all the info you need to know! Go here to view more Mothers-of attire!

Both Tina Fey and Michelle Williams wore them at the Oscars earlier this year.

Photos courtesy Getty Images

Kim Kardashian is a repeat offender.

Photos courtesy WireImage

Right about now, you might still be thinking: What in the world is a peplum? That’s a valid question. Basically, a peplum is a (short or long) “overskirt” or ruffle attached at the waistline of a jacket, blouse or dress.

Now that we’ve established that, you’re probably wondering what they have to do with your wedding. The answer could be nothing — if you’d rather not wear one — or everything if you choose them for your wedding! Peplums are very in right not as far as wedding attire is concerned.

You might decide you’d like your girls to wear them …

Strapless Satin Dress with Ruffled Peplum; Style F44559

Strapless Dress with Trumpet Skirt and Side Peplum; Style 84737

Or you might decide they’re just your style! And you have plenty of options. Of course, Vera Wang is always a bride pleaser. The White by Vera Wang line features this jaw-dropping blush gown, complete with an asymmetrical peplum with petals.

Strapless Ball Gown with Satin Corset Bodice; Style VW351112

As the Vera gown shows, you can certainly get creative with your peplum. Maybe you’d prefer one that’s more asymmetrical than straight on. And you can feel free to have fun with embellishments as well — floral details, side beading and even lace can all create a stunning look.

We also want to point out that you shouldn’t let  folds of fabric hovering above your hips scare you away. Peplums can actually be really flattering for a variety of figures. The key is making sure you emphasize the narrowest part of the silhouette — your waist. Try accenting with a band or belt, a ribbon or even a brooch.

All in all, peplums make for a great gown detail — a modern spin on a very classic silhouette! Definitely something to keep in mind as you do your dress shopping.

To view more gowns, visit our online gallery. You can also find local bridal attire vendors by clicking here.
Happy hunting!

Amanda Gragg of Reeves Cake Shop said they decided to start a ShipACakeUSA website/service because they saw a need in the market.  “We were getting phone calls on a regular basis from other people in other parts of the country wondering if we would deliver a cake locally to a kid in college or a grandma in a nursing home,” Amanda explains. “We found that even though people have moved out of the area, they still want to celebrate those special events with their loved ones.”

And the ordering process is amazingly easy! You start by going to www.ShipACakeUsa.com. From there, you simply choose a flavor, pick a decorating style and enter the shipping & billing info. Voilà — Reeves receives the order and promptly (typically with 2 days) ships it to your loved one! Note, however, that they can accommodate a request to hold the cake to arrive on a certain day instead. And they will also send you a picture of the cake once it has shipped, so you will be able to see the actual cake that was sent to your loved one!

As far as customizing options are concerned, they currently offer more than 100 designs on the website. But they’re still more than willing to work with you on the design! “If you can’t find something on there that works for you, let us know and we can try and come up with a design that will be perfect,” Amanda says. “Also, for a truly unique cake, we can take a photo that you send us and put it on the cake!”

ShipACakeUSA.com currently offers 16 different flavor choices, including the traditional white and chocolate as well as spice, lemon and red velvet. Amanda says, however, that their most popular selections are the hummingbird (made with fresh chopped bananas, pineapple, pecans and cream cheese filling), triple chocolate, bumblebee (made with dark chocolate cake, a layer of orange cake and red raspberry filling), and banana creme.

Right now they only offer the 8″ cakes, but Amanda says they will probably expand that to include other sizes in the future.

“[The ShipACakeUSA feature] has been in process for more 2 years,” Amanda explains. “We had many trial runs in order to get the packaging and shipping just right.  We finally built the website and officially started shipping the cakes in January of this year.  Overall, I believe that the appeal of ShipACakeUSA is that it is a unique – and delicious! – gift that you can send for any occasion!”

Have more questions about ShipACakeUSA? Go here to read more! And as always, you can see more cakes from Reeves Cake Shop and other local bakeries here!

So how are others reacting to this new diet fad? Well, when I was out at a restaurant the other night and it aired on the news, everyone around me started cringing. Appetites gone instantly. Yeah, that was pretty much our reaction, too.

We'd take this over a feeding tube any day.

While we understand wanting to be in tip-top shape for your wedding, we’re not so sure this is the way to do it. After all, who wants to be so food-deprived that they pass out the altar? We didn’t think so. Besides, there’s really no need for a crash diet when you know about your wedding months in advance. With just a little planning, you’ll have those pounds gone in no time!

Because combining diet and exercise is always the most effective way to lose weight, we’ve come up with a few diet and exercise tips to help you along the way! By following this simple timeline, any bride can be toned and beautiful on her wedding day:

Six months ’til the big day: That may sound a bit early, but six months is actually right on par if you’re planning on losing more than 10 pounds. First you’ll want to determine how much weight you want to lose, so you can break down weekly/monthly goals. Start incorporating more green vegetables, nuts, beans and low-fat dairy products into your diet; pull back on the trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup/sugar. Do three one-hour workouts a week, with 20 minutes of high-intensity cardio, 30 minutes of strength training and 10 minutes of stretching.

