Jenny's bridal gown is a big secret -- Ray
RAY D'Arcy's bride-to-be is keeping her wedding dress a closely guarded secret.
The Today FM DJ and his long-term partner Jenny Kelly are planning on tying the knot in 2013.
The couple, who have two children together, said that they want to keep their nuptials as relaxed and low-key as possible.
But Ray said that Jenny particularly wants to keep some of the wedding customs alive.
"It's very exciting but I'm 48 and Jenny is 40, and I think it will be very different to the sort of wedding a couple in their 20s would have," he told the Herald.
"It will be pretty laid back and will have our stamp all over it.
"We're cherry picking some traditions and disregarding others."
Ray, who famously took a stand against the "hierarchy of the Catholic Church" live on air this year, said that they haven't opted for a religious ceremony.
But he said that Jenny is particularly protective about some aspects of the planning.
"The ceremony definitely won't take place in a church, but Jenny is staying traditional when it comes to the dress," Ray said.
"She won't let me see the dress until the big day. I'm being kept in the dark about that.
"Anytime I go near her laptop she screams 'Don't look at that.'
"It's going to be a great day but we've still a lot to organise."
Ray said that both he and Jenny, who produces his radio show, are taking parenting in their stride with their second child Tom -- a little brother to Kate (6).
"I feel much more relaxed as a parent the second time round," he said. "I think the first time, you are on high alert.
"But when Tom was born in June, I remember the midwife said that all parents realise two things by the time their second baby is born.
"The first realisation is the baby does not break.
"The second is that every parent wishes their second baby could have been their first, because you know what you're dealing with."
But the Kildare man said that they don't plan on adding anymore to their brood.
"I don't think we'll have any more kids. When I was 18 I wanted nine children, I'm from a big family," Ray said.
"But then life took over and my career took over.
"We didn't have Kate till I was 42.
"And when Tom is celebrating his 21st I'll be 69. So I think we'll stay with just the two."
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wedding Gown Alterations
Wedding Gown Alterations
One of the first articles I wrote for anewscafe.com was about “Do It Yourself” wedding dress alterations. I wrote it in 2008, and every once in a while, I go through the archives to remind myself what I have written so I don’t repeat myself. (Yes, I’m THAT age.) Anyway, I still get questions from that article. I apologize for not answering them in a timely fashion, and I‘m always amazed that people are still reading my articles four years later!
I also get phone calls and emails from people who’ve read the article and have questions on specific problems. I got two of those calls just recently, both (coincidentally) from Washington state.
They were good questions and I figure if one person wants to know, there are probably others who are pondering the same problem, so I will attempt to answer the questions in this forum.
One question was about “blending” the neckline of a strapless gown when you take in the sides.
A strapless gown slants from front to back at the neckline (see photo). This means that when you take in the side seams, the back won’t match up with the front. The back is lower. The more you take in the dress, the lower the back will be. There are several ways to deal with this dilemma.
“Blending” or “truing” means to redraw the neckline seam, creating a smooth transition from front to back. When you stitch the layers of the neckline back together, you would start the seam at about the front dart and lower it until it meets the back panels at the side seams. If there is enough seam allowance, you can raise the seam line slightly as you meet the back panel. This method slightly reshapes the neckline and it works just fine if you are only taking in the seams from ½ to ¾ inch.
If you are taking in the sides more than an inch, you will have more discrepancy between the back and the front. In this case, you may not want to blend the seam because it can look too drastic.
You may want to consider taking the dress in on another seam, the center back, for instance. This would require removing the zipper, possibly buttons and loops, so examine the construction carefully before you decide to go this route. Also, pull the dress back at the zipper and make sure the rest of the dress looks good. The reason we usually do alterations on the side seams is that we want to keep the same balance back to front. It can look funny to have the side seam pulled back too far.
Another solution is to add some form of “dart” to the front side of the bodice. If the dress has ruching, you can “ruche” it or gather it more.
If a traditional dart will work with the design of the dress, it’s best to fit it directly to the bride. Do this before you take in the side seams.
