Bar none, the most common questions I get for Reader Requests are about bridal color schemes, bridesmaid dresses, affordable wedding shower looks, engagement picture styling, etc. There’s a lot of you all with a lot of questions about wedding stuff.

Out of all of the things I named above, bridesmaid dresses definitely cause people the most angst. They’re hard to find at a certain price point, and it’s difficult to get a style that matches both the bride’s aesthetic and what her outspoken friends may say they’d prefer. (Not to mention all the drama that can come with fittings, returns, etc.)

When I was looking for bridesmaid dresses in 2008, I was irritated by the lack of choices within a certain budget. It was nearly impossible to find a stylish, modern dress in an array of sizes and available in a certain time frame and color under $400—and I certainly didn’t want my friends and family paying more than that! I got extremely lucky with the final selection, but oh man. The process was, for lack of a better word, a complete bitch.

If you’re struggling right now to choose a dress for your bridesmaids and you don’t even know where to start, here’s a tip: start with YOUR wedding dress. The style of your dress, the fabric of your dress, the embellishments on your dress are all things that should play into your bridesmaid dress decision. Contrary to the beliefs of some, a bridesmaid dress shouldn’t be a hideous, blinding scrap of satin that just so happens to match your place settings so, okay, you go with it. No! Your bridesmaids should have the benefit of wearing a flattering, stylish dress (even if they won’t wear it again) during your wedding and you should have the good fortune to have chosen a bridesmaid dress that compliments your own.

Here’s a few tips to get you on the right path. NOTE: Please ignore colors for the sake of argument. This is to give you a general idea of fabric and silhouette. (In fact, I recommend not even choosing your wedding color scheme until you have a gown you love and bridesmaid dresses you’re happy with. But, that’s totally my opinion and you should do what makes you happy and comfortable!)

If Your Dress Is Modern:

• Look for classic silhouettes in non-trendy fabrics. No lace, no satin and definitely no chiffon! 
• Pairing a slightly retro bridesmaid dress style (like the one above) with a modern bridal gown feels fresh and keeps things balanced across the board—not costumey.
• Don’t mimic the details in the bridal gown that make it memorable. In this example, the one-shoulder detail takes the dress from plain to gorgeous. Don’t have the bridesmaid dresses be one-shouldered cookie cutters.
• Remember that a modern, clean bridal gown can pair with any colors and any prints, so don’t be afraid to mix it up. With that being said, I love a white-on-white or black-and-white pairing. 

Bridal Gown: Renee by Renee

Bridesmaid Dress: Moschino “Michelle” Peplum Dress, $300 (retails for $2,195)

If Your Dress Is A-Line And Embellished or Beaded:

• The trick with an embellished bridal is to mimic the embellishment with directly copying it. What adjectives would you use to describe the dress above? The first things that come to my mind are “soft” and “ethereal.” Look for bridesmaid dresses that echo those same sentiments. 
• Harsh colors or edges will distract from an embellished or beaded gown. The beauty of a-line gowns is that they are so flattering and beautiful in the simplicity of their shape: you don’t want a bridesmaid dress that detracts from that simplicity.
• Don’t forget the rule of necklines: never have the bride and bridesmaids in the same neckline. Most a-line bridal gowns are strapless, so cross that bridesmaid style off your list if you can and look for alternatives. A boat neck, sleeves or a modified sleeveless gown (like the one above) are all gorgeous paired with a strapless a-line bridal gown. 
• Try to find complimentary fabrics instead of being matchy-matchy. If your gown uses chiffon, don’t get chiffon bridesmaid dresses.

