White wedding dress, something borrowed, something blue? What does it all mean?Read on and see why being 36 years in the special occasion, couture fashion business we at Andrea’s Fashions have learned  a thing or two about the history of weddings…

WEDDING FACTS…

Before Queen Victoria started the Western world’s white wedding dress trend in 1840 women wore their “best dress” when they got married.

In Asia, wearing robes with embroidered cranes symbolizes fidelity for the length of a marriage.

Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Brides have worn veils ever since.

On her wedding day, Grace Kelly wore a dress with a bodice made from beautiful 125-year-old lace.

In Japan, white was always the color of choice for bridal ensembles — long before Queen Victoria popularized it in the Western world.

Most expensive wedding ever? Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia’s wedding cost was a mere $78 million. 1000 guests enjoyed wedding festivities over five days. A close second is the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton which cost an estimated $70 million and change.

In Korea, brides wear bright hues of red and yellow on their wedding day.

“Something old” symbolizes continuity with the past.

In earlier days in Denmark, brides and grooms traditionally cross-dressed to confuse evil spirits.

The “something blue” symbolizes purity, fidelity, and love.

FOOD FAMILY & FOLKLORE

In Egypt, the bride’s family traditionally does all the cooking for a whole week after the wedding to allow the couple to relax and enjoy their new marriage.

In South Africa, the parents of the bride and groom traditionally carried fire from their hearths to light a new fire in the newlyweds’ hearth.

The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome where guests broke a loaf of bread over a bride’s head for fertility’s sake.

Traditional tiered wedding cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over.

Queen Victoria’s wedding cake weighed 300 pounds.

Legend says single women will dream of their future husbands if they sleep with a slice of groom’s cake under their pillows.

An old wives’ tale: If the younger of two sisters marries first, the older sister must dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never having a husband herself.

BE THE WEDDING KNOW-IT-ALL…

In Celtic, Hindu and Egyptian weddings the hands of a bride and groom are literally tied together to demonstrate the couple’s commitment and their new bond as a married couple. This is where the phrase “Tying the Knot” comes from.

The custom of proposing on one knee dates back to the days of knighthood and chivalry when it was customary for a knight to dip his knee in a show of servitude to his mistress. The knight would kneel before a tournament and wait for “his” lady to toss him her ribbon or colors, as an indication of her favor

The word “bride” comes from old English for the name for “cook,” while the word groom comes from “male child.”

The Roman goddess Juno rules over marriage, the hearth, and childbirth, hence the popularity of June weddings.

The bride stands to the groom’s left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.

On average, 1.5 million couples marry each day in the United States.

Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve are the two busiest days to get hitched in Las Vegas

The Catholic tradition of “posting the banns” to announce a marriage originated as a way to ensure the bride and groom were not related

Stag / Bachelor parties were first held by ancient Spartan soldiers who said goodbye to their single days with a wild party.

There are many more wedding traditions and customs…share yours with us at Andrea’s Fashions so we can add them to our (ever-growing) list!

LADY LUCK?

Ancient Romans studied pig intestines to determine the luckiest time to marry.

Hindu tradition states rain on your wedding day is good luck.

Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day for good luck.

Middle Eastern brides have henna painted on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eye.

Peas Please! Peas are thrown at Czech newlyweds instead of rice.

A Swedish bride puts a silver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure that she’ll never do without.

A Finnish bride traditionally went door-to-door collecting gifts in a pillowcase, accompanied by an older married man who represented long marriage.

Moroccan women take a milk bath to purify themselves before their wedding ceremony.

In Holland, a pine tree is planted outside the newlyweds’ home as a symbol of fertility and luck.

According to Greek culture, if you put a sugar cube in your love the sugar will sweeten your union.

Find a spider in your wedding dress?  No worries…the English believe a spider found in a wedding dress means good luck.

In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the “best day” to marry.  Interestingly though, Monday is considered the best day for wealth and Tuesday the best day for health.

Ever wonder where “carrying the bride over the threshold came from?  Tradition states that the groom should carry the bride across the threshold to protect her from the evil spirits below.

Although to most of us the most popular day of the week for weddings is Saturday—according to English folklore it is actually the unluckiest day for a wedding.

…IT RINGS A BELL…

A sapphire in a wedding ring signifies marital happiness.

Bad luck because it is shaped like a tear, pearls should never be part of a wedding ring.

One of history’s earliest engagement rings was given to Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII…she was two years old at the time!

17 tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year.

Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was thought that the main vein in that finger led directly to the heart.

About 70% of brides worldwide wear the traditional diamond ring on the fourth finger of their left hand.

Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the fifteenth century.