At the first fitting, pin the side seams so that you have an idea of how much to take in. Take apart all the layers at the neckline. Pinch out the amount of the alteration and measure the discrepancy between the front and back. Then unstitch the side seams and have another fitting with the front and back “hanging loose.” You may want to baste the layers to each other for ease of handling. Pin the sides together at the neckline. Now fit your dart, keeping in mind how much you will need to pinch out in order to fit into the back bodice. Then pin your side seams again.
One of the first articles I wrote for anewscafe.com was about “Do It Yourself” wedding dress alterations. I wrote it in 2008, and every once in a while, I go through the archives to remind myself what I have written so I don’t repeat myself. (Yes, I’m THAT age.) Anyway, I still get questions from that article. I apologize for not answering them in a timely fashion, and I‘m always amazed that people are still reading my articles four years later!
I also get phone calls and emails from people who’ve read the article and have questions on specific problems. I got two of those calls just recently, both (coincidentally) from Washington state.
They were good questions and I figure if one person wants to know, there are probably others who are pondering the same problem, so I will attempt to answer the questions in this forum.
One question was about “blending” the neckline of a strapless gown when you take in the sides.
A strapless gown slants from front to back at the neckline (see photo). This means that when you take in the side seams, the back won’t match up with the front. The back is lower. The more you take in the dress, the lower the back will be. There are several ways to deal with this dilemma.
“Blending” or “truing” means to redraw the neckline seam, creating a smooth transition from front to back. When you stitch the layers of the neckline back together, you would start the seam at about the front dart and lower it until it meets the back panels at the side seams. If there is enough seam allowance, you can raise the seam line slightly as you meet the back panel. This method slightly reshapes the neckline and it works just fine if you are only taking in the seams from ½ to ¾ inch.
If you are taking in the sides more than an inch, you will have more discrepancy between the back and the front. In this case, you may not want to blend the seam because it can look too drastic.
You may want to consider taking the dress in on another seam, the center back, for instance. This would require removing the zipper, possibly buttons and loops, so examine the construction carefully before you decide to go this route. Also, pull the dress back at the zipper and make sure the rest of the dress looks good. The reason we usually do alterations on the side seams is that we want to keep the same balance back to front. It can look funny to have the side seam pulled back too far.
Another solution is to add some form of “dart” to the front side of the bodice. If the dress has ruching, you can “ruche” it or gather it more.
If a traditional dart will work with the design of the dress, it’s best to fit it directly to the bride. Do this before you take in the side seams.
At the first fitting, pin the side seams so that you have an idea of how much to take in. Take apart all the layers at the neckline. Pinch out the amount of the alteration and measure the discrepancy between the front and back. Then unstitch the side seams and have another fitting with the front and back “hanging loose.” You may want to baste the layers to each other for ease of handling. Pin the sides together at the neckline. Now fit your dart, keeping in mind how much you will need to pinch out in order to fit into the back bodice. Then pin your side seams again.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
'Gossip Girl'Finale: Blair & Serena’s Wedding Dresses Revealed
Back in October, we were able to get a sneak peak at the unique wedding gowns of Blair and Serena, played by Leighton Meester and Blake Lively, leading us to believe there would be back-to-back weddings — however, that wasn’t the case. Blair and Chuck, (played by Ed Westwick), tied the knot first while Serena and Dan, (played by Penn Badgley), followed in their footsteps five years later.
The events that occurred during the Gossip Girl series finale were just as shocking as the wedding gown choices. Pale blue for Blair and metallic gold for Serena, certainly not your typical wedding dresses — but that didn’t stop them from looking absolutely stunning.
However, the police did crash the wedding to take Chuck away for questioning Bart’s murder– not the typical ideal wedding. Luckily, he did not commit the crime, and he was able to carry on with his beautiful wife. Let’s be real– nothing was typical about their wedding, including Blair’s dress. Gal pal, Serena, also opted for an extravagant, unique dress.
Blair’s long-sleeved, pale blue boatneck Elie Saab dress was decorated with romantic embellishments. The column gown was gorgeous and worked so well with her updo — and what would a Blair Waldorf wedding be without a signature headband?
