My Big Fat Beautiful Wedding Dress

2011-04-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

This is my sketch for the Kate Middleton Wedding Dress. Since there is a strong possibility that she will wear her hair down, the soft romantic textures of Chantilly Lace combined with an ontrend neckline and ruching make for a gown that is timeless yet youthful. A centered, very full Godet of the Lace overlay would give interesting movement as she walks. Besides Kate being the focal point, a Platinum Blue Topaz and Diamond Brooch would sit upon the center of the inverted V silk chiffon sash.

Many Blessings to the Royal Couple.

Sketch By Janet Lyons Brooks for Leontina Gowns

Wedding Dresses 2011

2011-02-11T07:42:00.001-08:00

Wedding dresses 2011. What can you expect this year?

Of course strapless wedding dresses will still prevail because Brides are still buying them.

Designers are still utilizing ruching in strategic places to make brides look their absolute best in almost any silhouette. Wedding gowns in 2011 will also have ruffles. Rubbles on skirts are obviously the most popular. However watch for the way they run so that you get the optimum look without the volume in the wrong places.

Wedding gowns 2011 that have ruffles look best on Brides when they are placed either asymmetrically or vertically. This way Brides with all sorts of figure types can wear these gowns without adding to their hips or waist.

All in all look for more of the couture techniques to be seen in skirts as prominent eye candy. The swirls and textures make the gown look not only more expensive, but unforgettable. Get the most out of Wedding Gowns 2011 by shopping for a wedding gown that has these techniques, but is affordably priced.

One Shoulder Wedding Gowns--Ontrend for 2011

2010-12-05T14:28:00.001-08:00

While many consider one-shoulder wedding dressdx a "new" trend, the one shoulder gown has been popular on and off since the early 70's.

One shoulder wedding dresses can be either extremely contemporary or even romantic. There's something about an off the shoulder strap that just drapes ever so slightly that can be just down right sexy!

My latest design for 2011 is an off the shoulder--one shoulder wedding dress that wraps the bride in total luxury. From the heavily hand beaded Crystal bodice to the hour glass making ruched midriff, the Dahnya is a very unique one shoulder wedding gown.

Perhaps even more interesting is the back of this one shoulder wedding dress is the Obi bow that has very long, heavily embroidered, hand beaded tails. These give just as much drama to the back of the dress as there is to the front.

Even plus size brides can wear one shoulder wedding dresses and actually this can be quite slimming when done right. Look for something that has asymmetrical ruching to give you the slenderizing silhouette.

At least for 2011 Wedding Dress Trends definitely include the one shoulder wedding gown.

Long Sleeve Wedding Dresses--That Elusive Creature!

2010-07-28T05:21:00.001-07:00

Lately, I have been getting more inquiries from winter brides who want a wedding gown that has sleeves, but is ontrend.

You asked, I answered. My newest design isn't your typical strapless wedding dress. (Yes, we still have to design them because you keep buying them). But rather a winter princess' dream!

This is the Capriana. A beautiful winter wedding dress that actually has ahem....lined sleeves!!!!!

The Capriana is an off the shoulder gown with an interesting asymmetrical neckline. The bodice is a gorgeous ancelon lace beaded subtly. The dropped waist makes the gown flattering and so ontrend.

This long sleeved wedding dress will look gorgeous in photos with it's 7 layer English netting skirt. It truly gives off that winter wonderland feel.

You can expect to see 2 more long sleeve wedding gown designs from me this year. The biggest challenge I face when I start to create these is keeping them fresh without going too 80's.

If you are a bride that is getting married in the Winter, which by the way I was! Then the Capriana is perfect for your season and to keep you from freezing in that ever so common strapless wedding dress!

Halter Wedding Dresses

2010-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Halter style wedding dresses are probably one of the most misunderstood styles of wedding gowns.

Some brides get it, others just shy away from the halter wedding gown. So what bride should consider this neckline and which should steer clear?

One of the biggest considerations when purchasing a halter wedding dress is the back of the dress. Just like a strapless, it's out there. And in some cases this style can be a very low sexy back.

Surprisingly, this is a great neckline for a variety of figure types. If you want a little more support than a strapless, but still want to look sexy, then the halter is definitely the way to go.

This brings us to the plus size brides. A halter can be a buxom brides best friend. In most cases it is best to have the halter in a V neckline for the optimal slimming effect. In the world of Boobology, support, push up and hold is definitely the Halter Wedding Dresses biggest and best feature.

Who should steer clear of the halter neckline? Because of it's slimming effect, brides with less than a B cup. However, if you have a love affair with the halter and a smaller chest size, then you can still to this, just go for the higher neckline and a lot of detailing. That way it will add and not detract from your bust line.

Convertable Wedding Dresses--2 dresses for the price of one

2010-07-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Amoungst other projects I am working on. Convertable wedding dresses are on the list!

I get so many brides that will buy their ceremony gown from us and then as soon as they receive it, they are so pleased that they come back and request a reception dress from us.

Many times, I can design a dress for them that is based on the ceremony dress and this is always a hit. However, it is also quite fun to have a reception dress that is totally the opposite of the ceremony gown.

Some brides want a traditional ceremony gown. or an over the top ballgown to walk down the isle, as the have always envisioned. But then, maybe they realize that walking around in a big dress all night isn't as practical as they thought. Perhaps their Fiance wants to see them in something "sexy"? Whatever the case, a second or reception dress is almost becoming the norm. Especially when our brides can often buy 2 dresses and not even exceed their original budget for just one.

A good convertable dress is either obvious that it has 2 lengths or sometimes it isn't so obvious, like the dress and the bride have a little secret!

In either case, don't pay too much for a fabulous convertable wedding dress, or maybe have one designed for you . Where else but at http://www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com/ can you find a custom made convertable dress for under $500! That's 2 wedding dresses for less than half of what most brides pay for their wedding gown.

Transparent Midriff Wedding Dresses--A Trend That's Here Again

2010-06-09T06:29:00.001-07:00

Transparent midriff wedding dresses! Still going strong in 2010!

Whether a bride is looking for the unique, sexy or both in her wedding dress, a transparent midriff gown just might be the answer.

This type of wedding dress isn't for the faint of heart, but rather for the confident bride that wants to show off her curves and do it in a big way!

This ontrend look was probably pionered by Pnina Tornai a famous Evening/Wedding Dress Designer from Israel.

While these dresses are gorgeous, her gowns start at right around $5000. So what is a bride that has this type of taste to do?

We have these type of over the top dresses and they are all under $600! Most of them are under $500! And they look like you spent so much more!

The most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for a transparent midriff wedding dress is the construction of the gown. These highly detailed wedding dresses must have certain construction points to not only look good, but to perform properly on the brides body.

A see threw wedding dress should have a corset style mid section to support the bust and maintain the weight of the skirt. The tranparent midriff should consist of at minimum 1 layer of netting sandwiched inbetween 2 layers of organza. Then the boning structure should be sewn threw all layers. Most likley that outerlayer will be a lace with subtantial amounts of beading to finish off this unique wedding dress style.

The most popular closure for a transparent midriff wedding dress is the corset style. There should be a detachable privacy panel inbehind the lace up so that the bride has the option of either showing some skin, or having the same type of netted, organza laced panel to flow evenly with the design of the dress.

This highly sexy style can be toned down with a removeable privacy lining. This is a good idea for the bride that wants this look, but perhaps for religious ceremonies is not allowed to do so. The lining is made to match the transparent midriff section and snaps in and out at the brides discretion. This way, she can have a more modest look for the ceremony, while enjoying the fully blown, over the top style of her sexy wedding gown for the reception or after party.

All in all, with a transparent midriff wedding dress you will have a gown that no one will ever forget and your Fiance will probably thank you for!

Replica Designer Wedding Dresses--Buyer Beware!

2010-04-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have had a host of brides asking the same question, "Is the dress I see on the http://www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com/ website the dress I will receive?" The answer is "of course it is"! But why would you ask?

Honestly, until recently this question has never come up more than it has over the last 3 months. So I finally had a heart to heart with one of my brides and I think I know why...

In this economy it is rare to find a bride that can fork over $5,000 for a wedding dress! Goodness, even $1500 is cost prohibitive for many brides. So what is a bride that wants a nice, quality, on-trend wedding gown to do?

The answer of course is to either design one yourself, or have a designer inspired replica made at a fraction of the cost. But wait, before you open your wallet, there are a few things to consider! Even though that $198 wedding dress from ebay looks tempting, it is either going to go really well or really badly when you open up the mailer that it comes in.

If you follow the golden rules of designer inspired wedding dress buying, you should be fine. So here are the rules.

1. It is illegal to repicate a designer dress, wedding gown or anything other designer apparel at a 100% level. And anyone that it implies that it isn't, is not only misleading you, but they are doing something that you don't want to be a part of.

2. If the site doesn't sell authentic designer gowns, then it is illegal to put up a picture of a designer gown and pass it off as the gown that you will receive when you purchase. This part is so disturbing to me! Don't buy a dress from anyone that follows this practice. If it's too good to be true, then it is!

3. Look for websites that show you dresses that they have made, not pictures of designer gowns. You should be able to get a good feel for their quality by looking at their lace gowns and studying the beading as everything should always be done by hand.

