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How to Choose Wedding Colors
Choosing a Bridal Palette That Works For Your Big Day

Colors play a big role in all parts of a wedding, from beginning to end. Learn how to narrow down the choices and pick wedding colors you love for your wedding day.

Choosing colors for a wedding needs to be done early in the wedding planning process. Colors, or the theme of the wedding, play a factor in choosing wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, decorations, bridal party attire, and many other decisions.

Narrowing down the choices for wedding colors can seem overwhelming simply because so many decisions hinge upon what the colors the bride and groom choose. However, taking into consideration all the aspects of the wedding can help the couple narrow down their wedding color choices and plan the wedding of their dreams.

The Season of The Wedding
The seasons have long been inspiring to brides and grooms who are trying to decide what their wedding colors should be. Each season has its own palette of colors that occur naturally, and many trends, from fashion to wedding decor seem to follow the ebb and the flow of the seasonal change.

Spring and summer weddings are great for pastel colors or bright, bold colors. Fall weddings, however, seem to draw deeper, more earthy tones rich with reds, browns, golds, and violet shades. Winter can inspire light and airy wedding colors such as pastel blue and white or gold and ivory, but can also denote deep jewel tones or warm and cozy colors.

Are The Wedding Colors Easy To Find?
The availability of the color should be a determining factor when it comes to choosing wedding colors. It is important to think about how widely a color will be used throughout the wedding theme. It the primary wedding color is going to be used throughout all of the wedding decor, then the bride and groom should check to make sure that the color is available for attire, tablecloths, flowers, and other wedding decor.

Wedding songs are a very important factor to consider when planning your wedding. They set the general mood and tone for your ceremony or reception, while also allowing you to express your feelings through music.Chapel of Love-Dixie Cups, The

Prelude music: Played prior to the ceremony, while guests are arriving.

• Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven)
• Isn’t It Romantic (Glenn Miller)
• Water Music (Handel)
• Ave Maria (Schubert / Gounod)
• The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
• Greensleeves (Traditional)
• Rhapsody In Blue (Gershwin)
• God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
• As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Tony Bennett)
• Arioso (Bach)
• Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
• Brandenburg Concerto #2 (Bach)
• Gloria (Vivaldi)
• Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)

Processional & Bridal music: Played during the time the family, wedding party, and the bride walk down the aisle.

• Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) from “Lohengrin” (Wagner)
• Trumpet Voluntary in D (The Prince of Denmark’s March) (Clarke or Purcell)
• Canon in D (Pachelbel)
• The Four Seasons (Handel)
• Water Music (Handel)
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
• I Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)
• In My Life (The Beatles)
• March From Lohengrin (Wagner)

Interlude music (optional): The songs played during the ceremony.

• Ave Maria (Schubert)
• Amazing Grace (Traditional)
• La Traviata (Verdi)
• Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach)
• And I Love Her (The Beatles)
• Primavera: First Movement, Allegro (Vivaldi)
• Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)
• Für Elise (Beethoven)
• We’ve Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)
• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)

Recessional music: Music played as the new husband and wife walk up the aisle together.

• Wedding March (from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”) (Mendelssohn)
• Ode To Joy (from The Ninth Symphony) (Beethoven)
• Hallelujah Chorus (from “The Messiah”) (Handel)
• Trumpet Tune (Purcell)
• Magnificat In D (Bach)
• The Long And Winding Road (The Beatles)
• I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown)
• How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
• Then He Kissed Me (The Crystals)
• I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher)

Reception music:

First Dance music: First dance as husband and wife.

• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole)
• Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
• Can I Have This Dance? (Ann Murray)
• The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
• It Had To Be You (Harry Connick, Jr.)
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
• Endless Love (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie)
• I Cross My Heart (George Strait)
• I Swear (John M. Montgomery or All 4 One)
• A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
• As Time Goes By (A Kiss Is Just A Kiss) (Michael Feinstein)
• When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
• Faithfully (Journey)
• No Ordinary Love (Sade)
• Here And Now (Luther Vandross)
• I Can Love you Like That (John M. Montgomery)
• Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
• Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
• Everything I Do {I Do For You} (Bryan Adams)
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge or Michael Bolton)
• All My Life (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
• I’ll Be There (Mariah Carey)
• On Bended Knee (Boyz II Men)
• At Last (Etta James)
• Don’t Know Much (Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville)
• From This Moment On (Shania Twain)
• Our Love Is Here To Stay (Harry Connick, Jr.)
• Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)

*These are the most requested songs, but there are many others. Ask your DJ.

