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Show Or em-Geneva Times Wednesday. March 10, 1993 Page 7 Attire for bridesmaids, moms and flower girls By Sharon Williams Copley News Service Standing beside the resplendent bride and groom is truly an honor. But it hasn't always been a pleasure plea-sure at least not sartorially speaking. The problem? Too many bridesmaid brides-maid dresses had little or no fu ture after the wedding, and too many mothers of the bride or the groom felt dowdy or matronly in their celebratory getup. But today there's a happier ending end-ing in store for members of the wedding party. In recent years, wedding wear designers have taken tak-en a vow to create fashions for the maids, mothers and even children of the wedding party that will serve them well not only during the wedding, but in the months and even years thereafter. It's a much-welcomed change, especially considering the fact that those who attend the bridal couple usually foot the bill for their frocks. More flattering and fun-to-wear fashions mean that depending on the mood and degree of formality formal-ity of the wedding a bridesmaid's brides-maid's dress could look as appropriate appro-priate at a festive holiday bash as it did in the reception hall. Or that the mother of the bride could sip a drink at a cocktail party par-ty in her dress without looking like she just stepped out of a wedding line. And that the flower girl and ring bearer could be persuaded to don their wedding clothes for Sunday Sun-day school or a birthday party without waging a royal war with their parents. With wonderful wedding fashions fash-ions at the ready, it seems everyone every-one should be able to live happily ever after. But even with the proliferation of dresses and suits to consider, outfitting the wedding party is still a formidable job that requires thought, consideration and weeks of planning especially on the part of the bride. There are ways, however, to make the job of dressing everyone a little easier. Following is a rundown run-down of the latest trends and tips for making appropriate and applauded ap-plauded selections. MOTHERS OF THE BRIDE, GROOM Dresses for the mothers of the bride and groom often are the last things on everyone's mind in the weeks and months before the wedding wed-ding day. But designers know that the mothers of the wedding party deserve de-serve some attention, too. And they've come up with some fashionable fash-ionable choices with which a woman can be thrilled, ranging from soft and tailored to sleek and sophisticated. Because today's mothers are youthful and active, they yearn for styles that are equally young, versatile ver-satile and up-to-the-minute, say wedding planners. ' They want something they could wear to a party or other specialty occasion. And something that could never be labeled as matronly-Options often begin with the two-piece suit always a sophisticated sophis-ticated and classy choice when constructed from elegant fabrics such as brocade or lace. Jackets might be adorned with jewel buttons or appliques, and paired with slim or full chiffon skirts. Or an ankle-length slim crepe skirt could be matched with a simply beaded short-sleeve jacket, jack-et, or a dress and jacket put together to-gether for a dynamic duo. 1 If a suit is not in their sights, mothers of the wedding party have hundreds of dresses from which to choose. Possibilities include in-clude sleek coatdresses, flattering A-lines, two-piece dresses, slinky columns sometimes with sexy slits - and floor-length ball gowns. Elegant hues such as hunter green and beloved pastels such as pink, ivory and mauve can be found in a variety of fabrics and weights ranging from chiffon and shantung to georgette and organdy. organ-dy. As for etiquette, fashion experts say that dresses for the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom don't have to match but should complement the rest of the wedding party. Traditionally, the bride's mother moth-er selects her outfit first, then describes de-scribes it to the groom's mother, who is given ample time to find something that suits her. BRIDESMAIDS Today's bridesmaids have a lot to celebrate. Not only are they playing an important role in the merger between two friends, but they have the perfect excuse to get a new dress. And what a dress they hope it will be. While bridesmaid dresses were once relegated to the back of the closet as soon as the wedding reception re-ception was over, today's offerings are fashionable and flattering enough to be worn to a variety of. post-nuptial parties and extravaganzas. extrava-ganzas. Designers, it seems, have all but abandoned the cutesy ruffles and all-too-feminine frills that gave bridesmaid attire its bad reputation. reputa-tion. Instead, they're taking their inspiration in-spiration from couture and ready-to-wear collections, and the change really shows. Silhouettes can be full, pleated or sleek, and styles include long