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.

Create a Beautiful Bridal Party

Naturally, the bride is the central figure in the bridal party, as well she should be. It is her bridal gown, veil, and wedding jewelry which everyone will be excited to see during the ceremony. That said, the appearance of the rest of the bridal party is also very important and will help to make the entire ceremony more elegant. Review these tips on how to create a beautiful bridal party to ensure that your bridesmaids, flower girls, groomsmen, and groom all look as polished and stylish as the bride.

Many of the most beautiful bridal parties feature bridesmaids in dresses which are coordinated but not matching. If your attendants process down the aisle in dresses of the same color and fabric, they will definitely present a harmonious appearance, even if one is wearing strapless, another spaghetti straps, and the third a halter. Different women look good in different styles, and that does not change just because they are bridesmaids. Allow your attendants to select dresses that they feel good wearing and they will shine.

The bridesmaid dresses are only the beginning. To complete a polished and elegant look, attention must also be paid to hair, bridesmaid jewelry, shoes, and other accessories. The trend these days is towards individuality. It is fine for some bridesmaids to wear their hair up and others to wear it down, as long as they all have it styled elegantly. Many brides make an appointment at an area salon for all of the attendants to get their hair done on the morning of the wedding, which can be a big help for bridesmaids who are not locals and would not know where to go. If the bride knows that the services of a stylist would be too costly for one of her attendants, she should discreetly pick up the tab.

The men in the wedding are easier to dress, but they should not be overlooked. A lot of grooms these days like to treat themselves to a really handsome suit, rather than wear a rental from a tux shop. If you do plan to rent the menswear, be sure that the groom and his attendants have their tuxedos tailored for a better fit. Personally, I think that a cummberbund looks better than a vest with black tie, but if you do opt for a vest, choose a conservative color, not a pattern or bright hue. Your entire bridal party will look fantastic during your wedding ceremony!

A Forest Theme Wedding

Imagine how beautiful it would be to have a forest theme wedding. The soothing natural colors, the charming woodland creatures, and the abundance of rich textures would all combine to make a truly delightful experience. These are some ideas and inspiration on how to design a forest theme wedding.

As with most weddings, the place to begin is by selecting your wedding colors. For a forest theme wedding, choose rich colors like chocolate brown, moss green, and touches of gold (either metallic or not). These colors will be equally at home in an actual forest clearing or in a more conventional indoor reception site. Chocolate, moss, and gold can also be used for any season; change the tone by fabric selection. For instance, in the autumn or winter, you could use sumptuous materials like velvet and shantung, whereas in the spring or summer, things can be lightened up a bit with organza or chiffon.

For the wedding attire, something a bit non-traditional would best suit a forest theme. Think romantic and soft, maybe a bit ethereal. The satin ballgown is definitely out. You could use a couple of different inspirations for a forest-y wedding gown. One would be the dreamy woodland fairy and another would be the more down-to-earth but romantic Robin Hood style. The bridesmaids’ dresses would be gorgeous in a moss green with chocolate colored accents. Topaz colored crystal bridesmaid jewelry would be a stunning accent or choose Swarovski crystal leaf pendants and earrings as the bridesmaid jewelry.

Decorating the ceremony and reception sites for a forest theme wedding will be really fun! Gather natural materials such as pinecones, moss, and branches as your primary materials. You can go with a very rustic feeling or take the theme in a more elegant direction by adding touches of metallic gold. Of course the ideal place for a forest theme wedding would be a clearing in an actual forest, but you can also transform an indoor setting by bringing in all of the natural elements. Gobo lights projecting tree shadows onto the walls of a tent or ballroom would be a wonderful detail.

Sticky Wedding Attire Situations

These are some of the most common sticky wedding attire situations, along with suggestions about how to resolve them.

