One of the first things you notice when shopping for your winter wedding is that some designers seem never to have heard of the North at all. (Some can be forgiven, since they live in more temperate climates.) To them, every dress is a summer dress, with variations based on the level of pomp and circumstance, not the weather.
But if you happen to fall in love with a summery design despite the fact that average temps for your wedding day hover around 20 below, never fear -- you still have options.
One gorgeous look for the winter bride is a strapless gown topped by a faux fur-trimmed, hooded cloak. Throw back the hood, wear your hair in a sleek, tiara-topped chignon, then warm your hands with a luxuriant fur muff. Of course, this combo won't quite work if your dress is made of a delicate chiffon, so to be sure to choose a gown that's substantial and lined, made of satin, brocade or any other heavy fabric.
Another popular choice is an asymmetrical faux fur wrap that rests on one shoulder, or the fur or marabou shrug that covers both. These styles are the perfect finish for a strapless gown with minimal beading.
Capelets and stoles are more substantial faux-fur accessories with a dramatic, ice princess look, but they obscure more of your dress.
Wintertime isn't only the perfect season to bring out the "ice," it's also ideal for wearing strong colors under that snow-white cloak or shrug. A bold red gown will take your guests' breath away, and would be especially nice for a Christmas wedding. Other brides may find that pale blue gowns suit their winter wonderland fantasy to a 't', while this season's trend toward bold black beading complements almost any wintertime affair.
Winter is also a terrific time to go all-out with ball gown, princess or A-line silhouettes, cathedral-length veils and trains (make sure they're detachable), sleek formal updos, and plenty of glittering jewelry. St. Pucchi's Classics line has some wonderfully lacy, lined, trumpet-sleeved gowns that fit the bill perfectly.
For the more daring bride, Monique Lhuillier offers a few offbeat gowns with a vintage touch that also suit the winter months, with their long sleeves and illusion lace bodices. If you go to a major couture clearinghouse and search for long-sleeved dresses, you might find season-appropriate gowns by Reem Acra, Paloma Couture and Carolina Herrera, for starters. But if your budget's not up to the occasional $5,000 price tag, see if a local seamstress can't copy the dress you desire for a much more palatable price.
And while we're talking tailors, remember those gorgeous winter wedding gowns you saw in the magazines -- the ones with dramatic faux-fur trim sewn right into the sleeves and neckline? The ones that, alas, are impossible to find? See if your seamstress couldn't pull that off herself.
As for the shoes -- well, you could wear something practical and change right before you enter the chapel. But winter brides have the perfect excuse to wear those beautiful lace-up wedding boots ... an opportunity not to be missed.
I'm sure most of us could site incidents we have experienced with bosses that would benefit from management training. To reach a managerial level in any company you first have to display a level of expertise in your field. Of course, being great at your job and brilliant at filling out paperwork does not automatically mean you are good at man management and without that you will find your department subject to a high staff turnover.
However you have worked your way through the ranks you would do well to remember that you were once in the same position as those below you in rank and that you could just as easily find yourself back there. Trying to exert your authority by force and bullying will never work and is a very old fashioned way of working. Bad management leads to unhappy employees and a significantly less productive workforce.
While working as a secretary I was talking to one of the other employees who was passing through the office and the banter led to some minimal laughter. This resulted in my manager bellowing from his office, demanding to know what we thought we were doing. When we told him we were laughing he told us he doesn't pay us to laugh so pack it in1 An ideal candidate for management training if ever I saw one!
Unrealistic rules are a big no-no when it comes to efficiently managing a workforce. If you try to suppress your staff you will find yourself severely disliked and while it may not be a popularity competition, you would get so much more from your staff were you to treat them properly. Being unrealistic and setting petty rules would also cover the same boss that I spoke of earlier who also went on to allocate the number of teabags each employee was allowed to use in a day.
One of the first rules management training will advise you of is that of not ridiculing your staff in public. Nobody wants to be made to feel small or useless in front of others. If a problem needs addressing the staff member in question, as well as all the others, will appreciate it if you would carry it out in the privacy of your own office. Also, take this opportunity to listen and be fair rather than wading in with your size tens and automatically criticising.
For those companies that carry out their own in-house management training, listening to the ideas of others is vital. If everyone feels they are able to make a worthwhile contribution and that their ideas are taken seriously they are much more likely to work that little bit harder for the company, which in turn reflects on your managements skills.
Praising people with balance is never an easy thing to do. You don't want them to feel that you are faking it and you don't want them to feel like children but if staff know they are appreciated, they are much more likely to give that extra percentage that makes the difference to end of month figures.
Bosses are very often in fear of someone else taking over their jobs and can have a tendency to suppress their workforce in a bid to prevent this from happening. Management training will teach them that if everyone is allowed room for professional growth you won't lose your job, you will have a productive company that reflects well on your own skills.
When giving instructions to staff, be clear and precise without simplifying everything too much. If the people below you know what is expected. They are much better placed to produce the work quickly and efficiently, thus feeling like they have done their job well and being much keener to come into work the following day. Just get on with it just doesn't cover it.
Do not ignore the individuality of your employees, Each of them bring a unique quality to your business and this should be embraced and encouraged. Also, management training will tell you that you cannot ignore the fact that staff have personal lives and try as we might, it is not always humanly possible to cut one off from the other. 'Don't bring your problems to work' is a popular phrase among bosses but will make you appear cold and callous. Often, a member of staff will simply need the leeway to air their current problem to a sympathetic ear and then, feeling lighter, will return to work unhindered.
Management training is an effective way of learning how to deal with not only your business but your staff also. Man management is often overlooked but is probably the most essential part of the position you hold.
Both Blake Kritzberg & Catherine Harvey are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Blake Kritzberg has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marriage, Wedding Gowns and Wedding Bells. Stop by for FavorIdeas.com for fantastic and. Blake Kritzberg's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.
Catherine Harvey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Culture and Society, Home and Wedding Gowns. Employment expert Catherine Harvey looks at the use of to show how to lead in the workplace.. Catherine Harvey's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.