Showing posts with label designer gowns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label designer gowns. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

{tips & tricks} TUESDAY :: wedding gown shopping, part 1.

in case y'all weren't aware {which i honestly wasn't until recently}, it takes anywhere from four to six months for a designer to create your wedding gown.
 
when i decided to move up my wedding date from november 2014 to may 2014 {that's another story}, i realized that - oh crap - i needed to go wedding dress shopping, stat.
 
being that i have seen my share of wedding gowns at this point in my life, i was reasonably sure what i wanted though not positive and pretty open-minded about trying out styles i hadn't considered before.
 
i also knew that i did not want the experience of going to a huge bridal warehouse where i'd be overwhelmed with options - i'm bad enough at making decisions as it is!
 
my only other requirement for my wedding gown was i didn't want it to show any cleavage or cling to my tummy. that's surprisingly difficult to find these days, y'all. don't ask me why.
 
so anyway, knowing all of that {and this is where tuesday's tip comes in ;) }, i limited my search to two bridal boutiques:
 
first, bleu belle bridal here in savannah. these girls are so sweet and so helpful! courtney is forever donating gowns for us to use in our styled shoots and i knew that i'd get plenty of personalized attention during my appointment, which i did. i also knew from being in their shop before that all of their gowns are gorgeous and fall into a variety of budgets - they have everything from vera wang to lusan!
 
while i did not end up purchasing my wedding gown from bleu belle, it is where i found my "second place" gown, this lovely lace gown designed by lusan:
 
 
this gown by lusan mandongus reminded me so much of something that jacqueline kennedy or grace kelly would have worn - its stately, classic silhouette is flattering without being over-the-top. you can just barely see the back in the mirror, but it's a low-cut ordeal that i just loved!
 
my second {and final, as it happens} stop was at the sentimentalist in atlanta. i found this fabulous little boutique while searching for sarah seven {my dream designer, or so i thought;)} stockists, and when i saw their website i just knew i had found my wedding gown shop soulmate!
 
the best thing about shopping at the sentimentalist was the fact that their taste in gowns - feminine, classic, romantic - so perfectly meshed with my own that i was confident i needn't continue my search anywhere else. choosing from their short list of curated gowns was a relief, actually; they had already done the hard work of sorting through the myriad options on the market today and presented me with only the prettiest, most tasteful options.
 
 
yay! i finally got to try on a lovely sarah seven gown, even though i ultimately did not choose to go with one of her gorgeous designs.

 
this leanne marshall gown was gorgeous {i would've worn it with a little bolero jacket or somesuch if i'd chosen it}
 
oh, and a bonus of shopping at the sentimentalist?
 
i started my appointment by taking afternoon tea, complete with lemon tea cakes, in the social room adjacent to the wedding gowns. perfect? i think yes.
 
in sum, then, here are my wedding gown shopping tips for you all based on my {admittedly limited} experience:
 
{} make an appointment at a smaller, locally-owned boutique that  you know will give you personalized attention. preferably, find a boutique whose owner's style meshes perfectly with your own.
 
{} don't overwhelm yourself with choices. consider a few key factors, like the time of day you're having your ceremony, budget, the location, etc. and choose a dress that fits your vision {or, if you're open to building your vision around your dress, feel free to do that too!}. visit two to three shops with that vision in mind, see what options each has, and then just make your decision. there will always be more
 
{} shop early. to avoid rush fees, purchase your gown at least six {though preferably eight} months prior to your wedding date. at just over six months out, i was actually cutting it very close with mine - it should be shipped by the end of march, which will give me a little over a month to get it tailored before my wedding at the end of may.
 
{} budget. don't try on a $10,000 gown if you are not able or willing to spend that much money on your wedding dress. straight up don't even look at gowns outside of your budget because you will just end up making yourself sad. trust me on this, y'all.
 
what do y'all think? have anything to add? be sure to comment!!
 
have a beautiful day & XO,
 
jennifer
 
 

Friday, April 6, 2012

Celebrity Inspiration: Anne Hathaway in Valentino

 

13.002 Dress, BHLDN; Shoes, Mark & James; Bracelet, Erickson Beamon; Headpiece, BHLDN

I blogged about this on LaurenLanzaOsias because that’s how obsessed I am with this gown!! This is the beautiful gown that Valentino works painstakingly on in his documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. If you have any interest in fashion I highly recommend watching the film. But when searching for a gown that evokes the same etherial fairy princess whatnot, look for gowns with interesting appliqués and use of fabric. A fitted bodice is a must with this look. The shoes should be pretty and simple. Find one large statement cuff and a pretty, detailed headdress to complete this look. I would take a hint from Anne and go with simple clean makeup, a great bold lip and a delicately painted cat eye.

