2021/2022 Wedding Dress Trends

Thank goodness 2020 is coming to an end! Looking ahead, 2021/2022 weddings have some amazing wedding dress trends. This coming year simple, sleek is the name of the game. That being said, you’ll see there are many ways to accomplish that look to fit any bride’s style. Here are the 2021/2022 wedding dress trends you will love as you begin your wedding dress shopping.

Wedding Dress With Sleeves

Sleeves, Or No Sleeves On Your Wedding Dress

Sleeves, Or No Sleeves On Your Wedding Dress

A big trend we love right now is a wedding dress with sleeves. They can add that little spark of elegance that makes you stand out among thousands of brides! There are so many styles to add to your gown. Here are many ways to add sleeves to your wedding dress .

There are many options you can pick from.

Lace, fitted, flutter, cap, bell and elbow length are just a few to start. You have a lot of variety to find out which type of sleeve works for your body type and style. Be sure to work with a seamstress to ensure the proper fit. If you’re having a summer wedding with warmer weather don’t let that deter you from having sleeves. There are a lot of styles and fabrics to choose from that will keep you cool. We love a mermaid lace, open back with lace cape or illusion/flutter sleeves for warmer weather!

If you don’t want to take the time or money to have them made custom,  then you can opt for detachable ones.

We love a long drape sleeve that you can take off for the reception and not have to worry about dragging it in your cake or main dish. Sleeves don’t have to be exactly what you think either – we love pairing a jacket with the dress as well! Many brides prefer a light jacket (or heavy coat in winter) to keep them warm when traveling between venues. A wedding jacket can also be a statement piece on its own – fur, lace, pearl beading and all the sparkle you could want!

We recommend trying on a bridal gown with sleeves, even if you’re a little skeptical.

Sometimes the type of sleeve you think you want turns out to be a completely different style. Sleeves on a wedding dress are an accent of themselves so have fun picking out the perfect ones!

Did your bridal gown have sleeves? Did you love it? Or did you forgo the sleeves and love your gown? We’d love to see! E-Mail your wedding photos, with vendors credited to us at hello@chicagoweddingblog.com . Happy Wedding Planning!

Wedding Dress With Pockets

2020 Wedding Dress Trends

Before you begin your wedding dress shopping process for your 2020 wedding, take a look at the 2020 wedding dress trends for the year. Bring photos with you to make your shopping easier. These trends will give you a vision to inspire your wedding day attire. Here are five 2020 wedding dress trends to look for as you go shopping.

Trend #1- Bows, Bows, & More Bows

Bows are not just for little girls anymore! They are back for bridal, and in a big way. These bridal bows come large or small and in many fabrics too! Bows can be the straps on a gown, on the back of the gown, or on the front. Either way, you cannot choose wrong with a bow gown.

Trend #2- Plunging Necklines

Plunging necklines do not need to make grandma nervous anymore! This new trend is done in a tasteful way. It doesn’t make you nervous about slipping out anymore either! The support and beauty of the designs are purposefully placed to be supportive, yet sexy.

Trend #3- Pockets

We think this trend should never go away and should be in all outfits ever! Who doesn’t love pockets? Women’s clothing designers, take note: women need pockets! Pockets in a wedding dress are perfect for tissues & mints to ensure you’re wedding day ready!

Trend #4- Detachable Trains & Overskirts

We love a good bustle! But, if you are not a fan of taking up some of your wedding day timeline to have your bridesmaids or loved ones bustling your gown, never fear! This year’s trend of a detachable train or overskirt is exactly what you need. Rock your beautiful flowing train for pictures, then take it off for your night of dancing at your reception.

Trend #5- Straight Across Necklines

This classic is a classic for a reason! This neckline is timeless, feminine, and flattering especially for taller brides. You cannot choose wrong with this timeless option. If you want to embrace some elegant, Audrey Hepburn vibes, here’s how you do it!

Did you use these trends to find your 2020 wedding dress? We want to hear from you! Comment below, or send your 2020 wedding photos (with vendor credits) to hello@chicagoweddingblog.com! We’d love to share your story. For more wedding planning tips and tricks, check out the suggested blog posts below! Happy wedding planning!

