How to choose the perfect wedding dress for warmer weather | AW Bridal

Today, the wedding industry has become so creative in tailoring breathtaking designs, that it feels almost impossible to make a choice, and we understand you! However, before you jump to the search engines and start browsing for gowns, you need to take several key things into consideration. It is never enough to like a gown, you must wear it with confidence and radiance. That is why we at AW Bridal have composed a short guide to help you navigate through the process and choose a gown that will feel right for you!

1. Budget

Let us tell you something, it is perfectly okay to spend a lot of money on a wedding dress but also perfectly okay to be limited and choose more affordable wedding dresses. The one thing that matters is the love you two share so don’t be discouraged if you find yourself restrained by finances because there is a little hack we’re about to share!
What if we tell you that the dress can be both cheap and yet have that haute-couture feel to it? We at AW Bridal have been really passionate about providing you with cheap AW wedding dresses that have both comfort and a gorgeous aesthetic! Discover our collection and feel like a modern muse with our designs.

2. Body Type

After having established a budget, it is time to take heed to your body type. This applies to any wardrobe, especially for the bridal one. After discovering your shape, and taken into consideration what you prefer outfit-wise, you should choose the wedding dress silhouette. Have in mind that the dress must be flattering to your feminine elegance. If you by any chance have some perfect imperfections that you’d rather hide for now, naturally, take that as well into consideration when choosing.

3. Comfort & Breathable Fabrics

Though we recommend this for every season, during the warmer periods of the year it is vital to focus on the comfort of your wedding dress. That means choosing a gown that is flowy and poetically swaying as you walk with breathable fabric. Those fabrics are silk, tulle, organza, chiffon, and lace.
When it comes to lightness, layered tulle is an amazing choice for both breathable comfort and also for letting air circulate and not be cooked up in your own gown. One of our absolute favorites in our collection that is light, romantic, and comfortable is the Jessie Wedding Dress. This effortlessly elegant gown is divine for both Spring and Summer weddings, and the best thing about it? It is in the category of cheap wedding dresses under $600. Bridal gowns can both look incredible and still be kind to your budget!

Wedding theme, location & style

Yes, naturally, these are also key things to consider. When choosing your dream wedding dress, it is important to choose a designer piece that will be aligned with your theme, overall aesthetic, and location. If your wedding is an outdoor celebration of love or a romantic beach ceremony; consider wearing a light and ethereally flowy gown. Just imagine, walking on the beach with a flowy dreamy gown as the waves slowly touch the ends and the sunset creates the perfect backdrop for you and your beloved. If the wedding is a formal and opulent refined celebration, then decide on timeless designs with enchanting embellishments and train, or maybe a silk seamless gown that is curated in the name of class and luxury.

We hope that we’ve shed some light on this subject, and we invite you to browse our AW Bridal collection of affordable wedding dresses that not only are aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly comfortable.

 

Hair Cutting Activity for Preschoolers

 If your kids are anything like mine, they have an interest in cutting their own hair. YIKES! To combat that urge, I created a safe alternative that will keep everyone happy. This hair cutting activity for preschoolers gives kids a chance to put their scissor skills to work while satisfying the curiosity of little ones. Plus this is the perfect use for empty toilet paper rolls.

This is such an easy activity to set up. Chances are you have everything you need to do this with your little ones. I love crafts and activities that I don't have to buy any supplies for! Even the least crafty parents can set this cutting activity up in no time.

Supplies:
Empty toilet paper rolls
Scissors

Sharpie

Directions:

Cut small strips into the top of one end of the toilet roll. Make the cuts varying in length to offer some variety on the cuts for your child.
Draw a fun face on the paper roll.

You might want to create a few of these because your kids are going to have so much fun cutting hair!

Offer your child some scissors and invite them to give their new friend a hair cut.

Observe your child doing this, for safety.

This activity is awesome for kids because it gives them a chance to work on their scissors skills while having a good dramatic play session! Harper LOVED this activity and she always asks me if I will save toilet paper rolls for her to do this again.

If you are looking for more toilet roll crafts. You might want to check out this Easy Butterfly Craft.

Pot of Gold Sensory Bin

Saint Patrick's Day is right around the corner and I have the perfect sensory bin to share with you for the occasion. This Pot of Gold Bin is easy to set up, is loads of fun to play with, and will get kids excited for the holiday!

Sensory bins are so much fun for kids. They combine fine motor work, the engagement of the senses, and imagination into one awesome invitation to play. This Pot of Gold St. Patrick's Day Bin was so easy to set up, and I got everything I needed at the dollar store. This sensory bin is easy to set up, and the kids will want to play with it many times. 

Supplies:

1. A plastic storage bin with a lid.
2. St. Patrick's Day Foam Scatter
3. 4 Leaf Clover Confetti
4. Buttons in assorted colors
5. Small black cauldrons from the party favor section of Dollar Tree

Instructions:

1. Dump the confetti, foam scatter and buttons into the storage bin.
2. Add a few of the cauldrons to the bin.
3. Offer your child tweezers, spoons, or any other tool you like for scooping.
4. Allow your child to fill the buckets with a rainbow of colors (beads) and the gold foam coins.

I encouraged my daughter to tell me what colors she would find in a rainbow and place one bead from each color in the bucket.

We also used this as a counting exercise; how many gold coins could she find? How many big clovers? And so on.

