One of the most exciting parts about getting married is experiencing life with the person you love. This excitement is amplified when the holidays come around, and suddenly something you’ve celebrated for years is brought new life. Each family has its own holiday traditions, and when a newlywed couple celebrates their first holiday season together, it marks separate traditions merging into something new. Of course, when entering new territory there can be a few challenges and pitfalls along the way, so here are a few tips for newlyweds navigating the holiday season. 

Managing In-Laws 

The first challenge newlywed couples face is managing the expectations of both families and trying to keep everyone happy. Being the “new couple” will undoubtedly land you on both family’s invite list for the big holiday dinner. Sometimes balancing multiple get-togethers in the span of a few weeks can be a real challenge, and tensions can grow if it one side feels their getting short shrift. 

Just like you must learn to compromise with your partner, you should talk with both families to find a solution. If both parties occur on the same day, you might ask one side of the family to move their party a week, a day, or even a few hours so you can travel from one party to the other. If there’s no way to attend both events, you can always negotiate a yearly trade-off. 

Creating Your Wish List 

One of the best parts about being a newlywed during the holidays is that gifts seem to come in great abundance from all directions. Many of these gifts provide a great opportunity for couples to fill any gaps left from the wedding registry to build their home. When friends and family ask about your wish list, consider asking for practical gifts like a grownup dish set, knives, indoor plants, or even that one kitchen appliance you’ve been pining for. There are plenty of ideas you can add to your wish list that will benefit you and your partner in your first years together. 

Blending Family Traditions and Making Your Own  

As you enter into the holiday season, you’ll be faced with all kinds of questions on how you’ll spend your first holidays together. How will you decorate your home? What kind of traditions will you keep? When thinking of how to create the best home environment for your new family, you need to make sure that you’re both happy. The most crucial aspect of any successful marriage is compromise. As you form your first holiday traditions together, try to balance your and work to reach something that everyone can enjoy. 

Decorating the home 

The best advice for preparing your home for your first holiday season together is to start off small. Lights, garland, wreaths and a tree are a lot to manage, plus it can get expensive if bought all at once. Most families don’t even start with all of their decorations and traditions already in place. It takes years to acquire the pieces you want for your home, and traditions aren’t formed at once but over many years spent together. So go slow. Years from now you’ll be surprised at how many holiday treasures you’ve collected. 

The holidays are a magical time of year, and they become even more so when you spend them with the love of your life. Whatever steps you take in your planning, make them together, and remember to keep the love in everything you do. 

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com 

There will be dresses for every occasion: prom, Homecoming, Courtwarming, Mother's Dresses, Guest of the Wedding, Cruise, Gala, and Other Special Occasions.

I recently read an article on www.theknot.com  that had some helpful tips for brides from seven flower and event design experts.  This particular article highlights seven common mistakes that brides-to-be run into when picking out their flowers. 

1.) Attempting to Replicate Inspiration

"I often see brides obsessed with an image, whether it’s from a tear sheet or Pinterest. It's nearly impossible to re-create an image exactly, so my advice is focus less on replicating a photo and instead be open and comfortable with the fact that all your inspiration is meant to be used as a springboard for a new interpretation."

—Nancy Liu Chin,   Nancy Liu Chin Designs   in San Francisco, California

2.) Automatic No

"We’ve had couples who say they’re not into flowers and want to fill the reception space with nonfloral objects like candles. But, with the rare exception, a certain amount of flowers (even if it’s very minimal) are necessary to soften a space. Maybe voice that flowers aren’t the main priority, versus saying you don’t want any flowers at all. Trust your pros—they’ll help guide you to the right look."

—Julie Savage,   Strawberry Milk Events   in Alexandria, Virginia

3.) Afraid Different Colors

"I think the biggest flower mistakes couples make is not being open-minded to color palettes and flower types. Many times they have a set palette [and florals] in mind, but don't know about other cool, rare blooms that happen to be in season at the time of their wedding. The best couple is one who can be loose and flexible with their floral choices, then I can find the most beautiful blooms for them."

—Alicia Rico,   Bows & Arrows   in Dallas, Texas

4.) Overdoing It With Flowers

"Some couples assume they need to have florals on every table and in every corner. They don’t realize once the event space fills with people, most of those vignettes go unseen or unappreciated. To avoid this, focus your floral budget on one unforgettable statement piece, then use other details like candlelight to accent. Or allocate florals for the all memorable, photo-worthy moments, like your first look (highlight the bridal bouquet and the boutonniere), the “I dos” at the altar (think about what florals will frame you as a couple) and the first dance (have wow-worthy blooms over or around the dance floor)."

—Kelly Revels,   The Vine   in Saint Simons Island, Georgia

5.) Think Before Acting

"Florals are so seasonal, and due to weather changes, some things are just not dependable. Take peonies for example: They miss their traditional start week often. Before settling on a specific flower, find out what's perfect and in season before getting your heart set on that."

