Full-length bridesmaids dresses are very appropriate for larger and more formal weddings. These flowing gowns come in a range of colors, textures, and fabrics…from sheer tulle with voluminous skirts, to soft, draped jerseys that hug the body.
If you’re searching for full-length bridesmaid gowns for your wedding, you’ll love this quick guide to some of the hottest styles for this summer. Today’s designers offer chic dresses that don’t conform to the “ugly bridesmaid dress” stereotype – in fact, they go out of their way to offer fashions that have true versatility.
Finding a dress you can enjoy wearing after this special occasion is easier than ever…here are some excellent choices to consider:
Satiny Glamor Works For Any Formal Occasion
Light up your natural beauty with decadent, jewel-toned bridesmaid dresses that feature exceptional craftsmanship and clean, flattering lines. The gorgeous, teal-blue style shown above is elegant enough to do double duty at weddings and fancy parties.
The deep v-neck featured on this gown is always a slimming choice for any woman; this effect is heightened by a pretty sash waist that sits just under the bodice (where women are often their leanest). A delicate, satiny blossom is the perfect finishing touch on this show-stopping, ultra-feminine evening dress.
If you’re looking for classic style that channels Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, this simple and sensual frock could be exactly what you’re looking for…
Light, Airy Chiffon Is Lovely For Summer…
Many brides prefer their bridesmaids to wear delicate pastel shades, since they are so traditional and feminine. Luckily, soft rose is one of the easiest colors to wear…it blends beautifully with any complexion, adding a glow to the skin…
If you’re searching for perfect pink bridemaid wedding dresses, this light, airy and dreamy design may be ideal for your needs. Affordable and versatile, it will look stunning with a pretty necklace and a special hairstyle. A tucked bodice highlights the chest, while pretty appliques at the waistline offer high-fashion appeal.
This evening dress follows the lines of the body, without being too tight. The skirt is full enough for drama; however, it doesn’t need crinolines or any other expensive accessories. You’ll feel as pretty as a wild rose when you wear this gorgeous gown to your friend’s wedding…
Dual Textures Add Designer Panache To This Lavender Gown…
A Silky stretch charmeuse bodice offers a great fit, while a flowing skirt in a contrasting fabric flatters the lower body. This stunning lavender gown offers all of the beauty of a summer garden, and it is simply cut to highlight everything that is naturally beautiful about you.
If you’re looking for floor-length evening dresses that capture red-carpet glamor, without costing a fortune, you’ll love the ease and affordability of this feminine design. Created to be worn as a bridesmaids dress, or to any formal event, this gown is guaranteed to get a positive reaction. Sleeveless, light, and cool, this sort of dress can be accessorized with a pretty lace shawl, or simply worn as is.
Visit Best For Bride To View More Unforgettable Bridesmaids Gowns
Whether you’re looking for bridesmaid dresses in Toronto or bridesmaid dresses in Barrie, Best for Bride has exactly what you need to plan your dream wedding. Our team of caring and experienced bridal specialists are available to give you the personal service you deserve. For brides-to-be (and bridesmaids!) outside Ontario, Canada, we offer a well-stocked online bridal store – you can order any style you like, from almost anyplace in the world.
Whether you’re planning a small, intimate wedding, or a huge ceremony and reception, you’ll need to decide exactly who you should invite. This seemingly simple task can actually be quite stressful – it can be difficult to make these choices, since they may affect your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
If you need a little help planning out your numbers, you’ll enjoy this quick guide to creating the perfect guest list for your wedding. With our expert tips, it will be easier to make decisions that feel right to you – you’ll also be better prepared to stay on schedule and on budget. Here’s are some things to think about:
Small, Medium, or Large?
Your wedding size, the amount of people in your wedding party (bridesmaids, best man, ushers, etc.), and the number of guests you’ll invite are usually closely linked to your wedding budget. Therefore, knowing how much money you can spend on your ceremony and reception is priority one.