Harper also had fun just digging in the scatter and confetti. She brought a few little action figures into the mix and had a fun small world session later. 

I like to make these bins in shoe box sized plastic containers so we can snap a lid on it and revisit the activity later. The kids always want to play with the bin again!

If you like this idea you can find all of my sensory bins and bags here.
Reader favorites include:
Sensory Party in a Bag
Birthday Cake Sensory Bin
Grab some FREE St. Patick's Day Coloring Pages here
Check out these End of the Rainbow Snacks
Check out these easy 3d Shamrocks

Easy Cement Ring Holders

These easy concrete ring holders have a delicate fern implant, and a pretty gold finish for a luxe look, on a budget. Make a few for your jewelry and a few to share, because everyone is going to LOVE these pretty and functional ring holders.

I love to make things with cement. From garden stones, to garden mushrooms to functional patio coasters and lots of things in between. I wanted to find a way to bring my love of cement into the house, but was stumped on a functional way to do so. I was stumped for ideas and kind of dismissed it altogether. Then one day, the kids were eating snow cones and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. 

This is such an easy project. All you need is a few paper cones, concrete and some plant life to complete it. The paint is optional, but I think it gives a nice touch to the finished product. You can make a dozen of these for about $10, so they are perfect for gifting, and add a nice touch to the home. You could use these are ring or bracelet holders, paper weights, or a decorative accent.

I picked these plants from my yard. I have no idea what they are. They have always come up in the flower bed on one side of my house. They might be a weed, or maybe a fern of some sort? I don't know, but I think they are pretty and were a good fit for the project. Use whatever type of plant you have on hand for your ring holder.

Supplies:

Cement

Water

Paper Snow Cone Cones

Cooking SPray

Plants

Sturdy Cups to hold the paper cones during dry time

Mix the cement according to the instructions. You will not need to use a lot of cement for the this project. Start with 5 cups of cement or so.

Place the paper cones into a cup for support. 

Lightly spray the inside of the paper cups with cooking spray.

Gently lay the plants you wish to imprint in your ring holders on the side of the paper cup.

Carefully fill the paper cup with cement making sure you don't displace the plants from the sides.

Allow to dry for 24-48 hours in a warm dry place.

When the cement is completely dry peel the paper cone away. 

Brush the fern from the cement with your hands, or a toothbrush.

Paint the ring holder in your desired shade, using a good quality spray paint.

If you enjoyed this cement project you might also like

Cement Spoon Garden Markers

Grass Imprinted Garden Art

Moissanite Replacing Blood Diamonds

For you, there’s no better time to propose to your significant other than now. But you are having a tough time shopping for the ideal engagement ring. Your family and friends don’t seem to be of help in this situation. This guide helps you to navigate the world of jewels with ease. When searching for the perfect ring, you have to consider several factors, ranging from affordability to ethics. With these elements in mind, you can narrow your search and end up with the right jewel for the occasion.

Undoubtedly, most people see diamonds as the gemstone of the season. However, they are not everyone’s go-to jewels. For one, they are expensive. A 1.5-carat GIA-certified diamond may set you back over $10,000. Some of these gems exceed the $40,000 benchmark. In actuality, the Imperial State Crown cost a whopping $3.5 billion. Contrastingly, moissanite gemstones offer the same value for a fraction of a diamond’s price.

Why Should You Consider Moissanites?

Individuals who consider ethics in production may not find all diamonds endearing, due to their grisly records, especially traditionally mined diamonds. Moissanites are lab-grown. Hence, there is less need to worry about their backgrounds. The technological process implemented in manufacturing these jewels also makes them affordable. You can purchase a 1.5-carat saving you thousands of dollars

helping you with your wedding ring financing. A classic moissanite gemstone of the same category goes for less than $500.

Moissanite’s brilliance refractive index (RI) ranges from 2.65 to 2.69, which beats the diamond hands down (2.42). Its fire dispersion sits at 0.104, 0.060 more than a diamond. On the Mohs hardness scale, the moissanite gemstone doesn’t pale in comparison to its counterpart, with a rating of 9.5, 0.5 shy of the toughest mineral on earth. So, why spend $35,000 on a diamond engagement ring when you could spend less than $1,500 on a moissanite counterpart. You don’t have to break the bank or empty your life savings to give your would-be spouse the perfect treat.

Are Moissanites Fake Diamonds?

You may have come across several opinions about moissanite gemstones being fake diamonds or replicas. With the properties discussed above, it is glaring that such notions are far-fetched. Moissanites are unique jewels in their rights. They have properties that differ from that of diamonds. In terms of optical appearance, a moissanite gemstone has double-refraction properties that produce more sparkle than a diamond with single-refraction properties.

How about ethics? You may ask. Often, traditionally mined diamonds have questionable ethical manufacturing processes, compared to moissanite gemstones. Lab-grown diamonds are an alternative to the classic option. However, they are not cheap. Moissanites are budget-friendly. You could own a jewel in this category under $500. If you find one less than $300, chances are that you are dealing with a fake or knock-off.

Selecting an Ideal Moissanite Gem

Like diamonds, moissanite gemstones come in a vast variety of colours, cuts, clarities, and carat weights. Moissanite tints range from Forever One Brilliant® to K GIA colour grading scale. Cuts include Princess, Oval, Marquise, Round, and many more. Find a balance between your preference and your budget to get the ideal moissanite gemstone.