Silk chiffon dress by Rina di Montella

Designers are more aware then ever before that the mother of the bride wants to look downright gorgeous on her daughter’s big day.

Here are a few examples of smashing, stunning and breathtaking mother of the bride dresses that any mom at any age, would love love love to wear!

Mother of the Bride dress by Jordan

Light mother of the bride dress by Jordan

Dress by Peter Soronen

Mother of the bride dresses by Amsale

Mother of the Bride Dresses for an Afternoon Wedding

The following video has lots of great tips for choosing the  right dress, as well as a few charming designs for mother of the bride /mother of the groom dresses.

The mother of the bride can be a graceful and stylish hostess at your wedding in these beautiful designs. Give your mom premission to shine on this special day for both of you!

My favorite Gwendolyn Gleason eco-wedding gown.

I’ve been browsing around  looking for beautiful, truly green, eco-wedding gowns.  It wasn’t that long ago that being an eco-friendly bride meant dressing rather plain, perhaps not the most stylish bride around, though for a true “greenie” it didn’t matter.

Luckily, green brides no longer have to sacrifice style, quality or beauty when it comes to their gown. They do, however, need to know where to look. All eco-wedding gowns are not created equally green! Although many mainstream designers are now jumping on the green trend and offering their version of  eco wedding gowns, that may only mean they have used a little hemp, organic cotton or bamboo somewhere within their design. It doesn’t make their gown truly green!

Eco Chic Couture is green to the core. They have  been creating beautiful, authentic. eco-friendly bridal gowns in a socially responsible manner, for years. Styles range from casual beach wedding styles to cathedral trains and exquisitely detailed beading.

“Just being made in natural fiber does not make it organic. My fabrics for our gowns are made clean and organic from seed through textile finishing.”  Gwendolyn Gleason

The following video shows off a few lovely examples of her beautiful eco-wedding gowns:

Designer Gwendolyn Gleason is known as the “green” Vera Wang and gowns can be custom made to your specifications. The following video features a personal interview with the designer.

For more information about Eco Chic Couture wedding gowns, visit GwendolynGleason.com

A dress for the mother of the bride / groom.

The mother of the bride may be as excited (and difficult to please) as the bride herself.  She wants to look stunning on her daughter’s wedding day.

Before the mother of the bride (or groom) heads out to pick her wedding attire, casually discuss what she is going to wear.

Here are a few points to cover when discussing the mother of the bride’s (or mother of the groom) dress code:

1. Remind them that this is the bride and groom’s big day and that if they have chosen a subtle and conservative dress, a beaded mini will not be appropriate for them! Althought she doesn’t have to change her personal style, her dress should match the  “drama” level and venue of the wedding.

2. Remind them that white, cream and off-white are not appropriate for the most part. If the dress is cream with a color brocade or design then it could be okay. the mother of the bride / groom should not look like they are attempting to upstage the bride.

3. Ask them to keep their own drama level a notch down from the drama level of the bride.

4. Request that they stay in the same color family as the rest of the wedding party -or a least not clash terribly -  so you have a cohesive look on  your wedding day and in the photos.

Mother of the bride and mother of the groom dresses can be difficult to choose. If you are the bride, offer to go along and help them shop! Take advantage of this time to enjoy your wedding planning with your mom or future mother in law.

Ivory Wedding Dress

Confused about what is appropriate to wear for a second wedding? Do you want to go all out but are not sure what’s appropriate?

There are really no solid rules about what you should or should not wear. On the second time around, some brides do choose to go with a wedding dress that is more simple and elegant and tend to stay away from the “princess bride”  look. That doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice style or sophistication!

If you are looking for a simple, elegant wedding dress, here are some things to keep in mind when shopping:

1. Color: White is fine, but what looks best on you? Choose a color that is flattering to your complexion. Some of us just look better in ivory, cream, or champagne colors. Even pale pink is beautiful for a second wedding.

2. Location: Consider the location of the wedding ceremony. Are you finally getting to have the island wedding you always wanted? An unfussy wedding dress with simple embellishments like beaded straps would be sophisticated and appropriate.

