Black bridesmaid dresses

Here in my country, the Philippines, the elders frown upon black as a wedding color. It represents mourning, they say. But today, more and more couples are doing the bold move of using black for their wedding motif.

A few days ago, I stumbled upon a forum member asking how to pull off black for her bridesmaids. She was worried that their black dresses would look drab in pictures. That got me thinking about black bridesmaid dresses and how the girls can still look pretty even in that color. See what I found on the Net:

Top, left to right: Alfred Angelo, Alyce Designs, Eden Bridals, Nordstrom.
Bottom, left to right: Barry Jay, Jordan Fashions, JLM Couture, Sophia Tolli.

I say, it's an elegant color, especially for evening or glamorous Hollywood-themed weddings. By itself, paired with jewels or matched with other colors, black can be an elegant color for your bridesmaids.

Hope this got you inspired!

New gowns from BHLDN

Yes, here I am once again to give you a showcase of new wedding dresses, this time from BHLDN. Looking at their latest collection, I find myself falling in love with this company all over again.

I am particularly enamored by the Elysium gown, which features an illusion neckline filled with embroidery:

Elysium gown

... the neckline actually reminded me of what Emma Watson wore for the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I think the tulle/ illusion neckline is in vogue!

The Arcadia gown, meanwhile, utilizes floral appliques made from organza, chiffon, and tulle:

Arcadia gown

The skirt features a slit that gives it a sexy look while allowing your shoes to steal a bit of the show.

The Windswept gown is also one of my favorites, with the feather-and-leaf trims at the bottom:

Windswept gown

And while this isn't a gown per se, the Counterpart Shell top and Tulle Tiers Skirt form an awesome bridal ensemble:

Tulle Tiers Skirt and Counterpart Shell Top

For brides-to-be who'd like to veer from the traditional style, BHLDN offers dresses and separates that are laid-back and adventurous yet still very stunning. Check out their new releases on their website.

Marchesa Bridals - Spring 2012

Marchesa presents its new bridal collection for Spring 2012. The latest design features sheer fabrics, vine-like patterns, and dainty floral flourishes that will surely capture every bride-to-be's fancy.

The Violet dress instantly caught my eye, with its sheer neckline and vine detail from the shoulders to the bodice:

Violet (Spring 2012)

The Eloise utilizes the peplum skirt design:

Eloise (Spring 2012)

With its frilly ballgown skirt, Luisa is sure to be the choice of romantic brides:

Luisa (Spring 2012)

For ladies who want to showcase their hourglass figures, Talitha will definitely do the trick. The lace appliques also spell glamour:

Talitha (Spring 2012)

And for the modern bride who goes for the non-traditional short bridal dress, Sienna is a beautiful option:

Sienna (Spring 2012)

There are lots of other gorgeous wedding dresses in their website, so go there and check out Marchesa's Spring 2012 bridal collection. There's surely one dress that you'll fall in love with.

Toilet Paper wedding dresses

Yes, you read that right. Cheap Chic Weddings held a contest on the best wedding dress creation using rolls and rolls of toilet paper. And you'd be surprised with how creative the entries were.

The winning dress was made of 4 rolls of toilet paper, glue, and packing tape:

Susan Brennan's flower-and-feather strapless dress wins her USD 1,000.

The 2nd place dress was also cute, with layers of ruffles for the skirt. This was made from 1-ply tissue, duct tape, spray adhesive, and first aid tape:

Laura Lee's strapless dress with layered ruffled skirt

I personally liked the 3rd place creation, which used 20 rolls of toilet paper to achieve the flowers and the frilly train:

Wonderful skirt and train details from Cynthia Richards' entry. Her daughter helped create this piece.

It's so wonderful how designers, professional and budding, can come up with amazing wedding dresses like these -- and they're even made from everyday household materials such as toilet paper! Just goes to show that creativity can go a long, long way.

La Sposa's Colecciones Avances 2012

Wedding dress maker La Sposa gives brides-to-be a reason to salivate once again! Their new collections for 2012 can be now viewed on their website, http://www.splasposa.com.

The dresses come in various silhouettes, but all are absolutely beautiful. Samoa, below, features an A-line silhouette:

Samoa - Glamour collection

Samba, on the other hand, features a mermaid/ trumpet silhouette, great for slim brides:

Samba - Glamour collection

Utilizing the sheath silhouette is Sensacion, also from the Glamour collection:

Sensacion - Glamour collection

If you're all for the Cinderella-type of dress, the Saguinto or Sari will surely be wonderful choices:

Saguinto - Ballgown collection

Sari - Ballgown collection

The Selim wedding dress makes use of illusion with tulle over the main dress:

Selim - Costura collection

La Sposa also features wedding gowns with necklines other than strapless. Check these dresses out:

Selva - Glamour collection

Sacha - Fashion collection

Sagaro - Fashion collection

For a dose of romance, choose the Salem dress which features lots of ruffles on the skirt:

Salem - Dreams collection

The Salsa dress will surely be the top choice of the modern bride, with its streamlined design and side pockets:

Salsa - Glamour collection

For every type of bride -- classic, modern, romantic, chic -- there's a La Sposa dress that fits your personality. Check out more dresses from La Sposa's 2012 collection.

