All Dressed Up : Where to Start

So many fabulous things out there to dream about and search for and try on and purchase! But where to begin? Let’s think about it logically.

Vera Wang

Often, The Gown determines just about everything else. If you REALLY want to tie the day together, you’ll consider the event space (ceremony and reception locations) when deciding on the style of your dress, not just your body type and personal preferences. But after you have found The One, what’s next?

Grace Footwear

We’d start with shoes. They will be needed for alterations and may or may not be seen under your dress, so they are important to consider (especially if being seen). Also, they will determine if you’re two or three inches taller than normal and how much pain you’ll be in at the end of the night (only half kidding!). Details in your shoes (and of course, your dress) may be things you’d like to reflect in your other accessories.

Altered Bride

On to the veil! Now you know how simple or intricate your dress and shoes are, so look into finding a veil that compliments them! Generally, the more simple the dress, the more wiggle room you have for a fancy veil. Long, short? Classic, chic? Blusher or no blusher? Knowing what it is paired with will narrow down your choices.

Kenneth Jay Lane, Photo by Michael David Adams via Brides.com

So now you have the big ticket items (between the above you’ll want to find undergarments - don’t forget about those!). Time for the little things! With the overall look, what kind of jewelry would look best? Lots or little? Intricate or simple? Not every bride needs earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet! If your gown has a fancy neckline, consider skipping a necklace altogether! Sometimes less truly is more.

From the oh-so-fabulous Chlorine!

And don’t forget about the baubles and doodads like a clutch to in which to keep all of your must-have wedding day items!

What was (or has been) your favorite thing to look for/shop for/try on/purchase for your wedding day ensemble? What else would you consider essential to any bride’s wedding day look?

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Knitts

I have seen SO many cute knitted wedding tidbits out there, I just had to post about them!

Here is a delicate knitted shawl that would be perfect for a winter wedding! So much texture and so visually appealing - I love it (and want it)! By Toby Hanna.

Look at these beautiful pieces by Nanda Handcrafted: Fields of Gold Cowl, which can be worn in a number of fashionable ways as a scarf or shawl, and the Ice and Roses Neckwear piece. Fields of Gold would be marvelous for a late fall wedding and Ice and Roses would look fabulous for a winter wedding (and a lot of winter holiday events).

Here is a clutch I wanted to buy for myself when I was visiting family in St. Louis a while back. I found it at The Posh Fox, and it’s made my Suzanne Marie (please contact me if you would like to reach her)!

Want more knitted wedding stuff? Check out CastOff.info for The Knitted Wedding - a group of individuals attempting to knit an entire wedding. Can they do it? I believe so!

Here are some good ideas for DIY knit and crochet wedding projects.

Want some more knitting resources? Here are a few sites and blogs:
Chic Knits
Vintage Knitting
Knitter Natter
Good To Be Girl
CraftZine.com’s Knitting Archives

Want more ways to incorporate knitted bits into your wedding day? Try knitted:
-stuffed animals for your youngest guest
-sweet cardigan(s) for your flower girl(s)
-pillow for your ring bearer
-cuffs for your and your bridesmaids’ bouquets
-hats for some fabulous pictures for a winter wedding
-scarfs for guests, placed by the exit of your ceremony site (with a note asking them to bundle up before the leave for the reception!)

Unless you’re going all out, just use one or two knitted (or crocheted…we don’t discriminate!) elements for a warm, fuzzy feel!

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Pearls!

I recently had a birthday (yay) and it turned out to be the birthday of pearls (double yay). I received some fabulously pretty pieces from my significant other and beautiful ring from my parents. I adore them all! The reason I bring up pearls, though, is because they make SUCH wonderful wedding jewelry. They are elegant, classy, classic, delicate, you name it. And, with all of the creative minds out there, they have been and can be used in more contemporary ways, too.

Here is something similar to my current pearl obsession:

But! Whenever I see pearls, I think of this scene from The Tenth Kingdom (that one really long made-for-TV movie that came out years ago). This clip is a little long and the “ring part” is at the end. I do hope you enjoy. How precious!

