Mother of the Bride

• To help the Bride and Groom choose the Wedding venue and/or place for the Reception.
• To help the Bride choose her Wedding dress, accessories and under-garments.
• Compile and submit names and addresses of your family and friends to be included on the master guest list.
• Determine what the bride wants you to wear on the big day and find a gorgeous dress. Make sure you consult with the groom's mother on what you two will be wearing. You'll both feel more comfortable if your elegance is in sync!
• Attend the Rehearsal dinner and Bridal Shower (or even help to organise them).
• In a Christian wedding, be seated in the first pew directly before the ceremony and leave the chapel first after.
• Remind the bride often how special she is and that she'll be the most beautiful bride in history. As her Mum, I suppose I don’t need to remind you of this.

Maid of Honour

• Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It's the Maid of Honour's job to direct the other maids through their duties. They need to help with all bridesmaids getting their dresses, go to dress fittings, and find the right jewellery. Also provide them with the relevant information on all pre-wedding parties. 
• Help shop for dresses (the bride's and the bridesmaids'). And the Maid of Honour pays for her own entire wedding outfit (including shoes). 
• Offer to help the bride with pre-wedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing the wedding colours and the Wedding cake. 
• Keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (or delegate a bridesmaid to handle this). 
• Organise the Bride’s Hen Party and make sure everything arranged is to the taste of the bride (if not make sure she has the humour to take it on the chin!)
• Make sure that all bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done, get to the ceremony on time, and have the correct bouquets.
• Arrange the bride's train and veil before the ceremony begins and just after she arrives at the altar. The Maid of Honour might also need to help her with the bustle and train for her to dance with ease at the reception.
• Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man.

The Bridesmaids

• Find Bridesmaids' dresses, shoes, jewellery, and other accessories (break in your shoes before the wedding day -- this can minimize slipping, blisters, and aching feet.)
• If the Maid of Honour isn't already handling this task, keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (so that the bride/couple can write thank-you notes); maintain RSVP lists.
• Serve as spare hostesses at the reception by introducing guests, making sure they know where the bar is located, and inviting them to sign the guest book.
• Hit the dance floor when the music kicks in. Dance with groomsmen during the formal first-dance sequence. Also, be on the lookout for toe-tapping guests who might need encouragement and/or a dance partner.
• Be a real trooper, no matter how stressful the day becomes! Try not to complain about the bridesmaid dress, as this is clearly what your friend wants for her big day.
• Provide plenty of emotional support during the planning and on the wedding day.

Well there you have it! Hopefully I have outlined the main job roles for you to consider, and that it helps to take the pressure off of my blushing Brides to be.  After all, you can get by with a little help from your friends!

Lots of love and Wedded Bliss

Some places have named this day ‘Bachelor’s Day’ for the same reason.  On this day, a man is expected to pay a penalty for refusing the proposal on the Leap Day, which would range from £1 to a full silk dress depending on the type of proposal, the length of their relationship, or even the status of the woman in question.  European countries hold their own traditions for this day.  In Denmark, if refusal of proposal occurs, the man is expected to send the woman 12 pairs of gloves.  This is so that the woman in question is able to wear these to hide the embarrassment of not wearing an engagement ring.  In Finland, tradition states that the man is to buy the woman fabrics for a skirt if he refuses, and in Greece it is considered unlucky to marry in a Leap Year at all.

So there you have it, Ladies!  Whether you decide to pop the question this year or not, I hope you have a wonderful engagement, and a joyous Wedding Day.

Lots of Love and Wedded bliss

• First and foremost, beware of certain DJ’s.  There’s nothing worse than discovering on the day that the guy in charge of your entertainment plays the wrong kind of music and proceeds to mumble through every track anyway.   The best way to avoid this is to present a list of your favourite songs and note their reaction.  If they are happy to comply, request to see a sample of the set list he has comprised for you and make amendments a week before.

• When selecting tracks for the night, either for your DJ as a playlist on your iPod, take a good look at your guest list.  You may find that dividing them into sections, depending on the type of music they prefer, will help to select tracks that everyone will enjoy.  Try not to over-manage though.  Your DJ or Band should be able to judge the mood just right on the night, which will help to keep the atmosphere relaxed and fun.

