I love the fact that short dresses are coming back into the wedding scene. They are incredibly practical and can be just as gorgeous as a full length gown. But perhaps what I love most is the fact that your shoes can get the full glory they deserve. If, like myself, you are a lover of shoes you could even go for multiple pairs which is much more feasible than going the multiple dress route.
If you go with a short dress, make a statement with some fun shoes!
Filed under Dresses, Tuesday Shoesday
This dress stopped me in my tracks. I love it. To be completely honest I have been absolutely underwhelmed by much of what I have seen from the BHLDN line. Perhaps it was all the hype that made me expect to see nothing short of drool worthy apparel and instead I couldn’t muster anything more than a furrowed brow and the thought of “Is this really it?” But then I came across this dress and everything I hoped for BHLDN finally came true.
This dress alone will set you back hundreds of dollars and then add that gorgeous brooch and this becomes a completely impractical ensemble for the average person. But it’s okay to dream right? Of course a gorgeous, lemony frock needs a perfect pair of shoes and the sparkly numbers they selected are spot on.
Stunning. Get them here or just drool over them like I do.
**Don’t forget to enter our Giveaway!!
**Have you shopped our Trunk Show for Charity?
Filed under Dresses, Tuesday Shoesday
Yep… you read it right, I said hangers. A super simple and easily overlooked wedding detail. Hangers have long been on my mind so it is time to talk about them and save your gorgeous dress shot from the eye sore that is a dry cleaner’s hanger. You may not think it is a big deal now or ever, but that hanger that your dress hangs on is going to get photographed. That dress shot- you are going to love it but a bad hanger can completely distract from a beautiful photo of your treasured dress. You may think this is ridiculous- it is JUST a hanger after all. But I am pretty sure you spent a good chunk of money on that dress and it deserves to hang on something worthy of holding it up.
{Via}
I have guilt over finding actual wedding dress photos with terrible hangers as after all it is someone’s dress. So you will have to do your best to imagine what I am talking about and I know most of you have seen it. The one above isn’t the worst possible option but it could be better… way better.
Head to Etsy for some adorable options that double as keep sakes!
*Be careful of hangers similar to the one above that are made completely out of wire (as in the top part isn’t wood). Your dress is SUPER heavy and I have heard more than one case of such hangers not being able to actually hold the weight of the dress. Opt for one like the one above with a strong structure up top.
Personalized hangers are REALLY easy to make also so if you don’t want to spend $10-$30 on a hanger, make your own which is what I did. And don’t forget your Maids!
Photo courtesy of Melissa Dunstan.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Dunstan.
I bought two packs of wooden hangers (less than $10 for all 6 of them), broke out my faithful Sharpie, and a little bit of embellishments and I had adorable hangers for myself, my bridesmaids and even my mom. I did purchase a slightly larger one for my dress but the others would have worked fine. Plus it was one more thing to add to their gift bag!
When buying hangers either from someone else or if you plan to make your own- be sure to keep the style of dresses in mind. In the photos above there are little notches to hold the hanging straps of strapless dresses. One of my Bridesmaid’s dresses didn’t have those little straps so she couldn’t use her hanger. Not a big deal over all but it could be if all your Maid’s dresses don’t hang on the hangers you made/bought.
Don’t let yourself or your dress suffer from the fate of an ugly hanger! You may not care on the actual wedding day, but you will notice when you look back at pictures!
Happy Monday Morning! Did you all watch the Superbowl? Actually I think I watched more of it this year than I ever have, including the half time show which people are saying was the worst ever. Despite the poor sound quality and a less than top notch performance, I think those saying it was the worst quickly forgot that last year’s involved The Who. Who? Exactly. Plus Fergie looked incredible so I have nothing bad to say. Anyway with that and everything else that was going on this weekend, Kyle and I had a packed agenda. We will be moving in a few weeks so we are starting the process of sorting, trashing, organizing, and packing all our worldly goods. Moving is a major pain but the truth is, I love it. It makes you throw away things you likely wouldn’t otherwise, not because you want to keep them but just because they are sitting somewhere like the top of your closet or in a drawer and they are not harming anything. Kyle and I have more than one “catch all” drawer and they were packed to the brim with important papers, random things, and junk mail to be frank. In addition it inspires me to get rid of clothes I never wear. I hate to pack and unpack so the more I get rid of the better. Plus I love moving into a new place and having a clean slate, everything organized in its place, and that freeing feeling you get when you let go of “stuff.” Perhaps this cup half full approach is just how I get through the pain that is moving but whatever works, right?
