Recently in Fashion Category

Amie Fidangue recently married the love of her life in Stockton, CA. She chose Dessy Group bridesmaid dresses in gorgeous orange crush and was generous enough to share the beauty of her day with us.

"I knew what I wanted for bridesmaid dresses and when I found Dessy.com that was it! Orange Crush Shautaung silk it was! We ordered the Dessy dresses from local bridal boutiques and used Dessy.com to order the men and ringbearer ties as well as fabric to make the sash on the flower girl dress ring and pillow. I wore the ballet slippers from Dessy to complete my look."

To find your own perfect Dessy Group color coordinated look, visit Dessy.com. There you can view our Pantone Wedding color coordinating tools, create your own wedding website and organize your guest list, budget, vendors and invites using the many wedding planning tools while finding that perfect bridesmaid dress.
Images by Correa Photography

Claudia Hanlin & Jennifer Zabinski have just launched a fantastic new online store. TheWeddingLibraryStore.com will be offering collections from the top bridesmaids dress designers including Amsale, Thread, Cynthia Rowley and Lela Rose.The posh online shop is celebrating it's launch with 15% site-wide savings through Sept 1st.

Today I've brought you some Friday real wedding inspiration to float you into your weekend! I love this wedding because it is full of cute little surprises. Beyond the obvious beauty of the bride, the decor and the venue, they've added a kissing booth with camera to record all the love at their big day. And they've also set up an old fashioned type writer for guests to leave them a love note. The simple and calming colors, the wispy flowers....ah, Love. 

A couple of weeks ago I introduced you to one of The Dessy Group's newest must have accessories-the Pashmina. It is a perfect gift for your bridesmaids, or even to yourself, as they are stylish far beyond your wedding day. Our good friends at GetMarried.com recently produced this fun video to show you many of the different and trendy ways to wear your Pashmina. To choose your favorite color check out the Pashmina selections on Dessy. Yay!

I am so thrilled to announce that The Dessy Group has a new and exciting partnership with top American fashion designer Cynthia Rowely to produce Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids, an exclusive collection of designer bridesmaid dresses!

The lovely new dresses will include tulle skirts, drop-waist silhouettes, floor and tea lengths in gorgeous fabrics such as duchess satin and cotton sateen. "We wanted to bring a chic sensibility to bridesmaids dresses-a look that is pretty yet sophisticated," said Cynthia Rowley.

These gorgeous gowns are perfect for both day and evening weddings as well as long after the reception. "Rowley's modern silhouettes and rich fabrics are complemented by our signature array of color choices, and are sure to be a centerpiece of any wedding celebration," said Alan Dessy, chief executive officer of The Dessy Group.

The Cynthia Rowley collection will be available in all of your favorite colors. Visit the PANTONE Wedding section on Dessy where you can choose from more colors than you can imagine! You can also find color swatches, a helpful pocket sized color guide, online inspiration boards and an inspiration style board gallery. In late Spring of 2010 you will be able to include Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids collection in your personal board.

The Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids collection will be available in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia beginning this June. Visit here for more details. I can hardly wait!

Looking for bridesmaid dresses that are ultra modern, yet elegant, and come in fabulous PANTONE colors? The Dessy Delight this week has got you covered. The Dessy Collection by Vivian Diamond carries beautiful, fun and flirty designs that you will love. And did I mention so many colors?!

Pick your dress and favorite shades, then go to the PANTONE Wedding section on Dessy. You can take your color palette and create beautiful inspiration boards to share with all of your vendors, family and friends. Check out the inspiration style board gallery to get inspired! 

To continue with my Dessy Delight of the week highlights, I want to let you in on The Dessy Group's newest addition to your bridesmaid's essentials. Silk and wool blend pashmina shawls have just been added to our collection. There's no better way to stay on trend and let your bridesmaids show off some individual style than by having them choose their fave colored pashmina to keep them cozy and hip on your big day. They come in all of your favorite colors and their wear-ability goes way beyond your wedding day. Nice. 

The Dessy Group and The Wedding Library of NYC have teamed up to offer you an additional location to help you find your perfect bridesmaid dresses. The Lela Rose 2010 Bridesmaid collection can now be found at the new The Wedding Library of NYC and Dessy site. Styles that are filled with lovely feminine ruffles, flowers and so many colors-you'll have a great time while finding the perfect style and hue for your girls.  Lela Rose Bridesmaid focuses on designer caliber detailing and fabrication while being whimsical and innovative. Also, visit the Dessy site to sign up for Lela Rose updates. Have fun finding your favorite dresses!
 

I have to give kudos to Stephanie Fay Photography for these real wedding inspiration and images. As you can guess, I love and, well, am obsessed with all styles of weddings, but right now I am dreaming of sunshine and happy warm breezes. This backdrop of a DIY wood frame and bright yellow dresser accented with perfect flowers made me want to plan another wedding for myself! I had to share. Thanks bvweddings for featuring the lovely post that inspired this one.

Dessy + Perfect Palette= Love! The Perfect Palette has teamed up with Dessy to offer you the 'Most Loved' Wedding Inspiration Board Contest. And there are 4 more chances to win!! Just as exciting as the prizes is the opportunity to share your inspiration style board in the new style board gallery. Every week for the next 4 weeks Perfect Palette will be choosing one lucky winner who'll receive $200 in Dessy essentials.

Winners will receive:

• The Pantone Wedding Color Guide valued at $35.00. Use the guide to help coordinate your perfect wedding color palette

• $60.00 worth of Pantone Swatch Cards

• $90.00 worth of fabric in your chosen colors

• And we're throwing in a quilted clutch worth $15 

To enter simply go to the Dessy website and create your own inspiration style board using a minimum of 5 PANTONE colors, and one Dessy product. Once you're finished, visit Perfect Palette and leave a comment including the link to your board, your email, and a brief explanation of the colors you chose, and the vision behind your inspiration board.

Winners will need to be in the 'most loved' category in the Dessy Gallery so we encourage you to use the share on Facebook feature to show your board some love. For more details go to Perfect Palette. A winner will be chosen every Friday for the next 4 weeks.

It's time to introduce my new weekly special-The Dessy Delight of the Week! There are simply too many great Dessy Group lovelies to list in one post so I'll be letting you in on all the must haves each week so you don't miss a thing!

This week I'd like to introduce you to the After Six Collection. Bridesmaid dresses so gorgeous and in so many colors and styles I have no doubt you'll find the right one for your ladies. The best part? No more closets full of worn once bridesmaid gowns-these dresses are so stylin' that they'll want to wear them way beyond your wedding day.

Check out these and more After Six styles at Dessy. You'll also find helpful tools such as the new Dessy Pantone color fan guide to coordinate your wedding colors to perfection, make your unique style inspiration board, and lots of other goodies. Stay tuned for more highlights next week, when I promise to give you your next dose of all things Dessy!

As I'm sure you've heard..ehem :) Dessy and Pantone have partnered up to offer all the colors under the rainbow and the fancy tools to help coordinate them perfectly into your wedding. The new pocket sized Fan Guide is now available as well as larger swatch cards which you can take with you to perfectly match every aspect of your wedding. From your dresses, accessories, flowers and decor just pick your favorite Pantone color, receive your guide or swatch cards in the mail and you're off to the perfect start to all your wedding planning!

One lucky bride recently took advantage of some of these gorgeous PANTONE colors to match her dresses, accessories and decor. Denise Holman made a great choice coordinating with the color marigold to make her day bright and beautiful!

Denise tells us, "I am a person who has always known what she wants. When I made my mind up that I wanted our 2009 Fall wedding color scheme to be mustard, charcoal grey, and ivory, I searched long and far for the perfect mustard color. After browsing through the Dessy website, I came across the color "marigold". After receiving the pantone cards in the mail, I was thrilled! I called my bridesmaids immediately and told them each I had finally found the perfect color and they had to order their bridesmaids dresses as quickly as possible! I was so happy I had finally found the perfect shade of yellow for our wedding-not too bright but not too dark! I was able to use the pantone cards to purchase matching wedding reception decorations and to show my florist. They were really helpful throughout the planning process!"

