When planning the total look for your wedding day, don’t forget the toes.  The toes are just as important in your wedding make-up as your fingernails or hair.  Even if you’re not planning on wearing open-toed shoes at the wedding, your husband will see them on your honeymoon.  And beautiful feet can very alluring!

If you do want to ’show a little toe’ during the ceremony, you may want to consider toe nail designs.  Although it does take some talent to be able to hand-paint these intricate designs, I’ve found that the toes are definitely easier to do myself than the fingernails.  So, if cash is a problem, give the ‘DIY’ approach to your feet.  You can match your toenails with your fingernails, or you can give them a totally different look.

Wedding themescan easily work into your designs as well as your wedding colors.  Snowflakes, poinsettias or wreaths fit well with Christmas & winter theme weddings.  If you have metallic colors in your wedding palette, try gold or silver glitter to really give your feet some sparkle.  You can even glue on some tiny rhinestones to add an elegant touch.

There is no denying that manicures and pedicures have become a billion dollar industry.  No mall, shopping center, or outdoor strip mall is complete without at least one nail salon.  Even if you’re not into fancy nail art, you should consider making an appointment at one of these salons in preparation for your wedding day.

The services offered can range from the basics to an all out nail design to fit your wedding theme.  My daughters got me into the ‘nail art’ thing after they were married, but they all wish they had known about it beforehand. 

Nail art is a simple way of expressing yourself, plus it has the added benefit of enhancing any theme your choose.  The hand-drawn designs can include butterflies or flowers for your spring & garden theme wedding, seashells or fish for your beach theme wedding, wild geometric patterns for a more contemporary theme, or even white with black bows trimmed in gold or silver glitter for your elegant evening wedding. 

Shopping for a wedding dress is normally the first thing that pops into one’s mind immediately upon becoming engaged.  However, that’s not the only dress you should be shopping for.  You need to also keep a lookout for a ‘drop-dead gorgeous’ going away outfit.  This is the dress that you can either leave the reception in or, if you prefer, change into before taking off on your honeymoon. 

Unlike your wedding dress, this dress is one that you’ll use over and over, so spending a little extra money on this special outfit is a lot more justifiable.  You want it to be one of those figure-flattering dresses that makes you look like you just dropped 10 pounds.  You may need to try on dozens of dresses before finding just the right one. 

Typical rules of thumb you may want to follow are:
*  Keep the hem of the dress around knee length.  This elongates the leg and gives a very sexy, sleek look.
*  V-necks are the most flattering neckline on most women, drawing attention to the face.
*  The a-line skirt shape is normally the best shape for most women’s body types. 
*  Correctly fitted undergarments are essential to look your best in any outfit.  Panty and bra lines can ruin even the sexiest dress.
*  Make sure the dress is fitted and accentuates the thinnest part of your body - your waistline.  This gives you the hourglass shape we all want. 
*  Don’t buy an over-sized or baggy dress and this actually makes you look heavier and shorter.
*  Choose a color or colors that bring out the natural glow in your skin and eyes.
*  A new pair of comfortable high-heels are a must for this new outfit.  The color of the shoes do not need to match, but they should coordinate well with the dress.
*  Accessorize with a clutch or handbag and some jewelry. 
*  Remember that tailoring can be a great solution to those little problem areas that need a little something.

Your going away or ‘running away’ dress is just as important as the wedding dress.  In fact, even after 33 years of marriage, my husband can still describe the dress I wore when we left for our honeymoon. 

After you’ve found that perfect dress, don’t forget to accessorize with the perfect jewelry.  You don’t need to go overboard here.  A matching necklace and earring set will accentuate your wedding gown nicely and you won’t look ‘over-done’. 

If you’ve chosen a more elaborate wedding dress, try to keep your jewelry on the simple side.  A small simple pendant and matching earrings of pearls, diamonds or crystals would work well and look very elegant.  The opposite is also true.  You can afford to ‘dress up’ your bridal attire with double strands of pearl or a ‘y-drop’ crystal necklace if your wedding dress is less ornate.  Pearls and crystals are also available in many colors so you can even coordinate your jewelry with your wedding color scheme.  The key is to not go overboard.  Youshould be the focus of everyone’s attention ~ not your jewelry.

There are five basic lengths of veils most often used for weddings.  Whichever style you choose, it should complement the style of your wedding gown.

They are:

Blusher Veil ~ very short, made long enough to just cover the face; can also be combined with a longer veil layer.

Shoulder Veil ~ worn with a short dress or informal gown or to emphasize detail on the back of the gown; can also be combined with a longer veil layer.

Waltz Veil ~ elbow length, worn with a short informal gown or for a formal daytime wedding.

Fingertip Veil ~between elbow length and floor length; worn with a long gown, for semi-formal or formal weddings.

Chapel Veil ~ floor length, worn with a long gown, for semi-formal or formal weddings.

Courtesy of Bridal Crafts Magazine 1997

Every bride loves shopping for her wedding gown.  Hours are spent trying on dozens of dresses in various styles until finally that perfect dress appears.  Great care is also taken in the selection of a veil and jewelry.  However, shoes seem to be another story.  Too many brides consider the style of their shoes and neglect to consider the comfort.  This can prove to be a tragic mistake.  The wedding ceremony may only last 30 minutes, but the reception can last for hours.  The last thing you want to be doing on your honeymoon night is soaking your feet!

When looking for the perfect wedding shoes, keep in mind that ‘comfortable’ does not have to be synonymous with ‘ugly’.  You want to be sure to take as much time in the selection of your shoes as you did your wedding dress.  Once you’ve found your shoes, spend a day wearing them around the house in order to break them in.  If you absolutely must have the painfully-pointed toes and the back-breaking 3 1/2 inch heels, then invest in an additional pair of attractive slip-on shoes or white flip-flops to wear at your wedding reception.  ‘Plant’ them under the wedding party’s table before the ceremony so you can discretely switch shoes during the reception.  Trust me; your feet will appreciate it!