Father/Daughter music: The dance between the new bride and her father.

• My Girl (The Temptations)
• Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
• Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
• The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
• My Dad (Paul Petersen)
• Hero (Mariah Carey)
• Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
• Times of Your Life (Paul Anka)
• A Song For My Daughter (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
• The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
• Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
• Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
• My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)
• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
• Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
• Daddy’s Hand (Holly Dunn)
• Daddy’s little Girl (Kippi Brannon)
• Daddy’s Girl (Peter Cetera)
• Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof – Sndtrk)
• Lullabye (Billy Joel)
• A Whole New World (Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle)
• How Do You Fall In Love (Alabama)
• Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)
• Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
• Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Gigi)
• Father’s Eyes (Amy Grant)
• Friends (Elton John)
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)

Mother/Son music: The dance between the husband and his mother.

• Don’t Know Much (Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville)
• Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
• I.O.U (Jimmy Dean)
• Moon River (Andy Williams)
• Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
• ‘Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
• Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
• Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
• Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
• Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstong)
• In This Life (Bette Midler)
• You’re The Inspiration (Chicago)
• Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
• Friends (Elton John)
• Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
• Blessed (Elton John)
• Hero (Mariah Carey)
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
• A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
• Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof – Sndtrk)
• In My Life (The Beatles)
• Ever I Saw Your face (Roberta Flasck)
• Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
• I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
• Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
• Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

Bridal Party Dances music: The dance including the Bride & Groom, Bridesmaids & Groomsmen, and family members.

• That’s What Friends Are For (Dionne & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
• Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Elton John)
• Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)
• We Are Family (Sister Sledge)
• Friends (Elton John)
• Heroes and Friends (Randy Travis)
• In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
• Celebration (Kool & The Gang)

Cutting The Cake music: Played while the Bride & Groom cut the cake.

• Cut the Cake (Average White Band)
• I Wanna Grow Old With You (Adam Sandler)
• How Sweet It Is (James Taylor)
• Sugar, Sugar (The Archies)
• Hit me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
• When I’m 64 (The Beatles)
• Recipe For Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
• That’s Amore’ (Dean Martin)
• Happy Together (The Turtles)
• Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)
• I Got You Babe (Sunny & Cher)
• Love & Marriage (Frank Sinatra)
• Oh Yeah! (Yello)
• Axel F (Harold Faltermeyer)
• Peter Gunn Theme

Money/Dollar (Honeymoon) Dance music (Optional) Played during the time the Bride & Groom dance with guests while the Best man and Maid of Honor collect the money for their honeymoon.

• See music list above: “Bridal Party Music”
• Ask your DJ for suggestions

Garter And Bouquet Toss music: Played during the bouquet toss and garter toss.

• The Stripper (David Rose)
• Legs (ZZ Top)
• You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)
• Oh Yeah! (Yello)
• Macho Man (Village People)
• Theme From Mission Impossible (Danny Elfman)
• Wild Thing (The Troggs or Tone Loc)
• Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
• Bad Boys (Inner Circle)
• Another One Bites The Dust (Queen)
• Curly Shuffle (Jump n’ The Saddle)
• Kiss (Prince)
• Do Ya Think I’m Sexy (Rod Stewart)
• Gimme All Your Lovin’ (ZZ Top)
• Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
• Freak Me (Silk)
• Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
• Heaven (Bryan Adams)
• U Can’t Touch This (MC Hammer)
• Shameless (Garth Brooks)
• *Girls Night Out (The Judds)
• *Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
• *Whipped Cream {Dating Game Theme} (Herb Alpert)
• *Miss America Theme (Various)

*Songs for Bouquet Toss Only.

Last Dance music: The last song of the night for the Bride & Groom and their remaining guests.

