Save the Date: Upcoming Brides' Ball

Save the date... The Kitchener Brides' Ball has been set for Friday, June 19th, 2009 - and this year, it's going glam!

The Brides' Ball will take over Elements on King Street for an evening, filling up the venue with men and women in bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, tuxes and sexy suits. Think 'celebrity after-party' meets The Brides' Ball.

The event will run from 7:30 pm to 2 am and include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dancing, the 'tiara shop' and more. An online auction of products and services donated by local retailers and wedding professionals is scheduled to go live in May. Being held downtown and on a Friday night will allow even more people to attend this year - with the guest list set at 200.
The Kitchener Brides' Ball gives women of all ages and marital status a fabulous reason to ‘don a tiara’ and feel like a princess for the night. With tag lines like ‘Wear your gown again’ and ‘Tiara’s mandatory’ the dress code of the event is ‘Bridal or Formal’ meaning bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, ball gowns, cocktail dresses, suits and tuxedos are all welcome attire at The Brides’ Ball. "Every woman wants to wear her wedding gown again. And every man wants to play Prince Charming once in a while," says Anne Warren, Sales Director for TheWeddingRing.ca and Producer of The Ball. Warren, who is planning to wear a bridal gown, says, "After all, we spend a small fortune on a dress that we only get to wear once and we're very emotionally attached to it…" TheWeddingRing.ca had been looking for an excuse to let brides wear their gowns again when they developed The Brides’ Ball. "It was the perfect opportunity for a community of women - and their soul mates - to get all dressed up and experience a night they’ll always remember, in support of a great cause."

Tiara Shop Cocktails Hors D'oeuvres Dancing Donations Silent Auctions
Raffles & Prizes Grand Prize Online Auction Entertainment
Tuxedo-Lounge & Brandy Bar On-site Photo Booth Video to Air on RingTV
Plenty of Free Parking


QUICKER, BETTER & EARLIER BREAST CANCER SCREENING, CLOSE TO HOME
The Brides' Ball will prove there's strength in numbers. Awareness and funds will be raised for the Waterloo-Wellington Breast Centre (WWBC) at the Grand River Hospital. The WWBC is home to a regional breast assessment service and the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), where patients are referred to by physicians and radiologists when abnormalities are detected. The OBSP service enables patients access to the new digital mammography technology, that has been proven better at detecting breast cancer in younger women, pre-menopausal women and women with dense breast tissue. By supporting the screening program and the clinic, we're able to help increase screening for all women in the Waterloo-Wellington region and provide quicker assessment for all women.

WHO
Everyone is invited - Company owners and their staff, brides & grooms, married couples, single ladies (pull that bridesmaid gown out of your closet!) and friends are welcome to don a tiara at The Brides' Ball.

DRESS CODE
Bridal or Formal. Last year's events saw tuxedos, suits, bridal gowns, bridesmaids' gowns and cocktail dresses.

TICKETS
Tickets are $30 each.
The Ball runs from 7:30 pm to 2 am.

BUY TICKETS ONLINE Click Here
BUY TICKETS BY PHONE 519-568-8007.
BUY TICKET IN PERSON A list of additional Ticket Ambassadors
will be available in May 2009.

HELP
A volunteer committee will be hitting the streets and The Ball to help raise awareness, funds, sponsors and ticket sales for The Brides' Ball and its cause. If you'd like to join The Brides' Ball team, contact bridesball@theweddingring.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 519-568-8007. You can reach Event Coordinator, Anne Warren, directly at anne@theweddingring.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-851-9889 as well.

The team at TheWeddingRing.ca and The Brides' Ball are encouraging every local business, retailer, wedding vendor and member of the community to take part in the event. There are endless opportunities to give back, either by attending or by sponsoring The Brides’ Ball or by running promotions in-store with proceeds towards The Brides' Ball event efforts.

If you have products or services to donate to the event, the online auction, the silent auction or more, please contact us!

The Bride's Ball is produced by TheWeddingRing.ca
Wedding Ring Inc. (also known as TheWeddingRing.ca or ‘The Ring’) is an Ontario-based media company that has been in business for nearly six years. The Ring interviews and reviews wedding vendors and trends from London to Toronto, offering their information free of charge to brides – online at TheWeddingRing.ca and in print in Bridal News Magazine. The Ring has a large membership of brides, with several million page views a year to their website. Their corporate office can be reached at 519-568-8007 or 1-877-203-3338 of by visiting www.theweddingring.ca

The Brides' Ball is co-produced by Pure Potential Weddings.

Bridal Gown Definitions

I can well imagine that some of you brides-to-be may be confused by mass of bridal terminology used when you go to the bridal salon or just looking through a bridal magazine. Here are some definitions to assist you:

SILHOUETTES
A-line - Originated by Christian Dior, skirt flares away from body from under arms to hem; fitting through shoulders; similar to the princess-line.
Ball gown - Narrow-waisted shape with a full, bell-shaped skirt supported by petticoats or hoops.
Empire - High waisted, with the skirt falling directly under the bust-line.
Fishtail - See mermaid.
Mermaid - Body-hugging style with a skirt that flares at or just below the knee; also called fishtail.
Princess-line - Fitted through shoulders and bodice, skirt flares gently outward; no waistline.
Sheath - Svelte, narrow-fitting shape that contours the body; no waistline.
Suit - Modern shape finished with a jacket or coat.

