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Fab's Guide to Finding the Perfect Dress to Say "I Do" In

FabSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:00:22 -0700

Hello, bride-to-be. I'm Fab, your personal wedding dress shopper! Whether you have three months or twelve to shop for your dream dress, here is a guide to help you look your most beautiful, and keep your sanity. You be the bride and I'll be your guide . . .

First things first: determine your wedding style and budget. Close your eyes and try to picture your big day. Is the ceremony ethereal outside on a beach? Or more formal inside a formal church? Or is it something in between? You'll want a wedding gown that fits your picture. Choose something light and airy if you'll be beachside and something more lavish if you'll be in a church. If you're going the church route, remember to cover up with a shawl or bolero as you want to respect the dress code of the establishment. The most important thing is to set a budget so you don't go ga ga over a dress that's out of your price range!

To read the rest of my Fab wedding shopping guide, read more.

Remember that the season could determine the style of your dress, but it doesn't have to. It's your wedding, so you make the rules. If you're in love with an open-back dress for your Winter wedding, you can always pair it with a shawl for warmth. If your wedding is in the Summer but you love a long-sleeve lace gown, go for it (just wear lots of deodorant!)
Once you've decided on your ceremony style and budget, you'll need inspiration. Go out and buy all of the weddings magazines on the stand and start ripping away. Create a wedding dress file - I suggest something special like this Peppercot Accordion File Tote ($24). This file will also come in handy later in life, I promise.
There is an insane amount of dress styles to choose from (classic, retro, modern, color, etc) but my favorite trends now are bows, embellishments, and short lengths. I will show you more of these dress styles in depth later, but for starters here are the the options I'd explore were it my wedding.

(L-R: Bows (Melissa Sweet), Short (Vera Wang Bridal), Embellished (Kenneth Pool)
While you are gathering your gown file, ask your wedding planner or married friends for suggestions of dress salons near you. Also peruse online wedding sites like Wedding Channel and Brides. Brides has a handy dandy glossary you'll appreciate. The most important thing to remember is timing. Special-order gowns can take three to six months to create, and alterations can take weeks, so plan accordingly.
Now that it's time to go gown shopping, it's important to dress appropriately. You want to wear loose fitting clothes that are easy to get in and out of - but don't dress like a slob. It's also good to have your hair either pulled back or down, depending on how you'll have it on the actual day. Bring comfortable shoes with the heel height you plan to wearing. Throw a strapless bra into your purse and try to wear pretty underthings - you will be standing around in them in front of your shopping buddies and salesperson.
Once you are assigned a salesperson, go through your tear sheets with them and point out what you like about dresses and special details you love. When you try on dresses, continue to point out your likes and dislikes.
Keep an eye out for quality. In a high-quality gown every detail should have a perfect finish - no bead or string should be unraveled. Natural fabrics like silk are pricier than synthetics, but the benefits are they let your skin breathe and don't trap sweat. A-line gowns fall smoothly and prevent panty lines; this is also the best shape for fuller figures. If you do have budget constraints, skip beading and fancy details and focus on a fine fabric and a good fit - you can always dress yourself up with jewelry and beauty!
The finishing touches. Take into account the following elements surrounding your look: alterations, headpiece/veil, lingerie, jewelry, shoes, bag, a cover up, and the groom's ensemble. Oh, and the bridesmaids. Lastly, two weeks before your wedding, have a final dress fitting with your accessories and lingerie, and break in your shoes by wearing them at home. There will be more on this in months to come so stay tuned!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com!

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GeekSugar's Online Wedding Registry Guide

GeekSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:07:08 -0700

One of the most exciting and aggravating things about planning your wedding is putting together a great registry that suits your wants and needs with the needs of your guests, who are often scattered around different parts of the globe.

I've read it's considered poor etiquette to include details of your chosen gift registries with your invitations, but as a sensible, smart woman I refuse to listen to that advice. Shopping for a wedding gift shouldn't be hard for guests - it should be a gesture of love for the couple.

