Wedding Special: Galia Lahav Designs

Galia Lahav is recognised in Israel and abroad with prestige and elegance thanks to her unique and luxurious designs of evening dresses and bridal gowns.

She was born in Russia and was educated in Israel. Galia was involved in art and teaching for 15 years and in her 30’s found the way to express her big love for fashion, romance and sensuality and started to design haute couture bridal and evening dresses at her fashion house.

Galia Lahav’s collections are spectacular and unique and exhibit modern style while emphasizing the small details, the sewing quality and luxurious European imported fabrics. 

The fashion house “Galia Lahav” grew and developed for more than 3 decades and became a brand name in Israel and abroad with its flag branch in Tel-Aviv and another 2 branches in Ashdod.

Galia Lahav designs evening dresses and bridal gowns for powerful and elegant women.

The fashion house “Galia Lahav” sets a new level for elite fashion in evening dresses and bridal gowns in Israel and abroad.

In 2008, Galia Lahav designed the dresses for the TV show “Dancing with the stars” and nowadays Galia Lahav designs all the bridal and evening dresses for the Israeli beauty contest.

Galia Lahav designs dresses for celebrities and society women and consider as one of the leading designer.

Sandra Kemppainen, Galia Lahav Photography by Yaniv Endry

Wedding Special: How To Plan Your Own Wedding? - Styles, Tips Do’s & Don’ts! part 2

Read part 1 here.

Music

When it comes to a wedding you need to keep in mind that at the end of the day it is a party. 

It is actually the biggest & most important party in your life so do you know what that means? Fun! Dancing & laughing! 

With wedding music & entertainment you can go two ways: band or DJ (or even both actually). A band will probably set a different tone depending on their style & genre, but make sure you’re not too extreme (not all guests have the same music tastes and you wouldn’t want them to get bored or worse leave, right?). 

I know all your men are into rock and Metallica, but I reckon it’ll be too much to pull for an all night’er. 

So make sure the band is pretty decent and eclectic, or just super famous. Ha! (then nobody will care anymore). 

If however you want to please most of your guests and have a dance party guaranteed, go for a DJ. They will know how to make the crowd dance they heels off, arms in the air and have an unforgettable time. For a special entertainment moment you can throw in a band you love (for an hour or two performance) and that way everyone’s happy. 

Photography

Ah... make it a night to remember and have fun! After all that’s what it’s all about – the great memories. Which brings me to one of the most important pieces in a wedding: the photos! 

Make sure you choose a professional photographer whom you have chemistry with, who knows your style, has the same tastes, shares the same ideas.  

If you’re a super crazy rebel fun couple you will probably not get what you want from a photographer who’s your opposite. Sure the photos have to look good (it goes without saying, technique wise) but they need to capture your personalities & the party mood.

Plus he/she have to have a good eye for spotting the right moments to photograph. 

All in all, look for the person rather than the agency. 

If you hit it off, view their portfolios & ask for references. 

It is very important to let them know you ideas, vison and expectations of the event, how you'd like the photos to be, what is the vibe you want to transpose. Ask them to do the 'Trash The Dress” part for a discount, and see what other services they can provide: photo albums, covers, DVDs, video. 

And also how long will they shoot during the event (from the time you put your makeup on, until the last guest, or just the ceremony and the party). 

Basically you need to tell them everything and talk them through your ideas. And then... seal the deal. 

The Wedding Dress & Outfits

Oh I can almost get chills & hear wedding bells now. When it comes to the dress do not settle for less, and do not compromise. 

Princess, A-line, Greek style, mermaid, trumpet, large, slim-fit, ruffled, simple, embellished, lace, beads, long, short, strapless, backless... Literally the sky is the limit. 

You’d think it was easy to pick the dress, once you know the style you want, but there are so many shops, it’s overwhelming. Online is another way to go (prepare for millions of options, mind you) just make sure the reviews are real & they do returns. 

The tricky part about the dress is that 

besides looking fabulous it needs to feel 

comfortable. Yeah right. 

My tip on this one: go for a simple, easy to wear dress, that looks rather classic with a twist, or subtly sexy, elegant, edgy (depending on your style). You will have this moment in your memory and the guests' memory (not to mention all those photos) forever. Wouldn't you rather have you grand-kids say how beautiful you looked, rather than laugh their pants off at that dress, that 20 years ago was a summer hit? 

So go for timeless elegance & beauty. I love a super long, white, mermaid, strapless dress with subtle lace & few beads for extra glamor. 

Shoes need to be high but comfortable. A heel is a must, and if you cannot handle one for the whole night, just kick your shoes off. Or switch them for ballet pumps or sneakers for some edge.

 If you have bridesmaids, talk to them, ask them what they'd like, don't impose and demand styles and looks they're not comfortable with. 

Basically they should all agree on only one thing: same dress design & style or same color (if all have different opinions). 

My girls are all going for the same color & fabric just three different dress designs.