Modest wedding dresses

My apologies for not having posted anything for the past few days. That's because I went with my parents to their home province in Bohol, Philippines. While there, I got to visit, aside from Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers, the old baroque-style churches. And you know what, aside from their centuries-old artifacts and intricate ceiling paintings, one thing that caught my attention is how strict these churches are when it comes to the dress code.

Those hearing Mass must not wear sleeveless tops and shorts. Those who want to get wed in those churches had to follow a strict dress code of not wearing sleeveless, backless, strapless, and even off-the-shoulder dresses. Yep, all the dresses -- from the bride down to her entourage -- should cover the shoulders. And this is where I get my inspiration for today: modest wedding dresses.

A lot of the gowns you can see in the market feature those strapless or one-shoulder neckline. But for brides who want a bit of coverage, they don't have to fret. They can still be sexy without showing off too much, just like the models here wearing these modest wedding dresses:

Top row, from left: Ian Stuart, Justin Alexander, Vera Wang, Anna Schimmel.
Bottom row, from left: Le Spose di Gio, Tsai Meiyue, Allure Bridals, Juanjo Oliva via iVillage.com.

The sleeves can be part of the dress or a component of a jacket or cover-up. In any case, they somewhat hide the shoulders and the upper arm.

Opting for modest wedding dresses doesn't necessarily mean that the bride's too shy to show some skin. Rather it just means that you're just confident enough that your dress doesn't need to scream how sexy you are. :)

Wedding dress inspirations from the Oscars 2011 looks, part 2

In continuation of the Oscar-based post, here are more red carpet looks that you can emulate for your wedding day:

Scarlett Johansson looked so pretty in her lacy high-neck dress from Dolce and Gabbana. If lace is your thing, the dress on the right from Justin Alexander is the perfect choice for you.

Hilary Swank's Vera Wang dress had feathery details on the skirt, which made it more stunning. For a similar style, pick Fidji from Pronovias' Dream Collection. It's sure to give your wedding gown a unique look.

Mandy Moore chooses the beige version of Monique Lhuillier's Nightingale for this year's Oscars. I kinda like how the color blends into her skin -- it's as if the top part of her body was just showered with glitters and beads. I'd say it's pretty.

Jennifer Hudson looked sizzling hot on this Atelier Versace number. A similar halter-neckline style can be found on this dress from Sarah Houston's Emerald collection.

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine wore a lovely yellow dress from Valentino. Kinda echoed a laid-back, casual vibe, don't you think? If that's your wedding style, then BHLDN's Greenbow Lace Gown is a great dress to wear for your big day.

See, the red carpet offers tons of inspirations for brides-to-be. Hopefully these selections help you choose the bridal style you want to have for your wedding day.

Wedding dress inspirations from the Oscars 2011 looks

Yes, the Oscar fever isn't waning -- and it's here in this blog!

I'm sure aside from anticipating who the winners are (or were, since it's been days after the awards night), people's attention was also on the red carpet, looking at what the stars wore that night. And just like last year, I'm posting amazing dresses on this year's Oscars and wedding gowns that echo the same vibe of what these actresses wore.

Best Actress winner and expectant mom Natalie Portman came in an off-shoulder, empire-waisted purple dress from Rodarte. If you want the same off-shoulder neckline, you can go for Ian Stuart's Costa Rica.

Decolletage -- meaning a really low, revealing, plunging neckline -- became the word of the night as Mila Kunis strutted her stuff on the red carpet wearing an Elie Saab creation. If you're going for the same sexy look, the Clio dress from Jenny Packham will sure make you sizzle as you walk down the aisle.

As one of the hosts for this year's Academy Awards, young style icon Anne Hathaway changed her wardrobe 8 times. Among all of them, the white strapless dress with black beading from the Givenchy Haute Couture caught my attention. The details surely accentuated her lovely figure. You can also get the same effect with this gown from the Demetrios Ultra Sophisticates collection, which also features beading that flatters your waistline.

Fourteen-year-old Hailee Steinfeld made a mark not only for her stellar performance in True Grit but also for donning this beautiful (and age-appropriate) blush-colored Marchesa dress. If, for your wedding day, you want to wear a tea-length dress similar to this, you can choose this style from Sincerity Bridal, which also features the same flowy look.

Helen Mirren looked stunningly regal in her gray Vivienne Westwood dress with 3/4 sleeves. For brides who want to veer away from the usual strapless wedding dress, this Justin Alexander dress with long sleeves exudes the same resplendent look.

I'll be posting more Oscar looks next, so watch out for more. :)

Amanda Wakeley Bridal Lookbook

Looking for a wedding dress that's sexy and has a lot of pizazz? Then browse through the Amanda Wakeley Bridal Lookbook and you just might find the gown that you're looking for.

