A long formal dress is suitable for a church wedding of a civil ceremony although many brides do prefer wearing a smart dress or tailored suit for the Registry office.
Some religions also frown on sleeveless dresses or low cut outfits and this will need to be taken into account too.
No matter which style you pick, remember that the back view is as important as the front, you will have you back to everyone during the ceremony.
Choose fabric that is resistant to crushing and creasing
Detachable trains that can be removed or hooked up are also wise.
Dress ideas and colours will need to be discussed with the groom without revealing all the details so that the colours and styles of the wedding party can be coordinated.

Look in the mirror

Be realistic and don’t try and aim for what Hollywood starlets look like on their wedding days, most of us don’t have personal trainer and chefs to look after us and help keep us in shape.
Don’t set your goal posts too close to the moon, you will only be disappointed and feel like a failure when your big day is meant to be a celebration of your love for one another.
Concentrate on the real you!
Think about what you normally wear, what colours suit you and which styles flatter you figure and most important, which outfits make you feel on top of the world, What type of ceremony and theme are you looking to create- traditional or relaxed, formal or informal.

Colours

White dresses are not obligatory these days, if you don’t feel white is your colour or will complement you then don’t wear it
Wedding gowns are becoming increasingly popular in cream, pale gold, pale blue, pale pink and red. There is also a trend these days to go for darker colours like burgundy or shades of green which is a beautiful idea for a Christmas wedding.

You will feel better in a dress that flatters your complexion or one of your favourites instead of going with white because it seems to be the norm. If wearing a bright coloured dress the details should be kept to a minimum.

The Right Style for your Shape

Choosing a style that flatters your shape can make a huge difference to how you look and also give you a huge confidence booster
Trying on dresses that either don’t suit your body or the ceremony is not only a waste of time but can also depress you and you might find that you give in a buy the wrong dress anyway. A sure fire way to put a dampener on your big day. Dresses that don’t cost a fortune are available at http://www.everyweddithing.co.uk along with all the accessories you will need.

Tall and Thin

 Choose a ball gown with a strapless, fitter bodice
 Bony shoulders or collar bones can will suit dresses with a higher neckline that are long and fitted
 If you feel you are too thin for this style consider that you can set of your height and leanness with some delicate detailed embroidery or beading.

Short with a fuller, feminine Figure

 Try an empire line dress which has a seam under the bust line and in the right fabric, the dress will flow instead of cling
 A Knee length dress will also look good, the longer dress will add height and give you a taller silhouette
 Sleeves should also be long but not too tight if considered.

Thick Waist

 Conceal a wide waist with a boned corset or wear a decorative jacket that falls just below the waistline
 Avoid fitted ballerina styles

Very Full Bust

 To draw attention away from the bust choose a dress with a long bodice or cowl neck
 Dresses with a natural waistline will draw attention to the bust area
 Pick a plain bodice and avoid low necklines
 Pick a detailed hem if you want to add a little something that you feel might be missing on the top

Full or Wide Hips

 Avoid bustles and ruffles or tiered dresses
 Most styles will look great but avoid tight styles around the hips
 Princess styles that are fitted on the top and flare slightly to the hem will help disguise larger hips
 Ball gown styles in simple fabrics will also draw attention away from the hips

Big bottom

 Avoid bows or back fastening ties
 Consider a light train from the top of the bodice or waist

Wide Shoulders

 Wide straps will narrow the appearance of your shoulders or cover then completely
 Draw the focus to a v-neckline
 Wearing a sheer wrap will also soften the effect
 Do not wear puffed sleeves, don’t even consider them!

