If you're going to throw a ball, you need a fairy prom dresses with sleeves godmother. Hundreds of Minnesota teenagers have one.

Based out of her Waconia tailor shop, Jeri Kuecks has given away more than a thousand prom dresses, the past seven years, to teenage girls who might not otherwise be able to afford one.

"It's just fun to make them happy," says Kuecks.

The donations started when Kuecks' son told her of a high school classmate who was going to miss her prom because her parents couldn't afford a dress. Kuecks now works with guidance counselors at two dozen schools to identify students she can help.

All the girls are measured and fitted during appointments at her sequin prom dresses shop, Vista Images. They chose from hundreds of dresses - some brand new and others used only once - donated by stores or former prom attendees.


"Don't we all want to feel like a princess at some point?," asks Kuecks, who wasn't able to attend her own high school prom and still regrets it.

This year Kuecks worked with Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis to provide formal dresses for the hospital's annual prom.

Kuecks set aside a Saturday in April, hauled her dresses to a local church and recruited volunteers to help Shriners patients with fittings and alterations. Deangela Dawson brought her daughter Dominique to pick out a dress.

"Prom time, I didn't get a chance to go, so it's awesome that she can go," she said. "For them to be able to get a dress for free, it's amazing."

Today, we talk about the big event in Hollywood, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie engaged. It rose the discussion who will design wedding gowns for her. You will get the answer below, you can also post your idea in the comment.

So it seems bridal fever has finally reached Brangelina Towers – yippee! As Grazia Daily reported on Friday, Brad Pitt has popped the question, proposing to Angelina Jolie with a mega rock that he co-designed with jeweler pal Robert Procop. What a gent!



The news has, naturally, got us Graziettes hyperventilating with excitement. Okay, so a date hasn’t been set yet and Brad and Ange are more likely to get hitched on a deserted Tibetan mountain than in front of the world’s media a la Kim Kardashian but! This hasn’t stopped us from picturing THE perfect wedding dress (what? who’s getting carried away?). Besides, chances are People magazine will bag at least one shot of the Big Brangelina Day – with the bazillion dollar fee going to a suitable charity, of course. So, based on her recent red carpet outings, let’s indulge our whims with a look at what Mrs-Pitt-to-be MIGHT wear for her nupitals…



VERSACE

For her biggest all-eyes-on-me moments, Angelina turns to the va-va-voom of Versace. Donatella is the lady behind the magnificent white and red gown that the actress wore to this year’s Golden Globes as well as that black right-leg-popping number for the Oscars, so will she be creating that all-important bridal gown too? We can totes see Ange going Grecian in a drapey dress like the one that graced the Spring Summer 2012 catwalk (above left) – but possibly without the sparkly starfish. Admittedly, Versace’s signature curve-huggers with plunging necklines and thigh-high slits are more suited to the red carpet than the wedding aisle, but we’re sure Donatella could rustle up a minimal version with a gorgeously fitted bodice.



ELIE SAAB

For prettiness with a touch of oomph, Angelina need look no further than the master of feminine frocks, Elie Saab. The actress has already embraced Saab-ian red carpet power – most recently wearing a floaty greige number for the Palm Springs Festival – so we’d love to see her opting for a slim-fitting evening-esque wedding dress like the above left design with slight sparkle to match her bling ring. And considering Disney Princess poufiness has never been Jolie’s cuppa tea, may we suggest the dreamy-yet-understated gown that Arizona Muse showcased on the designer’s Couture catwalk (above right). That mint green hue would work wonderfully with her dark tresses AND it’d make a nice alternative to the customary bridal fare, dontcha think? Because although we’re not expecting vials of blood this time, Angie isn’t the type to go conventional.



Persun

…And yet we can’t help but dream of Persun. For starters, Brad and Angelina are the Hollywood version of our Royal couple and evidence suggests Angelina wants to be Kate Middleton*. Yup, not only has Ange copy-catted those luscious tumbling curls but she’s taken to wearing ladylike lace, sophisticated shifts and near-identical Jenny Packham gowns just like our DoC – wouldn’t it be a treat to see her copying the Duchess’ aisle style too? Kate’s Alexander Persun dress of Royal Wedding day was classic and romantic with a lace bodice, pleated satin skirt and 9 foot train so although La Jolie may not go QUITE as dramatic or traditional, who better than Sarah Burton to create another highly-anticipated and truly sumptuous bridal gown? One thing’s for sure: Ms Burton knows how to keep schtum.

Today, we are going to discuss the issue of pregnant brides’ wedding evening dresses 2012 preparation. How can these brides plan for their wedding ceremony and how they can choose for a appropriated special occasion dresses or wedding gowns. First of all, let’s go to enjoy several beautiful gowns from Persundresses.com.





wedding gowns for pregnant woman from Persun

It is important to understand what type of look a bride wants to portray on her wedding day. Does she want to hide her baby bump or show it off?