Then come the boys. You husband must wear a tuxedo. Now if he chooses to wear a waistcoat, black, blue or white shirt I think it's really up to him. Cut him some slack girl! 

His best men should all be wearing tuxedos and same color shirts. Of course you may have specific requests for guests as well (remember Kim Kardashian's wedding when guests were all required to wear only black or white) or for your family. 

For instance I've asked my father & father-in-law to stick to tuxedos and my mother and mother-in-law to long gowns. After all my wedding will be red carpet glamor meets simplicity! 

Jewelery is a must but again delicate, simple not too opulent. This for me is a huge sacrifice, as I am such a statement pieces kind of girl, but I figure I need to keep it simple. Besides a pair of sparkling studs (not those tiny ones though) with a thin necklace & bracelet will do. 

Wedding Invitations | Makeup & Hair

Announce your guests the wedding date a few months in advance, so they do not have something else planned, especially if it’s summer time, and everyone will book their holidays. So make sure you send your invites via email or Post Office and write on them the necessary info: your names, date, venue, location, RSVP date & contact. 

Regarding the design of the invites keep it simple and rather classic so they can be easily matched with the menu on the tables and the seating cards. 

And when it comes to makeup & hair we all want to look our best, yet at what cost? Do not experiment with lipstick colors, eye-shadows, haircuts/styles/colors that day! Do not over do it. A bride needs to be simple & beautiful not caked on makeup.  

If you go for red lips, keep the rest simple. If you go for smoky eyes, opt for nude lips.

You might want to go for false lashes for a bit of drama (choose a medium size, don’t go over the top).

They will definitely better define and enhance your eyes and look amazing in photos. 

Hair must be clean & healthy. You can either go for a bun (high, Spanish, low, loose) or let your hair down (natural luscious waves look amazing). Don't overdo it on hairspray & products, you want your hair to move with you, right?

A couple of weeks to the wedding have a final check of everything and delegate! You've got friends & family and I am sure your bridesmaids, best-men or parents would not mind keeping an eye on things in between the delicious food, great music and tequila shots. 

I have chosen to have fun and refuse to turn into one of those desperate hysterical bridezillas. 

Whatever happens, it's a party and the tone should be just that, of guests having fun & feeling relaxed. 

I know everyone will give you plenty of advice and seem to know better than you what it is that you like. 

Just take a deep breath... step aside and let them talk forever for all you care. It is you who is getting married and it is your night. Make it special & true to yourself. It has to be genuine, to reflect your styles & personalities so that both you & your friends will make it a night to remember. 

And besides, the wedding is just a party where you have to look fabulous, feel good & dance away your emotions... it's the marriage that holds the biggest importance and lasts a lifetime! Or so they say, right? 

xoxo

by Dana Cristina Malaescu

Fashion Editor at FashionTag

Photos: Sandra Rugina, freedigitalphotos.net

Wedding Special: How To Plan Your Own Wedding? - Styles, Tips Do’s & Don’ts! part 1

When the right time and the right man come along and that special thing called love & passion hit you, you just know you’re in for the happiest ride of your life: your wedding. 

by Dana Cristina Malaescu

Fashion Editor at FashionTag

Photos: Sandra Rugina, freedigitalphotos.net

The thrills, happiness & excitement that come with a proposal are like the highest rush of adrenaline and butterflies, but as soon as the feeling settles (not yet in my case, still can’t get used to the thought) the chaos begins: 

Planning your wedding. 

Of course you can always go for the easy way out and hire a wedding planner, given money is not an issue, but that still requires you to have an idea of how you want your big day to be like. 

So yes, I am getting married this summer and am so ecstatic about it! Well, when planning nerves & chaos are not taking over, that is. Brave as I am (and a bit of a control freak. There I said it), I have decided to organize the wedding myself. If you’re walking the same shoes... one advice for you my lovely ladies: don’t panic! 

Of course weddings are so different depending on cultures, countries, traditions but there are a few general rules that remain true no matter where you’re from. And it all begins with setting a date (and establishing whether it’s a day or night event). 

My wedding is in July, because I love a summer wedding (I am addicted to summer so that was a no brainer) and my boyfriend and I both have August birthdays, so I figured it would be amazing to have a lifetime of summer dates to celebrate by.

Party excuses, I know. When you talk dates you need to think at what type of wedding you love: spring (fresh, lots of flowers, cool climate), autumn (beautiful array of colours, more rustic) or winter (glacial elegance). And then comes the fun part – booking your venue. 

Venue

When looking for a venue you either know or don’t know yet your wedding theme, or you may just have an idea of how you’d like it to be and play along on whatever you find, trying to adapt it. One other thing to have in mind at this point is the number of guests (so you can do an approximate list just to have an idea of how many people you’d like to invite). Take your boyfriend with you so that he loves the place too.

It’s one of the few things you both need to agree on when planning the wedding (I don’t think he’ll care too much for decorations or flowers for instance). 

And off you go. Make as many venue viewings as possible and take into account the location as well. Start the viewings as in advance as you can (a year may sound so long, but it pays off, as you’ll have everything done and ready months before the event and avoid turning into a bridezilla weeks before the wedding).