Pearl Wedding Gown

Wedding Year Of Pearls

Wedding Year Of Pearls

2019/2020 is the wedding year of the pearl. Bridal fashion is always a combination of new and unique with classic and timeless. Pearls fit into that perfectly! From gowns to shoes, pearls are a classic back on trend. Because the pearl trend is back and better than ever, we will show you our favorite pearl ensembles.

Gowns

2019/2020 wedding dresses have a range of pearl options. Some wedding gowns have pearls sewn onto the dresses. Other wedding gowns have accessories, such as a wrap or cape, to add pearls to your wedding attire. The gown below, by Allison Webb, has both! How amazing is that?

Veils

Veils add classic drama to your wedding attire. There are many ways to incorporate pearl details to your veil. One option is to have a pearl embroidered edge to the veil. Pearls on the edge of a veil gives fun movement to your look. If you choose a pearl speckled veil, pearls will spread throughout the veil. Are you a fan of polka dots? If polka dots are your thing, you will like speckled veils. Nomatter which pearl veil you choose, it will match your wedding dress.

Hair Accessories

The easiest way to incorporate pearls into your wedding day is your hair accessories. There are so many options for hair accessories. If you want a small hair accessory, they make pearl embossed bobby pins. If you prefer to have a slightly larger accessory, look for pearl hair barrettes. Similar in size to hair barrettes, you could use a hair vine or comb. These accessories work with any hairstyle.

Shoes

Your wedding shoes are a unique way to add pearls to your wedding. Whether you’d like heels or flats, there are many pearl options. If you like a boho-chic look, a cute pair of pearl sandals are just for you. But, never fear, if you love the formality of heels there are plenty of styles for you too. Many brides are erring on the comfy side of shoes for their wedding day. Because of this, many designers make pearl embossed sneakers!

Did you embrace the pearl trend at your 2019 wedding?! Are you planning to incorporate them into your 2020 wedding?! Send us your photos with vendors credited and we’d love to feature your wedding. We hope these tips and trends help you prepare for your wedding. For more wedding planning advice check out the blog posts below! Happy Planning!

Tiffanny and Steven at Riverside Receptions

Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions

Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions October 13th, 2019

In the words of Tiffany…

It was amazing and my florist knocked my vision out of the park! My photographer captured all the perfect moments and all the feels! Dillon from Music By Design kept everyone on the dance floor all night long!

I wanted a romantic enchanted fairy tale fall wedding and I knew from the second I tried it on that the gorgeous Casablanca Bianca dress from Bijou Bridal in Oak Brook Terrace would set the tone for me to build around. This dress was the only dress I did not want to change a single thing about and that is how I knew it was the one.

I have to stay that for my Husband Steven as well, just like the dress I wouldn’t change a thing!

As for my day of wedding look- Annetta Michelle, award winning makeup artist (two years in a row!) from Rockford, IL, gave me the perfect romantic fall glam and Kathya from Meld Studio in Naperville gave me the bun of all buns to top it all off (no pun intended)!

MK, my florist- Flour & Flowers By MK, completed the whole look with the beautiful floral arrangements to go with my romantic fall fairy tale theme!

Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions – Let’s recap all my vendors:

Venue – Riverside Receptions in Geneva
DJ – Chicago Wedding DJ Music By Design
Photographer – Bridgette Burgman Photography
Flowers – Flour & Flowers By MK
Award Winning Makeup – Annetta Michelle
Hair Style – Meld Studio Naperville
Wedding Dress Style #2340 BIANCA – Bijou Bridal – Oakbrook Terrace

All images of Tiffany and Steven at Riverside Receptions is courtesy of Bridgette Burgman Photography.

Wedding Dress Shopping

Myth & Truth of Saying, “Yes” To Your Wedding Dress

Before you start your wedding dress shopping process it’s important to differentiate between reality and reality TV. TV shows and movies add dramatic moments surrounding saying, “yes” to your wedding dress for entertainment. At best, they give you an outline of the wedding dress shopping process, at worst, they put so much pressure on you, brides, to have a specific reaction, or emotional moment that it sabotages your experience. We are here to help you have a successful dress shopping process by differentiating fact from myth.