Today, many brides-to-be opt for smaller weddings that don’t cost a fortune – typically, as few as 15 or as many as 100 guests will be invited to watch you walk down the aisle in your white wedding dress! A medium-sized wedding will have 100+ to 300 guests, and a large wedding will have a list of 300+ to 500+ guests.
In order to set the right budget, you need to decide on the scale of your wedding – when you set up a budget, you should consider the cost of renting a venue, the price of catering and liquor, decor, your wedding dress, bridal rings, live musicians or a DJ, etc. You must also consider the cost of flowers, invitations, wedding favors…there are a lot of things to think about here. Sitting down and plotting things out will allow for a more accurate estimate.
If you’re working with a wedding planner, you must also think about the costs of their services…a wedding planner may actually save you money by finding affordable floral arrangements and decor, etc. Their expertise and connections can help you find deals during the planning process…
When you sit down to make a wedding budget, be generous with your estimates – it’s a rare bride-to-be who brings the whole thing in on or under budget…in other words, prepare yourself for overages and plan accordingly so you don’t run out of money. Using Excel software to make a wedding spreadsheet is a great idea – it lets you see the big picture every time you open your document. Any good accounting software package, such as Quickbooks, may also be useful.
If you’re not software-savvy, make your own ledger in a notebook – the important thing is write down every single anticipated expense, and to balance your ledger as you write checks regularly, pay for wedding-related costs, and see what’s left to buy or rent.
Once you’ve decided on small, medium, or large, it will be easier to begin crafting a guest list.
Look At Your Relationships
Everyone will tell you that it’s your wedding, and that you should invite whomever you want to…however, life is not really that simple. You must consider your relationships, past and present, when deciding who to invite. You must consider the “political” implications of including or excluding certain people – will they be offended? Will your choices have negative consequences? If your wedding is small, it’s often easier to explain the decision to invite only close family and friends. However, some feathers may still be ruffled by your choices.
Many couples find the selection process very draining, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by reviewing your contacts in Outlook email, “black books”, and social networking sites. Think about who you really connect with on a regular basis – you should honor the friendships and relationships that are nurtured every day. Aside from immediate family (who should always be invited, unless there is a lot of family drama or issues at play), these close friends who make an effort to connect with you should be second on the list.
Next, think about your career – are there any colleagues, such as a boss or partner, who might be offended if they don’t receive an invitation? It’s often better to include such persons on your guest list – after all, we spend so much of our time at work, that it just makes sense to keep our work relationships as healthy as possible!
Now that you have a master list of immediate family, close friends, and colleagues, add up your numbers. Can you make your “magic” number work with your size of wedding? If you have space left over, consider inviting more distant family members…or allow guests to bring a date. If you’ve got too many people for your scale of wedding, you need to narrow your choices down…or plan a larger wedding.
If someone else is helping you pay for your nuptials, you should be very sensitive to their desires, as they relate to the guest list. Yes, it’s your wedding, but they are spending lots of money to make your day special! In light of this, it’s a great idea to consult with your parents or whomever is paying for wedding dresses, venue, catering, and all of the bells and whistles, before you finalize the guest list. It’s all about diplomacy and showing your gratitude.
Stand Behind Your Choices
Once you’ve carefully considered your vision for your wedding, and how it can be realized with the ideal guest list, you should be confident with your choices. In the end, you’ve done your best to think of everyone. Now, it’s time to move on to the “fun stuff”! Choosing a bridal dress, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding accessories can be much more fun than planning the guest list. Stand behind your choices, and truly enjoy the romantic special occasion that lies ahead!
Your voluptuous curves will look truly beautiful when you use our tips and tricks to find perfectplus-size wedding dresses for your body. Having a selection of wonderful choices will give you more options as you plan your wedding ensemble.
We know that finding the white wedding dress you’ve always dreamed of wearing can involve lots of trial and error – if you follow our guidelines right at the start, you’ll streamline the whole process…it’s all about knowing exactly what to look for!
