Bridesmaids Dresses

I'm leaning towards bridesmaids dresses in a variety of styles and shades of the same color. I originally thought they should be the same fabric, but I'm not sure how much that really matters. I even like the idea of one girl (perhaps the maid of honor) in a print to mix things up. 

Here are a few of my current favorites:

J. Crew Adrienne	J. Crew Mollie
J. Crew Cecelia	J. Crew Juliet
Jenny Yoo Nikki	Jenny Yoo Callie
Jenny Yoo Justine	Jenny Yoo Alexa
Watters 8514	Lela Rose 107
Lela Rose 127	Dessy 2785
David's Bridal 84265	BHLDN Couplet
BHLDN Floating Frock	BHLDN Savoy
BHLDN Sway and Swirl

Nautical Necklines: Boat Neck Wedding Dresses

I'll be honest: I can't wear strapless dresses. I fidget and pull and there's no way I can dance when I'm worried my dress is going to fall down. Style icon Audrey Hepburn had it right. Boat necked dresses are elegant and just a little modest, and  a sheer fabric such as chiffon or lace keeps them from being frumpy. And what neckline is more nautical than a boat neck?

The dress with a boat neck I found most recently is called "Ducado" by La Sposa. 

I like the combination of lace on the skirt with a plain sheer neckline.

Inspiration: A Sea of Blues

I can't decide if I'm narrowing or broadening my color palette. Why not focus on one color, but include a full spectrum of shades and tints? The ocean is every shade of blue, why mess with a good thing? Searching "blue wedding" brought me very little that I was happy with, but by searching for combinations of blue and something else, I was able to find bits and pieces that I liked. Thus, my blue inspiration boards were born. I might even go so far as to tell my bridesmaids to pick any shade of blue dress they like, in any style they like, with a guideline for fabric or length. Many of these images were found at my new favorite helper for finding colors: www.theperfectpalette.com. 

Inspiration: Tables with Burlap

All of a sudden, burlap is everywhere in the wedding world. It lends an earthy, vintage feel and is a great move for the bride on a budget. I'm also loving mismatched china and linens all in the same color scheme (I'm focusing on blue here). Dish towels as napkins are welcoming and the opposite of stiff. Mason jars are so amazing in wedding design I might just have to do a separate post about them! I have done some more google image searching and created a few inspiration boards with ideas I like for the table. 

With This Ring...

There are thousands of choices for engagement rings, and of all the parts of a wedding, it is one of the only choices the groom gets to make without any input from the bride. That said, it is almost impossible not to drool over the possibilities, and drop some not-so-subtle hints about favorite styles.
If you lead an active lifestyle, you may be concerned about banging your ring around on things, with the possibility of scratching, breaking, or losing the ring or diamonds. Of all the metal choices, platinum is the sturdiest. Of all the settings, a bezel is the most protective of the stone. A diamond that is set low is much less likely to get knocked around than one standing up high from your finger. That said, a bezel may not be your favorite look (sometimes looking less dainty, and letting in less light to the diamond). Here are some of my favorites, including bezels, basket settings, and other low-set stones.

This Timeless Designs ring surrounds its center diamond with an octagonal halo of smaller diamonds. The halo protects the center diamond and reminds me of a sailor's valentine.
Hearts on Fire's Bostonian Low-Set Three Stone ring keeps its diamonds low to your finger.
Cross Jewelers in Maine developed the Lady Captain's Ring for sailors - the bezel is protective and the nautical theme has a low profile.
The Olympian ring, also by Cross Jewlers, is part of their "active lifestyle" collection.
The Flower Ring by Tiffany & Co. (my personal favorite) features a lot of tiny diamonds instead of one big one, each set low in its own basket setting, all held together with platinum. It provides a lot of sparkle without sticking up too high from your finger.
Jewler Leigh Jay Nacht specializes in antique and replica engagement rings. This one, set in platinum, protects its princess cut stone with a bezel while adding extra sparkle on the sides.
Jeff Cooper's 3303 platinum ring has channel set diamonds with a delicate miligrain that come up to meet the center diamond, protecting its sides.
Suzanne Kalan's White Topaz Rose Gold ring protects its large topaz with a halo of tiny diamonds.

Tea for Two... Tea Length Wedding Dresses

One of my favorite trends, and one I hope is here to stay, is the tea length wedding dress. Fun and flirty, these look like so much more fun to dance in than a long gown (especially for a swing dancer like me!). While they are well suited to a low-key backyard, barn or beach wedding, I think with the right confidence they can be worn in almost any venue.  If you're planning to save your dress for future generations or sell it after the wedding, the short length can help eliminate problems such as grass stains or tears where you stepped on your hem.

Alan Hannah's "Alexis":

Alfred Angelo's "1774NT":

 Amy-Jo Tatum's "Mira":

 BHLDN's "19898402":

Charlotte Balbier:

Cupcake

Marilyn

Noelle

Sweet Pea

Justin Alexander:

Leigh Hetherington:

Audrey (Covered in tiny Polka Dots if you look closely)

Katie

Kate Spade's "Elenore"

 Suzi Chin:

 Stephanie James' Josephine:

Suzanne Ermann:

Vineyard Collection:

Karalyn

And finally, the one dress to rule them all, 

Sarah Arnett's "Sophie":