Is a Reception Dress a Must Have or a Must Miss?

Kim Kardashian had one, and chances are you’ve known a bride who has had one. But should you have a second dress to wear at your wedding reception? More than just a matter of cost, it is actually quite a debate.

The arguments against having a second dress are pretty straightforward. You’ve put so much energy into finding the perfect dress, why take it off early? By focusing your attention on choosing one dress, you can have the full budget and time to find a dress that suits both ceremony and reception. It also means that you carry on the same style throughout all the day’s photos.

Those who argue for a second dress do make some compelling points themselves, though. A second dress allows you to choose something far less formal for the evening reception. This can also mean that you don’t need to worry about damaging your wedding gown while you’re eating or dancing. If you are wearing a family gown for the ceremony, a reception dress allows you to show off your own style.

What do you think about brides wearing a second dress? Will you wear one or two dresses on your wedding day? In either case, you’ll need to shop at a fantastic Phoenix bridal salon. Give us a call today to find out more about what we offer!

Photo: Flickr/2Lynda27

Show a Little Leg with These Bridal Styles

As a bride, you want to show off your best assets. While it’s easy to find a gown that highlights your toned arms, it can be more of a challenge to find one that accentuates your stunning legs. It isn’t impossible, though, as these great styles from Moonlight demonstrate.

High-Low Hems

This was one of the big styles on show at New York Bridal Week last month, most notably in Vera Wang’s collection. It’s a great option for the bride who wants freedom for dancing as well as a formal train. This gown features a tiered high-low skirt that offers a full, formal style with a touch of flirtiness.

Slits

A classic way of showing off your legs is with a slit. This is perfect for narrow-lined skirts including straight skirts and fit and flare styles. This style is elegant with a bit of sexiness that is great for a vintage wedding, as it brings to mind classic film starlets. This gown features a scallop-edged slit, giving the design an extra touch of decorative flair.

Short Skirts

Of course, the ultimate way to show off your legs is to choose a short wedding dress. This style is perfect for more casual weddings, destination weddings, or as a reception dress. It is a fun and fabulous style with plenty of variation. This short dress style its above the knee and features a ruffled skirt that gives it the look of a short mermaid style.

To find out more about these and other great leg-highlighting wedding dress styles, come by our Gilbert bridal salon today!

2015 Bridal Trend: Pearl Accents

One of the fabulous trends from New York Bridal Week that we loved was seeing designers using pearl accents. This ranged from embroidering pearls into the designs of gowns to including them as accessory pieces. It’s a very versatile trend, making it a perfect addition to any bride’s wedding day style.

Beaded bodices

The stand-out pearl style on the catwalk was beaded bodices. Ines DiSanto led the way with her “Marlis” dress. You can find similar looks in a variety of collections, including this gorgeous satin trumpet gown with beaded embroidered bodice from Sincerity.

Hair accessories

Another great way to wear pearls on your wedding day is in your hair. Pearls can make a great alternative to crystals in headbands, tiaras, and other hair accessories. This Malis-Henderson wreath offers a beautiful combination of pearl and crystal, giving a soft romance with a bit of sparkle.

Shoes

Pearl details can also be a beautiful addition to shoe styles. Here again, pearls can be used instead of or alongside crystals for a fantastic look. This pair of sandal heels from Coloriffics features a rhinestone and pearl covered t-strap that would look fabulous under any gown.

To find out more ways to include pearls in your wedding style, give us a call or come by our Gilbert bridal salon today!

Stunning Bridesmaids Styles for Your Arizona Wedding

It’s not enough to just find the perfect wedding dress. As a bride, you also have to find the perfect dress for your bridesmaids. This can present many challenges, particularly if your maids have different body shapes or tastes in what they want to wear. Knowing the current trends can help you with your decision. Here are a few of our favorites.

Cut out backs

Dramatic backs are a big trend for brides and the same holds true for bridesmaids. If your maids aren’t up for a backless gown, a cut-out style is a great choice. This shows a little skin while still offering the comfort of coverage. This style from the Dessy Collection is an excellent example of a subtle cut out that would work for any style of wedding.

Belted styles

For long and short gowns, the addition of a belt is a great way to create a beautiful silhouette for any body shape. It also allows you to add a secondary splash of color to your maids’ look. This example from Bill Levkoff is fun and flirty with a layered chiffon skirt and contrasting floral belt.

Grecian-inspired

Grecian styles are a catwalk favorite for bridal designers, and your maids can take the soft, flowing silhouette for their own gowns. Layered chiffon gives a gauzy style that is also very much on-trend. This Liz Fields gown is a fantastic choice for a casual wedding, but would also be great for a more formal affair.

To see our great selection of bridesmaid dresses, give us a call or come by our Gilbert bridal salon today!

Glamorous 1930s Inspired Gowns

New York Bridal Week gave plenty of inspiration for Arizona brides looking for something special for their big day. One of the big trends for the coming year is wedding gowns inspired by the glamor of the 1930s. Think of this trend as the vintage and Gatsby theme growing up into something a bit more elegant and refined.