—Todd Fiscus,   Todd Events   in Dallas and Houston, Texas

6.) Inspiration Vs. Reality

"A common mistake brides make is falling in love with particular blooms before finding out their seasonality or cost. While searching for inspiration is fun, it can often lead to disappointment or confusion. Florals featured on social media or in editorial spreads are typically high-end blooms and look so stunning because they’re spectacular specimens. An experienced floral designer can guide you to the right blooms for your special day that are available and within your budget."

—Holly Chapple,   Holly Heider Chapple Flowers   in Leesburg, Virginia

7.) Know Your Venue

"After signing for a venue, couples often start the design process without considering the venue’s existing look—or they continue planning the décor and florals based on ideas they dreamt up before making a venue choice. (I've had a couple ask for a simple, modern wedding in blush, lavender and white, but they’d already selected an ornate vintage ballroom featuring white, gray, orange and red.) Some big design elements couples should consider before making their venue selection are the venue's overall style and color, as well as the lighting, chairs, linens and place settings offered. That way their palette aligns with the space."

—Natalie Walsh,   HMR Designs   in Chicago, Illinois

Now, take these seven helpful tips from professionals and choose the flowers that will highlight your big day!


https://www.theknot.com/content/wedding-flower-florist-tips

Picking out "the one" ring that catches your eye the most can be some what difficult, you may like them all. While more traditional/ classic look rings, will always remain in style, it won't hurt to look at the trending styles. From colorful center stones and vintage-inspired designs to mixed metal settings, 2017 is bringing you some of the most beautifully unique rings, yet. 

ROSE GOLD
COLORFUL DIAMONDS
COLORFUL GEMS
FLORAL ACCENTS
SQUARE BANDS
VINTAGE-INSPIRED DESIGNS
PEAR-SHAPED & MARQUISE-CUT DIAMONDS
DOUBLE SHANKS
MIXED METAL HALOS

If you have not seen any of these styles yet, they are definitely worth checking out!

Crop Tops
 This edgy look will have you standing apart from the crowd.
Floral
 Bold floral patterns are coming on strong this year.
Delicate Embroidery
 Dress Embroidery is one of the biggest trends starting in 2017.
Illusion 
 Dress trends are starting to have sheer mesh material that looks like second skin.

Being a wedding boutique, we want to offer our clients and potential clients as much advice and help as possible. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, especially if you don't have all the money in the world. After doing some research, we complied a list of ways to help reduce wedding expenses.

1.) The Guest List
 Between you and your spouse, you know a lot of people and feel the need to invite a majority of them. That's fine.. Write your desired guest list. Add every single person you feel needs/wants to come to your wedding. Now, once you have your list completed, reduce that by 20%. After that, take another 20% off. When reducing your list, keep in mind that the more people you invite, the more mouths you will have to feed, the more chairs you will have to rent, and the less intimate your wedding will be.

2.) Wedding Help in Exchange of Gifts
 A lot of people have hidden talents and some are not hidden. Seek help from your talented family and friends. Often, between your spouse and yourself you know at lease one photographer or even a musician. Entrust in those people. Let them use their talent at your wedding.

3.) Outdoor Ceremony or at Home
 Booking a hall or an event center can get expensive. One trend that has been popping up in the recent years is outdoor weddings/receptions and home weddings/receptions. 

4.) Borrowed Stereo Equipment
 Another way to cut down on price would be to use your sound system from home or borrow from someone you know. Create a playlist on your phone, MP3 player or have a close one create a list. Being able to control what song plays will help prevent those dual moments when no one knows the song. Being able to have say in what songs play helps with adding that extra touch of personalization. 

We recently found an article on www.brides.com  about Wedding Trends that should be Ditched in 2017 that we thought would be informative to our brides. Erin Celletti, author of "The Wedding Trends to Keep and Ditch in 2017", had the opportunity to interview celebrity wedding planner  David Tutera  on trends he would like to change in the world of weddings.

Ditch The After-Party
Bring the "after-party" to the party. "I want guests to stay in one location, and keep the energy escalating and flowing," he explains. Leaving your guest to go party leaves them with an awkward "what do we do until then" moment.

Stay Connected
Have you ever gone to a wedding and noticed the Bride and Groom are off socializing with their own group of friends? "What's been happening is couples separate to their friends and don't hang out with their significant other on their celebration. That's not good. That's something I am trying to force people to understand is incredibly important." 

Ditch Receiving Lines
"I think it creates a large barrier of etiquette for that celebration — it's too formal." Instead of waiting in a line to greet each and everyone of your guest, wait till after dinner. It helps make your greeting a little more personal. It also helps prevent a long line of people waiting to say hi and congratulate you.

The full article can be found at  http://www.brides.com/story/2017-wedding-trend-predictions

Avoid the January Bridal Rush by planning your wedding this November at Dala's Bridal Boutique where you can enjoy a comfortable and relaxed environment with your own personal bridal consultant that will be by your side to help find the perfect bridal gown and accessories, as well as dresses and tuxedos for your wedding party, to create the look you are imagining for your wedding. You and your guests will have a large private showroom with dressing room, and this Fall receive that extra time to make your experience the best ever! Bring your mom, and those most dear to you to share in this special day. 