Bridal Gown: Desiree by Rivini

Bridesmaid Dress: Alberta Ferreti Dusty Rose Dress, $300 (retails for $2,295)

If Your Dress Is A Satin Ballgown:

• Oh, girl. This is a lot of bridal gown, so don’t skimp on those bridesmaids. There’s so much formal gown happening that to dress your bridesmaids in knee-length/cocktail dresses would seem mismatched. Go for full-length bridesmaid dresses here. 
• This is one instance where fabrics can match. There’s no risk of a few bridesmaids in satin overwhelming a bride in a gown like this, and the matching fabric lends a formal air to the overall party that certain brides (who want black tie affairs, for example) may find appealing.
• With that being said, keep the satin looking classy! I love this deep green. It’s a beautiful, expensive-looking dress that accents the bridal gown well. Satin has a tendency to read cheap, so be cautious about what color and style of gown you select. 
• Don’t forget the rule of necklines! Still applies. 

Bridal Gown: Pnina Tornai

Bridesmaid Dress: Yigal Azrouel Green Satin Charm Gown, $250 (retails for $1,695)

If You’re Wearing A Lace Gown:

• Lace gowns have surged in popularity in recent years. The problem is that lace gowns, of all of the ones shown thus far in this post, are the most difficult to match color schemes and bridesmaid dress styles to. A lace gown is delicate and complicated at the same time and makes finding complimentary styles tricky.
• But, although they may be tricky, don’t be afraid of making bold bridesmaid dress decisions! Because lace can read twee or precious, I like the juxtaposition of a really stand-out print bridesmaid dress. The styles are complimentary and the print almost looks like a lace pattern without being a “lace dress.” This is one of my favorite looks in this post. It’s modern and memoriable, but still classic.
• With lace gowns, the rule of necklines is more flimsy—especially if you are going in a bolder direction with the bridesmaid dresses. I would suggest taking one or two major elements from the bridal gown (neckline, length, fabric, embellishments, etc.) and making sure those appear in the bridesmaid gown so that everyone looks like they are going to the same wedding. Here, the similar necklines and bodices give some uniformity to the overall appearance.

Bridal Gown: Monique Lhuillier

Bridesmaid Dress: Milly “Southern Charmer” Dress, $50 (retails for $367)

If You’re Wearing A Short Gown:

• The bridesmaid dress should also be short, but not necessarily the same length.
• Keep the bridesmaid dress simple, so as not to look like a twin of your own dress. If you can, try and find a bridesmaid dress that’s a few inches shorter than the bridal gown so there is a more distinct difference between the two.
• Don’t match the style of the gown to the bridesmaid dress. If you’re wearing a flared skirt, keep the bridesmaid dress a-line. If you’re wearing a-line, try a sheath or circle skirt style on the bridesmaids. 
• Short bridal gowns are sometimes chosen because they are more casual and reflect a fun, casual wedding. Don’t let finding a bridesmaid dress trip you up in this endeavor! Try find a bridesmaid dress from an alternative source (i.e., Shabby Apple) or have them wear something they already own. Some of the best weddings I’ve seen had bridesmaids in complimentary (but different) casual, fun sundresses. 

Bridal Gown: Oleg Cassini for David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dress: Milly Lace Illusion Flutter Dress, $60 (retails for $345)

Do you have any bridesmaid dress advice?

I always know when summer is getting close because I start to get significantly more wedding requests! :)

An anonymous reader sent me an email with the following details:

I’m getting married in September, and the bridesmaids dresses are this: http://prettybridesmaids.com/22400.html The problem: we cannot figure out shoes.  I know, it’s a big deal :) The colors for the wedding are chocolate brown and yellow (sunflower colors).  My MOH suggests yellow shoes to go with the dresses, as that would keep with the color scheme of the wedding.  One bridesmaid is suggesting silver shoes, because yellow is more of a summer color and September is more fall.  The groomsmen are wearing black tuxs, brown vest, brown tie, with a yellow flower/fancy french term I cannot spell in the pocket.  I know this seems so crazy- who freaks out this much over shoes!- but if there is anyone who could help, it would be you.