So go ahead and make it easier for your guests by speaking up and letting them know what you need and where they can get it. That way, you can present them with options in different price ranges and locations. Most guests will get you a gift, so helping them get the right gift - even if that means sending out an extra note - is worth it. Also, my advice is to embrace the fact that you are getting hitched in the age of the internet and register for everything online. For my guide to setting up your online registry, read more

Even grandma and grandma would prefer to go online and have a gift sent directly to you over going to the store, sifting through their in-store registry and having to lug a heavy gift around. If you make the move and register online your guests will have the option of getting the registry at the store as well, but they won't be limited to in-store shopping. This means better gifts for you, less time and energy spent for all.

Sign Up For Traditional Registries Online In One Place
The most traditional registry spots are Tiffany & Co., Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Neiman Marcus, Restoration Hardware Fortunoff, Gump's, REI, Target, JCPenney, Barneys New York and Dean & DeLuca. You can actually create a registry at all these stores via the Wedding Channel.com website.

Register Based On Your Lifestyle
Macy’s Wedding & Gift Registry has created an “instant” registry bank for different types of couples and it's surprisingly perceptive and vast. You can just click on personality types like "Jet-Setters," "True Romantics," "Happy Hipsters" etc and get a look at kitchenware and gadgetry that will likely fit your interests. You can check it out at TheKnot.com.

Looking For a More Unique Registry?
You can go online to GreatHoneymoon.com and to sign up for a program where your guests contribute towards part of your honeymoon. There are other options out there, just search "Honeymoon registry" on Google.

Don't Forget Practical Gifts
Stores like Target and Bed Bath and Beyond are becoming increasingly popular registry spots for modern couples that often have most of the furniture and kitchenware they need by the time they get married, but could use a few sprucing up the house items. The stores are great for smaller gifts like DVDs, towels, electronics and even camping gear for outdoorsy couples.

For All You Geeky Couples Out There
Don't even think I forgot about you, you big geek. Amazon.com seems to one of the best spots for gifts of all kinds. You can register for the regular housewares and high-end electronics in the same place. You can also ask for gift cards from stores like Apple and Best Buy.

The Best Gift You Can Give
If you really don't need gifts consider passing your guests' generosity to someone in need. JustGive.org is a great nonprofit organization that offers an online Charity Wedding Registry. Couples can choose from any of the 850,000 charities in the U.S., add personal information about themselves and their wedding, send an email to friends and family notifying them of their registry, and access password-protected reports that detail who has donated to what charity on their registry so they can send out timely "Thank You" cards.

Still need help? Check out Fabsugar's look at WeddingChannel.com.

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Wedding Survival Guide: Part 2: Clutch Control

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:24:00 -0700

Here's the second part of my crib notes for surviving the Wedding Season in style. So you've mastered the basic beauty dos and dont's – now it's time to talk clutch kits.

Space is paramount here as it's likely you'll only be carrying an eeny weeny bag, preferably metallic or snakeskin for this season. However, it is going to be a long day (and night) so think carefully about what you're going to need to stay beautiful.

Here's my clutch kit:

First off, the sensible stuff. Plasters in case of blisters, safety pins for fashion emergencies and hair grips and bobble in the likely event that you'll have to do a last-minute up do, mid-conga.
Blotting papers take up hardly any room and will keep you looking shine free. Also take a sample size (ask at a department store) mini bottle of your foundation.
Lipstick and lip balm are essentials. I like a slightly tinted lip balm like Kiehl's, lip gloss in Goldenberry, (£12), that can be worn under and over lipstick.
A travel kit or makeup compact is a great space-saver. At the moment I'm using an Estée Lauder one I got free with two purchases. Or try the Ruby & Millie Eye Kit, (£12).
A light-reflecting concealer will keep you looking fresh. Try Givenchy Mister Light, (£19), a brightening and concealing corrective pen.
A cream blusher, in a thin container, such as Becca's Lip & Cheek Creme, (£22), in Tuberose, will fit snugly in your clutch and keep you looking pretty.