• Last Dance (Donna Summer)
• New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
• Good Riddance {Time Of Your Life} (Green Day)
• From This Moment On (Shania Twain & Bryan White)
• Save The Best For Last (Vanessa Williams)
• Wonderful Tonight (David Kersh)
• Could I Have This Dance (Anne Murray)
• You’re Still The One (Shania Twain)
• Closing Time (Semisonic)
• Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
• I’ve Had The Time Of My Life (Bill Medly & Jennifer Warnes)
• How Your Love Makes Me Feel (Diamond Rio)
• Goodnight, Sweetheart (David Kersh)
• The Party’s Over (Nat King Cole)
• Goodnight Sweetheart (Spaniels)
• What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
• The Dance (Garth Brooks)
• Truly, Madly, Deeply (Savage Garden)
• Always And Forever (Heatwave)

2010 Wedding Color Trends

A change in the wedding color palette signals the start of a new season of wedding fashion. While 2009 boasted soft colors, 2010 wedding color trends are about bold color choices. Purple, and all of the shades within that color spectrum, will be the hottest 2010 wedding color. Bridal stores are pushing a monochromatic wedding color scheme with purple. For example, dressing bridesmaids in several coordinating purple colors for a dramatic, but elegant look.

Other popular 2010 wedding colors include bold blue colors that aren’t quite as deep as navy blue, but not as light as sky blue, either. Ruby, coral, and light grey colors are also popular for 2010 weddings.

1. Jeanne Lanvin by Lanvin is a floral fruity fragrance for women. Jeanne Lanvin is a new fragrance and it was introduced in 2008. The nose behind this fragrance is Anne Flipo. Top notes are blackberry, citruses and pear; middle notes are peony, freesia and raspberry; base notes are sandalwood, amber and musk.

2. Anais Anais Created by Cachael was introduced in 1979. This fine fragrance contains lilac, citrus, ylang-ylang and is accented with orange, leather and musk making Anais Anais perfect for romantic occasions. The delicate and ultra-feminine Anaïs Anaïs fragrance blends sweet rose, voluptuous lily, creamy amber and powerful sandalwood. A trace of frankincense seals the accord for a sensation of pleasure and intrigue.

3.Ricci Ricci Perfume Eau de Parfum Spray. Ricci Ricci embodies a new strong female heroine urban and malicious …

A true expression of glamorous and daring, the eau de parfum Ricci Ricci charmed by his notes at once fresh, floral and sensual scent whose wealth is based in particular on the Belle de Nuit. Flower unique and mysterious, it intoxicates all who breathe. The bottle ribbon sculpture is the jewel of this fragrance just as modern classic.

HOW TO PROPOSE: A GROOM’S GUIDE

Think about her

As tempting as it may be to ask for her hand at half time, remember: This moment will be a trillion times more important to her than it could ever be for you—and will be retold by her again and again—so consider what she would truly like. Think back. She has probably dropped a hint or two along the way and will appreciate any effort you make to personalize the proposal in a way that says, “Yes, I’ve been paying attention … I totally get you.”

Timing is everything

Just as important as how you pop the question can be when you do it. If your fiancée has always had her heart set on October nuptials, you’ll want to ask her about 18 month in advance. A proposal on Valentine’s Day, while an ultraromantic day of the year, leaves you a little over seven months to plan a fall wedding—not much time.

Public or private proposal?

Asking her to marry you at a family gathering or televised event can be exhilarating and special. But unless you are absolutely sure she will be thrilled, think twice about this option. It’s for guys who know the answer before they ask and not for those secretly hoping she won’t be able to say no with an audience. Are you confident she’s game? Consider an Engagement on Ice and propose to your sweetie at Rockefeller Center’s legendary ice rink in N.Y.C.

Make a memory

Hiring a videographer to secretly catch the proposal on film is an increasingly popular route guys are going these days. This is also a great way to test-drive a videographer you might want to consider for the big day. If you’re on a tight budget, however, why not call in an early favor from a groomsman-to-be?

Don’t be afraid to keep it simple

Some guys form elaborate plans involving props like white horses, strolling violinists or billboards. Big proposals are impressive, but heartfelt declarations of enduring love will win her over every time, even if they take place spontaneously and without fanfare. Just remember, the more elaborate the plan, the greater opportunity for it to malfunction.

