Contrary to popular belief, not all little girls dream of a big white wedding. Brides who have always been a bit of a tom boy or who appreciate alternative fashions, may not feel comfortable walking down the aisle in a big, fluffy white gown that would not look out of place on a Disney Princess! While a girls wedding is always the most important day of their lives and every girl, no matter her tastes or personality, will want to look her best on her big day she will still want to feel like herself and be comfortable in front of her loved ones. So if you think a perfect wedding is all about the big white dress, think again! Many brides are opting for shorter, colourful gowns and are stepping away from the type of bridal fabrics one may associate with a traditional wedding dress.
If you are not the kind of girl who wants to walk down the aisle in a big white meringue, take inspiration from your interests or favourite music genre and using our fantastic range of bridal fabrics create something truly unique and well, you! Over the years we have seen many fashions come and go and the change in style is always reflected in the type of bridal fabrics we see gaining in popularity. One of the major influences in bridal fashions, along with the catwalks, is celebrity weddings and lately we have seen a distinct rise in the popularity of alternative bridal fabrics thanks to stars such as Avril Lavigne and Keira Knightley.
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Shanae Grimes wore a stunning black Vera Wang for her 2013 wedding.[/caption]
Largely thanks to Vera Wang's Spring/Summer 2014 collection when it comes to weddings black is the new white. Whilst black wedding gowns were once confined to a few alternative boutiques, since Vera showcased a stunning collection of ebony bridal fabrics the fashion has become more mainstream with many of the large high street retailers now stocking elaborate gowns in shades of ebony and charcoal. Rock chick Avril Lavigne wore a stunning ebony gown when she walked down the aisle with Nickleback's Chad Kroeger in 2013 at the Chateau de la Napoule on the French Riviera and 90210 star Shanae Grimes looked incredible in a stunning black Vera Wang creation at her 2013 wedding to Josh Beech. Shanae opted for traditional bridal fabrics with a twist for her unusual gown with a lace bodice and full organza skirt set off by a bouquet of stunning bright red roses. For those brides who choose black bridal fabrics, they can be slimming and sexy but be careful to avoid looking like you are in mourning by keeping your hair soft, simple and romantic and inject colour into your proceedings with bright bouquets and decorations.
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Jessica Biel showed us pink can be classy when she married Justin Timberlake in 2012.[/caption]
Black is not the only colour of bridal fabric that has come back into fashion over the past few years. When Katie Price tied the knot with Peter Andre she took the idea of a fairytale wedding a step too far when she arrived in a horse drawn carriage wearing an enormous sugar pink puffball creation and for many brides who have dreamed of a fairytale, cinderella inspired ceremony the illusion of a pink wedding dress was ruined forever. With the arrival of smash hit TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding many brides to be have continued to shy away from the pink princess creation for fear of appearing tacky and tasteless however, actress Jessica Biel showed us that pink can be stylish and classy when she wed her beau Justin Timberlake in 2013. Insisting that she wasn't falling victim to a passing trend but following her own intuition when choosing her frothy pink Giambattista Valli creation, Jessica wanted her wedding dress to be feminine and romantic and took a leap of faith by wearing the fuchsia dress of which she had always dreamed. With her caramel coloured tresses styled in a sleek and romantic chignon, Jessica exuded Old Hollywood Glamour alongside her husband's traditional black tux and showed us that by giving careful consideration to bridal fabrics and to your accessories there is certainly still a place for pink as part of a classic, fairytale ceremony.
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Keira hit the headlines for her up cycled Chanel wedding dress in 2013.[/caption]
It is not just the colour of bridal fabrics that can be experimented with but also the length of your gown. Keira Knightley stayed true to herself with a low key ceremony and even recycled one of her favourite Chanel dresses for the relaxed proceedings. Whilst we may not all be able to afford a custom made Chanel for our special day that does not mean that our wedding dress has to be a one time thing. By carefully selecting the correct bridal fabrics you can create something that can be worn again and as your wedding dress can be a huge expense it makes sense to choose something a little more versatile. Keira first wore her tulle Chanel creation back in 2008 and paired with a pair of sunglasses and her trademark bohemian hairstyle she was effortlessly cool for her May 2013 wedding to musician James Righton. For a couple who are known to value their privacy, the low-key celebration and relaxed hippie atmosphere was perfect for the free spirited couple and Keira was even spotted wearing her wedding dress for a third time at a London gala at the end of 2013.
