Wedding Attire for Modern Soirees

What makes a wedding gown or bridesmaid dress feel modern? Sleek lines, unfussy fabrics, and unique details. Choices can range from very minimalist to cutting edge designs with a dramatic flair. For brides these days, a sleek trumpet gown with interesting draping is a fabulous modern bridal gown. Choose one made from a fine silk with minimal embellishment. The one shoulder style is definitely contemporary, as are details such as architectural folding and pleating of material.

If your idea of modern attire is streamlined, choose a silk sheath dress in a fabric with great movement. A silk crepe for a matte finish or a silk charmeuse for a glamorous shimmer would be fantastic choices for minimalist sheath wedding gowns. When the gown is ultra simple, look for one or two special details to give it some character. A V-neck gown with a twist of fabric in the center of the bust, or a gown with an open back and really interesting straps would be good examples of how to make simple look striking.

As for accessories, choose ones with a contemporary flair to complement the modern style of the wedding gown. A cage veil perched on the bride’s hair would be far more updated than a long traditional tulle veil. Another option is to forgo the veil altogether in favor of a unique headpiece, such as a dramatic spray of feathers and crystals tucked into the side of a knot or bun (asymmetry always feels more modern than perfect symmetry). Look for bridal jewelry such as long crystal stiletto earrings or a dramatic crystal lariat to complete the effect.

When the bridal gown has a contemporary flair, the bridesmaid dresses should too. Knee length dresses made from silk charmeuse with a bubble hem would be very chic. Choose a bold color like eggplant, chartreuse, or royal blue to make the dresses even more fun. Another option for bridesmaid dresses are long straight dresses made from chiffon. Modern color options for this style of bridesmaid dress include neutrals like gray and oyster. A pop of color will make the bridesmaid jewelry feel more contemporary than a perfectly matched set. The finished effect will be just perfect for a modern wedding celebration.

DIY Fall Wedding Decorations

These are some beautiful ideas for DIY fall wedding decorations that anyone can create…

The brilliant fall leaves are one of the most distinctive features of autumn, and they make a great inspiration for a wedding design. You know how pretty your bridesmaids will look in leaf theme crystal bridesmaid jewelry, such as amber colored Swarovski leaf pendants, so why not extend that motif to the rest of your wedding? Use either silk leaves or preserved real leaves in a multitude of brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges.  Long strings of leaves can be hung behind the ceremony altar for a beautiful backdrop for the bride and groom.

Fall leaves also work wonderfully for centerpieces. You can actually preserve real leaves right on their branches to use for table decorations. Suspend tiny lanterns with tea lights from the branches for a magical effect. Scattered leaves are an easy addition to any fall wedding, with absolutely no creative experience required. They can line the edges of the aisle for the ceremony, be scattered on a guest book or cake table, or even be used in place of standard place cards at the dinner tables. What an easy way to give your wedding a great autumnal touch!

Pinecones have a great late fall feeling and can make an excellent decoration for a wedding around Thanksgiving. Take real pinecones and spray paint them with a soft gold color. Suspend them from regular sewing thread in a bronze or gold color, and hang them from white birch branches for a modern centerpiece design with an autumnal flavor. Surround the vases with votive candles in ruby red glass holders to bring a pop of color to the design. You can also wire the special pinecones into wreaths for church doors.

It is impossible to mention diy fall wedding decorations without bringing up pumpkins and gourds. Hollow out a white pumpkin and fill with fresh wildflowers for a simple but beautiful altar decoration. Arrange clusters of odd and interesting gourds in golden wire baskets around the cocktail hour. Use your imagination, and you will find tons of fall items that will make very easy diy projects to enhance the style and beauty of your wedding.

Evening Wedding Themes

Evening weddings have a special appeal all their own. After dark, you can really pull out all the stops when it comes to glamor, sophistication, and even entertainment. These are some ideas for spectacular evening wedding themes.