Short or heavy legs

 Opt for a long dress
 Sheath styles which are straight but not too clingy will add height

Short Arms

 Three Quarter length sleeves will be flattering
 Do not go sleeveless

Chubby Arms

 Choose long simple sleeves that are not too tight
 Wear a bolero, shrug or wrap

Pregnant Brides

Maternity bridal wear is a fairly specialist item to fin and not offered at standard bridal shops. Having a bump does not equal frump. Pregnant brides can still have the dress of the dreams.
If you are having a baby or have just had a baby then take into account the fact that you are going to have long day, so go for comfort when choosing what to wear.
Don’t try to squeeze in a corset style dress in the size you used to be.
Your dress will have to allow for your changing shape and you will need to find a reliable dress maker for last minute alterations.
If you want to disguise the pregnancy go for a dress that is one size up and getting the bust altered. A big bouquet will also disguise the tummy area.
You do not need to sacrifice style to be comfortable, tight waists and figure hugging dresses with tightly laced bodices are not worth sparing a thought for as they will only torment you on your special day.
Focus on showing off your new curves with a focus on the shoulders or bust
Styles that are perfect for the pregnant bride are Empire lines, princess lines or A line dresses. These styles flare from under the bust, the empire line has a straighter skirt. A Chiffon overlay can be added to soften the lines of your dress or opt for a medieval style dress with long flowing sleeves.
Made to measure maternity bridal wear is available at www.everyweddingthing.co.uk at an affordable price.

The most breathtaking things in the lives of women are jewelry. No one could possibly explain satisfactorily, as to why women love jewelry so much. But, what no one can deny is, this one passion has single handedly made jewelry a big industry which generates an official demand for over 3000 tons of gold, worth $55 billions. Diamonds score another $50 billion figure with USA purchasing more than a quarter of it.

Historically, men and women have gone mad over gold and diamonds which can be tracked easily by tracking wars. Today, jewelry has many occasions and parts to adorn your body, thanks to innovative and revolutionary designing and manufacturing aided by sophisticated computers.

Jewelry Making
Common precious metals used in jewelry making are gold, silver and platinum. It is generally gold alloy which is used and the purity thus varies from 10K to 22K. While for platinum it is 900K to 950K. Silver ornaments are made from sterling silver.

Gemstones boost up the beauty and value of jewelry. All stones, diamonds, sapphires, rubies and the whole host of them are very popularly used all over the world with same fervor. Synthesized stones and semi precious stones are also equally popular as these provide unbeatably appealing looks.

Jewelry designing is a big industry which still has retained the same charm as olden times even with the onslaught of technology driven young kids. Jewelry design software makes things look so easy that with a few clicks you can design or redesign and preview your jewelry.

Where Do You Want To Wear Them
You have ornaments for whole body and occasions; so the question is where you don’t want to wear. Jewelry is available for head to toes to genitals and occasions like marriage to prayer to mourning; some are piercing types and some are just wearable. But the big question is whether all these are genuine; where and how to buy jewelry?

How to Buy

Buying jewelry can be safe if you are vigilant. Here are some tips.

1. Buy from reputed jewelers.
2. Prices vary every minute and as per designs, purity, number of facets and 4Cs (for gems).
3. Insist on invoice with accurate weight, carats and warrantee.
4. For gold jewelry, check for gold hall mark.
5. For gems look for manufacturers’ microscopic signature and insist on certificate issued by Gemological Laboratories.

Designer Monique Lhuillier's name seems to be on every celebrity's mouth these days. She is touted to be the next Vera Wang as most A-list celebs have a dress by Lhuillier. Professionally designing dresses and gowns since 1996, Lhuillier was brought to the limelight when then pop princess Britney Spears commissioned her as wedding gown designer. Lhuillier crafted a wedding gown with beads, beading and jewellery to the delight of Spears. This was followed by stints with other Hollywood celebrities and the name Lhuillier shone brighter than ever in the fashion industry. This is not surprising as the craftsmanship of Lhuillier is obvious in the beads, beading and jewellery incorporated in her every design.

The craftsmanship of Lhuillier is also seen in the price tags her dresses carry which the average career woman cannot afford. Bridal gowns cost $2,000 - $10,000 while evening dresses are priced a little lower. For those who want the look of a Lhuillier gown or dress, there are several things you must remember: A-line, full skirt, soft and fabrics, and exquisite beads, beading and jewellery. Beads used in a Lhuillier design range from Swarovski crystals and pearls to glass beads and rhinestones. More expensive stones are used in more expensive dresses.