Snake rings dotted with ruby eyes were popular wedding bands in Victorian England because the coils winding into a circle symbolized eternity.

Aquamarine represents marital harmony and is said to ensure a long, happy marriage.

Want some more? Check out more Fashion Facts here but not before you do tell us your family’s customs…!

Day-to-Day Wear: Ornamented and cuff bracelets, big, bold and collar necklaces are the latest trends in jewelry and complement your outfits for both work and play.  It’s important to remember to not overdo it; if you opt to go for heavier chains or pendant necklaces remember do not add additional pieces that may make you look over accessorized and take away from your outfit.  Cuff bracelets go great with all outfits and can complement a pair of classic earring hoops—the result is simple and elegant.   Another trend that is turning heads is vintage and antique brooches; mixing old pieces with new pieces is another way to pull together any outfit.

Special Occasion Gowns: Typically we do not recommend pairing necklaces with your special occasion gowns. Necklaces tend to shorten the neck area and take away from the dress.  Additionally women that may be self-conscious of wrinkles or freckles by not wearing a necklace you will take the attention away from the chest area and instead put the focus on the beautiful gown.

Long, dangled, elegant earrings are great picks for any special occasion dress. If hair is pulled up they are a great way to elongate your neck; alternatively if your wear your hair in half-way pin-up or completely down they can help polish a classic look.

If looking to implement a bracelet with your earrings we recommend simple Bangle bracelets in silver, gold, rose or oxidized metals to make a statement or elegant pearls to make a classic look. Remember when selecting your jewelry for the season, opt for transitional pieces that you can wear this winter and hang on till next summer.

What are your favorite jewelry trends?  Drop us a line in the comments and let us know! And before the fall and winter season gets into full swing make sure to stop into Andrea’s Fashions where you will find the choice jewelry and wardrobe pieces that will make you look and feel your best throughout the season. 

“I came into the first meeting for the wedding, post-engagement,” he said. “And I was given this official list of 777 names — dignitaries, governors, all sorts of people — and not one person I knew”

“They said: ‘These are the people we should invite.’ I looked at it in absolute horror and said: ‘I think we should start again.’”

Whether you are planning a Royal Wedding or an intimate affair before you start verbally inviting people, it’s a good idea to sit down with your fiancé and the family members that may be helping with the wedding costs (parents, grandparents etc.) and answer some questions.  Here are Andrea’s Fashions tips:

How do you envision your wedding?

Are you and your fiancé in agreement on what size wedding you both want?

Who are the most important people (immediate family, close friends) that you could never imagine them not sharing your day with you?

Once you have the basics out of your way you need to delve into the details. All of the below points should be taken into consideration when planning your wedding guest list. Remember that this is your big, special, non-drama-filled day…planning and expressing your needs is the key to its success!

You are NOT Welcome

Sometimes the process of elimination of guests is easier in the beginning planning stages. Communicate with your fiancé and the people who are helping pay for the wedding on who is absolutely not welcome due to budget restraints or sometimes personal preferences.

Here are some persons to consider when planning:

 Plus+ One Guests: If you are funding your own wedding, providing food and drink for a lot of Plus+ One guests can get expensive. Take into consideration the people who are single and how many additional people you would be willing to invite to your wedding.

 Exes:  It should go without saying but maybe your fiancé needs a refresher in ex-significant others in attendance to your wedding. Of course there is always the exception to the rule but we can safely say that 99.999% of the time exes are off the guest list unless otherwise discussed with your fiancé. This is definitely a savings in your budget and drama.

 Children:  This is quite a hot-topic on if children are invited or not but plan early if they are not going to be included in the festivities. If you don’t want children at the reception but are kind enough to provide childcare remember this is an added cost.

 Business Acquaintances: Whether they are your acquaintances, your fiancés, your parents, your future in-laws or in Prince William’s case Bucking ham Palace… it’s important to know “when-to-say-when”.  If parents are paying for the wedding in full and want to tack on another 100 guests that you do not know try to find a compromise to make everyone happy. Maybe cut back the number of guests or opt to make the ceremony private and reception open to all. Whatever the case doing like Prince William and nipping it in the bud early is the only way that you will be able to start putting your drama-free, dream wedding together.

Pay Up  

If your parents, family members or Great Britain are footing the bill for your wedding you should pay mind to how many people they are thinking of inviting. Some of these topics may be sensitive but if they want to invite 200 extra people and you want an intimate wedding. Remember…from the get-go you better clear the air before the plans get away from you.  If you are paying for the entire wedding yourself it is necessary to still take into consideration your family’s requests for specific guests; however you will be able to negotiate more in your favor– since you are after all paying for the wedding.

