Looking your best on your special day

Feeling and looking good on your special day is important to every bride.  Here are some helpful tips you can do to ensure you are looking your best on a day that will forever live in your memories.

1. Drink plenty of water.  Forget the fizzy, sugary drinks.  Replace them with water, water, water.  Did you know that hunger can be a sign of thirst.  It may be helpful to keep a bottle of water nearby and try to drink atleast 2 litres of water per day.

2. Eat regularly.  We often hear of people going on crazy fad diets in the event they will shed kilos quickly.  Ensuring you eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner is important, but so too are the healthy snacks in between these main meals like nuts, fruits and vegetables.

3.  Get active.  I’m not talking about running a marathon, but ensure you get out and get physically active everyday.  A brisk walk is a great place to start.

4.  Avoid or limit your temptations.  You know your temptations, whether it is chocolate, cakes or biscuits.  Be kind to yourself and avoid or limit your access to them.  A great place to start is to clear out the pantry of any temptations and avoid these aisles when shopping.

5.  Get plenty of sleep.  Planning a wedding on top of your already busy life can be hectic.  Be sure to get plenty of sleep to ensure you can stay on top of your game and avoid the need for that sugary hit for short term energy gain.

6.  Treat yourself.  By this I mean treat your hair and skin.  You may consider facial and hair treatments to ensure your hair and skin are glowing for your special day.

Looking and feeling your best is about making informed decisions.  You don’t have to sacrifice everything, it’s all about moderation.

Affording your special day

From as little as I can remember, I dreamt of my wedding day.  From how gorgeous my gown would be, the dream of where I’d get married and the vivid memory of how beautiful I’d look on the day….. childhood memories are wonderful.

And, it’s true.  We can all have our dream wedding day and it can be achieved on any budget.  It all depends on when you want to get married, that is the day and time of day, where you want to get married, the style of day you want – casual or formal and how many guests you invite. 

Before you lock anything in, sit down with your partner and anyone else who has expressed interest in contributing to your special day (like your parents) and work out a rough total that you can comfortably afford to spend.  Once you have a rough idea, you can get move full steam ahead with planning your special day.  

Like everything, there are a number of decisions to make when planning your special day, but it is such a special time.  So relax, have fun, involve your family and friends when you want to and make sure it is a reflection of your personalities and the love you share.

We are pleased to announce that Karen Willis Holmes, a well-known Australian designer, has created a more affordable ready to wear range, which is now in-store! You can still have the look of a couture gown, whilst staying within your budget. Have a look at this stunning detailing on the back of the ‘Caitlyn’ gown.

Bridal gown search – tips to help

Looking for the perfect gown is an exciting time for all brides.  It can also be a time of uncertainty for some brides as you don’t know where to start your search.   I’d like to provide you with a few things to consider.

1. Start out by doing your research

Look through bridal magazines for designs, fabrics, texture and colours. This will help you to build knowledge and an idea of your perfect gown.

Open your mind; don’t limit your choice of style from the start. You would be surprised to see what suits you when you actually try the gown on.

2. Find the right shop

Do some online research: ask your girlfriends and colleagues about the shop. Do you hear mostly complaints or compliments?

3. When visiting the boutique

Buying your wedding gown is not a one off purchase; it should be a pleasant and memorable experience.

Bring a friend along, someone whose opinion you trust.

When you put the gown on, consider:

• Does this gown create a great silhouette line on my body?
•  Do I feel comfortable as well as beautiful?
• Check the gown finishing, does it look well made? Is there any gaping, pulling or puckering?

4.  Importantly, check the terms and conditions of purchase

The payment terms

• Does the price include the fitting? If so, how many?
• Length of time needed for making the wedding gown
• Minimum length of ordering time before the wedding

Last but not least, don’t look for your gown at the last minute. Remember Akina Bridal Couture is with you every step of the way…

Tiffany by Karen Willis Holmes

Suspiro by La Sposa

Formal or informal – the choice is yours

When selecting a ready to wear gown or designing your own custom couture gown it’s important to consider the theme you are looking for on your wedding day.  If you are looking for a Formal setting, you could go with a gown that has a fuller skirt and a structured bodice with either lace and/or beading. The common fabric used for this style of gown is Dutch silk satin, Thai silk or Cathedral satin. The longer the veil, the more formal you will look, for example, a Mantilla veil or Cathedral veil. You can also add many accessories to express your personal style and to finish your look.

On the other hand, if you are looking for an In-formal setting like a beach wedding, you may like to consider a simple and elegant style, like a slinky fishtail gown with lace embellishments.  Rather than a veil, you may look at having a fascinator or even some simple flowers for your hair.  You can also be more daring with colours.

But remember, choosing the perfect gown for you is most important than any wedding protocol or tradition.  It is your special day, so make sure it reflects you and your partner!

Karen Willis Holmes - Sophia

La Sposa - Sonata

Karen Willis Holmes - Evie