Color Me Happy: Some Thoughts on Choosing your Wedding Palette

I have, on more than one occasion, had the interesting experience of trying to help a bride find a bridesmaids dress that will match her table linens. By “interesting” I really mean incredibly frustrating and difficult. Most bridesmaids dresses come in a variety of colors, but it somehow seems that once a bride has settled on an exact shade to match, finding it is always problematic. There may be only one fabric from one designer that is just right, and figuring out which it is can be a headache, plus then we are limited to the styles that come in that fabric from that designer, which the bride and bridesmaids may or may not even like. Yipes! Here are some hints to save yourself some stress as you plan your day.

1) Don’t nail down your colors for other items until you’ve looked for the bridesmaids dresses and gotten an idea of what’s out there. You may find dresses in the perfect color you were thinking of, but if this turns out to be difficult it is will be far easier to find linens or cummerbunds or whatever that will work with the dresses than vice versa.
2) Rather than choosing just two colors as the basis for your décor, pick an inspiration piece and work from that. It could be a bowl of fruit, a bouquet, a unique scarf or a plate, a handbag… there are limitless options. You will still end up with a few dominant colors, but this can help you work in interesting accents.
3) If you do end up with one or two dominant colors, rather than trying to match everything, go for various shades within the same family of those colors- this will add depth and richness to your scheme. One of the most beautiful weddings I have seen did various shades of pink from fuchsia to primrose. Yummy!
4) Your bridesmaids dresses don’t have to be in the “wedding colors” (i.e. match the invitations and the ribbons on the chairs), they just have to compliment. If you’re doing vibrant flowers, you may want your maids in a more neutral tone so the flowers really pop. Or if you’re in love with a color that doesn’t flatter anyone in your wedding party, work it in to the décor and put your girls in a color they’ll shine in.

(The first image is of a vintage scarf I could base my wedding scheme on. I’d put the the bridesmaids in black with flowers in rich oranges and pops of green- my favorite!- everywhere possible. For those of you who are not so into the vintage thing, behold this lovely photo with vibrant bouquet and more subdued bridesmaids dress.)

Strike a Pose!

You've got the gowns, hair, and makeup set?
There's something else you can't forget:
If you want great pictures of your special day,
"Practice makes perfect!" is what they all say.
So as you prepare to say "I Do"
Practice posing in front of a mirror too!

Here are a couple of links to pages with some things to think about as you smile for those cameras!

http://www.aisledash.com/2007/11/29/pose-like-a-celebrity-tips-for-perfect-photos/

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/picture-perfect-practice-posing?rsc=taxonomylist-b_fashion-and-beauty_makeup-and-hair&lnc=34d477c119b1d110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD

Preservation: A Quick Primer

Here are a few things every bride should know about taking care of her gown after the big day. You can get a lot more detail elsewhere on the web, but here are the basics.

1)If you really want it to last, go pro. Find a company with an established reputation and be sure to find out the details- what they guarantee and don’t for example.

2)Get it taken care of sooner rather than later. The faster you get the gown in, the better the chance there is of removing stains, etc.

3)Keep it clean. Even if the gown doesn’t look dirty, it may have picked up oils and dirt from the day that can yellow over time, and if it has visible stains of any kind those need to be dealt with.

4)Whatever you do, do not store it in plastic long term! The gown needs to breathe and in plastic moisture can build up over the years- not good! There are different options, but you basically want acid free paper or muslin around the gown, and then some kind of acid free or ph balanced box or container.

5)Remember, light and temperature extremes are not your friends. Under the bed or in the back of your main closet are good places to consider for your gown’s permanent home if you want to keep it happy.

Pockets- they're hot!

For once, there is a practical trend in wedding wear! For 2009 we’re seeing more dresses come in with pockets and I love it! Alfred Sung D416 is one example. Here is the info to check it out: http://www.dessy.com/dresses/bridesmaid/D416/ Not every designer does pockets, and not every dress from the ones that do will have them, but still, it’s good to know they’re out there, and hopefully the trend continues. I just wanted to share my excitement with the world.

Check it Out!

We have just posted a brand new video of some of the top wedding dress and bridal gown fashions for 2009. To view the video go here: http://www.netbride.com/wedding_dresses/wedding_dress_video.htm

You can also get a run sheet of the video to follow along when viewing.

Remember, the Bride is the Boss!

I don’t see many men in my line of work, but now and again fathers or brothers, and even fiancés make their way into our store. I think it’s fabulous when they come, but it can add another dimension to the dress selection process. The other evening, one gentleman took me aside and whispered: “I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. I’m here to be the cheerleader, right? She’s got it figured out, so I shouldn’t try to have too many opinions. I should just approve her choice.” I wanted to hug him, but I refrained. I think I just laughed at the time, but what I should have said was “YES!! YES!!” So I’m saying it now. I’m not saying the groom should not have input about the wedding, but when it comes to the dresses, the bride is the boss! Most dads have this one figured out- they come in, say that everything looks nice, and are warmly supportive of their daughter’s choice. There are enough complications without adding a critical groom or dad to the mix, so ladies, let your man know that while you value his input, when it comes to the gowns what you want is the most important thing!

Short and Sweet

Tea length and knee length wedding gowns are a great option for the bride who wants to do something fabulous and different. They can work in settings other than the beach, have a ton of flair, and give you a chance to show off those legs! Top it off with a flirty veil or even a long flowy one, and you’ll be set! Check out Watters and Watters and Wtoo for some great options- in particular I love "Lola" and "Cancun." (I couldn't get pictures off their site or I would have.)