Three months ’til the big day: Keep up the dieting! If you find you’re falling a bit short of your weight goal, consider cutting a food vice from your diet, at least until after the wedding. We have faith that you can go three months without soda! Take a fitness class — try to round up other brides-to-be or search for a bridal boot-camp course. Having a support group of brides will not only be comforting but will also make you work harder.

One month ’til the big day: Resist the urge to skip meals because you’re too busy with planning! Getting too hungry will make it harder to resist the quick energy offered by chips, cookies and other junk food. Also, don’t blow off your workout schedule for last-minute wedding errands. If you really don’t have time, do a more intense but shorter version of your routine.

While we do want you to look your best on your wedding day, we certainly don’t want you to sacrifice your health in order to do so! Skip the “quick fix” — it can lead to longer-term health problems in the end. Drastic fasting can impact your mood severely — making you stressed, irritable and unable to enjoy your wedding celebration!

Instead, we encourage you to meet with a local fitness and/or nutrition expert to discuss ways to shed extra pounds before the big day! View some of those health vendors here! And to read even more articles, visit Todaysbride.com.

Wedding Date: October 2, 2010

Click on image to view a photo gallery

• Ceremony Location: Akron, Ohio
• Reception Location: Eastlake, Ohio

Today’s Bride businesses that made it happen!

Photography: Christoper Norris Photographers

Decor & Disc Jockey: Rock the House Entertainment

Decor Rentals: Miller’s Party Rental Center

Registry: Bed Bath & Beyond

Transportation: Shima Limousine

Tuxedos: American Commodore Tuxedo

Jewelry: Doreen Leaf Designs Bridal

Wedding Cake: Reeves Cake Shop

Be prepared for anything:
“I know I did not like when people talked about rain on my big day. I went out and bought cute pink and white umbrellas for all my bridesmaids, so if it did rain I would have cute umbrellas for all the pictures!”

From one bride to another:
“Enjoy planning your wedding, and take your time. It’s one day that you want to make perfect.”

Staying true to yourself (and your theme):
“I carried my Disney princess theme all the way through my wedding even at the shower. My mother and I spent a lot of time finding little details that would add to the theme. We even made place cards that looked like little story books. I also feel like lighting is everything. The way you light a room can change the whole feeling the hall gives off. Pink is my favorite color, and just wouldn’t have been my wedding if the room did not glow pink!”

*Would you like to have your own real wedding on display? Go here to submit it to us!

Cocktails & Veils
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Landerhaven by Executive Caterers
6111 Landerhaven Dr.
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
5:00pm – 9:00pm   $10 admission

The experts at Studio Z will be teaching you the latest tips and techniques during the Beauty Demos – held throughout the day at the Studio Z Beauty Bar. Want to do more than just watch? Enter here to win one of  four FREE Bridal Trial Makeovers taking place during the show! That’s right: You can win a complete wedding hair and make-up demo for free!

Besides the four pre-selected winners, models will also be chosen from the audience that day! So bring your veil & hair ideas, and let Studio MZ help create your ideal wedding day look!

Click any image to view a gallery of the 2011 “Cocktails & Veils” show at Landerhaven by Executive Caterers!

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Also, just a reminder: For a limited time, you can use promo code July50 to get your Landerhaven show tickets for just $5 — 50 percent off the original price! Make sure you buy soon to avoid missing out on this deal!

The first? Zelio NOTO’s fourth annual summer fashion show! Take in NOTO’s new styles as you watch a high energy fashion show performed to the live set of musical favorite, Travelogue. Maybe you’ll see that ideal shower dress you’ve been looking for make its way down the runway!

Additionally, NOTO owner Lauren Ward has teamed up with the city of Akron to make the show even more fabulous! The event will coincide with the always-popular Downtown Artwalk. If you’re looking to fuse fashion & art into one exciting evening, make plans to be in downtown Akron!

The Details:
Saturday, May 5th
Doors at 7 pm/Show at 8 pm

Northside Lofts
21 Furnace Street
Akron, OH 44308

$30.00 per ticket
Includes: Fashion show access, drink tokens, exclusive NOTO gift

For more information: ZelioNOTO.com

The second event? A fabulous local clothing swap! The 330 Swap & Shop was created by three Akron fashion/lifestyle bloggers: Lyndsey, Rachel and Jessica.

They started the swap as a way to give old clothes a new life and help the world be a little more green. Each of the ladies has attended and/or hosted their own smaller scale swaps and decided it would be wonderful to share the fun with new and old friends.

