Below is an article supplied to us by Anusjka.  Great article on how to care for your lingerie

Copyright © 2010 Anusjka Regis

If your lingerie is destroyed after washing it can be heartbreaking. Women take pride in their undergarents as bras and knickers can make you feel more confident and beautiful. The right bra can make your whole body look more shaped in your outfit. If you find that right bra you don’t want to lose it due to poor care. Here are some tips on how to care for your lingerie:

It is important not to take the labels off. If you take the labels off by ripping for instance, this may damage the material. Also if the labels are off then you lose the information which is valuable to you like the size (especially for bras). You will lose the type of material of the garment and any special instructions. Washing or caring for lingerie can be complicated.

One way of cleaning your lingerie bras and knickers is the use mesh bags in the machine. This can be used to wash more sturdy lingerie which you wear regularly. Put one to three items in each bag, depending on the size of the bag. You don’t need a bag for each individual item, but you don’t want the bag crowded either or the items won’t get fully clean. Once the bag is closed put it in the drum of the machine. Wash other lightweight items in the same load. The mesh bag allows the soap and water to get at your bras, knickers, but stops the straps and leg openings from becoming stretched or tangled with other pieces of clothing.

Hand washing is still the best way of washing lingerie although using a mesh bag is an option for some types of undergarments. Hand washing will prevent shrinking and maintain the shape of your lingerie for a longer time. Use a gentle detergent and cold water. Don’t put your bras and knickers in the the dryer after either because that can be problematic. All you need to do is wash the bras and knickers out with cold water and leave it out to dry naturally. Don’t wring. Don’t stress the lingerie as most lingerie are of delicate fabric. Because the fabric is light and of minimal material it should dry quickly. Place it on a flat surface to dry as this help it keep its shape better than hanging.

Even when washing by hand it is a good idea to try cleaners and detergents that are specially made for lingerie care. Because your lingerie is valued it might be a good ideas to use these detergents as they may help prolong the life of your lingerie, but it up to you if you use it or not. You can use it to see if it makes any difference. Biodegradable detergents are also quite good as they can be washed/ rinsed out easier.

The labels should give advice on care of lingerie. If it does not here are some lingerie materials and some advice on how to care for it: Silk – You will need to consult your labels’ instructions. Silk generally needs to be dry cleaned. The only exception is with pre washed silk, but even that type of silk may still have special care instructions.

Acetate – Alhtough this material can be hand washed it is advised to have it dry cleaned to be on the safe sid

Acrylic – This material does not have specific instructions. You can wash it in the machine on a cold wash or you can hand wash it or even dry clean it. It is not essential to clean it in a specific way.

Rayon – Rayon lingerie will need to either be dry cleaned or hand washed. Because rayon comes in different forms it will be best to consult your tag instructions.

Cotton – Cotton is easy to take care of. There are no specific guidelines for cleaning. It can be washed as you wish. Cotton is very sturdy therefore you can machine wash or hand wash your lingerie, bras and. You will need to dry this on high heat

Nylon – Nylon lingerie This can be machine washed safely or hand washed. If mashine washing and drying it need to be washed in a cold wash and dried at low temperatures.

After washing ensure that your lingerie, bras and knickers are dried properly. They will smell if not fully dried but stored away. When you put them away it is a good idea to line your draw with white tissue paper so that your lingerie is not snagged by any wires or wood splinters from the drawer. Another tip to avoid snagging of your lingerie is to ensure that your bra backs are hooked, and keep bras on the opposite end of the drawer from pantyhose or stockings which is easily snagged.

If you employ this advice you might just be able to save some money on your lingerie purchases.

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Cleaning lingerie and hosiery including bras and knickers is important. Hopefully these tips on lingerie care will help.

I found this great article from Stephanie Lopez about using technology to aid in the planning of your wedding.  Hope it helps!!

Copyright © 2010 Stephanie Lopez

So, you may be wondering how in the world technology and your wedding can be associated. Rest assured that you don’t have to be a tech guru to use technology to your advantage while planning or having your wedding. Not to mention there are many different levels, depending on whether you want to go all out or not. With “being green” becoming more and more appealing it is no wonder that technology can be integrated into every facet of our lives; even your own wedding!

