The royal wedding was forever ago, but fascinators are still alive and well! Birdcage veils and feathery flowery headpieces were being rocked by brides long before Kate Middleton walked down the aisle to the waiting Wills, with guests like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie watching on. But post royal wedding, I’ve noticed bigger and bolder headwear on brides this side of the pond. And I love it!

Check out some of these fabulous pieces! The items in the top row are from LoBoheme and the second, Truly Fascinating.

*Swoon*! There are tons of non-white fascinators out there for bridesmaids, mothers, or just everyday wear post-wedding. Many to browse though and buy, or if you’re creative, to make!

Do you have one? Ever made one? Planning on wearing one on your wedding day?

We’re big fans of bridal style here at WeddingFanatic, especially when it comes to The Dress! We spend hours googling over silhouettes, fabrics, and sparkly details. One great place to find your bridal style inspiration is by clicking through the gorgeous wedding dresses of Priscilla of Boston.

Priscilla is home to a team of creative designers that produce stunning looks season after season. The company, which has been in business since the 1940s, was started by Priscilla Kidder in a single shop that offered unique handmade gowns. Priscilla was chosen to design Grace Kelly’s dress when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Though the company has grown to include the work of multiple designers and expanded to many locations country wide, their reputation has stayed the same. They continue to offer modern looks in lux fabrics and trimmings that many a bride would give their left arms to wear.

Check out some of the designs we love from each of the collections!

The old adage “April showers bring May flowers” might explain why May is such a popular month for weddings, but what happens when Mother Nature goes against Mother Goose? If rain is in the forecast for your big day, don’t fret: work with the weather by adding rain boots and umbrellas to your wedding party’s attire!

With cute rain boots and umbrellas, you don’t have to let wet weather put a damper on the festivities, even if you’ve planned to take photos outside or are hosting an outdoor affair. Rain boots in bright colors and fun prints are quirky, cheerful, and best of all, functional. You’ll stay dry and comfortable while everyone admires your ability to make light of a dreary situation.

These days, rain boots come in a plethora of styles, patterns, and colors so you can coordinate them with your wedding color scheme or make them your “something blue.”

For an adorable line-up at the altar and a great photo-op, put your bridesmaids and flower girl in matching boots and umbrellas. What’s the best part for your girls? These really are things they’ll wear again!

The rain may have been unpredictable, but you don’t want your guests to see your array of boots and umbrellas and think you were taken by surprise. Mismatched items look haphazard and thrown together. In order to keep everything sophisticated and elegant, it’s important to keep all the boots and umbrellas coordinated. They don’t have to match perfectly if that’s not your style, but keeping the hues in the same family will make all the difference.

Check out some of our favorites!

Fashion-Forward

Burberry Check Rain Boots, $195 || dav High-Heeled Fashion Rain Boots, $95 ||
Hunter Gloss-Finish Original Rain Boots, $115

Feminine

Kate Spade Randi Boots, $125

Something Blue

Hunter Original Gloss in Turquoise, $115

Plaid and Polka Dot

Zulima Bias Plaid Rain Boots from Target, $19.99 || Merona Zaney Polka Dot Rain Boots, $24.99 || Mod Dot Rain Boots from Target, $24.99

Who says you have to wear a long bridal gown down the aisle? No matter your wedding’s theme, if you don’t feel comfortable in a full-length dress, a short dress is a great alternative! A shorter length can be just as chic, sophisticated, and elegant as one with a lengthy train, so don’t discount them as too casual.

What’s one plus point of wearing a short dress? If you’ve got great legs, you get to show them off! Why hide your best assets on your special day?

Short dresses also work very well on petite women because a shorter hemline and bare legs elongates the body, while full-length gowns can sometimes engulf small frames.

Also, many weddings are in the summer when the weather’s beautiful albeit hot. Short dresses are less bulky and trap less heat than the full skirts of gowns, and they expose more of your body to that much-needed breeze.

If you plan to hit the dance floor at your reception, short dresses are great because they’re easier to move in; it’s easier to kick up your heels without layers of fabric in the way!

Bridal designer labels Amsale and Ian Stuart have a stunning array of cocktail-length wedding dresses, but elegant options for the bride on a budget can also be found at stores like David’s Bridal.