4. Know the difference between cheap and discounted. Cheap is expecting to get a gown that looks like it costs $1800 for $168. It isn't going to happen. Allow some common sense to enter the transaction!

5. Get over the China syndrome. Did you know that Maggie Sottero, Allure, Davids, Galina, Demetrios, Mary's, Bonnie and Mori Lee gowns (just to name a few) are made in China? There are very few labels that aren't made there. Wake up, you're not going to find a well made discounted gown crafted in the US (Except for 1 label and they are NOT discounted!). Not when all the top designers have their gowns made in China. The US simply can not compete with discount levels like this. The sad thing is, that Maggie Sottero probably costs just as much as one of our gowns wholesale. No I am not kidding!

Why? At http://www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com/ we are the wholesaler! It's not the fact that your dress is made in China that matters, what matters is that it's made by a professional wedding gown manufacturer that uses the same time held traditions of dressmaking. Your dress should have the proper amounts of boning and foundational materials. And yes, every dress should have bra cups put in it. At minimum for shape, but there are certain aspects of a wedding gown that are just a given and this is one of them!

6. Only buy from someone that you can talk to on the phone and responds to their emails promptly. Would you buy anything from a website that didn't have a phone number? Why would you buy a wedding gown from someone you can not talk to? Better yet, are they a BBB member? Do they offer Paypal for buyer protection?

7. Finally, stand on reasonable expectations. The manfacturer does not have the gown in front of them for replication. They only have pictures. You should expect a quality made gown that is constructed professionally. Materials should be high quality and you should have some of the silks available to you if you want to pay a little more. But again, the gown will not look exactly like the original, it just won't, but it can be very close.

If you follow these golden rules of Wedding Dress Replica shopping, you should be able to find a dress that exceeds your expecations and saves you $1000's in the long run.

To explore the possiblities of a custom made wedding dress, visit www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com/custom-made-wedding-gowns.htm

The $99 Sale at Davids--Is it worth it?

2010-03-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

Recently, I sold a dress to a bride who had quite the story to tell me about Davids Bridal and their $99 Sales.

After hearing all about it, I figured I would blog so that everyone would know what to expect. Don't think though that this is a bashing, it isn't! It's just some information that everyone should know before they buy that $99 David's Wedding Dress.

To start, let's give the perfect scenario for the Davids $99 Bridal Sale...

You have found your dream dress and it fit's perfectly. It doesn't need any alterations including a bustle. It's on sale for $99. You buy it and maybe some accessories. You walk out the door with a $99 dress, veil and shoes. Maybe the whole thing cost $225. Well done. Consider yourself blessed and get on with the rest of your planning!

For the rest of you, here's the real deal about these sales.

Alterations--what to expect from Davids alterations. If the dress needs altering in other words it's too big or too small in certain areas your costs will more than likely exceed the cost of the dress. In many cases alterations costs at Davids can be at minimum double to quadruple the cost of the $99 dress.

Does your $99 gown have a train? Are you having a reception or any kind of after party where you will be walking around mingling with guests? Then more than likely you will need a bustle. Our local David's charges $20 per button for a bustle. The average uncomplicated bustle needs 5 buttons. If you have a big train or if you'd like a french bustle or just something different, be prepared to pay up to $250 just for the bustle alone.

What about Bra Cups? Would you like Bra Cups in your dress? That's $20 per cup.

Do you see how that $99 dress can suddenly creep up to the $400-$700 range? How is that a bargain? Especially for a $99 dress that probably looks like it costs $99!

We hardly ever have $99 sales. Why, because our gowns are discount wedding dresses. Not cheaply made wedding gowns and alterations fees are non-existent or minimal.

Our brides have the option to have their gown custom made to their measurements. No need for an off the rack size, get it custom made to your body and it will fit right out of the box as long as the measurements don't change. This is such a money saver in and of itself. Especially for brides that maybe have measurements that crossover into 2 sizes or for brides that are ordering a lace wedding dress.

Lace wedding gowns are some of the most expensive to alter. Why? Because lace is pieced together by hand on wedding gowns ( or it should be, ours is!). When a lace gown has to be altered, each piece has to be taken off of the stabilizing material and moved, then re sewn. A seamstress/tailor definitely earns their money, but the costs for this service can sometimes be outrageously shocking!

Bra cups...it is beyond me how you can make a wedding dress without bra cups. At minimum they are required for shaping. Each and every one of our wedding gowns has bra cups. The only ones that don't would be a charmeuse type slip silhouette, and we have none of these on our website as of date. Paying $40 to have bra cups added is simply ridiculous, when they should be there in the first place.

Bustling! There is a fine art to bustling, especially dresses with big trains. But for gowns that have a manageable train, usually a wrist loop sewed into the center seam of the skirt lining will do. We do that automatically in the appropriate styles. If you are ordering a gown with a big train you should contact a local seamstress/tailor and show them a picture of the dress. Ask them to give you an estimate if they were to bustle the gown. This way there are no nasty surprises.

In the end the David's $99 may work out for you. But at least now you know exactly what to expect!

Wedding Dresses That Make You Look Thin, Honestly!

2010-01-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Can a wedding dress really make you look thinner? Absolutely and designers are making more and more of them.

Ruching, which in my grandmothers day was called plain old "gathering" or "pleating" has been around for centuries in the dressmaking world. But what brides are discovering and designers taking advantage of are intentional asymetrical lines right below the bust and on through to the hips.

This wonder technique works on almost every shape type and can add or subtract depending on where it's placed on your body.

I have 3 new wedding dresses that do just that. They are actually all modified a-lines, but some would call them fit and flare style too.

If you seriously want an hourglass shape, then any one of these wedding dresses will do the trick.

Wedding Dresses With Pockets

2010-01-02T04:44:00.000-08:00

Wedding dresses with pockets? Yes it's true, now you can have a wedding dress with hidden pockets, not only for comfort, but to put your favorite handkerchief or something blue that you'd like to carry on you.

The Andabella has a contemporary feel with a corset style bodice that isn't heavily boned. This dress fit's like a dream and has a very flattering silhouette. The ontrend inseam pockets make it the perfect gown for the bride that wants a chic and clean lined wedding dress.

The Marsala has a beautiful full skirt with ruched bodice. The gorgeous bow at the center of a dropped waist is so flattering. Again, with the ontrend inseam pockets this dress is a real contender. But what makes this gown so unique isn't just in the hidden skirt pockets, but the open back. Marsala can go from Chapel to the beach. The perfect dress for a formal or destination wedding.

Design Your Wedding Dress For Less Than $500!

2009-11-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

Can you really design your wedding dress for less than $500? The answer is yes, but there's only one place that we know of where this can happen at mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com .

Maybe you are a Bride with a very unique sense of style, or perhaps you just don't want to by a wedding dress that countless other brides will wear? Whichever reason you have for wanting to create that one-of-a-kind wedding gown, there is one such service and it is available to Brides World Wide!

One of the biggest untapped markets is for Brides to "Design Your Own Wedding Dress" . Most Brides do want a wedding gown that speaks and shows their personal sense of style. But when they look for a local dressmaker or seamstress to do this, they quickly find out that it becomes cost prohibitive, or impossible to find a a professional that is within driving distance.

With mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com brides quickly learn about a unique service that is just like having a dressmaker right down the road. So what can a bride who wants to design her own wedding dress expect with this type of service?

The first step is a consultation that usually takes place over the phone, or in person if you are available to visit Leontina Gowns in Michigan. During this consultation, Janet will work with you to determine your silhouette and other features that you want for your special gown.

After that she will sketch your gown and present you with a technical board for your design. Once you approve, you receive a quote for our "Picture in Progress" service. Now, you can see your gown's progress and approve or make changes to the dress as necessary. This way you know exactly what you are getting and there are NO nasty surprises.

Then your sketch and particulars are sent to our professional wedding dress manufacturer and your gown is created just for you.

1. The sketch--1 front and 1 back view of your dress

2. The Toile or The Dress at the approval stage--about six weeks from the time that you placed your order you receive 3 to 4 pictures of your dress. At this stage the garment is almost complete, but still can be changed if the bride wishes to do so.

3. Final Approval--The Bride approves the photographs or changes that are made and the dress is sent to the finishing floor.

4. The Gown is finished and sent to Leontina Gowns. Janet inspects the final gown and then ships it to the bride.

The whole process takes about 10-12 weeks. Now Brides can Design their own wedding dress no matter where they live and the whole process is completely stress free.

Good Bye Wedding Dress 2009, Hello 2010 Collections!

2009-11-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

How close are the latest styles to the wedding dress 2009 collections?

I have previewed some of the 2010 collections and while there aren't really any surprises, I think designers are starting to really create gowns that are body conscious.

Don't look for lace wedding dresses to go away anytime soon. But one interesting thing about ontrend lace wedding dresses is the use of taffeta or silk on top of the lace instead of around or underneath the overlay. This creates some very intersting textures with lace wedding gowns

Look for lines and fabrics to be sewn in specific combinations to hug the body. By this, I don't mean tight or slimmer silhouettes, I mean concentrating rouching and lines to compliment all figure types, not just your perfect size 8.

Brides now more than ever can look forward to dresses that fit better, compliment all figure types and offer a mix of traditional and contemporary stylings.