Here are some inspiring pictures I want to share with you of Denise and her now husband Stuart's lovely wedding.

photography by Jessica Fike Photography

Visit Dessy to start coordinating with all your favorite colors and be sure to tell me your Dessy dress story!

When it comes to outfitting the littlest members of your wedding party, the cuteness is in the details!  I wanted to share this adorable boys clip bow tie and this little man bella satin zip neck tie from Dessy. So sweet!

  Your cute little man also has a very important job. When he presents your sparkle why not do it uniquely? I found this great DIY ring bearer pillow made from fluffy green mums at mydiywedding.com.

  Another unique presentation from MyJeanM.com is this silver rose ring box. Love it!

And these custom made pillows from The You*Nique Boutique are hand sewn using your selections of satin fabrics, ribbons, flowers and details.

  Don't forget to thank your little helper after the big day. Some great gift ideas can be found at goweddinggifts.com. They have everything from personalized baseball bats to harmonicas and piggy banks. Have fun thanking and decking out your little man!

Join Dessy Group on Facebook!

The Dessy Group has a new fan page and we want you! Become a fan and enter to receive a free DESSY PANTONE WEDDING color eco-tote. Due to popular demand we have just extended our offer to include the first 1000 fans. Click here for the tote offer.

As a fan be prepared for new contests in the new year!

Also, check out the new Pantone Wedding 2010 Color Guide, the essential wedding color planning tool, now available for pre-order at $35 (includes a free color promotional tote while supplies last.)

Need more inspiration for your wedding? Visit PANTONE WEDDING where you can make your own free digital inspiration board, and share your designs with friends & family.

Looking for the perfect bridesmaid dresses? Look no further! The Wedding Library is now the Exclusive Lela Rose retailer for New York City. The Wedding Library is an innovative research boutique created especially for the bride-to-be. At the Library, not only can brides find dresses for their wedding, they can also hire a wedding planner, purchase products and research vendors with their mothers, bridesmaids, fiances and friends.

I recently spoke with Claudia Hanlin of The Wedding Library and she gave me some insight on this exciting development.  "'I met Lela Rose when she was a guest speaker at our annual bridal event, The Wedding Party. Since then I've been hoping to work with her -- I am delighted that we are now representing her eponymous bridesmaid dress line."

To contact The Wedding Library for your perfect dresses go to The Dessy Group for all the details. Also, to keep up to date on all at The Wedding Library be sure to check out their blog at www.weddinglibrarybuzz.blogspot.com.

 

If you're lucky enough to have a Christmas wedding coming up or are planning one for next year, well, I'm jealous! There is so much you can do to make a winter holiday wedding absolutely gorgeous, and the best part is you may already have some of the decorations in your holiday storage closet!

For your wedding and reception venue pull out your festive wreaths and decorate with twinkling white lights and soft fluffy red bows.

 photo by Maurice Photo

Decorate your tables with tiny Christmas ornaments along with wrapping your wedding favors in tiny adorable gift boxes. And for your wedding bouquet? Vibrant poinsettias of course!

I found these absolutely amazing Christmas and winter themed wedding cakes at Colettes Cakes. Almost too good to eat!

For wedding and bridesmaid dresses that will bring out the season try a faux fur shrug over these After Six, Dessy, and Sandals Destinations dresses from Dessy. You can mix and match the colors to get the perfect mix of red and green or any combination that says 'My Christmas Wedding!' to you.

Need more ideas? Instead of clinking glasses, your guests could hold up mistletoe; put flickering candles surrounded by sprigs of holly on your tables; use favorite Christmas carols for your wedding music; give candy canes wrapped in ribbons with your names on them.

Bottom line with a Christmas wedding? Have fun, be creative and don't be shy with bright colors and traditional decorations-everyone loves them! 

If you're having a holiday wedding leave a comment with your decorating ideas!

Christmas wedding reception photos by Nonantum Resort

Congratulations to Ann R.! Because of Ann's fab Dessy-Pantone Inspiration Style board, she just won $500 in Dessy Accessories from The Dessy Group! Please see One Wed for the details and to find out more about this months new contest-enter your style board to win!

Congratulations Cassie, you are the chosen winner of The Dessy Group's inspiration style board contest! Check out Weddingchicks for the details. I am posting your winning board here to inspire other brides-to-be to use Dessy and PANTONE's personalized style boards to help plan their perfectly color coordinated wedding. What a beautiful and creative board, thanks Cassie! And thank you Weddingchicks!

Today is the last day to enter the Dessy Group $500 giveaway! All you have to do is create your own wedding inspiration style board with the help of Dessy and Pantone. Get those creative juices flowing and be sure to use at least one Dessy product. See the last winning inspiration board above to get some great ideas. How do you enter you ask? Quickly go to weddingchicks.com for all the details and links to enter your fine board. Hurry! 

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! I wanted to start off this festive holiday season with one of the most important items to prepare for your wedding. It's pretty well known that we girls LOVE our accessories. We have the talent to take that neutral color dress and mix it up a bit with some gorgeous, personalized accessories to make it beautifully ours. From admired pearls to quirky and unique hairpieces, and ballet flats to the must have handbag, they each bring your own elegance to your wedding day.

There's something so simply beautiful about pearls. They have become a tradition for a reason after all! I found these perfectly pair-able Pearl Deco Drop Earrings and 16 inch Freshwater Pearl Necklace at Dessy.

Also at Dessy are these glam Wedding Ballet Flats and the necessary Iridescent Taffeta Quilted Clutch Handbag. Both come in as many colors as you can dream up! These are great to add to your Dessy and Pantone personalized Inspiration Board.

These flower creations from Etsy make me forget the looming winter and remember the warmth of spring. The hair accessories and pins are perfect for your wedding any time of year. Loving the colors!

I hope these ideas help to inspire you to find the right creative touches for you and your wedding party. It's all in the details girls, now start accessorizing!

 

 The perfect day: charming, sweet, full of love and friends and family. The long awaited wedding day bliss.

But, to get to this day, we've got some work to do! How do you feel about a helping hand of $500? Interested? Read on!

It's easy to get a bit overwhelmed at the thought of organizing it all. Wedding shoes, wedding jewelry, that perfect wedding dress, choosing the wedding color palettes, accessories, menswear, wedding shoes-flip flops or should it be flats or a heal? So many choices can be so confusing.

Well, it's Dessy and Pantone to the rescue!

As I'm sure you've heard, Dessy has partnered with Pantone to help you create your personalized and oh-so-perfect inspiration board. Click here to see what all of the fuss is about. These unique boards help to show off your favorite colors, styles and photos. After making the perfect match to your personality, you can share them with your wedding party and vendors via email, or even post them on your own wedding website or blog. Also, coordinate your colors with Pantone Color Swatches that you can leave with your bridesmaids, florist, wedding planner & more. How great is that?!

Aren't convinced of the power of the inspiration board? Have a look at the Dessy and Pantone Wedding Inspiration Board contest winner, Alexis', beautiful board:

 

So, about that $500? The exciting news is there is another contest underway. The next inspirational board contest winner will receive $500 credit towards any wedding accessories you can dream up. You can enter through weddingchics and oncewed. The deadline is November 27th, 2009 so get those creative juices flowing and enter as many times as you would like.

In just a few easy inspirational board steps you can put your mind at ease knowing that all is well in your personal wedding planning land. Now, if they'd just figure out how to stop uncle Joe from dancing on the reception tables....

The Dessy Twist dress can be wrapped in countless ways from a classic Grecian column to a sexy strapless style, just change the wrap to change the look. The Twist dress will provide your bridesmaids with endless wearable options, with a choice of cocktail length or full length in 12 popular colors. Your bridesmaid dresses can match or be as unique as each one of your bridesmaids, and they can easily change their style from the ceremony to the reception.

Designed in luxurious, hand washable matte jersey, this convertible dress packs well and is ideal for destination weddings, or even your honeymoon. The Twist wrap dress gives you a chance to design your own dress, for a different style every night of your trip.