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Whoa, Talk About Cell Phone Bling!

GeekSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:42:50 -0800

I'm all for a little glitz and glam, but I think that this Rhinestones For My iPhone case ($20) might take the cake for most blinged-out iPhone case I've seen. Honestly, it's a little too adorned for my taste, but there's at least one upside: finding your phone in a jam-packed purse just got a little easier.

Have you seen any outrageous cell phone bling lately? Do you have a totally tricked-out phone? We'd love to see pics of your rhinestones, charms, and other accoutrements! Create a PopSugar account or log in to your account. Then join the Cell Phone Bling group and share your photos with the community. Your bling could end up on the GeekSugar homepage. Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Tips For Creating an Online Wedding Registry

GeekSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:40:39 -0700

I'm not married, or engaged, but the idea of creating a wedding registry totally excites me - dancing around a store (ahem, 27 dresses) with a barcode scanner, scanning to your hearts desire?! Good times indeed (yes, I'm delusional!). Scratch that thought for just a sec, and let's get back to basics and practicality - online wedding registries.

What's great about having an online registry is the fact that friends and family from all over can take part in the gift giving and the whole process is much easier than searching for gifts in stores. If you happened to miss CasaSugar's helpful guide to getting an online registry started, I'm going to give you a few more tips and suggestions.

First thing's first, deciding what stores meet your needs and which ones you want to be registered at. Thanks to sites like MyRegistry, the universal gift registry, you have the freedom to mix and match items from any of your favorite sites and stores to create the ultimate gift registry.

For more tips to setting up your online registry, read more.

Signing Up For Traditional Registries Online in One Place
The most traditional registry spots are Tiffany & Co., Bloomingdales, Macy's, Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Neiman Marcus, Restoration Hardware, Fortunoff, Gump's, REI, Target, JCPenney, Barneys New York, and Dean & DeLuca. You can actually create a registry at all these stores via the Wedding Channel website.

Register Based on Your Lifestyle
Macy’s Wedding and Gift Registry has created an “instant” registry bank for different types of couples and it's surprisingly preceptive and vast. You can just click on personality types like "Jet-Setters," "True Romantics," "Happy Hipsters," etc and get a look at kitchenware and gadgetry that will likely fit your interests. You can check it out at TheKnot.

Don't Forget Practical Gifts
Stores like Target and Amazon seems to one of the best spots for gifts of all kinds. You can register for the regular housewares and high-end electronics in the same place. You can also ask for gift cards from stores like Apple and Best Buy.

The Best Gift You Can Give
If you really don't need gifts consider passing your guests' generosity to someone in need. JustGive is a great nonprofit organization that offers an online Charity Wedding Registry. Couples can choose from any of the 850,000 charities in the US, add personal information about themselves and their wedding, send an email to friends and family notifying them of their registry, and access password-protected reports that detail who has donated to what charity on their registry so they can send out timely Thank You cards.

And don't forget to include your registry info on your wedding website!

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

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Talking New Moon With Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:15:50 -0800

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner may be dominating the promotional circuit right now, but they're not the only cast members with something to say about New Moon. I had the opportunity to chat with costars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene, aka Emmett and Alice Cullen, during their recent stopover in SF. They chatted about their characters, the vampire craze, and what it's like to be a "Twilight celebrity." Here are highlights:

On why so many people are crazy for the Twilight Saga:
Ashley: I think this film in particular is highly relatable. There are a lot of situations that people can relate to. The love story - everyone can relate to being in love or being in lust. You add the vampire, and it adds that next level fantasy. Vampires are mysterious and sensual and dangerous and unattainable. And everyone wants what they can't have. I think on another level that this came together at the perfect time. All the elements just fit, the casting was spot on, and we're in a difficult time right now with our economy. That's why you never have a drop in ticket sales because everyone wants an escape, and this movie is very much an escape from reality.
Kellan: It's a good escape but also it deals with so many situations, on so many positive notes. Just looking at it from the vampire coven to the wolf pack. It just deals with everyday issues just on bigger levels, in a way. And you have Bella as the keystone in many situations. You can just all relate from different countries to issues within the United States. It's easily relatable.