Have you entered our Giveaways? Last week we had three and there is still time to enter. The first Giveaway is to pay tribute to the charity element of this blog and anyone can enter! The second is just for Brides, as this is a wedding blog after all and the third is also for ANYONE! All the prizes are awesome, so don’t miss out!
Moving on to today’s post! I came across to this lovely little online dress shop, Dolly Couture, thanks to Marissa of Marissa Taylor Photography who had recently photographed a bride who bought her dress from the store. Cute short dresses are difficult to come by in bridal shops, likely because the majority of brides go with something long. However short dresses and picking up steam in the world of wedding attire and I love them every time I see them. My Grandma will especially appreciate this post as she wore a short dress which she noted came in handy for dancing as she had no need for a bustle and never once tripped over her dress. Some other benefits of a short dress: the bottom won’t get filthy from walking around all day, if you are getting married it a hot climate, you will likely appreciate not wearing a big long satin dress, and they insure that everyone will see your shoes! One of the best things about this specific shop is that you can get your dream dress for $600 or less.
Oh, there’s my Grandma and Granddad. I thought I’d show you a true vintage gown before I get into the others and she enjoys seeing her wedding pictures on the blog!
This one is my favorite!
So what do you think? Super cute no? Would you wear one of these for your wedding or perhaps as a reception dress?
So you know how there is this age old joke about how agreeing to be a bridesmaid comes with the realization that you are also agreeing to wear some dress you’d never pick out and that you will never wear again? We know what we are getting into, but we agree anyway for the love of friendship or family. To prevent this situation for my bridesmaids, I told the girls to pick out a black dress, any black dress they wanted, in fact I suggested they use one they already had if they wanted to. Black is about as versatile as it gets and since they got to select a dress that fit both their style and their shape, it is 100% their fault if they never wear it again. However with that being said, depending on your lifestyle and what you do for a living, you likely don’t get a chance to get super dressed up and wear fancy dresses again even if they are cute and black. In addition, not all bridesmaids are as lucky- some have to wear bright colors, floor length gowns, super formal dresses, or perhaps a style that doesn’t really suit them. Even if the dress is cute, they may never wear it again. That is where The Cinderella Affair comes in.
The Cinderella Affair is an event put on by the Tempe City Council and the East Valley Women’s League that provides free formal dresses for prom for high school students in need. The formal wear is donated by bridesmaids like you or anyone else who has a formal gown just collecting dust in their closet. (Like my sister who still has her prom dresses hanging in her closet.) The teens get to “shop” for free and find the prom dress of their dreams. Your dress gets a new life and you don’t have to cringe at the money you spent on it every time you see it. Basically it is a win, win for everyone. I can vividly remember both shopping for and wearing my prom dress. I was so excited when I found “the one”. I can’t imagine not having that opportunity. Not only is it a great way to give back but it is also a great way to recycle your dress instead of simply keeping it in the back of your closet. Of course these are high school kids so the newer and trendier the dress, the better for them.
If you know of anyone who may want to attend, the event will take place on March 25 and 26th of this year. Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis. For more details on the event go here.
The more dresses they have, the more girls they can serve! Consider clearing out your closet! You’ll feel good about it and you’ll make a little room for something you will actually wear.
If you aren’t in the Tempe area, consider shipping your dress to the Tempe City Council or there may be something similar in your area. Often times churches and even schools put on similar events. Can’t find anything in your area? Consider starting one- bridesmaids everywhere will thank you, not to mention the girls who get to go to prom in a new dress!
Filed under Bridesmaids, Charity, Community, Dresses
A little over a month ago I sent out a Tweet requesting guest bloggers for Honeymoon week. Elizabeth from Shiny Orb was one of two to respond to that tweet. I was thrilled by her willingness to help out and excited for what she had to offer. I knew for certain she would have some lovely dress eye candy for you to drool over! I was even more excited when I saw her post. While I knew she would provide great traditional bridesmaid or bridal attire, I was stoked to see a unique spin on the bridal look. Face it, not every Bride wants to wear white! I would love to see a Bride rock a classy metallic dress! Don’t take it from me, trust the expert…
By Liz:
You don’t have to be an A-list Hollywood actress to wear silver with panache. It’s a modern interpretation for the traditional bright white bridal gown, and there are dresses that span the whole spectrum of sparkle. Engage a whisper of silver on your wedding day by wearing a softer version of it to your reception, as in this gathered dress by Blush (left). Or take it up to full wattage with this intricately textured gown by Terani Couture (top-center), which would make a mermaid–or Lady Gaga–green with envy.
