Your mother and mother in law to be are most likely to be just as excited about finding their outfits and dressing up for your big day as you are. Having probably assisted with the special role of helping you track down your dream wedding dress, they might like you to return the favour and go shopping with them!

Before you hit the high street do ensure you work together with other members of the wedding party to create a coordinated look that fits in well with the colour scheme and theme of the wedding. The old school etiquette is that the mother of the bride chooses her outfit first and then informs the grooms mother of what she will be wearing. Of course this is not always practical  so it is best to be flexible. However, do discuss your outfits to prevent any clashing of colours, or even worse, turning up in the same outfit! If you’re not sure, consult your daughter or daughter in law to be in the first instance.

Traditionally the colour white or cream is out of bounds for all guests, except for the bride of course. On some occasions these colours may be requested to be worn, for example if it is a black and white themed wedding or if the bride has opted for a coloured wedding dress. Black can still be seen as a colour of mourning, yet can look classic and chic. Red outfits and other flashy colours are also considered inappropriate by some brides, however if done right can look stunning. Other brides will want the colours to all match or be within the same colour spectrum, for instance if they are having baby pink, then the mothers would be expected to wear a darker shade of pink. It is very much down to individual taste and what the bride desires.

The style of the outfit is ultimately down to each mother. You should feel comfortable and happy with what you are wearing. However anything showing a bit too much flesh may be considered tasteless. That said, you don’t want to feel boring and look frumpy, so use your judgement to express your own style and ask the sales assistant for some advice if you’re shopping alone. When choosing the outfit take into consideration the time of year of the wedding and the formality of it. You may choose to opt for a classic outfit that will be a timeless staple piece in your wardrobe. Take some suitable lingerie with you; some hold in panties may make all the difference underneath some garments!

Once you’ve found your outfit it doesn’t end there – it’s time to accessorise with some new shoes, a purse or bag, and a wonderful hat or fascinator! Whatever you decide to wear it needs to withstand a long day (and night!), so comfort is a key factor as well as ensuring you feel great in it.

Finding your dream bridal gown is probably up there at the top of the list when it comes to planning your special day, yet for some brides it is not as easy tracking down the one as they intially imagined. It is likely you have flicked through the magazines and found pictures of wedding dresses that you thought would make you cry when you tried it on, only to to come away disheartened that it didn’t give you that butterflies in your tummy feeling. Most models you see in the glossy magazines are a triangle shape, where as the last proportion of women are actually shaped like a pear.

The Wedding Dress Factory Outlet stock over 700 discounted designer wedding dresses and are here to help and assist you in finding the bridal gown that takes your breath away. Once you have worked out your body shape it will enable you to relax more when dress shopping and aid you in getting a dress that suits the shape you are and flatter your figure, thus making you feel more comfortable and look utterly stunning. Discover your body shape, find your style and let us help you find that dress!

Pear shapes are more suited to a skirt that is slightly fuller to hide their hips with a fitted bodice to show off your upper torso. Hourglass figures need to reveal their amazing defined waist with a two piece or corseted gown, or if your a slim hourglass a fishtail gown can look amazing. Apple shapes should opt for an empire line gown to give a long lean look where as rectangle shapes suit structured bodices with a fuller skirt to give an illusion of a waist. Triangle shaped ladies suit virtually all gown styles and if you fancy adding a silhoutte of curves then look for something with bows or bustles around the hip area. Petite brides look fabulous in A line narrow styles or simple clean contours with little fabric, large bridal gowns can be overwhelming. Tall brides look great in all dress types except empire gowns which can look a bit ‘tenty’. Ladies with an ample bust should invest in a bridal corset, the difference they can make is quite simply amazing and if your a bit conscious of those upper arms a sheer boloero or wrap can give you that confidence boost.

By choosing to have your wedding in the winter gives you the perfect opportunity to have a theme that you most certainly wouldn’t be able to pull off in any other season. Be it a Christmas themed spectacular, a picturesque winter wonderland, classic black and white affair or a fairy tale bridal dream, your winter wedding will be an enchanting one your guests will remember. Discuss with your partner the colours and styles that suit your personalities.

Transport your guests into a winter wonderland. White linen everywhere with with artificial snow with a scattering of candles and fairy lights. Accessorise your wedding dress with a fur lined cloak or feathered shrug. Think snow queen and opt for a crown tiara! You could carry a bouquet of crystal flowers or a simple white bouquet of flowers. Flower girls could throw white petals, glitter or gems as you walk down the aisle and the bridesmaids carry lanterns. Adding a dash of colour such as an icy silver, pink or blue creates a contrast against the white backdrop. Painted twigs in long tall vases,  candles of different heights on a mirror or simple white long stemmed flowers make stunning centre pieces. Ice sculptures, white chocolate fountains, snowflakes and icicles all help create a Narnia illusion.

