Elizabeth's offers wide selection of bridal gowns Continued from pg. 1 The 2007 Bridal season promises to be an exciting one. Wedding gown styles are constantly evolving. Extra full skirts with layered hemlines and light weight taffeta fabrics with luxurious bouffant pickup skirts make each and every gown fit for a princess. Much more attention is being placed on infusions of colour in both embroidery and beadwork. For a more dramatic look wide sashes and bands of colour are available in many contrasting shades. Traditional gowns of rich peau satin in shades of white or ivory continue to be updated in the 2007 collections. The addition of beaded lace overlays or the use of metallic embroidery adds a touch of sparkle. Elizabeth's offers an outstanding selection of bridal gowns from size 0-32 plus. Many of the sample gowns are "fit to be tried" which feature adjustable panels that can change the size of the gown from 4-24 plus. This feature gives everyone a chance to feel the fit of the gown in their own size and takes the guess work out of fittings. On a budget? Clear out gowns are always available and priced from $99 to $399. Special orders take a minimum of 12 weeks to deliver so be sure to shop early. Elizabeth's services all clients from start to finish and offer complimentary steaming and pressing of new gowns, alteration services are available on-site for an additional charge. Bridesmaids' collections are showing many more gowns in the fun and flirty cocktail length. These gowns have become favourites, especially those in soft flowing chiffon and organza fabrics. Looking for something a little different, why not try a touch of contrasting colour on your bridesmaids gowns. Warm rich shades such as espresso can be softened with a touch of pink. The options are endless when playing with colour. Today's mother of the bride or groom is often looking for something young and simple. Clean, uncluttered lines such as those offered in the Belsoie collection have become a hit. This formal gown line offers simple clean lines in soft flowing fabrics and offers many of their bodies in an outstanding array of colours. Alfred Angelo continues to expand their newly created separates for the mother with the addition of 20 new pieces to their mix and match Special Occasion Collection. All pieces are available in 46 colours so the possibilities are fantastic. Elizabeth's continues to participate in bridal shows that allow them to showcase the newest styles available on the market. Upcoming shows include Mississauga Bridal Show at The Living Arts Centre or locally at Eagle Ridge Golf Club on Sunday, February 11. If you would like more information about Elizabeth's or the upcoming shows don't hesitate to call them at 905-873-1470 or by email elizabethsfashions@cogego.ca Things to do after saying `I do' If you are planning to change your last name after you get married, don't forget to make all the necessary name changes on your important documents. Advise your financial institutions (such as banks and insurance companies) that your marital status has changed so that they can update your records. It's important to review all your different types of insurance policies, including life, accident, health benefits, automobile and home to make sure they reflect your changed status. For example you may wish to update your beneficiary designations on your registered products (RRSPs) and insurance policies and include your spouse as a dependent in various health benefit insurance plans. For added protection, you might want to consider having wills prepared for you and your spouse as you build your wealth and life together. Changing your bank accounts Now that you're a couple, you may decide to continue to have separate accounts, consolidate into a joint account, or a combination of both. Some husbands and wives, particularly those who both work outside the home, like to keep separate personal accounts for spending and hold a joint chequing account for household bills and a joint savings account for emergencies. It's one way for each of you to retain some spending freedom and still cover your shared monthly expenses, but it isn't thrifty if your bank charges you a hefty fee to maintain each account. If you do decide to open a joint account for day-to-day banking, CIBC offers the Unlimited Chequing Account. It lets you bank as much as you want, without limits, for one flat monthly fee and no monthly balance requirement (additional fees will apply on withdrawals at non-CIBC machines). Be credit card smart Review your credit card accounts and make the necessary name change, if appropriate. Instead of having a large number of credit cards, why not retain just one or two and add your spouse as an authorized user. It will be easier to keep track and you'll also cut down on the time it takes to manage multiple bills and statements. To help you stick to your budget, look into CIBC's new CIBC CreditSmart features. CIBC Visa is the only credit card in Canada to offer this revolutionary array of features, to help you track and manage your card spending. CIBC CreditSmart gives you the information and tools to make confident credit decisions that are right for your married life. With CIBC CreditSmart you'll get an enhanced monthly statement where you can track and manage your monthly and year-to-date spending in 10 common spend categories. You can set up personal budgets for each of these categories online and spend alerts to notify you when you've exceeded your budgets, or if you're coming close to your credit limit. You can also create your own spend categories, to track areas that are of particular importance to you, or ones that you want to keep an eye on. And that's not all: you get increased security protection at all times with Credit Report Alerts, Fraud Alerts, and Identity Theft Assistance. For more information, talk to your CIBC advisor, visit the nearest CIBC branch, call 1-800-465-CIBC (2422), or visit www.cibc.com. For an in-depth look at CIBC CreditSmart and itsCIBC Visa Card options visit: www.cibc.com/visa or cibccreditsmart.com or call 1-866-438-2422.