One of the toughest things when planning a wedding is deciding what color scheme you want to go with. According to magnetStreet , 2016 has eight fall color trends. See the list below or check out the article for more details!

Earthy

 Lime, Ocean
 Sugar, Custom Tan

Elegant

 Grecian, Teaberry
 Raspberry, Classic Gray

Infused

 Eggplant, White
 Custom Blue, Custom Green

Rustic

 Burgundy, Hunter
 Ivory, Custom Brown

Fragrant

 Coral, Sugar
 Custom Green, Slate

Delicate

 Orchid, Peach
 Celery, Violet

Lucky

 Ashwood, Custom Pink
 Slate, Custom Blue

While the dress is arguably the most important part of wedding planning, it is also important to choose a hairstyle that is not only chic, but also timeless. You don’t want to look back in 15 years and think, “What was I thinking with my hair!”

 According to Glamour , you can never go wrong with a classic updo (2016). However, if classic isn’t the style you want to go for, boho “downdos” are also in style. Boho down-dos consist of relaxed, wavy hair accompanied by some type of braid. They add a relaxed look to any wedding day.  Boho downdos would be perfect for any beach wedding.

Hairstyle.com agrees with glamour on the braid trend, however they offer more classic updo suggestions in their 5 Braided wedding hairstyles for summer brides , such as the Triple French braided updo. “If you want an intricate hairstyle that looks beautiful, but is guaranteed to keep the hair out of your face, try a Triple French updo,” (Hairstyle.com, 2016).  A classic look such as this is bound to match any of the elegant dresses that Dala’s bridal has to offer!

Source: http://www.hairstyle.com/article/5-braided-wedding-hairstyles-for-summer-brides_a3277/1

Source: http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/beauty/hair-trends/2012/02/wedding-hairstyles-2012/viewgallery/1375...

Are you looking for that perfect wedding dress, prom dress, or court warming dress but are on a budget? No worries, stop in today at Dala's Bridal Boutique to shop our discounted section. We have dresses as low as $10! That's right, $10! Make sure to stop in today to get the dress of your of your dreams before it is gone. Dana's Bridal Boutique has the hottest trends in the area. Don't miss out, get the perfect dress today!

Are you currently engaged and having a hard time deciding which kind of wedding dress will be “the one?” Are you wanting to find a dress that fits not only your personality and body type, but also is considered trendy in 2016? Brides has compiled a variety of bridal designers in their Spring 2016 Bridal Trend Report. Some common design elements that are gaining prevalence include floral lace applique with 3-D flowers, soft details to add movement to the dress, swirling patterns, and feathers. Additionally, overskirts, tiered skirts made of tulle, silk, and organza, plunging necklines, slits, and keyholes near the bust were popular, with some brides wearing a more unconventional look with pantsuits while walking down the aisle.

 

According to Style Caster’s Beth Stebner, sheer dresses are also on the rise (2016).  Stebner says it is crucial to find the sheer dress “that tastefully accentuates your best assets” (Stebner, 2016). She also identifies boudoir and lingerie-inspired looks as well as heavy beading as becoming more trendy (Stebner, 2016). With regard to the color of 2016 wedding dresses, blush and mint will continue to be frequently incorporated. However, 2016 will also bring on some dark color options as well (Stebner, 2016). There is something that can be tailored to fit each personal preference in 2016 styles. Elle Strauss, the fashion director at Brides , says “‘As long as it’s figure flattering and you feel great in it, then you’ve accomplished the look’” (Stebner, 2016). Luckily, the professionals at Dala’s Bridal Boutique can help you with this process!

Your Prom Checklist!

Prom is quickly approaching, and it is time to make sure you have everything in order to make sure that this a night to remember! You will want to plan ahead of time so this special event is stress-free.

 

Here is a short checklist that may be useful in the planning process:

1.    Find your perfect dress-

   Dala’s is a family-owned boutique with a staff that wants to help make the process of finding your dream dress    as simple as possible. Be sure to take advantage of the many discounts and services offered throughout the    season. Take a look at current prom dresses styles that are currently in stock! Also, there is no extra charge for    special ordering dresses! We want to make sure you get the dress you really want at a reasonable price that    makes you feel great. (Click here to see the testimonials of our past customers.)

2.    Pick the ideal shoes to match- You’ll want them to be stylish AND comfortable so you can dance the night away!

3.    How about some accessories to match? Look for a necklace, ring, bracelet, pair of earrings, tiara or clutch that complement your dress beautifully!

4.    Which hairstyle will work best for you? (Can you do this yourself or will you need to make an appointment with a local stylist?)

5.    Cosmetics!- mani/pedis and make-up can add a dramatic element to your look.

6.    Lastly, HAVE FUN! Whether you are there to spend time with a special date or with your best friends, it is important to to make sure your night is filled with smiles, laughter, and a lifetime of happy memories.

 

Have a happy prom season :)