Watch the Twist dress video to learn how to tie your wrap dress for any occasion.

A beach or destination wedding offers amazing seaside vistas of brilliant blues and soft sands, and are perfect for a relaxed, informal event. Your dress may be airy and flowing made from lightweight fabrics like silk or charmeuse designed by Sandals Destination Bridal or Demetrios. Your flowers may be peonies, hydrangea or orchids in sunset hues of orange, yellow, pink or purple and accented with grasses or berries. And your jewelry may consist of multiple strands of organic elements like pearl, shell, turquoise or coral. If so, the perfect complement to your breezy, beach wedding attire would be soft, wavy curls worn all or half down and accented with fresh blooms.

A classic wedding is defined by timeless decor with traditional and refined elements. Your dress may be a simple a-line made from silk or satin with understated detailing from a designer such as Jenny Lee or the Vineyard Collection by Priscilla of Boston. Your flowers may be roses or calla lilies in a soft peach, pink, cream or white. And your jewelry may consist of a simple pearl strand or a delicate crystal pendant or stud earrings. If so, the perfect complement to your classic style wedding attire would be an elegant, polished updo with a pearl or crystal accent such as a tiara or comb; and a simple, sheer veil.

Fresh Greens: A grass or pear green may seem like an unusual choice for a wedding color, but when paired with a vibrant pink, fiery orange, pale purple, sunny yellow or even a virgin white, it becomes the perfect accent for the modern wedding. Look to bouquets for color inspiration - fuchsia peonies accented with grass green berries, lime green button poms mixed with orange calla lilies, fresh green hydrangeas paired with lilac roses and green and white cymbidium orchids.

Metallics: Gold or Platinum will add a glamorous sparkle to any modern wedding. Whether you prefer the warm tint of gold or the silvery shine of platinum you can add a touch of elegance or drama to your wedding decor. If you prefer gold - pair with a petal pink, pear green or ivory for an elegant flare; or try a deep wine red, espresso or marine blue for a dramatic flare. If you prefer platinum - pair with lavender, Tiffany blue or pale yellow for a touch of elegance; or try a clover green, fuchsia or deep orange for some drama.

Robin's Egg Blue: The perfect way to add the "something blue" to your wedding. This turquoise shade of blue can easily create either a trendy or classic palette, depending on what colors it is paired with. For a trendy palette, choose a bold yellow or orange for a complementary accent; or a similar shade of blue or green for a monochromatic theme. For a classic feel, choose a formal color such as black or espresso and ivory; or for an elegant twist, pair with platinum or gold.

Deep Browns: An espresso or chocolate brown is a great neutral for a modern wedding. Dark brown pairs well with a wide range of colors and looks great against a pop of saturated color. For a bold statement, pair with a vibrant orange, pink or lime green. For a more traditional pairing, choose a cream or wheat. And for a touch of glam, add a shiny gold accent. 

PRESS RELEASE - The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists, an international organization of drycleaners who specialize in gown cleaning, restoration, and preservation, has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offer brides the option of carbon-neutral gown cleaning and preservation. "More brides than ever are concerned about their carbon footprints," Kermit Engh, Association president, said, "and brides now can ensure the beauty of their wedding gowns and help safeguard the planet's future, too."

"Carbonfund.org, the leading nonprofit carbon offset and climate solutions organization, has calculated the carbon dioxide emissions generated by cleaning and preserving wedding gowns," said Engh, "and brides can make a donation through members of the Association to offset them. We asked Carbonfund.org to estimate everything from the bride's trip to and from the cleaner to the cleaning procedures to the wedding chest's manufacture. Then we increased the total still more to be certain the bride's donation will account for the carbon footprint no matter what solvent our Association member uses or how far the bride has to travel. The donation included in the price of our ZeroCarbonTM wedding gown preservations assures the bride her preservation will be truly carbon-neutral, and 100 percent of her donation goes to Carbonfund.org." (ZeroCarbonTM is a trademark of Carbonfund.org.)

Eric Carlson, Carbonfund.org president, said, "We are excited to work with the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists to spread the message that global warming affects all of us, and we can all be part of the solution by reducing and offsetting our carbon footprint. The ZeroCarbonTM wedding gown preservations are an important and innovative way for any bride to protect her gown while helping the environment and supporting the highest quality carbon reduction projects in the world."

Donations to Carbonfund.org support global renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. All Carbonfund.org projects are independently verified to the highest certification standards. The nonprofit organization provides individual and business offsetting options. Brides who are interested in calculating the entire wedding's carbon footprint can find a carbon calculator at www.carbonfund.org/weddings or at WeddingWire.com, a wedding planning website that has integrated Carbonfund.org's carbon calculator.

Members of the Association, a not-for-profit trade group with members in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America also work to reduce carbon emissions by recycling, conserving energy, and, in general, setting standards to protect the environment. Brides can find the nearest specialist at the Association's website www.WeddingGownSpecialists.com. Each member honors the preservation guarantee of every other member, which includes taking the gown out of the container and pressing it at no charge when the gown is to be worn again. More than 70 specialty gown designers and manufacturers recommend the Association's preservations, which are also Endorsed by the Association of Bridal Consultants, the organization dedicated to wedding professionals worldwide.

Stay up-to-date on new additions to the Dessy, After Six, Alfred Sung and Lela Rose bridesmaid dress collections, as well as Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. And get the latest news about bridesmaid dress styles and colors, wedding & bridesmaid accessories and bridesmaid gifts. Follow The Dessy Group on Twitter.

The Joe Fresh spring '09 collection offers mix 'n match, classic pieces such as trouser jeans, cardigans, shirt dresses and flats at wallet-friendly prices. Flip through the Joe Fresh top trends; or check out their mix 'n match tool where you can design an outfit, see how much it will cost and then post it to your Facebook page.

With over 30 years experience in the fashion industry, Joe Fresh's creative director Joe Mimran; along with his brother Saul Mimran, and Alfred Sung are responsible for developing luxury fashion brands including Alfred Sung and Club Monaco.

This spring Joe Fresh also launched Joe Fresh Beauty, a professional quality line of cosmetics, brushes and accessories at their familiar affordable prices. And Joe Fresh Beauty is on the road offering free makeovers and beauty tips. For beauty inspiration, find a beauty tour stop near you or get insider beauty tips online from Joe Fresh stylists on the hottest beauty trends.

Dessy in new Bridesmaids Dress Designer Folio

Click here for video: La Vie of Lela Rose

Alfred Sung, world-renown designer, has been creating wedding apparel since 1992. He launched his first wedding inspired fragrance, Alfred Sung Forever, back in 1993.
Now, he has a new wedding fragrance called Always Alfred Sung. This perfume was inspired by the elegance and style of Grace Kelly's classic wedding. Sung describes the scent  "... like a colorful bouquet built around orris, the most unique ingredient of my palate." Other notes are of water lily, neroli, kumquat, pink peony, honeysuckle, sandalwood and patchouli. The large U.S. rollout is scheduled for this fall, but will be available this fall at Elizabeth Arden's Manhattan flagship store.

Alfred Sung is known for his attention to details with classic styles that can make anyone look like a queen. His beautiful and elegant bridesmaid dresses are available here. There are many different styles and colors to choose from, so any bride can have the world's most stunning bridesmaids. For his wedding dresses and more information about his wedding line, visit the Alfred Sung Wedding Site.

Source - Women's Daily Wear, March 20, 2009

When you are trying to get ideas for your wedding, look to the past for a little inspiration. There are so many different eras chock full of different ideas and styles, its easy to find something you like and can incorporate into your own wedding.

If you are having trouble picking out colors, look at vintage posters and advertisements for ideas. Like this vintage railroad poster advertising travel to the Mediterranean. The combination of blues, oranges and yellows, is a great Art Deco combo that works just as well today as it did 70 years ago.

                                             Poster photo from Pop Art Iconix available for purchase here.


Another great sample of color and style are these prints by Amy of Old Sweet Song. She incorporates different ideas and styles from US locations that can inspire anybody, anywhere.



                                                                                         Photos taken from OnceWed.

