Unveiling the truth about wedding dresses

The Federal Trade Commission is trying to make sure that brides-to-be get what they pay for when they buy a wedding dress - including all the information that federal law requires on wearing apparel.

The disclosures - including the manufacturer or seller, the fabric, the country where the garment was made, and cleaning instructions - must be included on every garment offered for sale, says the FTC. But they're particularly important on wedding dresses, arguably the most expensive and memorable purchases of a lifetime.

"There's no question that most brides-to-be look at the price tag on the outside of the dress before they look at the information on the inside label," said Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "But brides are telling us that they want the 'inside' information and that it's missing from some garments."

Bernstein said the emergence of discount ordering services - either through toll-free telephone numbers or the Internet - has spurred some retailers to remove disclosure labels from their gowns. It is not against the law to remove manufacturers' labels and replace them with a store's own labels, she said, but it is illegal to sell or show a gown that doesn't have the required information at all.

The FTC has issued a new brochure, "Wedding Gown Labels: Unveiling the Requirements," to alert manufacturers and retailers about the following disclosures required by law on all clothing offered for sale, including wedding gowns:

• the identity of the manufacturer, distributor or retailer, either by name or by registered identification number (RN). The FTC issues the RN, which consumers can use to identify a company should they have a complaint or a compliment to share. The FTC maintains an RN lookup service at its web site: www.ftc.gov
  
• the garment's fiber content. "This information is important to any shopper, and especially to brides," said Bernstein. "Who wants to pay the price of silk if the garment is polyester?"
  
• federal law requires that clothes carry a label that identifies the country or origin.
  
• all garments must carry permanently affixed care labels telling consumers how to clean and care for them.
  

"We hope that bridal gown businesses will refer to our business education brochure to make sure they're complying with the law and providing brides-to-be with the information they deserve," Bernstein said.

Copies of the Facts for Business, "Wedding Gown Labels: Unveiling the Requirements" are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357);

Las Vegas rates best honeymoon value

Las Vegas is the "best value" honeymoon destination and tops the list for gaming, according to Modern Bride's travel agent survey published earlier this year. Las Vegas ranked as the third best destination for weddings.

Here's a sampling of what travel agents said about Las Vegas:

"Las Vegas is a very 'up' town," Audrey Goldstein of Shenandoah Travel in Davie, Fla., told the magazine. "People go there for excitement and entertainment. Some are into gambling -- yet other couples go for the shows, which are some of the best around."

"You can get a mini-suite in Las Vegas for what an ordinary room would cost at a deluxe hotel elsewhere," said Leslie Aeed of Travel Creations in Phoenix.

"People love going to see all the wild hotels shaped like pyramids or with roller coasters zooming across the facades -- there's great people-watching!" said Natalie Hansen of Stockton Travel Service in Stockton, Calif.

Las Vegas is the United States' leading value destination -- and not just for honeymooners. The average room rate is $62, compared to the national
average of $75.16.

And it's true that Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world. More than 100,000 couples get hitched in Las Vegas each year, and 3,000 couples wed on Valentine's Day weekend alone. The ease and convenience of tying the knot in Las Vegas has led to a proliferation of professional wedding services -- offering everything from medieval costumes to ceremonies on motorcycles.

Survey: Institution of marriage is healthy

Town & Country magazine released the results of a survey conducted last year about marriage. One of the major findings indicated that most of the respondents (75%) were still in their first and only marriage and that 99% expect to stay married to their current spouse.

Pamela Fiori, editor-in-chief of Town & Country, said of the results, "It is encouraging to know that many couples do enjoy long, happy unions. With Valentine's Day approaching and our February issue devoted to weddings, I feel it is a perfect time to celebrate the institution of marriage."

Key findings:

• Contrary to the "terrible in-laws" stereotype, 83% describe relationships with in-laws to be good or excellent.

• When asked whether they considered their spouse the only person they could ever have married, 58% answered yes. But knowing what they now know about their spouse, 89% would still marry him or her again.

• 25.2% have sex 2 - 3 times a week or more, 38.4% once a week.

• Although almost half of the respondents (49.4%) indicated sexual compatibility and satisfaction are very important in their marriage, financial stress causes the most problems in marriage (32.6%), followed by infidelity (27.9%).

• 63.8% kiss their spouse more than once a day, 25% once a day and 3.8% once a month or less.

• Does marriage get better over time? For 91% of the respondents the answer is yes! Responses include: "It deepens the partnership"; "You grow closer, respect each other, understand differences, feel comfortable together."

• Respondents were prepared to spend, or had spent, at least five times more on their children's weddings than was spent on their own.

