Preppy Bridesmaid Dresses

October 8th, 2009

If you are a bride who loves the classics, then you will have fun planning a wedding with preppy details. From the bouquets to the attire, everything should proclaim your personal style. These are some ideas for the most perfect preppy bridesmaid dresses.

A favorite of preppy brides everywhere are the whimsical designs of Lilly Pulitzer. Always cheerful and bright, Lilly dresses are ideal for less formal bridesmaid dresses. Best of all, your friends will have plenty of chances to wear them after the wedding, since they are not specifically bridesmaid dresses. Lilly’s strapless dresses tend to be the most popular for weddings, as they are a bit dressier than the classic shifts. Slip on a set of pearl bridesmaid jewelry and a cute pair of sandals, and your ‘maids will be picture perfect. A bonus is that you can coordinate the rest of the wedding party with the bridesmaids; there are dresses in matching fabrics for little flower girls and even Lilly print neckties for the men in the bridal party.

If your wedding is a bit dressier, you may prefer to choose bridesmaid dresses that are not so boldly patterned. The first color that springs to mind for preppy bridesmaid dresses is pink, perhaps with a lime green accent. A strapless dress that hits just below the knee would look wonderful in a pink silk shantung (in any season) or silk organza (spring and summer only). Add to the appeal with a cheerful sash at the waist in lime green, or perhaps a silk patterned Vineyard Vines waist sash for a little more flair. White pearls would be timeless and pretty, or you could have custom sets of bridesmaid jewelry created from pretty pink Swarovski pearls. A tin cup necklace style would be perfect for the simplicity of this type of bridesmaid dress.

Most preppy brides and grooms love the water. If your wedding is going to be held at a yacht club or oceanside, think about navy blue bridesmaid dresses. The crisp combination of navy blue and white always looks fresh for a nautical wedding. Navy faille dresses would be marvelous, especially accented with a bit of white piping around the neckline and at the waist. Strapless is always nice, but another neckline that would work very well is a slightly squared scoopneck. The dresses can be long or shorter, depending on the time of day and the formality of your event. The options are really limitless; it is all a matter of selecting the dresses that best suit your bridesmaids and your wedding style.

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Preppy Wedding Centerpieces

May 4th, 2009

When you think of preppy style, the first thing that comes to mind is pink and green. This is definitely an excellent option for the colors of your centerpieces. The pink and green can be the foundation of your flower choices, or you can use it for the vessels. Or maybe even both!

There are many wonderful flowers available in shades of pink and green. Probably the preppiest combination would be green hydrangeas with pink peonies or garden roses. Another excellent option is pink ranunculus, which can even be found with a greenish center. For a more elaborate centerpiece, ask your florist about wiring a pearl into the center of some of the flowers to coordinate with your bridal jewelry.

Clever ideas for pink and green centerpiece vessels abound. You could do something as simple as tying a striped grosgrain ribbon around a cylindrical vase for an instant dash of preppy flair. For a more elegant wedding, seek out vases with a pink and green toile print (sometimes you find this design done on a galvanized bucket, which is an incredible combination of fancy and laid-back). Another idea would be to alternate pink vases and green vases filled to the brim with white flowers like roses or sweetpeas.

Certainly, every preppy woman adores the iconic look of the silver mint julep cup, and this would make a wonderful addition to a wedding centerpiece. Instead of having one large centerpiece, place a mint julep cup at each place setting filled with wide open garden roses or peonies in shades of pink and white. To fill the middle of the table, think about a hurricane lantern with a large ivory pillar candle, or even a tiered stand of desserts.

Or for an all-out preppy look, paint simple containers in diagonal Kelly green and navy stripes to look like a classic mens’ tie. It would be a fresh and interesting addition to any preppy wedding, and would be a great way to showcase your style.

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