Other designers also uses the A-line cut, full skirts, and soft fabrics in their designs but only Lhuillier uses beads, beading and jewellery in embroidering accent pieces in her designs. Most designers go extremely modern with minimalist themes or avant-garde couture. Others go super romantic with an overload of laces, ruffles, and tons of cloth. But with her skill in using beads, Lhuillier combines modernity with sentimentality, producing designs that are elegant, modern, romantic, and wearable.

Beads, beading and jewellery in the designs of Lhuillier are used differently. Some designs use the beads as a component of the fabric itself. An example is the white dress peppered with black beads worn by model Natalia Gotsii in the recent Lhuillier's spring collection. Julia Dunstall also wore a similar dress in light pink and low-neck cut.

Accents are also made of beads in a Lhuillier designs. Rarely does the designer use a bow or fabrics as an accents in her dresses. Beads, beading and jewellery find themselves embroidered into belts, necklines, and straps. Brooches are also made of beads and jewellery. In her spring collection, there were several designs with beaded brooches: dresses worn by Heather Marks, Anja Rubik, Cameron Russell, and Hye Park are outstanding examples.

If you love beads, beading and jewellery, invest in a Lhuillier gown. The classic design and ornate embroidery makes it a good investment. Lhuillier's craftsmanship and skill in beads, beading and jewellery ensures that the dress will never fade in style history. After all, good taste is always fashionable.

The little piece of stone that embellishes the ring finger is one of the most romantic, meaningful and significant amongst all the wedding paraphernalia.
We are talking about the dazzling diamond wedding ring set that comprises of a pair of diamond studded rings symbolising a bond between man and woman.

Typically, the woman’s ring is thinner whereas a man’s is broader and thicker. Sometimes the engagement and wedding ring sets are common and at other times the engagement and wedding rings maybe worn together or the first is replaced by the latter.

The band of a diamond wedding ring set is usually engraved inside with a short simple saying such as a promise to personalize and seal the symbolic bond represented by the ring.
The message is a personalized one that indicates the love and devotion between the bride and the groom.

Composition
Usually composed of a precious yellow gold alloy, a ring-set is combined with copper, tin, bismuth (for firmness) because silver and brass tend to stain the skin and corrode over time.
Stainless steel which is more durable than gold and can be easily be finished is popularly used as well.

Buying a diamond wedding ring set
Diamond wedding rings sets can be expensive but you can always keep an eye for those special deals available at various outlets. http://www.diamonds-ring.co.uk is one of the leading jewellery makers specialising in diamond wedding ring sets and offer customised solutions with reasonable rates. Subscribing to newsletters of online stores and being on the customer book of high street jewellery outlets will keep you in the loop when you really need to make that luxurious purchase.

At times, the cost of wedding bands is higher, especially when mounts are formed and diamonds are inserted, but the end result is priceless. The precious and pretty sparkler completely justifies the work, price and detail involved in the effort.

Diamond wedding ring sets serve as the ultimate, eternal promise of love and fidelity between man and woman through holy matrimony and beyond. Designed with intricacy and attention to detail and aesthetics, diamond wedding ring sets are chosen with immense love and thought due to their intended symbolism and purpose.

Retail crime is increasing and 86% loss of stock through crime or wastage was attributed to crime in 2005, according to a report released by the Centre for Retail Research in the UK in the latter part of that year.

The survey covered a large number of European retail businesses, who returned results that suggested that external burglary and theft by staff were the biggest causes of loss. These figures are rising and yet, in 2005, an estimated €7633m was spent on installing and updating security measures.

It’s clear that deterring crime is a major challenge for retailers all over the world and, as with many such challenges, a combination of approaches is often the best solution.

Suspicious behaviour

Learning to identify suspicious behaviour is a key part of crime prevention. Retail managers and staff should be properly trained so that they know what to look for in terms of body language, verbal questions and recognised shoplifting tactics. The more skilled staff are in spotting these behaviours, the more likely they are to raise the alarm or step in before a crime is committed.

