The DIY Brides Event with IKEA Dublin: Part Two

For those of you who missed Part One, do check it out for fabulous DIY ideas for your Brides ceremony and drinks reception; including a mosquito net Brides ceremony focal point, an heirloom bouquet made from curtain pole ends, fabric flowers, a wishing tree and a very easy photo booth idea!

Up in Part Two of The DIY Brides Event with IKEA Dublin round up we have:

• A Magnetic Table Plan 
• An adorable way to present your cutlery
• Sash Escort Cards 
• A hanging centerpiece 
• Net Curtain Overlays 
• Rose Fold Napkins { that take 10 seconds } 
• A Fairy Light Back Drop made from Net Curtains 
• A stunning Photo Booth 
• A ceiling rose { from net curtains that cost €6.00 for the pair! } 
• Super Simple Brides Favours 
• And a little childhood fun for adults! 

{ Big Shout Out to my dear dear friend Susan Kennedy from Lensmen PR & Photographic Agency who came along and took these great photos of the event... Susan is an absolute doll, do check her out if you are yet to choose your Brides photographer! }

Would you believe that that table overlay is actually a net curtain?? 

This easy peasy Table Plan was made from a magnetic notice board, fabric, lace, card and some magnets! Simple & Sweet!! 

This stunning rose napkin fold only takes 10 seconds and can be prepared weeks before your Brides and boxed up for delivery to your venue, if its not something they can supply for! 

What do you think of my fun & funky photobooth? 

Milk & Cookies { from these adorable milk bottles, available at IKEA of course, would make a super midnight snack for your partying guests! }

The whole DIY Brides Event at IKEA was a dream come true for me. It was a delight and an honour to be allowed into the store and create such {great} looks and DIY ideas to share with you all... as I mentioned before, there is a chance, due to the massive demand to attend both evenings, that it will be run again, so be sure you to keep you eyes peeled and sign up to our newsletter for future news!! 

Big thank you again to IKEA and all their amazing staff and of course to each and everyone of you who attended!! 

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The DIY Brides Event with IKEA Dublin: Part One

It's hard to believe after all the hard { but extremely fun } work we put in that the DIY Brides Event with IKEA Dublin has been and gone :)

A massive thank you to all who came out on during possibly the warmest and sunniest weather Ireland has seen in some time! Both nights were filled to the brim with eager couples and some of their Brides party. I know some of you missed out on tickets due to them being snapped up so quickly... but a little birdie tells me you might just got another opportunity to come along and see the 4 terrific scenes we created and see the amazing { if I do say so myself } and very simple DIY Brides Projects we created before peoples eyes { so stay tuned }!

So who would like to see some pictures?

{ Big Shout Out to my dear dear friend Susan Kennedy from Lensmen PR & Photographic Agency who came along and took these great photos of the event... Susan is an absolute doll, do check her out if you are yet to choose your Brides photographer! }

I was so excited to create, design and style four Brides scenes using IKEA products and as many DIY Brides Ideas as I could! Each of the DIY Brides projects I used were super simple, some requiring no skill or previous experience and one only takes about 10 seconds to complete! { And yes, someone did time me; I did it in less than 9 :) }

The Brides ceremony's main focal point was the Mosquito Net { only €8.00!! } decorated with artificial flowers { from 80c } with two matching floor lamps { yes, those are lights! } decorated with matching flowers and of course, from the ceiling we hung these fantastic paper cranes to tie in with the hugely popular bird trend that will be for Bridess in 2013 & 2014!

We showed couples how to make those lovely fabric flowers which we've used to decorate the bride & grooms bench and how they could be incorporated into pew ends or indeed {made on a smaller scale } made into an Heirloom Bouquet.

I showed couples how easy it is to make an Heirloom Bouquet from .... Curtain Pole Ends!! Yes... not brooches or buttons but Curtain Pole Ends... :)

NEXT UP....

