Manic Monday: Bridesmaid Bliss

Manic Monday by Corine Brosseau

We’ve all seen the Bridesmaids version of Say Yes to the Dress and we’ve seen how the experience of picking out a bridesmaid dress can be a rocky road. From color disagreements to sizing issues to simply a stubborn, picky bridesmaid, choosing the perfect ensemble for your bridesmaids is more often than not a daunting task. There are, however, ways to resolve these issues and ensure that your bridesmaids will look and feel fabulous on your big day.

Color: Choosing a color can be one of the toughest tasks when picking out looks for your bridesmaids. It’s hard to find a hue that flatters everyone and that everyone likes! Don’t feel as if you have to commit to a specific shade. If you choose one favorite color, allow brides to vary their shades to suit their complexion and preference. This can still be tough, as you want to make sure everything still looks cohesive. Another option is to choose two different colors that are complementary and let the girls mix among themselves. This spring, peach and mint make a gorgeous combo for your bridesmaids. Still not feeling all the color confusion? Try a neutral tone like khaki or taupe. Mixing neutrals can be another great way to flatter every one of your bridal party. Color of the year, emerald, is always a lovely color choice to fall back upon this year too!

Silhouette: This can be tricky depending on the figures of your girls. If they are all pretty similar in build, it’s easy to choose one silhouette for everyone. However, if the ladies are of varying shapes and sizes, as they likely will be, allow them to choose a silhouette that flatters their own shape in the same color. This allows for uniformity of color but a more comfortable style option for your bridesmaids. If your girls’ shapes are similar, but they want to differentiate a bit between themselves, choose one dress and allow them to alter necklines or hems to suit their unique sense of style.

Price: Not everyone is willing to spend an arm and a leg on their bridesmaid dress. Be sensitive to people’s budget constraints. If you absolutely fall head over heels in love with a gown that’s out of range, choose that one for only your maid or matron of honor and allow the other girls to don a similar but less pricy style.

Making the choice: When it comes time to pick the look (or looks), make sure that you stand your ground. Don’t be pushy – they are wearing the dresses after all – but don’t let the ladies walk all over you either. It’s your wedding and you need to be happy with the way everything looks.

Let us know what questions you have about picking the perfect look for your bridal party or share your stories of what went right and what went wrong when you made your choice! We’d love to see your bridal party looks – so come share on our Facebook page!

Links We Love: Henkaa Bridesmaid Dresses

Links we Love by Lauren Cooper

You might know about the awesome wrap dresses you can find for your bridesmaids through Two Birds, Butter by Nadia, or even Victoria Secret.  But the BEST  choice for versitle AND flattering bridesmaid dresses is Henkaa.  Same wrap dress style, TONS of colors (more than Two Birds) and the price is infinitely easier to swallow.  Plus, they have lots of easy to follow tutorials for wrapping right on their website.  Check out these amazing dresses here!

Wedding of a Different Color

Manic Mondays By Lauren Cooper

This year, Pantone has chosen a bright, fresh color to represent 2011, Honeysuckle Pink.  Representing strength, fun and optimism, Honeysuckle is a perfect color to incorporate into your 2011 wedding.  Fortunately, it’s easy to incorporate in a variety of ways, whether you want an elegant wedding or a casual, free spirited wedding.

For a delicate but casual effect try Honeysuckle, Khaki, and Pistachio Green.  Pink and green is a classic combo and the khaki gives the two brights a bit more balance. Try knee length bridesmaids dresses in Khaki with Honeysuckle shoes for a pop of color.  For the men, choose pistachio colored ties they’ll be relieved not to wear bright pink!

Bouquets of friendly pink peonies and cream colored roses, delicately tied with a Pistachio ribbon look feminine without being over the top.  Go for Khaki colored linens as a neutral base and incorporate Honeysuckle and Pistachio in centerpieces and napkins.

For a bit of whimsy and fun, Honeysuckle, Orange and Yellow is a great combination.   Choose something with a fun sash or floaty layers for your bridesmaids. I really love this dress by Alfred Angelo.