To read a lot more about working with three different directors and why they feel so lucky, just read more.

On how their portrayals of the Cullens are similar or different from the books:
Kellan: We got the jobs because we brought something new to it. You can interpret the characters each their own, but I think it's what we did alongside. Just like Kristen said - she's playing Bella but she's putting her Kristen spin on it, just like all of us are. And I think that's what's making it unique. We're still following the cheat sheets that Stephenie created by making the books, and there's Wikipedia. We have a lot of information to go off of. But I hope it's what I did in my audition that set it apart from the other guys trying out.

Ashley: I think it's mannerisms too. People do fall in love with this book, but I think part of it is that they always want more. You can't write out every human mannerism. You can imagine it, but seeing the emotion in someone's eyes and seeing them be affected it - it was kind of easy to give something to it, because we were just being people. We kinda just got lucky.
On how much more of the Cullens we can expect in the remaining movies:
Kellan: Realistically, we stick pretty close to the books. Obviously us Cullens would love to be in the books a lot more, which would mean we'd be in the movies a lot more. Talking New Moon, the scenes that the Cullens - except for Ashley, playing Alice who gets to go to Italy and be a main lead in the movie - us Cullens, we have to stick really close to the books, and the scenes that we're in are really crucial to the story, as you know - the birthday scene, the voting scene. I don't know, it was kind of a tease. Chris Weitz is such an amazing director, and for us, for myself - I only worked about a week on that movie. And it didn't even seem like I really got a taste for what it was.

Ashley: In the third film, you'll see a lot more of the Cullens because it's all of us collaborating and then getting ready to fight this war that's coming up. In the second one, my character got a much larger role because Alice is the Cullen, other than Edward, that really embraces Bella and they end up becoming best friends. In the beginning, you see her throw this huge party for Bella, and then Alice is the one who does, in fact, come back for Bella when everyone else decides to skip town. Alice is responsible for dragging Bella over to Italy, and she and I the whole time are fighting to save my brother's life. And then of course we get held up by the Volturi and stuff like that. My character got to grow a lot, which is really cool. You get to actually see the relationship develop between Bella and Alice, where in the first one you didn't. The first one was very much about the romance and showing the audience why these two people are willing to die for each other.
On working with a different director on each film:
Ashley: Each director is going to be very different. They're artists as well, and I don't think any of them are quite the same. The books, when you read them, all have very, very, different tones. So I think it's highly appropriate that we switch directors each go. The first one is very much a romance and is a very scenic, beautiful film. And Catherine's really, really great at capturing that. She's very high energy and works well in chaos and stuff like that. And it was fantastic because we didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves into, and so it was nice to have her to guide us when we were freaking out a little bit. She was just so high energy, and it was really contagious. We were sad to lose her and move on to the second film, but then we got Chris Weitz and he's the complete opposite! But great as well. He's so giving and caring and collaborative and created this atmosphere that was kind of a safe haven for us. And it was really nice because we didn't know, switching directors, if they were gonna embrace us or if they had a completely different vision than what we created in the first one. It was nice that he was right there on the same page with us. And the second one is a warmer film, even from the color scheme. The first one is very blue tones, and the second one is much richer and warmer and I think he did a great job at capturing that. And we just finished shooting with David Slade, and I think he's highly appropriate as well. He just finished shooting 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy, and they're both very dark, edgy films. And Eclipse is very much that. It's all centered around the anticipation and us getting ready to fight this huge war. We just finished filming, we haven't gotten to see much of it, but I think it's gonna be fantastic. He is, technically, the most advanced director. The angles that he shot and how he knows that tweaking something can affect a whole scene and the lenses. He was really nice to work with.
On coping with the fan effect and being a "Twilight celebrity"
Kellan: That's what blows my mind, 'cause I feel like it's really unearned in a way. The fans are making our careers. Without them, we wouldn't be working and doing the saga. There's so many times that trilogy books become a movie and the first one bombs, and then that's it. And you're always hopeful that you get to do them all. Especially since we're all in love with our characters. I love Emmett Cullen to death, he's my favorite character I've ever played. It's just so cool to have made it this far, and I think we all hope that we get to finish this series and do Breaking Dawn. This is such a blessing, it's every actor's dream to be part of something like this. It's not terribly hard either. We don't shoot halfway around the world; we don't shoot for a year of our lives. I know a lot of us have homes, we have pets, we have family. And it's really nice to shoot on the West Coast, either Portland or Vancouver, and have the chance to fly down if we need to. But it's definitely amazing to be part of something like this. And I don't think any of us knew how crazy it would be and how exhilarating it would turn out to be. Going to the premiere, really just, wow. I don't even remember it because I was really just starstruck by how many fans and signs and cameras. It felt like I was just walking through a strobe light room. It's amazing.