Proposal planner

Yes, they do exist, and they can really help out a guy who’s lost for words or stumped for the perfect proposal spot. Many wedding planners provide this service, so that’s a great place to start your search. What they do: offer diamond-buying tips, dos and don’ts, ideas on where and how to pop the question, what to say and more! Strapped for cash? Try hitting up her mom or sister for proposal advice and search the Internet for ideas too.

Pick the spot

Think of places with meaning for the two of you: your first-date restaurant, the park where you met, even in the empty rooms of your new home. Or plan a destination proposal while vacationing in the south of France or the Caribbean. Popping the question in a place you can visit each year on your wedding anniversary also adds a special touch.

Make a plan

Intending to fall to one knee in a romantic restaurant? Make reservations and explain your plan, so that the staff will be super attentive. Choosing to surprise her at her favorite art museum? Ask a friend to chill a bottle of champagne and put out glasses and some flowers for your arrival home afterward.

Should you ask permission?

That depends on you and your girlfriend. While some women think this is a completely charming tradition, others will be appalled that you would ask her father’s or a family member’s “permission” for her hand (note: asking their “blessing” is often a more amenable approach and less problematic should a parent object). On the other hand, most parents adore this tradition because it clues them in that you are about to pop the question and also shows your respect for them.

Think about the ring

Many a brave man has decided to forgo buying the ring until the question has been asked so his fiancée can pick out her ring. Considerate or cowardly? (We judge not.) But if you’re looking for a little insurance against disappointment, it is perfectly acceptable to take her “looking” for rings if you’ve been discussing marriage. If you’re flying solo on this one, using jewelry she already owns and wears—gold or silver, modern or antique—is a good indicator of the type of ring she may like. And many jewelers offer temporary settings you can borrow for the proposal and later swap for the ring of her dreams. For tips on buying a ring she’ll love, visit ourWedding Rings Essential Guide.

Keep the ring safe

Slipping the ring into your pocket each day until you find the right moment to pop the question is a recipe for disaster. Keep the ring in the box in a safe (and secret) place until you are certain you are ready. Planning on proposing away from home? Never check the ring with your baggage—your carry-on is your safest option.

Read real couples’ proposal stories and get inspired!

HOW TO THROW AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Guest list

One of the main challenges of throwing a party so early on in the wedding planning stage is that you are forced to really think about who you would like to invite to your wedding. Extending an invitation to only your closest friends and family members buys you a little time in finalizing your complete list for the big day.

A formal affair?

There are no rules when it comes to the formality of this fete. A poolside party at your parents’ home or a sit-down country club dinner is fair game.

Time to party

If your engagement period will last a year or longer, set the date for your party a month or two after the proposal. If you are tying the knot quickly, say, within six months, you may want to consider skipping this celebration to prevent guests from feeling obliged to attend two parties so close together. With such a short engagement, you’ll also likely want to dive right into planning the main event.

Meet the parents

The engagement party is a great opportunity to gather everyone together—especially if both families haven’t met—to toast your upcoming nuptials. The more comfortable everyone is with one another, the smoother the planning process will be.

Is a party right for you?

This celebration is certainly not a mandatory part of the wedding-party roundup. If you’re on a tight budget or have a short engagement, you may want to forgo this fete. Sending out a simple “we’re engaged!” card is a classy, budget-conscious alternative.

Playing host

While the parents of the bride traditionally assume the role of planning the engagement party, there are no hard-and-fast rules. The couple or even a dear friend can certainly host the event.

Gift giving

Showering the newly engaged with gifts at their engagement party is completely optional. But since some guests simply won’t stand for showing up empty-handed, preregister for a few items early on. Just don’t include your registry on the invite, it’s—in a word—tacky.