Texting

Almost everyone from teenager to baby boomer is moving their fingers texting on their phones. Use it to your advantage. Once you know what the date of your wedding is, send your save-the-date message via a text message. Texting is also a great way to stay in touch with your wedding party. You can send them all the updates all at once without having to make individual phone calls. Not everyone has a fancy phone so try to avoid pics and crazy clip-art. Just stick to the standard text and the fanciness can be saved for later.

E-Mail

Another option is to e-mail all your guests. You can e-mail the save-the-dates, invitations and thank you cards. Your options are endless. There are plenty of sites out there where you can upload your personal info and purchase their formatting for a reasonable price. You can save time, paper, and money. The only downfall to this may be that you need everyone’s e-mail address. This is where it may be easier to text some things, considering most all have texting capabilities. It would however be worth the time to get your guest’s e-mail addresses (for those that you don’t already have). Consider that you would have to gather their physical addresses anyway. Less to take down and then you have it for the future. If there are some people still in the stone-age without e-mails encourage them to get one.

Website

If you really want to shine you can create your own wedding website. These are absolutely fascinating. This is a one-stop-shop for all of your correspondence with your guests. This is a place where they can see pics, read about your story on how you met, R.S.V.P. and more. You can personalize your site to fit you and your fiancé’s liking. If you are unsure about this idea do a little searching and look at other couple’s sites. There are plenty of web hosting services that already have formats that you can pick from.

Slideshow

Don’t forget the infamous slide shows that we all enjoy at the receptions. Getting to see the bride and groom in diapers, then an awkward teenager and on to the early dating days. This is a way to make your reception special and where you can also include pics of you with your family and friends; the very people that will be in attendance. Your guest will feel more emotionally connected to your special day.

You can incorporate some or all of these ideas. Just think you could text your save-the-date. E-mail your invitations and your thank you cards and all could have a link to your beautifully created website. When you return from your honeymoon no need to travel around trying to show everyone your pics and videos just upload them right to your website. No matter how far you want to use technology to your advantage don’t forget to incorporate it into your wedding. I think that you’ll find that it can help keep you more organized and save time in the process. It has become acceptable to send in digital format and not a hard copy. You can make it just as beautiful and elegant, maybe even more so. Your options are endless. 

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Here is a great article from Robert Phillips on Wedding Bouqets.  Hope you enjoy!!

Wedding bouquets are essential for the perfect wedding and this is one detail that you may have already thought about. Many girls have already dreamed about their bouquet, or they have a favorite flower and this may be the choice for bouquet. Your wedding will be enhanced when you choose the right bouquet and this may be something that you never forget.

When you are considering wedding bouquets you may want to consider where your wedding is taking place when you are considering the choice of florist. If you are having a wedding in town you will be okay choosing a local florist. If you are having a destination, or out of town wedding, you may want to consider using a florist that is in the place where you are getting married. This can help you from having to transport your flowers and this will be one less item that you have to worry about

If you are unsure which flowers you want for your wedding bouquets, you may want to look online and find out which type of flowers you like the best. You may want to have a couple of different choices and although you may not be able to get the exact the flowers of your choice, you may be able to get something that is very similar.

You want to figure out whether you want artificial flowers, or if you want to purchase real flowers. If you purchase artificial flowers you will be able to keep them forever. Real flowers will not keep, but they may look better in your photos and during your ceremony. You can even use a combination of both and the bouquet that you throw during the bouquet toss, may be best with use of artificial flowers so that the person that catches it can keep it as a keepsake

Price can be an important factor and you will want to take into consideration all of the flowers that you need total and this can help you determine what you are going to be expected pay in the end. If you have a good idea of how many flowers you need, it can help you set a flower budget that you can incorporate into your larger wedding budget.

Wedding bouquets can help make the perfect wedding, but this small item will take some serious planning and special considerations in order for you to have the best flowers. You should never settle for second best and if you start shopping early, you can easily find the flowers of your dreams.

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I found the follwoing article on choosing dresses for the mothers written by Nadi Baruch.  Hope you like it!!

A wedding is one of the most enjoyable social occasions. Most people like to make it a real day to remember and put a lot of effort into its preparation and organization. Because weddings are such a part of our society, tradition over the years has done much to dictate how we approach them. This is not to say that you must create a “cookie cutter” style of affair at all, but it does mean that certain conventions need to be met just to satisfy tradition and expectations. As a bride or groom you may be somewhat unconventional and used to alternative approaches, but the chances are that your parents are not and will be looking for a more sedate affair!