Was the Drinks Reception Scene and the main focus here was our Candy Station, created using IKEA's new Pic 'n' Mix Station... { only €1.50 for 100g !!! } .... the sweets are divine, {quality control is important to me so I had a little taste or two :) }

We also showed couples how quick & easy it is to create a wishing tree as a guest book alternative and we created a great photo {booth} op for couples & guests using a simple screen and some bright colourful chairs & cushions... traditionally at a Swedish Brides this is where the bride & groom would sit and open up all the gifts and envelopes in front of their guests! { A tradition not to many Irish couples who attended the event where keen to adopt for their own Bridess :) }

So that completes Part One of the DIY Brides Event at IKEA Dublin... do check back later for Part Two which features the Brides Reception and 'Party' Scenes... you wont want to miss the stunning rose napkin folds I used { that take 10 seconds }, how I took net curtains and made a table overlay, fairy light back drop and a ceiling rose feature for a first dance, as well as an easy peasy magnetic table plan and a Photobooth from material and picture frames!

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Brides Dresses From Top To Toe

A Brides isn't defined by one piece of material or one shape. Most people prefer to purchase unique Bridess dresses with subtle differences to suit the bride to be. The dress you should be wearing totally depends on your body shape, confidence and budget as there are hundreds of dresses to choose from and like every bride you will want the dress of your dreams. One that will not only be comfortable to wear but one that is stunning in its own right (for more help you can visit http://www.hitched.ca/Brides-dresses). Here is a top to toe guide of what you could have and what body shapes it suits.

Shoulders

Most women like to have their shoulders bare as the rest of their body is generally covered up, but there are some dresses out there that have sleeves, or you could wear a shawl. If you have broad shoulders then you may want to consider using one of these as leaving them bare and wearing a strapless dress will accentuate those shoulders, and not in a good way. A more modern twist to dresses seems to be having lace panels rather than sleeves or a shawl as they are full of holes, making skin somewhat visible whilst the patterns steer the eye away from areas you don't want people staring at. Wearing your hair up can also help towards making shoulders look a little less wide.

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Bust

As we all know breasts come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and we try our best to make them look good and improve on what we've got. Bigger breasted ladies need more support to hold the weight, especially with a strapless dress, a great boned corset is perfect to keep your breasts looking pert or a beautiful dress with straps.

Smaller breasted ladies however have a little more trouble as wearing a strapless dress will make you look a little rectangular, unless it is a body hugging dress and you have a fairly curvy body. The way to combat this is to wear a dress that at least has straps or more, wear a bra that will help lift and push them together to create a larger look.

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Waist

Again, size changes everything on a dress, and the waistline should always be smaller than the bust and hips as this will create curves where you may have none. Wider waistlines can be squished with a bodice or corset style dress, but do be aware that after a while you will feel a little out of breath and achy. Girls with smaller waists should be wearing body hugging dresses to show off that lovely flat tummy. It’s all about working with what you do have and slightly adjusting the things you lack in.

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Legs

More specifically the skirt. There is an age long battle of length that every woman faces. Longer legged girls may love the allure of a long skirt but this tends to make them look taller when they do not need added height. Wearing flat shoes is the way to go when you are taller than average. You don't want to tower over the groom!

Girls of a shorter stature need to create the illusion of height. This can not only be done with added length to heels but with long and thin dresses. Depending on how brave you are, you can either go for the usual flowing skirt or you can have a slightly wider or “princess” style dress which is good for girls with narrow hips if you have legs to die for why not show them off in a daring short gown.

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Author Bio for: Lianne Nichols: I am a freelance writer, i create web content for websites specialising in the Brides industry, when it comes to Bridess there isn't anything i don't love to write about. I enjoy researching beautiful and creative ideas to inspire any bride to be. I also have my own Blog www.adoreBridess.co.uk. Please follow me on twitter @Adore_Bridess. 

