The Venting Bride: Picking Jewelry to Match your Dress

 You have picked out your dress, now it's time to find the bling to go along with it! This article by Heather Levine from The Knot explains some good steps in order to find the right pieces for your gown. If you need a place to shop for great jewelry we recommend Diamond Wholesalers Inc.  

 

Show Your True Colors
Knowing what type of metal will work with your wedding dress's shade of white is a good way to begin choosing your wedding jewelry. White Gown: Gold embellishments may clash with this bright white hue. We suggest sticking to pearl and platinum.
Diamond-white Gown: This barely off-white color works with gold and silver (and rose gold, and pearl -- you get the idea).
Ivory Gown: This candlelight shade is a soft, light white, and some versions even have yellow undertones. Adorn yourself with gold jewelry to highlight the creamy tint of the fabric.


All About the Decolletage
Pairing your neckline style with the proper adornment can add character to your wedding gown, or even highlight a unique feature.

Sweetheart or Strapless: For something a little different, skip the necklace, and focus on some great chandelier earrings instead. Wear clear crystal for a sleek look, or punch it up with a hint of color. Try using a meaningful gem like your birthstone, or pick a color from the flowers in your bridal bouquet (but not from the embellishments on your gown -- you don't want to match too much). If you're going for a flirty, fresh look, include two or three small fresh or silk flowers in your hair to add a soft, organic feel. Vintage elegance more your style? Pay homage to the past with a great Art Deco-style bracelet or some roaring '20s-inspired feather barrettes.

Knot Note:If your dress already has vintage flair, you could create an interesting contrast by taking a more modern approach with your wedding jewelry.

V-neck: Whether you opt for a pendant or choker, this style begs for decolletage decoration. A thin chain with a simple pendant is an elegant way to accessorize, while pearls (single- or double-stranded) exude classic charm. If you're going for the dare-to-be-decadent look, a crystal choker with matching earrings could be the perfect combo.

Halter or Reverse Halter: Whether you wear your hair in a sleek bun or loose ponytail, dressing up your tresses is a great way to accessorize a halter gown. Headbands are a great way to add panache to your wedding updo. But if headbands aren't quite your style, try adding some sparkle to your hair with intricate crystal hairpins. If you've got a curly mane, five to seven hairpins is just right, while brides with thinner locks (or short hair) will get the same shine with two or three pins.



Foolproof Wedding Accessories
If deciding on your jewels is proving more difficult than finding the gown, there's one jewelry duo that's timeless: Pair diamond (or CZ) drop-earrings with a sophisticated necklace, such as a strand of pearls or a diamond pendant choker (or a tennis bracelet for halter gowns).

 
Let's Get Personal
The most important thing about picking the perfect trinkets for your wedding gown is that they are a reflection of you. If you're not comfy wearing big chandelier earrings, stick to studs. Love the way you look in a lariat necklace? Go for it! If you're comfortable in all your accessories, your wedding day ensemble is guaranteed to dazzle. -- Heather Levine

xoxo, 

Lindsay

Real Wedding: Sara

I loved working with Steffani and Mindy. I'm still amazed at how quickly Mindy was able to curl my hair! One of my bridesmaids was nervous to get her hair done because she didn't like how her hair looked in a couple previous weddings, but when she got one look after Mindy was done with her updo she started to dance and say, "I love my hair!" I am very thankful that Steffani recommended the additional lashes. They took a little while to get used to because I never had them applied before, but they were absolutely worth it and it shows in the pictures! Overall I couldn't have asked for more, both my hair and make-up held up through all the dancing, kisses, cake smashing and most importantly the humidity!

Inspiration: Happy Wednesday

Do you feel like this yucky weather is making your week drag? Us too! 

So here is something that brightened our day!

We found our newest lipgloss model :) 

 

Image via Pinterest

Unless you have been living under a rock, you probably have seen this poor girl. If not, welcome to the "I'm too cool for YouTube but I did see that girl's tutorial" club!

 

 We already shared our favorite Oscar award winning hair, but did you see how awesome Jennifer Lawrence really is? We can totally see being BFFs with her! 

 

If you didn't know, we are on YouTube too! Check out our latest promo video!

Happy Wednesday and come on SUMMER!

Real Wedding: Brit and Johanna

Up Do's For I Do's was absolutely amazing to work with.  Kara and Sara were so great and helped make our wedding day everything we could imagine.  They were very personable and took the time to not only get to know myself, the bride, but also my bridesmaids and family.  I have never felt so beautiful and would recommend their services to all brides to be.

Johanna's wedding at the Elkridge Furnance Inn.  **notice the stink bugs**  They were everywhere and we just made it work!

Photo by Kathy Hertel.

Purple Friday: Go Ravens!