However you structure your wedding, you want to be sure that everyone is happy and that no “toes” are stepped on, figuratively speaking, as you walk down the aisle. In this perspective, a little bit of care should be shown when choosing a dress for the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom. The selection process will require etiquette and attention to style, but if all are aware of where they stand, everything should go off without a hitch.

The mother of the bride should discuss selection of dresses with her daughter a long time in advance. It’s best to start preparing these things at least six months ahead as this will leave plenty of time for all parties to select and order. There will also be adequate time for special features, alterations and so on to be scheduled if necessary. Custom wedding dresses do take quite a while to prepare and you want to be sure that each of the principal figures has a beautiful wedding dress for the big day.

The mother of the bride’s dress should never be white; this should be reserved of course for just the bride. A black dress is considered to be bad luck and anything with too vibrant a color is simply considered to be too much. Coordinate the mother of the bride’s dress so that it complements the appearance of the bridal party.

The mother of the groom’s dress should never overpower the mother of the bride’s dress as this is considered to be bad etiquette. A simple coordination in advance will ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises on the day and once again, the groom’s mother should ensure that her dress is complementary to the whole party.

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Hope you enjoyed the article.  Now its over to you.  Let us know about any ‘Mother Issues’ you may have had in preparing your wedding!!

One of the most important days of your life is approaching–choosing the right wedding photographer can be a daunting task! Certainly, you want the highest quality of wedding photographs without going broke. You are looking for a wedding photographer who is in tune with your wedding style as you imagine that day. You also want a photographer who is professional, experienced, talented, and a pleasure to work with.
Hiring the perfect photographer doesn’t have to be a headache if you know what to ask. Start by doing a quick phone interview of each wedding photographer to narrow down your choices. Find out first if they are available for your wedding day—if they’re not, it narrows things down immediately. Ask about prices, who will be photographing the wedding, what style of wedding photography they use to shoot weddings (black and white, colour, posed photos or candid shots).

After you narrow down your wedding photographer choices, you’ll want to set up a date to interview the photographer. In some large companies, the photographer you talk to might not be the one they send out for your event. Make sure you interview the photographer who will actually be at your wedding and see his/her portfolio, in order to evaluate their style.

You’ll also want to find out what happens if the wedding photographer you choose is fired before or right after your wedding date. It will put your mind at rest if you are assured that your wedding will be photographed even if your photographer is no longer with the company and that you will also have access to your photos no matter what the hiring status of the photographer.

When interviewing the photographer, remember to cover these questions:

1)      Experience Level.

On the most important day of your life, you want someone who is an expert at wedding photography to preserve your memories in a professional manner. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you ask your wedding photographer questions about their experience.

• Is this a job or a hobby for the wedding photographer?
• Do they have formal training or education in wedding photography?
• You might be tempted to save money by hiring a novice wedding photographer, but do you want stunning photos that capture your special day or just so-so ones?
• Do they frequently photograph weddings?

Some photographers are better at static and posed studio photography than action oriented and “on location” wedding photography. Photographing a wedding involves capturing spontaneous moments, not just poses, so it’s important to have someone who is an expert.

• Does the wedding photographer use professional-grade equipment, and do they have back-up equipment available, just in case?

 

• Have they photographed weddings in your chosen location before?

Prior experience in a location gives the wedding photographer an advantage because he’ll know ahead of time what film, filters or flash he/she might need to get the best results.

2)      Ask About Their Portfolio.

Photography is an art, so it’s understandable that you may or may not like the style used by the wedding photographer. Ask to view a portfolio of previous weddings they’ve photographed so that you can get a good impression as to what to expect for your own wedding.

To make an educated decision, you’ll want to view an entire wedding portfolio from start to finish, not the best few photos from many weddings. Ask what style the wedding photographer uses. Some photographers tend to like more posed shots while others have what is called a photojournalistic style, which involves more candid shots.
Ask if he/she likes to use color photos, black and whites or a mixture. Also, ask if they use a digital camera and retouch the photos to make them black and white, or if they use film.

3)      Will They Dress the Part?

Your wedding photographer will be spending a lot of time with you on you on the most important day of your life. It’s crucial that his or her personality blends in, making it a pleasure to have him/her at your side.
If the wedding photographer makes you uneasy in a short interview then don’t hire them for your event!
No matter how charming he is, you’ll want to make sure the wedding photographer will dress the part and look professional while taking those important photos.