Problem No. One: Your wedding colors are pale pink and lilac and your bridesmaids are demanding black cocktail dresses. While it is always lovely when the bride is considerate of what her attendants would like to wear, the reality is that they need to fit with her vision of the wedding. The best you can do is choose a color that your bridesmaids can stand (perhaps a neutral like champagne). Perhaps the bride could also mollify her bridesmaids by giving them a lot of say in the style of the dress, if not the color. Ultimately, though, being a bridesmaid means wearing the dress of the bride’s choosing, so the bridesmaids need to grit their teeth and politely wear what the bride wants!

Problem No. Two: Your flamboyant mother-in-law always has to be the center of attention, even on your wedding day. She never got the memo that the mothers of the bride and groom should look pretty without upstaging the bride, and has decided to wear a fire engine red dress with a neckline cut down to her navel. The bride really cannot tell her mother-in-law what to wear, so the groom needs to be involved in this.  If the groom cannot or will not get his mom to wear something less flashy, there is nothing much to be done about it. Yes, it will drive you crazy that she sticks out like a sore thumb in the group wedding photos, but in the end, it will do nothing to detract from the joy of your wedding or marriage.

Problem No. Three: The bride and her mother cannot agree on a wedding gown…and mom is paying for it. This problem is incredibly common, and also incredibly frustrating. Sometimes another person, like a sister or aunt, can help to convince mom that the bridal gown which she thinks is all wrong is really perfect. The bride can also show a willingness to compromise by offering to let her mom pick out her veil and wedding jewelry. If none of that works, you either have to go back to the drawing board and look for a new gown or buy the one you really want with your own money.

People tend to feel very strongly about their clothing, even more so when it comes to formal attire. This is why so many sticky situations can crop up when planning a wedding. Hopefully, you now have the tools to manage any wedding attire dilemmas that come your way!

Create Your Own Wedding Inspiration Board

When you are trying to plan a wedding which has a cohesive feeling, it can be great to lay everything out in one place. Besides, while you are looking at wedding websites online, you are sure to run across tons of gorgeous details that take your breath away, and it is nice to have them all together. The solution is to create a wedding inspiration board. It is a lot of little squares put together into one large square, each with a tiny jewel of an image in it. Whether it is strictly electronic or something that you put together on paper, an inspiration board is a fun and easy way to design a fabulous wedding.

There are countless things which a bride can include in her wedding inspiration board, as long as the key word is remembered: inspiration. These should be the things that make you drool or dance with joy when you see them. Never mind that you cannot afford that Vera Wang gown or that tulips are out of season for your October ceremony. The inspiration board is a design technique, and it should be a feast for the eyes. The wedding design board is about the dream. Even if you cannot have the exact piece of wedding jewelry or the very same cake that you saw in a magazine, you can still use your fantasy objects as the basis around which you select the items you will ultimately use.

Fashion and beauty are almost always a key part of a wedding inspiration board. In fact, you might even want to have a couple of style boards; one for fashion, one for decorations and flowers, and perhaps another with close ups of unique details that delight you, like a gorgeous style of calligraphy. On your fashion board, the natural things to include are bridal gowns, wedding jewelry and veils, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, bags, hairstyles, and headpieces.

On your decor style board, focus on pulling together elements which create a beautiful color palette. Laying it all out on paper is a great way to ensure that the vision in your head will look just as pretty in reality, especially when it comes to mixing and matching colors. The beauty of the wedding inspiration board is that it is all for fun, so you can take chances and experiment until you find an overall style that you know you will love for your wedding.

Glamorous Wedding Attire

Weddings are one of the few excuses we get to really dress up these days.  Let’s face it: dressing your best makes a special occasion feel even more special. That goes for everyone involved in the wedding, from the bride and groom to the wedding party to the guests. This guide to glamorous wedding attire will help you turn out in high style.

There are spectacular options available for the bride who wants a wedding gown with a glamorous attitude. It is all about the use of luxurious fabrics and rich details with a touch of drama. A trumpet style is one of the most glamorous, with its slim fit through the bodice and sudden flare of fullness at the skirt above the knee. The most au courant versions of trumpet shape wedding gowns are created in silk satin or silk taffeta and feature interesting ruching and gathering. A one shoulder gown would be very chic as would one with an asymmetrical oversized bow. Lots of dazzling crystal bridal jewelry and fabulous high heels will make the look even more glam.