Amp up the whimsy with table linens in a damask or swirl pattern. Try adding floating Chinese lanterns in all three colors to give flair to the venue. Finger foods like brightly colored sorbet in waffle cones really round out the theme.

If you want a more sophisticated, timeless look, try pairing Honeysuckle, Oyster, and Nectar with Black accents. Go a little art deco and try black invites with white print.

For the bridal party put your Bridesmaid’s in oyster gowns with pink bouquets to add a dash of elegance.

Trendy Wendy – Chic Maids Dresses

by Trendy Wendy

Bridesmaid’s dresses don’t have to be hideous. They don’t have to be sub par either. In fact, they can be fabulous. Not spotlight-stealing fabulous, but wear-again and feel-great-in fabulous. With Leona dresses your maids will look chic and color coordinated without being too  matchy matchy, which is the worst possible scenario.

Check out these green dresses, super cute and not all alike. These maids go together while still showing some personality. The black and white is this bride’s favorite dress. Check out the site and pick yours.

See you next week for the hottest! xoxo Wendy

photo by Simply Bloom

Fashion Fever – Halloween Chic

Fashion Fever by Zilia Munguia

October is just around the corner and that means Halloween fashion, but Halloween themed weddings don’t need to follow the traditional black and orange route.  If you want to try something new and darker go for an elegant gothic themed wedding.  People will be sure to remember your wedding for all the right reasons and no one will be able to deny the beauty of your one of a kind wedding.

Vera Wang Gown, photograph by Jose Villa

The gown is the main event in a wedding so awe guests with a stunning non-conventional wedding dress! These days wedding dresses come in all different styles, lengths, and colors and can still maintain the same beauty and elegance that is found in the traditional white dress. This beautiful A-Line black dress demonstrates that even with an adventurous color like black elegance and sophistication is not lost or compromised.  Max Chaoul, a Parisian designer has introduced and continues to design amazing gowns that step outside the traditional box.

It’s important to make sure the bridesmaids look like they are going to the same wedding as the bride especially when taking on a theme wedding. A deep red colored bridesmaid dress will bring a pop of color to a primarily dark wedding. Jessica McClintock has great dresses that will surely have bridesmaids excited to wear their dress!

Burberry Cufflinks from Nordstrom

Accessories bring an outfit together and can help showcase the theme of your wedding.  Burberry studded cuff links bring edginess to a groom’s suit while remaining chic and sophisticated.  Brides and bridesmaids can accessorize with jewelry from Nana Fabella, which offers unique pieces from pearl necklaces to spider chain glovettes that will impress.

Damask design patterns, which originate from European Gothic architecture brings a sense of old world charm and drama to a wedding.  Beane and Co offers flower girl dresses with damask patterns along with matching ties for ring bearers and adults. Ceci New York offers high end, one of a kind invitation that is well worth the extra cost.  Add this design to a wedding cake to bring the whole Gothic concept together.

Be proud to be different and incorporate non-traditional themes into your wedding!

Fashion Fever – Scarlet Fever!

Fashion Fever by Elysha Beckerman

WARNING: the wedding world has been plagued with Scarlet Fever!  As the summer months roll in more and more brides are catching scarlet fever, adding pink tones to brighten up their summer weddings.  Pink is a great way to enhance your wedding’s summer glow.

