Archive for category Bridal Gowns & Accessories

I had a lot of fun with my Something Old, Something New series on wedding jewelry so I thought I’d try a wedding gown version. The first thing that came to mind for Something Old was the gorgeous Vintage-Inspired styles from Whirling Turban.   If you’re looking for a chic vintage look at an affordable price, Whirling Turban is a great choice. They also offer custom services which gives you tons of great options.

Here are some of my favorites – prices range from $425 to $950 or so (two of there are under $500!)

Last week I featured a Scala dress and  this week I have one more I want to share. This layered gown doesn’t have a train – but it would be absolutely perfect for a beach wedding, a garden wedding or an intimate, informal wedding. The sequined bodice gives it a great touch of glam while the soft layered skirt gives ita romantic feminine feel – for, wait for it…. $258! – Check it out here….

Sweet!

Is it Friday already? My word this week has flown by! I hope you have a great weekend planned!

For today’s Budget Dress of the Week – I choose this gorgeous gown from Scala. This ivory trumpet style gown has a ton of detail and elegant style at a lovely little price of $498! Not bad at all. I’m not sure what I like more: the floral applique on the bodice, the side wiped skirt detailing, the trumpet skirt or the budget friendly price!

What do you think?

My goodness, it has been a while! I am watching “Say Yes To The Dress” and felt the urge to blog about dresses and this gorgeous dress fits my mood for today:

This amazing ivory gown is from Jasz – and if you haven’t seen that design line in your bridal magazines, that’s because this dress is actually a prom gown. Seriously! A $280 Prom Gown!

The gorgeous back and v-neck front are absolutely sexy, elegant and glam – perfect for a sophisticated chic bride – the the flowing fabric give it a soft, romantic bridal feel. This gown would be perfect for just about any wedding – a beach wedding, a garden wedding or any semi formal wedding.

And at $280 – it’s also VERY budget friendly.

What do these  gowns have in common?

1. They are all under $500
2. They are NOT wedding gowns
3. They are all gorgeous
4. All of the above

If you guessed #4 – you’re right! All the gowns shown above range in price from $299-$500, they are gorgeous and NONE of them are wedding dresses. Actually they are prom gowns.

So? Well – a few weeks ago I read a post on a wedding planning blog that irked me. The writer was attacking another budget wedding blog and listing all the money saving advice they thought was tacky or just dumb. One of the things they discussed was the idea of a wedding gown for only a few hundred dollars. Apparently – anything under 1K is just tacky. This irritated me for 2 reasons. One – I have spent YEARS telling brides how to find great wedding gowns for under $500. And two – at the time that I read the post, I was 2 weeks away from my own wedding were I wore a gorgeous gown that I purchased for less then $250 (NEW!).  Tacky? No. Gorgeous? YES! Did I regret not having a more expensive gown? Not for a second.

So anyway – back to the post. One of the methods often recommended for saving on a bridal gown is to look at non-traditional methods including bridesmaid/prom gowns in white. This is one of the ideas the post I mentioned had attacked. As you can see from the dresses above – all of which come from PromGirl – a prom gown may very well be the perfect affordable wedding gown for may brides.

The gowns shown are all from PromGirl and are by the following designers: Alyce – $398, Jessica McClintock – $425, Joli Prom – $399, La Femme – $299, Le Gala – $398, Sherri Hill – $500.  PromGirl has gowns listed both by designer and by color – making it easier to pick out gowns in white or your wedding gown color of choice.

Hello all! I’m not sure if you noticed but I havent done a ‘Budget Dress Of The Week’ post in a while. Thankfully Crystal did one for me so you werent competely losing out on the post. Now I am back and ready to show you an amazing dress!

This weeks dress is designed by Amelie Bridal and is style number 6630.  This beautiful gown is made in taffeta fabric. It has a wonderful v-neckline with beautiful beading accenting it. The design continues down the bust and ends in a slight mermaid tail. This beautiful gown would normally cost &719.95 but you can get it from House Of Bride for only $478.00!!