Remember, when you wear a short dress you have to pay special attention to your legs: make sure they’re looking great at your wedding by toning up months before, bronzing your skin, and shaving, of course. Enjoy picking out some fierce shoes too because they’ll be on display when you’re wearing a short dress; no more hiding those babies under a long gown!

Wedding fashion is often very traditional… and predictable. You wear white. He wears a tux. You might assume there’s little room for unique styling, but your mistake might be focusing all your attention on the dress. To freshen up the fashion on your big day, turn to your bridesmaids’ dresses. Channel these two of the fashion world’s latest spring trends in their outfits and your girls will look fashion-forward while avoiding the pitfalls of the average heinous bridesmaid ensembles. Plus, they can really wear these dresses again!

YELLOW

Bright and vibrant hues of yellow were a prominent trend on the spring runways. Don’t shy away from the color out of fear; in the right silhouette, it’s the perfect choice for eye-catching yet sophisticated bridesmaid dresses.

If you’re going bright, keep it short. You don’t want to select a full-length gown in a bold yellow; that’s just too much. If you’re set on long dresses, pick a soft, pastel yellow.

Keep the outfit simple if the color is bold. If you select a beautiful yellow that’s attention-getting, you should minimize everything else. Select dresses with a simple silhouette and few embellishments (stay away from crystals!). Make sure jewelry and shoes are pared down as well.

Examples: Red Valentino Smocked Knit Dress ($598) || BCBG.MAXAZRIA One-shoulder silk dress ($298) || BCBG.MAXAZRIA One-shoulder silk gown ($358) || Thread’s mini-length Raven dress ($290)

WATERCOLOR PRINTS

Watercolor prints evoke the classic painting technique; the patterns look a bit muddled, a bit more muted, as if an aqua-doused brush of paint has just swiped across the surface. They can be very elegant but also modern and youthful. It’s a fresh idea to use prints in your bridesmaid dresses, particularly ones that of the moment in the fashion world. Need inspiration? Look to Rachel McAdam’s Oscar look, a beautiful gown that would make your maid of honor feel like a movie star.

Let the print speak for itself. As with yellow, selecting watercolor dresses is a unique and bold choice. Piling on jewelry, funky shoes, or even an elaborate bouquet adds too much to compete with the dress for attention. Let the dress win. Keep accessories and flowers elegant but simple.

Make your maid of honor stand out. If committing all your bridesmaids to trying out these looks is just too much, try dressing your maid of honor in a yellow dress or watercolor print gown while keeping the other ladies neutral. It will make her feel special and add a pop of interest to your altar line-up.

Examples: J.Crew Watercolor garden Bridget dress ($285) || Elegant Mart Strapless Gown ($396) || New York & Company Park Avenue Dress ($57)

What girly girl doesn’t?!

A few weeks ago I got to get a behind the scenes look at MyGlassSlipper.com. What can I say…I know people! Actually, a sorority sister of mine is the Senior Marketing and Operations Manager at their headquarters, not too far from where I live, and she gave me the grand tour (thanks, Megan!).

MyGlassSlipper (along with BridalShoes.com) carries tons of options for the shoe-loving bride. Designers include Paris Hilton, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitsman, Freya Rose, Badgley Mischka and more. Of course, you can also do the dyeable thing too (for you or your bridesmaids) – they offer lots of colors to pick from.

Megan emailed me today to tell me about these two new shoes they just got in from a small London based designer (Freya Rose). I had to share them – here they are (Avalanche and Della, respectively)!

I love just about all of the Badgely Mischka options, too. I’ll take one of each, thanks.

Have a fantastic week!

Any v-neck fans out there? I have about 30 v-neck tees in my closet right now (not really, but I wish!). Wedding gowns with similar necklines are so “in” right now and I’m loving every second of it! Check out some of this eye candy from Priscilla of Boston.

This is “Justine” from the Vineyard Collection – I love how the sheath silhouette flows perfectly with the neckline. It elongates the body (which I’m sure this model doesn’t need any help with) and just makes her float right down the runway. I imagine a similar affect would be given on a walk down the aisle. The bejeweled bodice adds just the right amount of sparkle. Love it!