Myth #1- “If you do not cry, it’s not your dress.”

Truth: There is so much thought and pieces that go into a dress shopping appointment. Most brides are so shocked they found their gown they do not cry at all. Even brides who are “criers” are often so confident with the wedding dress they fall in love with they react calmly. Other brides who are usually very stoic, cry like they never have before. It’s an experience we only do once in a lifetime. You don’t know how you’re going to react until you experience it. Don’t put pressure on yourself to react a certain way because a TV show says it’s a must.

Myth #2 “You can’t try on a veil until the last dress of the day.”

Truth: We do not wear bridal veils with a wedding dress every day. If you do not try on multiple styles of veils you won’t know what options exist.  Veils can also change the feel and look of a wedding dress, so it is important to try them on with your favorites. TV shows like to make putting on a veil a magic moment. Sometimes it helps you realize you are truly, finally a bride, but it is important to envision yourself as a bride in multiple different styles to determine which is your favorite.

Myth #3 “You have to bring all your favorite people with you to go dress shopping.”

Truth: Only bring people with you who you know, for a fact, will support your wedding dress vision and style. It seems fun to bring all your friends and family, but it quickly turns into negative chaos with too many opinions. No two people have the same exact style preferences, body types, or wedding day visions. It is important to only bring people with you who will put your wants and needs over their own. There are so many wedding planning related events you can share with your friends and family together. Keep dress shopping only with your closest family members or confidants.

Myth #4 “There is only one wedding dress that is ‘your dress’.”

Truth: Dress shopping is fun because wedding dresses are made to make us all look beautiful. You truly can fall in love with multiple dresses from multiple different stores. The most important thing is to keep in mind your budget, time frame, wedding day vision, and comfort. Then, choose the wedding dress that checks the most boxes. You can go dress shopping forever, but if you don’t narrow down your bridal shop options, style, or price point you will never get a gown in time for your wedding day. The most bridal shops you should go to is three shops with different designers. That is more than enough options to find a wedding dress perfect for you. Extra Pro-tip: Don’t go to more than one shop in a day!

Myth #5 “You will not be able to sit in a mermaid dress.”

Truth: No dress silhouette should restrict your movement if it is fitted correctly. Bridal sizing runs very small, do not pay attention to the number of size in which you measure. The goal is for the wedding dress to fit. The last thing you want to do is order a smaller size because the number sounds better and have your wedding dress come in way too small. Trust the consultant with the size they recommend with your measurements, even if the number is much bigger than your normal size. When the gown comes in the consultant recommended size, a good seamstress will ensure you can sit, squat, stand, dance, and move so you can dance the night away on your wedding day.

We hope helping you learn myth from truth will help you have a great wedding dress shopping experience. Always remember every bride, wedding, dress, and shop is different. Find the combination of those things that work for you and enjoy planning your wedding!

Hat Etiquette At Weddings

Hat Etiquette At Weddings

Hat Etiquette At Weddings

What is more fun than a huge, elaborate hat? We love hats and besides the Kentucky Derby, weddings are a fantastic place to wear them. Whether you’re the bride or just a guest, hats are always in vogue. We have some hat etiquette tips to keep the big day low maintenance and hassle free.


The best thing to remember when you pick out or design a hat is that you are wearing it and not the other way around!

If you are tall then avoid tall hats with wide brims. If you’re shorter, avoid large hats and go for more structured hats. You need to compliment your body type with your hat choice. You will be happy you did when you see the wedding photos.

Should your mother or mother-in-law want to wear a hat, they should pick ones that are smaller than yours, as the bride.

This is true of guests as well – you never want to outshine the bride! It’s not unreasonable to ask your photographer to ask people to move their hats for better shots. Or the photographer may need to ask everyone in the shot to adjust their hats so faces are clear.

Another hat etiquette is when you decorate your hat, always defer to the right.

You can choose from feathers, ribbons, felt bands or rhinestones, but keep to tradition and put all of that on the right. Men’s hats are embellished on the left. When you design your hat or choose a big hat, keep in mind the tradition that the time of day dictates how large the hat must be. The later in the day, the smaller the hat is a general rule. Large brims in the morning and late evening are too extravagant since they are not needed to keep the sun out of your eyes.

