Olga is manager at Best for Bride since 2005. Currently Best for Bride operates 4 bridal stores in Canada (Toronto, Etobicoke, Hamilton and Barrie). Best for Bride sells wedding, bridemaids, mob dresses and more. https://www.bestforbride.com/
Since the age of Pinterest, more brides have resorted to doing something “different” for their wedding day. More often than not, the traditional aspects of a wedding such as a fruit cake for a wedding cake, a white wedding dress and getting married in a church instead of the venue’s chapel, has been tossed aside to make way for new ideas.
The History of the White Wedding Dress
By now, most of you might have heard the story before: Prior to the traditional white wedding dress – 1800’s and back – it was considered an elite privilege to have access to white linen. Pure white linen was extremely expensive at that time and only the riches could afford it.
When a bride was to get married, she would wear whatever fancy dress she had.
It wasn’t until 1840 when Princess Victoria married Prince Alfred of Saxe-Coburg. The dress was a stunning victorian style and rounded off with lace. It became so popular, that brides from that time forward only wore white to their weddings.
Fun fact: Queen Victoria was not the first princess to get married in white. In 1559, Mary, Queen of Scots, also wore white when she had wed Francis Dauphin. However, white was the colour of mourning in France at that time, so the trend did not pick up.
Moving Away from the White Wedding Dress
You have probably seen it all on Pinterest or social media: The controversial brides in their non-white wedding dresses. And you will definitely see more of them in the future, too!
There can be many reasons why a bride chooses not to wear a white wedding dress. The most popular reason is because it is not her first marriage. However, it might be the bride’s personality to choose a controversial dress only because she feels like it. And finally, another reason may be in honor of a loved one who passed away. The bride simply chooses the favorite color, pattern or motive, in memory of that person.
The following is a list of options which you can choose from to move away from the great, white wedding dress craze!
Keeping the White Skirt
The whimsical look of a white tulle skirt, paired with a lace top or a blouse, took the world by storm. Even now, in the alternative fashion industry, two-piece dresses are still all the rage. If you are not completely comfortable to move away from a traditional white gown, then this might be a better option for you.
Off-White Options
If you still want the soft, elegant look of a white dress, but you’re not keen on crisp white gowns, maybe you should opt for off-white dresses or pastel colors. The soft tones still gives it that elegant, wedding look and you will still be comfortable knowing that your dress isn’t white.
Going the Opposite Direction
If you’re keen on mixing things up to a whole new level, then you will be glad to know that black wedding dresses are also a thing. The black wedding dress doesn’t need to shout “gothic theme” from the rooftops. It may also be incorporated into a very elegant, Gatsby theme when paired with gold. Check out this post from The Pretty Blog, for more inspiration.
Bright Colors
You can be bold and go for something bright and colorful on your wedding day. Mix it up by using different materials and textures, or go for plain bright colors. The options are endless!
Floral Dresses
It has been a few years already since floral patterns became a trend in interior design and décor. And with that, came the floral wedding dresses. So much so that The Gilded Gown did a feature about many popular designers who jumped onto the flower wagon. Also, see this post from The Wedding Chicks for a more elegant, clean floral look.
Ruffled & OTT
Over The Top (OTT) wedding dresses also became a thing in recent years. This may or may not have been the origin of the wacky series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding! Who knows… All we can say is, if you want your day to be truly unforgetable, then wear an unforgetable dress.
Author Bio: The Wedding Club is a blog created for brides who want to plan their own weddings, and also for wedding planners who need some guidance in the industry. Follow us on our social media and visit our blog here
It’s finally starting to warm up; the bees are buzzing and the sunshine is out! Which also means that you’re probably starting to notice all the spring and summer flowers coming into bloom. Flowers can be a nice touch to a wedding, but they can also come with a high price.
Here are some ways you can incorporate flowers into your wedding without breaking the bank:
BRIDESMAID CORSAGES:Instead of purchasing a full bouquet for each bridesmaid, consider the simple alternative of using a corsage. They are less expensive than bouquets, which can really make a difference if you have a large bridal party. There are also many different styles of corsages and even different ways of wearing them. For instance, instead of wearing them on your wrist, you can wear them on your upper arm, which is a very trendy style for 2017. Several places will be able to make an arrangement to match with your wedding colour palette, but Best for Bride is one of few bridal shops that also can provide you with this service. You can check out the lovely corsages they have to offer here!
SILK FLOWERS: Some people may hesitate to consider using fake flowers for their wedding, but I’ve been to several weddings where the bride and groom chose to use silk flowers and people were amazed at how real they looked. Also, if you go with this option you can both buy them from people who previously used them for their wedding and sell them to people after your wedding – it’s a win-win all around.