Don't count on losing the strapless neckline though. So many brides are still asking for this type of bodice. That's OK, one day, the trend will shrink some, but currently, it is still going strong.

One of the most important features to look for when you are trying to find a dress is fabric manipulaton. This is how designers are really taken this years gowns to the next level. Watch for folds and pieces of fabric to be married together to create a gown that will make you look like a million dollars all because of "how" the viewers eye moves when they see you for the first time.

One of my newest designs is just one of these dresses, a cross between a mermaid and a modified slim a-line. The Avery has folds of stunning organza that create curves and lines that complete an extremely flattering and unique look.

This is a sexy wedding dress with a criss cross back.

Keep checking http://www.leontinagowns.com/ to see all of our newest styles for 2010.

Wedding Dress Shopping Etiquette 101

2009-10-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I have posted. So sorry about that, I have actually been pretty sick so take care of yourselves! Drink plenty of Orange Juice and get your rest! With that being said here goes with a post that has been long overdue.

If you are a Bride, please read this!! Hopefully it will help you survive your quest to find the perfect dress. If you are a MOB, FMI, or any other member of the Bride's Posse that has the honor of being asked to come with the Bride when she shops for her wedding gown, then you need to definitely read this because it really pertains to you.

When shopping for a wedding dress, Brides PLEASE try to limit the amount of people that you have coming with you. I know for some of you it's hard. Let's face it, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity so everyone wants to be a part of it. But just be ready to face the dangers of too many onlookers.

First of all, it's your dress and even if someone else is paying for it, it's still your dress. What ever you do, don't forget that. Say it to yourself over and over if you have to , but again It's Your Dress! And it's about your dream and it's about YOU!

It always amazes me that some of the most unopinionated people suddenly can become naysayers or negative nilly's when it comes to the wedding dress hunt.

I have to tell you that there is nothing worse to see a bride try on a gown, come out of the dressing room beaming and even saying "this is one" only to be shot down by someone Else's comment.

In that moment, it is truly like watching the air fizzle out of a balloon. All of the lofty feelings the bride had have just been shot down in an instant! And for what? All because of someone commenting on the dress who wasn't going to be wearing it. Ridiculous!

Recently I had a bride contact me numerous times about a dress. Here is the gown, a Leontina Gowns wedding dress that is rather simplistic, but very chic in nature.

The bride wanted to try the gown on so badly that she drove from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (an 8 hour trip) to my boutique so that she could see for herself if the dress was for her.

She brought a huge posse with her and they even contributed to our local economy by staying at one of our Inn's.

She tried on other gowns, and we saved the one she really wanted as her last. As soon as we put it on, she began crying and hugging me proclaiming that she new it was "The One".

Out of the dressing room we went, with the Bride looking radiant and everyone else seeing how happy she was Until... her future mother-in-law completely shot her down by exclaiming that it was too plain and not traditional enough. "I just don't like it and I don't think my son will either." What A Blow!

Being the brave bride that she was, she sucked back her tears of sorrow, kept the dress on for as long as she could, got some pics of her in it, and eventually left the store and the dress behind.

The rest of the posse was pretty taken aback as they knew that dress was what they had come for. Her mother tried to negate the comments but to no avail, the damage had been done.

Everyone except the FMI tried to convince the bride that it was OK and that they would find something else, or if she really liked it, she should go ahead and get it. Too late, the damage was already done and the dream was gone.

Now, I just got an email from the Bride who was married 2 weekends ago outside in a beautiful fall setting. She ended up with a traditional a-line dress that she did look lovely in, but later confessed that she hated the dress, felt less than attractive in it and told her Husband the entire story.

Once she showed him the picture of the dress and pictures of her in the dress, he was furious. He LOVED her in the dress and felt that it was more like what he had envisioned her in because he could see the dress was totally her. Needless to say, I don't know all of the details as to what has transpired since then, but I can not imagine that it was too pretty.

She has now ordered the dress and is going to have her husband wear the same suit he wore on their wedding day and get pictures of just the 2 of them. They are also planning a small after party over Thanksgiving in which she will wear the dress and be photographed in it.

Not all people have the luxury of affording another dress, and a photographer, but her Husband took care of all of this for her. (obviously she needs to hang on to him!).

So I caution you, if you aren't the bride make sure you place her feelings above yours, Period! It's not about you, it's about her. Simply consider this; it is an honor, not a right to be asked to go dress shopping with the Bride. If you are the Bride, you are the only one who knows exactly what you want and don't let anyone or anything keep you from it.

The Long Sleeve Wedding Dress--Are They Still Out There?

2009-10-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Even though most brides are still requesting the strapless wedding dress, I have been getting more and more requests for the long sleeve wedding dress.

While I have several that are on our site, I have recently added two more contemporary long sleeve wedding dresses with one more on the way!

The Dina is our most versatile long sleeve wedding dress.

This is one gorgeous long sleeve wedding gown. It has platinum embroidery all over with subltle beading for that extra bling.

The long sleeves of this gorgeous gown are perhaps it's best feature. Maybe you want the choice of wearing sleeves for the ceremony and then changing them at the reception. No problem!

With this long sleeve wedding dress, the organza embroidered sleeves are removeable. That way you can have the best of both worlds.

Maybe you are a bride that wants a long sleeve mermaid wedding dress? Then the Mia is for you. This gorgeous gown features a true mermaid silhouette with a lovely lace bodice, sleeves and stunning hemline.

Either way, here are 2 contemporary long sleeve wedding dresses that are for the winter wedding bride.

Fit and Flare Wedding Dress--Who Should or Shouldn't?

2009-08-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Fit and flare wedding dresses are really starting to take the lead in many designers collections for 2010 and mine is no exception.

The fit and flare silhouette, what exactly is it and who should or shouldn't wear this type of wedding gown?

Actually the fit and flare is a cross between the mermaid and the a-line wedding dress. Really this shape has opened the doors not only for many designers to express themselves creatively, but for some brides who thought they could never wear a more fitted gown!

Personally, as a designer, I can not get enough of this style. It allows me to design for almost all body types, but gives me the freedom to make a gown for a bride that never thought she could wear a more conforming line.

The Bryce and Ellanis wedding dresses are my latest fit and flare wedding gowns and already are climbing to my Hot Sellers list!

The Bryce Fit and Flare wedding dress will not only give you an hour glass shape, but it will make your bum look fantastic! This gown is truly one of those dresses that looks good on almost anyone. If you want to alter the neckline into a sweetheart, that would be another option for brides who prefer the sweetheart cut.

The Bryce also has just the right amount of sparkle without being over done. The train is also very manageable and will just give you the right finished look!

The Ellanis is also a fit and flair, but for the bride that likes the fit of her gown to speak for itself. This fit and flare wedding dress has a sweetheart neckline and ruching that just pulls you in at all the right places! The on trend detachable one shoulder strap makes this dress perfect for brides who like contemporary elegance.

The Ellanis also has the perfect train for the bride who wants her wedding dress to look like a wedding dress, but without prohibiting her to have an overdone bustle to contend with.

If you want a gown that you will wear and wear well, consider the Bryce or the Ellanis from my Spring 2010 collection, you won't be disappointed.

The Satin Wedding Dress--A Classic

2009-08-15T07:44:00.001-07:00

The satin wedding dress has long been the choice of brides for decades.

Even though satin is a versatile material, the on trend stylings of ruching have added new levels of sophistication to the satin wedding dress.

Before the newer silhouettes like the very popular "Fit and Flare" brides usually would have to choose from an A-Line or a Modified A-line and maybe even a mermaid or two. But now, the satin wedding dress takes on a whole new meaning with the addition of ruching.

Just what is ruching and how can it make a satin wedding gown look even better on almost any bride?

Ruching is really a form of gathering and pleating. But what many brides are discovering about ruching is it's ability to "slenderize" the bride. It really is the newest "miracle" when it comes to features on a wedding gown.

Ruching combined with opulent draping of materials can give a bride that doesn't have an hour glass figure, the "illusion" that she does.

The perfect example of this is our latest design at Leontina Gowns the "Capazio".

As the head designer of this line, I wanted to create a Mermaid/Fit and Flare silhouette that worked for brides who perhaps didn't think they ever wear this style. The combination of gorgeous draping and ruching make this dress a contender for any bride that likes Couture styling but has a budget wallet.

The "Capazio" is a gorgeous satin wedding dress with Couture ruching and fabric draping techniques. This gown is designed for the bride that wants a wedding gown that makes them feel very confident and powerful.

This satin wedding gown has a gorgeous strapless neckline with a rhinestone accent. An interesting ruched asymmetrical band adds just the right amount of dram and keeps the eye moving up and down.

The intriguing thing about this design is how there is no seam connecting the bodice to the skirt. The means that the fabric literally molds the bride. The elaborate draping combined with the lace Up closure lends itself to a fit like no other gown.

The "Capzio" satin wedding dress is another on trend wedding gown that will surely become the flag ship of the Spring 2010 Collection for Leontina Gowns.

The Mermaid Petticoat--An Absolute Must for Mermaid Wedding Dresses

2009-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Mermaid wedding dresses, you either love em or hate em. There seems to be no gray area here!

But just like any other wedding gown, the mermaid is no exception when it comes to the proper undergarments and petticoats.

