be Inspired
BRIDAL PARTY
Dressing your
by Claire Swinarski PHOTOGRAPHY Front Room Photography BRIDESMAID'S DRESSES Bella Bridesmaids GROOMSMAN FORMALWEAR Harleys The Store For Men HAIR & MAKEUP Halo Salon LOCATION The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, Crowsnest FLOWERS Headpiece and Boutonniere by Belle Fiori LTD & Wedding Cake Flowers and Greenery by Jane Kelly Floral WEDDING CAKE Missy Molly's Pastries WARDROBE STYLING Ariel Tobin STYLING Terri Blahnik MODELS James and Kurt from Ohlsson Model & Talent, and Ariel and Alexandra When it’s time to get your bridesmaids and groomsmen dressed, a lot of thoughts may be flying through your head. You want them to look amazing, feel comfortable enough to rock the dance floor, be OK with the price, and complement you! But the old stereotype that brides prefer to dress their maids in something that won’t surpass them is totally outdated. You want your girls — and your groom’s guys — to look and feel great. Once the color scheme is selected, one of the first things a bride will do is explore how to infuse her chosen hues into the attire of her bridal party. Whether it is with one consistent shade or variations of a single color, she’ll search high and low for bridesmaid’s dresses and groomsmen attire that bring her vision to life while being comfortable and affordable. As for trends, Ariel Tobin, the showroom manager at Milwaukee’s Bella Bridesmaids, says she’s seeing a big beading and sequin trend in bridesmaid’s dresses, as well as the color ‘cerise’ or any metallics. Another trend you’ll see a lot in the coming months? Mixing and matching various hues to create a dreamy aesthetic. “Brides are loving that designers have created styles that allow them to mix and match different fabrics and textures, while still be able to keep everything unified,” Ariel said. However, if you’re mixing and matching, remember a few basic rules. All bridesmaid’s dresses should be within the same color scheme and also the same length to look unified in group pictures. According to Ariel, brides have been particularly drawn to longer gowns as of late for their bridesmaids. Before you go shopping, have a basic idea of what you want in mind. Spend some time in the pages of Veil Magazine or on our website looking at different colors, cuts and styles. Once you have a rudimentary idea, head to the boutique — that way, you won’t be overwhelmed by the rows and rows of choices. In terms of men’s styles, Tim Ryan, the president of Harley’s: The Store for Men, said colors continue to run the gauntlet. “Navy is becoming quite popular, black is making a resurgence, and any shade of grey is still appropriate,” Tim says. Select the attire for your bridesmaids first, so that you’re able to choose something for the men that complements them nicely. That will give your group photos a cohesive look and help your ceremony look pretty and put together. The level of formality should be complementary as well. When it comes to hair and makeup, even if your girls are low-maintenance ladies, you’ll still want them to at least apply minimal makeup. “Women that don’t wear makeup in everyday life definitely need to wear some on their wedding day, or they’ll be disappointed with the pictures,” advises Diane Mouse of Halo Salon in Milwaukee. “Using airbrush or HD makeup will prevent the white face and tan body combination that happens with a flash.” In terms of hair styling, Diane is seeing trends that are either soft and undone, or very polished, sophisticated styles. She suggests bringing in pictures for the makeup and hair artist of how the bride would look their bridesmaids to look. You can gather a lot of polished, picture-perfect looks in the many styled shoots we do. See pages 129-131 for some inspiration! No matter what you dress your wedding party in, they are there to make you and your groom look spectacular. So whether it’s a long satin gown with tuxedos or a chiffon sundress with simply styled suits, make sure your bridal party is ready to shine!
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WISCONSIN’S WEDDING MAGAZINE