This wedding inspiration is an absolute delight!  One couldn't go wrong with the richness of black and white complimenting so perfectly with green.  I love the almost vintage feeling paired with elegance and the unexpected outdoor gathering with white lights.  Simplicity will surely make this a memorable wedding for all!

Wishes,
Amy

What a fresh approach for a simple, slightly shabby chic and yet a very classy wedding.

I am loving the colors of turquoise and red and the idea of comfort for all.  Having a wedding theme that speaks strickly about the bride and groom seems to speak loudly to their guest and in the end you end up with a wedding enjoyed by all.  

Having a bit of whimsy mixed in brings a fun and light aspect to any wedding, but when pairing it with the whole theme, this wedding ended up with a perfect picture and your guest will also agree "because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing".

I have to be honest and tell you, there aren’t many wedding dresses that I couldn’t make friends with. I LOVE wedding dresses! It must be the romantic girly-girl in me for every so often I will slip on my wedding dress and just smile - yes, my family finds it a bit odd, but I feel like a princess and wasn’t it meant to be worn?

You don't need to be Kate Middleton or Kim Kardashian to have your own royal wedding ~ especially with these dresses!

Choosing the dress ~ now we have our work cut out for us. Style, cut, embellishments, fabric, necklines, length, trains, cost, and oh how the list goes on. Here are some tips to help you narrow down your choices.

Remember, the season of your wedding date. A heavy long sleeved gown in 90 degree weather may not make you feel like a princess, and a strapless chiffon gown with negative temperatures outside might make you wish for flannel pajamas instead of beauty.

I had a few ideas and photos of styles that kept catching my eye, but it wasn’t until I went on the search with my trusted and honest Maid of Honor that I realized that maybe just because they were beautiful dresses in the photos, they didn’t look so good on me - or my body I should say. Keep an open mind while shopping.

I actually came home with a dress (similar to the one pictured above.  Photograph courtesy of http://manolobrides.com/) that my Maid of Honor picked out. I looked at it and knew it was pretty, it just maybe wasn’t what I had envisioned . . . until I put it on. Before the zipper was even up I knew it was the dress. It was perfect and I felt perfect! Is there a guideline for this? Unfortunately not, but I think we know when it is “The Dress” ~ we just know!

Secondly, I think you have to handle some constructive and delicate criticism. That is why I knew shopping with my Maid of Honor would be the best for me. She let me enjoy and try on dresses that weren’t her style because she knows me and what my vision was. If a dress didn‘t look good - it didn‘t look good. If there were parts about the dress that were flattering, she told me and the search went on. Did I always like to hear after the tenth dress “NO”? Most definitely not, but I also knew I didn’t want to celebrate my special day with people wondering what I was thinking wearing a dress that was obviously not for me.

I knew I had a budget in mind. Not really a set one, but I did know that I did not want to spend an astronomical amount on a dress that would be worn for only a few hours (minus my “must try on one more time” days). I did try on dresses with huge price tags though. It gave me a perspective on style and cut and helped in narrowing down likes and dislikes. Know your likes and dislikes about your body. If you have beautiful shoulders, show them off. Don’t like your arms, cover them up.

Left to right:

Justin Alexander http://www.justinalexanderbridal.com/home.php
Justin Alexander http://www.justinalexanderbridal.com/home.php
Badgley Mischka Bride http://www.badgleymischkabride.com/
Pnina Tornai http://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/
Justin Alexander http://www.justinalexanderbridal.com/home.php
The Wedding Party http://www.theweddingpartyonline.com/

Your choices are truly endless. There are five popular basic wedding dress types. You can choose from an A-line/Princess style, Empire, Column/Sheath, Ball Gown, or Mermaid/Fishtail.

The Cut

The A-line / Princess cut shapes the upper body and flows out at the bottom. This is a classic and appropriate style for any wedding. This dress is acceptable to many body shapes and can be worn in different lengths. The princess style provides elongated lines that create a slimming effect because your eye focuses on the long smooth fabric.

The Empire bridal gown is defined by the raised waistline that accentuates the breasts. This can also fit well on most body types, but is more appealing on a smaller breasted bride. This dress can be designed with jewels and embellishments on the waistline. The empire style dress also works well with pregnant brides due to the raised waistline and flowing fabric below.

The Column / Sheath type wedding dress is a classic wedding dress style. This one has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline. This dress tends to hug your body and show off your curves. This dress will work well with a lean figure short or tall. This can also restrict movement because it is more fitted throughout.