• Bridal Party in Pink: When choosing a pink bridesmaid dress keep it chic and romantic.  With the summer month’s heat you want to choose a fabric that’s airy like chiffon or faille.  Check out Lela Rose’s Bridesmaid collection.  They have a great selection of rose-colored full-length chiffon and cocktail-length faille dresses in many styles.  Remember your bridesmaids don’t have to match exactly, choose the right type of dress for each bridesmaid’s body type.
• Intertwine Florals & Fashion: If your bridesmaids are rocking pink coordinate all your bouquets and your groomsmen’s boutonnières.  To keep it fun and lively blend shades of pinks, like blush, fuchsia, and cherry petals using kaleidoscope phalaenopsis orchids, freesia, and cymbidium orchids.  For more of a romantic effect choose lighter pink petals with roses, peonies, and hydrangeas.
• Keep it Natural: Summer makeup should be light, only highlighting and illuminating your gorgeous features!  Brighten up your wedding day makeup with NARS blush.  Try one of their fabulous pink shades like Mata Hari or Dolce Vita. Pink your fingertips too! Try Essie Mademoiselle for a sheer pink look or Blushing Bride which is definitely an suitable choice to accent your newly-ringed finger.

Left to right: Lela Rose, InStyle Wedding, Essie

Fashion in Bloom!

Stiles on Style- By Rachel Stiles

Florals are an enduring fashion trend that women gravitate to because of their beauty and sense of life and luckily designers have used them as inspiration for their new bridal collections the last few seasons. Some dresses mimic different types of flower silhouette, while others use the strategic placement of petal prints or embroidered blooms on the gowns themselves.

Destinations by Maggie Sottero

Wedding Gowns: Floral designs can make a dress look more romantic or can create a wonderful dramatic effect, depending on the aesthetic. Many different designers including Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, and Priscilla of Boston have integrated the concept of flowers into their creations. Oscar de la Renta also has designs that feature intricate embroidered buds reminiscent of baby’s breath on the gown. Rivini unveiled a show-stopping dress containing precious petals that consume the dress.

Accessories: Designers are not only incorporating floral inspiration in their dresses, but accessories as well. Headpieces are a stylish option that can be used in place of a veil and can have any type of flower placed on it for a more dramatic look. Also for a modernized look, you can put flower pins in your hair. Sara Gabriel has some beautiful options to add a finishing touch.

Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston has a wonderful collection of bridesmaid styles that incorporate flowers or floral designs. Many of the dresses are ethereal and romantic looking, which means that your sisters and friends will love them. Amsale, Alvina Valenta, Lela Rose, and Jim Hjelm Occasions also follow this trend.

Shoes: We all love shoes and they are especially important on your wedding day. If your dress is more traditional, but you are looking to add some spice to your look, there are many options. Christian Louboutin added a beautiful hibiscus flower on their Tahiti Style shoe. If you are looking for an elegant peep toe, I would suggest Valentino black pumps adorned with a rose.

The Allure of Bridal!

Stiles on Style- By Rachel Stiles

Who would think this Vera Wang dress is only $230!?!

Many designers and fashion powerhouses are venturing into the bridal market! They all want a piece of the wedding industry, especially bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. Some people think of them as tacky, overly accessorized gowns, but there has definitely been an improvement in the designing and style of bridesmaid dresses.

If you love shopping at Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie, you will be excited to know that they just announced they will be designing wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. Glen Senk, chief executive officer said they want their dresses to be seen as “heirlooms to be passed on from one generation to the next.” The dresses will be priced from $1,000 to $5,000 and designed by the Anthropologie team. Keep your eyes out for these new styles.

Mark your calendars if you are a fan of Cynthia Rowley’s work, she is launching a line of bridesmaid dresses in June! She is partnering up with The Dessy Group and they will be priced from $175 to $220. Cynthia Rowley said, “We wanted to bring a chic sensibility to bridesmaid dresses- a look that is pretty yet sophisticated.”

Looking for the classics? I would suggest checking out Amsale, Priscilla of Boston, Vera Wang, and upscale department stores. Amsale created these beautiful designs in flattering colors that can make any of your bridesmaids happy! Priscilla of Boston provides very high-end styles that can be worn over and over again. Vera Wang can do no wrong- her dresses are very fashion forward! All of these designers are less expensive than you would think and definitely worth looking into! Also I would recommend when looking for dresses for your bridesmaid to check out Nordstrom’s. Not only are their dresses beautiful, but also it is easy to coordinate if you have bridesmaids that can’t come to New York.