Divided into 3 categories -- Morocco, Rahjastan, and Desert -- each dress features designs that show some skin yet are still tasteful for a destination or beach wedding. Here are some of the dresses from the collection:

1st row: Looks from the Morocco collection.
2nd row: Dresses from the Rahjastan collection.
3rd row: Selections from the Desert collection.

The first pic on the middle row is for the more adventurous bride, with its bare back design. But if you're a bit shy showing some skin, there are other designs that give you a bit of cover-up without compromising sexiness.

Amanda Wakeley also has other wedding gowns you may want to check out. Take a look at its website today. Who knows, the perfect wedding dress for you might just be there.

Unique bridals from BHLDN

Last February 14, BHLDN launched its online store that features one-of-a-kind wedding dresses, shoes and accessories. Catering to brides who want to stand out, each dress from BHLDN is sure to captivate anyone. See for yourself:

Top row, from left: Pinwheel Tea Dress, Tiered Tulip Gown, Pleated Fantasy Gown, Ethereal Monarch Gown, Eyelet Medley Sheath.
Bottom row, from left: Zinnia Gown, Tulle Era Dress, Floral Artwork Dress, Trumpeted Pavot Gown, Greenbow Lace Gown.

These are just some of the gowns and dresses featured on their website. You can view more gorgeous creations here.

If you're thinking of going vintage or anthropologie-style or just want to have a unique wedding dress that will surely make your guests (and groom) go "ooh" and "ahh," drop by BHLDN and for sure, there's something that you'll fall in love with.

J. Crew Fall 2010 Wedding Lookbook

J. Crew's Wedding Lookbook for Fall 2010 contains 20 new dresses for the bride and her, well, crew. Take a look at the wonderful wedding dresses in this collection:

They also have formal/ party dresses that are great choices for bridesmaids or for wedding guests:

Other beautiful dresses can be found in the J. Crew Fall 2010 Wedding Lookbook. For more bridal looks for you and your bridal party, you can check out their online boutique for more dresses and accessories.

What to wear as a wedding guest

Let's talk being a guest at a wedding this time. Now, once being invited by the soon-to-weds, the next question would most probably be what to wear for the event. Most of the time couples already put the desired attire in the invitation. It may be semi-formal, formal, or black tie. Based on this, what should a wedding guest pick for his or her outfit?

If the invitation says casual, then you probably can wear something like a party dress or a casual suit. Of course, stay away from jeans and t-shirt unless the couple says you can wear them for their wedding.

AK Anne Klein Abstract Floral Print Pleated Dress and John Varvatos Star USA Two Button Seersucker Suit, both from Nordstrom.com.

For a daytime wedding, the ladies can wear a pretty pastel sundress and the gentlemen can wear casual slacks and a dress shirt. Also take note of the venue; if the wedding will be held in a garden or beach, might as well do away with the high heels.

If it's an evening wedding, a short cocktail dress will be fine for the ladies. For the men, a dark suit is a good choice. Wearing a darker color, such as jewel tones or even black, is okay when attending an evening wedding.

Aidan Mattox Strapless Taffeta Rosette Dress from SaksFifthAvenue.com and Othello Suit from TheSuitShop.net.

If the invitation says black tie optional, you can expect it to be an affair to wear something formal. Ladies can wear a short formal cocktail dress or a long dress. Accessorize your look with a few jewels. For the guys, you have the option to wear a tuxedo, or if you don't have one then a dark suit and dark tie is what you should wear.

Style B21052 from SophiaTolli.com and Style ZSU003 from Spurling.com.au.

For weddings that say black tie, then this is the time to get really glamorous and formal. A long gown for the ladies with a bit of sequins plus a jeweled purse is a nice attire for this kind of wedding. The men will have to wear a tuxedo. Buying or renting one would be a must, if he does not have one.

John Yves Parisian (Notch Lapel) Black Tuxedo from FineTuxedos.com and Tiered Chiffon Gown with Side Broach, Style 151842 from Jovani.com.

While weddings can be your chance to dress up, just remember there are still a few rules to follow. Number one on the list is of course not to steal the attention from the bride and groom. Ladies should veer away from wearing a plain white dress (though if it has a printed design, it may be okay just as long as it's not predominantly white). As said above, too casual attires like jeans and t-shirt are not appropriate things to wear for a special event.

If you're opting to wear something black, remember that wearing such color should be reserved for evening weddings. Also, some cultures sometimes do not approve of guests wearing something black for a joyous occasion, so also consider that. Better ask the bride or groom if you could don a black dress for their wedding.

Ladies should also avoid wearing something too sexy or revealing. You're not joining a beauty pageant, you are attending a wedding, a special celebration of a union of two people. Besides, wearing a dress that shows too much skin can take the spotlight away from the bride who, along with the groom, should be the center of the day's attraction.

If the invitation you received does not indicate what attire the couple prefers, the look and feel of the invitation will give you a clue on what to wear. After knowing how formal or casual the wedding will be, I hope this post gives you an idea what to wear as a guest for a wedding.