Think about what era you find most beautiful and gather ideas from that.
What era/style do you think has the most appeal for brides?

March 20th marks the first day of spring, which is great news to anyone living in a cold climate (especially us in New England!) Spring weddings are joyous and bright, celebrating growth and birth. Naturally, the colors of a spring wedding tend to be pastels, pink, yellow, blue, lavender and green. There are many ways to incorporate spring into your wedding with flowers. Daffodils, tulips and calla lilies are good examples, while hyacinths, magnolias and lilacs add color and a beautiful scent. Wedding times in the afternoon, when it is the warmest, make for a nice outdoor wedding, but have a back up plan for those "April showers." Food for a spring wedding could reflect the season with "baby" vegetables (carrots, asparagus, haricot verts, new potatoes.) Sweets can also reflect the season with colorful and beautiful seasonal fruits like strawberries. Petits fours can also be customized to match your color scheme and taste.

However, the best way to welcome spring into your wedding is through you and your bridal parties attire. Recently seen in the Martha Stewart wedding blog, The Bride's Guide, as pictured above, are the beautiful bridesmaid and flower girl dresses from Vivian Diamond for the Dessy Group. These dresses are invocative of spring with their bright pink color and clean, simple lines. Find more bridesmaid dresses here.

One important member of your wedding party that is often overlooked is the flower girl. Maybe it's the thought that spring is almost here, but lets look at what you can do to make your flower girl an essential part of your bouquet.

A flower girl is a traditional part of a wedding, a girl four to eight years old that the bride or groom knows or is related to, who walks down the aisle right after the bridesmaids. The flower girl (and ring bearer) usually contribute a fair amount of cuteness and levity to the ceremony.
A good rule is to have one of your bridesmaids look after your little flower girl. It is one less thing that you need to worry about. Make sure that they will dress them (if necessary,) tend to them during the ceremony and then get them back to their parents. Having a "buddy" for your flower girl will help calm her down and make things go a lot smoother.

What should your flower girl wear? A flower girls dress should mimic the bridesmaid dresses. The colors should coordinate and the style should be age appropriate. Longer dresses will be easier for older girls. Here are some really cute dresses that can easily be coordinated with bridesmaid dresses.   

When it comes down to it, your flower girl will add something special to your wedding. If you cant choose between 2 or 3 girls, put them all in! But make sure you don't get too hung up on making sure everything is perfect. Give your flower girl room to grow, and if she makes a mistake, your guests will think it is adorable. 

For the first installment of the web series, Here comes the groom! we are going to look at fashion. Traditionally, the bride will do most of the wedding planning, simply because its not what men are in to. But I'm sure most brides would love to get a helping hand from their groom (a guided helping hand, that is!) The key to getting your man involved is putting things in terms he understands. Most men are not going to be interested in things like which flowers go with which or what type of china to serve the wedding cake on, but most men these days know something about fashion. If you have your dress picked out, and your wedding location, get him involved in picking out what he and his groomsmen are going to wear. There are so many options beyond a traditional tux! Think about your wedding location and your own attire and choose styles that are appropriate. Work within those parameters to help your groom pick what he likes. 

Give him popular men's magazines, like GQ and Maxim, and have him pick out outfits or special touches that he likes. Collect all of these ideas into an outfit for him and the groomsmen that you can both agree on.

Take him shopping! Popular culture has given us the idea that men absolutely hate shopping, but what if he is the focus? Take him to higher end men's stores (think Bergdorf Goodman) and have him try on things that he likes. That gives both of you the opportunity to see what works and what doesn't.

Brides, how did you get your groom involved in picking out his outfit?

One of the hottest styles right now is the wrap dress. Reminiscent of a sari, but with the sophistication of Marilyn Monroe, the Twist dress is versatile and comfortable. This dress works great as a bridesmaid dress, because it can be altered to fit any body type but still have the same color and look. Traditionally bridesmaids buy their own dress, and this dress will eliminate and complaining because they can wear it again and again. When you see your bridesmaids in this dress you will want one of your own to wear on your honeymoon!

The Twist dress is available in short and long versions, each with 12 different color choices. It is also available in sizes from x-small to 2X and comes with an online style ebook so you have lots of immediate styles to choose from, and inspirations for your own creations. Its simple and fun to choose what style you want to wear today. Here are just a few ways to wear the Twist dress:

Lela Rose, renowned wedding dress designer, has released a line of dyeable shoes and coordinating handbags at Payless. Her line, called Unforgettable Moments by Lela Rose, allows buyers to try on shoes at any Payless, pick a color in the store, and order the shoes right there. The dyeing and shipping costs are FREE and you pick up the shoes back in the store in under 2 weeks. Dyeable shoes are usually a really expensive and time-consuming purchase only available in specialty stores, but Lela Rose had now made them affordable and accessible. The shoes are also available in kid's sizes which are great for flower girls and even for other special events like proms and sweet sixteen parties.

Lela Rose, who outfitted Jenna Bush's bridesmaids, has a designer look without breaking the bank. Get your Lela Rose bridesmaid dresses here and your coordinating shoes at any Payless.

 

Taking photographs is an essential (and obvious) element to every wedding. But not all photographs have to be traditional.

John Michael Cooper, a Las Vegas photographer is doing what he calls "Trash the Dress." Cooper started a wave of non-traditional photographs of the bride in gritty locations doing things that most brides would never dream of doing, like splashing in fountains or playing a sport. Obviously these photos are taken after the wedding, when the condition and cleanliness of the dress is not so much of an issue. Most married couples have pictures of themselves with their wedding party, but if the bride and groom are huge football fans, wouldn't it be more memorable to have a picture of the wedding party playing football with the bride catching a touchdown ball? Some brides would be horrified to get their dress dirty, but after the wedding is over, you get to put the dress back on and have some fun! Unconventional photographs can give a bride and groom the chance to express themselves on one of the most important days of their lives.   

Everyone across the world had their eyes on Michelle Obama's inaugural attire last month. Its simple to incorporate her style into your own wedding and bridesmaid's dresses. Think simplicity. Use classic styles to accentuate your best features. An uncomplicated wedding dress, paired with complimentary bridesmaid dresses gives your entire wedding an air of elegance, worthy of a First Lady.

What made Michelle Obama's inaugural gown special was its modern take on a classic design. When thinking about your own dress, consider where your wedding will be held, the time of year, and most importantly, styles that you like. Choosing the right dress for the right occasion is very important. There are so many styles to choose from, but going back to the basics will make it not seem so complicated. Michelle Obama's style is accessible, combining classic elements with modern touches and that is what makes her so popular.

When considering your own wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, remember that your style sets the tone of the wedding. What better way to shine than with a simple and elegant gown worn with confidence.

When you're picking dresses out for your bridesmaids, you have a lot of things to consider.  From the colors and prices of the dresses, the last thing you might find yourself thinking about is whether or not the dresses will flatter the figures of your dearest ladies.  But shouldn't this be something to consider?  Shouldn't the most important ladies in your life look their best on your big day, too?  Posing this question yields a follow-up question that leaves many answerless:  Is there a type of dress that flatters all kinds of body shapes?

Certainly your lady-friends aren't all equipped with the same kind of body.  Bless your heart if they are, but since this is improbable, finding a dress that will flatter everyone is important.

A-line dresses tend to flatter all figures the best.  They'll look good on your thin friends but trim down your larger friends.  One tip most professionals offer is to dress for the biggest girl.  As in, find a style of dress that flatters the biggest girl first and foremost.  Girls with trimmer figures will more than likely look good in more kinds of dresses than bigger girls.  

Separates are also a great idea for your bridesmaids.  Allowing them to mix and match all sorts of styles will yield a more flattering fit for everyone.  

Outside of the shape of the dress, it's safe to assume that darker colors are more flattering to just about everyone.  They make everyone look smaller.  My advice is to find a dark color that matches your wedding theme and go with that.  

A clever retailer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ms. Kristin Carlson
of Bridal Elegance has crafted a quantity of Dessy's Eco-friendly, polypropylene totes into a wearable dress.