Here are my initial thoughts:

• Silver is a cool color and will clash with your warm color palette (brown & yellow). Stay away!
• I agree with your maid of honor. Color is definitely the way to go!
• Unfortunately, yellow shoes (especially in a sunflower shade) are hard to find in a wedding-friendly style. There are sandals and cork wedges everywhere, but these styles won’t fit with the bridesmaid dress.
• Going matchy-matchy (i.e. white, ivory or brown shoes) is an option, and these colors are much easier to find in a style that will compliment the dress. But, matchy-matchy is pretty boring. 

So! I had a completely different idea. I have no idea how you’ll take this, but I thought it was worth the risk because it 1) livens up the entire dress and 2) features a built-in gift for your bridesmaids (the earrings).

[Hair, Kate Spade Earrings, Gwyneth Satin Pumps]

Even if this is totally not the direction you’re heading, I hope it sparks some more ideas!

We’re now on the verge of the spring/summer wedding season and guests will start thinking about purchasing your gift (if they haven’t already!). For those of you just starting your registries, it can be overwhelming and irritating—besides the fact that it can feel weird to make a wish list that all your guests will see. You may disagree with your fiance about what to put on the registry, your parents/family/bridesmaids/etc may insist you NEED something on your registry that you really don’t want and you’re afraid your guests may balk at the prices of items.

Don’t forget the original purpose of a wedding registry: stupid as it may seem sometimes, it was designed to be mutually beneficial. It lets the couple getting married put specific items of need on a list and prevents getting more than one of the same item. For wedding guests, it takes all the guesswork out of what to get the couple. This is extremely helpful, especially if you don’t know them well.

But, in order for a wedding registry to really work, you have to be realistic about what it is, what it does and what it can do for you. Here’s a few tips:

• Choose items with a wide price range. There may be a guest who is willing to spring for your $250 automatic trash can and your $800 vacuum, but make sure to also include items in a $30-$100 price range for guests who may not be able to afford high-ticket items.
• On the other hand, guests may be turned off by your registry if it’s full of frivolous, expensive items that don’t make sense to your guests. Think about who is coming to your wedding and be realistic about what you need and what they’ll be willing to purchase. 
• If you’re having a destination wedding that requires everyone to travel some distance, and especially if you’re not paying for all lodging, scale back your registry accordingly. Although you may think it’s a privilege for your guests to be invited to your super-chic wedding on a tropical island somewhere, realize that destination weddings are expensive for guests to attend if their lodging, transportation and food are not covered or subsidized in some way. Adjust your registry to reflect the circumstances of your wedding.
• Don’t be afraid to be different. If you hate to cook, don’t feel like you have to ask for cookware. If you and your fiance really need a bookshelf in your home, put a bookshelf on your registry. It’s fun for guests to see nontraditional items on a registry and it will make you feel better not to have wasted their money on more traditional items you’d never use. 

If You Already Have Everything You Need For Your Kitchen

Most couples now don’t need a full supply of items for their kitchen. This made more sense years ago when couples got married young, straight out of high school, in college, right out of college, and they moved into a new home with no furniture and no kitchenwares. Now, as couples get married older, they tend to have their homes set the way they like and their kitchens are more or less well-stocked with tools that would have typically been seen on a registry.

In this case, focus on home decor or home organization items that you have not yet bought for yourself. Think about things you wouldn’t usually buy—things that might be a treat, like high thread-count sheets. Or, storage/organizational pieces that you’ve been meaning to get but get shoved down your priority list.

Here are some ideas of what to include:

1. West Elm Zig Zag Rug in Espresso/Ivory/Flax, starting at $49
2. Simply Shabby Chic Crystal Candlestick Table Lamp, $45
3. Hudson Park 600 Thread Count Solid Sheets, $150
4. Jonathan Adler Charade Heart Vase, $98
5. Crate&Barrel Marimekko Pieni Unikko Pillow, $41 
6. Diptyque Baies Candle, $60
7. The Container Store Wall-Mounted Enameled Divided Cube, $69
8. Way Basics Eco Friendly 3 Shelf Bookcase, $95

If You Need Everything For Your Kitchen And Have No Idea Where To Start

It’s so overwhelming to look at suggested items for registries now. The sheer amount of “important” or “essential” kitchen items and accessories can make your head spin.

