Prince William and (the gorgeous) Kate Middleton’s pending nuptials have me thinking about weddings. Fashionistas far and wide have been speculating about what the future princess will wear… but here’s what I want to know: what will her guests wear???
Can you imagine the pressure of picking out a dress for THE Royal Wedding?!
Whether you’re headed to Westminster Abbey (ha) or banquet hall down the street (more likely!), I’m here to crack the case with 5 tips on what to wear to a spring wedding. I even have a few specific dress ideas, so start reading (and shopping)!
Tip #1: Get to Know the Venue
Country club, beach, historic farmhouse? There are so many types of wedding venues these days. Before you plan your outfit, do a little venue research and check the couple’s wedding web site to get the scoop on the location. I’ve been known to take it a step further and browse through photo galleries on the venue’s web site to see what previous weddings looked like and how fancy they were. When in doubt, go fancier. It’s a wedding, after all!
Tip #2: The Power of the Pashmina
Is the ceremony or reception taking place outside? If the answer is yes, bring a pashmina or light cardigan to fight off chilly nights. Sure, it’s sweet and chivalrous when your date offers you his suit jacket, but why would you want to cover up that gorgeous dress you worked so hard to find!?
On a related note: if your date asks you what he should wear, suggest a complimentary color to your dress. Matchy matchy isn’t necessary but something that doesn’t totally clash is a nice idea.
Tip #3: Keep it Classy and Don’t Go Barefoot
There are a few things in life I’m certain of and this is one: your feet WILL hurt after a few hours of dancing in heels. I don’t care how comfortable those heels felt when you tried them on at DSW, that comfy feeling will not last all night long! Resist the urge to go barefoot on the dance floor (keep it classy, ladies) and plan ahead of time: pack a pair of glitter flats or fancy flip flops in your purse to switch into.
Tip #4: Don’t Wear the Bride’s “Color”
Are the bridemaids going to be wearing periwinkle? Yes? Then avoid periwinkle! You don’t want people to mistake you for a bridesmaid so try to find out the bride’s colors ahead of time and steer clear of it. (And yes, I’m wearing periwinkle to my sister’s wedding in April, take note!)
Tip #5: Who Wore it Best? – Beware
I speak from personal experience: it’s embarrassing when another guest is wearing the same dress as you. Oh, the horror! Here’s how to avoid it: don’t wear a dress currently being featured in the window of Ann Taylor Loft — or any other big mall retailer. A lot of women wait until the last minute and then suddenly realize they have nothing to wear. So what do they do? Race to the mall and buy the first cute dress they can find. Stores like the Loft and Limited offer cute dresses, (trust me, I have pleeenty!), but they’re just so accessible. My challenge to you is to shop ahead of time and find a truly unique dress.
Speaking of, here are a few cute dresses for spring…
Eliza J One Sleeve Printed Dress – $125 from Zappos
I know a lot of women love the color black. It’s slimming, it’s classic. But a little black dress for spring? Boring! Get outside of the box with a black & white print, like this pretty floral design. The one shoulder keeps this dress modern but the cut is crisp and timeless.
Calvin Klein Polka Dot Stretch Cotton Dress – $118 from Nordstrom
Polka dots makes me happy. And this Calvin Klein sundress is proof that a polka dots can be both happy and sexy. Feminine sundresses are great for the spring weddings — just be sure to pick a nice, sturdy fabric so that your dress doesn’t resemble a beach coverup. The pleats in this skirt keep it just dressy enough.
eShakti Pleated Frill Trim Poplin Dress – $49 from eShakti.com
Conceal curvy hips in this flirty style. Has anyone shopped at eShakti before? My friend, Julianna, tipped me off to this site and I’m amazed at how affordable everything is. Also, for an additional $7.50, you can order a dress with your exact measurements. How cool is that?! This dress also comes in 8 other colors.
ASOS Cutaway Tailored Sleeveless Shift – on sale for $60 at ASOS.com
I must confess: yellow is my favorite color. For years, I’ve been feeling like clothing designers have been totally overlooking this bright and confident color… until now! I’ve been seeing a spectrum of yellow dresses lately. What a perfect color for a spring wedding! (the dress below also comes in 4 other colors).
BCBGeneration Cap Sleeve Satin Dress – on sale for $70 at Lord & Taylor
Want something bolder? Wear this dress and I assure you that you’ll be the most fun party goer there. BCBGeneration makes a plethora of cute cocktail dresses. Here are two of my favorites:
BCBGeneration Dress, Sleeveless Ruffled Dress – $80 at Macy’s.com
Ruffles, bestill my heart. I’d pair this girly look with bold turquoise jewelry just to give it a little kick. So pretty.
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