Lela Rose is featured on the InStyle Weddings Magazine blog today.

Are you trying to figure out the perfect wedding hairdo?  This can get a little complicated if you're planning on having a wedding in a humid climate, particularly a beach wedding.  

If you'll be having an outdoors wedding that might make keeping sleek and straight hair an impossibility, you might as well shoot for a wavy style.  Beach wedding hairstyles especially can be difficult to get just right.  

The key to getting the perfect wavy style like the one in the picture is to use curling irons of all sized for the hair.  Spritz each section both before and after it is curled. 

Pull the curled hair up by twisting each piece separately and pinning it up.  You might want to take a large chunk of hair and pin it into a loose bun.  If you want a casual and soft look, pull a few pieces down around the face.  

For a finishing touch that will be pretty and elegant, consider adding in a silk flower near the bun in the back of the hair.  

So before you put your destination wedding plans aside because you're apprehensive about the climate and your look, keep in mind that there are ways to achieve a beautiful look without staying inside.  

If you're ready to find the perfect diamond, you probably already know that you're going to have to spend a lot of time researching.  While this may not be a mystery at all, how to go about doing this research can certainly be mind-boggling.

Not sure where to start?  Here are some tips.  

Know Your Budget

Sure, we all wish we could have P-Diddy's budget for diamonds, but the fact of the matter is that most of us don't (and god bless your heart if you do).  What you need to do instead is find a way to pinpoint the finest diamond that your budget can afford.  The price of a diamond is going to depend on the combination it has of the four Cs:  Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat.  The good news?  Diamonds don't depreciate, so your investment will be lasting.

Know The Facts

Most couples tend to spend around $2,000 on a diamond engagement ring.  However, few of them are educated in the four Cs.  Make sure that you know all about these diamond characteristics before you make your purchase.  

Know Your Style

The style of a diamond should certainly express your personality.  After all, there are so many different styles of diamonds to choose from, you should be able to find something that you truly connect with.  Make sure the ring is tried on before purchase.

Note to grooms to be:  You may not want to be quick to buy a ring.  Consider proposing without a ring, all romance aside.  Lets face it, most women can pick items like jewelry out for themselves much better than you can.  You don't want to spend loads of time trying to find the perfect ring and then be wrong, do you?

Also:

*Buy from only reputable jewelers! 

*Get the ring appraised to verify all facts on your bill of sale.  

Getting a wedding dress to fit you perfectly is crucial, but that doesn't make it easy, per se.  Some women struggle with finding their perfect dress for the big day and a lot of that struggle comes down to not know what to look for.  

Questions to keep in mind:

1.  What kind of body shape do you have?  

2.  What kind of fabrics work best for you?

3.  What kind of colors work best for you?

4.  What are your favorite current styles?

5.  Do you have a trustworthy friend who you can bring shopping with you?

Knowing the answers to the questions above will help to steer you in the right direction when searching for the perfect dress.  Once you start narrowing down your choices, there are still important things to keep in mind and rules to follow.

1.  Wear the shoes and undergarments you plan on wearing on the big day

2.  Take a picture of you in the dress-this always helps!

3.  Bring the jewelry you plan on wearing.

You're going to want to schedule several fittings.  Most brides-to-be have at least three fittings.  The first fitting is when you figure out what needs to be adjusted with the dress.  The second fitting is all about making sure that the adjustments have been made correctly.  The third fitting should be when you clear up all kinks with the dress and bring your mother or maid of honor with you (or whoever will be helping you get dressed on the wedding day) so that she can make sure she understands the dress fully.

The most important thing you can do in a fitting:  Speak up.

If something seems uncomfortable or wrong in any way, say something!  You'll regret it later if you don't.  

DG has just updated the After Six Tux site with the new spring rental styles. The new looks include traditional styles that have been updated such as the Rhodes featuring new styling with a narrower lapel and slimmer fit in 100% worsted wool. All bridesmaids dress styles for these photo shoots were provided by Dessy Group and can be seen on the Dessy site.

Enjoy the cool flip-book technology.

Have you ever sat down and thought about what a 'formal' dress code actually means?  We're told to dress formally for certain events throughout life, but rarely does anyone specify what that means.  The term can be misinterpreted from just about every angle possible, but today I want to discuss the tie.  What is appropriate for a formal occasion:  a black or white tie?

The difference is separated by a fine line, but it's one that you should be familiar with.  The black tie events tend to insinuate the use of a tuxedo.  This means you have a black dinner jacket with pants to match, a tuxedo shirt, bow tie, black shoes, etc.  The white tie events are equally formal, but different.  The white tie is normally worn with satin or silk collars, a black tailcoat and matching pants.  

Alright, I get it.  Both black and white tie events are fancy , but what's more important than how you intertwine your tie with your outfit is how you look-generally speaking.  None of the above matters at all if your get-up doesn't fit you remarkably well and look sharp at first sight.  Scoring a dressy outfit, whether for a white or black tie event, requires knowing where to shop.  

Consider purchasing from the following:

AJ's Tuxedo Junction

Oscar De La Renta (especially great for jackets)

Lord West (look here for pastels)

Pierre Cardin

Fumagalli

After Six

Ralph Lauren

Calvin Klein

One of the best ways to ensure that your bridesmaids are picture perfect on your wedding day is to choose dresses that best suit their body types.  First, you need to look at your bridal party objectively, and evaluate their body shapes honestly so that you can choose dresses that will look great on them and they will feel comfortable wearing.

 

These are your friends, so please be kind. It is not a good idea to ask anyone to lose weight - It's insulting and never works anyway.

 

Next, it is important to be realistic in choosing your bridesmaid dresses. You may have envisioned your entire wedding from the time you were five years old, including the dresses your bridesmaids would wear. I know I did. But, fast forward twenty years, and the blue Cinderella ball gown I had wanted for my bridesmaids has lost some of its luster - and I don't think my cousins and my sister-in-law would have appreciated it.  (They wore Dessy style 2044 and loved it!)

 

Your bridesmaids will look a lot less like Cinderella's ugly step sisters and will be eternally grateful to you if you remain open-minded when shopping for bridesmaid dresses.

 

For instance, if most of your bridesmaids have voluptuous figures, it is probably best to not choose a revealing sheath that shows off every body flaw. You will likely have better luck with something a little more forgiving, like an empire waist or an A-line silhouette.

 

Shopping for your bridesmaid dresses is pretty much the same as shopping for your wedding dress.  There are certain styles, necklines, cuts and silhouettes that are more flattering and forgiving than others.

 

Dessy.com is a great place to start searching for your bridesmaid dresses. They offer a search function that allows you to browse and search all Dessy bridesmaid dresses, After Six bridesmaid dresses, Alfred Sung bridesmaid dresses and Lela Rose bridesmaid dresses.  You can search by color, dress length, neckline, silhouette, sleeve length, fabric and designer. You can find the search function at the following link: http://www.dessy.com/bridesmaid-dresses/

Dessy.com makes it so easy to choose the perfect bridesmaid dresses!

 

I also highly recommend shopping with one helpful, resilient bridesmaid to start. Your maid-of-honor should be perfect for this.  Have her try on a multitude of dresses in different silhouettes, fabrics and necklines.  This will help you immensely in determining what will work for your bridal party.  You may even want to try a few on yourself. It can't hurt to put yourself in your bridesmaids' shoes when shopping for their dresses.

 

Ultimately, your wedding day is one of the most important and significant days of your life. As a woman who just recently celebrated her wedding, I understand the stress of planning your perfect day. If you follow the above guidelines when you are shopping for bridesmaid dresses, you can, at least, eliminate the stress and headaches of choosing the right dresses and you'll keep your bridesmaids happy too!

  

My bridesmaids wore Dessy Style 2044 in Mink with matching shawls:

 

Sue & Gabe:

 

 

Lizzy & Andy:

 

 

Daniela: My MOH with Madi and Jordan

 

 

Lizzy:

 

 

Sue:

 

 

 

 

Ben & Me:

 

 

 

Get a view of the hottest bridesmaids dress designer on the planet:

Click anywhere on the image below to start the Lela Rose FlipBook.
You can then zoom on any page within the book for a more detailed view.