Scam #3: Bridal Shops Sell Used or Damaged Wedding Gowns as New

How the scam works: The typical scenario is you order what you think is a brand new wedding dress, paying in full by cash or check, because the bridal shop does not accept credit cards. They promise you the dress will arrive in 2 to 3 months in plenty of time for your wedding. The bridal dress shop is supposed to order your new dress from the manufacturer, which is usually how wedding gowns are purchased, as they are generally custom made to your measurements. After several months go by, longer than you were told of course, you begin to panic, the bridal shop keeps stalling you, if they even return your phone calls at all. Your wedding dresses somehow mange to arrive at the shop, but only within a week of your wedding. You quickly find out your wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses are either store samples, or have been used before. They either have damage, lipstick and other cosmetics stains from the previous girl who wore the dress, or they are dirty and dusty on the bottom, another sign indicating prior use of your dress. If your dresses were brand new, there would be no sign of blemishes or dirt anywhere, because you paid for a new $1000+ dress right? Of course your dresses are in the wrong size too, another indicator that something is afoul, and of course your wedding gowns have no labels on them in violation of the FTC’s Textile Act, so now you have no way of verifying if your wedding dress is authentic. It’s obvious this is not the order you placed, and the bridal shop is scrambling to make it appear that is the order you placed even though the dresses appear to be too big. Since the dresses don’t fit, now you and your bridesmaids are required to shell out hundreds more to the bridal shop to make the alterations for the dresses to fit you, although they measured you when you bought the dress and they should fit since the manufacturer is top notch, and you are paying top notch money for top notch service right? Some bridal shops might even blame you for weight changes, but a simple step onto the scale can quickly put a stop to that claim. This scam is sometimes combined with the “Bridal Shops Lie About Being An Authorized Reseller for Your Wedding Gown” scam.

Possible root causes for this scam: Maybe the bridal shop forgot to place your order. This happens all the time and with your wedding drawing near, they know they must produce something quick, so they find something that looks close and pray you don’t notice any difference. They cut off the label so you don’t know that your wedding dress is not the real Demetrios wedding dress or the real Vera Wang wedding gown. Another possible reason would be the case of a real unscrupulous salesperson who has some previously used wedding dresses lying around that they cannot unload, and they just happen to be close to your size. So they let you order your new wedding dress, but substitute these used wedding gowns or samples instead. Often the wedding dress will have damage or residue from cosmetics on them.

How To Avoid The Scam: It’s pretty hard for you to prevent another human from lying and cheating you like this. But you can improve your odds by screening your bridal shops before you go shopping there to avoid shops that have a history of complaints for this scam. You should check any wedding vendor you plan to employ in the Better Business Bureau database or on RipoffReport.com. Additionally, you should go to your clerk of the county court web site, type in the name of the business, and see if any court cases have been filed against them. It takes 30 seconds to find bad weeds in the thicket and few people think to do these most basic checks. If a bridal shop has pulled this scam before, chances are there will be complaints somewhere, and you should always learn off other people’s misfortunes, not your own. I checked one well known local Fort Lauderdale bridal shop in the Broward County Records web site, and found several lawsuits against them by disgruntled brides, as well as tax lien notices from the state, and they had an “unsatisfactory record with the BBB due to a failure to respond to complaints.” Had those brides spent 5 minutes on this search, this would have alerted the brides, and they could have saved thousands in losses and aggravation. Also, make sure you order your wedding gowns as far in advance as possible to allow for delays from the manufacturer, which can be up to 5 months or more.

Scam #2: Overseas Diamond Jewelry Stores Lie About Diamond Quality and Guarantees

How the scam works: You’re on a cruise in the Caribbean and in your stateroom you’ll see flyers placed there on your bed by your cruise line recommending certain local retailers at ports of call along your cruise route. You visit one of the cruise ship recommended international diamond stores on one of these Caribbean islands, and the sales people make all sorts of false claims about the quality of the diamond you are about to buy. They make lofty promises about how wonderful their guarantees are and you can exchange them in their store in New York if you are unsatisfied. You find out later after you return to the United States and get the ring appraised locally that your diamond is several grades of quality less than what they told you, and suddenly that low price you thought you were getting turns out to be a rip-off. You try to cash in on that satisfaction guarantee and quickly find no satisfaction, they are not answering your emails or returning phone calls. If you do manage to contact a human, they make up all sorts of excuses why you are not getting your money back. You just found out the hard way that laws in the U.S. do not protect you in overseas countries, and these retailers know there is nothing you can do to them and no law enforcement agency will come to your rescue. One victim was sold a $900 broken Movado watch and the salesperson claimed the automatic movement would take 36 hours until the watch would work. Of course the watch never worked, nor will the retailer accept a return for refund. There is an endless supply of starry eyed suckers blinded by the euphoric greed of “saving half off the cost of diamonds in the U.S.” But the lying about quality occurs all the time in diamond jewelry stores inside the US too. You should always have the full specs of your diamond itemized on the invoice, and you should get the GIA certificate for the diamond or else you should not buy it. Also, never ever make payments on a diamond engagement ring. If you cannot pay for it all at once and take it with you then do not buy. Victims who were making payments report that the jewelry store went out of business while collecting payments. Often unscrupulous businesses will keep on receiving funds right up until the day they shut their doors.