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Hair Flair

Make a Statement

If you’re looking to cut back on the jewelry (not every brides needs earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, and multiple rings) but still want something sparkly up top, consider adding a jeweled brooch to your style! A brooch can be used with many different hair styles - just ask your stylist what would work best for your hair type and which hairstyles would work well for you overall Wedding Day look. Also, a brooch is a perfect choice for a simple dress, especially when you’re looking for just a touch fanciness.

From Fashion Jewelry for Everyone

From People

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Sweet, Subtle, and Sparkly

One of my favorites - simple hairpins with a little something extra. That theme carries over when it comes to the look that these little guys work for - something simple needing a little something extra! They can sweeten up any hairdo - down, up, straight, curly, or almost anything else for that matter!

Erin Cole Freshwater Pearl Hair Pins, from Arte Bride

From Brides

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Classic and Classy

For a look that screams “class”, something like these simple yet elegant pieces are perfect. Tuck in the side of a French twist, hold back some strands in a half-up half-down ‘do, or place atop a head full of curls. It adds something pretty without being “too much”.

From Auntie’s Treasures

From Brides

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Flirty and Floral

There are a couple of takes on this flower power style - my favorites are the “purely floral” and the “flower plus feathers”. The purely flower is, as you can probably guess, just a flower (usually a large one) tucked into an up do or behind an ear. Oh so perfect for a beach wedding or those held in the spring or summer (though darker, more bold flowers would work wonderfully for a fall or winter wedding). The second, or flowers and feathers look, has the vintage glam thing going for it. You can find pieces that are all flower with just a hint of feather to the exact opposite. I like to think the more feathers, the more glam.

Whispering Wings from Mikiye Designs, found on Etsy

From InStyle Weddings

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Out or In : Tiaras

I’m going to have to say out. But not necessarily entirely. I was clicking around NewportWeddings and stumbled across this post, which sprouted this post idea.

Yes, tiaras are worn by royalty and beauty queens, and on your wedding day, shouldn’t you feel like both?! Of course (if you want)! But! Alas, it is my belief that you don’t need a tiara to feel like either. The idea of the tiara, I feel, is less of a bejeweled piece of metal for the top of the head, and more of a something complimentary, not-something-you-wear-everyday piece of bridal “equipment”. So, if you insist on wearing something atop your head on your day, but don’t necessarily want to look like your headpiece was delivered to you on a pillow, perhaps these ideas will help!

What I like to call “Spanish Royalty”, old style number one. I think the main idea with this one is lots of “bling”. But bling, my friends, can be done in many different ways. One of my favorites, I’ve posted just below this image.

How about the “Princess” tiara? One could argue that ALL tiaras are of the princess classification, but I think ones like these are particularly “princessy”. So, an idea I love can be seen in the second picture. For something fresh and girly, try going for a headband with multiple bands or just a hint of sparkle.

And lastly, though the post could include many more than three, what I’d deem a “whimsical” tiara. I’d say that these pieces are “less organized” and have that airy, light, look to them. While they may look similar, how you wear each can give you a completely different style! Take the pictures below for example. Somewhat similar beaded look, completely different bridal feel!

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Navy & Apple

It’s preppy. I love it. Check it!

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Sources: Men’s Suits: Jaeger, Merona Bar Stripe Necktie: Target, Wedding Dress: Vera Wang, Cake: Martha Stewart, Green Dresses: kaboodle, Bellas Florida, Net-A-Porter, Liz Claiborne, Navy Shoes: Kate Spade, jildorshoes.com, Candy Says, Dorothy Perkins, Headband:Target Lilly Pulitzer, Stationary: Crane & Co, Tiny Prints, Grosgrain Ribbon: mohop, Vintage Car: Tweed Limousines, Bouquet: Chestnuts in the Tuileries, Candle Arrangement: Crate & Barrel, Chivari Chair: 1 Stackable Chairs, White Flower Arrangement: teleflora, Gold Charger: Crafts Etc!

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Happy Feet

Heaven! Pure heaven!