For today’s curvy women, finding lovely and flattering bridal gowns can be easier than ever before. Here are some simple tips you can use to look your very best:
A Deep “V” Neckline Is Classic And Flattering
If you’re looking for the most flattering option for your body type, and you are quite voluptuous up top, you should consider a simple, but luxurious bridal gown with a deep “V” neckline. This design element elongates your body, making it appear a little leaner and sleeker. Of course, this sort of neckline also offers a touch of feminine beauty and even a hint of sexiness.
Strapless gowns can be lovely, but try to stay open to the idea of a little more coverage. If you have your heart set on a strapless gown, there is a beautiful example of that style on this page.
However, if you’re looking for a different silhouette, a deep neckline is highly recommended. One of the benefits of this style is that it also has sturdy straps that balance your shape and provide a little extra support. Overall, the deep “V” neckline is a tried-and-true way to look beautiful on your wedding day.
Go For Dramatic Details
Simplicity works well for some women – it really depends on your personality, your level of confidence in your own body, and just how formal your wedding will be. If you’re looking for more drama and high-fashion details when shopping for wedding dresses, opt for a strapless A-line bridal gown that flatters without being too conservative.
An A-Line gown will hug your body snugly until it hits the waist or the tops of the hips – then, it will flow past the lower hips and thighs. The classic A-line gown will always flatter the fuller figure – if you’re interested in a strapless design, you should go for this silhouette, rather than a mermaid or sheath shape.
Drama comes from the details – silk flowers, pleats, tulle overlays, crinolines, full skirts, crystals and beading…how far you go is entirely up to you.
The gown shown above is a wonderful balance of a classic, flattering shape and some gorgeous, designer finishing – pleating and a detachable, asymmetrical strap add a touch of elegance that is so high-fashion!
Avoiding a voluminous veil may also be a good idea. Consider a simple tiara or headpiece in lieu of a long, filmy wedding veil – creating more volume will undermine the impact of a flattering silhouette. If you love veils, choose a very sheer fabric and keep your veil on the short side.
Lace-Up Backs Offer More Comfort And Flexibility
When you’re shopping at the bridal boutique, consider some styles that feature lace-up backs. If you’re buying online, this type of design will offer more flexibility because fit can be adjusted without actual tailoring.
Even if you’re buying your gown at a full-service shop with seamstresses on site, you’ll still enjoy knowing you can gain or lose a few pounds before the wedding and simply correct for the change in weight by tightening or loosening the laces. As a bonus, this sort of lace-up back has a pretty, corset-like appeal – it will look quite dramatic and romantic.
Accessories, Hair And Makeup For The Curvy Woman
Your hairstyle should be something that feels comfortable for you – if you never wear your hair up, your wedding day may not be the right time to start. Look for styles that are soft and not too severe – often, curvy ladies have rounder faces and a youthful look – play this up with half-up, half-down hairstyles, or soft up-dos that still feature soft tendrils around the face.
Your veil should be scaled to your body type – keep it sleek and shoulder length to reduce volume. If you’re wearing a tiara, or flowers in your hair, try to keep these elements elegant and sophisticated. As a rule of thumb, taller women can wear larger-scale bridal rings, pendants, tiaras, headpieces, etc. If you’re petite in height and full-figured, it’s best to keep your jewelry and accessories delicate and smaller in scale.
For makeup, a bolder lipcolor can be the perfect choice. If your face is full or wide, a brighter lip will draw the eye inward, accentuating the features. Look for your favorite lipstick and find an intensified version for your wedding – you can blot to reduce the impact a little. Then, use a soft gloss or balm with a little shimmer to add sparkle and shine to your lips. Without a gloss that mimics the sheen of silk or satin, you may look too subdued.
Focus a little on your eye makeup, too – a simple line of black eyeliner on the upper lashes, along with a coat of mascara (Lancome Definicils mascara is wonderful) can elongate and open the eyes. The rest of your makeup should just be your everyday base, powder, and blush. If your eyebrows are fair, darken them a little – you’ll look more “alive” in your wedding photos – brown eyeshadow or soft pencil can be lightly applied to get the right effect.
