Wedding Ideas | Bridal Inspiration | Style
More often than not, brides seem to fear color. They splash one, maybe two colors into their wedding and shy away from anything more.
If this sounds like you (hey, it was me!) it’s my mission to show you that you can incorporate multiple colors into your day without looking like a circus (unless, of course, that’s what you’re going for!)
Dressing your maids in different hues is a really bold way to add color to your wedding. It gives off a fun, eclectic vibe and is 
anything but stuffy. First, choose colors that compliment each other. Next, make sure that there’s something that ties the looks together. Here, the blue top of the 2Faced convertible dress by Darci Juliette and the blue sash of the Origami dress by L.J. Lambillotte make the looks cohesive.
It’s also important to make sure that the fabrics of the dresses you choose are compatible. You don’t want one bridesmaid in something heavy and matte while another is in something light, airy and shimmery.
You can also add a big burst of color with a bold accessory. Linden Lovebirds’ cute flower headband is a great example. Made for adults as well as children, the big bloom is so much fun—especially in such a bright, happy color. 
It’s a great alternative to those pearl and crystal pins and clips that are everywhere.
If dresses and hairpieces in big, bold colors are a little out of your comfort zone, there are plenty of other ways to add splashes of color. Accessories are great for that. Instead of the big blocks of color that a dress gives you or the in-your-face color of a big bloom, most accessories add little drips and dribbles while still being interesting.
Take this pearl cluster bracelet by Ami Designs. The dark teal, blue and aqua glass pearls in varying sizes would add a great boost to any bride or bridesmaid’s look (and it would look pretty cool with either of the dresses shown above!).
Another winning option is a bold necklace. Marañón makes incredible hand-embroidered accessories like the peacock fan necklace 
shown here. Unique and bold, you could add this to your own look for something totally unexpected. Another really fun idea is building your bridesmaids’ looks around this piece by picking up the colors of the necklace for the girls’ dresses and using the necklace itself as what ties them all together.
Now, if adding bold colors is just not you no matter how 
small the dose, these more subtle pieces might be more up your alley. I’m in love with this sash by Frippelous. Six hand-dyed ribbon roses (in the colors of your choice!) are sewn onto satin ribbon for a look that manages to be both classic and unexpected. This sash would look phenomenal on a wedding dress and would be a great addition to any bridesmaid or flower girl dress.
I also adore these necklace options, which have the same effect as the sash shown above. Lonkoosh’s one-of-a-kind vintage cluster necklace is a great way for a bride to make a statement. Soft and romantic, it’s got a variety of colors you can play with in other areas of your wedding (flowers, place settings, just about anything!).
This stunning necklace by Marlo Noël can be used the same way. With so many colors that work together brilliantly and all of those gorgeous facets, you absolutely could not go wrong with wearing this beauty while you walk down the aisle. It’s the kind of piece that people would talk about whenever your wedding came up in conversation.
If none of these options are subtle enough for your taste, you can always
wear a stone with an aurora borealis coating. These pretties from Design by Kara are a great example. The aurora borealis coating takes earrings that would have been simple and lovely up a notch by adding an iridescent, rainbow-like hue. Wearing them will bring an unexpected glimmer and will draw all eyes towards your glowing face.
So don’t be afraid of color, ladies. No matter how big or small the dose, adding color makes your look that much more interesting.
Jennifer Garry is a writer and accessories designer living in Westchester, NY with her husband and daughter. When she's not up to her ears in kiddie crafts, you can find her swimming in a pool of beads. Her obsessions include tea, chocolate, sarcasm and her daughter's giggle--any of which can be used to coax her from her little jewelry-making fantasy world.
There are pros and cons to each.
Let's face it: there is just something so romantic about vintage dresses. Not to be cliche, but they just don't make 'em like they used to. The feminine silhouettes of vintage patterns, while echoed in many modern designs, are often very different from what you find on the racks at bridal shops these days!
Yet, with an original wedding gown from, say, the 1930's you may be faced with what age does to material. The sun can fade fabric or give it a slightly less-than-virginal patina. You may also find that on some vintage gowns there are old stains that are unlikely to come out. If you luck out, you may find a vintage wedding gown that has been kept in mint condition!
Vintage sizes also run differently than modern ones. A size 9 from the 1970s is more likely to fit a modern 3-6. So buying online can be a little tricky. A good online vintage shop will give you very precise measurements that you can then use to see if the dress will fit you, regardless of the size that it is marked.
Time can also begin can deconstruct a garment. Seams might have begun to pull, or tiny pinholes might be found due to snags or moths. Silk will begin to break down after long exposure to sun or heat.