 Bottom Line

The number one thing you need before you start any wedding planning is a budget. The second thing is a level-head; be realistic, don’t shoot for caviar if you are on a macaroni and cheese budget.  You and your fiancé should agree on the points that are most important to you.  Perhaps you are like Prince Williams and price is no object but you just want to be surrounded by your close family and friends.  Most likely you are like the rest of the population (not Prince Williams) and you decide what is most important to you according to your resources. Remember that a wedding is an investment that comes from you, your fiancé and your family–negotiate and compromise but most importantly don’t lose sight of the most important day of your life.

What are your thoughts? If someone is paying for your wedding do they have free reign of who to invite?

Soft Colors Although fall and winter colors should not be as bright as your spring and summer wardrobe– that doesn’t mean you have to go for only black, grey and brown.  Remember to choose the colors that you like but make sure it is more subdued rather than flashy.  Also consider soft hues such as cantaloupe, spindrift and honeydew.

Bright Details   Want to brighten up your soft colors? Brighten up your outfit with accessories like scarves, bags, clutches and/or hats. A simple outfit can turn spectacular with a great pair of boots or an accent scarf. Always remember to keep balance; too much color will make you miss the mark altogether.

Color Me Burgundy

If you want color that makes a statement, Andrea’s recommend burgundy as a great fall and winter choice. This color is elegant and looks good on just about everyone. If you aren’t a burgundy fan try Burberry purple to spice up your fall and winter look.

Jungle Fever  Wild prints continue to be hit this season. This fall and winter choose from dresses and separates to overcoats, accessories and footwear. There are many options to choose from so make sure to tame the look with neutrals like black when wearing a leopard piece or compliment a burgundy outfit with a zebra or giraffe printed scarf. Remember when it comes to animal prints less is more. Since the print itself will be the focus of the outfit adding too much print with accessories will be fashion overload.

Midnight Blue Midnight blue is a classic and works great for the office, your next special event and every-day wear.  Striking, timeless and classic this color will turn heads when worn appropriately and is easily interchangeable with your neutral pieces.

Be Neutral   It’s quite simple— neutrals will never go out of style. They are versatile, fashionable and easily paired with other neutrals or colors. Black is classic, elegant and most of all slimming. While white plays a spectacular contrast with black, with other colors or just perfect without any other colors.

Did we miss any? Let us know your favorites in the comments below and we will add them to our list!

Are you versatile in your wardrobe selections or stuck in the same style selections?

Lopes is the first winner the pageant has ever selected from her country. After she beat 88 other competitors from around the world, she was crowned by last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete, from Mexico.

From all of us at Andrea’s Fashions congratulations Leila Lopes! After watching your amazing poise and gracious response to the final question we see that you are indeed beautiful inside and out!

In Lopes’ final question she was asked about what physical trait she would change if she could. Her response was what ultimately won over the judges: “Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me, and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Lopes said. “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family, and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

Tell us….did you watch the Ms. Universe 2011? Do you think that Lopes was a good selection for Ms. Universe 2011?

Case and point? Newly released line:  Missoni for Target.

Earlier this morning, the highly awaited release of Missoni for Target launched online but obviously they were not prepared for the amount of traffic the Missoni for Target line would bring since it would appear that the entire Target website went down. By 8am EST Harlem, Brooklyn AND Manhattan were sold out of Missoni’s for Target.

While the release of the Missoni zig-zag sweaters ($44.99), shoes ($29.99) and scarves ($19.99) were busy bringing down the site the real troopers were the Fashionistas that drove to stores and helped clean out any speck of Missoni for Target inventory.

Although it would appear that the site has been working intermittently throughout the afternoon many Missoni items are now completely out of stock. If you are a fans of the zig-zag ballet flats  unfortunately you will have to scour places like e-Bay where the $29.99 Target priced shoes are selling for $129.00 or invest in a pair of Missoni’s upscale line which sell on Amazon for a mere $435.

Unfortunately it looks like Target has and will continue to be addressing the Missoni Crash for the better half of the day and beyond.  Hypothetically speaking let’s say that they (and you)  recover from this mishap…what happens the next time? Will you and all Fashionistas around the country still set your alarms or camp out for big events like this or stay away from the potential madness?

Drop us a comment and let us know if you think it was worth all the madness….but MOST importantly let us know if you were one of the lucky ones to get your hands on a some Missoni for Target goodies–and what did it take to get them??

If the latest German Royal Wedding of Prince Georg Frederich of Prussia and Princess Sophie von Isenburg was the German affair of the century then why did they skimp on fashion?

From the bride, Princess Sophie, the groom Prince Georg and all the wedding guests here is a glimpse of what some might call a Royal Fashion Disaster. What went wrong??