Photo courtesy 330swapandshop.blogspot.com

The swap will be run on a point system — the more quality clothing and accessories you turn in, the more points you get! What better incentive for doing that spring closet cleaning you’ve been meaning to get to?! And although each swapper will be allotted a time slot to do their shopping, you don’t have to worry about clothes being picked over! New clothes/items will be rolled out before each time slot, so that everyone has the chance to receive top notch items. We see a bachelorette party dress in your future!

The Details:
Sunday, May 20th
Starts at noon

Studio MC
940 Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Admission: $5 and a minimum of five pre-laundered items; $15, if you can’t donate.
Pre-registration is required.

For more information: 330swapandshop.blogspot.com

**We’ll be including a special gift in the bags at both events, so be sure to pick one up!

Well, for starters, they can be used for just about any cake. Whether you’re opting for the traditional multiple tier cake  or more of a variety (such as cupcakes with a traditional cake at the top level), you can use a cake stand to elevate your cake(s) and give it a greater presence. Cake stands can be an especially great option for dessert buffets — where you can use a variety of coordinating stands to creative one swoon-worthy display.

The second — and probably more fun — reason is that they provide another outlet for you to incorporate your wedding theme! Going vintage? Borrow your grandma’s cake stand with that unique floral-patterned plate!  Aiming for a more modern celebration? Keep it simple with a sleek silver display! Rachel Hough, owner of Pure Delite Cupcakery, said they’ve had many brides get creative with their displays. “We’ve done everything from simple stands, a collection of grandma’s cake stands, a chandelier made into a cake stand, even logs cut down and made into a stand,” she says.

Overall, wedding cakes have become as much of a treat for the eyes as they are for the taste buds … and ultimately, creative cake stands are just one more decorative element for your wedding!

Fyi: We went on a pinning spree, so you can find even MORE cake stands on our Pinterest page + find more cake ideas here! Happy hunting!

Fit-and-flare is the way to go as far as silhouette is concerned. However, fabric for these gowns can range across the board — from a heavier satin to a breezy chiffon or organza. (The chiffon is seriously swoon-worthy!) Of course, this type of wedding dresses looks incredible for a beach or summer wedding, but it can really look great in any setting.

Many open back wedding gowns tend to incorporate ultra-romantic lace or stunning bead work into their designs. Floral details are also a great way to add more flare to your open back gown. Naturally, open back wedding dresses look best with your hair pulled back — thus showing off the intricate design on the back of the gown.

Lace or beading, white or ivory, open back gowns are the perfect summer wedding staple! You’ll look classically beautiful walking down the aisle, and make a statement with your exit. And because these gowns are increasing in popularity, wedding dress designers have made sure there’s an open back wedding dress for every bride!

For more gown ideas, visit our gown gallery and our ‘Gorgeous Gowns‘ Pinterest board! Find more of the latest gown styles at these local vendors! We wish you the best of luck with your dress shopping!

First, you’ll want to start with a completely understated base color – ivories, tans and champagnes are the top choices to do the trick! Next, you’ll want to come up with a nature-inspired hue (or a few hues!) to complement. We love rose pinks, sandy nudes, moss greens and slate grays. Vince Iannaggi, director of business development at L’Nique Linen Rentals, says overall they are seeing requests for champagne, creams, soft golds, shades of yellow, greens, browns and still lots of purple and soft pinks.

By choosing to pair such colors, you will completely enable your details to pop – and best of all, you can use this color scheme for almost any theme. While it does go hand-in-hand with the popular vintage trend, you could also use it for a modern city affair.

Minimalist color schemes can be used in almost any aspect of your wedding – whether it’s straying from the stark white gown to a dusty pink one or displaying elegant neutral centerpieces.   “The look for wedding cakes right now is a little bit more minimalistic,” says Barb Talevich, owner of West Side Bakery. Vince says L’Nique is definitely seeing a move toward minimalism on the décor side, too. “We are seeing a trend in more simple, refined décor and less bling from both Akron and Cleveland brides,” he explains. “Shabby chic and rustic elegance is also all the rage in both markets.”

Vince adds that a lot of brides are incorporating burlap, textured fabrics and all-around earthy looks into their weddings. “Brides are blending elegant and rustic features to create these romantic settings,” he explains. “I see that holding a patter for the next several years.  The design can be tweaked and enhanced as new products and services are becoming available.”

Regardless of how you choose to incorporate neutrals at your celebration, staying within this color palette will provide you with an elegant, timeless and romantic wedding that your guests won’t soon forget. It all goes back to the idea of “less is more” – there’s just something so organically beautiful about the absence of color.

To browse local Real Weddings by color, click here. You might also want to check out our ‘Elegantly Neutral’ Pinterest board for more inspiration!

**This article was originally featured in the Showcase publication that was distributed at our April bridal show. The next issue of Showcase will be handed out at our July show and will feature articles on signature drinks, BBQ catering and Bridesmaids’ dresses — just to name a few! Pick up your copy of Showcase by attending our July bridal show.