Lauren

Friday, March 23, 2012

Celebrity Inspiration: Emma Watson in Elie Saab

 

13.001 Dress, Justin Alexander; Shoes, Steve Madden; Earrings, JCrew.

Hermione Granger is all grown up and is super hot... I love this look because it has a retro vibe, but still comes across glamourous and chic. It’s important when wearing this style to have a cinched waist. The appliques around the bodice and waist can make you look bigger if there isn’t an incredibly defined waist. A pair of nude satin pumps will elongate your legs and some bling make them even more fun!!!! Keep accessories simple and easy. Even hair and makeup should be understated. It’s all about the dress.

Lauren

Friday, March 16, 2012

Celebrity Inspiration: Blake Lively in Marchesa

 

13.005 Dress, Temperly London; Shoes, Enzo Angiolini, Earrings, Dannijo; Sash, Serendipity Bridal

How fabulous is this gown!?! Right? It’s like this amazing 70’s chic. This Temperly London gown gives the same asymmetrical look minus the bling, so I would add a ridiculously embellished belt around the waist, sparkly drop earrings, and a glitzy shoe to give that wow factor. This is such a great look, I think it would work for so many ages and body types.

Lauren

Friday, March 9, 2012

Celebrity Inspiration: Eva Mendes in Theirry Mugler

 

13.004 Dress, JCrew; Shoes, Via Spiga; Bracelet, Juliet and Company

LOVE this look. The gown is genius, love the neckline and the skirt is perfect for covering a booty while still showing off curves. This JCrew gown gives that same interesting and sexy look, the flower is removable and once removed would give the same streamlined look as Eva’s gown. Shoes are kept simple and you should accessorize with only a simple bracelet. Some Veronica Lake waves and a fresh face and you are ready to get married.

Lauren

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Real Savannah Wedding: Johanna and Courtney Part 1- Ceremony

ceremony

In the beautiful fall weather in October, Johanna and Courtney were wed in front of the Forsyth Park Fountain. Johanna and Courtney are such a fun and laid back couple and wanted their wedding to reflect just that. Johanna loves sunflowers and being that the wedding was going to take place in the fall, this was going to be the perfect starting point for the design. The most incredible and sentimental detail had to be Johanna’s handmade bridal bouquet with brooches given by friends and family. This was just the beginning of the crafty hand of Johanna. Those fabulous fabric programs were another one of her DIY projects. We used a lot of fabric throughout the reception and this was a fabulous way to bring some fabric into the ceremony. We think they turned out adorable…what do you think? Kudos to Geoff L Johnson for capturing every second of the day. Wait until you see what he has in store for you tomorrow with the portraits!  

gettingready bridesshoesbroochbouquetvintagebridalbouquetgettingready2gettingready1beautifulbridesunflowerbouquetsbride3veil

groomwww.morgangalloevents.com fabric programs sunflowerpewmarkerhorseandcarriageringbearerforsythparkwedding   savannahweddingbluebridesmaiddresses  bouquetsweddingceremonykissyestoasting

Friday, February 3, 2012

Celebrity Inspiration: Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney

 

morecelebrity.002 Dress, Calvin Klein; Shoes, Steve Madden; Clutch, Alexander McQueen; Ring, soo lhn Kim.

I swear G.Palts is ageless. I seriously measure all fashionistas to her. She’s a genius. She knows fashion, she knows food... her polenta with fresh corn recipe is insane!!! Love it. And I love this look, not just because she’s fabulous, but because it’s elongating properties. This style will make even the tiniest of petite look supermodel tall!! I love the simplicity of the CK gown with the super easy satin pumps. It’s just timeless. Add a funky chunky ring and a rad clutch and you are golden... And I know that I went a little overboard with the two thousand dollar Alexander McQueen clutch, but I mean, come on!!! It’s perfect for this look and I’m sorta obsessed with it... and I would graciously accept it as a gift.

Lauren

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Real Vintage Savannah Wedding: Andrea and Matthew Part 1-Ceremony

Andrea and Matthew got married in October in one of our favorite squares. (Its so private and full of the famous Savannah Oak Trees dripping with moss) The feel we were going for was a classic vintage with a monochromatic look when it comes to flowers/details. Her lace dress is one of our favorites to date! Another favorite of ours: Her mismatch bridesmaid dresses in nude and natural tan colors. Lots of great pictures of those in the next post (Part 2-Portraits) A most memorable moment had to be the group guest toast to Matthew and Andrea post ceremony in the square. Thanks to the artistic eye of Jade and Matthew Take Pictures, this shot speaks WONDERS! Well, I should say they ALL speak wonders! Enjoy--

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Ceremony crate vintage aisle decor

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Savannah Wedding (54) Wedding toastSavannah Wedding (57)


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