Wedding Fashion Trends
Years ago, there were very clear cut rules as to what all members of the wedding party should or should NOT wear. If you’d been married before, you’d NEVER wear a white wedding gown for your second trip down the aisle. The Mothers of the bride and groom matched the bridesmaids’ colors; and the men all wore traditional tuxedos with coordinating cumberbunds and bow ties. Much has changed since then, and there seem to be no rules any more! This absence of traditional guidleines, leave many people confused as to what is expected or even acceptable to wear anymore. So, here are a few tips to get you on track!
The Bride- It’s all about your vision! Wear what looks best on your shape, with your skin tone. The only way to determine this is by trying on several styles. Frequently, what you see and fall in love with, in the bridal magazines, are high end designer gowns that don’t fit your budget, and may not look quite the same on you as you’d envisioned. So, get out there and try things on! You might be surprised! Keep in mind that your gown should set the tone for the rest of the wedding. If you chose a very formal gown, then the bridesmaids, flowergirls, and mothers should all be in formal attire,and as such, the groom and groomsmen should be in tuxedos. However, if the bride has chosen an informal gown, the bridesmaids, flowergirls, and mom’s should go with a bit less formal gowns as well. And, the men, might opt for a nice, light weight suit to coordinate with the informal dresses.
Bridesmaids- This can sometimes be a sticky situation. Be mindful of the different body shapes. Ask an expert at your bridal shop to suggest different styles that will complement the particular shapes in your party. A great option is to chose a line of dresses that has several great styles available in your selected color. This way, each bridesmaid can chose a comfortable style for them, and they will all match perfectly, giving beautiful continuity to your wedding. Keep in mind that the bride needs to be the ultimate decision maker, though. Seeking out the assistance of your maid of honor, can be a great help, however, it can be a bad idea to bring all your bridesmaids dress shopping together. They’ll all have different opinions, and the result can be no decisions made! It’s also a good idea to check out the available options in bridesmaids’ gowns before completely settling on your colors. Sometimes Brides spend a great deal of time and money on a particular color they love, only to later find that they can’t find acceptable or affordable dresses in that color. And, if that happens, you can always tie in your favorite color with trimwork on the dresses, such as a sash or ribbon around the waist, as well as in the flowers, and other decorations!
Mothers- Moms often have the most difficult time selecting their attire. They may be overwhelmed by the rules they’ve been accustomed to, combined with a desire to not look old and frumpy! The biggest misconception is that moms should wear the same color as the bridesmaids. Not true! Just stay in the same family of colors. If the colors lean on the pastel side, then stay within that pallet. Perhaps a champagne, pale blue, rose, or smoky lavender color. If the wedding colors are jewel tones, or darker, then head in that direction. Navy Blue, Burgandy, Chocolate, or even Black are great options. And, above all, if the bride is in a full, formal gown, mothers need to be in something formal as well. Even if it’s a formal pant suit! Seek out formal fabrics, like chiffon, satin, crepe, etc. A touch of beadwork or glitter can give it a more formal look as well. But, if the bride is in a full length formal gown, with a train, it looks entirely out of place for the mothers to be in a plain, polyester pansuit they’d wear to the office! Take the opportunity to dress up for this special day!
The Groom, Groomsmen & Dads- The same types of rules basically apply to the guys as well. If the bride and bridesmaids are formal, the men of the wedding party, should be as well. This means complete tuxedos. And the trend is for the groom to coordinate with the bride with his vest and tie- perhaps white or ivory. And, the groomsmen should coordinate with the bridesmaids, also with their vest and tie colors. And again, it’s inappropriate for the groom to be wearing an everyday suit if his bride is standing next to him in a fully formal wedding gown. You want to look as though you’re going to the same event! However, if you’re having an informal look for your gowns, a suit, rather than a tuxedo is completely acceptable. Dad’s should follow along the same lines, but not exactly match the groomsmen, unless they are one of them.
I hope you’ve found these tips to be helpful in clearing up some of those dilemas. Now good luck shopping!