You can probably see that “Tasha”, also from the Vineyard Collection, shares a few features with Justine. They have very similar necklines and bodices. I included this one is because it (or one like it) could so easily be added to with a few fabric flowers, a white or colored sash, or whatever you like! It’s simple and modern on its own, but also acts as a great backdrop for additions, accents, or simply showcasing stunning jewelry.

While this showstopper doesn’t have a fab name (to my knowledge, she’s known as “Style 4301″), we still love her! She’s sporting that oh-so-wonderful neckline with a a-line/mermaid silhouette mix. I like it with the flower accent, and I think it’d look great without, too! This little number would work amazingly well with a longer traditional veil or a hip birdcage. Anyway you go, you won’t go wrong!

There is just something about chandeliers that fascinates me. Today, you can find them out there in almost any style from classic to glamorous, to shabby chic to just plain chic and modern.

So, looking for ways to incorporate chandeliers into your wedding? They don’t just need to be hung above the dance floor and tables (though we love that too)! First check out this FABULOUS event by artfool. I love the chic black and white and the event space, exposed pipes and all. The added chandeliers top everything off with a touch of modern elegance.

Or how about on your invitations? Check out this sample from Pomp & Circumstance’s Greenvites.

If you’ve already got your lighting figured out and your list of lights doesn’t include chandeliers but still want to work them into your decor, what about using this paper chandeliers as centerpieces or as other decor accents? We found this on Palindrome Press’s Esty Shop, but is sadly no longer in stock. Perhaps they would make a great DIY project; just grab some really heavy, large sheets of card stock and get creative!

And if you want to drape yourself in sparkly things just like a chandelier, you could always go the chandelier earring route. But! I think these are a bit more unique…and well, look more like they are an actual part of a chandelier. I saw this in a inspiration board from Snippit & Ink (which I posted about two posts ago!). The Neiman Marcus earrings come at a pretty high price, but they are oh so lovely! And surely you can find some other similar ones out there, with a much prettier price tag.

Who says you can’t carry the chandelier theme into your new life together?! I adore these pillow cases from modcloth.com. Fabulous! And while your there, check out the chandelier wall art. Why not?!

Image credits:

1. jennifer dery photography; 2-3. perry hagopian; 4-5. B. Loved Photography; 6.invitesonline.co.nz; 7.tanya tribble

I adore pumpkins – tiny and massive, whole or hallow, I love them all! And since autumn has recently begun and I’m seeing pumpkins EVERYWHERE, why not share these marvelous ideas with you!?

So where can you tie in pumpkins on your big day?! Here are just a few ideas.

Centerpieces :: There are so many things you can do with pumpkins, just on the top of your tables! Bring in large pumpkins and surround them with flowers. Carve them up a bit and fill with flowers or candles. Or, try incorporating mini pumpkins into arrangements or making arrangements completely from mini pumpkins (put them in a rustic basket and leave a few scattered around the table).

From Better Homes and Gardens’ 9 Fabulous Fall Centerpieces

Line the aisle :: Group pumpkins on the aisle-side of pews or rows of chairs. Pair with over-sized lanterns filled with candles or floral arrangements. Carve them up and let them glow to meet you as you walk down the aisle!

This pictures is from Fall Bio, a page on which you can find a lot of other fall-themed wedding ideas.

Monograms :: Carve (or have someone else do it for you) your monogram into the side of your pumpkins! Place them below and around the alter, on your reception tables, line the isle with them … put them everywhere (beware of overkill)!

Of course, these are from Martha Stewart’s Translucent Pumpkins . Oh I do love the things she and her staff come up with!

Place Card Holders :: Cut a tiny slit in the top of mini pumpkins and place them on the escort card table and/or use them as place card holders on the actual tables. Or, try sticking a wire in each one, stretched out to hold the little name cards!

These little pretties are from Ranasalame’s Flickr account. Love them!

On the Altar :: If your ceremony site allows flowers or other bits on the alter, consider placing a few pumpkins up there, along with any other memorial, decorative, or traditional floral arrangements.

If you’re looking for some more pumpkin ideas, check out these fabulous places!:

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