Jessica McClintock is a diverse designer who’s collections include bridal gowns, formal wear, casual wear, accessories, home decor and much more. Jessica’s bridal collection offers gowns with simple details and elegant classic styles but there are a few fun, funky designs worked into the mix as well. With prices running between $200-$500 in most cases, Jessica McClintock is very budget friendly!

Here are a few of my favorites from Jessica McClintock.

Style #54228 Emily: $290 at House of Brides, Style #54222 Jacqueline: $330 at House of Brides

Style #52466 Jeanette: $330 at House of Brides, Style #21192 Krista: $270 at House of Brides

Style #21201 Rebecca: $320 at House of Brides, Style #17130 Stephanie: $310 at House of Brides

If you’re loke most budget brides, one of your first priorities was to find a gorgeous, affordable bridal gown so I thought I would start featuring designers who offer a great selection of affordable, stylish wedding gowns! For our first featured designer, I choose the Wtoo collection by Watters! The Wtoo collection was introduced by Watters specifically as a budget friendly line of affordable gowns. The collection includes a great selection of gowns in different styles including some of the most popular 2009 wedding trends: grecian goddess styles, crumb catchers, elegant floral embriodery, and a little sparkle.

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection. House Of Brides offers 28 gowns from the Wtoo collection starting at $350!

Finally! 2009’s gowns bring brides some real choices, after several years of strapless uniformity. (Thank you, Vera Wang!) If you’re the type of bride who wants a couture (or couture-inspired) gown to match the finer shades of your personality and wedding style, 2009 is the year with your name on it! Here are a few of the hottest trends going:

Crumb-Catcher Bodices.

This regal, old-world design twist came from that same lust for luxe that brought us Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and its subsequent style explosion in the bridal world.

BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS:

Mori Lee Style 2161: $670 from House Of Brides ($1009.95 retail),  Wtoo Style 11011 Penelope: $435 from House Of Brides ($724.95 retail)

Greek Goddess Columns.

The ultimate look backward, the style takes us back to the lovely goddesses (and early supermodels) of Greece’s Golden Age. With plenty of glorious examples to be seen from bridal magazines to the red carpet, this style’s not going away soon. Happily, it lends itself to arm bling and the half up-half down style that’s still so alluring to brides. Also note: bridesmaids look amazing in goddess gowns when the bride’s wearing something more structured.

BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS:

Impressions Style 4940: $315 from House Of Brides ($474.95 retail), Wtoo Style 11719 Catherine: $490 from House of Brides ($679.95 retail)

Asymmetrical / One-Shouldered Styles.

These gowns are sexy attention-getters. Another hot commodity on the red carpet, the asymmetrical top adds up to an exciting departure from same-old strapless, while exuding plenty of come-hither vibes.

Subued Color Plays.

Color’s no longer the domain of a bold — or even distracting — burst of contrast in the train or cuffed bodice of an otherwise stark-white gown. Instead, next year’s color inspiration flows from Vera Wang’s gowns in warm toasts and charcoals, St. Pucchi’s fabulous champagne and platinum combos, or gowns that ripple with multicolored gardens of embroidery (Claire Pettibone).

The Mini.

No longer the oddball in an otherwise full-length portfolio, minis have become serious business, with layers and ruches and ruffles aplenty. Increasing number of brides find them a brilliant choice for tent weddings on the shore or in the vineyard. And let’s not forget those brides who want a gorgeous but mobile second gown to get down and boogie the night away.

BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS:

Alyce Style 6073: $238 from PromGirl, Jovani Style 155118: $400 from PromGirl

For more 2009 wedding trends and expert help in planning a hot wedding, see Favor Ideas. Don’t miss our personalized wedding favors and elegant wine stopper favors

This week’s budget dress is probably one of my favorites. This Lady Roi Bridals creation is absolutly amazing with its black contrast detailing. It is made in matte satin and features an empire seam embellished with black piping and black floral appliqué delicately scattered on bodice and inner hem. Ihis gown also has wonderful beading over the bodice and skirt. This dress leaves onlookers stunned with its beautiful lace-up back. Style 8339 normally retails for $599.95 but is a steal on House of Brides for $428.00