Wedding Gowns, Bridal Gowns, and More

When women imagine themselves on their wedding day, they usually have an image of themselves dressed up in a princess-style ball gown as they walk down on the aisle. Some women, on the other hand, might want something that’s a lot less traditional and a little more functional. A wedding gown is an expensive purchase, and it would be a shame to spend so much money on a dress that you’ll only get to wear once in your life.

I love how this wedding gown by Oscar de La Renta can also be worn as a long white dress for another occassion that isn’t a wedding. This isn’t the typical fluffy, tulle-laden ball gown with lots of sequins and beads. It’s simple, understated, and has a lot of complex layers with a very casual finish. The straw hat and the sprig of flowers also makes a lovely complement to the more masculine collar and breast pocket.

Of course, not everyone can afford an Oscar de La Renta piece, but you can use this design as a springboard for your own multi-purpose wedding gown.

Besides the engaging storyline, one of the reasons why Gossip Girl is among my guilty pleasures is because I love looking at the fashion and the way the characters put their clothes together. I found still shots of the latest Gossip Girl episodes being shot in New York at the moment, and this is a scene were Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) is a bridesmaid at a wedding. Her multi-tiered floral yellow chiffon gown was designed by Ralph Lauren exclusively for the show and it looks more appropriate for a tea party or a garden picnic than a wedding. But paired with a glossy belt, black gloves, and black corsage, you get a more formal and chic look that works without veering into bridesmaid fashion victim territory.

Wedding mementos are usually done in the form of photo albums, which are great on their own because there’s nothing that triggers nostalgia better than seeing moments of this important day frozen in time. Here’s another way of preserving wedding memories that I think is pretty unique. The crystal book from Hanson Ellis works like a standard bound book, except you can have the name of the bride and groom carved on the crystal, as well as a short message, a poem, or a short description of how they met. What I like about this wedding favor is that it’s so easy to customize it and make it more personal and meaningful. Have one made for yourself, or make some for the maid of honor, bridesmaids, or anyone else who helped with planning the wedding as a sign of thanks. Each Crystal Book costs around $59 at HansonEllis.Com.

Besides wedding coordinators, make-up artists are the next most sought-after professionals. Because the way you look on your wedding day will be immortalized in pictures forever, it’s important that you get a make-up artists who will make you shine. Here are some suggestions you might want to consider when looking for a bridal make-up artist.

Ask to see a portfolio.

Any make-up artist who has been working for months or years should have a portfolio for prospective clients to peruse. Even make-up artists who are just starting out might have pictures of friends or family members, but not necessarily brides. While looking at the portfolio, pay close attention to details. Do the brides seem to wear the same look? Does the make-up artist handle different skin tones well? Do they look complete and polished?

If the make-up artist is still compiling a portfolio, she will probably charge you less if you agree to give her copies of your wedding photos so she could start one.

Show pictures

You know what kind of look you want for your wedding, and you probably also know what look you do not want. When you meet up with the make-up artist for the first time, bring pictures to give her a clear idea of what you’d like. You can either download pictures from the Internet, cut out photos from magazines, or bring a photo of yourself wearing makeup that flatters your features. Photos will make your consultation more efficient because they can communicate ideas in ways words cannot. It also eliminates guesswork and any room for error.

Ask for a make-up trial

If you’re doing a trial run for your hair, try to schedule the one for your make-up on the same day so you can see the overall look. This will give you peace of mind because you”re assured that the kind of hair and make-up you want for your wedding day will go just as you want it. Trial make-up appointments might cost a fee, depending on your make-up artist. Ask for her terms of agreement before you hand over any money.

Be firm about what you want

Although your make-up artist is a professional who will guide you into making the right choices, remember that you’re hiring her to do what YOU want. If you’re not satisfied with the results, let her know - it’s not that hard to wash off make-up and start over. Your make-up artist wants you to be happy and will not be offended if you don’t like what she did. Don’t be afraid to speak up and let her know what you like and what you want changed.

If your moldy-oldie relatives are trying to dictate to you how you should go about your wedding, don’t listen to them. You have your own personality an dstyle and today’s the day to show it. If on a normal day you don’t wear bland colors, you don’t have to do so during your wedding day either. Here are some color schemes you can use at what they mean in our society:

White

Brides have been wearing white wedding gowns since the 1800’s when Queen Victory wore an opulent white gown for her wedding. But before that, brides have been wearing whatever color they wanted (save for black). White symbolizes the innocence of childhood and purity (but how many brides are still virgins on their wedding night these days?).

Gold

In Christian symbolism, gold stands for the brightness of the day. It also symbolizes wealth. As the main color, gold might be too much but you can use this as an accessory to full colors like burgundy and earth tones like orange, brown, and green.

Black

Black is the color of morning, but today it’s also the color of sophistication. For a stylish wedding, have your bridesmaids wear little black dresses with white accents.

Purple

Purple has been the color of royalty ever since the days of the pharaohs. During the Rennaiseance period, ordinary people actually got arrested for using purple and the other royal colors of deep red and black. Today, you have the freedom to use purple whenever and however you want!

Red

The color red has conflicting meanings. One side expresses blood and violence, while the other stands for love and passion. Although Western brides don’t normally wear red wedding gowns, red is the traditional color for wedding dress in China because it symbolizes good luck. If you think a red wedding gown is too much, you can always have your bridesmaids wear it for you.

Blue

The color of the sky, blue is associated with spirituality, fidelity, cleanliness, freshness, and femininity (even though this is the color assigned to male babies). There is very little negative meaning associated to blue.

Orange

They say that people who love life love the color orange. It’s warm and stimulating and adds oomph to earth tones. When added to white, it reminds people of sweet childhood memories like orange popsicles and candy corn.

Brown

While some might think brown is too dull for a wedding, it’s a neutral, dependable color that you can mix with many others to make your wedding party look warm.

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