Obviously, brides that have chosen this style of gown want to show off their curves. But no one wants a panty line or any other type of "bump" to stick out under their mermaid wedding gown.

In order to get the full effect of this look in the vast majority of cases, a bride does need to wear something other than a slip underneath her gown. That skirt needs be away from your legs and hold it's shape. Because after all the flair of the mermaid skirt is what makes this gown so appealing.

At mybigfatbeautifulwedding Head Designer Janet Lyon recognized the need for such a petticoat. Now with the collaboration of Marcia Sullivan at Morning Dove Creations the two have literally revolutionised the mermaid crinoline. No where else but at www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com can you get a mermaid petticoat custom made to your measurements.

And the good news, the price is only $65!

Perhaps one of the best features that this gown has to offer are the high quality materials and US craftsmanship. The upper portion of the petticoat is made of a soft and silky spandex material with just the right amount of control. A no roll/binding elastic waist makes this mermaid petticoat top in it's class.

However, in keeping with the custom made theme that is a foundational element in this company, now brides can get a mermaid crinoline that is made specifically to their individual measurements. Where else can you get a petticoat custom made?

Don't look for this to end here! The two have teamed up to design a Fit and Flair wedding dress petticoat that will be released within the next 2 weeks.

The combination of these two petticoats will be the answer to any bride that doesn't want to be forced to use an in appropriate petticoat for her gown's silhouette, because that is all that is available.

You can find your made in the USA custom mermaid petticoat only at mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com

Unique One Shoulder Wedding Dress

2009-06-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

Leontina Gowns has just come up with another dramatic Once-Shouldered Wedding Gown.

The popularity of this style keeps growing and we are looking to adding even more of these types of dresses as the new season approaches.

As long as brides want something different than "strapless" necklines and silhouettes here is a welcome to the bride that doesn't want something so...well...pedestrian.

The Constanza, the latest mermaid style wedding dress to be released by "Leontina Gowns" head designer, Janet Lyon, doesn't disappoint! This is for the Bride who has confidence and seeks to make a dramatic statement on her big day.

This isn't a dress for a timid or demure bride. The gown is a constructionist with just an elegant amount of bling. Even those who are afraid of the mermaid, shouldn't shy away from this silhouette. The ruched bodice hides any flaws and will give the illusion of an hour glass even if there isn't one there.

The lines on this gown are totally clean and the closure is on the side. The high quality empire satin adds to the sophistication of this affordable Couture wedding gown.

For truly unique designer wedding dresses under $600, visit Leontina Gowns either online or at their Michigan Boutique in Imlay City.

Kleinfelds Bridal And the $24,000 Dress

2009-05-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

So I was watching one of my favorite shows the other night, "Say Yes To The Dress" on TLC and there was a Bride who absolutely insisted that she had to have this $24,000 wedding dress!

Now maybe it's just me and maybe it's because I can't afford a $24,000 wedding gown. Maybe I am some how harboring thoughts of jealousy, but honestly... who in their right mind would spend $24,000 on a wedding dress?

I think the worst part was, her family could only afford a mere $13,000 and so they offered to buy the sample gown, right there, on the spot! As is!

Now don't get me wrong, the sample gown was gorgeous, a Pnina Tornai Big Ball Gown Style Wedding Dress that truly looked like it was out of a Fairy Tale.

But because we're not told the many details of the gown, one has to wonder...is it encrusted with diamonds or other precious jewels? Does it have 18k gold on it somewhere that the naked eye couldn't see? Surely, it's made out of silk but...

Hmmm? These are questions that I fear will never be answered. I do know that it had a lot of Swarovski Crystals on it (We can do that for $40 extra per hundred), but other than that, there was nothing to see that looked as opulent as the price tag indicated.

Then, there was the haggling of the price. The family walked out of the store bargaining down the price from $24,000 to $15,000. And that was for a dress that had some pretty serious damage to the lace, which surely must have been Chantilly from France.

But let's think for a moment about this, a Dress that retails for $24,000 being sold for $15,000? Something is very wrong here. Markups are generally 100% on clothing. In otherwords, if the buyer pays $50 for a pair of pants, they turn around and sell it to the customer for $100.

So are we to realize that this dress was bought for say around $10-$12,000 and was marked up to $24,000! That is a crime. For some of us that's a downpayment on a house.

But, should a bride that wants a certain dress be denied that gown? Absolutely not, but no one should have to pay such a price for a wedding dress! Why? Because they are really a liability, not an asset as their value only depreciates once they are altered and worn.

Don't pay too much for a wedding dress, but do get one that looks like you did! Over 300 Designer Quality Wedding Dresses Under $500

Discount Wedding Dresses VS Designer Wedding Dresses...and the winner is

2009-04-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Discount wedding dresses VS designer wedding gowns. What is the difference anyway?

You are about the get the facts about a quality discount wedding dress VS a Designer wedding gown and you wil be quite surprised at the results.

There isn't a day that goes by at My Big Fat Beautiful Wedding. Com that we don't get a bride who asks us if there isn't something wrong with our dresses or if we are a legitimate company. Worse, we have brides that actually think we show pictures of wedding dresses on our website and then ship out something else.

Let's fact it, buying a wedding dress online is a pretty scary thing. But with the economy being the way it is and some Brides just saying "no" to over inflated wedding gown prices, many brides are turning to online wedding dress shops to save them money, time and provide a bigger selection.

So what is the difference between one of our dresses and a designer wedding dress? The answer is--very little.

Now with our side by side comparison, you can see for yourself just exactly how our dresses VS a famous lable designer gown compare. You will be shocked at the results.

The main difference as demonstrated here lies within 2 areas. 1. The seam allowance and 2. The foundational Corslette.

Our seam allowances are 1" and the Maggie Sottero seam allowances are 2". We build foundational elements like boning and bra cups into our foundational layer. Maggie Sottero puts a lace up inner corselette in her wedding gowns. When is this worth $300 more? The answer is it will actually cost you even more to buy this designer gown when everything is said and done and here's why.

Even though our seam allowances are 1" we will actually make any of our wedding dresses to your exact measurements for no additional charge. With a Maggie and 95% of designers out there, you can only get the dress made to a standard US size, that is why the 2" seam allowance. Now you can tack on another $100-$300 and sometimes even more for alterations because the designer dress has to be altered to fit your body.

Now that $675 has suddenly become $875 while the cost for our gown at $379 has remained the same. The choice is up to you! At least now you know the real difference between our gowns and everybody else's.

Off The Shoulder Wedding Dresses--Adding New Drama To Traditional Wedding Gowns

2009-04-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

There's something so romantic about the off-the-shoulder wedding dress!

If you are sick of strapless or just want something that may offer you a bit more support in the bodice, then the off the shoulder wedding gown is for you.

Actually off the shoulder wedding dresses take their cue from the strapless sisters, but for some reason that strap that actually droops on the upper arm is just down right sexy.

This style of neckline can be flattering to just about any figure type depending on whether you choose something that is straight across or perhaps sweetheart in cut.

The off the shoulder wedding dress isn't going away and in fact, one of the hottest trends now is to have a one-shoulder--off the shoulder bodice. I believe we will see many more of these types of gowns for the 2010 collections.

Certainly strapless wedding dresses are not going to go away anytime soon, but more and more brides are requesting something different, something not so pedestrian and the off the shoulder wedding dress or one shoulder wedding gown is becoming one of the hottest trends out there.

The off the shoulder wedding gown can have totally different looks depending on how wide the straps are and were the are placed on the shoulder. For a more structured look choose the straps that sit at the tip of the shoulder. For a romantic look the loose, or droop strap wedding dresses will say sexy, without saying over the top.

Choosing an off the shoulder wedding dress is easy once you determine which neckline will look best on your bust. From there, the rest is simple.

Chiffon Wedding Dresses--Soft Elegance

2009-03-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

The chiffon wedding dress is becoming a real contender for many brides.

But what is it about the ethereal material that is attracting so many brides to be?

Chiffon is such a versatile material. It's matte, so it doesn't add shine, in fact it can add an interesting texture to a bridal dress by mixing it with satin. This affect is creating dresses that are very figure flattering for almost any body type.

Chiffon wedding dresses say "Class" from the minute you zip up. Chiffon is just a great material for draping. There is nothing else like it and it just lays in soft and sensual pools. That's why many women and especially their fiance's love this lightweight material. It's almost like wearing lingerie.

Chiffon wedding gowns have been very popular over the last several years for the destination wedding crowd. The biggest reason being that these dresses travel well. They're easy to steam and often times just hanging them can take out any wrinkles from packing.

Chiffon can be worn by petite brides and plus size brides. Our featured wedding dress is Leontina Gowns "Paola". A fit and flair chiffon wedding dress with a gorgeous ruched empire satin sash.

This chiffon wedding gown has a side covered button closure so that the drape of the ruched bodice and sash are uninterrupted. A very ingenious feature created by designer Janet Lyon.

"The Paola can go from the chapel to the beach. It's appropriate for any type of wedding and is sure to be a classic for several years to come." said Lyon.

The "Paola" chiffon wedding dress is available exclusively at http://www.leontinagowns.com/

The One Shoulder Wedding Dress--A Statement of Drama

2009-03-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

One of the hottest looks right now in wedding gowns is the One Shoulder Wedding Dress! And any bride that loves drama will like this look!

