bridesmaid

My Spring Wedding-Dresses, Shoes, Jewelry, oh my!

Posted by Michelle June 4, 2010

I think every little girl dreams of the day she gets married starting around the age 3. Its encouraged and though of as cute.  This includes visions of big dresses, long trains, flowy veils, and lots and lots of tulle, bridesmaids in colors all matchy.  I was no exception.  I was into drawing around 12 and designed my own dress back then.  It was quite elaborate with rhinestones, low cut backs, and pretty flowy fabric.  But what it definitely was NOT was a big puffy tulle dress that would make me look like I belonged on the top of the wedding cake or my bridesmaids look like 80’s prom queens.   Well, fast forward 11 or so years, time to plan my wedding!   It was a small intimate wedding with family, close friends, and bridal party and of course outstanding fashion!


Bridesmaids:

  


Bridesmaid dresses are one of the hardest things about wedding planning to me.
 

Do you want them to match? Will they all look good in the same thing? What color would be best? Could they wear it again?

 Being a bridesmaid isn’t just showing up in a pretty dress and walking down an aisle.  You have to buy the dress, shoes, jewelry, pampering, gifts, and possibly throw showers.   That stuff usually ain’t cheap. 5 years ago, I decided my girls were going to wear black (so they could wear the dress again). I wanted them to find a little black dress that fit them-their personality, their taste, their body, and their comfort level.  Also one that wouldn’t break their bank–I left it up to them to chose how much they wanted to spend on their dress and shoes.

 

 

 

I only had 3 requirements for the whole ensemble:   

  • Black heels (open toed/strappy)
  • above/at knee length dress. 
  • Satin sheen fabric

And I secretly hoped they would all choose different necklines, and they DID!  Four girls, for different necklines: one shouldered (asymmetric), strapless, scoop neck, and off-the-shoulder (portrait). 
They had different shoes and different dresses.  I gave them each vintage rhinestone earrings to top off the whole ensemble.  They all looked the same but individual. They were the best looking bridesmaids I’ve ever seen. (though I might be partial)

  Bride’s Dress:

 When we went to look for wedding dresses, I tried on about 25 or more.  And, as cliché as it is, my dress chose me!  This one was one of the last I tried on and it was perfect.   I didn’t feel like a wedding cake topper!  It wasn’t tulley, it wasn’t a poufy, It was totally me!   

 

It is a SCALA Destination Dress in cream, with beautiful beading on the neckline, bottom, and back.  It has a sheer overlay making it appear strapless and a deep sheer back.  It had a slight train that was just the perfect length.  I found my shoes at David’s Bridal Online Boutique.  They were a 4 in heel in cream with a bow and rhinestone clasp in the center.  My earrings were vintage leaf earrings and my bracelet was borrowed from my mom that looked vintage.  I felt like I stepped out of the 1920’s! 

The bridesmaids black dresses and my cream jeweled dress tied together the “traditional with vintage touches” wedding.  It couldn’t have been more special. Thanks for letting me share!

And that’s the whole fashion and beauty recap of my spring wedding! All images are from Treasured Moments Portraits ( Pittsburg , TX )

 

Michelle, Fierce Glamour Blog

(the new Mrs. T)

 

 

 

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Wedding Breakdown: Hair & Makeup

Posted by Michelle May 21, 2010

Lovelies, as you know I got married in April.  I finally am back to a regular routine and can blog out the wedding! (plus we got the pictures back so I can show too!)  Our wedding was outside on a Saturday in the afternoon.  It was a small intimate wedding with family, close friends, and bridal party.  I didn’t want a huge fuss with my or my bridesmaid’s hair and makeup. So we all did it ourselves! As the day started creeping up, I wondered if this was the best way to go, but I didn’t want to have to add extra cost to everyone at the last minute.
 

 BRIDESMAID HAIR & MAKEUP 

I only wanted a few things for my bridesmaids:

  • Amped up day makeup (a little smokier than usual!)
  • A small amount of pink lipstick (everyone ended up using the same one)
  • Same color of nail polish on fingers/toes! (I gave the color to them as part of their gifts)
  • Soft curly hair, mostly down! No Up Do’s! (We all pitched in and curled/fixed each others hair!)

     

 They all used their own makeup.  Their hair was curled with a 1” barrel curling iron and pinned up depending on bangs, layers etc.  We all had on Ulta Nail Polish in Sweetheart Pink.
 

 BRIDAL MAKEUP AND HAIR:

 

 About two weeks before the wedding, I went to Ulta and got a mini makeover. I told the make up artist what I wanted and she foofed me up, and taught me how to use the products I needed I got new base, eye shadow, and lipstick! I also picked up my water-proof mascara in case!!  I went home and played! I did about 3 practice runs with hair & makeup. (THIS IS A MUST if you’re doing it yourself!! Do NOT wait till your wedding day to experiment!!)