and short dresses, dress-and-jack-et combos and skirts paired with elegant blouses. Taffeta is the fabric fab-ric of choice, with chiffon, organza and brocade following closely behind. be-hind. Clean-cut and simple, yet colorful color-ful in vibrant hues such as emerald emer-ald green, hot pink and cobalt blue, or subtle washes such as lemon yellow or champagne, these dresses promise to deliver long after af-ter the wedding is over. Off-the-shoulder or plunging necklines, thigh-high slits and body-hugging construction mean these dresses are more daring than dear. It's the bride's privilege and prerogative, of course, to select the bridesmaid dresses according to the colors, theme and degree of formality of her wedding. But it's also a good idea to consider con-sider the tastes and figures of the women who ultimately will wear and pay for the outfits, and to let everyone in on the decision by sharing photos and clippings of possible dresses. FLOWER GIRLS, RING BEARERS Who can resist a smile for the miniature members of the wedding wed-ding party the adorable flower girl and darling ring bearer decked deck-ed out in their wedding-day attire? Thanks to wide range of fashion choices for these young attendants, atten-dants, chances are good that both the children and their parents will be smiling, too. After all, what child doesn't love to play dress-up once in a km 0 With a Homespun Touch Jjfa invites you lo attend our SPRINGTIME BOUTIQUE ' at Mt View High &hool 645 U. Center St, Orem .Friday, March 19 - 9:008:00 Saturday, March 20 - 9:00-7:00 Quality CrafU T-6hirts & Designer Qothins Gifts for Easier & Mothers Day 83 Home Decor Food Court & Baked Central Checkout 50 admission for Mt View For more information call Sue Olson 225-7193 0 Great gift ideas for the couple Is there a bridal couple lucky enough to receive only gifts they want? Hardly. And with invitations invita-tions to weddings already in hand, it is time for serious thinking about what to bestow upon the happy newlyweds. There is always the problem of duplication three toasters, two blenders, a bazaar's worth of coffee cof-fee makers. The dilemma is compounded com-pounded by the fact that today's betrothed often already have households of their own. That means two sets of many things already. al-ready. Also consider the fact that, at the beginning anyway, living quarters quar-ters will be tight. This may not be true for older couples who have established careers and bigger incomes, in-comes, but the younger crowd will definitely be cramped for a whije. They just don't have room for an extra anything. Members of the family, of course, know exactly what would fit an empty niche. Friends can consult the bridal registry, but that is so cut-and-dried and unimaginative. un-imaginative. Your gift will get a lot more attention if it is unexpected unex-pected and has some flair. Luxury products are always opened with delight. A fine bottle of champagne and two beautiful champagne glasses is a gift that will be remembered and enjoyed en-joyed after the euphoria of the Wedding celebration has passed. Your card might suggest that the bubbles be reserved for an anniversary an-niversary first week, first month, first year or even to get over the first spat. Caviar is one of the world's most lavish treats. But a couple doesn't need a pound of the little black pearls to feel royal. Since the best caviar is fresh and unpasteurized, unpas-teurized, this is one present that you can't send Xr bring in the middle mid-dle of the flurry of the wedding. If this is a couple that will entertain en-tertain at dinner, make arrangements arrange-ments with a local florist to provide pro-vide the centerpiece for their dining table. It could be for one, two, six or as many dinner parties as your pocketbook can handle. On your card make it clear that all the florist needs to know is what colors and kinds of flowers will match up with the table setting. while especially when they've a captive audience waiting and watching? Moms and dads, meanwhile, know that since traditional outfits never go out of style, the dresses and suits their little ones wear for the grand occasion will turn up later at events such as recitals, birthday parties and church services. ser-vices. Junior bridesmaids usually don dresses identical to those of the older attendants only with more youthful, modest lines, while flower girls traditionally wear long or short dresses that fit with the attire of the rest of the wedding wed-ding party. Oftentimes the dress is white and trimmed with sashes or ribbons in the wedding colors, or is cut from the same print that the bridesmaids are wearing. Poufs, pinafores, overskirts, petticoats and accessories such as ballet slippers, fresh-flower wreaths and frothy hair bows pile on the girlish charm. Ring bearers, meanwhile, look smashing in pint-size tuxedos, trimmed in satin or velvet, or pert little Eton suits. A navy blazer paired with white shorts, bow