If you are tired of the usual strapless wedding gown the the one shoulder wedding dress might just put the spark back into your dress search that you need.

Over the last several years rouching has also become a foundation for today's on trend wedding looks. Needless to say, when you pair the two together, you have one hot look for the 09 wedding dress season.

And while the one shoulder wedding evening gown is nothing new, the one shoulder wedding dress is starting to make waves in the industry. Brides who like a more constructionist or contemporary look are charging forth looking for this hot new look in bridal wear.

Leontina Gowns has taken advantage of the top trends in bridal gowns and combined them into a show stopping One Shoulder Wedding Dress that will give brides who have a flair for the dramatic a very sophisticated look.

Janet Lyon, the head designer for Leontina Gowns, has created a one-of-a-kind off the shoulder wedding dress. She has named this stunning gown "Devon".

A mixture of contemporary with a bit of on-trend rouching has this fit and flare wedding dress turning heads.

"Devon" has only been available for 3 days and already mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com, the only place that brides can find Leontina Gowns, has reported 2 sales!

"This is a very special gown, for a very special bride", said Lyon. Any bride who likes the drama that a dress like this will certainly bring, will fall head over heals in love with the "Devon".

Leontina Gowns--Unique Wedding Dresses Under $600

2009-03-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

Now you can get a designer wedding dress for under $600!

Leontina Gowns is setting a new precedent for style and price points in the bridal industry.

Head Designer, Janet Lyon said "with the economy being as it is, now more than ever Brides deserve a designer wedding dress that they can afford, not one that will break the bank!"

Lyon is still adding to her collection and her summer wedding dresses do not disappoint.

"There is something for every bride in my collection. From the traditional, to the destination, Leontina Gowns is setting new standards for Cheap Designer Wedding Gowns".

Leontina is unique in the fact that their gowns are still created with the same materials and same construction points as wedding dresses in the $900 to $2800 price range.

We are sick of the business as usual in this industry. Sure, Couture wedding gowns are expensive, and they should be. Especially true Couture wedding dress that are 80% sewn by hand.

But with the average wedding dress being $1800, we feel that our gowns deliver way beyond any brides expectations looking in this price point.

Lyon still keeps her relationship with her brides on a strictly personal level. She will even design that one of kind gown if a client wants something that is totally hers.

"The honor of a bride choosing one of my dresses is something that I don't take lightly. It's a big commitment and I have promised to exceed all my customers expectations when it comes to Leontina Gowns"

You can see the latest additions for Leontina Gowns only at www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com

Weding Dress Alterations--Don't Get Ripped Off

2009-03-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to talk about Wedding Dress Alterations!

Over the last 3 weeks I have gotten some very interesting calls from some really distressed brides. What a shame! Being a Bride is supposed to be FUN! Not filled with stressful drama created by outside forces!

If it hasn't been the Plus size brides and the way they are treated at some of their local and chain bridal salons, it's now the new gripe...the wedding dresses alteration rip-off.

Geez, just because you say the word "wedding" doesn't mean that you have sucker written on your forehead.

Here's the latest way to make brides overpay. They go into a shop and find the dress of their dreams. Then of course the real fun begins! Getting measured and choosing a size. This can be relatively easy if you fit the measurements in the standard sizes. But let's face it! Who does?

Take for example the most popular size--a Standard US Size 10 Bust 37 Waist 28 hips 40.

Most women order this size for their bust and maybe waist but generally find the hips too big. For some dresses it doesn't make that much of a difference, but for a fit and flair or say a mermaid, it can make a huge difference.

This is where the gotcha comes in. The hips have to often be taken in by inches and depending on the embellishments, this can change the look of the dress totally. Then appliques and beading have to be moved around and as those things need to be done, up and up goes the price.

One bride told me that she found the dress of her dreams on sale. She was told that they could make a size 14 into 10 no problem. So she bought it, got measured and got the alterations bill!

The dress was $597 and the alterations came to $334 The dress retailed for $927. How ridiculous!

Mark ups on wedding dresses are absurd, but this level of salesmanship reaches a new low!

If you can find a designer or dress maker that will make the dress custom to your measurements then do it! Even if you have to get alterations because of some weight fluctuation, the costs for wedding dress alterations should be minimal compared to ordering in a standard size. The only alterations fees that you should incur would be for bustling. That's understandable.

I know seamstresses and tailors have to make a living too! But this type of bait and switch is a crime.

Avoid alterations fees or just pay for your bustle! Get your wedding dress custom made to your measurements!

Cheap Wedding Dresses--Myths VS Facts

2009-03-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Cheap wedding dresses! What is the difference between a cheap wedding dress that you get from ebay or a cheap wedding dress that you get on sale at David's bridal or your local wedding dress shop?

As far as where they were made...NOTHING! That's right! Over 90% of wedding dresses and evening gowns are made in China. And no, this is nothing new. Asian manufacturers have been dominating this market for quite sometime. So when you pooh, pooh that dress made in China, you might as well forget getting a dress from Davids, Maggie Sottero, Demetrios, Mary's, Alfred Angelo... and the list goes on and on.

Yes, their all made in China. But what's the difference? It's all in the manufacturer! These designers have very close relations with their Chinese seamstresses and tailors. And guess what that Maggie Sottero Dress that retails $1500 USD, well it probably costs about $180-290 to make. The Markups on wedding dresses are Ridiculous. They start with the designer then go to the bridal salon and then are passed right along to the bride.

Ok, so if you are looking for a "Cheap Wedding Dress" then you probably aren't concerned with couture points of design like finished seams and 100% silk linings. So what should you get for say $399?

You should get a dress that is constructed well, seams at least surged so the won't ravel and beads that are sewn on by hand. You should also expect the appropriate amount of foundational layer construction, like boning and proper facings.

Where can you get such a dress? You have to look hard and find some one that knows wedding dresses and sells at Wholesale price points.

How can you recognize a quality "cheap wedding dress" VS a totally cheap wedding gown that will probably fall apart during shipping?

Never buy from any website or ebay seller that only shows you pictures of designer dresses. This is a huge mistake.

A legitimate discount wedding dress site will show you their work. They should also have their own designs and not just a bunch of copies.

Once you see that the quality is there You might be shocked to find out that you are buying direct from a manufacturer that also does designer dresses for the big names but doesn't charge the same price at their wholesale website.

So Brides-to-be, there really are places to get high quality wedding gowns but at a price that you can afford. You just have to know how to identify the legitimate ones from the not so legitimate cheap wedding dress shops.

Plus Size Wedding Dresses--Don't Pay Too Much For Your Curves!

2009-02-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

Are you a beautiful curvaceous bride?

If you are then promise yourself something right now! That you will never allow anyone to treat you less than your size 6 sisters in engagement!

Over the last 3 weeks, I have had some pretty upsetting phone calls from plus size brides. One call in particular had me in tears. This poor woman had walked in to a David's Bridal Salon because she wore a street size 16, they basically shunned her and treated her like a second class citizen.

She had an appointment and still she had to pull her own dresses and when she found one she liked, the sales associate told her that it wouldn't look good on her anyway! A size 16? Excuse me, I know many women who would be thrilled to be a size 16!

WHAT? I become so enraged when I hear stories about brides who need a wedding dress sized for a real person and are made to feel so self conscious that they don't even want to look for gowns anymore.

So here's to all of you gorgeous voluptuous women who just have more of you to love! Welcome to a place that will treat you no differently than a size 8, 6 or 4 bride to be!

And, what about all of those EXTRA charges for plus size women? Can a plus size bride really find a quality, cheap plus size wedding dress?

The answer is a resounding, Yes! and for only $20 more!

At www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com/plus-size-wedding-dresses.htm plus size brides can order any wedding dress on that they offer, and pay only $20 more for sizes 22 and up! Yes, sizes 22 and Up! That's how it should be!

What if you want sleeves or off the shoulder straps added to a custom made wedding dress for support? These options should be readily available, and they are at My Big Fat Beautiful Wedding.com.

There is a place that will treat Plus Size Brides like the princesses they are! And it's call mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com

Cheap Wedding Gowns--Shhhh, No One Will Every Know!

2009-02-16T09:24:00.000-08:00

In today's economy, what bride isn't looking for a cheap wedding gown?

But where do you draw the line between cheap prices and cheap looking? There's a big difference and obviously, no Bride wants a "Cheap Looking" wedding dress.

The object here is to find out where you can get cheap wedding gowns that look like you spent thousands instead of mere hundreds. But do such places really exist? Bridal gown shops that won't compromise quality, but will sell at close to wholesale prices? Or this just some sort of pie in the sky dream?

Chances are pretty good that if you want a Cheap wedding dress, the first place you are going to find it easiest to search is Online. Let's face it, there are many brides who don't live near Kleinfelds or other quality bridal salons. Maybe you live near a Davids Bridal and you consider that selection enough.

Today's savvy bride knows that she has more options than ever with the Internet, but how do you find a cheap wedding dress that will be made of high quality materials?

First and foremost, you need to understand the difference between designer wedding dress replica websites and designer inspired wedding dress websites.

The first is sometimes the most riskiest. These websites put up pictures of actual designer wedding dresses and then attach prices like $189 or many times lower.