SINGLE STEM FLOWERS:Another option for those who cannot part with real flowers is to use single stems of flowers. For example, instead of a whole bouquet for each bridesmaid, you could purchase one bouquet of single stem flowers and have each bridesmaid carry a single flower. Single roses, tulips, and peonies create a very delicate and romantic look and people are opting into this trend now more than ever.
FLORAL ACCENT:No one said you have to have flowers, real or fake. You could add in the element of flowers in other ways, such as a simple floral print overlay for the tables in your reception hall. Another way to add une touche de fleur is to incorporate it into your bridal wear. Best for Bride has several dresses that feature floral aspects, whether it be floral appliqués on a wedding dress or veil, or even floral print bridesmaid dresses as seen below. Check out dresses on the site here to see the unique flower inspired styles Best for Bride has to offer!
Any of these options would look amazing at your wedding, so before your splurge on tons and tons of real, expensive flowers, Y Knot consider some of these options first!
Author Bio: Chantel, the Founder of the Y Knot Jump the Broom blog, considers herself to be just “an everyday girl who has a passion for weddings.” More than just focusing on all the hustle and bustle that weddings bring, she hopes her blog will bring you back to the heart of it all—LOVE—and maybe even inspire you to say, “Hey, Y Knot Jump The Broom?”
Written by Nicole Rosen of Bliss Wedding Design & Spectacular Events Edited by Jeannine Bourque of Bliss Wedding Design & Spectacular Events http://blissmaui.com/
Just as every gal needs her gal pals, every bride needs her Bride Tribe. Your friends have been by your side and through it all with you, possibly even before the man of your dreams ever entered your life. They are an important part of your past, present, and future — so make sure they know just how much you love and appreciate them. What better way to show your besties how important they are to you than by asking them to be by your side as you plan and celebrate your wedding? Here are some ways to go above and beyond in order to show your bridesmaids just how special they are to you.
Before Your Wedding:
First, you must ask her if she will be your bridesmaid. If your gal pals all live close enough, having them over for a surprise bridal party is a fun way to pop the big question. It can be as casual or Pinterest-worthy as you want it to be, the important thing is that they are all there and able to get excited along with you. Especially if some of your bridesmaids don’t know each other, this is the perfect opportunity for everyone to bond over their shared interest, YOU and your wedding! So buy balloons, cute cards and gifts, then pop the champagne and pop the question!
If your ladies live too far away for a get-together, sending a care package is a sweet way to ask for her hand in bridesmaid. A thoughtfully written card outlining how you met and why she is important to you will mean a lot to her. You can even throw in a few blast-from-the-past photos of you two together to really yank on those nostalgic heartstrings. We know you still have hilarious photos from when you dressed up like roller derby girls for Halloween or from that fantastic trip to Palm Springs, so this is a great time to dig up those memories.
For gift ideas, Etsy has adorable glasses that you can have custom made, so your bridesmaids can spend the next several months leading up to your wedding sipping from a personalized “Bride Tribe” glass while planning on ways to make your day extra special. In addition, supplying your bridesmaids with nail polish they can wear on the big day or jewelry that will go with their dresses are fun ways to get them excited about your wedding day.
During your planning process, make sure to keep her in the loop. Asking for your bridesmaids’ opinions on your dress, the color palette, florals, and other important details will be both helpful to you and a great way to make her feel included. These are your best friends, after all, their opinions are gold!
As for their bridesmaid look, getting their input will make them feel important. Allow their own personalities to shine on the big day and eliminate some of the bridal pressure of decision making. Let’s be honest, when you are planning your wedding, there are a million different decisions to be made, and just as many options, so allowing your bridesmaids to help decide on their dresses, jewelry and/or hairstyle will allow you to check one more thing off of that long and exciting list. Furthermore, by allowing your bridesmaids to have input on their wedding attire, you will be making sure that they feel comfortable and attractive, and nothing is more beautiful than happiness and confidence. For example, you could decide on a color for the bridesmaids’ dresses and let each girl pick her own style of dress. However you decide to incorporate your bridesmaids’ opinions, really listen to them and make sure they all feel self-confident in the decision.
During Your Wedding:
Things can get a bit hectic on the wedding day, so don’t forget to celebrate! Make sure to schedule enough time to primp and prep before your guests arrive. If you and your Bride Tribe decide to have a slumber party the night before the big day, the celebrations can start even sooner! A bottle of bubbly, mani/pedis, Vitamin-C-infused face masks for glowing skin, and fan-favorite chick-flicks are just a few basic ingredients that will guarantee a great night with the gals.