The most traditional style wedding dress is the Ball Gown. This one is a more formal and elegant look. It is the typical fairytale wedding that many brides dream of and look antique in. Trains are perfect with the ball gown since the substantial structure of the skirt can balance the weight of a train. This style can accommodate most body types, but the ball gown is better for slender or pear-shaped figures because the full skirt helps to accentuate the waist and hide the lower body. If you have a large bust, this style will help to create the hourglass look.

The Mermaid style wedding dress. This dress contours the body from the chest to the knee. This is a sexy look because it highlights the curves of the bride’s figure. This is a dress that a confident bride can wear to pull off and there are various skirt types available for this dress. The mermaid cut is not for everyone. This daring design is best worn by slender figures, both short and tall.

Top to Bottom (Left to Right)

Atelier Aimee http://www.aimeeusa.com/
Rosa Clara; Style 146 River http://www.rosaclara.es/en/
Blue Wedding Dress
Claire Pettibone; Peony http://bridal.clairepettibone.com/
Jenny Packham; Symphony http://www.jennypackham.com/
Christina Hurvis; Cannes http://www.couturesf.com/
Le Spose di Gio; Style 15

The Neckline

The neckline of your wedding dress will draw attention to your upper body. Depending on your body shape and the way you feel about it, your bust, face, neck and shoulders can all be accentuated or downplayed by the shape of the neckline and the top section of your wedding dress.

Generally, low round or scooped necks and square necklines suit most brides along with strapless, square or heart-shaped. Asymmetric necklines (where the dress has a single strap or irregular shaping) are also very flattering as they help draw the eye away from problem areas such as heavy hips.

Large Shoulders - halter necks look best on brides with large shoulders, but take note of bust size for it may also make a large bust look out of proportion.

Large Busts - V-necks draw attention away from large busts as they guide the eye inwards and down the midline of the dress.

Small Busts - high round neck or slash-neck dresses look best on brides with small busts (it actually makes them appear bigger) or brides that don't want to show too much décolletage.

(Above photo from http://bridesmine.com/) 

Train or No Train

The train is where the material at the back of the dress extends out. Trains come in various lengths and styles:

Sweep / Duster train - the easiest to manage as extends about 1-2 feet from the waist of the gown. This style is perfect for an informal wedding such as a beach or garden wedding

Puddle train - is round, begins at the sides of the skirt, making it appear that the bride is standing in a 'puddle' of fabric and it is usually teamed up with a fishtail or column dress in a lighter fabric

Chapel train - extends approximately 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet from the waist of the gown. This is the most popular train length for wedding dresses. The chapel train is versatile in that it is offers enough of a train to make the bridal gown look and very glamorous, yet doesn't make the dress awkward to move around in. A chapel train can either be bustled under the gown with a French bustle, or it can be bustled to the outside with little hooks or buttons at several points.

Cathedral train - usually extends anywhere from 6-1/2 to 8-1/2 feet from the waist of the gown. This ultra-glamorous style train is most often reserved for very formal indoor weddings and an opulent setting where a long aisle is available for the bride to walk down and showcase her gown. A cathedral length train is generally the longest length of train seen on wedding dresses in bridal shops. Cathedral length trains evoke drama and splendor.

When selecting your train it is important to think about how you will look after it during your wedding day. Although it is the job of your bridesmaid to arrange the train when you have walked down the aisle and for photographs, but the longer and heavier it is, the dirtier it will get and the more difficult it will be for you to cope with and dance.

A detachable train fastened to the skirt near the waist, that can be removed altogether once the ceremony and wedding photos are finished, is the best solution.

(Above Cymbeline; Style 3521 http://www.cymbelineusa.com/html/index.html)

Fabric For The Season

Wedding dresses come in a variety of fabrics from very light materials like chiffon and crepe, to satins and silk and heavy brocades. Consider the time of year that you are getting married. You do not want a heavy fabric if you are getting married in summer or on a tropical island and chiffon certainly won't keep the shivers away in winter.

Beadwork can transform a simple dress into a stunning bridal gown that will definitely turn heads. Embroidery detail on select areas can add a bit of color to you outfit, or draw attention to a particular area of your body (such as the neck and shoulders, away from your hips). Also think about how wearable the fabric is as you will be sitting, standing and dancing in it all day and night.　

Your Wedding Style

Formal Weddings - a floor-length dress in ivory, white, cream or champagne, with gloves and a train... pure elegance!

