Wedding Ideas | Bridal Inspiration | Style
When I was planning my wedding last summer I paid a lot of attention to the flower girl—and I should have, considering that our flower girl was our three-year-old daughter. I wanted her to wear a dress that was not only similar to mine in color but one that was really comfortable. Comfortable shoes were another must. Like everything I do, I went into research mode.
My flower girl ensemble obsession led me to a lot of the same things: white dresses, white satin baskets, rose petals. Blah. While your flower girl will doubtlessly be adorable no matter what you send her down the aisle in, there are so many more options than the old standbys.
For one, think about injecting a little color into her look. This adorable sequined ballgown by Belle du Jour is a fabulous place to start. The soft Cinderella-blue 
color and sparkles would make any little lady feel like a princess (and a happy flower girl is much more manageable than one who hates her dress and is pouting about it all day). Just as important, the subdued color would work well with a variety of color palettes (who says everything has to match perfectly?!).
You can also do something different with her hairpiece. Crowns of flowers are totally adorable, but if you’re looking for something different you could try something like Virginia Geiger’s sweet headband. Three silk flowers 
(in the color of your choice!) are adorned with Swarovski crystal pearls to create a classic look that could definitely be worn again. Easy to dress up or dress down, this versatile piece is a cute twist on the standard flower girl look.
If you’d like to step away from in-your-face floral, you will love this bow headband from Wedding Aisle. Made from hand-cut silk and accented with a small blue flower, this piece is available in a variety of colors (from turquoise to tea stained). Unlike most of the flower girl headpieces I’ve ever seen, this pretty piece is fun and feminine without the explosion of flowers.
Another fun way to accessorize your flower girl is with a necklace that’s just like the big girls’. This personalized piece from Say Anything Jewelry is great for bridesmaids and flower girls alike. The small sterling silver flower can be hand stamped with her initial and you can add a pearl or crystal that picks up the color in 
her dress or the flowers. A pretty gift that she can wear for years to come, it’s also perfect for your wedding day!
Possibly my favorite part about shopping around for flower girl accessories is looking for that special something she’ll carry down the aisle. Like most people, I’m sure your brain automatically goes to those ubiquitous white satin baskets. But there are so many other ways to go! If you’re dead set on a basket, consider one that reflects the feel of your wedding a little bit better. Going for a woodland theme? Bragging Bags offers an incredible rustic basket that can be personalized with your initials. Lined with moss and accented with pretty paper flowers, this basket is absolutely perfect for outdoor summer weddings.
A great alternative to a basket is a pomander (sometimes called a kissing ball). The one shown here by Emma Leigh Designs would also work really well at a rustic wedding. The six-inch satin ribbon that the ball (which is covered in natural rope) hangs from can be changed to any color you want.
Petal cones are another unexpected (and easy to carry!) alternative to baskets. The eco-friendly one shown here by Orange and Blossom is made with paper from managed timber sources and printed with water-based and solvent and VOC-free inks. The vintage-inspired pattern and pale yellow and grey color are totally unique and absolutely gorgeous.
Another cute option (and one that any little girl would adore) is a flower wand. Maihar Design makes the ones shown here. Available in eight different colors, the hand-sewn silk flowers are attached to “stems” that are wrapped in green grosgrain ribbon. Great for playing dress up after the Big Day, I don’t know any little girl who doesn’t love to wave a wand around!
Like most of the details of your wedding, your flower girl’s look doesn’t have to be a cookie cutter example of what you would see if you type “flower girl” into your search engine of choice. With just a little digging you can find some adorable, unexpected pieces that she can use again and again.
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.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of vintage style. But until recently, I was in love with new things that are made to look vintage rather than actual vintage pieces. I turned my nose up, looking at vintage finds as someone else’s garbage and automatically thinking they would have that old lady’s 
attic smell. But it’s not true! I’m not really sure what caused the dramatic turn around, but I am suddenly finding myself longing for vintage everything: dresses, accessories, even home décor. Going vintage is a great (eco-friendly!!!) option.
I absolutely love the idea of incorporating vintage finds into your wedding day look. Each piece carries with it a lifetime of stories and there’s something so powerful about that. I’ve heard some people shut down the idea, superstitious about what may have happened in the lives (or marriages) of the people who owned the pieces. But instead, look at these finds as small tales of endurance. No matter what trials and tribulations they’ve suffered, they have made it through—a great lesson to incorporate into your wedding day. Thanks to places like Etsy, Ebay and the plethora of vintage and consignment shops throughout the Hudson Valley, you can easily put together a bridal look comprised of all vintage pieces.
If you’ve made the decision to wear a vintage wedding gown, you probably know exactly what type of look you want. Are you a hippie at heart? Casual, flowy pieces like this gorgeous 70s Boho Princess wedding dress (above left) would be perfect for you. This pretty cotton-blend dress offered by Lotus Vintage NY is great for a low-key outdoor ceremony. The flutter sleeves and pretty lace detail are sweet touches, while the deep v criss-cross neckline adds a little touch of sexiness.