And lastly, it is always customary to remove a hat when going inside a building.

This does not apply to a lady’s hat as it is considered part of the outfit. Gentlemen, on the other hand, still need to remove their hats if they wear them. It’s important to know these social cues so you do not unintentionally offend someone.

So go pick out that fantastic head piece you’ve always wanted and treat yourself to a bit of fancy! For more wedding planning tricks and tips, or wedding fashion advice, check out more Chicago Wedding Bride posts below!

Wedding Dress Trends

It’s a new year and new trends emerge. We’re taking a look at some wedding dress trends!

Bows! This year we’re seeing the wedding dress trend go towards statement bows. These huge pieces can be used on the back of trains, loops on straps or accents. You could also use the bows on your bridesmaid’s dresses. Bows can also define a waistline or draw attention to areas of your body you’d like more attention to.

Photo by Martha Stewart Weddings 

Another trend we’re seeing is geometric shapes on wedding dresses. Shapes and cut out shapes can create a sleek and elegant outline you want. Geometric shapes on dresses are also a great way to draw the eye where you want it go.

Photo by CoutureLace

The next trend is very “girly” but if you’re into glitz and sparkle this one is for you! Glitter. This year we’re seeing wedding dresses utilize the sparkly stuff all over and it can literally help you light up the room. Glitter on your wedding dress will catch the light beautifully. If you don’t want an entire dress full of glitter you can just do a light dusting, or have a few places accented with it.

Photo by the Crystal Room

No matter what wedding dress trend you pick, you’re sure to glow on your big day!

Autumn Wedding Attire

It’s that time of year again – the autumn wedding! We’re taking a look at what attire to wear to this seasonal event.

For the daytime autumn wedding, we like a cocktail type dress with darker tones. A daytime wedding usually isn’t as formal as an evening one, but you should still make an effort to appear polished. Jewel tones like burgundy, emerald, sapphire mixed with elegant black are always a classic for autumn. You could even re-use a dress in your closet and spice it up with a new pair of heels or cute jacket.

For a later afternoon or evening autumn wedding we suggest simple and elegant. We love a splashy pair of earrings to make a statement or bold necklace. We like looking for dresses than can be dressed up or down. Some people are confused at a later afternoon wedding if they should be more black tie or daytime attire.  You can stash a fun jacket and bold earrings in your purse for the evening reception. Think of it like dating – a day to night outfit change without having to completely switch clothes!

Lastly, we’ve got the festive autumn wedding attire. If your going to a wedding that’s themed and the bride and groom have okayed wacky outfits like costumes, then this is your chance to play! We’ve heard of Halloween themed weddings and as long as your costume is tasteful we love the idea. Even if you don’t want to wear a full on costume, there are plenty of ways to dress up for the occasion. Try a gothic type dress, black lace or high boots!

 

French Inspired Styled Shoot

This French Inspired Styled Shoot brought a magical shoot to life by using a vibrant palette of blush pinks, pure white and rich greenery. Also, subtle details like macaroons and croissants helped create sweet, delicate French vibe. The result was a French-European inspired feel that showcased the love between two people. A perfect reminder for couples that everlasting love is about the small, kind gestures more than anything.

Romantic French Inspired Wedding

Photo Credit: sephoryphotography.com.au/

             Wedding Invitations: @invitationbweddings www.bweddinginvitations.com/

Photography & Concept: @sephoryphotography sephoryphotography.com.au/

Hair & Make up: @suzyselamakeup www.suzysela.com/

Menu & Place Cards: @adorninvitations www.adorninvitations.co.uk/

Stationery Design: Catsy Creative www.catsycreative.com.au

Printing: Inktank Printing www.inktankprinting.com

Flowers: @chloelashay_florist www.chloelashay.com/

Dresses: @raffaeleciucabridal www.raffaeleciuca.com.au/ and by @heleneconstancebride | @berta

Cakes: @maryeatscake www.maryeatscake.com.au

Jewellery: @loveonjewellery www.loveonjewellery.com.au/

Model: @oliviaa.williams from @giant_mgmt

Venue: @montdusoleil