Here are some basics I’d recommend:

Also include: A water/juice pitcher, a microwave (if you don’t have one), a roasting pan, lots of spatulas, measuring cups/spoons and aprons/oven mitts.

If You Want To Have Some Fun With Your Wedding Gifts

If you’re more non-traditional and you don’t need any specific gift items, here’s a fun idea: Tell guests to choose a gift for you that was a favorite wedding gift they got, something that has personal meaning to them, or something that has been enormously helpful to them at home. Have them write a little card and include it with the gift to explain why they chose it. It gives guests the opportunity to be more thoughtful in their choice of gift, and has a personal touch element that’s often missing from gifts bought straight off a registry.

If You Want Offbeat Items From Stores With No Registry

If you want books or electronics on your registry, for example, consider using MyRegistry.com. It allows you to register for gifts in many stores (including stores that don’t have registry options) and lists everything in one place for your guests. This is even great to use if you are registered in three or four different places, as it simplifies shopping for your guests.

If You Don’t Want Gifts, But You Really Want A Honeymoon

Honeymoons aren’t cheap! Many couples are opting out of gifts and are instead registering with a website like HoneyFund.com and asking guests to contribute a bit toward their honeymoon instead. Be aware that some people may be offended by this, and some may even ignore your request and just bring you a gift instead. There are all sorts of variables to choosing something like this instead of traditional gifts, but be aware that some guests may take an “oh, that’s optional” approach to contributing. People also tend to spend less money when it’s contributing to a fund than when purchasing a specific item, so you may not get as much as you think.

If you do choose to do this, make sure you have emergency funds available to pay for the outstanding balance on the honeymoon—because the last thing you want to do is not go at all because you were $900 shy of your fundraising goal.

Do you have any registry questions or suggestions? Do you have a unique registry or gift-giving story from your wedding or one you attended?

whiskeybentandhellbound asked:

First of all, I LOVE your blog!

I’m getting married in New Orleans in September (so it’ll be pretty warm) and am letting my bridesmaids pick their own dresses. All I ask is that they are cobalt/royal blue and cocktail length - nothing floor length! Can you make some suggestions?

I found a few options that you’ll hopefully like! The problem with finding bridesmaid dresses is that everyone has their perfect idea of what the dress should look like and it’s often hard to bring that idea into reality. I found several dresses in a variety of price ranges and sizes and shades of blue to, at the very least, give you an idea of what’s out there.

A few tips about bridesmaid dresses:

• Don’t be afraid of prints/texture! It’s not for everyone, but I think prints look great on bridesmaid dresses.
• Watch out for fabric. A chiffon bridesmaid dress won’t look good with a heavier, winter-wedding style bridal gown, for example. Personally, I think a complimentary fabric looks best—not too matchy-matchy, but not too different either. (For example, lace and taffeta look good together, but I wouldn’t go with lace and satin.)
• Please consider the sizes available in the style you like! If you choose one dress for all the bridesmaids to wear, make sure it is a universally-wearable shape and comes in a wide array of sizes. I know most people steer away from bridal salons now for bridesmaid gowns, but they really do offer a wide range of sizes in lots of different shapes. Your next best pick is a department store. 
• Some colors are easier to find than others depending on trends and season. You have to think ahead a bit. For example, if you’re getting married in May or June and have chosen pink bridesmaid dresses, you should have the style picked and fittings completed by January-ish. You can see where I’m going with this, right? Pink dresses aren’t as easy to come by in the winter, when you’re doing your dress selection. Plan ahead and know your options! 