The sad thing here is, many unsuspecting brides often times think that the dress that they see is the dress that they'll get. Common sense tell you that you can't get a $5,000 wedding dress for $189 but one can always think that they've stumbled upon something so phenomenal that maybe, just maybe than can.

When you hit a website like this, proceed with caution. Where are pictures of dresses that they have actually made? Can they provide some references for you? Do they have a return policy? Where are they located? What type of customer service do they have? Do they accept credit card payments via Paypal?

Clearly these are things that need to be checked.

It is OK however, when you find a website that does designer inspired wedding gowns at affordable prices. This type of site must strictly adhere to copyright laws and show the actual dresses that they have made. More often than not, when you come across a website that has pictures of their dresses, than you can actually see the quality and tell if they will live up to your expectations.

These are important factors when looking for cheap wedding gowns. Now that you are armed with these weapons, finding a cheap wedding dress online is much closer than you think

Wedding Dresses On Ebay--A Good Deal Or Disaster?

2009-02-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

For those brides looking for a bargain, ebay seems like such a great idea, right?

Well...before you buy your wedding dress from ebay, there are a few things you should know about purchasing the most important dress in your lifetime online.

It sure is enticing...the thought of getting a designer wedding dress somewhere for Under $200! ebay really seams like the logical choice, especially if you have frequently shopped there for other things, and always been satisfied with the transaction.

Buying your wedding dress on ebay is either going to go one of 2 ways, GREAT!!! or DISASTROUS!!!!!! There seems to be now grey area here. So how do you protect yourself and get the dress of your dreams at a fabulous price?

The first thing you need to know about ebay wedding dress sellers is this; the vast majority of them put up pictures of designer wedding dresses like Maggie Sottero, Sophia Tolli, Alivina Valentina or more. Then they put a ridiculous price tag on the dress like a $79 starting bid.

Ok, first of all what is your dress going to look like? It clearly isn't going to be an original, so what is the quality of their work? And, it is illegal to put up pictures of designer dresses claiming that you will get that dress. I am surprised that ebay hasn't clamped down on this practice, maybe one day they will.

Never buy a dress on a replica site or ebay that doesn't show you pictures of actual dresses that they have made! Don't do it! It isn't worth taking a chance.

If the seller can't show you dresses that they have actually sewn, then chances are good that you will open up that UPS box and slip into a bridezilla like tantrum.

Then next thing you want to do is contact the seller. They should provide you with a phone number and email. Make sure you have at least 5 or 6 well answered emails from them before you hit the "buy it now" button.

Now, find out about shipping, will you have to pay customs? Will they give you a tracking number? And how long should you expect to wait before your dress arrives? These are very important facts that could add up to unexpected charges if you don't get the answers ahead of time.

Finally, can they provide you with references? Any good seller should have 1 or 2 customers that were so satisfied with their purchases that they are willing to act as references for that seller. Better yet, check out some Forums like The knot, Yahoo Answers and Wedding Bees. These forums are full of actual customers from bridal shops, chain stores and even online boutiques. Often times, these are some of the most honest answers you can get about ebay wedding dress sellers and many other online bridal shops as well.

If you have checked out all of these resources and everything looks good, then make sure that they have a return or exchange policy. If they don't, just move on to another. If a company can't stand behind it's product, then you shouldn't even consider buying from them.

Follow these guidelines and you should have taken a huge bite of risk out of buying your wedding gown on ebay.

The Organza Wedding Dress--A Stunning Choice

2009-02-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

The organza wedding dress, who is this style for?

Anyone that wants to look like a princess but without the bulk.

Organza is one of my most favorite bridal materials. Organza has a transparent look and soft appearance, but yet has just the right amount of stiffness to work with.

That's the beauty of organza wedding dresses.

Organza has the look of the "poof" but it doesn't add inches onto the bride in the wrong places.

The organza wedding dress can have a either a constructed couture look or it can have a very soft ethereal feel.

This gorgeous organza wedding dress has some very loose pick ups that give it the opulent look of rich draping. But because of the asymmetrical dropped waist, almost any figure type can wear this strapless wedding gown.

Note the richness of the beaded lace over the organza overlay.

This Organza wedding dress would make any bride look like a princess.

Wedding Dress Sale

2009-02-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

If you like extravagant trains, yet want a wedding dress that is actually slimming, then our February Wedding Dress Sale is for you.

Our second featured dress is absolutely for the bride that wants a full ballgown look.

The best feature about this dress is the dropped waist. When you have a ballgown with say a basque or natural waistline, you then become limited as to figure types that can pull of the look.

This dress solves that problem and allows almost anyone to have the fair tale type dress that many brides so desperately want.

This dress has it all, style, a boned bodice for extra support and great fit and pickups for that up to date look.

The ballooned hem on this train gives this dress a sense of opulence, placing the fullness where it should be, not on your hips.

A Cathedral length train finishes the off this gorgeous look. Priced at only $289 this is steal for any bride to be.

2009-02-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

February 09 Wedding Dress Sale

Every bride is looking for wedding dress sales, and in this economy, who isn't watching their wallet?

Here is 1 of 2 of our featured wedding dresses for sale in the month of February.

This silhouette is really unique in the sense that is is more like a modified mermaid.

The bodice has a corset built right into it with lots of boning to give it that romantic look, but with the benefit of also being very figure flattering.

This stunning strapless wedding dress has a lace appliqued bodice with a slimming dropped wait and flattering rouching at the hips.

We have spared no details with a side of hand make florals and a lace underskirt. The lightness of the layered tulle plays off the the contemporary feel of the lines that are created by this most unique gown.

This wedding dress for sale is normally priced a $309 and for the month of February we are offering to our brides for an unbelievable $259! Where else but mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com can you get a dress with this kind of style and detailing for Under $300!

Our brides can order this wedding dress for sale in their choice of Ivory (as shown), White or Champagne. You can also choose a hidden zipper, covered button or corset style closure.

Anne Hathaway Bride Wars Dress

2009-01-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

It's the ultimate "Chick Flick"! A movie about best friends getting married.

But bride Wars is so much more than that. It's debut also kicks off wedding dress season. This is the time of year when brides who are getting married in 2009 start to get serious about purchasing their wedding dress.

With that being said and the economy the way that it is, they're aren't too many brides-to-be that can walk down the isle in a $10,000 Vera Wang Wedding dress.

So what's the average bride to do?

The answer is simple...get a custom made wedding dress that is a designer inspired gown similar to the couture dress that you so desperately want.

The trick is knowing where to get a quality gown at a discounted price.

But let's look at the Anne Hathaway Bride wars dress from a designer's point of view. Once you understand the construction of the gown, it will be much easier for you to have your very own version of this sophisticated Bride Wars Dress.

Both wedding dresses for the movie were created to by top wedding gown designer Vera Wang.

Vera Wang is known for her truly couture gowns and she has impeccable taste. The Hathaway dress is no exception.

Anne's wedding gown is a trumpet style off the shoulder silhouette that would bring any groom to his knees when he saw his bride coming down the isle towards him.

The design and lines of the Anne Hathaway Bride Wars Wedding dress are clean and therefor elegant.

The style is easily duplicateable and can be created for well under $500. Even if you wanted the dress is silk as it surely is done in, the cost would be no more than $700.

Clearly versatile, the off the shoulder neckline can also be worn as you see in this picture as over one shoulder only.

The Hathaway bridal gown has rouching at the bodice which tends to bring out the best features in almost any figure, and hides a multitude of problems in others.

A big bow added to the back of the Vera Wang Bride Wars dress just gives it the final touch that says "Bride" in a big way.

As a bride, you deserve the dress of your dreams, even if it is cost prohibitive. You have alternatives and a custom made wedding dress is the best way to get what you want at a price that you can afford.

The Kate Hudson Wedding Dress--How To Get The Same Look for Under $500

2009-01-29T05:37:00.000-08:00

Ever since the movie Bride Wars came out, there has been all sorts of talk about the wedding dress that Kate Hudson wore.

Yes it's a Vera Wang and Yes, it's expensive!

But then again, what Vera Wang dress isn't?

What's a bride-to-be that wants a dress like this but can't afford it to do?

The answer? Look for a similar looking dress or have a custom made wedding dress created for you.

I think once everyone understands how the Kate Hudson Wedding Dress was made, then those who can't afford the real thing will be able to get the look that they want at a price that they can afford.

From a designers point of view, let's break the details of this Bride Wars Wedding Dress down in layman's terms.

Why does the Vera Wang Bride Wars Dress have such mass appeal?

It's simple, it's the epitome of a fairy tale wedding dress. And why? 2 reasons:

1. It has a Ball Gown Silhouette 2. It has massive amounts of Tulle (Bobinette)

So much so that it was reported that during the making of Bride Wars, Kate Hudson could barely fit down the isle.

Now, how can a gal on a budget get the same look, for less than $500?

Let's break the dress down into two parts--the bodice, or top and the skirt.

The bodice is a strapless sweetheart neckline with a lace overlay and covered button closure. A detachable colored sash and bow tie are offered to add a splash of color... or not.

The bodice of the Kate Hudson Wedding Dress drops down into a basque waist where the massive skirt is attached.

The skirt is probably done with at least 15 to 20 layers of silk tulle and Bobinette.

