Wedding Wear Woes

Outside of not wearing white, which I mentioned yesterday, what's a good wedding outfit option? Three things will normally dictate where to begin your search. 1. time of the wedding; 2. venue location; and 3. the couple. Although some will argue that black shouldn't be your first color of choice for a wedding (its a happy occasion), I live by the rule that if the wedding is after 4 pm, black is fair game. This embroidered lace cocktail dress is so elegant. The flourishes are lovely and since its black fabric they are subtle and chic so they won't give anyone the impression that you are trying to upstage the stars of the show. This dress is available at Bluefly for $342.

Another option at Bluefly is this Elie Tahari emerald georgette dress for $239. The smocked "Maryanne" dress is the kind of dress that is perfect for a wedding. Because inevitably the videographer is going to be all over the place and you will never know when he/she is shooting your backside view. This dress drapes the body so beautifully that you won't care if your rearview is featured on the wedding video.


The Jacquard Daisy Dress at J. Crew uses vintage-inspired window pane checks offers you a sweet silhouette for spring weddings for $268. I particularly love the pockets and the color. I tend to always check J. Crew to see what they have in the way of dresses. They have really stepped it up in the last few years with wedding options not only for guests, but for bridal parties as well.
I consider this dress an "old reliable" option for only $138 (sorry J. Crew about the unflattering image that conjures). The cut and fabric of this dress is flattering on most figures and it functions for more than just weddings. And it comes in tons of different colors if you are struggling with wearing black to a wedding.

I also like wrap dresses for weddings. They work best for day weddings and outdoor ceremonies and receptions. I have a wedding to attend in May for my sister-in-law. I had a few options in mind, but the reception is outdoors, which means skinny heels will most likely sink into the ground (its May in Virginia, its bound to have rained recently) and I am not interested in working to unstick my heels all afternoon. So I have foregone my originial idea and am looking to wear something that I can pair with wedges.

This Isaac Mizrahi for Target dress would be perfect with wedges and is only $39.99.

Nordstrom makes shopping for a dress super easy. They have a "guest of the wedding" subgroup of dresses within their dress shop. My favorite from this group is the Adrianna Papell Strapless Ruffled Dress. The color is spectacular, but since its strapless be sure to take a wrap if its a church wedding where some folks (perhaps the bride's or groom's parents) still believe that shoulders should be covered in religious settings.

A very lady-like option in red is the Polka-Dot Summer Dress at Banana Republic.

And last but not least, this floral shift is a 1950's throwback that is perfect for a springtime wedding.