If you opted for the slumber party idea (we highly recommend it, after all, this is the last night before you are a married woman) then a breakfast spread for you and your girls is a must the morning of. With the jam-packed wedding-day schedule starting with hair and makeup and ending with late-night dancing, it is important to fuel up with energy and antioxidant-rich foods like berries, yogurt, green smoothies and savoury breakfast dishes. Skip the high sugary foods like donuts, pancakes and pastries to avoid an early sugar-crash or accidental hangry backlash. After you eat (you will be thanking us later) it is time to get ready. One of our favorite additions to any wedding prep soiree are matching robes. Having everyone wear getting-ready robes is so festive and fashionable and the photographs always turn out adorable.
The morning of is a great opportunity to gift your Bride Tribe. Whether you give them a personalized thank you card, jewelry, a cute hangover kit, or matching yet personalized sunglasses (which are perfect for an outdoor summer wedding), your bridesmaids will love the sentiment.
After Your Wedding:
After the celebrations, thank them again for all their hard work and support during your wedding journey. A framed photo or photo album of your bridal party, bachelorette, and wedding shenanigans will be treasured for days. If you really want to turn up the wow factor, you can plan a spa-inspired post-wedding party. Pamper yourselves at a local spa (our favourite spa for a luxurious bridal soiree here on Maui is Spa Grande at The Grand Wailea Resort) or create a DIY spa at your house. Set up the slide projector and stream photos from your wedding journey, pour yourselves a few drinks, reminisce and relax. Because honestly, after the “I dos” you may not be quite ready to stop celebrating! And why should you stop? They are your bridesmaids and besties for life, so as far as we’re concerned, you never should stop celebrating your friendships!
About Author:
Magic happens where love and Hawaii meet. Drawing on decades of experience, Bliss plans unforgettable events on Maui and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Our full-service event planning and design services keep your vision and peace of mind at the top of the priority list. From the first time we meet to your island farewell, we are ready to surround you with the spirit of Aloha and a feeling of pure bliss. We believe in treating every couple like family, and we would love to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you and your guests. You found your love. Now let us help you find your Bliss.
Wedding season falls between spring and fall for a reason – couples adore the clear, blue skies, warm (and mostly consistent) weather, and that laid-back summer feel that stays with people even if they do have to go to work every day.
Summer is nostalgia and swimming pools and catching fireflies after sunset. It’s ice cream and palm trees and sweet peach tea. It’s such a fun season myself. Vincent and my team here at Pixan Photography came up with more than 100 summer wedding ideas to inspire couples to get married then.
And if there’s one place that embodies summer the most, it’s the beach. Balmy breezes toes in the sand, salt-water skin.
The beach is such a perfect place to be during summertime, many couples figure, ‘why not spend one of the biggest days of our life there too?’
If that sounds like you and you’re planning a beach wedding, you might wonder what kind of gown is best.
Undoubtedly, a beach wedding has all kinds of pluses, but it also comes with its negatives. And sometimes, the pluses can also be negatives, so you should put extra time into choosing a wedding gown that will work wonderfully oceanside.
As a Mexico destination photographer, Pixan Photography shoots many beach weddings…a lot. Along the way, the Pixan team and I have made a few keen observations about the top considerations a bride will have when choosing a beach-ready wedding gown, and I’m ready to spill the beans.
So put on your sunshades, slather on the sunblock, and keep reading for how to choose a wedding gown perfect for a beach wedding.
TYPE OF SAND
One of the first things you’ll want to think about while shopping for a beach wedding dress is what kind of beach you’ll call your own (for the wedding day, of course).
Where is the beach, and what kind of sand does it have?
Coarse sand will not do well for long trains and trailing dresses.
Fine sand is easier to walk through, and there’s not as much worry about rips and tears in the bottom of the dress.
STYLE OF VENUE
Take a good look at your overall venue and select a gown that matches the formality of your venue, decor, and theme.
If you’re splitting time between a ceremony by the sea and a reception indoors and don’t plan to squeeze in a costume change, you’ll want to choose a dress that can transition between the two.
What kind of venue is it?
A simple cabana gives off a different feel than a ballroom with an ocean view.
What is the build of the ceremony space?
A wedding on the beach doesn’t necessarily mean a ceremony in the sand. Some venues own beach real estate and have built their custom structure right on the sand.
If the ceremony space is fully tiled, built on a wooden deck or a raised dock to the water, you’ll have fewer concerns about the style of dress because you won’t be walking on sand, except perhaps in a beach photo shoot.
What is the wedding theme?
