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. :)

Inspiration Board: Blue Modern Vintage

For this post, I'm giving you inspirations for a modern vintage wedding.

The combination of the words "modern" and "vintage" got me confused at first, but when I saw weddings that had this theme, I finally figured that it's basically blending the two together, putting vintage elements in a modern-style wedding.

Usually themes like this would incorporate gold, white, and black for a classic look. Sometimes they infuse pink or orange in this theme, too. For my inspiration board, I'm going for blue, white, and gold. Hope you like it!

Sources: Elite Palace, Amy Atlas, Lazaro by JLM Couture, Etsy, Peculiar Pair Press, Chelsea Nicole Photography, Arrow Vintage Cars, Designer Cakes by April via Flickr, Jim Hjelm Occasions by JLM Couture.

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. :)