Shopping for bridesmaid dresses on a budgetComments: (0)
If you’re a bride on a budget it can be difficult to dress yourself and two, or more, of your best friends. The last thing you want to do is cut somebody from your wedding party, particularly if you’re a close knit group of friends.
But there is an alternative to having specially designed dresses for the occasion. Shopping on the high street is one option, although it does run the risk of a guest showing up in the same outfit as your bridesmaids. However, this week we visited TK Maxx and felt inspired.
While it can be tough work trawling through the rails in a TK Maxx store the effort is often well rewarded. There are designer labels for a fraction of the price and they’re not in over supply.
A rule of thumb when shopping in TK Maxx is to buy on the spot, if you see something you like and leave it behind it might not be there when you go back.
They have a great range of dresses, shoes and accessories and while your bridesmaids are trying on their outfits you can have a quick sweep of the shop for some great honeymoon outfits.
Published:27/08/2010 - Category:
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tk maxxdressbridesmaidmaid of honourhoneymoonstylefashionbudget-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dublin's Fringe Fest takes a new look at brides and weddingsComments: (0)
This week I attended the launch of the 2010 Dublin Fringe Festival and was pleasantly surprised to see that there is a performance dedicated to brides and weddings.
Aideen McDonald’s production The Bridal Solution will take place on Saturday 18 September between 2pm – 4pm. However, if you’re scouting around usual bride-like jewellery haunts in the city you may well bump into her as she will spend the week as a busking bridezilla who will terrorise engagement shoppers. Aideen will be looking for collaborators as she searches for new wedding rituals free from traditional values. The week long project will culminate on Saturday 18 on Sycamore Street. For the weak among you, be warned the performance will involve a wedding dress and paintballing.
Whatever your plans are for your own wedding day this certainly promises to be an eye opening and alternate view of the tradition.
Catch Aideen’s performance at the Car lot on Sycamore Street (behind Olympia Theatre) on Saturday 18th September between 2 – 4pm. Tickets are free.
Published:20/08/2010 - Category:
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Yesterday I visited the beautiful Eden Manor bridal shop outside of Enniscorthy in Co Wexford. Set amid rolling fields, the premises with its pale pink exterior, pond and swinging love seat looks like a Barbie Dream House sprung up in rural Ireland.
Greeted by husband and wife team, Tom and Hilda Kavanagh, we were welcomed with open arms into this family-run business to view the shop’s range of new dresses in an in-house fashion show. Models statuesque and petite, slim and curvy showcased a beautiful and elegant range of gowns, from the simple and chic to the over the top, princess bride variety. It was refreshing to see a mix of beautiful body types on show as most brides don’t clock in as 6 foot, size 8 Amazonians and it’s nice to see that reflected in the design and cut of dresses.
The shop, originally located in Enniscorthy town, relocated to the new premises in the last two years and the Kavanaghs haven’t looked back since. With their clever mix of business savvy, personal charm and quality products on offer, I can see why Eden Manor is going from strength to strength.
www.edenbridal.netPublished:13/08/2010 - Category:
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dressstylefashion-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bikram Yoga the way of the Zen BrideComments: (0)
Even if you're not planning a wedding it can be a good idea to take some time out for yourself. So recently I took up Bikram Yoga.
Not usually the kind of person who can sit down quietly and still for longer than 10 minutes, unless of course I'm going to bed, I thought this would be a good way to take a break. And boy was I right!
With Bikram you work in a heated room so there isn't time to think about anything else. Your main focus is just on breathing and staying upright. It might sound like torture but you do get used to the heat.
Savasna is the dead body pose and is a chance to let your body recover during class. At first it seems impossible to stay still but the more often you do it the more you embrace it.
Not to mention that it's a great way to detox, is good for your physique and overall wellbeing too. This could be an ideal way to get in shape for the big day and to unwind too.
Published:06/08/2010 - Category:
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fitnessexerciserelaxationadvicetipsyoga-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Best in show for hen party dressesComments: (0)
Packing your bags for the hen weekend can be a stressful time. There’s almost as much pressure to look fab for the girls as there is for the wedding day. You simply can’t wear any old outfit you might throw on for an average Friday night out, and you can’t wear something you’ve been seen in ten times before. So we have found a couple of great looks that you can rock for the ultimate girly weekend.
- Bow dress, €62 (£53), Next
- Aari Dress, £65 (€99), Monsoon
- Gold Shift Dress, €45 (£40), A-Wear
- Crinkle Embellished Tie Back Dress, €94 (£75), Oasis
Published:30/07/2010 - Category:
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dressstylefashionhens party-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bare Minerals the barely there foundationComments: (0)
While on your wedding day you might have an emotional meltdown the last thing you want is for your make-up to do the same thing.
Bare Minerals Foundation goes on like a powder and sets beautifully. There’s no clumping in awkward spots and it blends in seamlessly with your natural complexion. The best thing about it is that it looks like you’re wearing little or no make-up at all.
A group of us tried the product, each with different skin types and while it looked different on each person it still managed to work with our individual skin tones.
The make-up is long lasting and you won’t need a retouch during the day.
If you suffer from skin outbreaks this is also a lightweight foundation so it requires very little to cover up blemishes and it allows skin to breath better than other foundation products.
A pot of Bare Minerals foundation will set you back €25. There’s also a specially designed brush to help the application of the make-up for €28, or you can try their Get started kits for €65 which includes three brushes and five make-up products.
Bare Minerals is available from BT2 Grafton St, Blanchardstown and Dundrum.
Published:23/07/2010 - Category:
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cosmeticbeautyadvicemake-up-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A great caricature for wedding day entertainmentComments: (1)
Knowing what my worst features are I don’t feel the need to have them amplified, hence I’ve always avoided caricaturists. However, at a recent event a friend and I were coaxed into sitting in front of one for a full three minutes each.
With an aperitif in hand I thought to myself this would be a whole lot easier after two or three drinks, and begged the poor artist to be kind.
Just like a doctor or a dentist can distract you from what’s about to happen Niall O’Loughlin had me laughing so much that I began to relax. Chatting about this and that I soon got into the swing of posing for my very own portrait. In fact, I actually quite enjoyed it.
And thankfully he was kind, generous in fact. I was given a great pout and a come-hither stare, if only I could replicate that in photographs!
This is a great idea for wedding party entertainment. Niall works so quickly that your guests could have their very own caricature done during the champagne reception.
Forget the wedding favours and provide guests with a very personal token from the day. It’s also a great way for guests to mingle as they chat about their likenesses and compare and contrast the pencil image to the real thing.
Caricatures by Niall O’Loughlin
Tel: 01 825 3919 or 087 644 2947
Published:16/07/2010 - Category:
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uniquealternativeentertainmentreception-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Monsoon's sizzling summer styleComments: (0)
You have spent months preparing for your big day: shaping up, exfoliating to within an inch of your life, moisturising and tanning. And the great news is that it doesn’t just last a day. Your fabulousness will last you right through your honeymoon and we’ve found some irresistible honeymoon wear to compliment your amazing self.
In fact we like these looks so much we might just have to buy them for ourselves, turn up the heat and pretend we’re on honeymoon.
Cubella Maxi Dress: €99, £65. Cubella playsuit: €70, £45. Penelope Playsuit: €78, £50
Published:09/07/2010 - Category:
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