“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” was originally a Victorian rhyme meant to bring the bride and groom good luck.
I’m a sucker for the idea of a keepsake that is lent and worn during the wedding…especially if it potentially brings good luck!
This bride attached a loved one’s handkerchief to the underskirts of her gown, which was such an appealing idea I had to pass it on. An embroidered handkerchief sewn into your gown on your wedding day with blue embroidery has such a sweet, poignant quality to it that seems in complete harmony with the traditional notion and meaning of the saying. Plus, it’s a great way to knock something blue and old off your list.
Coming back at you with more ideas for eco-friendly wedding gowns. In addition to looking for used wedding gowns and consignment shops, there are a number of amazing wedding gown designers that are using eco-friendly fabrics and fair wage and labor practices.
Above is an amazing gown from Chris Kole’s collection The Cotton Bride. His collection is full of gorgeous gowns perfect for the green bride. He also offers shorter gowns along with wonderful gowns for the mother of the bride. All made right here in the USA – New York City to be exact. All of his fabrics are all natural!
If you’re celebrating your marriage when there’s a nip in the air or must cover your shoulders during the ceremony, you don’t have to stick with sleeves or a pashmina. Go with a shrug! You won’t have to worry about getting hot or it slipping off your shoulders while you work it out on the dance floor.
Like shoes, shrugs can add color, a little panache…and they’re versatile. Take it off, put it on, wear it for the ceremony, not the reception, maybe put it on again on the honeymoon, lend it to your sister.
Many bridal shops carry shrugs, and of course you can find them online at places like Etsy, where I found a few of my new favorites below!
If you are still on the search for the best wedding gown – but don’t have the largest budget in the world. Guess what? You are not alone. The best way to stay eco-friendly and find the best dress is to buy a used one. Now don’t turn up your nose! Think about it. How many times are you going to wear your dress? How many times do you think that wedding gown has been used? ONCE!!!
If you are in the market for a used wedding gown, your best bet is to not go to ebay folks! While I love ebay for buying books and other fun things around the house – ebay is filled with people willing to make a quick buck and not really in the business for making sure you love what you get!
Did you think our discussion of lace was limited to Alencon and Chantilly? Not so much!
There are several different kinds of lace, but for now I’ll stick to the kinds that ladies searching for their gowns may come across.
Venice lace originated in Venice, Italy. Its geometric, floral patterns are linked together with narrow bands instead of netting and it has dense, 3-D feel. Claire Pettibone, known for all of her different laces, uses Venice lace in pieces (also known as appliqué) to add dimension to many of her gowns.
Lace is one of those fabrics that doesn’t seem to find its way into your wardrobe vocabulary until you begin wedding dress shopping. All of a sudden, the differences between Alencon, Chantilly, Guipere, and Belgian lace become terribly important.
To help you navigate these mysterious lacy waters, I’ll start with two of the most common types of laces: Alencon and Chantilly.
Alencon lace (pronounced Ah-lon-son), not surprisingly, originated in Alencon, France. Rich and substantial, it’s characterized by solid motifs and considered the queen of laces. A tell-tale sign that you are wearing Alencon lace is the twisted yarn or cording that outlines the edges of the lace’s pattern and feels textured to the touch.
Your wedding was incredible – you danced, you ate yummy cake, you felt lovely and special all night long.
Afterward, you are left with a burning question.
“What do I do with my wedding gown??”
First things first, make sure you get your dress cleaned. Whether you keep it, reuse it, or sell it, you’ll need a clean gown!
Imperial Gown Restoration is one of the best in the country (they have restored garments for the Smithsonian). Just ship your gown to them and they’ll ship it back cleaned and, if you like, preserved. If you are not interested in sending your gown on a magical mystery tour, go local. Do a little research, and in no time you’ll find a trusted cleaner in your area.
A lot of gowns can be reworked and worn again. A full lace gown can be shortened to knee-length and worn with a belt, a draped gown hemmed and dyed. If you’ve got an A-line gown, have the crinoline removed, raise the hem, and voila! You’ve got a new cocktail dress in your closet.
If you’d rather someone else enjoy your dress, resell it or pass it on. Not only environmentally friendly, it will also put a little cash and/or karma in your pocket for life post-wedding.
Look locally for shops that specialize in bridal resale, or send your dress on consignment with sites like Dream Bride LA and White Chicago.
You love your bridal shoes. Instead of color, you went with white or ivory to match your dress, but that didn’t stop you from planning to wear them again. The lady at the shop said you could have them dyed!
Now the wedding’s over, you went on your honeymoon, unpacked, sent the Thank You notes.
Your shoes are still in their box in your closet, begging to go out and do some dancing…or at least have some dinner!
Set aside some time, clear some space, and DIY dye your shoes.
This video from Weddingism gives step by step instructions:
1. Research: Get a feel for local shops by visiting their websites and reading their FAQ sections. Peruse customer reviews here on Wedding Wire and on sites like Yelp and City Search. Knowing where to go for the best customer service and what to expect goes a long way to keep things from getting hairy.
2. Know thy Budget. Look at your own bank balance and/or caucus with your parents, then set a price range that is both realistic and comfortable. Tear out pictures from magazines and scoot around the internet to get a feel for what styles and designers you like. Then call boutiques or even designers and ask for ballpark price ranges. There’s nothing like sticker shock to make everyone cranky.
You’ve been searching for bridesmaid dresses that are cute, affordable, wear-again worthy, and stylish. Impossible, you say? Not so!
With a little online sleuthing, you can find just the thing. For those not yet in the know, Modcloth is a great site for clothes that don’t break the bank and are long on style. There are textures, colors, and styles galore, and most are under $60, so you can pick up a little something for yourself and commandeer garments for your ladies.
Manzanita branches, found naturally in the chaparral regions of western North America, are commonly used decoratively because of their beauty, unique shape, and strength when dried. As wedding décor, manzanita branches are hot! I have had many brides come in asking for manzanita branches for their centerpieces. These branches go well in
Our exploration of orchids available as cut flowers continues with the more luxurious and extravagant orchids.
Phalaenopsis
phalaenopsis orchid
Phalaneopsis orchids are everywhere in bridal magazines! They are the typical “moth orchid” plant you might see at Trader Joe’s or any other shop selling plants. As cut flowers, they are no longer that Home Depot plant,
There’s that word again. Chignon. Do they choose fancy french words just to embarrass us??
Relax. No, its really not all about you… (hahaha…bet cha haven’t heard that one since you started planning your wedding!). The word chignon, pronounced “sheen-yon,” is actually derived from the French phrase “chignon du cou,” which translates to “nape of the
Approaching 10,000 feet, seated on the starboard side of a 737 Southwest flight, I leave the Mile High City behind. As we continue to skip across the white cirrus clouds just beneath us, I am inspired and imagine the ultimate wedding venue: a Colorado mountaintop wedding with nuptial vows taken against a majestic sunset mix [...]
Finding the absolute perfect hair style for your wedding day can be quite a challenge, not to mention choosing an appropriate hairstyle for your bridesmaids, flower girl, and mother of the bride as well. Up do? Half up, half down? All down? Curls? Straight? Twists? Braids? Tiara? No tiara? Flowers? The possibilities really are endless.
So [...]
During hot summer months, couples planning outdoor weddings are looking to stay cool. The traditional suit or tux on a 90 degree day may not sound like the best idea, so many grooms are opting to just sport a cool vest. I personally think it’s the perfect option for so many grooms. Vest can be [...]
image source, image by Richard Israel
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