And, without further adieu:

1. Lauren by Ralph Lauren Sheath Dress, $124

2. Talbots Twist Neck Dress, $169

3. Calvin Klein Shift Dress, $129

4. J. Crew Silk Chiffon “Evie” Dress, $195

5. Ann Taylor Strapless Dress, $88

6. Donna Ricco Cotton Party Dress, $118

7. Maggy London Chiffon Dress, $118

8. Suzi Chin Jersey Dress, $138

Congratulations and I’m sure your wedding will be lovely!

Anonymous asked:

Hi Jackie!

I know you can come to my rescue - where can I find a “raspberry”-colored knee-length dress that I can wear as maid of honor to my best friend’s wedding? She’s doing all her bridesmaids the ‘favor’ of letting us pick our own dresses, but I’m a tomboy and sort of fashion impaired, so she lost me at ‘raspberry.’ I don’t even know where to begin looking - please help!!

Katie

So, here’s the skinny on raspberry: it’s one of those shades that fashiony/designy people love to throw around because it encompasses a lot of possible shades into one phrase, but in their head, they know exactly what color they mean.

Unfortunately, no one else does.

This habit of using fruits or vaguely subjective terms to describe color has trickled down to the wedding folk who just love using all sorts of fancy language to describe their bridal vision.

But, back to you. Here’s the problem:

These are raspberries. They are a delicious, if a bit tart, fruit that is generally thought to be in the red color family, although they can vary in color depending on what variety they are, how ripe they might be, if they are withering on the vine (so to speak), etc. etc.

But, here we have the “raspberry” as envisioned by most design houses, interior designers, magazine editors, wedding planners and the like:

Ah yes, I count no less than 11 different shades in this square, varying from the quite red to the very pink, and I guarantee you will find someone that would name each of these shades as “raspberry” on any given day.

Here’s the solution I’ve come up with: several dresses, varying designs and price ranges (I’m not sure how much you are prepared to pay for your bridesmaid dress). Pick the ones you like best and send them to her for review. Let her choose the shade of raspberry she meant, because I’m sure she has a very specific look in mind, and as we’ve seen above…it’s probably not the same shade that you, or I, or maybe several dozen other people would even pick out.

1. ModCloth Just About Anywhere Dress, $45

2. Susana Monaco Tube Strapless Dress, $141

3. Donna Morgan Chiffon Dress, $82

4. Donna Morgan Belted Chiffon Dress, $138

5. Jones New York Cowl Neck Dress, $118

6. Fran & Jane Pleated Bust Dress, $164

7. Tadashi Shoji Chiffon Dress, $158

BRIDES & GROOMS IN THE METRO DC/MD/VA AREA!

Do you need a wedding planner? I have a contact who can offer you wedding planning services at a steeply discounted rate if you are willing to make available your wedding photographs for her portfolio.

This is such a great opportunity and I’d love if one of you could benefit!

E-mail me if you’d like the details!

(Feel free to send to friends in the DMV area as well.)

cadyheron asked:

Hi Jaclyn!

I love your blog so much, and i always appreciate another bargain hunter, like myself. But I have a question for you, and I need your supreme hunting skills…

I’m a bridesmaid in a wedding in October in Georgia. We can buy any shoes we want, as long as they are bronze colored. I have been looking high and low and cant seem to find any that i’ve fallen in love with. I was considering wedges, but thought Oct. might be too late in the season for them? I’d love to buy a shoe I can wear again.. possibly to work? And I’d probably pay up to $100 if i reallllyyy loved the shoe ( but i’d prefer under $75 if possible!)

Thanks for help!!!

Without knowing what the dress looks like, I just assembled a FLEET of bronze shoes you can pick from! I’d recommend staying away from wedges as October might be tricky, but keep checking stores because they’ll be getting in more fall-ish wedge styles soon. Right now, most wedges are of the sandal/strappy variety.