Placing of stock and monies

Most retailers want to put their best goods in the window or near to the entrance, to attract shoppers into the store. Unfortunately, unprotected, high-value goods can also attract criminals, so use alternative methods of display that deter thieves from trying to steal the merchandise. Examples of this could be lockable cases for jewellery and visible electronic tags for clothing. Similarly, you should have a secure method of dealing with cash payments, including times when money needs to be taken from the till.

Monitoring systems

A highly visible and advertised CCTV system can also act as a deterrent to retail criminals. Strategically-placed cameras that can be easily seen by staff and customers, together with noticeable warnings that monitoring is in place and the consequences of attempting to steal from your store can be very effective. You can always take advice from retail security specialists or community police officers who can advise you on the best way to run a CCTV system.

You’ve seen the images of Audrey Hepburn in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, epitomising diamond allure and American chic. Well, Tiffany’s stylish jewellery has stood the test of changing times and this year celebrates 150 years of its journey through jewellery design and craftsmanship with a special exhibition at Somerset House. From the early 1830s, Tiffany’s had a humble existence as a souvenir and fancy goods store. In one its first catalogues, the range of French jewellery was tucked behind a host of goods; fine stationery, French perfumes and French sugar plums.

Right from the very start, Tiffany’s creator, Charles Lewis Tiffany was an innovator not just in jewellery design but the way it was sold and made sure that there was something for everyone, whether it was a parasol for $10 or a diamond brooch for $1000. Tiffanys started off keeping it simple; silver jewellery in understated styles.

By the 1830s, European designs had become hugely fashionable with a richness and diversity of jewellery styles that lasted throughout the nineteenth century. People started to travel more, there were international exhibitions and crafts of other countries were being recognised. Tiffany kept up with the trends particularly with the discoveries of precious materials throughout the century and consistently kept to designing silver jewellery.

In 1840, Tiffanys popularity escalated. Tiffany profited from the revolutionary turmoil in France when diamonds and jewellery were being sold at very good prices. By the nineteenth century, the emerging middle classes and the commercial elite wanted to enhance their status by owning possessions and looked to the aristocrats and royalty for inspiration. Tiffanys had a distinct American style but looked to Europe and the courts of Europe for patriotic items of jewellery like silver spurs with matching stirrups.

Womens fashion further influenced jewellery designs. In the 1850s, jewellery became bold and brassy and towards the end of the nineteenth century when the corset and lighter dress fabrics evolved, there were more lighter jewellery designs; diamond jewellery mounted in platinum with a move away from silver and gold.

After the first world war and the art deco period, women were no longer seen to follow rigid social code and conventions; they wore shorter skirts, applied makeup in public and smoked so jewels were schematic colour combinations.

For Tiffany the history of success has repeated itself. Tiffany of acclaimed international fame has never failed to stun the world with its great international exhibitions of innovative jewellery. The Tiffany brand has combined the aesthetic of European fashion with an original and distinctly American chic.

Even though diamonds have been the heart of the Tiffany, one of the exhibition highlights is the exquisite diamond and pearl designs of the 1870s. At this exhibition, ugly designs sit alongside beautiful ones, making this one of the greatest displays of wealth ever created.

The little piece of stone that embellishes the ring finger is one of the most romantic, meaningful and significant amongst all the wedding paraphernalia.
We are talking about the dazzling diamond wedding ring set that comprises of a pair of diamond studded rings symbolising a bond between man and woman.

Typically, the woman’s ring is thinner whereas a man’s is broader and thicker. Sometimes the engagement and wedding ring sets are common and at other times the engagement and wedding rings maybe worn together or the first is replaced by the latter.

The band of a diamond wedding ring set is usually engraved inside with a short simple saying such as a promise to personalize and seal the symbolic bond represented by the ring.
The message is a personalized one that indicates the love and devotion between the bride and the groom.

Composition
Usually composed of a precious yellow gold alloy, a ring-set is combined with copper, tin, bismuth (for firmness) because silver and brass tend to stain the skin and corrode over time.
Stainless steel which is more durable than gold and can be easily be finished is popularly used as well.