Semi-Formal Weddings - consider pastels, a floor-brushing (ballerina) length, a short veil and no train.

Casual Weddings - a long or short dress, or two-piece suit paired with a classic pillbox hat　

Color

Do you have to wear white? No, but color does count! Make sure the color of your wedding dress compliments the style of your wedding, your body shape and your skin tone.

More and more brides are going against tradition and wearing colored dresses. Not all brides wear the pure white wedding dress, due to the fact that if you don't have the correct skin coloring, it can make you look washed out. Off-white, ivory or creams are easier to wear for most skin tones, but some brides are even opting for the reds, pinks, lilacs or pale gold for their wedding gown.

Above dresses from http://www.verawang.com/wedding/

(I will also note that I agree with previous web comments that Vera Wang does absolutely stunning design but this particular model is not what we would expect do to her extreme small stature and a much younger age than most she seems).  With that being said, you can see how fabric and color can set a beautiful mood for your wedding.

When choosing the color for your wedding dress, keep in mind the rest of your wedding party color choices and the palette for your wedding. Make a day of it, a weekend or more. Have some fun and take a break with lunch or a manicure. Take your time and don’t feel pressured. It’s a wonderful feeling to find “The” dress and say “YES”!

Wishes,
Amy

The featured dresses are only a representation of the thousands and thousands of choices and does not guarantee that these exact dresses will still be available.

Orange, Purple, Red ~  Why not? 

The bold colors mixed with the romantic pinks and greens bring a fun mix to this wedding scheme.  I love the brides shoes of red for a hint of style and flair, and the vibrant flowers in the hair add another fun splash. 

To me, there is something personal when a couple decides to go a little non-traditional and incooperates a style of their own.  I think if anything, this only adds to the overall beauty of a wedding and how much thought was put into it for their guests enjoyment as well as their own.

Sometimes I think we relay too much on others choices and opinions instead of trusting ourselves in our visions.  Can there be too much color?  Yes.  You do want to be sure that you have a central focal point, or at least something that brings it all together.  I find that in this wedding scheme, I could envision an outdoor celebration under a beautiful tent of white with lights and colored lanterns with the green grass underneath grounding everything. 

I could also see this being a fun "Carnival" style celebration theme or even a remote "Country Romance" theme complete with white twinkling lights.  It is easy to incooperate your personal style into your theme ~ just be cautious of that old adage of "too much really is just too much". 

Sometimes I think we have to say "Why Not?" in order to make sure your wedding day portrays your sense of style ~ complete with fashion, flair and fun.

Wishes,
Amy

What a way to celebrate such a holiday of independence than becoming husband and wife. Here are some ideas to help make you day memorable:

Plan your wedding colors around the tradition red, white and blue with plenty of white lights, paper lanterns, beautiful decorations and even add in some yellow for that good ole’ summertime feeling. Think about setting up your reception under a white tent that is patriotically decorated.

Rather than a sit down meal, consider having a old fashioned barbecue of corn on the cob, grilled meats, fruits, ice-cream, and other holiday fare foods such as a lobster bake.

For the non-traditional wedding, try cupcakes, strawberry shortcake, or even caramel apples for dessert instead of the traditional wedding cake.

Have a signature red and blue cocktail, beer, old fashioned root-beer floats, lemonade, tea, and unique soda pops served in wood crates or metal buckets of ice.

Instead of traditional serving dishes, think about using different service settings of antique ware depending on your theme (i.e. patriotic, homey barbecue, rustic retreat, beach, etc.).

For your favors, the book, “I Like You” buy Sandol Stoddard Warburg retails at approximately $6-$7 per book. Another option could be a printed card of the following verse from the book with a pack of sparklers.

"... I like you because I don’t know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome then
I like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do

So many reasons
On the 4th of July I like you because it’s the 4th of July
On the fifth of July, I like you too
If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE

See what I mean?
Even if it was the 999th of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again

That’s how it would happen every time
I don’t know why
I guess I don’t know why I really like you
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you because I like you."

For a grand finale, look into hiring a company to perform a firework show or instead of the traditional rice for your send-off, consider sparklers such as these http://www.myweddingfavors.com/wedding-sparklers.html.

After a celebration like this, your guests won’t feel like they missed any of their independence day celebrations!

Note: Due to the fact that this is a holiday event, makes sure you send “Save The Date” to your guests in plenty of time prior to the holiday.