If you can't actually hold the garment in your hands before purchasing it, be sure to ask a seller about these kinds of flaws. "Excellent Vintage Condition" can mean very different things to different sellers. Pay particular attention to the ways in which garments are described. The more thoroughly a garment is described, the more likely it is that the seller understands vintage clothing and what to look for.
So what about Reproductions? There are a plethora of fantastic sites and stores out there that sell vintage-inspired clothing. Maybe all you want is the vintage cut of a dress or for it to be reminiscent of an age passed.
One bride that I had photographed last summer wore a dress from J.Crew that I would have sworn was from the 1930's at first glance.
Some of the benefits of a Reproduction are that the sizes are more likely to run "true," although every designer has a different fit model that they base their sizes off of. So always look at the measurements! It's also nice to know that no one has ever danced, eaten and sweat in your wedding gown. The likelihood of it smelling like mothballs is also pretty low.
But what about the con's of a Reproduction dress? Unless you are buying from a high-end designer, many Reproductions are made out of cheaper, synthetic fabrics and are not constructed with the same care and craft that a vintage wedding dress would have been.
So when searching out that perfect dress for your vintage styled wedding, try to find shops and boutiques that you can visit in person to inspect a dress. Seek out brick and mortar boutiques near your home town, as well as online sellers who might live within a reasonable distance!
Even if it means a mini road trip, your dress is worth it!
Jen Kiaba is a photographer and burgeoning crafter who lives in Rhinebeck, NY with her lovely boyfriend, two crazy cats and an adorable basset hound. When her hands aren't covered in tacky glue, she specializes in taking romantic portraits of happy couples in the Hudson Valley!
How to Plan the Perfect Honeymoon in Brazil
One of the largest countries in the world, Brazil is also one of most romantic. My first trip there was an incredible odyssey of sights, sounds, tastes and scents. 
Brazil is exuberant by nature. Almost 4,500 miles of coastline, the largest forest in the world, everywhere you look is a reason to be enchanted, emotional and head over heels in love with the country. It's the only country in the west where Portuguese is the national language. It's home to Sugarloaf, the Green Coast and the Pampas. About 10 hours flight time from NYC, this is where you can start your lives together.
Divided into 27 states, Brazil offers ecotourism at its best. In the Amazon district, the rivers are as wide as seas, the rainforest magnificent and the natural inhabitants of both will give you a feast for your senses. The splendor of these natural wonders includes bird watching, trekking/hiking, climbing and taking boat journeys along the rivers.
An Amazon tour or Amazon cruise is a way to relax and take in the wonder of the rainforest, which is also home to some well-known animals: the jaguar and the boa constrictor. Believe me, a trip to Brazil is really incomplete without a trip to the Amazon. Are you ready to face an anaconda together?
Sometimes described as being one of the 7 natural Wonders of the World, Iguacu Falls offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in another eco-tourist's dream. It's on the largest piece of non-Amazon forest in South America. It is most dramatic during high water, but even in lean rain years it presents a view that is magnificent. It is one and a half times as high as Niagara Falls, semi-circular, and over two and a half miles wide. These falls are one of the greatest showcase areas of Brazil, and were developed with visitors in mind. This region offers great food, great lodgings, great tours, and great times.
If you two are water babies. Brazil offers some of the most hedonistic beaches in the world. Try Ipanema, Copacabana, Pipa, located in the southern end of the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, which is visited by turtles and dolphins as well as Fernando de Noronha, one of the world's most beautiful beaches.
Fernando de Noronha, an area actually consisting of 21 islands off of Recife, is known for its sunny lands, warm and crystal clear waters, white sands with palm trees and cool sea breezes. Each
island has several beaches to choose from. These beaches offer swimming, snorkeling, parasailing and myriad other activities besides sunbathing. The constant breezes also make this area a popular windsurfing and kite-surfing destination. Enjoy coconut milk, straight from the trees and fresh fish right from local waters.
You will have your choice of 6, 5, 4 and 3 star accommodations hotels and resorts or family-run inns or even staying on working ranches. Or you can opt for an east coast South American cruise departing out of Florida that ports in several of Brazil's exciting coastal cities. The cruise lines offer shore excursions that can take you to the most popular on-land destinations.
Brazil is one of the most fascinating and beautiful countries I have ever visited. The people are a kaleidoscope of beauty, fun and immense hearts living in a country as vast as the horizon. If you are dreaming of an incredible and different place for a honeymoon, then you're dreaming of the best Brazil has to offer. Brazil is a place where your honeymoon dreams can come true.
Emma McKnight is travel agent specializing in cruise vacations. View her website at: Cruise With Emma or contact her.
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