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wedding blog + planning guide for creative weddings | inspiration for DIY Brides

Brenda's Wedding Blog is your online resource for planning your dream elegant wedding. Helping you find the "wow" in weddings.

Posts tagged wedding dresses
Unique Wedding Gifts for the Ladies {brides, bridesmaids + flowergirls}

My Holiday Wedding Gift Guide is one you won't want to miss as it's filled with gifts for the bride and groom, the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, and even your flower girl. Of course, each gift can also be for anyone on your list this holiday season. Today, the spotlight is on unique gifts for all the ladies in the wedding. From the bride to her bridesmaids, to the flower girl{s} and even the mothers. You can see the wedding gift ideas for the guys here.

These Handmade and Personalized Leather Initial Necklaces from Lindsay make pretty gifts for the flower girl or junior bridesmaid. They feature a hand-painted letter and Czech glass beads. You can personalize the necklace by choosing the letter and the girl's favorite color.

The Karolina Kimono - a timeless and romantic wedding gift for the bride

The Karolina Kimono - a timeless and romantic wedding gift for the bride

What could be more lovely than this elegant, lace robe trimmed in velvet? Trousseau worthy, timeless and romantic, this Karolina Kimono from The Giving Bride is a statement piece that will make the bride feel happy ever after.

Katie at Green End Designs is now offering hand painted wedding dress portraits in either acrylic or oil on canvas. Commemorate the dress of your life with a gorgeous painted rendition of your dress.

These Marquee Labradorite Earrings from Green End Designs would make a beautiful gift for the bridesmaids and the mother of the bride and groom. They have a cubic zirconia post and are set in vermeil. Green End Designs also offers you the chance to insert your own style into your bridal party and wedding jewelry with custom necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Help Name this Celia Grace Wedding Dress {from the 2015 collection}

Is there a woman from history or present day who inspires you?

Celia Grace Eco and Fair Trade Wedding Dresses has just released their 2015 collection and founder, Marcelia, is looking for help naming one of her stunning new dress styles.

If you aren't familiar with Celia Grace, this is a wedding dress line that connects women around the world so they can help each other. Women in the US and Europe help seamstresses in India and Cambodia earn respect and a living wage so they can better themselves, their families, and their communities. As a result, the Celia Grace seamstresses help brides have even more beautiful, joyful, and meaningful weddings.

By naming each dress after an inspiring woman, Celia Grace continues this cycle of building positive connections between women around the world.  Last year’s dress names included Amelia (Earhart, pilot), Rachel (Carson, environmentalist), Susan (B. Anthony, abolitionist), Eleanor (Roosevelt, humanitarian), Rosa (Parks, civil rights activist), Eileen (Collins, astronaut), and Marie (Curie, scientist).

Now, it's our turn. What we need to do is brainstorm as many inspiring women as possible after whom this dress can be named. Public figures (past or present) are best but all suggestions are welcome.

The 2015 Celia Grace Wedding Dress Collection features fine silks and vintage-inspired laces, illusion necklines, keyhole backs and a few dresses that convert from long to short and two organically-dyed pink dresses. Today we will be thinking of a name for the 1503/1510 dress which is absolutely stunning together to be worn long for the ceremony and then short for the reception. Or, maybe even after the wedding? Wouldn't it be amazing to have a wedding dress that could be worn again after the big day? Below is a description of the two dress{es} and I have a few suggested names to get you started thinking of what we could name this special wedding dress.
Love the flirty 1503 dress but want to wear it long . . . and short?
This beautifully full A-line skirt of layered soft tulle over crisp silk taffeta with a bow tie back opening is perfect to transform your short dress into a long gown. A delicate beaded waistband adds allure and hidden pockets add desired utility to this already standout skirt. It's nylon tulle and eco silk taffeta in white.
This sweetheart strapless stunner is feminine, flawless and flirty. Tiny Swarovski crystals adorn the heirloom silk, deep sweetheart bodice. The crystals are layered under silk chiffon to let off a gentle sparkle that fades into the high-low skirt. This dress stands beautifully alone or can be paired with the 1510 Princess Skirt. Is heirloom silk and silk chiffon in white.

What inspirational lady do you think this Celia Grace wedding dress should be named after? Here are my suggested names for this dress . . .

Helena {Rubinstein} - she "formed one of the world’s first cosmetic companies. Her business enterprise proved immensely successful and later in life she used her enormous wealth to support charitable enterprises in the field of education, art and health."