• Honesty prevails. When asked about the most important qualities in a spouse, 100% of respondents considered honesty very/somewhat important. Intellectual compatibility and dependability tied for a close second. Other highly valued traits, all scoring above 75%, include: a good/similar sense of humor, willingness and ability to change, similar interests, financial stability, sexual compatibility, physical attractiveness, openness to new experiences/ideas and similar religious/spiritual values.

• Personality or looks? For 85.8%, the attraction was based on personality; 74.1% chose looks.

• George and Barbara Bush, or fairy-tale couples? When asked what couple they most identified with, 32.5% saw themselves as George and Barbara Bush; Harry and Sally were second with 25.4%, followed by Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty at 19%.

• How much time do couples spend together? On average, the respondents spent 16.8 hours of quality time per week with their spouses - and for 52%, that's perfect, although 46% would like more.

• 40.6% tell their spouse "I love you" more than once a day while 12.6% say it once a month or less. The survey was based on answers from Town & Country readers responding to an 8-page questionnaire randomly mailed by the magazine to 1000 subscribers in July 1999. Nine out of ten of those who wrote in were women. Their average age was 54.4; their spouses' average age was 56.3. Most of the respondents were college educated (76%), and nearly half were employed, either full-time (30%) or part-time (18%).

Romance needs more than roses

As a bride planning her wedding day, it's easy to get caught up in the romance surrounding the occasion. Times spent with your fiancé are especially dreamy, and it's hard to imagine a time when you're romance won't be a bed of roses. But after the wedding, it takes more than chocolates and wine to keep romance alive.

"Flowers, chocolates and those things are very nice but they won't make the relationship better long-term," says Elaine Watson, a relationship expert. "It's not just about that rose . . . it's about watering that rose and keeping it fresh."

Experts say there are many ways to create and sustain a mutually fulfilling relationship. However, it's important to keep in mind that every relationship is unique and what may work for some couples, may not work for you. The key to a long-lasting and loving marriage is to recognize that while passion and romance may wane, true intimacy only grows richer with
time.

Here are some strategies for enhancing your relationship and staying connected to your partner.

• Accept your differences.
  Even the most compatible couples have their differences but, instead of
  trying to change their partners, they learn to accept and embrace these
  differences. Loving someone completely means accepting the whole person,
  including his or her faults and limitations.
  
  
• Make time for each other.
  No matter how hectic your schedules may be, experts say it's imperative
  that you make time for one another in order to sustain your emotional
  connection. Try to spend some uninterrupted time together every day, even if
  it's only for 10 to 15 minutes, and set aside at least one evening a week to
  be alone and nurture your relationship. Focus on you and your partner and
  avoid talking about work, kids or other responsibilities.
  
  
• Become reacquainted with your partner.
  Remember those intimate talks you had when you were first dating when
  you revealed your innermost thoughts, dreams, fears and aspirations? Sharing
  your secrets and feelings is important to keeping the romance alive.
  
  
• Do something romantic every day.
  Being romantic in the early stages of a relationship comes naturally to
  most couples but, over time, the exchange of gifts, compliments and other
  romantic gestures tends to wane. Keeping the romance alive in your marriage
  is one of the best ways to express your love and appreciation for your
  spouse and will help keep your relationship fresh.
  
  
• Be creative
  Nothing's sexier than a healthy dose of imagination.
  
  
• Be young at heart
  Treat every experience like it's your first time.
  
  
• Be spontaneous
  Love, like an open flame, is spontaneous and uncontrollable.
  
  
• Be sensual
  Sensuality is a state of mind, an intimate connection.
  
  
• Be just the way you are
  You can't be anything to anyone if you can't be yourself
  

Start early when selecting a wedding gown

Whatever step it is in the planning process, choosing wedding clothes is high up on the to-do list. Mary Sollog, a registered bridal consultant with Tiffanys, says it can take as much as 16 weeks to order your wedding gown.

Her advice? Shop early.

Assuming that 16 weeks is law, don't forget to factor in extra time if a formal portrait is desired. Sollog said brides must allow time for the sitting, the selection of the pose and having the finished product ready. "And you can't do any of that until you've had the dress altered."

If a dress is shown in a magazine and marketed aggressively, it's called a formal gown, Sollog said. The gown is going to have to be special ordered "and it's going to take a while to get there." But, Sollog said: "Many of those manufacturers make the identical gown without the train and the price does fall off considerably. Basically, it's because everybody dreams of that great big train dragging behind them."