tie and white or blue knee-socks is another an-other option that's equally formal and functional. ft 7 1 NX Goods PT6A .V Tips To Avoid The Wedding Jitters The months leading up to your big day can he filled with stress as well as happiness. There are so many details to plan and carry out choosing a site for the ceremony, finding the perfect clothes, choosing your wedding party and furnishing your new home, just to name a few. All of this added to the inevitable doubts about getting married in the first place can create wedding jitters. Wedding jitters are as common as weddings themselves. There are some ways to make sure the anxiety doesn't get out of hand. Don"t be afraid to admit you're upset and tell your partner what's bothering you. This applies if it's something as simple as forgetting vows to a serious question you may have about the relationship. Don't keep these stressful feelings to yourself. You'll end up transferring trans-ferring them to something or someone other than the real cause of your worries. Take positive action whenever possible. Practice reciting your vows in front of a willing friend or sign up for a premarital workshop. There are ways to work out the natural nervousness you may be feeling. Share the responsibilities of the wedding. Your fiance should join you in picking out a catering hall and writing thank-you notes. He can also handle the honeymoon arrangements. The idea that the bride should handle all details is old-fashioned and exhausting. Keep a calendar of everything you need to do. This master plan will give you the security you need so you know you're not forgetting something crucial. Gather business cards, fabric swatches and magazine clippings you have accumulated and keep them in one place. Organization can greatly reduce anxiety. Have a system for doing each task. Invitations, for example, can be broken down into several steps. Address envelopes, stuff them, seal them and stamp them. You can then decide how long each step should take and who will be responsible for it. You should set a completion date as well as a time and place to begin. (Remember, invitations should be mailed six weeks before the wedding.) Pace yourself. Don't try to do too much in one day. You'll make it through the wedding months much easier if you don't try to tackle more than one major job a day. Guard your health. Don't let a f . hectic schedule keep you from eating right. A drop in blood sugar Best Hues White, pink and blue are considered consid-ered the luckiest colors for a bridal brid-al dress. In Scotland, anything green was considered a bad omen, so green table decorations and vegetables were not part of the bridal dinner. (CNS) TIPS We want the scoop on what's happening in Orem. Call in news tips. Orem-Geneva Times 225-1340 A iince iyoL Don 't Pay High Prices ( Wk - r If) sA vit--i. i-1 - K will make you feel weak and even more jittery. Be sure to get enough rest and exercise. Exercise increases the body's level of norepinephrine, a substance that gives you a feeling of calm and well-being. Wedding By Debra Lee Baldwin Copley News Service It's appropriate to give gifts to the people who helped make your wedding wonderful. These gifts show your friends and relatives how much you appreciate them, and give you an opportunity to say "thank you." Some suggestions: For bridesmaids: pearl jewelry jewel-ry (necklaces, stud earrings, bracelets, teardrop earrings, button but-ton earrings) andor gold chains with pendants. You might order jewelry with colored stones that match your wedding colors (ask at bridal boutiques). Also bud vases, cameo picture frames, jewelry boxes, fresh or ELECTRONIC Changeable printwheels Snap-in correcting Full line correct Word Eraser Auto relocate Auto center Auto return Bold print Dual pitch 324 West Center We have a Complete Line of Wedding Announcements, Napkins, Thank-Yous and Enclosures 546 South State Orem 225-1340 t If you can't fall asleep at night, try the time-tested methods of warm milk or a hot bath. There are many details to remember when planning your wedding. If you stick to these guidelines and organize all the details, you'll get through the planning and enjoy your big day. party gifts silk flowers, plants, goblets or mugs, pens and desk accessories. For groomsmen: Anything inscribed in-scribed or monogrammed, jewelry jewel-ry (cuff links, tie tacks, key chains, pen sets, business card holders), luggage, desk sets, books, cameras, cam-eras, anything related to a hobby. For parents: Jewelry for him and for her, crystal, china, sterling silver serving pieces, candlesticks, vases, picture frames, limited-edition works of art, porcelain collectibles, col-lectibles, fine linens, luggage, dinner din-ner out, theater tickets. For other special friends and relatives: Crystal vases or bowls, wedding portraits, books, travel clocks, floral arrangements. SMITH CORONIV TOMORROWS TECHNOLOGY ATYOUa TOUCH? Provo (801)374-0725 011 TYPEWRITER $SD00 A |