Ideas for a Cocktail Style Wedding Dress

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Cocktail Style Wedding Dresses for an Informal Wedding

For brides who wish to have a beach wedding or simply a more laid back style of wedding, cocktail style wedding dresses are the ideal option for bridal attire. Cocktail style wedding dresses are quite flexible, and they can easily take a bride from the alter to the local bar for drinks afterwards. Christian Dior was the first designer to introduce this design staple, and cocktail dresses for weddings and other special events are a necessity for modern, femme fatale.

Choosing cocktail style wedding dresses is quite simple. The trick to successfully choosing the right dress is to choose the one that most adequately fits your body type. For example, a V-neck or square neck cocktail style wedding dress can create the illusion of a more proportionate silhouette for your big day. On the other hand, women who are not well endowed can choose cocktail style wedding dresses with beaded or sequined bodices to draw attention upwards to their bust line.

cocktail wedding dress

Cocktail style wedding dresses can also be used to camouflage problematic midsections or by those who are looking to downplay an abundance of curves. For example, cocktail style wedding dresses that are constructed from a matte jersey fabric or lightweight silk will flow nicely over a woman’s curves. Women with smaller waistlines can choose cocktail dresses with full skirt halters or corset style dresses to play up their small waistlines.  Create the illusion of a smaller waistline by choosing cocktail style wedding dresses with a fitted waistline and flared skirt.

cocktail length wedding dress

In general, most fashion experts are going to recommend that you stay away from cocktail style wedding dresses with puffed sleeves or an abundance of frills. You do not want to choose a dress that is going to make you appear juvenile on your big day. Cocktail style wedding dresses can be constructed from a wide variety of different fabrics, from lightweight silk to rich satin, and the type of fabric that you choose for your dress will be dependent upon the season you are having your wedding in .

cocktail style wedding dress

Because cocktail style wedding dresses are less formal than traditional bridal gowns, a bride is encouraged to play with color with her cocktail style gown. For example, instead of choosing a gown that is stark white, she should look for a cocktail dress in an alluring shade of eggshell or champagne. Jewel tones have also been quite popular for the last several seasons, and they can add an unexpected element of surprise for your wedding guests on your big day.

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Trend Alert: White Bridesmaid Dresses (Like Pippa Middleton!)

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When Pippa Middleton was spotted at the royal wedding wearing a white crepe bridesmaid dress, suffice it to say that people were quite surprised. I guess when you are as stunning as Kate Middleton, now Duchess Catherine, you don’t have to worry about being upstaged by another woman wearing a white dress at your wedding. It was a daring choice, nonetheless, and it will be very interesting to see if white bridesmaid dresses become the next big thing in wedding trends.

Did you know that in ancient times bridesmaids wore dresses very similar to the bridal gown? In fact, the original purpose of bridesmaids was to serve as decoys to protect brides from the evil spirits who were thought to be drawn to their happiness. So actually, dressing bridesmaids in the same color as the bride is not such as radical idea. It can actually be quite lovely, as we saw at the royal wedding. It is safe to say that as beautiful as Pippa looked in her white Sarah Burton-designed dress, she in no way distracted from the bride.

If you are considering white dresses for your own bridesmaids, there are a few things to keep in mind. One reason that it worked so well for the royal wedding is because the bridesmaid dress was clearly less grand than the bridal gown. Had they been more similar in fullness or embellishment, there would have been more chance that the two white dresses would have competed for the spotlight. Kate did it just right when she selected a white bridesmaid dress for her sister which had a slimmer silhouette and far less embellishment than her own gown.

Another way to make white bridesmaid dresses work well for your wedding would be to select shorter dresses. This would be a particularly good idea if the bridal gown will be fairly simple in cut and design. For a summer wedding, white lace shift dresses would be very pretty for bridesmaids, perhaps worn with metallic sandals. If the wedding is more formal or in the winter, white charmeuse party dresses to the knee would be a great look for attendants. Add elegant crystal wedding jewelry to complete the more formal style.

When the bridesmaids are wearing white dresses, their bouquets are another great way to set them apart from the bride. Colorful nosegays will help to distinguish attendants from bride. They will also add some vibrant color to the wedding ceremony. Let’s face it, if the bride and her attendants are all dressed completely in white and carrying all-white bouquets as well, the processional could look a bit washed out. Seasonal flowers would be a nice touch, such as yellow tulips for spring, pink peonies for summer, orange mums for fall, or red roses for winter.

Although white bridesmaid dresses may not be every bride’s taste, they can be quite elegant when chosen with care. It takes a confident bride to dress her attendants in white, and that type of confidence is always appealing. Besides, no one will really confuse a bridesmaid with the radiant bride gliding down the aisle in her fabulous bridal gown, sparkling crystal wedding jewelry, and ethereal veil – least of all the groom!

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. She has written many beautiful wedding ebooks on style, wedding jewelry, decorations, etiquette, and fashion. For a limited time, all new subscribers to the http://silverlandjewelry.com/ newsletter will receive a free ebook on a popular wedding topic!

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Bridesmaid Dresses Perfect for Beach or Hot Summer Weather

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Summer is high season for weddings, and also the prime time for high temperatures and high humidity. The last thing anyone wants is for their bridesmaids to end up sodden and sulky! Help keep your attendants cool and relaxed with one of these hot weather bridesmaid dresses.