We often times associate the color white with a traditional wedding dress. The odd thing about that is that white wedding dresses didn't really trickle into our society until the last couple of centuries. Before then, dresses were actually typically of color. Being able to afford luxurious textiles of all sorts of colors used to be symbolic of wealth and weddings were the number one places where people wanted to display their wealth.

Between white wedding gowns and colored ones, there's still one type of wedding gown that often seems taboo: the black wedding dress.

Black wedding dresses may seem a bit off the wall to the average female, but they're growing in popularity. I can't lie...I think they're incredibly sleek and sexy gowns.

If you're looking for a way to stand out on your wedding day from the crowd, a black wedding dress may be something that you want to consider. Lets face it: some girls just look better in black than they do in white.

My guess is that you already know that wedding dress styles can display your personality quite vividly. The guests at your wedding likely already know you and have embraced your personality, but being able to express yourself through your wedding dress is always a goal.

There are lots of different wedding styles, but primarily, there are five main styles. The 5 basic traditional wedding dress styles are:

Ball Gown
Colum
Mermaid
Princess
Empire

Even though we may like to pretend that they don't correlate to personality, these dresses do leave a certain impression on those who see you in them. For instance, I feel like the empire dress gives off a carefree hippie look. Mermaid dresses, on the other hand, frame the female body perfectly and have an incredibly sensual shape to them. The Ball Gown is extravagant and really creates that fairy tale look that a lot of girls dream about. Meanwhile, the column is simplistically gorgeous and the princess is more standardly classic. Which one best suits you?

The key is to really think about your personality. If I were picking a dress for myself, it would surely be the mermaid or empire because those two styles match my personality the best.

Picking a style that doesn't match your personality will lead to all sorts of fashion clashes at the wedding. Go with your gut and pick something that naturally calls to you.

In my opinion, the best part about the bride's entire outfit on the big day is the veil. To me, it's something about the princess look it gives the bride that really does it for me. The right veil needs to be a nice one though. It needs to be something that glistens and makes a bride look as elegant as she truly is on that special day. I'm not a fan of flimsy and cheap veils. Don't get me wrong, they can look convincing. The veil really, however, should be the nicest touch to the gown.

Bel Aire Bridal creates veil and tiara combos that I really love. The one featured in the picture above, for instance, is my favorite one they've got . It's pricey, at around $200, but I maintain that a good veil is worth the money.


Photo from: www.belairebridal.com

When the ballet flat first came in style here in New York a few years ago, I was sold on the shoe immediately. Being a girl who sort of hates heels, flats have always spoken to me on a fashion level.

From celebrities to high schoolers in the midwest, ballet flats are still a hit amongst many. They're a comfortable way to dress up the outfit and a reasonable way to look great without the pain of high heels.

The thing I like the most about ballet flats, if I had to decide, is the fact that they are just as easily dressed up or down. Ballet flats with a pair of jeans is just as fashionable and appealing as flats with a nice dress.

Why doesn't everyone just get on the bandwagon and wear these things? Check out Dessy's wedding ballet flats page in January. Twenty colors!

I ended up getting one of the Bridesmaids Gift Totes from Dessy.com. I have to admit to you...I wasn't getting it for a wedding. I got the bag because I liked it for day to day use and I have bee using it for months now. Not only has it totally stayed sturdy, but its colors have stayed brilliant. But I no longer have the bag. My sister came to visit me a few weeks ago and she fell in love with my hot pink gift tote. Turns out she wants to use the bag for day to day use, too. Being the awesome big sister that I am...I let her have it. The moral of this story? These bags are remarkably practical and fashionable, regardless of whether you're using them for a wedding or not. The plus? You can easily use them for a wedding and continue to use them long after. Seriously. I miss mine already!

A lot of people understand that a white wedding dress is simply traditional. In fact, a lot of women steer away from choosing a dress that is actually their favorite color simply because they'd rather adhere to tradition by having a white dress. While this is all fine and good, I think it would suit us all to know a bit more background about the white dress, don't you?

So here are some facts about the white wedding dress that you may not have known before.

Mary Queen of Scots was one of the first women to wear white at her wedding. She wore it when she married Franois II of France.

White did not truly become a popular color for wedding dresses until 1840. The marriage of Queen Victoria and Albert of Saxe-Coburg is what made it popular during this time.

Prior to this time, it was always acceptable for a bride to have a colored dress. In fact, brides typically dressed in all colors with the exception of black and red.

Blue was the color that initially denoted virginity and purity, not white.

Now that you know a bit more of the background of the white dress, you shouldn't fee so crazy if you want to choose a wedding dress that is a color different than white.

One mistake lots of women make on the day of a wedding is wearing makeup that is not waterproof. It simply makes no sense to do this! If you're emotional in the least, you're going to wind up crying at the wedding. I hardly cry during any "girly" movies or situations and yet I still cried when i watched my best friend get married. It's just something that most women do at weddings. When you're getting ready for the wedding on the day of, make sure that your makeup is waterproof. If you're looking for some good waterproof makeup, check out some of the following products:

Clique Waterproof Mascara
Sephora Waterproof Eyeshadow
Prestige Waterproof Lipstick
Sephora Waterproof Eyeliner

The above products are the key ones when it comes down to waterproof makeup. Get these on your face and in your purse on the big day and you'll have nothing to worry about.

Every girl wants to look thin-or so it seems. But most girls feel even more pressure to look thin on the days when they dress up. This could be for something like Prom, a business meeting, or..especially...a wedding. Many girls diet for weeks before weddings and work hard to find the perfect dress that will complement their bodies. However, some women are simply picking the wrong colors and fabrics. There are certainly some fabrics and colors out there that will take 5-10 pounds off of you image-wise and if you're struggling with your image, these should be essential for the dress you're wearing on the big day.

FABRICS
Stretchy fabrics are usually the best. You want something that pulls into you. Spandex blends are great. The key is to have the dress tight enough that it gives you a great shape, but not so tight that it shows every single part of you.

COLORS
Dark colors are key for women who are trying to appear thinner. On top of that, consistent colors are also key. Having one solid color from head to toe will make a woman seem taller and therefore slimmer. Crazy and bright patterns are the worst for a woman who is trying to watch her weight.

At the end of the day, everyone should simply be comfortable with their weight, but if you're not, try carefully considering your fabrics and colors when picking your important dress.

Knowing what to do for your hair for the big day can be tough. After all, hair can certainly be difficult to manage and even more difficult to predict. It is essential that you pick a hair style for the wedding that will last all day and night without much effort of fuss. Nonetheless, every girl alike wants a hair style that is glamorous and out of the norm for her own routine.

Don't be embarrassed if you need some ideas for your wedding hair! Most ladies have trouble finding just the right style. So, in an effort to help, here are some suggestions:

A SMOOTH BUN
It's no wonder that the bun is such a timeless symbol of class when it comes down to hair. It never really goes out of style. It's smooth and beautiful and if you decorate it with flowers, you're in the gold when it comes down to wedding hair.

LOOSE WAVES
Loose waves seem to also be popular amongst many women for the wedding day. They're quite easy to achieve and pretty difficult to really "mess" up. All that you need to do to get these popular loose waves is to scrunch up your hair when wet and spray down with some sort of scrunching spray or hairspray.

TWISTED UP
All it takes for an elegant look really is a stack of bobby pins. Twist your hair up and pin it down with bobby pins. Place some flowers in these pins and you are good to go. This is a timeless wedding look that you really can't go wrong with.

Flower girls are a unique part of any wedding. These adorable little girls get to be dressed up like dolls on this big day and believe me, they usually love it as much as everyone else.

Every little girl loves the idea of being dressed up and looking like a princess. Being a flower girl is her way to finally be that princess...for a day. This is why flower girl dresses are so important! Being able to help the little girl in your life feel as special as she possibly can on that big day is essential. After all, no one wants to see a grumpy little flower girl, right?