Buying a diamond wedding ring set
Diamond wedding rings sets can be expensive but you can always keep an eye for those special deals available at various outlets. http://www.diamonds-ring.co.uk is one of the leading jewellery makers specialising in diamond wedding ring sets and offer customised solutions with reasonable rates. Subscribing to newsletters of online stores and being on the customer book of high street jewellery outlets will keep you in the loop when you really need to make that luxurious purchase.

At times, the cost of wedding bands is higher, especially when mounts are formed and diamonds are inserted, but the end result is priceless. The precious and pretty sparkler completely justifies the work, price and detail involved in the effort.

Diamond wedding ring sets serve as the ultimate, eternal promise of love and fidelity between man and woman through holy matrimony and beyond. Designed with intricacy and attention to detail and aesthetics, diamond wedding ring sets are chosen with immense love and thought due to their intended symbolism and purpose.

According to a recent survey in the US, around forty percent of women thought men wearing jewellery other than a watch and a wedding band, exuded confidence. So guys, if you want to impress the ladies or you just want to impress, here’s a brief guide to what looks hip and cool in mens’ jewellery.

Mens’ earrings: You’ve seen photos of David Beckham wearing a pair of diamond earrings. England’s full-back footballer, Ashley Cole wears a diamond stud too. If you have quite a chiselled jaw line, a pair of studs or a single stud will set off the sparkle in your eyes.

Mens’ bracelets: Wearing a bracelet is probably the nearest you will get to revealing your feminine side. Let’s face it, when you’re used to wearing a watch, the ultimate masculine item of jewellery, you’re bold, know what you want in life and if you’re wearing a good functional watch, you have no excuse of not turning up to work or a hot date on time. Balance that with a chunky bracelet on your naked wrist could send confusing signals. The best option perhaps is wear a simple, silver bracelet. Johnny Depp wears a leather bracelet. Some guys wear power bracelets; like the string of dark grey beads for balance and sense of security. Girls are more likely to take note that you think beyond the realms of the practicalities in life and have the scope to enter the spiritual zone.

Mens’ necklaces: Seen Oceans Twelve, where Brad Pitt is wearing an understated silver necklace and cool cufflinks? Well a lot of men had gone in search of “Brad Pitt” pieces after seeing the film. If you have a short, wide neck it’s best to steer clear of necklaces that grasp the neckline. Better worn, is a long necklace which suits most men with different facial structures and necklines. Necklaces don’t just stop at the movies. Note that a few male tennis players competing at Wimbledon this year are sporting a little of their feminine side whilst scoring aces and running around in volleys.

Mens’ rings: Whether you want to bling it or keep it understated, wearing a ring for costume jewellery shows that you’re an urban metro sexual of the younger kind. Younger guys may prefer to wear rings on most of their fingers. The actor Ving Rhames from Pulp Fiction wears rings both on and off screen. More mature guys are more likely to be minimal and wear classically designed titanium pieces. And if you can splash out, a small diamond will set you apart from the crowd.

Nearly one kilogram of cut diamonds and other jewellery has been seized from a Russian tourist at Moscow's Domodedovo airport, according to Russian customs officials.

The officials said that the unnamed 35-year-old woman from Buryatia, Siberia was returning from the United Arab Emirates. X-rays of the woman's handbag revealed a valuable watch and when the woman and her bags were searched, more than 35,000 stones and several pieces of jewellery made from white-gold and diamonds were allegedly found. According to the officials, none of the items had been declared.

There were so many stones it took airport officials over 12 hours to count just half of them, The Associated Press reported. Estimates have valued a third of the stones and jewellery to up to USD1m. The woman apparently said she had bought the items for herself in the UAE and paid USD115,000 for them.

The Asia Society on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, in close proximity to UN Headquarters, launched two glittering shows devoted to the arts of India. In the Realm of Gods and Kings and When Gold Blossoms opened simultaneously in the fall of 2004 as part of the Society's special initiative to present the past, present and future of India. The exhibitions featured more than 200 works from two dazzling private collections, many on display for the first time. These jewels represent the Society's continuing effort to showcase unfamiliar artworks.