Serena, on the other hand, opted for a bolder dress. She really made a statement with her metallic and white strapless Georges Chakra Couture gown. From the full tulle skirt to the low back, the look was totally over-the-top — and we wouldn’t expect anything less from the blonde bombshell!
Throughout the six seasons of the show, these girls have rocked the cutest outfits and latest trends. Their dress choices for the final episode really were just icing on the cake. While they each had a very distinct sense of style, they both made bold moves and absolutely worked it. Do you dare to wear something similar to one of these dresses at your own wedding? Let us know — and tell us which wedding dress YOU liked best!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Any redress when wedding gown vanishes from storage?
Any redress when wedding gown vanishes from storage?
Q. After my wedding eight years ago, my friend dropped off my dress for me at what was then Esplanade Cleaners. After the store was sold, I checked and a record of my dress was still in the computer system. When my niece recently got engaged, she wanted to use the dress for her wedding. I couldn’t find the receipt and called the store only to find that they didn’t have any dresses in storage. I was told that they didn’t retain any inventory and that I needed to track down the former owner, who moved out of state. I should have been given the chance to pay the storage fee in full and retain the gown. Now, it’s gone. Do I have any redress at all?
Jacqueline Church
Boston
A. Your situation is unfortunate — and complicated. Nothing really went right, and a whole lot went wrong.
Clothing cleaning and storage arrangements tend to be a bit more formal and shorter-term than what happened here.
Barbara Anthony, who heads the state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, says the arrangement with the former business didn’t make much sense. Typically, you’d pay to clean a garment and either pick it up or arrange to have it stored for a period of time for a nominal fee. “I wouldn’t expect that they’d be holding on to it for years.”
At dry cleaners and shoe repair shops, it is common practice to either post or put on a receipt the period of time your items will be held before you risk them being removed from their inventory. That is usually a matter of months, not years.
Then, when the business changed hands, it further clouded a murky situation. Without a receipt, it’s not even clear what leverage you would have over the previous business owner, Anthony said.
In a typical situation, with clothes there for a short time, “more than likely, if it’s an ongoing business, you’d get all of your things back and the transfer of ownership would not affect it,” Anthony said.
Q. After my wedding eight years ago, my friend dropped off my dress for me at what was then Esplanade Cleaners. After the store was sold, I checked and a record of my dress was still in the computer system. When my niece recently got engaged, she wanted to use the dress for her wedding. I couldn’t find the receipt and called the store only to find that they didn’t have any dresses in storage. I was told that they didn’t retain any inventory and that I needed to track down the former owner, who moved out of state. I should have been given the chance to pay the storage fee in full and retain the gown. Now, it’s gone. Do I have any redress at all?
Jacqueline Church
Boston
A. Your situation is unfortunate — and complicated. Nothing really went right, and a whole lot went wrong.
Clothing cleaning and storage arrangements tend to be a bit more formal and shorter-term than what happened here.
Barbara Anthony, who heads the state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, says the arrangement with the former business didn’t make much sense. Typically, you’d pay to clean a garment and either pick it up or arrange to have it stored for a period of time for a nominal fee. “I wouldn’t expect that they’d be holding on to it for years.”
At dry cleaners and shoe repair shops, it is common practice to either post or put on a receipt the period of time your items will be held before you risk them being removed from their inventory. That is usually a matter of months, not years.
Then, when the business changed hands, it further clouded a murky situation. Without a receipt, it’s not even clear what leverage you would have over the previous business owner, Anthony said.
In a typical situation, with clothes there for a short time, “more than likely, if it’s an ongoing business, you’d get all of your things back and the transfer of ownership would not affect it,” Anthony said.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
PromDressesCity.net Unveils New 2013 Collection of Affordable Prom Dresses
Prom is one of the most important nights of a young girl’s life. It’s a significant rite of passage, and it means a great deal to the young people involved. Looking good is crucial, and that can make choosing a prom dress very emotionally fraught. It’s an important decision to make in preparation for the big night.
One prom dress website that is getting a lot of attention recently is PromDresses. They have built up an incredible reputation for selling beautiful prom dresses with designs that will delight daughters and a price tag that will please parents.
