Silhouette to Buttons: Trends for your Wedding Party!

Today, we have team member Sayira Khokhar sharing some Bridal Party trends with you.

So much effort is spent on picking the bridal gown and the groom's tuxedo, one almost looks at the groomsmen and bridesmaids as an afterthought, but they are just as important as the flower arrangement on the reception tables!

When scouting dresses and suits for the bridal party, keep in mind the theme of your wedding. They will need to compliment the bride and groom.

Open any magazine and flip to the wedding pages, you will see they all have several components in common. While we don't encourage you to copy everything you see, we hope you'll find inspiration you can put your own unique stamp on.


In bridesmaid dresses, think bold & solid colors. The colors of the season range from the a light sage green (at the lighter end of the spectrum) to vibrant colors such as a red orange. I am loving the more exotic and non-traditional colors, such as rust or bright yellow.


The silhouette most popular this season is the “A” line dress. This is a very flattering silhouette for women with curves because the fabric glides over the hips. The top is more fitted to reveal a nice waist. To accentuate the slimmer waist, a wide sash is added. It can be of the same, or a contrasting, color.

The fabrics vary depending on the length of the dress. For example, stiffer fabric is made for something above the knees such as mix of cotton-silk faille or silk organza. These are lightweight but crisp and clean. The sharp and clean lines add an element of modern or abstract design.


Floor length dresses are typically made of feathery fabrics such as, my favorite, silk chiffon. Again, depending on the theme of the wedding, this would add the classical accent to the ceremony. It has a feather light look. It adds a beautiful whisper in the light breeze.

Another trend is exposed shoulders. There are many halter necklines and strapless dresses. The shorter dresses tend to have the exposed shoulders whereas the longer dresses have a halter neckline.

The most interesting trend is ballet flats! This adds a very cute, flower girl look to the bridesmaid. They are also less painful and fun to dance in when the night is long!

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the groomsmen.

The piece that has grown in fashion is the tie. It is no longer the traditional black or gray. We are seeing the bold splash of color, to compliment the bridesmaids. Usually the breast pocket napkin is the same color but I have seen many mismatching ties and handkerchief.


Depending on the theme, a 3 piece suit gives the feel of the traditional English country wedding, however, the fishtail is not always present. The most fashionable twist is using difference shades of the same color in the men's ensemble. The vest might be a light heather gray, the coat a medium black with matching pants, a white shirt and a white bow tie to contrast the vest. The combinations are endless! (Within reasonable limits of course.)


Buttons. Yes, groomsmen, buttons. Add them to your attire. We like to see different shaped buttons, such as diamonds or squares. Sometimes they are darker or lighter than the coat to accentuate the style.

Enjoy shopping for your favorite ladies and guys, and be sure to give them the chance to personalize their look to show the personalities you love so much!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Now Raise Your Glass...

The wedding ceremony was absolutely beautiful and the reception is going along fantastically. The MC has started to announce the people to make toasts. Oh no, what will he say? What will she bring up? How long is dad going to talk? These are some of the questions that may be going through your mind but can be handled with a little preliminary work. Toasts can be a very memorable part of the evening and you certainly don’t want it remembered as the time that the best man was too drunk or dad’s speech was 40 minutes long. Here are our top tips, you can share with your toast-givers, to guarantee a successful toast:


Don’t make it about you
You have been asked by the bride and / or groom to give a speech about why the wedding is happening and what makes it so great. The number one key to a successful toast is to make it about the couple you are toasting. Don’t talk about you, rather keep it focused on the bride and groom.

Save the Drinks Until Toast Time
This point seems quite obvious, but it is not. Wait until after your toast to visit the bar. Even if you are traditionally a fantastic speaker, slurring your words will certainly not impress the guests. Also, if one has had a bit too much to drink they may tend to ramble and repeat the same story, and they will not even know they are doing it.

Be clear and concisePrior to the big day decide upon three stories (Max!), and at least one good thing about both the bride and groom as individuals, and one of them as a couple, to incorporate into your toast or speech. The more these stories relate to each other the better.

Don’t get side-tracked
Stick with the pre-planned work you have done on the toast. Stay with the three stories and comments about the bride and groom. Sometimes when you are recalling memories they will lead you to more memories, which can lead to another story, and all of the sudden you are rambling and taking far too long to make a memorable toast. Since the wedding reception room is filled with family, older relatives, and close childhood friends, your toast should be PG or PG-13 rated. Steer clear of any topics that may offend.


Start preparing early
Type or write down your thoughts on the speech. By writing it down it will help you remember it better, and assist you in honing it down, and then it is quite easy to edit if needed. Also by writing it down you can practice in front of the mirror, or a loved one, to get more comfortable in delivering the speech.

Use your Speech 101 skills
All of us at one time or another in high school or college took a speech class. Now is the time to recollect and use those skills. Keep the toast short (3 minutes is a good starting point), keep it simple and keep the audience entertained. Make the guests understand why you were chosen for this special moment. Mixing in some humor and keeping it about the bride and groom is sure to be a winner.

Keep it real
The more true to yourself, the more the audience will be on your side. Some of the best speeches are two to three sentences, sharing a heartfelt congratulations and genuine wishes for full of love, because they were delivered with sincerity that you can see if their face or even hear in the sound of their voice. As long as you are comfortable in honoring the bride and groom this works best.


Have fun
Have fun but not too much fun. You want to deliver your speech fluently and clearly. You want to show emotion and sincerity and that can sometimes be difficult if you are having too much fun. It is a tradition and honor to be selected for this task, and should be given your full attention and regard.

Know that the actual purpose of giving a toast is to wish the couple happiness and blissful life ahead. Make sure you keep this in mind when you say your toast. Give your perspective of why that is the case and then you can gracefully make your exit to the bar.

Cheers!