The same goes for the decorations and wedding theme. If you’re aiming for a laid-back beach vibe and your reception space is decorated in bright colours and bohemian details, you’ll probably want to steer clear from a more formal, sleek silk wedding gown and go with one that embodies the same laid-back chic feel of your wedding.
How far will you need to travel to reach the venue?
Lastly, think about how far your venue is from home and all the little things that come with having a beach wedding.
Will you have to check your dress at the airport or drive it cross country?
Is it easy to pack and move? Will it wrinkle?
Will it cost a fortune to get to your destination? A dress that is lightweight and fold-friendly is your best bet.
Packing Tip: When travelling with skirts and dresses, you’ll minimize wrinkles and creases if you roll the item rather than fold it. Or, if you’re flying with wedding attire, consider packing it in a garment bag.
FABRIC & DETAILS
Now, let’s talk fabric.
Think light and airy fabrics like organza, chiffon, charmeuse, cotton, and crepe, which all provide breathability and movement, not to mention they’ll dreamily billow in the breeze, which makes for stunning wedding photos.
For more lightweight fabric options, as well as heavier ones, check out The Knot’s epic Dress Fabric Glossary.
You can also attain airflow by choosing a dress with a lace bodice and a skirt with slits.
Be mindful of lace trim, as it can easily pick up debris, like sand and everything that has washed up. If you’ve been drooling over lace or highly detailed elements, consider a dress that features these in the bodice, not in the skirt’s trim.
Keep embellishments to a minimum. The more frills you add to your dress, the heavier it will get. If you want to add sparkle, consider a simple draping neckpiece or a garter belt with a little bling that wraps around your waist.
DESIGN
The overall design of the gown will influence your comfort significantly, so it’s probably a factor you don’t want to ignore.
Although you may have fallen in love with a certain style of dress, it might not serve you well on the beach.
Keep the dress volume in mind. Ideally, you want something lightweight, something you can move in, especially during dancing time.
The heavier a dress is, the harder it will be to walk through the sand. Plus, heavy = hot, and with the possible humidity your area might have, hot, sweaty, and sticky is not something you want to endure.
As for silhouettes, A-lines and shift dresses, and shorter lengths are ideal. Short wedding dresses eliminate straggling sand and other debris you might pick up on the beach.
If your heart is set on length, consider a shorter dress with a longer, lightweight veil to bring in that dramatic trailing effect.
Just as it is important to know what to wear, it’s equally important to know what not to wear. Mermaid (I know, it seems so appropriate, but trust us!) silhouettes, ball gowns, and empire dresses should be avoided.
When comparing bodice types, consider that crop tops with a separate skirt, strapless dresses, halter tops, and backless dresses will do wonders for keeping you cool.
Even though that quarter-sleeve dress you may have your eye on seems like a lovely fit, think about how it will feel when you’re under the summer sun. And let’s not even think about sweat stains. No thanks!
COLOR
This decision might seem as easy and breezy as a day at the beach – white, obviously – but keep in mind that there are various shades of white. Even non-white colours can be beautiful, especially in a tropical setting.
A champagne or ivory dress in the bridal salon might look different once you’re strutting it in front of your home mirror. Different light spectrums will change the colour of your dress, even if just slightly.
Since you’ll most likely be spending a lot of time under blue skies and sunshine, take your potential wedding gown into natural light to see what it looks like to the naked eye and in photographs. Better to be safe than sorry.
And if you have a beach nearby with sand the same tone as where you’ll be wed, bring fabric swatches in shades of white, ivory, champagne or whatever other color you’re considering to compare against the sand. Because sand tends to fall in these same shades of neutral colours, your dress could blend in too much in your beach wedding photos. Finding a shade that contrasts well against the sand will enhance your photos drastically.
DECIDING ON YOUR IDEAL BEACH WEDDING GOWN
To recap what we’ve covered: your beach wedding gown should ideally be lightweight, cool, and easy to move around in; should match the formality of your venue and wedding theme; look great under natural light and against a sandy beach backdrop; and most importantly, look and feel beautiful on you!
With all that in mind, in the end, you have to go with your gut and pick the dress you’re gaga about. This is a day you’ve been dreaming of for years, so you may just throw all caution to the wind and get the dress you’ve been pining over, regardless of the drawbacks.
And, you know what? That’s OK! It’s your day to experience as you wish. Hopefully, these tips will simply give you some insight into considerations that can maximize your comfort and enhance your wedding photos too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vincent owns Pixan Photography, a team of destination wedding photographers in Mexico who are as passionate about their clients as they are about their work. When he’s not shooting destination weddings, Vincent loves travelling the world with his wife and son.
Recent Posts: The Best Bridal Store - Your source for everything you want to know about weddings