 Makeup: 

Benefit Some-Kind-of-Gorgeous (Foundation Faker)

Bare Minerals All-Over Warmth (Bronzer)

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends (Blush)

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (Powder)

Too-Faced Natural Eye Kit (Eye Shadow)

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Sable (eyeliner)

Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express Waterproof (Mascara) 

Urban Decay Deep Pink Lip Stain

Hair:

 Lots of my wedding was DIY, including my hair accessories.    I found the flower bobby pins at Forever 21 and the rhinestone leaves at Hobby Lobby. Then I intertwined them.  The night before, I sprayed my just-washed hair with Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Spray and let it dry overnight.  Wedding day, I applied more Wonder waves spray to encourage more curl, then curled my whole head with a 1” curling iron.  I pulled my bangs back in to a mini pouf.   I pulled all the hair to one side of my neck and pinned it in strategic spots to look like a low side pony.  Then I pinned in the flowers and sprayed with hair spray. 

My hair and makeup stayed all day, and my lipstick never smudged (another reason stains are becoming a favorite!)

 Soon, we’ll breakdown the dresses and jewelry! Whoo-hoo! All images are from Treasured Moments Portraits (Pittsburg, TX)

 

 

–Michelle (the new Mrs. T)

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Bridesmaid dresses that won’t go straight to the back of the closet!

Posted by Michelle October 23, 2009

This next year, I happen to have a lot of friends that are getting married. Hooray for them! Let’s just hope they don’t turn into Bridezillas! (I’m not saying I might not become one myself some day) *crosses fingers and toes hoping not to be one* Anyway, this means lots of brides will be choosing bridesmaids and more importantly bridesmaids dresses. After my last experience with a David’s Bridal bridesmaid dress I don’t even want to think what other horrors girls could be facing this wedding season (which is practically all year long). So brides listen up and take a look, Stylecaster put together a list of some GREAT options for your maids! Now these are quite a bit out of my price range, but it’s a great place for ideas! PLEASE READ and RETAIN! Happy Wedding-ing!?!

FROM STYLECASTER:
Heather Levine is the Fashion Editor of TheKnot.com, the #1 wedding website. As Fashion Editor, Heather is responsible for producing and styling the fashion and beauty stories most coveted by brides for TheKnot.com and The Knot weddings magazines, as well as acting as host for fashion segments on The Knot TV, the site’s 24/7 streaming video channel. As in-house stylist at The Knot, Heather takes care of editorial styling for media and special appearances.

Been a bridesmaid? Then you’ve definitely heard this line before: “…and the best part? You can totally wear this dress again!” Now, we all know what really happens. There’s an unflattering, dusty-rose dress taking up way too much space in your closet. Not anymore! You can–no, you will want to–wear these styles more than once.

Amsale’s Jersey Dresses: I’m obsessed with these super-comfortable dresses. They’re all about simple sophistication. Plus, they’re not nearly as noisy as taffeta! Rock this one-shoulder style at your next black-tie affair with some chunky, layered necklaces. Amsale jersey dress, $310, visit amsale.com for stores.
Photo by Erik Ekroth

Alvina Valenta’s LBDs: You can’t go wrong with a black, cocktail-style bridesmaid dress. I especially love the trapeze silhouette of this version by Alvina Valenta, but if it feels too shapeless for you, a belt will create the sexy, cinched waistline you crave. Alvina Valenta LBD, $190, visit jlmcouture.com for stores.
Photo by Luke Walker

Vera Wang’s Ethereal Dresses: This light pink hue is definitely wedding-worthy, but at first glance, may be a bit too delicate for everyday wear. A pair of gray tights and a sleek leather bomber jacket will add just the right amount of edginess to this sweet dress. Vera Wang ethereal dress, $250, visit verawang.com for stores.
Photo courtesy of Vera Wang

Melissa Sweet’s Embellished Dresses: Okay, here’s the deal; these sequin-studded gowns are way too much fun to wear only once! I would definitely sport this frock to a cocktail party with black tights and patent-leather stilettos (New Year’s, anyone?). A friendly word of advice to brides eyeing this style: it’s best for smaller bridal parties–think four girls or less. Melissa Sweet embellished dress, $268, visit melissasweet.com for stores
Photo by Luke Walker

Monique Lhuillier’s Bateau-Neck Dresses: I’m addicted to Mad Men, so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw these high-neckline, pencil-skirt dresses hit the bridal scene. Plus–and this is a rare one–after the wedding you can even wear this number to work. Monique Lhuillier bateau-neck dress, $295, visit moniquelhuillier.com for stores.
Photo by Jennifer Davis

Ann Taylor’s Scoop-Neck Dress: What I love about a scoop-neck dress like this one is that you can totally wear a regular bra (your well-endowed bridesmaids will worship you for this), and the straps also make it easier to dress up or dress down. My favorite part? The oh-so-practical pockets, of course! Ann Taylor scoop-neck dress, $215, at anntaylor.com.
Photo courtesy of Ann Taylor

There ya go! Some great new options for bridesmaids dresses that you could wear again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again!

For the orignal article and more from Stylecaster visit: http://www.stylecaster.com/news/5902/bridesmaid-dresses-you-really-can-wear-again

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