Speaking of which, turquoise, blue-greens, or just the tiiiiniest pop of super-vivid colors would be a beautiful and totally interesting accent to a silver outfit.
See more dresses for Silver Sirens and create your own virtual dressing room!
Liz is the fashion extraordinaire blogger for Shiny Orb, a social shopping site for wedding apparel. See more of her wedding apparel inspiration boards on the Shiny Orb blog.
Image Credits: Chris Willis, Kristin, Kevin Walsh
Filed under Bridal, Bridesmaids, Dresses
My weekend was SUPER productive which is good and necessary as I only have one weekend left before our wedding is here! Luckily I think I finished up all the last minute things- A few quick DIY projects, favor bags, bridesmaid’s gifts, and Mom’s gifts. Now we just have to wait for time to pass!
I picked up my dress on Saturday and it is now hanging up at home! It makes the whole thing feel all the more real as I can vividly remember the first time I went dress shopping just to get an idea of options. I tried on just about every style, neckline, and material as I wanted to really be sure of what I wanted. I can definitely say that what I started out thinking I would get, is not at all what I ended up with. So try on a variety of styles and materials, you might be surprised what looks really great on you! Anyway, my dress is pretty traditional. I wanted a classic vintage feel with a modern twist. I wanted something timeless that I would still love in 20, 30, 50 years. But not everyone wants that and its your wedding, so wear what you want. Wedding dress shopping is only fun if you find something you love and feel completely comfortable in it. Oscar de la Renta has some unique gowns in the Spring 2011 line. The question is, would you wear them?
Short?
A touch of color and what appears to be a HUGE bow in the back?
Sleeves?
Short and Pink?
Black?
Feathers?
If you had to pick one, which would it be? Or do you truly love one of these unique dresses? I’d go with the feathery one but I think the short pink one would be super cute as a reception dress!
It has been and continues to be a very busy week for me. We are in the final stages of wedding planning which means a lot of loose ends to tie up. In addition my bridal shower is this weekend and I am making some decorations and other treats for that. I know the bride is generally not involved in decor or food for the shower, we can talk crap about my bridesmaids later 
, but when I went to Hobby Lobby for ribbon (just ribbon), I couldn’t resist all the cute stuff that I found that added some extra work to my To Do List. So I am tired and feeling a little stressed. In an effort to relax I like to shop. But my budget doesn’t allow for a major shopping spree so I like to online shop for things I wouldn’t even be tempted to buy. Not because they aren’t amazing but because they are several hundred dollars and not really a necessity. Bloomingdale’s never lets me down so off I went, to their website. I didn’t plan to blog today as I was ready for bed at 5pm butI fell in love with some dresses today. Head over heels in love. They were just too fabulous not to share.
Would your bridesmaids wear this? I would scrap every rule I set about budget and letting them select a dress that was their taste if I found this sooner. Well probably not really as they might have all dropped out. But this dress is pure gorgeousness.
Hello Feathers. Thank you for this gorgeous display that not even a peacock could compete with! I don’t typically love feathers, there is too fine of a line between tacky and classy. This is so far beyond the tacky line it almost doesn’t belong in the feather category.
Can you imagine a spring wedding where each bridesmaid wore one of these? It is in my dreams. I didn’t intend for all my favorites to be pink, it just happened that way. If your bridesmaids have no budget and you want pink dresses please select one of these and send me the pictures.
Which is your favorite? As if it is even possible to pick just one.
Filed under Bridesmaids, Dresses
In case you aren’t following all my planning moves closely, my bridesmaids are wearing black dresses. In an effort to insure the dress fits both their style and their budget, I am letting them each select their own dress. This also alleviates the burden of having a dress they will never wear again from me and slides it over to them since they had full ability to pick something amazing. If on the wedding day they don’t feel completely fabulous, that is again their fault. I don’t want all that extra stress! Amanda, one of the 4 bridesmaids, asked if I would come down and go shopping with her for the dress just to be sure it was wedding approved. She had a store in mind which is known as being a prom dress store and generally has a good selection of dresses at a good value. As we walked in I saw a super cute dress in the window in a deep purple. I said, I love that dress if only it were black. After a few minutes of browsing we found that dress in black! She tried it on, loved it, bought it, and we were finished! This goes down in history as the easiest shopping experience of my life. As you all may know when you are looking for something even if its something as simple as a black dress, you can not find it. Well not this time.