Choosing the right dress is essential. Flower girl dresses come in an array of color and it is important that the little girl at hand has a say in her dress style or color. If she feels that she has had a say in what the dress looks like, she'll be much more excited about the big day and her role in it.

So pick the dress carefully. Make sure the girl is totally happy - and comfortable - with her dress.

One thing that every girl, across the board, seems to want is... shiny hair. And I'm sure you feel the same way. Who doesn't want their hair to glisten at every beam of light? I certainly do. I especially want this kind of hair on really important days...you know, like...a wedding. But lets face it...not all of us have naturally shiny hair. Some of us actually have pretty dull hair-lifeless, if you will. Maybe this sort of hair is acceptable for day to day wear, but it shouldn't be acceptable for weddings. You might feel like this is something that is out of your hands, but it's not! Here are some tips for getting your hair to shine that you should definitely take before the big day:

1. TRIM YOUR HAIR
Did you know that split ends cause frizz? It's true.

2. DEEP CONDITION
Deep conditioning really works! Try to do this at least once a week.

3. ADD VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE TO YOUR RINSING WATER
Yep. It may sound crazy, but it's not. If you have blonde hair, use lemon juice. If you have darker hair, use Apple Vinegar. Simple rinse your hair with a combination of these products and water.

4. HONEY
Put honey in your hair after you shampoo. A teaspoon should be plenty.

5. USE HEAT ACTIVATED HAIR PRODUCTS
A lot of girls neglect to notice how often they use heat products on their hair. From blow dryers to hair straighteners, many of us use heating products without even thinking twice. Using a heat activated shampoo (or other product) will permit your hair to take advantage of that heat rather than be hurt by it.

Bridesmaids dresses are a big deal. They're expensive and extremely formal. Many bridesmaids find themselves wondering where and how they'll ever use their dress again. After all, the dresses are so beautiful and it would be a shame to see one of them go to waste without further use.

For those of you bridesmaids who have younger family members or friends who are still in high school, I highly suggest giving your dress to that young lady for a dance like prom. Many young girls (or their respective families) have a hard time every year trying to come up with the money for an expensive prom dress.

When I was younger, I opted just to design and make my own dress instead of deal with all the drama surrounding figuring out how to afford an expensive dress. If you know a young lady around this age, it wouldn't hurt to show her your bridesmaid dress, right? Or perhaps, if the two of you are close, you could even consider helping her assist you with picking out the right dress that would also suit her later on.

So if you're wondering what in the world to do with your bridesmaid dress once you are through with it, consider the young women in your life!

Bridesmaids and brides alike often struggle with the question of whether they should get fake nails for the big day. Not all women have long nails or are even capable of growing long nails. For instance, I'm a guitarist and can't have my nails long because it makes playing guitar nearly impossible. Given this common situation, fake nails sometimes seem to be the only answer.

However, everyone considering this should weigh the pros and cons of fake nails before deciding to use them on the big day.

PROS
They're an easy way to achieve a look that isn't permanent.
They're relatively cheap.
They can truly accent your dress colors.

CONS
Fake nails can do some intense damage to your real nails when pulled or broken off.
They make even the smallest of tasks more difficult than they should be.
If any break off, your look is ruined. (After all, no nails whatsoever looks better than one or two nails blatantly broken off).

The choice is certainly up to you and your friends, but make sure you consider the pros and cons beforehand. If you're not used to wearing fake nails, you may be unpleasantly surprised with the outcome. Do a test run several weeks before the wedding.

So you've figured out the color of the dresses you want for your bridesmaids. You know the exactly style, material, available sizes, and how quickly they can be in your hands. The only thing you may have not decided yet is whether you want full length dresses or tea length dresses. Here are some things to consider if you're torn between the two right now:

-Tea length dresses leave more room for disrupted asthetic unity. From differences in leg shape and appearance to potential problems with panty hose, tea length dresses do pose more potential problems when it comes down to how they all look together.

-Tea length dresses are breezier. Even though you may not want any room for disrupted visual unity with your bridesmaids dresses, tea length dresses tend to still be a bit more appropriate for very warm and/or outdoor wedding settings.

-Full length dresses can be more easily ruined. Regardless of how much you may try to avoid if, full length dresses are simply closer to the ground...the dirty ground. Full length dresses are more likely to get dirty and torn up while worn.

-Full length dresses are more comfortable for a lot of ladies. While full length dresses do carry the weight of potentially being destroyed a little bit more quickly than the tea length dress, a lot of ladies still feel much more comfortable with their legs fully covered on a day like a wedding day. It's important that all of the bridesmaids are comfortable on the big day!

The choice, ultimately, is yours. There are pros and cons to both cuts of dresses, but just make sure you consider those pros and cons before purchasing your dresses.

When you're picking a bridesmaid dress, it's fair of you to want to pick something that is fundamentally timeless. Timelessness will not only lead to less regrets over your wedding choices down the road, but it will also leave the participants of the wedding capable of using their outfit more frequently than the wedding and occasional Halloween party. Here are some characteristics that should be on your checklist for timelessness:

CUT
Be careful with your cuts. Think about how silly some of the dresses from the 80's seem now because of their huge, poofy skirts. Instead of going with something incredibly bold, try something that is sleek instead.

COLOR
Even though neon green is really cool in Brooklyn right now, that doesn't mean it should be the theme color for your wedding. All of us have some crazy colors that we love, but try working with colors that are a bit more time-friendly than neons, for example. Try black, gray, white, off white, red, and blues for ultimate timelessness.

SIMPLICITY
The more simple the outfits are, the more timeless they will be. Decorations like sequin, patterns, and fancy straps don't really do much other than diminish the eventual value of the dress.

You probably want your bridesmaids to look as elegant as possible for the big day. Part of this is making sure your ladies are all wearing classy jewelry. In top of that, it works best if the ladies are all wearing matching jewelry. This can often times be a point of dispute for many brides and bridesmaids. Each person, particularly woman, has their own view of what classy and elegant jewelry is. Some women are all about flashy gold and diamond while others don't see the need for anything on top of a nice, smooth silver. It can be really tough trying to figure out what will actually look the best across the board and flatter all of the women involved.

I find that the answer to this common problem is the pearl. Pearls have long been a symbol of class and beauty on women and they seem to never fail in this department. Regardless of what kind of personality type you're working with when it comes down to your closest lady friends, pearls are bound to make everyone smile.

In addition to that, pearls and/or pearl looks tend to be much easier to buy in bulk for matching bridesmaids than other types of classy jewelry.

Choose the pearl for your big day and you won't regret it. It's a sure way to make everyone happy and see to it that they all look flawless.

There's always talk amongst bridesmaids about the colors they'll be asked to wear on the big day. And there is also quite a bit of deliberation on the part of the bride and groom when it comes to choosing their wedding theme colors. Since the bride and groom are typically in a standard black and white, many weddings use the bridesmaids dresses to provide the more flamboyant colors that they want to be a part of the ceremony. However, I think that most people tend to underestimate how classy having bridesmaids in black really can be.

People love to refer to a color as being the new 'black', but this isn't said pointlessly. Colors that are 'cool' are referred to as the new 'black' because black is absolutely timeless. Black is an elegant, smooth color. When it comes down to formal attire, black tends to be the standard for class. There's really no way you would regret choosing to deck out your bridesmaids in black on the big day opposed to some other color.

So if you're struggling with the colors for the bridesmaids dresses - consider black. Not enough people do it, despite how gorgeous it can look. Your bridesmaids will all have a collected and luxurious style about them on the big day if you go with a color as safe a bet as black.

Sometimes, it is thought that bridesmaids shouldn't have matching purses or tote bags for the big day. This always amuses me. Why it is assumed that regular purses won't ruin the appeal of the beautiful dress is beyond me. In fact, there are few surer ways to diminish the over all look of a bridesmaid than to expect her to use one of her own purses for the day. This is a definite way to make sure that the bridesmaids don't match each other.

