Top Dress Trends For Your Bridal Party

InStyle.com recently ran a feature on their top trends for formal dresses.  The list was made up of 13 categories of which we have chosen our favorite examples to share with you.  If you are looking for dress styles that will keep your bridal party (and yourself!) looking classy and current, then take notes...

Kate Beckinsale                                          Eva Mendes                                           Ashley Olsen

The one-shoulder dress is timeless, sophisticated, and looks great on all bust sizes.  The large yet subtle pattern on the printed strapless dress adds a flare that will stand the test of time.  A column gown is sleek, yet best for tall or slender figures.

Vanessa Hudgens                                    Olivia Wilde                                        Anne Hathaway

Rosettes add romance and whimsy, especially when used on soft palette gowns. This ethereal gown in particular is extremely feminine and classy for a bridesmaid or even a bride. Embellished necklines fancy up your bridal party for instant red carpet appeal.

 

Anne Hathaway                                  Taylor Momsen                                       Malin Akerman

Having each of your girls wear a different gown in coordinating primary colors adds a very "Sex-And-The-City" glam to your bridal party. We love this option for a smaller bridal party. More than four girls at the alter in a rainbow of colors will cause too much distraction and theme chaos! 

 

Freida Pinto                                           JoAnna Garcia                                       Carrie Underwood

If you have chosen a mini dress for your bridesmaids, be sure the neckline isn't too revealing to keep their look sophisticated.  If you're going with a floral gown, try a larger, non-repetitive pattern to steer away from the casual "sundress" look.  Metallic bead dresses are a fun reception dress option for you to wear as a reception dress and wow your guests with your wardrobe change!

 

Eva Mendes                                     Olga Kuylenko                                     Cameron Diaz

Retro styles have definitely made a comeback, just be sure your dress selection isn't too costumey. Mermaid dresses are bursting with drama and feminine flair making them perfect for an evening wedding.  Choosing the right color pink for your gals to wear can make or break their entire look.  Too bubblegum, too Pepto, bright... we think that Cameron's selection was right on the money!

Jen 

Blooming With Color

Spring is finally here and color is on the brain... wedding color schemes to be more precise.  Choosing the right colors for your wedding is sometimes one of the bravest decisions you will make as a bride.  You will have to decide what colors will work well with each other, with the venue, on your bridesmaids, for the season and still not take the attention away from you and your groom.  So how DO you decide?

The Perfect Palette

The Perfect Palette Blog is one of my favorite resources for finding, well, the perfect palette!  This blog allows you to search by color to find other colors that go together in blissful harmony.  You will also find inspiration boards with gorgeous pictures from real weddings that feature all of the colors in your scheme.  Can't decide on a color to get you started?  Browse their palette library to search gobs of inspiration boards that are bound to get you on track.

The Perfect Palette

Another great resource is BBJ Linen, or any linen company for that matter, and their virtual design center .  Matching your shades to what is available in linen rentals will help you to pick a shade that is easier to match with other details in your wedding.  Oftentimes you can get sample swatches of your linen colors to have with you when you are picking out paper products, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, jewelry, etc.  No mismatching or clashing colors at your wedding!

BBJ Linen Gallery

Of course, Four Leaf Events loves assisting in color selection and overall design of your big day.  CONTACT US to see what we can create for you!  

Jen

Lucky Wedding Details

Today we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and, as I am sure many of you can guess, my favorite part about today are the four leaf clovers (I'm sporting an excessive 3 today)!  I love the shape of the four leaf clover as a symbol of faith, hope, love, and luck, of which it takes all four to succeed in life.  So why not tie this symbol of good tidings into the day you join in a new life with your groom?  


These details do not have to be "Irish-y" or "St. Patrick's Day-ish" and can be incorporated into your event without it being an overwhelming theme.  A four leaf clover charm can be added to a bouquet, a bracelet or necklace, a garter, or even a bustle.  Cuff-links are a classic way to use four leaf clovers and a special touch if the groom has Irish roots!  Or you could spread the luck to your guests by adding a crafty fabric or real four leaf clover at their place-setting.   

necklace, theknot.com bouquet, etsy.com garter, antique cufflinks

Here's to being lucky in love!

Jen

Top 3 Everlasting Bouquets

With spring around the corner, wedding season will be in full bloom and so will the bouquets. But this season, consider a more quirky, unique bouquet that we like to call "everlasting bouquets," because they last beyond the wedding. Made of nonperishable materials, these are the ultimate keepsakes to remember your special day. Not to mention, they are BEAUTIFUL! Here are my top three favorite kinds of everlasting bouquets.

Shells

These would be perfect for a destination wedding, or perhaps for a bride who just wants to bring an element of the beach to her. Whatever the case, shells are a fantastic touch.

Water Lily Bridal Bouquet, Martha Stewart Shell Bouquet

Feathers

Feathers are an incredibly chic and sassy alternative to flowers. And to keep the bouquet within the everlasting guidelines, try using silk flowers to compliment the feathers rather than fresh flowers.

