“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” – Coco Chanel.

 

When choosing your attire, BTS always recommends matching your very own fashion sense. You ever hear people say, “OMG that dress is so you!”? We want all of our brides to feel like the best version of themselves on their wedding day. Whether it is in a full beaded and lace gown or in a simple, yet classic silhouette. This one here is for our brides who are the latter. Check out some of our favorite minimalistic gowns.

Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them. —Marc Jacobs

Wedding attire is no longer just for the wedding day. These days, you, the Bride, have a whole weekend of events and fab attire that need to be pulled together. This does not even include the bridal shower, bachelorette party, and any other wedding related celebration you may have coming up.

Don’t you worry, today, we are giving you all the amazing rehearsal dinner outfit recommendations you will need. Check out these gorgeous suggestions below:

Outfits:

Accessories:

 

Something Blue

When planning the attire for your big day, we always tell brides to go out of the box for bridesmaid dresses. Our favorite places to look are not your typical wedding store or bridesmaid shop. As you will see below, we love to look at places like Revolve, Nordstrom, Pretty Little Thing, etc. for your wedding party’s attire.

Since we love to style our brides, we get asked all the time for suggestions on bridesmaid looks and color trends we think will look great for a wedding. It has been very common over the last few years to play it safe and go for a neutral color like champagne or blush, but we want to shake things up a bit and send you a bridesmaid color we love and adore…blue.

Check out some super cute amazing blue bridesmaid dresses, we think you will look amazing on your ladies at your wedding:

Revolve

Fame and Partners

Reformation

Windsor

White Runway

Accessories!!

Lets talk bridal accessories… They tie everything together, create a unique look and make every regular outfit become a superb outfit. This week on the blog, we talk all about bride accessories and how these dainty little details should not be overlooked on your very special day!

Some of our brides struggle enough with which dress to pick out, let alone with what accents to add to really complete the look. We are here to offer some go to ideas that will not let you down.

Jewelry

Whether its the perfect piece of sparkle that hangs off your neck, adorns your ear, or wraps around your wrist, you want to make sure you choose items that complete you and your dress, not take away from either. If you have a plunging neckline, definitely use a necklace to complement the space. If you have a lot of detail on your gown, a simple pair of earrings will do the trick.

 

Maria Elena Accessories

Maria Elena Accessories

Head pieces

This can be anything from a stunning veil, bridal headband, hair jewelry, or some trendy glammed out bobby pins. Use this to compliment your dress as an extension of the overall look. Make sure you are picking these items out when your dress is fresh in your mind, rather than later on down the road, just to make sure everything fits just right.

Maria Elena Accessories

Maria Elena Accessories

 

Clutches

You need!!! A nice looking, cute, and easy to carry for your blotting powder, lipstick touch up kit, and phone, clutch.

BHLDN Bag

Check out some other amazing accessories we believe are must haves for your wedding day!

Maria Elena Accessories

BM Bridal Arm Cuff

Katie May Mask

Winter weddings are approaching,

which means you lovely ladies are getting ready for your big appearance at your bestie’s, cousin’s, or coworker’s super special day!! First big question…what to wear? We’ve got you covered. This blog is 100% dedicated to keeping you fab in those cooler climates. Check out the next paragraphs and inspiration images for what to and what not to wear to this grand occasion!

 

First things first, check the dress code!!

We cannot stress this enough. There may be specific colors the couple would prefer guests wear, and there may be a specific level of attire they are requiring for the evening. Nine times out of ten, the attire request for guests is: black tie. This means gowns for the ladies and tuxedos for the guys. We recommend getting your hair and make up done professionally and really stepping up the fanciness for this night. Remember to always avoid wearing any white or ivory, unless specifically asked to do so!

Black tie

Now assuming you are attending a black tie affair, you are going to want a floor length gown. We recommend one with a nice slit or low back, maybe even a plunging neckline. We also recommend you go for long sleeves or even follow the latest trends and get some high gloves…work of art for sure! Check out some of these super hot winter guest attire inspiration images.

TIP: You will want to pick a heavier, warmer fabric and might want to top this off with a chić faux fur shall or even a long trench coat that is left at the coat check desk (no coats in the ballroom for ladies). There are some designers who have jumped on the formal cape trend and have incorporated them into their evening attire gowns. We are huge fans of this idea!!