When the bride is the picture of glamor, she will surely want her bridesmaids to embody the same fabulous style. Rich color can be an excellent way to make your bridesmaids look glamorous. Try an eggplant silk or a peacock blue for drama and sophistication. A satin draped column dress would be a fantastic silhouette for the bridesmaid dresses (the draping is not only gorgeous, but it hides any figure flaws). Sparkling crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets will be the perfect finishing touch.

Without a doubt, the most glamorous style for the groom and the rest of the gentlemen is black tie. The female wedding guests can take their cues from the bride and bridesmaids: rich colors, luxurious fabrics like silk, special accents like feathered accessories and crystal wedding jewelry. The entire wedding will be a marvelous sight to behold with such gorgeously attired people there!

Khaki Suits for Grooms

I love a tuxedo as next as the much person, but it is not the only option for wedding attire for a groom. Unless the wedding is to be very formal, in the spring and summer months, it can be so much more fresh and modern to lighten things up a bit. Enter the khaki suit: appropriate for an elegant daytime wedding yet perfectly in style for the season, it can be an excellent alternative to either a tuxedo or a traditional navy suit. These are some ideas on how to style khaki suits for the groom and his groomsmen.

A spring garden wedding is a wonderful place for a khaki suit. Instead of a basic white shirt, why not have the men in the wedding wear shirts in a pastel color? Pale blue is always handsome, or select a shirt color which coordinates with the wedding colors. Light yellow shirts are very springy and surprisingly neutral. A discreet pattern on the groom’s shirt, such as a tiny gingham check would be a marvelous addition.

A great idea for a tie for a garden wedding would be one with a small floral print, such as a Liberty floral. It would look fresh and springlike with a khaki suit and light colored shirt. If your groom will not go for a floral print, a small print in a motif which appeals to him could be nice, such as a green and white golf design. Keep the rest of the accessories simple, such as a classic pair of silver monogrammed cufflinks (these also make great groomsmen gifts). A cheerful daisy boutonierre would be a great finishing detail.

In the summer, khaki suits are perfect for nautical themed weddings. What could be more crisp and classic than khaki paired with navy and bright white? For a dash of color, mix in subtle accents of lime green or red. Starting with the shirts, pair the khaki suits with either a pure white or an elegant French blue. Embrace the nautical theme with anchor or sailboat cufflinks, which are not only terrific gifts for groomsmen, but also for the groom himself. Select a tie which either has diagonal stripes or a discreet nautical print. Motifs like anchors, ships’ wheels, knots, or whales are just a few appropriate tie motif ideas (check out places like Vineyard Vines for great looking options). With so many ways to wear one, the khaki suit is really the go-to look for spring and summer grooms.

Perk Up Your Wedding With Polka Dots

There are so many fun ways that you can use pattern to make your wedding more festive. Rather than safe (and potentially boring) solids, why not introduce a cheery pattern to your wedding attire and décor? These are some suggestions on how to perk up your wedding with polka dots.

One fun idea for polka dots is to select dotted bridesmaid dresses. For a classic nautically inspired effect, a white or ivory dot on a navy dress is crisp and fresh; perfect for a seaside wedding. The timeless look of pearl bridesmaid jewelry would complete the look beautifully. If your style is more retro, choose a red fabric with medium sized white dots, which have a touch of whimsy. A great cut for this dress would be a strapless style with a red fabric belt.

Polka dots can be used in many ways throughout the wedding decorations. They would be wonderful for tablecloths to dress up a plain space. The color combination that you select will help to create the feeling that you want. Black and white polka dotted tablecloths are both chic and vintage, especially when paired with pink flowers in the centerpieces. For a cheerful spring wedding reception, a pale yellow and white polka dot fabric would be a great way to perk up the tables. Or go for a very stylish color palette of pink and brown. The polka dots will help make this sophisticated color pair more upbeat and relaxed.