But, without the train, the dresses are great for outdoor weddings and dancing, Sollog said. "A lot of girls are going: 'What a good idea. And I save how much money?'"

Then there are the bridesmaids' dresses.

Shriner said it can be "more of a headache" selecting bridesmaids dresses than the wedding dress. Regardless, for bridesmaids' dresses, "the timing rule of thumb is 12 weeks," Sollog said. "We will not order any of the dresses until we have the information for all of them because we want them cut from the same dye-lot of fabric so they're all true to the same color. That 12 weeks is from the date that they are all ordered - by us not the customer."

Choosing a bridesmaids dress

This season's bridesmaids dresses are elegant and sophisticated, and break away from past trends of bright colors and poofy sleeves. Since you’re bridesmaids are often your closest friends, you might consider inviting them to peruse the latest fashions from these couture houses and others.

According to experts, there are four basic trends: Lots of strapless dresses for a barer look, color, three-quarter length sleeves, and layering of sheer fabric.

Designer Donna Morgan’s collection features a tea length, strapless dress that is very bare, and very graceful. But if you want to cover up when you're in the house of worship, it has a net stole, which is also very pretty. Brides might select this gown for an afternoon wedding, or an evening wedding.

Watters & Watters, a design company based in Dallas, is committed to creating more dresses that aren’t so cutesy. "There really are two directions for bridesmaids' dresses, according to the company’s owner, Maria Price. 'They are either slim and sleek and kind of Audrey Hepburn-like or they are fuller tulle looks reminiscent of Grace Kelly.''

There are so many options available to brides and their attendants today, whether you want your entire party to look alike, the traditional approach, or whether you prefer their attire simply complement each other as well as the bridal gown.

When it comes to color, ''spring is lighter,'' according to Prince. ''We're seeing more pale colors,'' she says, ''more like ready-to-wear.'' Honeydew, sage green and moonlight are just a few of the latest hues from Watters & Watters.

At Dessy Creations, silvery platinum satin dresses with matching stoles are shimmering for the bridal party. Gray and all its lighter, shimmering shades are as popular for the bridal party as they are in ready-to-wear. And if you don't like silver, Dessy's interactive ''color-finder'' will allow you to see any dress in any color with a click of the mouse on www.dessy.com.

The shape of bridesmaids' dresses echo that of bridal gowns, says Prince. ''They're mostly strapless,'' she says, ''or they have a soft, modified V-neckline. Square necklines usually aren't as flattering.''

Watters & Watters' spring collection features elegant simplicity: a pink iridescent sleeveless chiffon dress has a matching chiffon scarf; a honeydew-colored strapless dress with shirring bodice falls into a full-length tulle skirt, also with matching scarf. Other not-so-typical bridesmaids' dresses from Watters & Watters include a white rayon matka two-piece sleeveless top with buttons and loops down the front with a fabric flower pin at the back waist and a slim floor-length skirt.

Soft pink is another favorite hue this spring for the bridal party. Softened up with chiffon, Jim Hjelm's Occasions pink bridesmaid's satin princess dress features a cowl drape neckline another popular detail on dresses this spring.

While most brides still want their wedding party to wear matching dresses, there is room for change. Don't be afraid to set your best friend apart. ''Many brides will want their maid of honor to wear a different dress that coordinates with the other maids,'' says Prince.

Bianchi's Tiamo collection features ''Mix & Match Maids,'' an interchangeable array of dresses for the bridal party that color coordinate, but feature different silhouettes and shapes, ''because no two bridesmaids are exactly alike.''

At Vera Wang Maids, the bridal party can choose from dresses in a variety of silhouettes from halters to strapless to off-the-shoulder shapes all in the same color tones. Buttery mellow-yellow golds are one of the most popular color combinations for bridesmaids.

The rest of the bridal party junior bridesmaids and flower girls follow suit with the bridesmaids, coordinating colors and flowers. But let's face it, the ring bearer and the flowers girls can wear almost anything and upstage the bride.

While the junior bridesmaids often wear dresses that are miniature replicas of the other bridal attendants, the flower girls usually wear more traditional full-skirted dresses that fall to midcalf. In creamy white organza or taffeta, perhaps smocked and trimmed with ribboned sashes and flowers, these dresses are appropriate any time of year, complete with ballet slippers or Mary Janes, white tights and anklets.

When it comes to Mom's wedding attire, there is an incredible selection of evening clothes available in specialty stores or bridal boutiques. However, the mother of the bride or groom does not have to vanish into the background of the bridal party. Instead, an elegant evening dress or cocktail suit, that can be worn again, can express individual personality, as well as complement the fashions of the rest of the wedding party.