Today in Baltimore, the town will be painted with a familiar shade and the fans will be spotted wearing their purple! To celebrate the Ravens heading into the super bowl this weekend, we pulled together some of our favorite PURPLE weddings! Happy Friday! Go Ravens!

Feature: Pretty Pear Bride Fall Issue

 This past fall we had the pleasure of being featured in Pretty Pear Bride's Fall Issue. It is one of the only magazines for plus size brides. The features, photos and magazine is gorgeous and we were thrilled to have our work splashed across the pages. The entire magazine can be viewed online here.

We really enjoyed working with the fab team at Balance Photography and Sweet Baker. Who knew body artwork could be so sweet?  

 

 

Real Wedding: Loren and Marcie

You guys were absolutely amazing!  From the emails back and forth to the trial to the day of the wedding, I never once had to worry about how the girls and I would look.  I knew that everything would be awesome.  I felt so gorgeous the day of the wedding and it even made my crying face beautiful!

:) Loren

 Loved, loved having Beth and Mindy the day of the wedding! The make up was stunning... I felt so pretty and the girls did too. And all my best to Beth as I know she is engaged and planning her own wedding! Mindy was awesome. My hair was exactly what I had envisioned... And the girls looked amazing. Both were professional- they were easy to be around and friendly. Super personable and just GREAT at what they do...

The entire experience from start to finish was really wonderful- booking and contracting, the trial, and then day of.... I could not have been happier. I will absolutely recommend you all over and over again! Marcie

The Venting Bride: Veils

 

Whether you decide to do a church or beach wedding, every bride at least thinks about wearing a veil. Little did I know that there are so many types of veils!  Do you want a birdcage, cathedral length, shoulder length or a blusher (the part of the veil that goes over your face)? It is always a good idea to at least try a few on and see what type you like.

If you are getting married on the beach and worried about the wind blowing your veil all over the place, distracting you from the ceremony, then get veil weights! Yes, they are weights that you add to your veil to keep your lace or tulle veil in place. 

Take a look at these classy ladies on their wedding day...

Audrey Hepburn

Jackie O

So what type will you wear?

xoxo, 

Lindsay

Inspiration: Why Wedding Accessories Matter?

Why Wedding Accessories Matter?

Today we have a special guest post from Natalie with Simply Bridal. Cheers to finding the right accessories! 

You have your wedding dress picked out, but what about the details?  The right accessories can shape the whole look and feel of your dress and your wedding.  They can evoke a theme or mood, incorporate a special color, or turn a simple dress into something amazing. After all, who would Cinderella be without her glass slipper? Accessories – especially wedding accessories – matter!

Let’s start with shoes! This is often a topic of debate among brides.  Some women swear by wearing heels, while others insist on wearing flats.  Flats are a great option as far as comfort is concerned, but only really work with floor-length gowns or vintage flair.  Heels, while sometimes uncomfortable, do add shape to the legs and hips while adding height, which creates a slimming effect.  Keeping a pair of flats on-hand for the reception is a good idea for any bride.  Those who are looking for a fun pop of color can choose heels with colored soles, which is a huge trend for 2012.  Brightly colored pumps are also very big this year.  If there is a theme to your wedding, your shoes can help tie in the theme.  For example, if you are having a rustic or western-inspired wedding, cowboy boots are an adorable option.  For destination weddings, going barefoot is a fun and comfortable way to go. 

Photo from Etsy.com

Your hands will be photographed many times, so your jewelry, nails, and bouquet are going to be photographed as well.  Your florist can help you choose the best flowers for your bouquet, but a bouquet is not the only option.  Some brides opt to carry rose balls, feathers, or even vintage books bound with ribbon.  Let your imagination be your guide!  Your manicure and pedicure, or lack thereof, will also show up in many photos.  While a French manicure is the classic wedding day look, bold nails have been showing up at weddings this year.  

Photo from Glamour.com

Brightly colored nails are a great way to tie in your wedding colors while drawing attention to your wedding ring.  Doing a twist on a French manicure, such as peach polish with a dusting of gold glitter at the tips, is a great way to do something different, yet classy with your nails.  Gloves are another way to compliment your dress, especially if it is a vintage style gown, although they are often only worn until rings are exchanged.  The gloves can be removed and handed to the maid-of-honor during the ceremony, or a slit can be cut in the left glove to allow the ring finger to be exposed.  Even when cutting a slit in the glove, it is generally considered to be a bit of a faux pas to eat with gloves on, so keep that in mind during the reception. 

Photo from Simply Bridal

Headbands, flower or feather hair clips, and embellished hair pins are all great alternatives to veils, but can also be worn with the right veil to create a stunning look.  Combined with well-chosen jewelry and accessories, you are sure to be ready for your close-up on the big day.  

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SimplyBridal.com is an online retailer of quality wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding accessories. We offer our bridesmaid gowns in twenty-eight colors, and in addition to providing a great customer experience, we also strive to create valuable bridal resources.