When you have a great wedding design going, naturally you will want to extend it to your wedding cake. Polka dots are fabulous for a cake, and in fact if you want only one polka dot detail, this could be the place to introduce it. Small white on white Swiss dots are a classic style for a wedding cake. They look simply sweet with “pearl” borders along each tier. If ultra girly is your goal, top the cake with a large frosting bow with streamers that cascade down the tiers of the Swiss dot cake.

There are many more wonderful ways to make your wedding cheery with polka dots. From the invitations to the ribbons on the bouquets, you can have fun using either a little or a lot of this upbeat pattern. One thing is for certain: a polka dot design wedding is one which is going to be very happy and a lot of fun for everyone.

“The Office” Wedding Wrap Up

Do you love “The Office”? Then the special hour long episode about Pam and Jim’s wedding was a long awaited treat, wasn’t it? Here is “The Office” wedding wrap up, including ideas that an engaged couple can use for inspiration for their own real life wedding.

Just like with any wedding, the most important question is what did the bride wear. In “The Office” wedding episode, Pam wore a very pretty simple white chiffon gown with an empire waist and spaghetti straps. The empire waist on her gown (which falls just under the bustline) was designed to hide her baby bump, of course, but it is a style that would be flattering on many brides, pregnant or not. The waistline of Pam’s gown was decorated with a sweet white floral beaded trim which was just the right amount of adornment for a bride with simple tastes. Pam’s pearl bridal jewelry was lovely with her chiffon gown.

Being “The Office”, the wedding could not be without its silly and surprising moments. When Pam was upset because she tore her veil shortly before the wedding ceremony, Jim cheered her up by cutting off half of his tie. The part that most viewers will remember is the YouTube inspired dance down the aisle that Jim and Pam’s attendants sprung on them as a surprise (hopefully this will not inspire any bridesmaids or groomsmen watching from home to try this!).

A wrap up of the wedding on “The Office” would not be complete without a mention of the crazy things done by Pam and Jim’s co-workers, especially Michael and Dwight. From Michael promising Pam’s grandmother that they would name their baby after her to him slipping into the mother of the bride’s hotel room at the end of the night, he was up to his usual tricks.  With a wedding this memorable, it should be interesting to see what life as newlyweds looks like for Pam and Jim.

Should a Bride Hide Her Tattoos?

Every generation of brides faces unique questions as they prepare for their weddings. When our mothers got married, it was probably something like, “Can I get away with a bridal gown with bare shoulders for a church wedding?”. For a lot of today’s brides, the overwhelming dilemma is what to do about her tattoos; should she show them, hide them, or what? These are some of the considerations to help you decide.

One of the biggest issues in the tattoo dilemma often involves the mother of the bride. Most moms are not interested in seeing body art on their daughters during the wedding ceremony. Sometimes this can present an opportunity for compromise. The bride agrees to cover her ink for the ceremony, but does not hide it for the reception. This can be a good solution, particularly if the wedding ceremony is going to be traditional.

If you decide to hide a tattoo for the ceremony, there are a few ways in which it can be done, depending on where it is. One possibility is to get special tattoo covering makeup. The effectiveness of this tactic will depend on the size and color of the tattoo. This can be an option for tattoos that are in hard to cover places such as hands or arms. Do be aware that makeup can tend to smear, especially after a night on the dance floor.

Tattoos on the back of the shoulder are very popular, and they can be concealed for the ceremony with a shrug worn over the bridal gown. A cool way to hide a tattoo on the wrist or neck is with custom bridal jewelry. An extra wide bracelet created from rows of crystals and pearls will add style to your bridal ensemble as well as hiding a wrist tattoo. If the body art you wish to cover is on the neck, then custom bridal jewelry in the form of a beautiful choker will do the trick.

The decision of whether or not to hide a tattoo for your wedding is an entirely personal one, although family and social pressure will often come into play, as well. Ultimately, each bride has to make the choice that will make her happy, while showing respect for her family and their customs.