Finally, ask about any assistants. Ask if you can meet them and ask about how they will dress and conduct themselves to ensure your wedding goes smoothly.

4)      Money and Technical Matters.

Though you don’t want to skimp on wedding photos, it is important to make sure this particular photographer isn’t going to break your budget. Find out ahead of time about how much it will cost to have him/her photograph your wedding.

You’ll want to know how much time you’ll be allotted, and how many rolls of film they’ll take during that time. If the wedding photographer uses digital cameras, ask how many shots they will take to ensure the event is well-documented.
Most photographers offer packages that specify a certain amount of pictures for a set fee. If you don’t see a size of photograph that you want, ask if those packages can be customized to meet your needs.

It’s a great idea to inquire about the price of copies and albums, because you will likely become enchanted with many more of the photos than you bargained!

Ask about deposit and cancellation policies. In order to hold your date, what method of deposit is needed? What are the cancellation policies? If the wedding photographer cancels, will your deposit be refunded?

5)      Ask If You Can Get It In Writing!

You’ll want a contract to protect you in case you’re unhappy with the services of your wedding photographer. If you end up going to court to settle matters, the judge will only be concerned with the conditions written in the contract. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure you get all of the details in writing.

The contact should include:
Expected services, fees, cancellation policy, fee schedule and all aspects of your photo packages written in detail.
You’ll also want their name and address, as well as your name and address on the contract. Be certain that the contract has a signature and date for both of you and that you receive a copy of both sides.

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Take the stress out of finding a wedding photographer by asking these 5 questions and choosing from the best wedding photographers you can find. Just do a search at Start Local, Australia’s fastest growing local search engine and business directory. Find your dream wedding photographer at => http://www.startlocal.com.au/services/photographers/

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Your Gown

• Make a “look book.” Tear out pictures from magazines; compile photos from friends’ weddings, and round up fabric swatches and anything else that may help you communicate your taste to the sales staff or dressmaker. Paste everything into an album or a blank book.
• Determine your budget. Click on the related link to print out a wedding budget worksheet. Related: Wedding-Budget Worksheet
• Think about the wedding location. If you’re getting hitched at city hall, you may want to skip an elaborate, formal gown. Also consider the religious affiliation, if any, of the location and its rules with regard to modesty.
• Consider the temperature. If you’re having a beach ceremony, you’ll want a fabric such as cotton eyelet that won’t wilt in the humidity. Winter weddings call for heftier materials, like satin or silk shantung.
• Scout dresses at retail stores. Note what dresses work best with your body type. Related: Choose the Perfect Wedding Dress for Your Body Type
• Or visit a custom dressmaker. Think about what questions you would ask. Related: 5 Questions to ask your dressmaker.
•  Make your buy about eight months before the wedding. You need to allow time for fittings. Related: Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist
• Buy undergarments. If your gown doesn’t have a built-in corset, ask the dress salesperson what type of underpinning you need. Make sure to try on everything with your gown at your final fitting.

 

Your Accessories

• Choose a headpiece. Experiment with a variety of lengths and shapes to see what best complements your gown. Other options: tiaras, silk flowers, vintage combs, or pearl or crystal hairpins.
• Settle on shoes. Ballet flats or kitten heels are most comfortable.
• Consider a wrap. Popular options: a pashmina; a beaded shrug; a wrap in silk, chiffon, or lace.
• Purchase jewellery. Choose pieces to enhance your gown, not compete with it.
• Gather your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. 
• Pack an emergency kit. Toss these in a bag for your big day: a small sewing kit, extra buttons, Hollywood tape, white chalk, stain-remover wipes, a lint brush, a compact steamer, white gaffer’s tape, and white ballet slippers.

A lot of brides-to-be are looking for a wedding dress maker so that they look amazing on the day of their wedding, for a number of reasons. By finding an upmarket wedding dress shop for an original gown, you will ensure that the dress is the exact style and fit that you dreamed of. Perhaps you’ve seen a dress that is nearly the style that you want, but you would like longer sleeves, or an embroidered bodice, or a heavier fabric. Maybe you’re pregnant, and want a gown that will be able to accommodate your changing body. These changes will mean you pay a little more, but you’ll have the wedding dress you always wanted and feel fabulous on your wedding day, which must be worth the extra money.