Don’t forget we are always available and accessible for any questions you might have when pulling these looks together xoxo

Like many things recently, New York Bridal Fashion Week – Spring 2021 was put on hold or well, eventually, cancelled.  Twice a year, designers, buyers and visionaries come together to see the intricate work of many designers in the bridal industry.  These designers are putting together collections for a woman’s most proud day on display.  A day when she can walk down the aisle, see the love of her life, all while feeling the best she has ever looked.  This is their chance to put all the hours of hard work to play and showcase their finest.

We have a personal connection to these times because we ourselves love the excitement, the thrill and all of the beauty that is embraced.  Not to mention, we attend ourselves.  The energy, the excitement, and the passion is felt the second you touch down in New York let alone the studio of the shows.

We had to ask.  We had to find out and we had to explore what in the world is going through the minds of many of these designers.  While many, like Berta for instance, are still wondering the what they should do, others have began to put a plan in place.

We spoke with Anne Barge’s  Creative Director and President – Shawne Jacobs to ask her a few questions relating to the show this past Spring.

 

Can you tell us how you approached the Spring 2021 release with the transition that is going on in the country right now? What was the driving factor to make your decision to release your line (or) postpone until the Fall Collection release?

When we first learned that April Bridal Market had been cancelled, we immediately shifted gears to planning a virtual market for our retailers and media partners. We were super excited about this however, as the virus continued to spread and our stores were forced to close, we knew the last thing they needed was to invest in a new collection. All of our retailers are very worried about cash flow coming in during this time! With shelter-in-place restrictions becoming stricter it quickly became apparent to me that it was going to be very difficult to shoot the new Spring 2021 collection.

We brainstormed many ways to shoot a few key looks, including sending pieces to New York and having a model/photographer who were quarantined together shoot everything on their rooftop and apartment studio. After much thought, we decided there were too many unknown variables of shooting the collection without physically being present. This money would be better used towards our payroll. After all, our company is nothing without our employees. These factors led us to the ultimate decision of waiting to show Spring 2021 with our new Fall 2021 collection during October Bridal Market. We are planning something super special for the Fall.

 

What can we expect for the Fall release?  Will there be more to see or will you stick to the same amount of dresses that you typically show?

Editors and retailers can expect to see both the Spring 2021 and the Fall 2021 collection at October Bridal Market. With the future of large events and gatherings still uncertain, we need to be prepared for every scenario possible. I think that video and photo assets will be most important to have ready, so we need to start planning now. No matter what happens, we want our retailers and press to have the ability to view the new pieces even if it cannot happen in person.

What are you currently working on now knowing the limitations of production, models and photographers?

Currently, we are continuing to design, produce and ship gowns as usual, just from the comfort of our own homes. Right now, at Anne Barge we are focusing on our relationships with our brides and everyone in the industry. It is extremely important that we all support each other during these unprecedented times. Our company has implemented various initiatives surrounding COVID-19 relief such as our Health Hero Program, which offers a 20% discount on all wedding gowns for healthcare works who purchase an Anne Barge gown at one of the participating retailers. We have also started Wedding Wine Wednesday which is a weekly Zoom meeting with our retailers to discuss concerns the industry is facing. Lastly, in an effort to stay connected with our customers and brides-to-be in a time where we are unable to leave our homes, we have introduced virtual bridal appointments!

 

Check out some Anne Barge photos from New York Bridal Fashion Week, Fall 2020!

It is the perfect timing to give you all a Designer Spotlight in lieu of everything going on in the world.  Let’s take the time to step aside and take a look at a beautiful designer, who focus’s on the non-traditional, modern bride and hear about an interview that we had the privilege of doing.  Not only that, but we were able to capture a gorgeous Daci gown, the Leah Silk Chiffon, along with a gorgeous model, coincidentally named Leah as well.  Instantly, we were in love with the free flowing, not so traditional dress that we needed to learn more about the designer herself.

Before we get into our interview, check out some of the photos from our styled shoot:

 

Photo 1: By Myrtle Creative Co.

Photo 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: By Julia Romano Photography

 

Now, time for the interview!

How long have you been a Designer:

I have been doing this for 23 years!

How did you name your company? What does Daci represent?

My name is Daci. I was born and raised in Romania – Transylvania. Daciana is my full name; everyone calls me Daci.

Can you describe to us your absolute favorite gown (something different than the one we used) and a send a picture of it?

Every new dress becomes my new favorite 😂 I put all my heart in each of them.

Who is your ideal bride, meaning who do you design for?