Sleek satins

The go-to fabric for this trend is definitely satin. With a sleek finish, it offers a refined look with no bulkiness. This Justin Alexander gown is a great example of how charmeuse is used with a bit of bling for a feminine, elegant style.

Deco details

The Art Deco style is a big feature of this trend. Beautiful patterns with a geometric feel are the perfect way to wear the 1930s. Val Stefani uses Swarovski crystals and silver embroidery to reflect an art for art’s sake beauty in this gown.

Cap sleeves

Short sleeve styles are also popular in the 1930s style gowns. Capped sleeves and flutter sleeves are both showing up in many styles, giving a bit of coverage on the shoulder with a fabulous style. The flutter sleeves on this Moonlight gown is a perfect example of the delicate styling of this trend.

The 1930s is a great decade for wedding gown inspiration. To see more vintage-inspired gowns and to find the perfect one for your Arizona wedding, come to our Gilbert bridal salon today! []

Lace Looks for Your Wedding

Vintage weddings have made lace a popular part of many bridal styles. Along with being perfect for vintage looks, lace looks are a graceful and feminine style that can suit many types of wedding.

Many lace styles take inspiration from Kate Middleton’s fabulous wedding dress. One of the newer takes on this look that we love is this gown from Ivoire Los Angeles. With lace sleeves and a delicately detailed lace overlay, it is perfect for a formal wedding.

For a vintage wedding, this Val Stefani gown is an excellent choice. The combination of lace and Swarovski crystals gives a sparkling, beautiful finish to the sweetheart neckline and mermaid silhouette combination gown.

While many lace styles keep it as an accent, this style from Fiore Couture makes the lace the stand-out feature of the wedding gown. With layers of lace creating a gorgeous full skirt, lace sleeves, and a lace illusion neckline, this dress is for the true lover of beatiful and delicate patterns.

Of course, these three gowns are just a few of the many great lace looks that are available to Arizona brides. To find the lace wedding gown that is perfect for you, come by our Gilbert bridal salon today!

The Perfect Something Blue

Even the least traditional brides opt to have something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue for their wedding day. The something blue gives you a chance to be creative and add a bit of fun to your wedding attire.

If you’re shopping for something blue and want it to really make a statement, consider a blue wedding dress. Non-white dresses are a big bridal trend for 2013 and 2014. A pale blue dress is a delicate style, while a deep sapphire tone is an elegant choice.

From L to R: "Zara" from Ivoire by Kitty Chen, "Vera" by Kitty Chen Couture,  "Cinderella" from Ivoire by Kitty Chen. All available at Suzanne's Bridal Boutique.

A white dress can be accented with blue, too. A sash is the perfect way to add a splash of color while still wearing white. Sashes are available in a wide range of colors, and can suit many different styles of gown.

Our seamstress, Suzanne, added the blue accents to this gown by Moonlight Bridal.

Of course, there are many more ways to wear your something blue. Blue accessories are great for many brides. Blue shoes can be a fun way to add color to your outfit, while blue jewelry can be a classic choice.

Blue bows accent this satin heel from Dyeables by Benjamin Walk. Available at Suzanne's Bridal Boutique.

To find your perfect wedding dress, and your perfect something blue, come by our Gilbert bridal salon today!

Who Pays for Bridesmaid Dresses?

Whether you have two or twenty bridesmaids, they’ll each need to get a dress for your big day. One thing many brides wonder about is whether they have to pay for all the dresses, or if the bridesmaids themselves will pay for the dresses.

There isn’t a set rule about who pays, but in general the bridesmaids will pay for their own dresses. Of course, if you have the wedding budget for these dresses, too, your bridesmaids probably won’t object to you paying!

Because you’re asking for them to pay for the dresses, you should allow them some input on the style and price. If you think that a bridesmaid will have problems paying for her dress, you can discuss this privately and work out a solution, such as paying in installments, or splitting the cost between you.

Allowing your bridal party to choose their own dresses can also be a great solution. They can find something that suits their body type and their budget.

For more tips about choosing bridesmaid dresses, get in touch with us or come by our Gilbert bridal boutique today!

Getting the Perfect 1920s Wedding Style

Many brides come to us wanting to know how to get the perfect Gatsby-inspired look for their wedding day. It’s a popular choice and one that really is elegant. Here are a few of our top tips for the perfect 1920s wedding style.

• Sleek silk dresses are a great choice for this style. The goal here is to replicate the silent film stars of the era. Look for V-neck styles, deeply plunging backs, and a soft sheen for an authentic look. Lace accents can also give your gown a touch of vintage glamour.
• Ivory, blush, and bisque tones are often better than white. While silvery white can be used, the antique style of off-white tones can give a more period look to your gown.
• Headpieces are a big part of the look. As you shop for your dress, also consider what you’ll wear on your head. Low caps, veils, and headbands are all perfect choices.
• Channel your inner flapper for a more casual style. If your wedding is more focused on the Prohibition-era parties, look for a dress that brings the flapper style back. For this you’ll want a short dress, with fringe, frills, or other touches that really give your gown some motion.

If you’re planning a 1920s style wedding, come to our Gilbert bridal boutique. We can help you find the perfect gown for your Gatsby-inspired wedding day.