DRESSED TO IMPRESS

DRESSING THE BRIDAL PARTY THE support ACT Fashion and accessory ideas for the bridesmaids, mothers and groomsmen

When it comes to a wedding day, whether you’re the bride or a guest, the million dollar question for everyone is: what am I going to wear?

For the bride and groom, as they are the stars of the show, it’s likely that they have at least an idea of what their big-day look will be like. But for the rest of the bridal party, where do you begin?

First and foremost, the venue setting and theme of the day is paramount. A long flowing gown for bridesmaids will look out of place in a field for a tipi wedding; similarly, the mother-of-the-bride in a bold, tropical print, summer dress may standout against a stately home wedding venue with a Bridgerton-inspired theme.

Secondly, the weather, us British folk like to moan about it and rightly so, because how many sunny days do we actually have each year? The season and the inclement weather will dictate not only the attire, the colour palette – no one wears pastel yellow in winter! – but also your accessory choice; boleros, jackets and wraps will be your cosy friend for winter ‘I dos’.

Read on, to find out more about on-trend fashion choices for 2022 weddings...

#SQUADGOALS

As much as we all love our friendship groups dearly, there’s a lot of personalities grouped together. The same goes for fashion styles; we all have bits we love about our bodies and bits we don’t. The best thing a wedding couple can do to make their bridal and groom’s party happy is to be relaxed and openminded about the outfits you want them to wear – everyone will then be happy and enjoy the day!

Top trends for maids in 2022 to be inspired by are: ♥ The romance for retro. The ‘90s are back, more so the satin slip dress. Although it may not be for every bodyshape, it’s romantic, elegant, comes in a variety of colours, and is ontrend: satin, spaghetti straps, square necklines – check! ♥ Royal approval. With our love of Bridgerton and period dramas still going strong, Victorian-style ruffles and layers can certainly look the part on a modern silhouette think: shoulders, waterfall skirts, hems and across the body – super flattering too! ♥ Technicolour dreamboat. Gone are the days where all the bridesmaids are in one dress colour and style. The mix and match look is here to stay, and this has evolved to not just colour palettes (all wearing various shades of blue), but also textures. Your bridal party will look gorgeous in a mix of satin, velvet and sequin – and so will your wedding pictures! ♥ Colour swatch. Undecided on your colour scheme? Be inspired by these trending bridesmaid dress tones: neutrals, nudes, black, white and earth tones – venue styling matching these will complete a cohesive look across the day. ♥ Standout from the crowd. If your bride squad encompasses a bridesman, or sometimes people just don’t like wearing dresses, then why not match still in style or colour but opt for a velvet dinner suit jacket, tuxedo, or rock a jumpsuit!

Grooms and groomsmen, and the fathers of the newlyweds too, are certainly taking more pride in their wedding appearance and enjoying the shopping just as much as the leading ladies. Men’s fashion has come a long way in the last decade, along with greater acceptance of breaking wedding traditions and protocols. Some of our favourite grooms’ looks here at An Essex Wedding, are those gents rocking their long beards and tattoos, in a pink waistcoat with patterned shirt – oh-so cool, and toally unique and individual. Embrace you!

If you want to keep it classic with a three-piece tail suit and top hat, then that’s your prerogative, but if you loved the model on the latest GQ Magazine, or Daniel Craig’s look at the latest James Bond No Time To Die premier – Daniel brought velvet back! – then it’s your wedding day, so go for it!

Grooms and their support act can put their best foot forward in these trending styles. The bespoke tailored look: if you’ve never had a professional fitted suit, your wedding day is the occasion. The perfect fit is essential for comfort, looking good in the wedding photos, and you can have little personalised elements added such as your initials and wedding date stitched in to the lining. Catwalk looks: yes, few people look like a Gucci model, but if you like the patterned shirt from the D&G SS22 collection then encompass this in to your groom look – you need to feel like you! Earth tones: key for bridesmaids and venue styling, this will also be a trend for the men on the day too. Think sand-coloured, beige and browns. For something a little fresher go for green palettes. The tux: grooms who still adore the traditional tuxedo can opt for it, but think about variations maybe velvet (aka Bond-style) or a bright colour or patterned effect. Adorn and accessorise: make your personality stand out with your accessory choices – here’s where you can really get creative; a dashing waistcoat, funky watch, or artsy pocket square and braces.