For a bride who wants to hide her baby bump, I would recommend going for an empire waist gown. This style will be fitted around the bust and flowing from the bust-line down. Empire styles are typically made of lighter fabrics such as chiffon, organza, or georgette. An Empire-waist style allows for the bride to feel comfortable and not constricted. A V-shaped neckline will elongate the neck and make for a more slim appearance.

For the bride who wants to show off her baby bump, it is key to find a professional seamstress who is experienced and can do proper alterations. A fitted dress will help to accentuate her curves. Many brides go for a trumpet or mermaid style gown, which is fitted up top and flows out at the thigh or lower calf. But when choosing styles such as these, it is imperative that a bride schedule a fitting(s) the final week before the wedding to ensure a perfect fit. This is something we recommend to every bride, especially a pregnant bride who may experience more shifts in weight.

When choosing from this range of styles and fabrics, a bride should also take into consideration her own comfort in addition to the time of year the wedding is taking place. For instance, if she plans on getting married during a warmer season, she should opt for lighter fabrics. It is also recommended that a pregnant bride wear very comfortable shoes or flats.

In some cases, the brides aren’t only worrying about their own fitting but about a pregnant bridesmaid’s as well. We once had a bridesmaid visit Bridal Reflections who was actively trying to get pregnant but was not actually pregnant yet. She chose to order a size that would accommodate a pregnancy in the seventh month to be safe. If she happens to be less than seven months pregnant the day of the wedding, we can always tailor and alter the dress to her actual size.

In the event that a bride puts on more weight than anticipated, there is always a solution! Our in-house seamstresses have the ability to add several customizations such as adding a side seam into the dress or perhaps a corset back. We want the bride to feel comfortable and beautiful during this wonderful time, and it starts with the evening gowns!

We have had brides that will either move the date closer or postpone it. Some brides prefer to have the wedding sooner rather than later, this way they aren’t showing too much and have more of a selection to choose from rather than just Empire-waist styles. Brides that decide to postpone the wedding until after the baby is born will find some way to incorporate the baby into the ceremony, which is always nice. We have had some brides that plan to make the baby their flower girl or ring bearer and others who choose to have a combined christening and wedding.

If you are a pregnant bride, remember to have fun with this as well! A creative way to celebrate both your pregnancy and your wedding is to reveal the sex of the baby, if you feel so inclined, through the color inside the wedding cake. Cutting the cake reveals either pink or blue filling, providing an element of surprise for guests along with even more excitement!

No matter what style a bride decides to go with, one thing is for sure — a pregnant bride will be glowing extra bright on her wedding day!

With the official first day of spring coming up in just six days, we thought that it was the perfect time to round up all the new springtime projects we have! Because if you haven’t devoured our Ideas section lately, we wouldn’t want you to miss out! Here goes formal dresses online …

We met at a work conference in San Diego. Gina lived in Chicago, where she’s originally from and Ryan lived in New Jersey, where he’s originally from. We didn’t know it at the time, but we had a mutual friend who had intentions of introducing us at the work conference, but had our eyes on each other earlier in the day.
Ryan proposed in Millenium Park in Chicago, which was the location of our 1st date in Chicago. It brought back amazing memories and created a new cheap special occasion dresses memory to cherish. Ryan traveled to Chicago for work and Gina came out 2 days later. Ryan had a surprise picnic planned in the park and proposed on October 22nd, 2010. He also had a dinner planned with Gina’s family. Gina’s dad was the only one in on the plans.

Choose your favorite simple wedding dresses and the photos style, makeup artist and photographer will select the most appropriate way to accomplish. It is necessary for bride and groom to communicate with make-up artists and photographers so as to shoot the mermaid wedding dresses photo as they thought.

As the saying goes, a new year, a new you! For all the lucky ladies getting married this year, lots of changes are coming your way. Why not start your new life by ditching last year’s bridal trends and embracing what 2012 has to offer? This week’s post is part 1 of a three part series that will showcase the top 6 wedding dress trends for 2012!

The spring 2012 trends are everything a bride could want—beautiful, charming, and somehow both simple and full of detail! Part 1 of our Bridal Trends Report focuses on two great trends we’ve been seeing on the runways, off-the-shoulder necklines and beaded bodices. And, best of all, following the latest bridal trends doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to break the bank!

Here are some seriously stunning wedding gowns that are bothchic and affordable! Check out our PERSUN collection for more elegant options.

Click on a picture to go to the product page.

Off-The-Shoulder Necklines

Match this shoulder-baring style with a loose fitting skirt to give it a subtly sexy look. A loose skirt guarantees you won’t have to watch what you eat!







Beaded Bodices

Intricate beading on the top half and paired with a fairly simple skirt is right on trend. And don’t be afraid to go all out with the beading on the bodice, since you’ll be keeping it simple down below!