If you do choose to opt for something a little out of the ordinary it is important to carefully consider your choice of bridal fabrics and your chosen dress design to ensure that you will not end up living to regret your choice in later years. You do not want to end up hiding your wedding pictures away in a drawer for fear of being reminded of your fashion crime for years to come. Style icon Sarah Jessica Parker admits that she regrets the black gown she wore for her wedding in 1997 and has admitted that if she were to marry again she would choose a traditional white gown. Alternative bridal fabrics can work extremely well when they are chosen for the right reasons, be careful not to make the mistake of choosing an unusual gown in order follow a fashion trend or emulate a celebrity. Stay true to yourself and ensure that your wedding dress reflects your every day style and personality and you cannot go far wrong.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
Shanae Grimes wore a stunning black Vera Wang for her 2013 wedding.[/caption]
Largely thanks to Vera Wang's Spring/Summer 2014 collection when it comes to weddings black is the new white. Whilst black wedding gowns were once confined to a few alternative boutiques, since Vera showcased a stunning collection of ebony bridal fabrics the fashion has become more mainstream with many of the large high street retailers now stocking elaborate gowns in shades of ebony and charcoal. Rock chick Avril Lavigne wore a stunning ebony gown when she walked down the aisle with Nickleback's Chad Kroeger in 2013 at the Chateau de la Napoule on the French Riviera and 90210 star Shanae Grimes looked incredible in a stunning black Vera Wang creation at her 2013 wedding to Josh Beech. Shanae opted for traditional bridal fabrics with a twist for her unusual gown with a lace bodice and full organza skirt set off by a bouquet of stunning bright red roses. For those brides who choose black bridal fabrics, they can be slimming and sexy but be careful to avoid looking like you are in mourning by keeping your hair soft, simple and romantic and inject colour into your proceedings with bright bouquets and decorations.
[caption id="attachment_6399" align="alignright" width="189"] Jessica Biel showed us pink can be classy when she married Justin Timberlake in 2012.[/caption]
Black is not the only colour of bridal fabric that has come back into fashion over the past few years. When Katie Price tied the knot with Peter Andre she took the idea of a fairytale wedding a step too far when she arrived in a horse drawn carriage wearing an enormous sugar pink puffball creation and for many brides who have dreamed of a fairytale, cinderella inspired ceremony the illusion of a pink wedding dress was ruined forever. With the arrival of smash hit TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding many brides to be have continued to shy away from the pink princess creation for fear of appearing tacky and tasteless however, actress Jessica Biel showed us that pink can be stylish and classy when she wed her beau Justin Timberlake in 2013. Insisting that she wasn't falling victim to a passing trend but following her own intuition when choosing her frothy pink Giambattista Valli creation, Jessica wanted her wedding dress to be feminine and romantic and took a leap of faith by wearing the fuchsia dress of which she had always dreamed. With her caramel coloured tresses styled in a sleek and romantic chignon, Jessica exuded Old Hollywood Glamour alongside her husband's traditional black tux and showed us that by giving careful consideration to bridal fabrics and to your accessories there is certainly still a place for pink as part of a classic, fairytale ceremony.
[caption id="attachment_6400" align="alignleft" width="128"] Keira hit the headlines for her up cycled Chanel wedding dress in 2013.[/caption]
It is not just the colour of bridal fabrics that can be experimented with but also the length of your gown. Keira Knightley stayed true to herself with a low key ceremony and even recycled one of her favourite Chanel dresses for the relaxed proceedings. Whilst we may not all be able to afford a custom made Chanel for our special day that does not mean that our wedding dress has to be a one time thing. By carefully selecting the correct bridal fabrics you can create something that can be worn again and as your wedding dress can be a huge expense it makes sense to choose something a little more versatile. Keira first wore her tulle Chanel creation back in 2008 and paired with a pair of sunglasses and her trademark bohemian hairstyle she was effortlessly cool for her May 2013 wedding to musician James Righton. For a couple who are known to value their privacy, the low-key celebration and relaxed hippie atmosphere was perfect for the free spirited couple and Keira was even spotted wearing her wedding dress for a third time at a London gala at the end of 2013.
If you do choose to opt for something a little out of the ordinary it is important to carefully consider your choice of bridal fabrics and your chosen dress design to ensure that you will not end up living to regret your choice in later years. You do not want to end up hiding your wedding pictures away in a drawer for fear of being reminded of your fashion crime for years to come. Style icon Sarah Jessica Parker admits that she regrets the black gown she wore for her wedding in 1997 and has admitted that if she were to marry again she would choose a traditional white gown. Alternative bridal fabrics can work extremely well when they are chosen for the right reasons, be careful not to make the mistake of choosing an unusual gown in order follow a fashion trend or emulate a celebrity. Stay true to yourself and ensure that your wedding dress reflects your every day style and personality and you cannot go far wrong.
Until next time!
Calico Laine