Perhaps you’ve seen a gown that is almost perfect, but you want a different neckline, or a shorter train, or a different fabric. Perhaps you’re pregnant, and would like to have a gown that will be able to accommodate your changing body. You’ll pay a bit more for these options, but having the perfect wedding dress and feeling beautiful on your special day is worth the expense.

From Conception to Reception: How it Works.

Most wedding dresses aren’t custom per se. A wedding dress maker, or designer, will have a line of dress styles from which to choose. After an hour or so long consultation where you decide on a gown style and get measurements taken, a prototype of your gown is made up out of muslin.

The wedding dress maker will use this sample dress to fit the gown to your exact measurements by marking the dress and pinning the fabric in the right spot.

The marked up version then goes back to the shop where they begin to create your wedding dress. When the dress is completed, it will be necessary to have a final fitting. If there are still alterations to be made, another fitting may need to be arranged.

When selecting a wedding dress maker, be sure to ask the following questions:

1) How long will it take?

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your wedding dress won’t be completed in a day, either. Expect a time frame of five to twelve months to create your gown, depending on how many changes you make to the original design. Your fittings will be scheduled within this time frame, with the last fitting taking place about two weeks before your wedding date.

If you’re planning on losing weight before your wedding, make sure you tell your wedding dress maker at your consultation so she can take that into consideration. Once the dress is sized and fitted to you, changes can add time to the completion of the dress and take money away from your budget.

If you’re in a rush to get married and need a gorgeous gown sooner, most wedding dress makers will accommodate you. Expect to pay 15-25% more for the rush order. Buying a sample gown that the wedding dress maker has in stock and having it tailored to your requirements could be an option. It won’t be customized to your tastes, but it’s a step above an off-the-rack gown in a department store.

2) How do I pay?

Knowing how much you’ll be paying and when will help you settle your budget, if you have one. Schedules of payment may differ between different wedding dress makers, but in all cases expect to pay a deposit at your consultation and the balance when picking up your wedding dress.

Most designers work in thirds of the price of the completed gown – a deposit can be about a 1/3 of the total price. The next installment of 1/3 will be paid at the first fitting, while the balance will be paid at the second fitting.

3) Which design suits my body shape?

A lot of brides start dreaming of how they’ll look in their wedding dress when they’re little girls. Unfortunately, these girlish dreams often fail to take a short stature or wide hips into consideration.

Different body shapes don’t suit every style of dress. Your wedding dress maker will be able to help you choose the style of gown that will help to disguise faults and play up your strongest features so you are a vision of loveliness on your wedding day.

Some thoughts to consider:

Want to look taller?

A high waistline, such as an empire waist, helps to give the illusion of height as well as makes you look thinner.

More looking tall tips:

Detail around the hemline and neckline, such as embroidery or beadwork, draw the eye up and down the dress, making you look taller.

Want more curves?

Heavier fabrics such as satin or velvet help to add curves in all the right places. You can also opt for a wedding dress with a gathered waist, a wider bodice and narrow sleeves.

Want to look thinner?

Besides an empire waist you can try a Princess style gown or an A-line wedding dress.

Want to hide wide hips?

Try a flared or A-line skirt. You’ll also want to go for a gown with bodice detail such as embroidery or beading to draw the viewer’s eye up and away from your trouble zone.

Sheath, ball gown style, and mermaid style are great choices for a very slender bride.

4) What will I need at the first fitting?

In order to make sure your wedding dress will fit you properly, you need to have your accessories ready. At your consultation you’ll want to ask about lingerie and shoes, as your wedding dress maker will be able to suggest styles to choose from. They may also have these items for sale in their shop.

At the least, most wedding dress makers require that you have your shoes purchased so they can get an idea of hemline length. If you need to change your shoes for some reason you’ll want to inform the wedding dress maker so they can make the appropriate changes to your wedding dress.

5) How do I care for my wedding dress?

Most wedding dress makers will give you instructions on the care of your wedding gown so it remains pristine and perfect until you walk down the aisle.

Make sure you take your Matron Of Honor or Wedding Consultant with you to your last fitting so they can learn how to fasten your wedding dress to avoid needless fabric accidents like stepping on your train, or a lost button.

You’ll also want to follow the directions to preserve it afterwards, so you can hand it down to your daughter for her wedding.

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Locate the most stunning wedding dresses in Australia at Start Local. Anywhere in Australia, make sure that Start Local is your first visit. Start Local is Australia’s quickest expanding local search engine and business directory.

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