The number one thing to think about when choosing summer bridesmaid dresses is the fabric. Everyone knows that velvet is taboo for summer, but what about heavy satin? No, thanks! Acetate taffeta that doesn’t breathe? Not if you want to keep your bridesmaids as friends! The best summer fabrics are lightweight and made from breathable natural fibers. Think summer classics like seersucker or madras for an informal wedding. These are perfect fabrics for outdoor summer weddings. Add pearl bridesmaid jewelry sets and metallic sandals for a stylish yet relaxed look which will have everyone feeling very comfortable.

For a more formal bridesmaid style, opt for a breezy silk chiffon dress, which will be warmer, but at least will breathe somewhat. A slightly loose style will be more comfortable on a warm day, as it won’t stick to the skin. Silk looks notoriously bad with sweat stains! A lovely choice would be a spaghetti strap chiffon dress in a summery melon color. An empire waist is ideal, as it won’t be clingy around the middle. Choose a floor length dress if your wedding is quite formal, otherwise opt for a cooler knee length style.

Cotton is one of the most comfortable fabrics for summer. While we tend to think of it as a very casual material, it can actually be made into some very chic styles which are highly appropriate for a wedding. A strapless polished cotton dress is a fantastic choice for a warm weather bridesmaid dress. It has a subtle sheen that makes it feel more dressy and a crisp hand that holds up well to humidity. This classic fabric looks wonderful in almost any hue, from deep navy to bright aqua to pale pink. If you select a fairly simple silhouette, your bridesmaids can have fun personalizing their outfits with unique sashes, different bridesmaid jewelry sets, and of course fabulous shoes.

Linen gets a bad rep as a wrinkly fabric. There is some truth to the rumply nature of the material, of course, but it is a classic in tropical regions. This is because high humidity actually helps to keep linen dresses looking less wrinkly – almost like nature’s version of the clothing steamer. Linen shift dresses could be quite nice for a sophisticated group of attendants who would not be happy in more frilly or young looking styles. Another idea is a flowy linen dress which is sort of pre-wrinkled; no ironing required. While a linen bridesmaid dress is not right for the bride with a perfectionist streak, they can be very pretty and summery.

 

Look to Bridget for advice on planning your wedding. Check out how we can help with your bridesmaid jewelry sets at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. For a limited time, all new subscribers to our newsletter will receive a free wedding ebook!

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The Top Trends for Fall 2011 Wedding Dresses

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Are you getting married this fall? Maybe you still need to find the perfect wedding gown or want some ideas on how to style your gown to be in keeping with the latest bridal trends. Get inspired with these Fall 2011 wedding dress trends and ideas.

Romance is huge for Fall 2011 wedding gowns. Soft layers of tulle are a very popular trend across all price points and bridal gown designers. Many of the tulle wedding dresses are strapless, but it is not the straight across neckline which has dominated for the last several years. Gently shaped sweetheart strapless necklines are softer and more feminine than the straight ones, and they also tie in beautifully with the 1950′s flavor that many of the tulle gowns have. The tulle skirts are often artfully layered for a modern update to a classic style.

Natural waistlines will be another key trend for Fall 2011 weddings. To bring emphasis to the waist, designers often accent the area with a special belt or sash. Beaded or jeweled sashes are a very big design trend, particularly on bridal gowns which are otherwise fairly simple. These gowns look wonderful when accessorized with crystal wedding jewelry and a dainty tiara or jeweled headband. Colored belts are also a popular way to emphasize the natural waistline on a wedding dress. Pastels like blue and pink will be frequently seen, and black at the waist will also remain in style. Adding a colored or jeweled belt to an unembellished wedding gown is a very easy way to personalize your dress and make it look very current.

In the wake of this spring’s royal wedding, expect to see a lot of princess style wedding gowns for Fall 2011. These gowns are more sophisticated than poufy, perhaps inspired by the elegant and chic style of royal bride Princess Catherine. We aren’t talking puff sleeves and cathedral length trains as much as silk ballgowns with flat box pleats and fine lace trim. Delicate crystal beading or silver embroidery are other lovely accents for regal style bridal gowns. Small tiaras have made a roaring comeback since the royal wedding, especially when worn with gorgeous sparkling wedding jewelry like Princess Catherine’s now-famous drop earrings.

Speaking of the royal wedding, look for lace sleeves to be seen all over the place for Fall 2011 weddings. Brides who have tired of strapless gowns will be delighted to find many dresses available with sheer fitted lace sleeves. Even before the royal wedding, designers had started to feature these gowns in their collections, and now the number of options is sure to expand even more. How nice to finally have choices for fall wedding gowns that are not sleeveless! If you still like the look of strapless or are concerned about how long sleeves will limit your arm movement (they definitely do), consider adding a fitted lace shrug over your bridal gown to get the look for the ceremony. You can always remove it for dancing at the reception, giving you the best of both worlds.

One more trend to watch for this fall is vintage inspired details. Wedding gowns styled after the 1950s are very popular, as are those which are inspired by the Roaring ’20s and the early 1960s. Brides can choose dresses in these styles, or accent a simple modern gown with wedding jewelry, a veil, and a bouquet to bring a hint of vintage style to their ensemble. It is certain that romance and elegance will be tops for Fall 2011 wedding dresses.

Ask Bridget for advice in areas of wedding jewelry or wedding planning. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of http://silverlandjewelry.com/. For a limited time, all new subscribers to our newsletter will receive a free wedding ebook!

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Trends in Plus Size Bridesmaid Dresses

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Finding suitable plus size bridesmaid dresses can be challenging; the more dresses are needed, the more challenging it becomes. However, shopping for bridesmaid outfits is a lot easier now than it used to be, thanks to the internet and online shopping. No matter where one lives, there is a vast selection of plus size offerings available via internet retailers. [Read more...]

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