The PromDresses website works with a slick e-commerce interface that makes it incredibly easy to find the right dress. Dresses are broken into categories, and there is an intuitive search function to assist shoppers when navigating through the range. Site visitors can search by price, designer, product name, description, and even the weight of the dress in order to tailor it to a specific climate.
There are a huge number of different dresses on the site, in a wide variety of different styles, colors and materials. There is absolutely no shortage of choice. The dresses are priced extremely affordably, with a wide range of price points. There are many beautiful dresses even in the very lowest price bracket.
Each dress is available in a wide range of sizes. The dresses are displayed with several high resolution photographs on the site, and each dress is described in details, outlining the materials used and any special detailing.
A spokesperson for the website said: “Finding the right prom dress isn’t easy. There is so much pressure in high school to look as good as possible that something as simple as choosing a dress can become an absolute ordeal. However it shouldn’t be like that. Finding a beautiful dress to wear should be fun. Our website is designed to make it as fun as possible. We have an absolutely huge selection of prom dresses, something to suit every style, figure and budget. Any girl is sure to find something on our site that she will love, and look absolutely fantastic in. We’ve just unveiled our new collection of prom dresses, 2013 is looking to be the best year ever!”
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
December is Wedding Dress Planning Season, Says Jovani
ovani has a friendly word of warning for brides-to-be who are soon to be selecting from countless wedding gowns that can be found online and in stores. There's more to December than the holidays, and with so many engagements being made in the winter months, now is the time to start choosing from among the world's most beautiful wedding dresses. While most people are currently obsessing about holiday shopping, those of us lucky enough to have a nuptial event ahead of us have even bigger things on our minds - like where to find the loveliest designer wedding dresses. Jovani would like to remind future brides that now is the time to start seriously contemplating their choice of a dress for the biggest night of their lives.
Your days of worrying about prom dresses may be behind you, but maturity brings its own fashion crises. Jovani wedding dresses blend the best of traditional wedding styles with the most exciting aspects of contemporary and classic couture. Whether your desire is an ensemble recalling some of the most exciting and sexy looks of the early and mid-20th century, or something entirely contemporary, Jovani has a wedding dress just for you. Sleeveless and strapless choices are available and many Jovani dresses also feature beading, organza, and the long trains that really make a bride look and feel like a fully-fledged goddess.
The months before a wedding can be among the busiest of your life and there's no reason to wait when it comes to selecting the most important dress of your life. There will be scads of details to consider and arrange, so getting your choice of dress nailed down early will be a big help.
Of course, it's not exactly drudgery to go about picking out your wedding dress. Everyone knows it's tradition that the bride is the most beautiful woman in the room at any wedding; even so, you want to be just a little bit more memorably beautiful than all the other brides you and your guests have seen. Jovani is one design house that is more than up to the challenge with wedding dresses that push the envelope and designers that are not afraid to innovate. That's why Jovani is such a favorite of celebrities, trendsetters, and beautiful fashionistas the world over.
Whichever type of dress appeals to you among Jovani's many astonishing choices, now is the time to get busy making your selection. Before you know it, the holidays will be over and your wedding will be just a matter of a few months - or weeks away - and you want to have as many of your plans taken care of as humanly possible. Your wedding dress is perhaps the single most important choice you'll make regarding your wedding. You don't want it to be reduced to a last minute detail.
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/12/11/4478209/december-is-wedding-dress-planning.html#storylink=cpy
Thursday, December 6, 2012
LOL! Mario Lopez Says His Bride "Looked Like a Disney Princess With a Little Latin Flavor"! Wanna See Her Wedding Dress?
LOL! Mario Lopez Says His Bride
"Looked Like a Disney Princess With a Little Latin Flavor"!
Wanna See Her Wedding Dress?
Courtney Mazza—aka, the new Mrs. Mario Lopez—definitely knocked her groom's socks off when she walked down the aisle. "I loved her dress. It was gorgeous," he told Us Weekly. She looked like a Disney princess with a little Latin flavor. [It was] beautiful, classy, [but] still sexy."
Courtney and Mario said "I do" in Mexico on Saturday. Her wedding dress was a modified version of the Ines Di Santo Lissome, from her fall 2012 runway show. Here it is on the runway.
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