Casino Night. If you want your wedding to have an emphasis on fun and glamor, consider a casino theme. Base your wedding design around the sophisticated style of an upscale casino in Monte Carlo or one of the palaces in Las Vegas, all with a bit of retro flair. Crystal chandeliers, gold chargers, and heavy cut crystal glasses are the order of the day. For the bride, a slinky beaded sheath dress with dramatic crystal chandelier earrings would be fabulous, and the bridesmaids can be equally glamorous in satin column dresses with crystal bridesmaid jewelry. Naturally, the high point of the reception will be the gaming; bring in professionals to run games like roulette and blackjack after dinner. Chances are that real gambling for money would be illegal, so let your guests play for chips and pride.

Starry Night. Picture a clear ceiling tent under a mass of twinkling stars for your wedding reception. This would create a spectacular place in which to celebrate your wedding. If you cannot conjure up real stars, drape midnight blue fabric over the ceiling of your venue and light it with thousands of tiny twinkling white lights. Play up the star theme in subtle ways throughout your wedding, such as using pierced votive candle holders which have tiny star shapes. A wedding cake painted to resemble Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night” painting would be a real show stopper.

Masquerade. This is a particularly fun theme for a wedding on New Year’s Eve. Instead of standard wedding favors, give each guest a beautiful handmade mask to wear for dancing after the reception. You can take your inspiration from the lavish masks which are made in Venice, Italy or the flamboyant purple, gold, and green masks which are a huge part of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The perfect bridal gown for the masquerade theme would be a lavishly embroidered and beaded strapless ballgown, worn with opulent wedding jewelry, and of course, a custom white feather and crystal mask. One thing is for sure: you will get some fantastic wedding photos!

Fresh Looks for Fall Bridesmaid Jewelry

Are you looking for the perfect bridesmaid jewelry gifts for your fall wedding? Before you start shopping, take a moment to read about the freshest new looks for the season. The latest styles in bridesmaid jewelry will make finding beautiful gifts easy and fun.

A big trend for fall jewelry is color. Rich and warm neutral colors like topaz, brandy, copper, garnet, and brown are very much in style. If you like a bolder shade, try a stunning garnet color for your bridesmaid jewelry. These colors will blend beautifully with the pretty colors that are in style for autumn bridesmaid dresses.

Speaking of matching your bridesmaid jewelry to your wedding colors, consider having pieces custom made to give to your attendants as gifts. Luminous Swarovski pearls come in a fantastic array of fall colors, and are quite affordable. The pearls look wonderful when made into a cluster or drop pendant to wear with a v-neck or spaghetti strap bridesmaid dress. For a strapless dress, a tin cup style necklace made in either Swarovski crystals or pearls would be lovely.

Another great trend in bridesmaid jewelry is the use of interesting shapes. Sparkling Swarovski crystals are being cut into flat briolettes, which make exquisite drop necklaces, modern cubes, stars, moons, and romantic hearts. These shapes make very interesting and unique bridesmaid jewelry sets. A long pair of “stiletto” drop earrings is a great way to show off a special crystal.

Bold form are also hot this season. One of the most striking looks is a pendant created from a large open crystal “O” or disc shape. It is an eyecatching look that is fabulous with any style of bridesmaid dress. The “O” can be done in a lovely clear or golden shadow crystal color, but perhaps the most breathtaking version is the multi-colored cosmic volcano crystal. The design is right in line with the trend in regular fashion for exotic and strong jewelry, so these are bridesmaid necklaces that your friends will be able to wear quite often after the wedding with their other outfits.

Hip, Cool Bridesmaid Dresses

Who says bridesmaid dresses have to be big, frumpy, or downright unattractive? Many brides are treating their bridesmaids to dresses that are hip, fashion forward, and fabulous enough to be worn to their next cocktail party. These are some of the things to look for in the coolest, trendiest bridesmaid dresses.

It is the cut that sets a hip bridesmaid dress apart from the pack. Look for interesting, fresh-off-the-runway details. Good choices include one shoulder dresses, strapless, bubble hems, and deep sexy v-necks. These bridesmaid dresses will have unique designs, such as a combination of chiffon and satin, tiers, or a baby doll style.