Feather Bouquets by Emplume, via Modern Wedding

And if you feel that a full feather bouquet is too much for you, use feathers to simply accent your bouquet.

Kelly Lane Photography via Exhale! Events and Design

Brooches

And last, but certainly not least, my favorite kind of everlasting bouquet: the brooch bouquet. It is beautiful, can be tailored to suit a bride specifically, can be sentimental, and did I already say beautiful? Finally, I've found a fantastic use for my great-great-grandmother's old brooches!

Alice Hu Photography via Ruffled

Vintage Brooch Bouquet, How to Vintage Brooch Bouquet

And how about this gorgeous creation? Incorporating fabric flowers, feathers AND garnet brooches! It is, in my opinion, the ultimate, exquisite everlasting bouquet.

Handmade Feather Bouquet with Red Garnet

Flowers are classic. There is no doubt about that. But everlasting bouquets are fun! This is your day, so be creative and do what you want to do! The possibilities are endless.

Jaimee

Fresh Picked Fabric Boutonnieres

While I love the look of the Fred-Astaire-classic floral boutonniere, the modern groom seems to be searching for something less traditional and I am all for it!  Coordinating pocket squares is a rich and simple way to dress up the men in your bridal party without pinning on the garden.  If you love the look of a flower on the lapel, then check out my top pick of fabric boutonnieres featured on Martha Stewart Weddings' Best Boutonnieres Gallery:

Martha Stewart Weddings

If you love these looks and you weren't born with the crafting gene, then our creative services can help!  Contact Four Leaf Events to find out how we can stitch, pin, glue, cut, and sew your visions into fruition.


Looking for something more quirky for your groom?  Then skootch on over to April Foster's blog on unique custom boutonnieres.  (We both so happened to have our brains on the same topic today!)

Jen

2011 Oscars and Upcoming Trends

As the 83rd Academy Awards aired last night, the red carpet was full of glamour and inspiration.  As awards were presented, several trends presented themselves on the carpet and will be sure to influence seasonal fashion.  Jennifer Aniston's infamous braid from the 2009 Oscars comes to mind.

Photo from Fametastic

However, the 2011 Oscars possessed its own set of trends.  So indulge in these beautiful pictures from People's Oscars' fashion recap, which was so kind as to break down the trends for us, and envision yourself pulling these looks off wherever you find yourself this year!

Red was so hot on the red carpet!

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty; Wireimage (3) Via People.com

These women looked beautiful with their hair down and wavy.

Credit: D. Long/Globe; Kevork Djansezian/Getty; Luiz Martinez/Broadimage via People.com

Nude and glitzy gowns wowed viewers.

Credit: John Shearer/Getty; Jason Merritt/Getty; Steve Granitz/WireImage via People.com
Mandy Moore is wearing the Monique Lhuillier gown from her spring/summer collection!!!

These form-fitting gowns were so flattering on these statuesque women.

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty; Jeff Vespa/WireImage; Frazer Harrison/Getty via People.com

Stick straight hair looked sleek and effortless. Although, I must admit, I'm more of a volume girl.

Credit: Gregorio T. Binuya/Everett; Jen Lowery/Splash News Online via People.com

Silver!!!

Credit: Kyle Rover/Startraks; Steve Granitz/WireImage (2) via People.com

The short waves are a nice change from the long, flowing locks we so often see.

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Gilbert Flores/Celebrity Photo via People.com

Purple was simply graceful.

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty (2); Frazer Harrison/Getty via People.com

Emerald earrings were dazzling.

Credit: Jim Smeal/BEImages; Jeff Vespa/WireImage via People.com

And lucky Anne Hathaway had the privilege of having eight outfit changes, and I must say, I didn't necessarily hate any of them!  The white Givenchy Haute Couture bustier dress could most certainly double as a radiant wedding dress!

Photo from OK Magazine

These gorgeous dresses are seen on celebrities, who star in movies, but check back soon to see where you can get the looks for less, and just maybe they'll be starring in your wedding!

Jaimee

Royally Classic

The royal wedding invitations were sent out last Thursday and 1,900 lucky guests around the world are finding their personal copies in the mail this week.  While I am accepting the fact that mine may get lost indefinitely in the mail, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to open that particular piece of mail.  

The grandeur of this simple invitation with beveled and gilded edges (that means it is literally covered in gold, people!) represents something very regal and instantly creates great anticipation for those chosen guests.  Why not take a cue from the royal family and create a wedding invitation that will leave your guests wanting more?  Even though most of us cannot afford to use pure gold on an invitation, there are still many other ways to make yours stand out. 

  

http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/

Paper quality is the number one element for making a good first impression through the mail.  Create your own royal crest by using a custom logo or monogram that will add elite status to your invitations and your entire event.  Remember, mailing addresses and guests' names should always be handwritten and adds that all-important personal touch.  Pick out several lesser valued postal stamps for your mailing envelope for a foreign, vintage feel.

These simple touches will transform any invitation from something basic to something royally classic!

Happy Planning!   Jen