P.S. It appears as though Nine West has the corner on the affordable bronze shoe market these days! :)

Top row, left to right:

• Nine West “Boo Boo”, $40
• Nine West “Bertha”, $70
• Etienne Aigner “Uma”, $41

Middle row, left to right:

• Nine West “Zann”, $50
• Nine West “Quilliam”, $49
• Pelle Moda Gunda “Platino”, $94

Bottom:

• AK Anne Klein “Sari”, $37

Lace veil attached to a crown?

Oversized cameo earrings?

A-line satin wedding gown?

Huge, excited smile?

Decked-out guests wearing tiaras?

LOVE ROYAL WEDDINGS!

(Too bad I couldn’t have finagled my “descended from Norwegian royalty” line for an invite.)

/ Q

So, you seem to be absolutely amazing at this fashion stuff.. You have me hooked. I go through fashion lulls and highs pretty often, no consistency what so ever. Anyways, i have this wedding coming up, and i was planning to just wear the dress i wore to another wedding, but it is always nice getting something new, but the issue is I have quite the complicated body. To be quite honest, my boobs are big... bigger than big, however, the rest of my body, not so much, so dresses are always hard to come by.. SOOOOOO, do you have any suggestions for what i could wear? The wedding is early March, and i'm doing a reading at the church.... Thanks!!!

/ A

I’d definitely recommend a sheath-type dress! You sound like you have a pretty amazing body type so while you don’t want the—uhh—twins hanging out up front while you’re doing a reading, you should wear something body conscious and sexy—but in a classy, understated way. And it is possible!

For example:

A sheath dress is fashion’s elegant answer to the “what should I wear question”—and it’s the right answer about 90% of the time. It’s rare to find an event that this dress style does not work. Clean, streamlined, no frills, no fuss.

Pair the dress with platforms for some extra height (and sex appeal, don’t tell the bride, shh) and you’ll be ready to go!

• Maggy London One-Shoulder Dress, $128
• linQ Dress, $148
• Adrianna Papell Sheath, $118
• Ann Taylor Silk Sheath, $158

Shoes:

• Barretts UK Platform, about $50
• Steve Madden “Toppazz”, $99
• ASOS “Peaches”, $60

I got an e-mail from Krista yesterday asking for help on bridesmaid dresses and color schemes for her cousin’s wedding in September.

Her cousin hasn’t fully decided on colors, so Krista sent me some photos of things that her cousin liked. Also, they hadn’t had any luck finding bridesmaid dresses so far that fit their ideas. I won’t post the bridal gown (bad luck!), but she did send me a link to it so I knew in advance what it looked like.

I noticed that Krista’s cousin picked out a red, blue and black color scheme—but here’s why I moved away from that scheme into a more monochromatic one:

• The wedding ceremony will be beside a lake and the reception will be in their barn (love it!).
• Because the setting is a little more rustic, I felt that the very trendy color scheme (black, blue, red) would look out of place.
• Also, Krista’s cousin’s wedding dress is more traditional and elegant—another reason to move away from the uber-trendy color palette.

Red and white is a fairly common wedding color scheme, so I focused in on the blue that was in the photos that Krista sent me.

The barn photos in the upper left and lower right were ones that Krista sent to me and the rest I did random searches for—I think most came from The Knot.

I love the bright vivid blue played against the warm barn colors, so I tried to echo that with the bridesmaid attire.

Like what the bridesmaid is wearing? Here are the details:

• J. Crew Strapless Dress, $225 (Light Caramel)
  
• Wildflower Bouquet
• Blowfish “Sherbert” Flats, $30
• Steve Madden “Regaal” Pump, $79
• Madeline “Vitality” Pump, $50
• Romantic Soles “Geneva”, $65

P.S. I want to stress that your wedding should ultimately be your vision! Don’t listen to anyone’s advice if you don’t want to. Follow your instincts and do what you like! That’s what makes your wedding your wedding. If you have a wedding planner or someone assisting you, don’t feel bullied into following their ideas. Stick to your guns and everything will turn out beautifully!