Okay, so as someone who is completely addicted to fabulous heels, I can say the pain that comes along with them is not so fabulous. Enter: Dainty Footings.

When Ria from Dainty Footings contacted me about their products, “shock absorbing shoe cushions specifically designed for women who love wearing beautiful, stylish shoes, but don’t want the pain and discomfort that often comes with it,” I’ll admit I was a little skeptical. She offered to send me a sample to give them a try. I am in love.

The products, like stated above, are for women who love to wear those painful yet oh, so stylish heels. The line includes ball-of-foot cushions, heel cushions, heel liners, and revive insoles. They come in cream and black.

I must say my favorites are the heel liners. You know those shoes that are just a bit too big, and if you get a half size smaller, your foot will turn blue? Or the shoes that rub against the back of your heel until you have blisters? These babies are for those shoes. I put the heel liners and ball-of-foot pads into the same pair of shoes and it’s like stepping into a pair of high-heeled slippers. What could be better?

Note to brides and wedding/event planners: Get them. Love them. I know you’re on your feet all day, in likely not the most comfortable shoes you own. Dainty Footings will definitely help ease the pain. They have even put together a special package for The Bride on her Big Day. Check them out!

A little extra info: What makes Dainty Footings unique? They have passed USP Class VI toxicology testing, they’re ergonomically correct unlike gimmicky similar products, and are made with Poron - a substance derived from nanotechnology used in Europe for more than a decade that absorbs impact better than latex foam, rubber, gels and neoprene. It is also breathable, odorless, and hypo-allergenic - keeping feet cool, dry (whisks moisture away from skin on feet), stink-free, and blister-free. They take six months to break down with repeated daily wear.

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Gifts For Your Gals

First of all, I am sorry for the delay in posts! The past two weeks have been hectic and believe me, the only thing I truly wanted to be doing was thinking and writing about weddings. Can I get an “Amen”?

So, if all goes according to plan, the posts should be back on their usual schedule in no time. Here is a little something to get us restarted!

A bride over at weddingbee.com recently wrote a post inquiring if she was a bad friend because she got her bridesmaids gifts at an outlet store. Honey, a Coach is a Coach! Who cares where you got it?! In fact, I liked her idea so much, I had to write a post about it.

She found a great deal on some Coach Wristlets that matched the personality of her ‘maids. With the money that she saved from purchasing them at an outlet shop, she is paying for them to get their nails and hair done, too. So, not only do her ladies get a little pampering on and before the big day, they get cute wristlets to sport on their perfectly manicured hands. What could be better?

Lesson learned? Whatever your budget, you can find the perfect gifts for your gals. With some research and creativity, you can give them a little something extra. Happy gifting!

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Diamonds are a Bride’s Best Friend

I don’t think anyone knows the exact time and place that the engagement ring came about, but they have been in the works for a long time. In ancient Rome, brides often wore rings of iron. They called them betrothal (truth) rings The earliest surviving records suggest that Archduke Maximilion of Hamburg may have started the tradition of diamond engagement rings in 1477 upon his betrothal to Mary of Burgundy. The meanings, symbolism, and styles have changed time and time again, but married people today still wear them, just like those thousands of years ago.

In the 18th century, diamonds became more popular when a supply was discovered in Brazil. Diamond cluster rings were popular amongst the wealthy. The 19th century brought the discovery of the Kimberley diamond region in South Africa in 1870 and within 10 years, DeBeers Consolidated Mines Ltd was formed. Today, DeBeers still controls 65% of the world’s diamond trade.

Ever heard “A Diamond is Forever”? DeBeers created the advertising campaign in 1947 and diamonds have been the standard ever since. According to the site diamondwholesalecorporation.com, DeBeers unofficially educated jewelers to instruct men that the amount of money they should be paying for their beloved’s engagement ring should be equivalent to two or three months of personal wages.

While much of the tradition is still there, times have changed. Today, engagement rings can be whatever you want them to be; diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, or no gems at all. Whatever suits your lifestyle, personality, and budget is the perfect engagement ring for you.

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