LENGTHS
Ballerina - Falls to or slightly below the center of the calf.
Floor - Most traditional length, rests about an inch from the floor.
Hi-lo - See intermission
Intermission - Hemline falls to the mid-calf in front, floor-length in back; also called hi-lo.
Knee - Hemline just covers the knee; non-traditional length; also called street.
Mini - Above the knee; often chosen by second-time brides.
Street - See knee.
Tea - Hemline falls to the lower part of the calf.

WAISTLINES
Assymetrical - Begins at the natural waistline and angles down to one side.
Basque - Sits at the natural waistline in the back ad dips lower to form a V-shape in the front.
Blouson - Fabric is gathered just below or at the waist, creating a soft fullness.
Dropped - Falls below the natural waistline in classic flapper style.
Empire - Begins just below the bust line.
Natural - Sits at the waist.

NECKLINES
Assymetrical - Begins at the shoulder and angles down to opposite side.
Bateau - Shallow curve cut the same in front and back; also called boat.
Bertha collar - A wide, deep collar that covers the shoulders of a low-neckline dress.
Boat - See bateau.
Halter - Fastens at the back of the neck, leaving the bare back.
Illusion - High collar made of a sheer fabric such as net, point d'esprit, or chiffon; appears almost invisible.
Jewel - High, rounded neckline with no collar or binding.
Off-the-shoulder - Falls just below the shoulder, with a collar or sleeve on the arm.
Portrait - Open neckline with a high back, gathered in front above the bust-line; leaves shoulders completely bare.
Queen Anne - High at nape of neck; sweeps low in front.
Sabrina - Extends from shoulder to shoulder, curving slightly down below the collarbone.
Square - Half-square or a rectangular neckline.
Scoop - Low, curved sweep extending to the shoulders; may be cut deep in front, back or both.
Strapless - No neckline, straight across the upper bust bodice.
Sweetheart - Low-cut, resembling the rounded curves of a heart.
V - Shaped like a V; cut deep or shallow in front, back or both.
Wedding band collar - High, fitted collar, popular in the 1890s.

SLEEVES
Bishop - Full sleeve gathered into a band at the wrist.
Cap - Short sleeve that just covers the top of the arm.
Gigot - See leg o'mutton.
Juliet - Long, fitted sleeve with short puff at the shoulder.
Leg-o'mutton - Wide and rounded at shoulder, fitting snugly on the lower arm; also called gigot.
Puff - Short, rounded sleeve; gathered at armhole or cuff.
Three-quarter - Ends just below the elbow; often finished with small cuff or band.
Wedding point - V-shaped extension of a long, fitted sleeve that comes to a point over the bride's hand.

TRAINS
Cathedral - Longer than one yard; reserved for the most formal weddings.
Chapel - Formal; extends about one yard.
Court - Separate piece of fabric that falls from the shoulders.
Detachable - Normally attached at back of waist, but may attach to the shoulders or wrap around the waist.
Sweep - Just brushes the floor.
Watteau - Cascades from the shoulders.

SKIRT DETAILS
American handkerchief - When the train is pulled up, it makes a triangle which points to the zipper on the back of the skirt.
Bustle - A gathering of fabric (may include the train) at the back waistline of the gown.
Carriage back - See pannier.
Carriage front - See pannier.
Flounce - A wide piece of fabric or lace gathered and attached at the hem.
French - Inverted inside the skirt.
Pannier - Gathered fabric draped over the sides of the hips; also called carriage front or carriage back.
Tiered - Layers panels of fabric that fall from the waist to the hem in varying lengths

VEILS
Ballet - Comes to just an inch above the floor, also called waltz.
Bird cage - Stiff; cover the face, falls just below the chin.
Blusher - Loose, worn forward over the bride's face or lifted back over the headpiece.
Cathedral - Falls 3 1/2 yards from the headpiece; ultra-formal.
Chapel - Falls 2 1/2 yards from the headpiece; formal.
Fingertip - Most popular style, reaches to the fingertips; suitable for all but ultra-formal gowns.
Flyaway - Multiple layers that just brush the shoulders.
Illusion - Transparent fabric panel or yoke.
Waltz - See Ballet.

HEADPIECES
Floral wreath - Worn over the forehead or nestled in the hair.
Juliet cap - Fits tightly to crown of head; may be made entirely of pearls or jewels.
Mantilla - Lace veil worn surrounding face.
Profile - Decorative comb worn on one side of head silhouetting the face.
Tiara - Crown or half-crown that rests on top of the head.

LACE
Alenćon - A delicate floral or leaf design on a fine-net background, outlined with heavy threads to define the pattern and add more dimension.
Battenberg - A heavy lace made with patterns of linen braid and tape connected with decorative linen stitching.
Chantilly - A web-like floral pattern outlined with silk threads on a lace background; soft to the touch.
Guipure - A heavy lace designed to show large patterns over a coarse-mesh background.
Lyon - An intricate, ornamental design delicately stitched over a net background; the pattern is outlined in silk or cotton.
Point d’esprit - Oval dots woven in a pattern on net fabric.
Schiffli - Intricate floral pattern (similar to Alenćon lace but lighter) embroidered directly onto the gown.
Venice - Heavy floral or leaf pattern in needlepoint, with motifs connected in lines.

OTHER TERMS...
Corset - A lace-up bodice that comes in a two-piece or one-piece style of gown; left and right sides of gown are laced up in the middle with a ribbon or tie.
Embroidered - Stitching onto the dress that is the same color of the gown or an accent color; usually a design of flowers, leaves, scrolling, lines, or initials.
Appliqué - a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material.
Bust belt - Elastic that is sewn to the inside front of the gown that is fastened in the back of the gown; keeps a strapless dress from slipping down; also called a seat belt.
Seat belt - See bust belt.