If you’re in the market for something a little more traditional, Timeless Vixen Vintage offers this cool floor-length criss-cross halter dress from the 60s (above right). Unique and a perfect cut for most body types (it nips in at the waist and flairs out at the hips), just about any bride will look gorgeous in this dress.
A vintage hairpiece adds so much charm to your wedding day look. I am in love with this piece offered by Capricious Traveler. This gorgeous feather hat (above left) from the 40s is totally unique. I mean, have you ever gone to a wedding where a bride wore anything like it?! The combination of feathers and a touch of sequins are just exquisite. Can you hear me squealing from here?
You can also find some really cute vintage shoes. I love these little peep toe heels from Animal Head Vintage. Between the peep toe and the adorable bow, these shoes 
would look fabulous with a tea length dress—not to say they wouldn’t be equally fabulous with a longer gown, but a short look would let them shine!
Jewelry is probably the most obvious thing to turn to vintage pieces for. With so many vintage-inspired looks in the market, why not go with something that is actually vintage? These sweet little screw-back earrings from Lila-Jo are a great place to start. An absolute steal at just $6, these earrings would bring a nice punch of glamour to any look. They would look stunning paired with this absolutely breathtaking (and pristine!) Bridal Bow pin from Coloradofinds. 
From circa 1920s-30s, this brooch is in amazing condition with absolutely no discoloration of the stones or worn plating. This beauty would be perfect to accent your gown or even to wear in your hair!
Yet another fabulous find is this Art Deco bracelet owned by Jan Cox of Aged and Opulent Jewelry. Sparkly and regal looking, the cobalt blue glass stones are to die for. This piece is perfect to add “something blue” to your look while upping your 
glam factor.
As you can see, you can find so many incredible vintage pieces that would look gorgeous on any bride. All you have to do is a little digging around in the right places.
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.
Pretty much every couple wants amazing engagement photos. But how do you make it happen? 
The first step is choosing your photographer. When looking for a photographer, either for your engagement session or for your wedding (and since many photographers are offering engagement sessions with their wedding packages, it is likely going to be the same person), you should choose someone whose photos speak to you. Their photos should evoke something inside of you emotionally. When you are looking back at your photos years from now, you will want photos that are not only beautiful but reflect you as a couple.
Think ahead - plan it out - be creative
You don't have to spend weeks planning and stressing out over your engagement session, but the more time you spend thinking about it, the more relaxed you will be on the day of the shoot because you have worked it out ahead of time. Work together as a couple to come up with a theme for your engagement photos. Talk to your photographer about telling a story with your pictures.
Choose locations that you truly appreciate...
The locations you choose for your engagement photos are one of the biggest choices you are going to make. Do you choose spots that make for cool looking backdrops or locations that mean 
something personal to you? Either one or both is fine - but the more the place connects to your relationship, the more they are going to mean to you in the years to come. Some places to consider:
- The place you first met or had your first date.
- The spot where he proposed.
- The restaurant or coffee shop that you frequent most often.
- A location with lots of bright colors (flowers, graffiti, etc.)
- A nearby location with a great view (skyline, landscape, etc) that the two of you love.
Note: Consider the light and time of day when choosing your locations.
A lot of couples want to schedule their session in the middle of the day, thinking it will be the brightest time of day and therefore the best lighting. Unfortunately, the mid-day sun not only causes harsh shadows (which a well-prepared photographer can correct) but it is also the HOTTEST time of day. Do you want to be melting in your engagement photos?
Bring Props!
It has become more and more popular to bring props to the engagement session (balloons, food, a family pet, etc.) Props can help you solidify the theme of your engagement session. Also, if you are not someone who is terribly comfortable in front of a camera, props give you something to hold on to and play with - which will help you RELAX!
A note of caution: Don't go overboard with the props, too many can become distracting and remember, you have to carry them around from place to place.
Bring several wardrobe choices...
Having a few different outfits that you can easily change into gives you a lot more variety in your photos. It depends on how much time you have with your photographer, but if you have plenty of time and a way to haul the clothes around - more options are better. You can even go with a different look for each different location.
If you don't have a lot of time or a place to change along the way, adding or removing a layer or an accessory can give you a completely different look.
Have fun!
Listen, there are a lot of people out there who don't like having their picture taken or posing for photos. If this is you, consider taking the photos while you're doing something you both enjoy (biking, cooking, dancing, etc.) Once you are feeling relaxed, take it outside your comfort zone - you've got one shot at these pictures so don't leave anything on the table. Jump in the water, roll around on the ground, throw food at each other - go crazy! If you want truly knockout engagement photos, take it to the next level.
Casey Fatchett is the owner of Casey Fatchett Photography and has been photographing weddings and events in the Tri-State area (and nationwide) for over 10 years. He is an 
active member of the WPJA and WPPI. He's currently giving away a FREE "Let's Have Fun" Photo Session in NYC!
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