For the love of the bird cage...

photos courtesy of Melanie Johnson Photography

Above credit: mclellan studio, sarah k chen, leigh miller, jessica claire

Above and below, credit: John & Joseph Photography

photos courtesy of Melanie Johnson Photography

Who can resist the undeniable allure of the bird cage veil? It's vintage and sexy, it's classic and flirty, and it looks pretty darn amazing when photographed.

Bird cage veils aren't just for the bride, however! They come in many colours and definitely make a fashion statement when paired with a pretty cocktail dress. So, if you don't plan on wearing a bird cage veil for your wedding, why not don one for your engagement party, shower, or rehearsal?

If you're planning a bachelorette party, have all of the girls and bridesmaids wear a black bird cage and give a white one to the bride-to-be. La Vie en Rose currently has some very similar versions to the ones above in black or white for $12.95. At that price, you can buy one just to wear while doing the dishes!

The Skinny on Shapers

I have yet to meet a bride who hasn't been on some sort of "wedding diet" or "wedding work-out routine". Whether you're looking to drop a few, or you're naturally thin and looking to add some curves, chances are, if you're getting married, you're concerned about how you're going to look in that dress. It is probably that one moment in your life that surpasses all bikini seasons and all high school reunions to jump-start your motivation and kick your butt into gear for getting into shape. Unfortunately, not everyone reaches their "goal" size for the wedding, because really, who isn't a stress eater (to all those who don't eat when they're stressed out, I have words for you...not fair!)? There are parties and celebrations and showers leading up to the big day, and that means plenty of food and cocktails to counteract all the good stuff you've been doing in the gym.

If your wedding is mere weeks away and you're not down to the size you had envisioned you would be, fear not. There are some great "slimming" garments out there that work wonders! They really do smooth you out and suck you in, and can make you look 1 -2 sizes smaller! Now, you must understand that these won't be the "pretty" undergarments you see on TV or in magazines, and you might want to slip into the washroom to remove them before your groom gets a look-see. You may even want to wait about half an hour and hope all of the indentations in your skin start to disappear before strutting into your bridal suite.

These undies aren't going to be super cheap; budget for around $100 for them, although many are less. Read up on reviews and find out which one is best for you. I suggest the style that start right under your bra and go to mid-thigh for optimal "sucking-inage".

The above shaper is by the very well known company "Spanx". Known for their celebrity endorsements and being one of the first shaper companies to actually make comfortable and discreet shapers, Spanx is readily available online and in stores, and would be great for your wedding under things. This one is about $75 US and can be found right here: http://www.spanx.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2990122&cp=2992553.3010022&parentPage=family

The black shaper above is also available in nude (but it just looks so much prettier in black, right?). It is made by the lesser known but equally (if not more) effective company Dr. Rey's Shapewear. It's available in all sorts of styles, but I personally found the one above on Sears.com and I loved it! It costs about 50 bones, and I definitely recommend this one for creating a very sexy hour-glass shape. Find this one here: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_018E0014000P?vName=Clothing&cName=Intimates&sName=Shapewear

I'm certain you'll be amazed by the incredible power these shapers have, and honestly believe they are a must have for any girl looking to slim down a bit to look fab in her dress. Good luck and happy shaping!

Above dress is from Watters & Watters.

The Dress: After the Final Pose

So, the day is done, your tan is starting to fade from that wicked honeymoon, and you're quickly realizing how much stuff you have left over from your wedding. Time to start clearing your life of stacks of paper and ribbons and bows. But that dress. Oh that dress! You spent months scouring bridal magazines, hours browsing online, and tried on many to find it. But when you did, it took mere moments to fall in love and start a very fulfilling relationship with it. Now what? What do you do with this sentimental, wearable piece of art?

Before my wedding, I completely assumed I would NEVER be one of those "I'm keeping my dress forever" kind of girls. Although I must admit wearing my mom's wedding dress for a highschool play, and subsequently covering it in blood for my zombie bride halloween costume was very much fun, I certainly never had any intention of ever wearing her dress for my own wedding. And if I don't expect my own daughter to wear my dress, then what's the point in keeping it?

I know it's pretty useless to me now, but for some reason I still can't bring myself to let it go. It's so pretty, so ME, and whenever I look at it every single emotion and memory from that day comes flooding back. I'm hoping that after my eventual "trash the dress" session that my dress's future might become more clear to me (yes, I know I've been married for almost a year, but I am planning on getting all bridal again and dragging my hubby along to some fun and creative shoot just the two of us. I'm just waiting for the "right" time, aka, for 15 pounds to magically melt off my body while simultaneously tanning to a gorgeous caramel without the ensuing potential skin damage).

Anyhow, for those of you who are also unsure of what to do with your wedding dress, here are a few ideas:

1.) Sell it or Donate it: This is a very eco-friendly option since by recycling your dress you are preventing the production of at least one new dress (if not more if it is resold again and again). Try consignment stores like Treat Bridal in Langley or www.oncewed.com online. Use any extra money from the sale to settle into your newlywed life or pay off any remaining wedding debts.

2.) Preserve it: If you really can't bring yourself to part with your dress, make sure you have it professionally preserved. This will prevent any fabric discoloration or degradation from occurring.

3.) Reuse it: Although not feasible for some styles of dresses, think about having it died or altered to be worn as a cocktail or formal dress.

4.) Recreate it: Have a blanket or throw pillows made from the fabric, or even doll dresses that can be passed on to your children.

5.) Art-ify it: (Ok, I made that word up. I think. I mean, I'm sure someone else has probably made it up before me, but just thought I'd get it out there that sometimes I alter words.) Anyways, if you really love your dress and could stare at it for hours on end like me, why not have a local artist or art student/fashion designer sketch out a rendering of your dress in classy greyscale? Frame it, mount it, adore it. Then refer to another one of the previous numbers.

Anyone else have any other good ideas on what to do with your wedding dress after the wedding day?

Top 10: # 3 When you find "the" dress, buy it!

3. When you find "the" dress, buy it. Ok, so this may be contrary to others who suggest you should try on a gazillion dresses to find the perfect bridal gown, but I believe that when you fall in love, it's for real. I, for one, walked by the store window of a bridal shop and gazed upon my dream dress. It wasn't exactly what I had initially envisioned as my wedding dress, but the more days I spent away from it the more I realized it was perfect. When I went back to the shop weeks later my dress was gone forever and it was too late to order another. I did end up finding an almost equally perfect dress that was very similar, but I still have fond and bittersweet memories of the one I let get away.