As Asia Society's new President and curator, Vishakha Desai writes in the Foreword to the handsome catalogue for Gods and Kings: "From its inception, the Asia Society has made a commitment to present the best of Asian art in ways that can open up broader vistas of Asian cultures. The exhibition, In the Realm of Gods and Kings, continues and strengthens our efforts to create innovative approaches to appreciating Asian cultures through artistic traditions."

Enter the darkened gallery rooms on the Society's third floor and be transported to two worlds--one earthly, the other divine. The focus is on brilliantly coloured miniature paintings from the 16th to the 19th century, culled from the collection of Cynthia and Leon Polsky and their donations to the Metropolitan Museum. The courtly pursuits of kings and princes, Mughal emperors and Hindu Rajput rulers, vie with the romantic goings-on of gods and gopi maidens, Krishna and his human paramour, Radha, to be specific. The reigning Muslim Mughal emperors of the 16th to early 17th century took their cues from their Western European counterparts and patronized artists who eschewed idealized portraits and paintings in favour of realistic, highly individualistic pictures rendered in documentary-style detail.

As the exhibit text explains, "until the 16th century, there are few realistic representations of Indian rulers or courtiers. However, the early Mughals showed a new and restless inquisitiveness about man and nature, focusing attention on the individual, the particular and the idiosyncratic," a clear echo of Renaissance tenets. The tiny portrait of A lady at a window (Mughal; ca. 1750) is a case in point. So-called window portraits, creating the illusion that the viewer can peer through a window, had characterized Mughal art since the 17th century, mimicking Renaissance portraits in their use of perspective to create the illusion of depth.

Royals and noblemen bathe, hunt and enjoy hookahs, wine and women with great abandon in the discreet gallery rooms. But the show only starts to gather steam, literally, when viewers step into the rarefied realm of Krishna, that divine dark-blue figure of Vishnu incarnate who cavorts extravagantly with Radha, a cowgirl (gopi). A succession of pages from several fabled illustrated manuscripts celebrates the god of love's amorous romps with Radha and forms the show's epicentre, radiating passion, heat and unabashed joy. See Krishna and Radha in a grove (illustration to a dispersed Bhagavata Purana series; Bikaner, Rajasthan; ca. 1600-10) and you'll get the picture. A beautiful maiden, presumably Radha, swoons at the approach of Krishna in the guise of a royal prince on horseback in another iconic work, Krishna as a prince approaching the village girls (see photo above). As Andrew Topsfield writes in the catalogue, "Krishna here is not only the devotional hero but a majestic monarch, commander of all he surveys".

The young gopis are all in love with Krishna and he makes the most of it. One day, he spies a gaggle of these young maidens bathing in a river. Feeling especially mischievous, he steals their clothes and climbs up a tree, forcing the blushing beauties to stand before him and beg for mercy. (See Krishna steals the gopis' clothes; illustration to a dispersed Bhagavata Purana, Book X, Ch. 22; Bikaner, Rajasthan; ca. 1600-10.) But the gopis, we learn from the show, "were not really upset with Krishna. They were delighted to be in the company of their darling."

exhibit is riddled with such gems, including a smattering of 20th century photographs by the late Raghubir Singh (1942-1999), in addition to traditional sculptures, ivory relief work and decorative objects. But no review would do the show justice without mention of another Hindu cult deity, Devi, the Great Goddess. A study in contradictions (she has a benign side but a quite menacing one as well), she had a strong following in the northern Punjab Hills region. Devi on the lotus (see photo) shows the bejeweled goddess serenely perched on an open lotus set against a fire-orange background; as the accompanying text explains, "in her hennaed right hand, she holds a lotus flower, the attribute of the bountiful goddess Lakshmi". The Tantric Devi manuscript series, originally some seventy pages in all, comprises illustrations of Devi in each of her multitudinous forms, accompanied by Sanskrit verses that give the word-picture. The Sanskrit verse that appears on the back of the splendid Devi on the lotus fashions her a "Mother of the three worlds ... adorned with variegated ornaments/In my heart I meditate on that goddess/that Absolute One."