This silhouette is very easy to create and if you can't afford the couture detailing (the Vera Wang label, hand finished seams, silk linings, silk materials, etc) then you can get a dress that has the same look for under $500.

You can also choose a sash and bow in your favorite color, or the color that compliments your venue.

Either way this is a very affordable style and you can have that custom gown created to fit your body like a glove.

The Mermaid Wedding Dress--Who Should and Who Shouldn't?

2009-01-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite styles of wedding dress is the mermaid wedding dress.

While this form fitting style isn't for everyone, it really is for more people than you might think.

In the picture to the left, you can see a gorgeous lace mermaid wedding dress that comes with an adorable bolero jacket.

Who should wear this style? Well I have sold this dress in sizes from a 4 to an 18. And have received nothing but compliments on this style.

The answer to this question...are mermaid style wedding dresses right for you? is quite simple.

How confident are you? If you have an hour glass shape or are very well toned, then the mermaid wedding dress is a no brainer. It's chic, it's sexy and it really works. A dress like this is sophisticated without being too revealing.

The combination of traditional ancelon lace and the practicality of the bolero jacket really make this dress perfect for the bride who wants to look stunning walking down the isle.

There are other types of mermaid wedding dresses also known a trumpet style wedding gowns. Combine this with color and you have a totally different look that will again accentuate your curves and take his breath away when he sees you walking down the isle.

If you are a plus size woman, then you can easily wear a modified mermaid with the trumpet style. As long as the dress has a dropped waist, then you should be good to go.

While the mermaid style wedding dress isn't for everyone, it is for the bride who wants it and is confident enough to wear it. Everyone else can just pick another ballgown style and call it good!

Princess Wedding Dresses--Live The Fairy Tale

2009-01-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

What woman doesn't want to look like a princess on here big day?

But what is a princess wedding dress? Is there some sort of criteria that has to be met before a dress can find itself in the category of royal wedding gowns?

Here are a few of the basic "must have" requirements when it comes that getting that true princess wedding gown.

Usually the silhouette for royal style gown is known as the full ball gown, or ball gown.

In terms of what this means it is generally a natural or slightly dropped waisted bodice with an extremely full skirt. Most princess wedding dresses have at least a cathedral length train (4 feet beyond the hemline) or longer.

Although not always the case, these vast majority of princess wedding dresses have tulle skirts. The tulle can either be layers of gathered English netting or shirred pieces of tulle combined with English netting.

If the bride is anti-tulle (with tulle either you do or you don't) but still likes the ball gown style, then there are dresses that have really full skirts with the tulle hidden underneath. Of course, these dresses should have the train requirement of at minimal cathedral length.

Nowadays we must add one more skirt style to the princess wedding dresses category and that is the pick up skirt. Designers are still creating dresses with this vastly popular look. So if you want something that is really going to be princessesque, then go for a cathedral length ballgown style wedding dress with draped material, tulle and pick ups.

This over the top styling will be sure to make any bride feel like a true princess.

Tulle Wedding Dresses---Still A Classic

2009-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Tulle, either love it or hate it, but next to taffeta, there's nothing that gives off such a vivid description as the "tulle wedding dress."

But who should wear a tulle wedding dress? The best answer? Anyone that likes a lot of Poof!

Designers are still draping fabrics and rouching bodices. This is great for brides because these types of features usually make you look thinner. But add tulle to the mix and you create a different look all together.

Traditionally, tulle has been associated with the classic Princess look Ball Gown Silhouette. With a few twists and turn, this is still a very sought after style. In my opinion it's a classic that will never go away.

In fact, many women don't feel like a bride unless they have tulle in their wedding gown.

Fortunately, there are 2 basic guidelines to follow when selecting a tulle wedding dress. And it all rests on what type of figure you have.

If you a standard US size between 0-16, then you can probably get away with any type of tulle dress. Even the ones that have full tulle skirts. If you want a real hour glass shape, then there's nothing like a tulle skirt to help give you that effect.

What do you do if you want a tulle wedding dress but are a plus size woman? Answer is simple; get a dress that is fitted through the hips and has a tulle skirt either mid-thigh or lower. This way you can have it all...a slenderizing fit and the poof that will make you look stunning.

With tulle, you are not limited to just a poofy skirt, but designers are now cutting and layering tulle with interesting effects. Tulle can be ruffled or sheared and give you whole new fairy tale princess look.

Tulle, love it or hate it is here to stay.

Are You Sick Of Strapless Wedding Dresses Yet?

2009-01-04T03:18:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been getting more and more requests from the UNStrapless Crowd, and I have to say that it is about time!

You know, those brides that just want something other than your typical strapless wedding dresses that are still being pumped out of New York City.

The answer to this dilemma is really quite simple. Don't buy a strapless wedding dress if you don't want one. Period. And for goodness sakes, if your figure doesn't dictate this type of neckline, then please for your own sanity, get a capped sleeve or off the shoulder gown instead.

Once women decide that these aren't the end all be all answer to every one's dream dress, then designers will go back to being a little more creative with sleeves.

Recently, I attended 2 weddings that gave me a whole new appreciation for what is now being deemed "the modest wedding dress" in other words any wedding gown with sleeves.

Let's recap the first Strapless Wedding

The bride was a beautiful plus size woman. Now when I say plus size, I mean in the vicinity of a US Size 26. They had to put so much boning in her bodice that she actually looked like she was wearing a suit of armour.

Then we have my personal favorite... what I refer to as the muffin top. Too much hangover in the back and around the under arm area of the strapless bodice. Not only must this be uncomfortable, but in pictures it probably looks terrible.

Thankfully the wedding venue was absolutely breathtaking and because she has such a beautiful face and personality she still looked so lovely. But in my opinion (and everyone Else's at our table) she should have gone with another neckline.

The second wedding was just the opposite. A petite bride who was swallowed whole by her $8,000 strapless dress. While her gown truly was a work of art, it kept falling down throughout the whole night ever so slightly. All the bride did was pull up her bodice, obviously feeling self-conscious the whole evening.

2 brides both with different dresses, different figure types but probably forced into the same choice of neckline.

If you are a bride that is contemplating a strapless wedding dress, do yourself a huge favor, consider your figure type and how you will look in those pictures years from now.

What's a bride to do however in today's market? Most of the top designers have released their Spring 09 Collections and yes, the vast majority of necklines are yet again strapless.

Thankfully, there is hope at the end of this wildly popular style... Consider a custom made wedding dress that has the features you love, but with a slight sleeve or even a capped sleeve of beaded lace. You can even get removable sleeves that can be worn for the ceremony and taken off at the reception.

This is a viable solution to those brides that in the case feel that "less is not more".

Custom Made Wedding Dresses--Nightmare or The Best Thing You Ever Did?

2008-12-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for custom made wedding dresses, here are a few tips to make sure that this is the best thing for you.

Custom made wedding dresses...we have all wondered about them. What really is a custom made wedding dress and what can you expect from the people who provide this service.

Many brides have very specific ideas about what they want in a wedding dress, but what if no matter how hard you have looked, you just can't seem to find "the dress?"

Maybe you like the bodice of one dress and the skirt of the other, or maybe color is a consideration.

Perhaps you have fallen in love with a designer wedding gown that is cost prohibitive to your budget?

No matter what the issue, companies that provide custom wedding dresses should have several things in common. Do your due diligence and you should be able to get your dream dress at a surprisingly affordable price.

Sometimes, you can find a local seamstress or tailor that will work with you and make the dress that you want. But, making a dress without a pattern requires skills beyond the normal knowledge of many seamstresses.

Making patterns from pictures or sketches is a very tricky thing. And finding the professional that can do that is often challenging.

Looking through the internet may be your best solution. When looking at custom wedding dresses online make sure you can actually see the work that they have done. Often times these site just show pictures of designer gowns and the bride thinks she has found a bargain when she sees here $4,200 dream dress for $186.00.

Now, the mark up on wedding gowns is outrageous, but not that much. Often times the reason that designer gowns are so expensive is because they are made out of silks and Swarovsky crystals.

A good custom wedding dresses maker can also get their hands on these materials for you, but remember copyright issues become important to. It's ok to make a designer inspired wedding dress, but it isn't ok to make it 100% as the original. That's illegal.

You also need to understand the importance of your measurements and how accurately you take them. If your custom wedding dress fits you improperly, then chances are very good that you supplied the dress maker with the wrong measurements. And since most custom wedding dresses are not returnable, this could be disastrous.

At minimum here are the measurements that you should be required to give your custom wedding dresses seamstress
1. Full bust
2. Udder bust
3. Upper bust
4. Waist
5. Hips
6. Nipple to Nipple
7. Length of Shoulder to bust
8. Front Length Shoulder to bust
9. Front Length Shoulder to Waist
10. Outer Leg
11. Arms eye
12. Shoulder to shoulder
13. Neck
14. Arms Length
15. Biceps
16. Upper Arm
17. Hollow to Hem

Again, as long as the measurements are correct and you know what you want, a custom made wedding dress could have you in "the dress" in no time at all.

Wedding Dresses Discount--What Should You Expect With A Discounted Wedding Dress?

2008-12-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

Unless you live in, or can fly to NYC to be a Klienfelds bride, what can you expect to find when looking for a gorgeous wedding dress at a reasonable price? And where can you go to get the best wedding dresses discount?