I design for the non-traditional, modern bride.  I love detail, texture, color, flow and movement. You won’t see 2 dresses alike. I work with each bride individually and love to spark their creativity and give them all options possible to create their one of a kind dream dress. The brides that come see me find value in high quality laces and silks.

What is the price range for your gowns?

Bridal line starts at $2,900. Custom dresses start at $3,500. This year I introduced a new collection where the top is not sewn to the skirt. At the fitting the brides have the opportunity to try on different tops and bottoms, to help them visualize their dream dress better. Then the final dress is one piece.

Where are you based out of?

We are located in Boise, Idaho but half of the brides come from out of state. Some come to Boise for the fitting, otherwise we do FaceTime appointments and “in home” fittings where I ship the requested favorite dress.

What is to come next for Daci Gowns?

Late spring 2020 I will be introducing a new bridal line, add on pieces to existing wedding dress. I’m super excited to launch this collection. I often have brides that already bought their dress and they want some “finishing touches” or a second look. The line will consist of silk chiffon overdresses, skirts, off the shoulder sleeves, capes. The pieces will be detailed, natural plant based dyed, neutral embellished to blend perfectly with any dress.  I will have one of a kind pieces ready to buy, and a small line of each of the pieces listed above.

Want to find out more about Daci Gowns?  Head on over to their website: www.dacigowns.com or check out their Instagram page: @Dacigowns

Photo by: Jenny Losee Photography

Photo by: Andra Krista Photography

Photo by: Hailey Pierce

A special note to Daci from us here at BTS; thank you for allowing us to work with you!  You are a brilliant designer and have so much talent and passion for what you do.  We are honored to have partnered with you!

Wearing the right shirt with the right bra is often times pretty tricky but let’s talk about wearing the right bra with your wedding dress – now that’s tricky.  These days, with the ever-revolving wedding dress styles and trends we are seeing a lot more skin and a lot more reveal.  I think the biggest question a lot of girls have that are bustier when finding their perfect dress is, well can I wear a bra with that?

Some dresses from Galia Lahav or Berta for example are becoming more risqué and most brides do not want straps popping out or to worry about being uncomfortable during the biggest day of their life. Some companies have stepped in to help with this and we will list them below, but also, a lot of dresses are being made with built in bras due to the complexity of the dress. However, some dresses are less structured and a bra might be needed in order to look your very best on your special day. If this is the case and you are not one of the lucky ones that can go without a bra, here are some perfect options for all different types of wedding dresses.

       

 

A lot of clothing lines and specialty designers have actually started making undergarments for this exact thing. Kim Kardashian for example made her breakout in clothing with Skims. Skims has created multiple pieces of undergarments for every possible outfit and color. Kim together with other companies have made wearing less feel more comfortable. From Tapes, to pasties, to strapless low cut bras and bralettes, wearing undergarments confidently has become more and more universally visible.

 

Red lips; for the bold and the beautiful

A beautiful, bold, red lip is understated and underused, specifically on a lady’s wedding day.  Often times and definitely more recent, we tend to see and find our ladies flourish in a beautiful nude/pink tone lip color to seal the look right before walking down the aisle.  Why?  Well for one, comfort and two, well it’s beautiful – right?  OF COURSE!!  It is beautiful and while these next few paragraphs may urge you to open up and adventure into an undiscovered territory, it is most important for you to feel the most beautiful and comfortable on your wedding day.

As ladies who only like to venture out of our usual norm on occasion, we can totally relate but at the same time, we can totally urge our brides and others.  That said – why not venture out and be different?  Why not try something with a little more edge and a little more glam?  – like that red lipstick?

So, first, we task you, reach down, maybe way down, in that purse of yours to find that shade of red we all know everyone has and be a little adventurous.  Pair this with a fine line eye liner or even a little wing to create the boldest most refined look.  If you do this on occasion with your daily looks, then you have no excuses!

We love working with makeup artists and in chatting with a few, we found that they are dying for their brides to come to them asking for a little change up from the ordinary.

A Red Lip on your wedding day can be risky but we say that only for those who do not try it first. Take a look here at some show stopping looks and inspired by a few of our favorite makeup stylists.

Show Stopping Looks:

mua_sarahnicole

makiajbeauty

makiajbeauty

Makeupbymaria.x

For a few of our favorite shades, we have linked them below – they are so fun!

Charlotte Tilsbury – Hollywood Lips

Boxom – Big and Sexy

Huda Beauty – Promotion Day

Don’t forget to check out our BTS page on Instagram for more wedding and fashion tips and trends!