Last week, we looked at some lovely bridal styles for the first six zodiac signs…this week, we’ll check out beauty and fashion tips for Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, & Pisces. If you love fun, lighthearted horoscopes, you’ll enjoy learning more about your Sun Sign and how you can use it to look beautiful at your wedding.
Libra – Your wedding day will be very important to you – for romantic Libra, having a partner is truly one of the most important things in life. Your style is refined, a little delicate, and generally quite feminine (at least for special occasions). For you, choosing the right bridal gown, bridal rings, and wedding accessories will be a pleasure – however, you can be indecisive – making a final choice can actually be very difficult for you. When selecting a white wedding dress, remember that you are the type of woman who seeks out elegance – Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady may be a fashion icon of yours (post-makeover by Henry Higgins, of course!). Seek out a little Hepburn-inspired beauty by choosing a stylish wedding gown that is embellished and adorned with a host of glamorous details. You’ll be less inclined to overdo with makeup – in general, Libra ladies have clear skin, regular features, and plenty of natural beauty. The colors of Saint Valentine are magical for you – use cherry-red or sweetheart-pink blush and lipstick to add a little vibrant color to your face. Libra women may get too creative with up-dos and artistic hairstyles – remember, sometimes simplicity really is more beautiful. Celeb Libras – Gwen Stefani, Sarah Ferguson (Fergie, ex-Duchess Of York)
Scorpio – Passionate, sexy Scorpio women run on desire and ambition – and they are generally very loyal people. For you, your wedding day will represent a deep tie with your partner – one that you treasure and respect. Looking beautiful on your wedding may be easier for you than for many other women – you have natural confidence and the sort of presence that can be quite regal. To make the most of your attributes at your wedding, consider adding a touch of burgundy or deep ruby red to your wedding outfit. A bouquet of rich, red roses, and a necklace featuring glittering garnets can be lovely choices for you. Rich reds and burgundies are your magic colors – they capture your essence beautifully, and they will work very well with a snow white wedding dress. You may not want to be the typical traditional bride – some Scorpio women are quite low-key, but others are very daring with regard to their wardrobes. Whether you want to experiment with ultra-modern styles, corseted bridal gowns, or tried-and-true, traditional wedding dresses and veils, you will ultimately want a wedding gown that feels like “you”. After all, you want to wear the dress – the dress shouldn’t wear you! Your hair doesn’t have to be very fancy – but do consider a style that isn’t too severe. Adding softness to your distinct features with a feminine hairstyle and the right makeup will work wonders for you. Treat yourself to a spa day before you marry – soak, steam, and polish in a luxe environment. Go for a pretty manicure in your magic color – OPI‘s Chick Flick Cherry will be perfect for you! Celeb Scorpios – Demi Moore, Katy Perry, Vivien Leigh (Gone With The Wind)
Sagittarius – Blunt, outgoing, sporty and free-spirited, you love to party with friends and family. For you, a wedding will be a spiritual celebration that is also filled with fun, music, dancing, and great food. You may want to avoid too much formality at your wedding – the breezy “destination wedding” was created with Sag in mind! Many Sag brides-to-be would rather get married on the beach, with their toes in the sand…the outdoors energize this Sun Sign. For Sag ladies, bridal gowns should be glamorous, but comfortable. Body-conscious styles will appeal to you – you’re not usually very shy, and you do like to show off your figure. Wearing your hair down will be a great choice at your wedding – Sag women look beautiful with loose waves or long, sleek blowouts. Be careful not to overdo your makeup – occasionally, a Sag bride-to-be will wear far too much makeup! In most cases, the Sag woman just doesn’t need a lot of paint anyway. A touch of bronzer, a glossy, warm pink lipstick, such as Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Lipstick in Pink Parfait, and a little mascara can be more than enough. Eating well and exercising before your wedding will ensure you look your best – exercise and moderation are of great benefit to your sign, which can be an excessive one. Celeb Sag Ladies – Christina Aguilera, Christina Applegate, Teri Hatcher.