You might be surprised at how smart brides-to-be are shopping for their wedding dresses.

When you want your dream dress at a price you can afford the first step in the process of purchasing your wedding gown is to find out what style suits your figure type the best.

We have a free report on "How To Look At Any Wedding Gown and Know Instantly What It Will Look Like On You". You can get yours by requesting your free download here. Simply type guide in the subject line and we will send you the link immediately.

Once you understand which style of wedding gown looks best on your body, then you can steer clear of the ones that won't work and focus on the style that will flatter your best features and diminish the ones that you want to hide.

Now you are ready to hunt for wedding dresses discount, and you can do this all from the comfort of your home. Don't worry about where you live, just use your computer and see what kind of bargains are out there.

What happens when you find your dream dress but the price tag is in the $1,000's? Well you have 2 options;

1. You can look for and buy the dress used or
2. You can have a designer inspired wedding dress created for mere hundreds instead of $1,000's!

The first step is to know which style suits your figure type. Once you have an understanding of that, then finding "the dress" at a great price is so much easier than you would have ever thought!

Wedding Dresses On Sale--How To Get Your Dream Dress For Less

2008-12-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

These days, most brides are on a budget. And finding your dream wedding dress on sale sometimes seems like a hopeless task.

Some designers are even holding back the release of their collections for next spring/summer so that they can get rid of more inventory for this years styles.

If you are a bride on a budget, the best way to find "the dress" may be right in front of you. That's right, more and more savvy brides are buying online and here's why.

1. Price, Price, Price! In this competitive economy, price is everything and wedding dresses are no exception. Getting your wedding dress online can literally save you thousands.

2. Selection. Some online bridal shops have hundreds of different styles to choose from. Plus, you can actually see the wedding gown and sometimes in detail before you buy. This gives you tremendous advantage because now you can even go to a bridal shop look at the dresses you saw on the Internet, try them on and then go back and purchase online. This can be a tremendous time saver.

3. Wedding Dresses On Sale Online are often from this years, or even next years collections. Most bridal shops are just trying to get rid of the older dresses to make way for the newer styles. But many online stores don't carry an inventory so they don't have to worry about making room for new dresses.

4. Store Return Policy Check your store return policy very carefully. Many bridal shops have a final sale/no returns policy. Online bridal shops can be a much different story. Since most of these types of business know that buying a wedding dress online can be a scary thing, they offer a better policy for returns or exchange.

5. Custom Made Wedding Dresses. Where else can you get wedding dresses on sale or a custom made wedding dress at a deeply discounted price? Only online! Unless you know a local seamstress or tailor that is going to work with you to make your dream dress, many of these online bridal stores offer custom made dresses at mere hundreds of dollars. If you have champagne taste and a beer budget, then perhaps getting a custom made designer inspired gown is the answer for you.

6. Location. Brides that live in areas where wedding dress shops are few and far between can now get the dress of their dreams without having to travel long distances to do so. The Online bridal shop can really help brides that live in rural areas and small towns. Not to mention, most online wedding dress shops can ship internationally. This opens the world of shopping online to brides everywhere.

If you are looking for wedding dresses on sale then shopping online will save you a whole lot of money and a whole lot of time!

Why Would Anyone Buy An Online Wedding Dress?

2008-10-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

In many cases, buying an online wedding dress is less risky than getting one at a chain bridal shop. And here's why...

When you are a bride, there is no doubt that you should be treated like a queen. And so should your wallet. But in the industries that service weddings, it seems that there is an underlying assumption that your budget is infinite.

When you first become engaged, there is so much excitement and happiness that often times when you finally sit down to plan out your big day, money becomes the 2 ton elephant in the room.

When most brides enter the planning stages they find that suddenly everyone has an opinion. But all you know is that you just want what you want and really nothing else matters. And frankly, that's how it should be. All Brides deserve to have the fairy tale wedding that they have always dreamed of, but not at the expense of being told that you can't have "that" because it is too expensive.

For women that have a can do attitude, anything is possible and even if you have champagne taste you can get it all for less than you think. Starting with your dress... Let's take a look at some of the differences in wedding dresses and why buying an online wedding dress can give you the fairy tale that you want for mere hundreds instead of thousands.

First of all why are wedding dresses so expensive anyway? Well the answer to that question is simple, but very specific.

It's all in how they are made, period. Let's say that you are looking at an $1,800 designer wedding dress. Surely it is decently made and you can expect embellishments like Swarovsky Crystals and some Silk Fabrics. But chances are probably pretty good that the gown that you are so in love with probably cost at the most, about $229 to make. And don't kid yourself, the majority of designer wedding dresses out there are made in Asian countries

Now here's the difference and this is where you should expect to pay more. What if the dress that you have to have is over $6,000? What should you expect? For this kind of money, you should be looking at a totally different dress. This dress will have mostly organic fabrics of silks and cottons. This dress would also be constructed very differently from it's less expensive predecessor.

Wedding dresses of this caliber are almost always done by hand. And, they have foundational corslettes built right into them. This is couture sewing at it's finest. That is also why it takes so long for the dress to be made. Generally the only thing on these dresses that is done by machine are the basic seams. And, they are never surged. The corslette actually has it's own closure and all seams should be finished with silk bindings. There should even be hanging straps and bra stays sewn in silk within the dress. You can also expect your dress to have much more boning and even horsehair used as stabilizers.

So if you are a bride on a budget, and you want a designer dress that is less than $500 then your best option is to buy an online wedding dress.

Why, because often times online wedding dress companies can pass along tremendous savings directly to their customers . They have hardly any overhead, no inventories and they can order the dress when the customer wants it.

Most online wedding dress shops also have more liberal return policies than the brick and mortar stores. When you purchase a wedding gown at a chain store for example, be sure to thoroughly read your sales contract. There has been many a bride that got the phone call from their sales associate telling them that their dress was in. And when they went to pick it up, they find out that it is a sample from another store that has been tried on by hundreds of brides.

Can you imagine? But it happens everyday.

Buying wedding dresses online can also save you tons of money in the extra charges that bridal shops tack on to the cost of your dress. There are of course taxes, measurement fees and alterations. Many online bridal shops will actually custom make your wedding gown to your specific measurements at no charge. This eliminates huge alterations fees that can often exceed the cost of an online wedding dress.

Buying a wedding dress online is by far one of the smartest things that any budget conscious bride can do.

Colored Wedding Dress-From a Dash To Bold! Colored Wedding Gowns For Every Bride

2008-07-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest trends over the last 2 years for brides have been colored wedding dresses. Designers started with styles similar to this and over the next several months, more and more amounts of color have been added.

Now more than ever, Brides can pick their favorite wedding gown style and add either their own favorite color or perhaps a color from their theme or bridal party.

While it's true colored wedding dresses are not new, but the amount of styles that have now added color to them is. With this design trend still going strong, colored wedding dresses don't seem to be going anywhere.

The amount of color that you can have incorporated into your bridal gown is entirely up to you.

You can start with a dash of color by incorporating a colored sash or even sash and bow into your gown.

Or, you can add a block of color that will give you more of a dramatic feel.

Perhaps you are the type of bride that wants a lot of color, like a really bold colored wedding gown. Then consider a bridal dress with Color all over, yet still having accents in either white or ivory.

Whichever amount of color you choose, colored wedding dresses can definitely add something to your special day that the more traditional dresses don't.

Just remember, before you purchase that colored wedding gown, you need to put yourself in the future, say 15 years from now. Will you regret having chosen a colored wedding dress or will you rest in confidence knowing that you decided to go a little less traditional? This is definitely a question that you want to ask yourself before you whip out your credit card and make that final decision.

Perhaps ladies that choose to add color to their special day are considered "Bold" Brides. And there is an old Chinese Proverb "Fortune Favors The Bold". Maybe that beautiful colored wedding gown will bring fortune and favor to your marriage?

Wedding Dresses Online

2008-07-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

So many people ask about how to buy discount bridal gowns online. So here are some of our tips.

Before you buy the first thing that you absolutely must do is to review the return policy.

This is absolutely key to not only being satisified with your purchase, but not worrying before it comes to your door. Because in the majority of cases, this is where Brides-to-Be start to worry.

Some Discount Bridal Gowns Online Stores will only allow you to return the dress and exchange it for another. That is a policy that makes most people nervous. I don't know about you, but buying something as big as a Wedding Gown is a pretty important thing. So if you don't like it, you should be able to return it.

When you purchase your Wedding Gown online, you should be able to also be confident about the quality. There is a huge difference between hand sewn embellishments (sequins, flowers, bows, etc.) and glued on ones. Unfortunately, many Brides-to-Be have gotten their discount wedding dresses from manufacturers that uses the cheapest materials and labor.

Here's a warning for everyone, don't buy your dress from someone that just shows pictures from bridal magazines. This deceptive strategy has been going on with some of the ebay sellers. Basically it's a bait and switch. You buy a dress that looks like a designer one that you saw in a Salon or Magazine. Then when you receive it, it doesn't even come close the the picture that you saw.

But please don't let this information scare you off from making this type of purchase online. Fortunately, there are reputable websites that offer high quality, discount bridal gowns online. When you have the combination of a Stellar Reputation and Designer Quality Wedding Gowns the customer gets the Lowest Possible Prices.