The moment you step into a venue you know if it’s the right one or not. Much like with the dress. Sure you can compromise and go for a less fabulous place that you think you’ll decorate to make it look nice, but really? 

Compromise on your wedding day? The truth is... the more you need to decorate the more money you’ll spend.

My tip is to go for a simple elegant place that has beautiful chairs, tables, table cloths, walls, entrance, enough room for dancing, good lightning, clean bathrooms and included menu.

Make that delicious included-in-the-price menu. Most venues work with catering companies or are restaurants themselves, so ask for a food & drinks offer & quote and pick your faves.

And if both of you love it start negotiating. Think of all the extra personal touch bits you want to give to the place and ask if they can help out & include them in the price, or offer a discount. 

Try to sort out as many things as possible with the venue manager so that it leaves less fuss for you to worry about. 

I used to panic at the very thought of having to do so much leg work in between the venue, catering, flowers & decorating agencies. 

But thankfully I opted for a big restaurant, simple (all white: basic chairs, round tables with simple white table cloth, nude floor & walls and amazing diamond-looking curtains & huge candelabras). 

So basically I don’t need to decorate it at all. 

Huge tall flower table centerpieces for a splash of color are enough. And it perfectly fits my wedding idea: understated elegant glamor. 

If you love it, book it! And tick it off your list. 

Food & Drinks (Menu)

One of the most important things for your guests will definitely be the Menu: food & drinks. So make sure that whatever you choose (traditional or exotic) it tastes good and looks good. 

And then, depending on how long the event will last you need to figure out the number of courses and the time interval of serving them. 

Leave the cake for last as it will probably not even be included in that menu, but you’ll have to choose it and book it with a confectionery.

If you have vegetarian or special diet guests make sure to have separate dishes for them. 

When it comes to drinks you must serve them all: water (still & sparkle), sodas, natural juice, coffees, teas, wine, beers & spirits. Cocktails are optional.

Some restaurants have opened bar. If however you do not have all alcoholic drinks included ask permission to bring some. That means you need to purchase them separately so start looking for affordable liquor shops who offer discounts for such occasions.

For dessert it's highly likely that the restaurant or catering company does not cover this as it's usually custom made, so brace yourselves and use the wedding excuse to indulge in sweets as you go to choose your wedding cake. They can also provide you with the sweet & candy buffet (which can be color coordinated) and with sweet gift packages for your guests when they leave home. Taste as many flavors as you can before sticking to one and pay attention to detail and presentation. 

Decorations & Centerpieces

To have a complete venue full you must find a Wedding Decorations agency for the the table centerpieces, church flowers, bride’s bouquet and bride & groom table. 

If you know nothing about flowers, do not despair and just talk color with the floweriest. They will most definitely know what goes best with your theme and best fits your wedding ideas. 

What you can do here (that’s what I did and they found it most helpful) is show them photos of wedding arrangements & centerpieces  that you find online and you love and work your theme around them.

For an elegant glamorous vibe go for dark voluminous high centerpieces (I love deep violet peonies & hydrangeas as they give an ultra imperial glam elegance against the sparking white). 

Plus the high centerpieces will not crowd the table. 

If however you opt for a more fun, laid back, spring-ish wedding theme, the low colorful centerpieces look amazing. 

It is all a matter of taste. 

However, regardless of the style you choose make sure the presentation is top-notch.

Ask the agency to decorate your table (bride & groom) as well, following the same color pattern and also help out with a subtle simple flower arrangement for church. 

That just leaves the most important thing. The bride’s bouquet. You can do whatever you want as it’s your day, you need to shine, have fun, look the part and feel comfortable. 

If you ask me it does not even need to match the centerpieces. 

Go for colored fun bouquets or for simple ones or for extravagant, glam, tiny or big ones. The sky is the limit.

Put your personal touch on it, after all you’ll be the one holding it for so long. 

My tip is stick to simple (white or light shades) small & round (as I’ve heard it can be pretty heavy) so that it’s easy to hold, put down and pick up in a second. 

Besides... a small round white roses bouquet is way more feminine and cute than a big glamorous one. 

If you have bridesmaids it is better to ask them if they’d prefer a bouquet or just corsages. 

Now I know you’ve got your own ideas about how you want them to look, but remember it’s a party, they need to have fun, so don’t over do it and make them hold bouquets they hate and are utterly uncomfortable with. 

Corsages can be more chic, easier to make & wear and more affordable. 

When it comes to decorations you may also choose to have extra bits, especially if you need to glam up your venue. Or you may just want some personal things to pop up here and there that look fabulous: tiny boxes on tables, cute flowers, bows, custom made fashion & decoration bits that put a style together. 

My personal tip on this one: don’t over do it. Less is more. Stick to flowers alone. 

Read the rest in part 2.

xoxo

Dana Malaescu

Fashion Editor at FashionTag

Photos: Sandra Rugina, freedigitalphotos.net