Ashley: I still think we can't really wrap our heads around what's going on and what's happening. We're still in the midst of filming and kept very busy from one film until the next. It's only these brief moments where you sit back and are actually able to take a breath where you go "Whoa. Wow. This is crazy." I mean, the amount of tickets they've already sold for New Moon - I'm pretty sure I can't even get a ticket if I tried to see my film in Jacksonville and it's mind boggling. We're just very lucky. I went into this film thinking "Oh my gosh, I got a job" and the it turned into the biggest break of my life. I think we all feel very blessed to be a part of this.
On how it feels to be part of Twilight fan fiction:
Kellan: It's an escape, in a way. We do live in a trivial time period right now. There's so much depression that it's kinda cool to be a part of something where people use it to be an escape. In a way that's kinda what Stephenie did -she had a dream and just elaborated on it. It became a huge success and it's really encouraging that people are doing the same and just making up this journey.

Ashley: That's why people love it so much I think. You can take it and make what you want of it. Before the demographic was teenage girls, but now it's women of every age and guys are starting to get into it, too. It's because there is that element of fantasy. If you're 8 years old you look at it one way; if you're 80 years old you look at it another. I think it's fantastic that we can draw such a huge crowd. The other thing is - it blows my mind but people are making connections over this film and over this book. there are mothers and daughters and grandmas who can all sit and talk about the same story and all fantasize about it and I think that's a really cool thing. I think it's rare.

To see all of our Twilight and New Moon coverage, check out TwilightSugar!

Wedding Survival Guide: Part 3 – More Beauty Dos and Don'ts

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0700

It may be autumn, but the invites just keep on flooding in. Here's how to do autumn weddings beautifully. Check out more of my beauty tips and tricks for being the belle of the wedding. Shh, just don't tell the bride...

DO Paint your nails in a subtle pale pink or nude shade that will look good all day. Try All Spice by Rimmel, (£2.69), for an elegant neutral colour.
DON'T Go for this season's gothic glamour and if it's a traditional ceremony I'd even avoid metallics on eyes and nails. Keep it classic.

For more tips and ticks just read more.

DO Wear your hair up if you want. Try a modern chignon or plaited side twist, like Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller wore at The Edge of Love premiere.
DON'T Clash up-do hair with big earrings, like Kate Moss at Leah Wood's wedding, earlier this year. If Kate couldn't pull it off, what hope do us mere mortals have?
DO Show off your legs if you can bare to. Even if the weather's not that great, it looks a little frumpy to be wearing nude tights before November.
DON'T Forget to prep. Slather your legs with moisturiser, especially the calves, the night before the wedding and on the day itself. Try a rich body cream, such as Clinique Deep Comfort, (£13.50), for a healthy sheen.
DO Take a mini makeup kit, in your clutch, to do touch ups. Check out my clutch control guide, for what to take.
DON'T Spend the whole day and night re-touching. Yes there'll be photos, and most likely a video of the wedding too, but it's supposed to be fun. You don't want to be the guest who's always running to the loo to check her lipstick.