Arabella {Mansfield} - "the first woman to be admitted to the bar in the United States"

Juliette {Low} - "the founder of the Girl Scouts of America"

Now, it's your turn - please leave your name suggestion{s} in the comments and Marcelia will look them all over and I'll report back to you with the winning name :)

The Convertible Elsa Wedding Gown from BHLDN

I've been seeing lots of sheer skirts for layering over pencil skirts or to wear as a swimsuit coverup. But, how about with your wedding gown? I'm in LOVE with this look from BHLDN - it's the Elsa Tulle Skirt worn over the Elsa Gown. What do you think? Would you wear something like this on your wedding day? You could have one look for the ceremony and another look for the reception without having to purchase two separate dresses.

Elsa Tulle Skirt from BHLDN that gives you two looks with one dress : wear the skirt for the ceremony, then remove it for the reception | as seen on BrendasWeddingBlog.com
Elsa Wedding Gown from BHLDN  : hand-embellished and inspired by the roaring 20's with a few modern additions | as seen on BrendasWeddingBlog.com
Find the Right Wedding Gown to Flatter Your Figure with Sarah Seven Gowns

I'm happy to have bridal designer Sarah Seven joining us today . . . she's here to share her tips and tricks for finding the most flattering wedding gown for your body from her Fall 2014 Gold Label Collection. Each gown has a unique vintage yet modern style, the perfect fit for women of all shapes and sizes. Sarah Seven is known for her use of natural fabrics, silk, wool, linens, cotton voile as well as recycled vintage fabrics for each of her handcrafted pieces.

Hour Glass Shape
For an hour glass shape {meaning a fuller chest and hips balanced by a synched waist}, gowns with a body skimming skirt and extra chest support are ideal. Sarah Seven’s Blythe gown and Frost gown, are examples of how a high-waisted skirt can slim fuller hips while emphasizing a smaller waist. Each gown’s sweetheart bodice offers chest support while still looking incredibly tasteful and elegant. 

Sarah Seven Wedding Gown : style Blythe . . . high-waisted skirt and sweetheart bodice {perfect for the hour glass shaped bride}
Sarah Seven Wedding Gown : style Frost . . . high-waisted skirt and sweetheart bodice {perfect for the hour glass shaped bride}

Boyish Figure
For a boyish figure, or your body is slender and straight-lined, create the illusion of curves with heavier gathered fabrics. The upper portion of Sarah Seven’s Dove gown has a boat neck with cap sleeves which widens your shoulders and complements your waist. Its deep scoop back provides additional dimension to a smaller body. It's a romantic touch to a modest gown.

Sarah Seven Wedding Gown : style Dove . . . boat neck with cap sleeves {perfect for the slender and straight-lined shaped bride}

Pear Shape
If you’re pear-shaped {meaning you’re more slim up top than your bottom half}, you want to draw attention to your shoulders and waist rather than trying to disguise your hips. Sarah Seven’s Emerson gown and Stella gown are ideal gowns to accomplish this. The deep scoop neck and cap sleeves of the Emerson gown balance your lower body, as well as the high-laced neckline of the Stella gown. 

Sarah Seven Wedding Gown : style Emerson . . . deep scoop neck and cap sleeves {perfect for the pear shaped bride}
Sarah Seven Wedding Gown : style Stella . . . high-laced neckline {perfect for the pear shaped bride}
Veronica Sheaffer Wedding Gowns and Chamomile ... the edible flower
Today I have a few of the latest gowns from the "Little Blue Bow" Collection of wedding gowns for Fall/Winter 2014 from Veronica Sheaffer {all handmade in the USA}. Each of the gowns are priced under $2,500 and include lace, silk, gold and even completely custom options. With this collection you have the option of adding on coordinating tops to further personalize the look. When I saw the gorgeous rustic bouquets of chamomile flowers being held by the model I couldn't help but smile as I wore these little flowers in my hair on my wedding day :) Since these flowers are edible, I thought it would be fun to also share a few recipes that incorporate these flowers into them {seen at the end of this post after the gowns}.

And, now for the yummy chamomile recipes {which would also be perfect wedding treats for your guests}  . . .

Peach Chamomile Mousse Cakes from Tartlette Blog | www.tarteletteblog.com/2009/06/recipe-peach-chamomille-mousse-cakes.html
Peach Chamomile Mousse Cakes from Tartlette Blog
Lavender Chamomile Cake from Miri in the Village | www.miriinthevillage.com/2012/03/i-won-something.html
Lavender Chamomile Cake from Miri in the Village
Chamomile Cookies from Every Cake You Bake | everycakeyoubake.blogspot.de/2011/07/ciasteczka-rumiankowe.html
Chamomile Cookies from Every Cake You Bake