Fabrics for updated bridesmaid dresses typically are flowing and fluid. You will definitely not find any petticoats! Popular choices include chiffon, charmeuse, and tissue taffeta. Stiff and formal fabrics do not work when you are going for a modern and updated look.

The right accessories will make all of the difference in the finished effect. To keep the bridesmaids looking hip and current, you will need to take care with their accessories. If you add a traditional strand of pearls to a deep-v dark aubergine dress, you will ruin the effect. When you are shopping for bridesmaid jewelry gifts, your mantra should be unique, stylish, and hip. The jewelry gifts that you give to each bridesmaid should be pieces that they will want to wear again, such as long crystal earrings and pendants. For the perfect finishing touches, think about strappy sandals, beaded or fabric clutches, and a wrap in case it gets chilly.

Ultimately, the bridesmaid dresses that you choose are a reflection of your personal style and taste. If you gravitate towards what is cool and modern, then your bridesmaid dresses should also be hip and stylish. The right bridesmaid dresses will add a fresh and fashionable edge to your wedding party.

The Prettiest Spring Bouquets

Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes spring weddings. There is an abundance of lovely flowers that come into bloom at that season. These are some ideas for the prettiest spring bouquets.

Pastels are always pretty and fresh for springtime. They mix well with white for very dainty and feminine bouquets for the bride and her bridesmaids. Pink, in particular, makes a beautiful choice for a spring wedding bouquet. Sunny yellow is another great color for a spring bouquet, and don’t forget about lilac and lavender, as well.

Tulips are one of the favorite flowers of springtime. They come in an astonishing array of colors, ranging from delicate white and pale pink, to cheerful yellow and orange to bold bright red and deep, mysterious purple. There is a shade of tulip that will work for almost any wedding color palette. Most brides think of the classic Dutch tulips, but there are also more wild and exotic looking varieties of tulips, such as the ruffled parrot tulip. The classic tulip makes a trim and tidy bouquet, that is especially nice when it is done in a single color. Finish it off with a hand-tied big satin bow on the stems for a timeless and elegant bouquet.

Peonies are another gorgeous flower available only to spring brides. They are full, lush, and feminine – just the picture of romance. Most commonly seen in pink, peonies make a stunning bouquet all on their own, or mixed with garden roses. The pink color of the peonies is so beautiful that you may wish to use it as inspiration for other parts of your wedding. It would be great to bring that lush color into your accessories, in the form of custom bridal jewelry. Bridal jewelry, such as necklaces and earrings, can be custom made for you and your bridesmaids out of sparkling pink crystals layered in with classic white pearls.

When you are thinking about spring flowers for your wedding, May brides should definitely consider lily of the valley. It is one of the most delicate and sweet flowers that you can choose, and it has been cherished by generations of brides. Lily of the valley is a small and dainty flower, perfect for creating a bouquet that is petite in size, but grand in style.

Rich Brown Accents for Your Wedding

Brown is one of the richest and warmest colors. It can also be very elegant and sophisticated, without the harshness of black. Used as a main color scheme or in combination with another color, brown is a wonderful choice for a wedding color palette.

The color brown actually has many great variations. There is deep espresso, warm milk chocolate, and light mocha – that sound delicious, doesn’t it? The lighter shades of brown are lovely for an afternoon wedding, and the deeper tones are perfect for the evening.

Brown is also a color that can be used in conjunction with many other colors. For weddings, espresso brown is often added to pink or sky blue to give those colors a sophistication that they would otherwise lack. A very fresh and modern wedding palette can be created by mixing brown with lime green, and for an opulent look, try using chocolate with copper.

The bride and bridesmaids’ attire will set the tone for the wedding, so this is a good place to use your brown accents. Brown makes an excellent choice for the bridesmaid dresses. A brown dupioni or satin is gorgeous for weddings year round; for a winter wedding, indulge in luxurious chocolate velvet.

You can also have wedding jewelry handmade to coordinate as your bridesmaid gifts. Sparkling Swarovksi crystals in chocolate would make a beautiful accent to brown bridesmaid dresses. Create necklaces and earrings that combine the brown crystals with clear ones to keep the look from getting too heavy; the effect will be stunning!