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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Newlyweds

partysugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:30:57 -0800

Shopping for a couple who recently got married can be difficult because chances are, they've received a lot of kitchen gifts at their wedding. Look for original and creative gifts that wouldn't necessarily be on a registry. A couples cooking class allows them to learn something new together. A subscription to Food and Wine magazine will inspire them to get into the kitchen on a regular basis. Artisan, handcrafted chocolates are a welcome addition to an understocked pantry.

For more newlywed gift suggestions, browse below. To check out the gift guide bonanza, head to HolidaySugar.

Wedding Survival Guide: Part 1 – Beauty Dos and Don'ts

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

For the first of these Wedding Survival Guides, I'm going to start you off with some easy beauty dos and don'ts. Most obviously is, don't follow Kate Moss's lead and upstage the bride by looking too goddamn gorgeous. Or at least don't look like you're trying to upstage her – more that you're just naturally prettier. Sneaky, huh?

DO Look polished. This is a big day and you should look like you've made an effort. Get a pedicure and manicure the day before.
DON'T Go over the top. You don't need a a spray tan with sparkly gold shimmer, nail art or glitter on your face. It's not the hen, remember?
DO Think classic and pretty. An elegant, brown-red lipstick, such as Clarins Joli Rouge in Cedar Red, (£14.50), and some subtle cream blush, like Dream Mousse Blush in Dolly Pink or Mauve, (£5.99), by Maybelline, is ideal.
DON'T Look overly on-trend. You might be regretting that frosted fuschia lipstick and indigo eyeshadow for years. Stick to shades that you know suit you.
DO Layer your makeup so it lasts. Try a primer, such as MAC Prep and Prime, (£16), under your foundation. Or use tinted moisturiser, like Boots Botanics Instant Glow, (£3.99), with concealer where you need it. Add some loose translucent powder, before you leave the house, to make your makeup behave.
DON'T Add layers of foundation and powder as the night goes on. This will only look cakey and unnatural. Just use blotting paper to remove shine and add concealer where you need it.

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Copy Kate Moss's Wedding Look

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Kate Moss went for an understated, polished makeup look at this weekend's nuptials of fellow model Leah Wood to Jack Macdonald. Her soft smoky eye is spot on and her creamy, neutral lip look made sure she wouldn't outshine lovely Leah. Not sure about those hefty earrings though.

Of course Kate looks gorgeous no matter what she does, but for us mere mortals, wedding season can be rife with beauty dilemmas. Finding a look to take you from the ceremony to the reception is tricky in itself, couple that with the added fact that you're likely to be only carrying a small clutch in which to stash your slap - not to mention the perils of daytime drinking - and you've got a full blown beauty crisis on your hands!

Hence, I'm going to be bringing you a series of Wedding Survival Guide beauty advice, from what to carry in your clutch to how far to take that on-trend look. For a few tips, read more.

First tip - don't try out a new makeup look on the day of the wedding, if you're planning to experiment do a trial run a few days before. Yeah, yeah I know you're not the bride, but no-one wants a guest to show up at their big day sporting crazy, candyfloss hair or overdone, goth-esque black eyeliner (well, unless your friends are very cool)! For a fail-safe look, copy Kate and choose a soft, smoky grey shadow, such as Ruby & Millie, (£5 reduced from £10) in 010 or the paler 510. Keep the focus on your eyes, with a natural base and nude lip gloss like Stila Kitten (£18) - a golden-pink shade with a hint of shimmer.

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