Capricorn – You are an organized, capable lady – you believe in social decorum, even if you are sometimes a little more rebellious behind closed doors. For you, a wedding is an opportunity to value family traditions and rituals – your heritage will be also be celebrated as you walk down the aisle. Family is very important to you – you will want your loved ones to feel comfortable at your ceremony and reception – you’ll follow all of the “rules” to make this happen! Picking out a filmy, romantic veil, a subtle, sophisticated wedding dress, and all the right wedding accessories will be fun for you – after all, you are quietly very romantic. Many Cap women are blessed with lovely bone structure – they can be stunning brides who are beautiful in a way that is very timeless. Make the most of your lovely nose, cheekbones, lips and eyes, by pulling back your hair and putting the focus on your stunning face. Simple hair will look wonderful on you – makeup can be subtle – in fact, you prefer to be understated. Earth tones and dark shades are often popular with this Sun Sign – however, they will not work for your wedding. Embrace your femininity by choosing makeup that is natural, but still rosy and feminine – a little Benetint on your cheeks and lips, a touch of clear lip gloss, and perhaps a bit of black eyeliner and mascara on your top lashes only will give you classic beauty that is still festive. A slip dress with simple lines may be very appealing to you, but it should be conservative – you will not want to show too much skin on your wedding day. Celeb Capricorns – January Jones (Mad Men), Kate Moss, Christy Turlington
Aquarius – Innovative and analytical, you seek out new information, experiences, and ideas every day. Your bold approach to life can occasionally lead you down some unusual pathways! Aquarius women usually grow up feeling “different”, then begin to embrace their individuality as they get older. For you, being “yourself” is key – you will enjoy originality in wedding design, hairstyles, bridal rings, and makeup. However, the Sun is weak in your sign – your self-image may be a tad shaky now and then. For Aquarius brides-to-be, it’s important to find perfect wedding dresses and accessories – anything that boosts your confidence and makes you feel beautiful will be worth the investment. You’ll go for modern, high-fashion details, or else seek out a romantic princess look that is inspired by your dreams and ideals. Whatever you choose should include a headpiece, tiara, or veil that draws attention to your eyes – they will always be your best feature. In general, Aquarius women look best with their hair down and full – chances are, you already have a distinct hairstyle that is unique. Pure, bright colors will flatter you – add a touch of cobalt blue or violet to your makeup, bridal rings, necklace, earrings, and wedding bouquet. For a touch of modern glamor, add a line of long-wearing gel eyeliner to your top lashes – Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in Denim Blue will be perfect.
Pisces – The Pisces bride-to-be is totally feminine – she’ll look best in classic designs that work with an hourglass figure and soft, womanly features. Many Pisces women have lovely, jewel-like eyes, and they look wonderful in good jewelry that features shimmering gemstones. Bridal rings, earrings that catch the light, and glam pendants were made for this type of bride. For the Pisces woman, a wedding is a joining of two souls – she may be more interested in this deep commitment than in the details and planning phase of her wedding. However, she will always want to look beautiful on her big day. Lavender, soft violet, and sea-green are magical colors for the changeable, intuitive Pisces woman – nothing should be too bright or modern. This type of bride may want a bridal gown with vintage details – anything “old Hollywood” or fairytale-inspired will appeal to her. A lace dress may be very appealing for the Pisces bride – it will capture her feminine spirit perfectly. Earrings with aquamarines, pearls, or amethysts will draw attention to her eyes. Lips should be deep rose (try Clinique lipstick in Raspberry Glacé), or pale pink – eyes should be played up with smoky plum liner. Hair should be soft, and not too sculpted. Gentle tendrils, ringlets, or soft waves will look perfect. The Pisces bride should carry a bouquet of wildflowers… Celeb Pisces – Elizabeth Taylor, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna
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