                                  

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Alternatives to the Traditional Bridal Bouquet

As we are nearing the end of April, we hope that this month of showers will bring beautiful flowers next month. 

As the pollen levels rise and for those who will be living off anti-histamines the next few months and would prefer not to hold pollinating plants so close to themselves, we've got just the thing for you. 

This week the SimplyBridal.com creative team has put together a list of great alternatives to the traditional flower bouquet.  There are so many to choose from, which one is right for you?

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Relaxed & Sexy Brides Dress...

Not every bride dreams of a big princess ballgown. Not every bride dreams of a white {ivory/ off white/ champagne} Brides dress. Not every bride even wants to wear a dress.

But every bride wants to look great! Scratch that, every bride wants to look amazing!

If you are a non traditional/ non white ballgown wearing bride what are you going to wear?

I LOVE this Resort Wear by Alexis... stylish, sexy, relaxed and gorgeous! ~ would you wear this on your Brides day?

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Earth Day: Eco-Friendly Brides Ideas

To celebrate the wonder and beauty of our planet and mark Earth Day, SimplyBridal.com has taken the time to create a fun visual of many ways for you to have a sustainable Brides. 

Can you believe that 62 tons of carbon dioxide is created from the 2.5 million Bridess in the United States alone?  This doesn’t even account for the 9 million Bridess that are celebrated in China, can you image in the figures worldwide? 

From the paper used for invitations, to the jewelry pieces that are worn by the bridal party, SimplyBridal has thought of it all! 

Remember there are simple things you can do to help the planet on your Brides day; donate un-served food, and encourage your guest to take public transportation, go on, do something good for our world on your Brides day!

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Downton Abbey Inspired Bridal Look

I don't know about you, but I am seriously missing this show... that Christmas special left me on the edge of my seat, looking around me for the writers to arrive and explain their actions pronto!

So when I came across this great Downton Abbey inspired bridal look I had to share... what do you think?

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Five Things You Didn't Think Of To Make Your Brides Amazing!!

Every couple wants their Brides to be amazing. But sometimes, it can be difficult to ensure yours really stands our from the crowd. Here are five ideas to help you do just that! 

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1. Give the guests something to read and talk about. Instead of a simple one-page Brides program,
put together a small booklet with your story, fun facts about you two, and maybe even some silly
icebreaker questions or games to help people get to know each other at the Brides. If you're not sure
how to make a small booklet, it's very simple. Talk to a local print shop to see if they could do the job.

2. Hide secret messages for your significant other to find throughout the day. Put notes in their
dressing room, slip something under their plate at the reception, take turns going to the bathroom and
leaving each other mushy voicemails, or come up with a secret gesture or code that means "I love you."
Secret flirting is a wonderful way to communicate your love to each other even while surrounded by all
your friends.

3.Make the celebration all weekend long. Brides celebrations could take several days in olden times,
so revive that tradition a little bit. Have a variety of activities your guests can participate in with you -
a barbecue, a movie, a trip to a museum. This will make your Brides unforgettable and allow you to
spend time with everyone who came without feeling rushed.

4. Fill the reception with little games. Dancing, eating and drinking are great, but keep things fresh and
interesting for everyone by incorporating games into the flow of things. You can even play traditional
bridal shower games - the kind appropriate for the whole family, of course. Have people work together
to imagine a dazzling future for you or compete to come up with the worst Brides song ever.

5. Write a letter to Mom and Dad, and place it on their seat before the ceremony begins. It could
be a thank you for the Brides or a tribute to their own marriage - anything that's going to mean
something to them. It's a wonderful way to acknowledge their help. If you want to go the extra mile,
write one for your new in-laws as well, thanking them for welcoming you into their family.

Author Bio: Casey Haslem: I'm a 25 year old writer. My hobbies are reading, painting and pretending I know how to write a book (I don't). I love meeting people and making new friends. Writing opens up a whole world of new ideas and possibilities for me. I wouldn't change a thing. 

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