How To Avoid The Scam: We will shout this out loud until we are blue in the face. DO NOT EVER BUY DIAMONDS, EXPENSIVE WATCHES, OR EXPENSIVE JEWELRY OUTSIDE THE U.S. Most of us are not seasoned experts in jewelry, and this is why people get taken. We all know what M&M’s taste like, so if someone sells us fake M&M’s we know instantly. But only a professional jeweler with their own 10x magnifying loupe can tell for sure if the diamond is of the quality which the salespeople claim. Personally I don’t trust any recommended retailers from the cruise ships, they just want you shop from the retailers who paid them to have the flyers placed in your rooms.We received complaints from people who cruised on Princess and on Carnival about recommendations made by these cruise lines. If you can get internet access, you’ll want to research the retailers recommended by the cruise ship on Better Business Bureau or RipoffReport.com. There you’ll get the true picture of what you’ll expect. The BBB might not have foreign retailers listed, RipoffReport will, and BBB might if the retailer is an international brand with a U.S. location.

Scam #1: Bridal Shops Cut The Dress Manufacturer Labels Off Wedding Gowns

How the scam works: Some bridal dress shops remove the dress manufacturer’s label from wedding dresses on the racks to prevent you from comparison shopping with other stores. If you can’t tell which model of dress it is, then you shopping blind. We get angry email from dress shop owners justifying their crime with bogus excuses like “we don’t like tire kickers that come in here, waste our time, then go somewhere else”. Wow, I feel sorry for car dealers then. How many people do you think stream in and out of dealerships every day before one of them buys? Yet I don’t see Toyota removing the Toyota tag off your car so that you cannot comparison shop. This is considered an unfair and deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission’s Textile Act, punishable by federal district court action for civil penalties up to $11,000 per violation, federal court proceedings, as well as other legal remedies. This strict regulation is similar to the law that requires all manufacturer labels to be present on mattresses until removed by the consumer. This wedding gown label removing scam is illegal and unethical, yet many shops who pull this scam on you will use all sorts of Jedi mind tricks to “prove” they are within their legal right, when of course they are not. Some bridal shops do it as a means to substitute cheaply made knock offs for the original higher priced custom made couture.

How to avoid the scam: If you walk into any bridal shop and you see this nonsense, just turn around and walk out. Any bridal store that thinks this low of you, with no regard to your legal rights provided by the FTC, and operates in this unethical mode, will surely pull other tricks on you later. If they think nothing about lying to you about this, then you can probably expect they will lie to you about returns, about delivery dates, about alterations, and even whether they are an authorized reseller of your wedding gown. If you are foolish enough to continue doing business with a bridal shop after all this, then you should at least get everything in writing about which wedding dress manufacturer and model, and size of the wedding gown you are buying, and any promises of alterations or any other guarantees about ordering time or refunds. If they refuse this, then only the biggest fool in the world would buy anything from that bridal shop.

What to do if this scam happens to you: Inspect your dress before you leave the shop and verify the designer label is on it. If it is not, then leave the wedding dress at the store, and immediately file court action against the shop. You should also enlist the help of the dress manufacturer. You should immediately file a complaint through your state’sAttorney General Web site and indicate they are violating the FTC’s Textile Act. Next, you should fill out the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Complaint Form. Lastly, you should report them to the Better Business Bureau, so that other brides doing research before shopping for a wedding dress can have a heads up. Also try a local TV consumer reporter, businesses hate to be featured on the news in a bad light.