• Inspiration for your set or play list can happen at any moment, so prepare yourself by having a pad and pen handy at all times to jot down your favourite songs.

•  If you are thinking of having a band instead or as well as a DJ, make sure you visit their website to check their genre of music.  Any well established band should allow you to sit in on a couple of their rehearsals to see how they operate and if they have any local gigs leading up to you wedding, it’s always good to check them out live to make sure the atmosphere they create is just right for you.  You can also request that they learn a few tracks of your choice, for example your first dance, however make sure you leave them enough time to learn these songs, and if you have a lot of new requests there may be an extra charge.  If they are learning a new song for your first dance, also request a recording of the track so that you and your partner know exactly what tempo and style it is in, so that there are no nasty surprises on the day.

So there we have it, just a few helpful tips to help your celebrations go with a bang!  And don’t forget to pick the perfect Rainbow Club shoes to help you dance the night away.  Our Bliss collection is especially comfortable to wear, which means you can definitely blame it on the boogie, and not your sore feet!

‘Something old’ is chosen to represent the bride’s family and history, which is often chosen in the form of a piece of family jewellery or even, in some instances, the bride wearing her Mother or Grandmother’s Wedding dress.

‘Something new’ means good fortune and success for the future of the Bride in her new life.  Most of the time a bride’s ‘something new’ is her Wedding dress or shoes, however a gift from her parents is also used.

‘Something borrowed’ symbolises the bride’s friends and family.  This is to remind her that they will always be there for her in troubled times, to lend a helping hand.  Tradition shows a lace handkerchief can represent this, however a necklace or bracelet from your family can be a modern alternative.

‘Something blue’ dates back to Biblical times, which is said to represent loyalty, faithfulness and purity.  Usually, the bride’s garter is used as her ‘something blue’ however, with our fabulous Colour Studio, why not use your shoes

There are other traditions that are incorporated in the big day; some better known than others.  I have listed just a few that interested me, and I hope may give you some ideas for your Wedding!

• The story of your wedding veil has more to it than you think.  It is said that the veil hides the beauty of the bride and wards off evil spirits.  Brides in arranged marriages may also wear a veil to cover her face until the groom has committed to their marriage.
• There is even a tradition for where to stand, once at the altar.  Tradition states that the bride stands on the left of the groom during the ceremony, to allow his sword arm to be ready, to fight off any other suitors who may want her as their bride.
• A tradition, which is new to me, is that of the time of day you say your Wedding vows.  It is said to be good luck if you exchange your vows as the clock’s minute hand is facing upwards, towards heaven, as God can then hear you as you speak.
• Giving gifts to your friends and family, in the form of Favours, has been a tradition for hundreds of years.  There are lots of fabulous and original ideas for this, however the tradition is to give five sugar coated almonds to each guest to symbolise health, wealth, fertility, happiness and a long life.

Well, I’m off now to help some brides in need, but I hope these little gems of information can either help you with your big day, or have at least given you an entertaining read. 

 Lots of Love and Wedded bliss.

XXX

Vintage is still one of the hottest fashion trends around, the word may be a tad overused but the trend goes on and on!

Lace has been an enormous trend both on the runway and the high street so it's hardly surprising  it has become such a big fashion story in bridal too!

 From dresses to shoes, and handbags lace is everywhere. Lace shoes look stunning with so many looks, accessorising vintage glamour or adding a touch of romance to a perfectly simple gown.

There are lots of stunning options from the Rainbow Club collections, 'Ella', a fab platform and 'Kate' with it's pretty, girlie ruffles are so well priced and look simply gorgeous, or for all out glamour take a look at the fabulous 'Enchanted' or 'Pearl Drift' from the delicious Hassall collection, shoes to be treasured!!!

Designed in house by Diane Hassall, and with the guarantee of comfort that makes Rainbow Club special, each pair can be hand dyed to any shade by The Colour Studio, thus offering versatility and individual style.

This season sees the use of subtle embellishment and detail, with vintage inspired trims, ruffles and bows, and elegant pleating. Each component is carefully selected, with crystal from Swarovski*  and exclusive satin, milled in the UK for Rainbow Club.From the contemporary charm of Kerrie (top left) , a sleek and sexy open waisted court with a slim curled bow, to the lavish style of Simone, a super high platform with twisted satin overlay and covered platform, there really is something to suit every style of bride.