Brown can be used in many additional parts of the wedding. A stunning brown flower is the chocolate cosmo, which actually has a soft chocolatey aroma. For brides who prefer white or ivory bouquets, ask your florist to tie them with a chocolate satin or velvet ribbon. The deep brown ribbon will pop nicely against the lighter color of the flowers. A brown ribbon would also work very well with a pink bouquet, for a pink and brown themed wedding.

One of the most versatile colors that you can use to decorate your wedding is brown. It is a great choice to add sophistication or to tone down a very feminine color scheme. Brown is one of those colors that can be worked into almost any wedding to great effect.

Surprising Wedding Trend: Butterflies

Every wedding needs that one special element or theme that will bring it all together. Sometimes that concept can be rather unexpected. One surprising wedding trend right now is to beautify your wedding with butterflies.

There are countless ways to incorporate butterflies into your wedding design. Since they are associated with flowers, that is a good place to start. A tight round bouquet with multi-colored flowers would be even more gorgeous with one or two butterflies adorning it. Look for butterflies that are made from either sheer fabric or feathers, with little clips that you can use to attach them to things.

The wedding cake is another great place to use the butterfly motif. You can use more of the fabric ones, or have your baker create them out of gum paste. It would be just beautiful to have a cake with elaborate frosting flowers, and then to enhance it with graceful butterflies. What a romantic design that would be.

Butterflies can also adorn the bride herself. I have seen stunning bridal gowns that have pastel butterflies embroidered on the bodice or on the train. As long as they are done in a soft color palette, the effect can be subtle and sophisticated. Of course you would want to avoid anything that looked too childish.

For the bridesmaids, there are a few great ways to include them in the butterfly theme. Rather than going overboard with butterflies all over their dresses, choose more subtle accents. A single small butterfly clip in the hair of each attendant would be very pretty. Another idea is to forget about adorning the bridesmaids with a literal representation of a butterfly; instead bring out the luminous colors from your motif by giving them crystal bridesmaid jewelry.

The one type of butterfly to avoid using in your wedding is a live one. Although it looks beautiful to release a box of the fluttering creatures at the end of your ceremony, the sad truth is that they rarely survive very long. It is much better to use faux butterflies as a way to make this wonderful theme come to life.

Types of Bridesmaid Jewelry

One of the most popular gifts that a bride can give to her bridesmaids is jewelry. It makes a great gift because it is timeless, and it is something that your bridesmaids can wear at your wedding. There are so many wonderful choices that it can be hard to know where to start!

A very popular type of bridesmaid jewelry is the Swarovski crystal jewelry set. These glittering crystals are beloved world wide for their superior sparkle and crisp shine. They also have a nice weight, which means that pieces made with Swarovski crystals will hang very well.

Another reason that many brides love to give crystal bridesmaid jewelry is that you can have it handmade to match your wedding colors. The crystals are available in every color imaginable, from the pure look of the clear ones, to pastel blue to bold red, and everything in between. This makes it very easy to coordinate your gift to the dresses that your attendants will be wearing.

Crystals are by no means the only option for bridesmaid jewelry. Pearls are another extremely popular choice. Pearl jewelry has a timeless elegance that is unmatched by any other gem. There is a softness and feminine quality to pearls that makes them perfectly suited to weddings.

Personalized silver jewelry is an especially nice gift for your bridesmaids. Having a bracelet or necklace engraved with their monogram will make the piece very special to them. It also shows that you took the time to select a piece of jewelry just for them, which is always appreciated.

There are other types of bridesmaid jewelry available that are great for special types of weddings. For your destination wedding, you can choose from jewelry such as silver dolphin bracelets, monogrammed shell necklaces, and casual but stylish earrings made from coin or keshi pearls. Many of those same pieces are also great for the bride, so don’t forget about yourself!

The bridesmaid jewelry that you give to your attendants will be something that they will have forever. Fortunately, there are so many terrific options that your biggest challenge will probably be how to narrow it down to just one choice!