3. Look for a wedding dress with clean and flattering lines, such as an A-line or sheath.

Classic elegance is always appropriate at a second wedding. Pick a wedding dress that makes you look and feel confident fabulous!

It’s important to find a wedding dress that is affordable, and also crafted with the highest quality possible so it will last a long time. It should be something you can keep in storage yet also pull out to look at later on in the future. Your wedding dress should serve as a beautiful memento to remind you of the big day.

So how do you ensure that your wedding dress is one that will stand the test of time, or even the day itself, without coming apart?  There are numerous cheap wedding dresses available on the market and it is important that you are able to spot those that are of top quality from those that aren’t.  Thankfully there are a few telltale signs for you to look at to make sure that your dress is the best quality that it can be whilst still not breaking the bank.

Dress Seams

A focal point of a wedding dress is the seams. You will want to make sure that the seams are not crooked, bunched up, or have loose threads. Go through the inside of the dress to check on this. All seams of a wedding dress should be straight and narrow, and sewn neatly and tightly.

The Dress Material

Years ago, wedding dress material was typically either silk or velvet. In today’s world, the material you choose can range from every type out there. You can choose from classic materials, to many different blends. You will want to find a material that is comfortable, looks great, and that will last for a long time. Examine your wedding dress choices carefully to make sure these fit the bill.

Details are Key

You can choose many different types of cheap wedding dresses, from elegant and elaborate embroidery to sleek and minimal stitching. The style you choose should be neat, and the work excellent. Go over the wedding dresses you are considering to make sure there are no loose threads, beads that are not secure or other sloppy handiwork. Check over the entire dress to make sure you don’t miss anything that may unravel your special day!

A wedding dress really is an investment in the future, a beautiful keepsake of a special day.  Use these tips to make sure that you have a dress that looks good on the day, will not let you down, will last the test of time and be within your budget.  You’ll be thanking yourself in years to come.

Lavender Bridesmaid Dress

Brides to be are constantly worrying about the details of their upcoming wedding. Most often the bride is concentrating on what she will look like and wear for the big day. The bridesmaid dresses tend to play second fiddle to the bride but they are an important part of the wedding and should not be taken lightly. Several details should be considered on each bridesmaid dress before the big day.

Remember the bridesmaid is there to compliment the bride, so first you must consider what dress the bride will be wearing.  Is it traditional white or another colour?  Style wise is it elaborate, sleek, etc?  You want to ensure that the bridesmaids fit in with the ‘look’ that the bride is going for with her own wedding dress.

You also need to consider how many bridesmaids there are going to be (an important consideration when you are thinking about the cost of the dresses).  Are there going to be a large number of children bridesmaids, in which case you want dresses that blend into the background more, or just one or two bridesmaids that can help frame and set off the dress?

It is important that the bridesmaids are also looking beautiful. Whilst you don’t want them upstaging the bride they will be in a lot of photos and videos, so make sure they make the wedding look as good as it can.  So before you start looking at dresses think about such important considerations as:

How many bridesmaids included: The cost, color, and style of the dress can be affected by the number of bridesmaids included.

The shape of the bridesmaid: Be sure to choose a dress that will compliment everyone in the wedding, regardless of their shape and size. Think about whether or not you want their dresses to have a slimming effect, or if they should be designed to point out certain physical elements.

Colouring.  Skin tone, hair colour, complexions, all can be made to look awful or great by a dress of the right colour.  You need to work out what the colourings of your bridesmaids are before selecting dresses to make sure that the dress colour is one that will suit the people who well be wearing them.

Stick with the overall theme of your wedding. If you are having a traditional wedding then stick with traditional patterns and colors for the bridesmaid dresses. If you are having a beach themed wedding then stick with the colors of your décor.

Keep in mind the time of year your wedding will take place. This is very important. You do not want your bridesmaids freezing in January when they are wearing a sleeveless short dress. Make sure the dress along with the fabric and layering choices match up with the weather.

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a bridesmaid dress, but remember that it’s your day and not the bridesmaids’, so be sure you choose the dress that YOU want. It’s great to be able to find something all of your bridesmaids will like, but don’t forget that the choice is ultimately yours.