Diane says:“This collection is modern, fresh and exciting, reflecting the modern girl’s need for bridal shoes that reflect her natural style. It’s been fun to create and with so many new styles as well as classic favourites, we are confident that we can cater to any taste.”

The brand new “Click & Collect” service launches online at www.rainbowclub.co.uk  in February 2012 and, in a first for the bridal industry, offers customers the opportunity to browse online for Rainbow Club shoes and accessories of choice, with the option to place an order online for later collection in store. Rainbow Club stockists are located throughout the country, making it easy to reach a convenient location.

Time – pressed brides are turning to the internet for more and more of their shopping needs and Richard Marsh, MD of Rainbow Club, believes it is time for the bridal industry to think creatively about ways to meet this growing demand.

Richard says:

“Rainbow Club is introducing this new innovation as a way to meet consumer expectations. The new, easy to use website makes it simple to view and order shoes and accessories with the convenience of collecting an order in store”.

A revamped website for Rainbow Club showcases the exciting range of new styles, from chic flats to stunning heels, beautiful sparkly head dresses and a gorgeous collection of ready to wear veils. Stockist details are carefully listed, so brides can search for local retailers for themselves and their bridesmaids. The new Colour Studio section includes an interactive model that allows brides to select a shade to view how their chosen colour would work.

Once an order is placed, the bride will be able to select a convenient location and their order will be delivered in distinctive “Click & Collect” packaging, with Rainbow Club meeting all carriage charges.

Rainbow Club is renowned for combining gorgeous styles with blissful comfort.  Whether you are a Bride who falls in love with beautiful skyscraper heels, or prefer the elegant comfort of a ballerina style pump, Rainbow Club prides itself on catering to your needs. 

We also cater for your Bridesmaid’s needs, with our Colour Match service.  With the help of our highly skilled Colour Studio technicians, we can match your shoes to any colour you desire, so whether your colour theme is bright, bold and beautiful, or subtle, elegant pastels; we have every colour of the rainbow available for dyeing.

Some of our styles incorporate fabulous pleating, such as the Simone, Tori and Carys, which create beautiful tones and shades of your preferred colour once dyed.  Also, if you worry that those stunning high heels and platforms may cause you discomfort by the end of the day, you could also dye a pair of fabulous flat pumps, such as Louise or Isobelle, to the same colour, so that you can dance the night away knowing that your shoes still compliment your outfit perfectly!

There is a growing interest with matching our satin shoes to Prom dresses, as with such vibrant and individual designs on the market, finding the accessories to match could be tricky.  Not with Rainbow Club, as all you would need to do is supply a fabric swatch of your dress, and leave it with us to create the ideal shoes for your special day.  Our Else collection is just perfect for Prom, as not only is the dyeing included in the already affordable price, but also this collection’s simply stunning designs can compliment even the most intricate and glamorous dress, with ease.

The Royal Wedding has had a big influence on the bridal industry. Designers across the world are loving; the vintage lace look, with them bringing out fabulous wedding dresses and accessories. The UK brides are rushing to stores to create their very own princess style.

One main style that stores and customers are tending to like is short lace dresses to show off their stylish shoes. A range of which we have brought out in our 2012 collection; of which Ella is very similar to Kate’s original pair.

Not only have we replicated Kate’s style we have also carried it through our collection due to the popularity. We love lace, so to complete your regal look how about a Spellbinder veil and a Royal Coris tiara? These accessories compliment perfectly together if you have always dreamed about being a princess on your wedding day. 

Here at Rainbow Club we have colour technicians that dye to match your outfit, if you would like your shoes to match your fabulous fascinator just like Victoria Beckham’s we can do this for you. If you wish to have the less is more look then we recommend going for a stylish ivory shoe for example Kitty in our Rainbow Club Collection.

Your flower girls are just as important as you and as you know they want to feel like little princesses with their ballerina length dresses and flowers in their hair, however they do need perfect shoes. A shoe style, which was featured in the Royal Wedding, was our Abigail style; the flower girls shoes were dyed to a specific ivory, which we hold on file here at Rainbow Club.