Providing bridesmaids with a bag that matches is essential! You may think your bridesmaids don't need a bag for the day, but you're wrong. Here are some key things that your bridesmaids will probably want to have on hand on the big day:

MAKEUP
HAIR PINS
HAIR BRUSH
PERFUME
LOTION
NAIL FILE
EXTRA PANTY HOSE
CELL PHONE
WALLET
KEYS
GUM/BREATH FRESHENER

The list could go on for miles. This is one of the last days ever that your close friend will want to spend having bad breath or unkempt hair. She absolutely needs a bag for items like these to make the day run smoothly. Find a nice, matching bag for your bridesmaids and you'll be happy that you did.

We suggest the totebags and clutches from Dessy.com

Most bridesmaids would agree on this point: the bridesmaid dress should, ideally, be reusable. After all, if you're getting a beautiful gown that fits perfectly, why not wear it again?

The problem most former bridesmaids face seems to be HOW to use a bridesmaid dress again. Whether you've just got one dress hanging in your closet or a dozen, you probably wish you wore the dress(es) more frequently.

You already know how to dress this gown up - chances are you did that at the wedding where it was first worn. But do you know how to dress a gown DOWN? This skill could make or break your chances of wearing the dress again. If you're not sure how to dress down your gown, try some of these ideas:

-Get it tailored to be shorter, like a cocktail dress. You can get this done professionally or do it yourself with a sewing machine.

-Use jewelry. Imagine your dress with you wearing pearl or diamond earrings. Now imagine the same dress on you with you wearing chunky, wooden, hemp, or outrageous jewelry. It changes the feel, doesn't it?

-Use hair and makeup. It's one thing to have picture perfect hair and princess-esque makeup on the wedding day. But if you're wanting to wear your dress more casually, try heavier eye make up and bolder hair.

-Reinvent the dress. If you are still having problems dressing it down, try altering it a bit. For example, cutting the dress short and then extending it with a denim skirt sewn on could do the trick. Cutting your straps and then tying them together could also do the trick. Be creative.

There's no reason not to wear your dress again! You just may need to wear it in a new way, that's all!

You'll flip for Dessy's new wedding flip flops!

Flip Flops in Bridesmaid Colors! Choose white for bridal flip flops or custom colors for the bridesmaids for a perfect match with your wedding theme. Ideal for beach weddings, they'll be fun at your bachelorette party or the wedding dance, too.

Don't limit your thinking to the wedding. Fashion savvy gals will want a pair to match every swimsuit they own. The flip flops will pack small in your beach bag to protect tender feet from hot sand and look adorable every step of the way. Order a matching fabric flower for your beach hat while you're at it!

The flip flops come in a beautifully made chiffon pouch with a matching satin drawstring. It's a delightful extra touch, and the pouch is so elegant that mine will likely do duty as a lingerie bag when I travel.

The flip flops have nonslip rubber soles and are made with Dessy's own matte satin in a rainbow of colors to match bridesmaid colors by Dessy, After Six and Alfred Sung. They'll make fun bridesmaid gifts, especially if you pair them with Dessy's matching satin totebags.

Note that you'll need to think ahead and order early. The flip flops are made to order in the custom colors you specify so you'll need to plan on eight to ten weeks for delivery.

In the Fall/Winter edition of Wedding Dresses, Dessy Group designer Vivian Diamond offers some tips on shopping for bridesmaids' dresses.

1) Start by thinking of bridesmaids' dresses in terms of style and what would look good on your friends.

2) Pre-shop for bridesmaids' dresses before you present styles to your attendants. A website like www.dessy.com makes this step a cinch!

3) Select five styles and colors of bridesmaid dresses and test them on one of your attendants.

4) Narrow it down to one style and two color options of bridesmaids' dresses.

Why trust Diamond's advice? The Dessy Group just celebrated their 70th year in the wedding industry, creating some of the most fabulous bridesmaid dresses you'll find anywhere. Happy Anniversary!

Any girl worth her Cosmo subscription knows that belted dresses are all the rage. Indeed, formerly for the "Don't Mess With Texas" set only, big sparklybelt buckles are now the it-accessory for every fashionista. In the same way a patent leather belt spices up a floral sundress, a sparkly belt buckle is just the thing to spice up sweet pastel bridesmaids' dresses. Loop a grosgrain ribbon through the buckle and you've got yourself a thoroughly modern motif. And since these buckles classy and upscale, they make great bridesmaids' gifts.

Interestingly, in a survey of 501 brides, finding a wedding dress wasn't the number one stress in the wedding planning process. That prize went to finding a wedding location. Who would have thought? After these priorities, picking out bridesmaids' dresses wasn't far behind.

Top reasons for bridesmaids' dress stress included deciding on a color and the general lack of cute bridesmaids' dresses in an array of sizes. In fact, two-thirds of brides say their biggest problem is finding a style that will fit and flatter each of their bridesmaids' body types.

Rest assured, bridesmaid.com has the answer to these problems! Trouble finding a color? Order fabric swatches to see the color as it really is. Lack of cute bridesmaids dresses? Check out the thoroughly modern gowns at dessy.com (this site also has great bridesmaid accessories and gifts!) As for the problem of bridesmaids' dresses for different body shapes, don't worry. Just let your girls pick their own bridesmaid ensemble with Alfred Sung's bridesmaid separates.

What does every bridesmaid want? A bridesmaid dress they could really wear again. So, bridesmaid.com has scanned the globe for the rare bridesmaid dresses that really do look good morning, noon, and night.

Here are the winners: Dessy style 2764 - this adorable strapless frock is an around-the-clock winner. The key to transitioning this dress is all in the outerwear. Think a light wrap for morning, a sweet cardigan for afternoon, and a hot bolero jacket for night.

Next up, Dessy style 2763. To transition this slinky dream dress from day to night, just update your do accordingly. A prim updo in the morning anchored by a gorgeous crystal comb, pretty half-up hair with jeweled barrettes for afternoon, and down and glamorous for evening.

Last but certainly not least in our day-to-night collection: Dessy 2761 . This silk frock is adjusted by just the right jewels. Draw attention to the ears with pearls for morning, a sweet locket for afternoon, and dangly chandelier earrings for night.

Bridesmaids Dresses Get Glowy

The Golden Girls got nothin' on the new hot color for bridesmaid dresses. Due to the rise of pink and ivory wedding dresses, gorgeous gold is becoming the complementary bridesmaid gown color of choice.

We love this ethereal color for its glamorous connotations, and for the way it can make even the most devilish bridesmaid look positively angelic. Check out Dessy's heavenly frocks in lemon or buttercup, sunflower, venetian gold or marigold for a gold rush of your own.

Here are three ingenious suggestions on how to stand out in a bridesmaid dress, courtesy of The Knot. First suggestion? Bridesmaid dresses in one color, but different silhouettes. Ever heard of Alfred Sung bridesmaid separates? The separates are ideal.

Second suggestion: same bridesmaid dress, different fabrics. Check out the fabulous fabric swatches on dessy.com. Final suggestion: same bridesmaid dress, different accessories. Have you seen Dessy's lovely bridesmaid accessories line?

What can we say, they've got it all.

It's minutes before the wedding. Your bridesmaids are close to rioting as they try to get their hair in order. Chaos threatens. Groom starts to get nervous. Future in-laws and relatives begin glancing for the doorway, wondering if you've taken a flier.

But it's just the hair. What to do?

For an easy way to add sparkle to bridesmaid hairstyles, check out the Wedding Hair Jewels from Weddingstar. They simply twist into most hairstyles. Choose classic pearls or Swarovski crystals in colors to complement the bridesmaid dresses.

OK, who here trusts their husband-to-be to get his own tuxedo? Raise your hands? Yeah, that's what I thought.

After Six has a great selection of tuxes. And they just came out with some new stuff. Have a look - their tuxedos look pretty good to me, and you can keep your betrothed out of trouble, too.

Dessy has introduced a great service for all you obsessives out there. You can now buy fabric, swatches, accessories and trim to match your bridal party to a T.

Now, I'd never need anything this crazy. I mean, I'll just want flowers that match. Perfectly. Then I'll be happy...

Dessy Fabric Store

Bridesmaid Accessories