Top tips: ♥ In the case of a large and luxurious wedding, it’s better to opt for a tuxedo, three-piece or tailcoat. ♥ A rustic style wedding allows you to experiment with your outfit – a vest, no tie, moccasins, straw hats, etc. ♥ Whichever style, the groom’s suit must fit perfectly. If it’s made to order, a good tailor will take care of it anyway. If it’s offthe- rack in a store, then it’s worth contacting a workshop/ seamstress and adjusting it. ♥ For slender figures of short and medium height, fitted jackets with narrowed trousers can be a good option, and for fuller and taller men, a straight cut is suitable. ♥ In the summer, opt for a light colour and fabric such as silk, satin, cotton and linen. For winter wool, corduroy, velvet in dark colours can look great! ♥ Whatever the groom’s outfit may be, it must be in harmony with the bride’s/groom’s. ♥ Classic oxfords or derby shoes are go-to choice for footwear – make sure they are comfortable! ♥ Take your pick of accessories: tie and tie clip, bow tie, scarf, pocket square, cufflinks, ring, bracelet, watch, necklace, pocket watch, hanky, belt, buttonhole. ♥ Having a bestwoman? All the above trends and tips apply to their attire too, work with them to see what they want to wear, and choose it together, perhaps keep a cohesive feature like the colour!

The mothers-of-the-bride and -groom are going to feel under the spotlight along with the rest of the bridal party. This added pressure can be overwhelming as they may not have worn occasionwear for many years. These factors can certainly put the strain on what should be an enjoyable experience, as the bride/groom try to make them feel as reassured as possible, offer support and advice; and as with everyone else on the day, they too should feel comfortable and themselves leading to a happy and confident mother!

Firstly, sophistication is key, but this doesn’t mean frumpy! If you love your clothes, then go for a bold colour or striking pattern but keep it demure by avoiding low-cut necklines or a short hem so you can look back on the photos for years to come with no regrets.

For many women, no matter their age, we all seem to hate our upper arms. Experimenting with three-quarter-length sleeves, coverups and jackets will allow you to feel confident and can add variety to your look – they’re also perfect for winter weddings to keep the chill off. Accessories are your best friend when it comes to your wedding outfit, you can really finish off a look with a fancy hat and a simple dress can be jazzed up with jewellery and a bright handbag. Many modern mums are opting to leave the traditional hats at home in favour of something a little smaller, such as a fascinator, statement flower in the hair or stunning hair accessories.

The key is to complement the rest of the bridal party and not to compete with it; so be aware of colour palettes, themes and what the rest of the bridal party is wearing.

Lastly, not only should you look a million dollars, but you should feel it inside and out, that’s having confidence in who you are and also, make sure what you’re wearing is comfortable from head to toe. Is the hat the right fit, will it make you itchy and hot? Are your shoes the best size and material? You’ll be on your feet for a large part of the day; and when you’re not and you’re sat down, is your dress cutting in to your hips at the table, can you breathe?!

Traditional go-to favourites and modern trends for mums: ♥ Tiered skirts can create a textured effect to a silhouette and excite a simple style. ♥ An all over pattern hides a multitude of sins. ♥ Be inspired by style icon Grace Kelly, think tie-front jackets, shirt dresses and flattering necklines. ♥ A shift dress with light overlays is feminine and flattering. ♥ The colour of 2022? Go for greens! ♥ Not comfortable in a dress, a trouser suit is the way to go. ♥ Separates are a woman’s best friend, comfortable because you can go for a different sized top and bottom, and you can mix and match colours and patterns.

YOUR LOCAL SUPPLIERS

Accessories | Affinity Fine Jewellers www.affinityjewellers.co.uk Bridesmaids | Bridal Reloved Maldon https://bridalreloved.co.uk Mother-of-the-bride | Cream Fashions http://creamfashions.com Bridesmaids | Dress Code Nine https://dresscodenine.co.uk Advice | House of Colour - Kelly Caira and Claire Bannister www.houseofcolour.co.uk