Black and white themed weddings are timeless. You can choose for it to be as simple or as extravagant as your individual styles desire. Why not go for a black wedding dress and have your bridesmaids and the groom in white. Using a monochrome design throughout the decor in your wedding looks very effective.

Christmas weddings filled with the traditional greens and reds with a hint of gold look beautiful. Pine Cones and mistletoe, baubles and fairy lights, Christmas is such an inspiring time of year that the option are virtually endless! You could opt to have a red wedding dress, complete with a velvet hooded fur trimmed cloak. Poinsettia flowers and holly or pine cone wreaths with a candle in the middle make a simple yet effective centrepiece. Favours of little presents, a personalised bauble or candy canes finish the look. Not forgetting several Christmas tress and twinkling fairy lights!

With the vast majority of weddings taking place in the Spring or Summer, your Winter wedding will stand out and be an experience your guests will treasure.

Whether you are getting married in a church in a big white wedding dress, having a civil ceremony in a vintage bridal gown or purely renewing your vows in an elegant evening dress, there is becoming more opportunities in being able to personalise and add your own touch to your wedding vows.

Writing your own vows enables you to include others, such as children, friends and family, when you exchange your love and commitment to one another. The options are yours as a couple and allows you the chance to declare your love to one another in a more meaningful way, adding your unique personalities into the wedding. They can help make the day more memorable for all involved.

You may be after something a bit more modern for your civil ceremony, or if it is your second wedding wanting to make it a bit different. Your wedding vows should be sincere and written from the heart. You may want to include a special poem, some words from ‘your song’, a thoughtful quotation or something about each other. If you are stuck for ideas writing a letter of the reasons why you love each other may help.

For an even more personalised wedding ceremony you could consider a humanist wedding. This is a non-denominational celebration of a couple’s love for each other and the bride and groom can write, or have control over every word of the ceremony. You will be required to have a legally binding civil ceremony earlier or at the same time.

Before you start to put pen to paper, there are some rules to understand. By law a civil ceremony cannot contain any religious reference in vows, readings or music. The following are the vows required to be said by both of you during your ceremony to make it legally binding. Generally you can add your own choice before or after the statutory ones.

In England and Wales the statutory declaration is:
I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, __may not be joined in matrimony to __

It is followed by these contracting words:
I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, __do take thee, __, to be my lawful wedded husband/wife.

There are also two legal alternative declarations.
Declarations: I know of no legal reason why I, __, may not be joined in marriage to __.
Or by relying ‘I am’ top the question: Are you, __ free lawfully to marry__?

These are followed by the contract:
I, __, take you,__ to be my wedded wife/husband.
Or
I, __ take thee, __ to be my wedded wife/husband

In Scotland the couple say:
I solemnly declare that I know of no legal impediment why I, __, may not be joined in matrimony to__. I accept.

In Northern Ireland the statutory declaration is:
I know of no lawful impediment why I, __, may not be joined in matrimony to, __, to be my lawful wedded husband/wife.

Do ensure you have checked any vows or readings with your registrar beforehand. It is a good idea to give them a copy of your music, vows and readings two weeks before your wedding day.

The wedding day is all set to be a wintery affair, so now you need to decide on your colour theme. In order to ensure the colour works successfully it is a good idea to select something that works well with the season you are marrying in. The colours you choose will determine the mood and style of the wedding day itself as they will be incorporated into everything from your flowers, bridal wear, the cake and even the detail on your invitations.

With such a huge array of colours to choose from it can be a bit daunting as to where to begin. Think about where your wedding ceremony is taking place. As you are having a winter wedding it is likely that for the comfort of you and your guests the large majority is going to be centered indoors. This means that you don’t necessarily have to reflect the cold weather outside when choosing your colours.

What colours are your personal favourites? What colours does your husband to be like? It may be that he would like the colours of his football team! How do different colours make you feel? The types of flowers you want to use may have an influence on your colour choice so it may be worth researching what is available during winter. Depending on how many bridesmaids you are having you may want to take into consideration their skin coloruing as some will look fabulous in certain colours whilst other will look not so great in them.

Rich colours look fantastic for a winter wedding. Midnight blues, striking purples, crimson reds, burnt oranges and forest greens create instant elegance. Adding a metal, such as silver, gold or copper adds a striking contrast against the colour palette and looks particularly beautiful for the evening ceremony. They will add a magical ambiance with candlelight creating a warm cosy atmosphere.

With a winter wedding you have the opportunity to be more wild, dramatic and indulge in fantasy. Will you go for a Narnia inspired wedding day, full of ice blue, frosty white and dazzling silver, or perhaps a nostalgic day filled with warm rich deep greens, striking reds and shiny gold. Or if you’re feeling minimalism is the way forward how about a black and white themed wedding day – James Bond style. Whatever colours you choose the next step forward is to track down your dream dress. Come and visit us and find ’The One’ at the Wedding Dress Factory Outlet. We look forward to meeting with you soon and finding out what colours you have decided on for your special day.