I adore a one shouldered dress and this one looked especially cute on Amanda! This shopping experience was exciting for many reasons. One being that we were both hungry and eating was only to occur after the dress was found but secondly and more exciting, this was probably one of a handful of cute dresses in this store. As I looked around I was surrounded by sequins, toule, and visions of the ugliest prom of all time. It took all that was in me not to try on some of these horrifying dresses just to see if maybe, maybe they would look better on. While I knew there was no chance of that happening, it seemed like it would be a good time and had I not been so hungry it might have happened. The biggest problem was that there were many young girls in the store trying on some of the worst dresses and I don’t think trying them on as a joke would have been appropriate. I won’t claim to have had good taste in high school and perhaps I am just out of the loop. My favorite was a floor length dress in jewel tones complete with a sequined bodice, layers of brightly colored toule atop a satin, neon leopard print. It belonged in a drag show in Vegas, not anywhere near prom. Whats even more frightening is that many people also consider this store a good place to find bridesmaids dresses. I wish you could have been there to experience racks upon racks of dress tragedies. Like this:
And this. Which is made of denim.
Beware of ugly dresses ladies. Pictures never die.
Filed under Bridal Party, Bridesmaids, Dresses
So you’ve spent your whole life dreaming up your perfect wedding dress, you endured trying on many failures, and you finally found it. You love it, you look amazing in it, everyone loved it and “ohh-ed and aww-ed” as you walked down the aisle but your wedding is over. What to do with that dress? It means a lot to you and you spent an entire month’s salary on it (or more), I get it. Now for those that plan to preserve it, take a mental inventory of all the things you have stashed away in your closet. Is that where you want your prized dress to spend eternity, among your old year books, wrapping paper, and that box you labeled “crap.” I speak from personal experience, I literally have a box labeled, “Alicia’s Crap.” No clue what’s in there, and no desire to go through it since after all it’s just a bunch of crap. Yet I can’t just throw it away because it is probably something that mattered once. Anyway, your dress doesn’t have to suffer this fate. There is a better way.
Brides Against Breast Cancer is an organization that raises money for breast cancer research by collecting old wedding dresses and selling them warehouse style. According to their site, 200,000 women and 1,200 men (yes men can get breast cancer) will get breast cancer this year alone. 40,000 of which will die perhaps before they even got the opportunity to be a bride. They collect both new and used wedding dresses, clean them up if necessary, and then offer them to brides at a HUGE savings over retail. This is awesome for so many reasons. One: it supports breast cancer research of course which is crucial as no one should have to lose someone to that disease. Two: For the brides that get to shop, they get a great deal while supporting a charity. Three: Your dress gets a new life, you are essentially contributing to breast cancer research and I think best of all, you get to make someone’s dream come true. Remember that feeling you got when you found THE dress, how excited you were? Well that feeling is long gone and your dress is dying in the closet OR someone else is getting that very same feeling about YOUR dress!! Amazing. Think about it.
Now, I wouldn’t suggest anything I wouldn’t do and if you were to ask me right now, what do you plan to do with your dress if its just as easy as you made it sound above to give it up? Honestly, right now I couldn’t say that I could part with it without a doubt. However I haven’t even worn mine yet or even really seen it, as it is being custom made so I am still in the moment. But perhaps when all the sentiment wears off and the realization sets in that the wedding is over and the dress is just taking up space that could easily be filled by new shoes, I would go for it. So if you have an old dress you want to get rid of now that your wedding is over, maybe a terrible 80′s version (I’m sure it was lovely at the time), they also take those and make quilts and things out of them.
If all this sounds wonderful but seriously you just can’t let go, they have a program called the Pink Envelope Project. It is essentially a community of women who organize various fund raising activities that all benefit breast cancer. It has a grass roots type feel to it with the benefits of technology and of course cute little pink envelopes. Basically you can join the community and organize a Girl’s Night Out or a Bridal Shower and pass out the envelopes and raise money for the cause. How you raise money or get the envelopes out is up to you.
*Per the website they are in major need of modern dresses as they have an abundance of vintage type styles and little room to store them. So if you know someone who may be interested in letting go of her dress, pass this along!
