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Inspiration & How-To

May 13, 2013

Mod about Bridesmaids

Mod, Jackie O, retro, Mad Men, vintage, 50s glamour, Audrey Hepburn, feminine, fit & flare, Christian Dior’s “New Look,” Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly…

If you are using any of these terms to describe your wedding, then we love your style! And we have the perfect complement to your throwback-theme wedding, with retro-inspired bridesmaid dresses from Alfred Sung.

Fitted waists and flared skirts defined the era’s hourglass silhouette—and 60 years later these looks remain swoon-worthy. We love the polished and elegant shapes, but the bright colors make them youthful and fun.

And because one style doesn’t always fit all, feel free to let your ’maids choose their favorite style while you dictate the color.

HeroAlfred Sung dresses pictured in Candy Coral, Begonia, Mandarin, Mango, Ivy, Aqua Marine and Charm.

Alfred Sung dresses are made to order and are available in our 18 Wedding Suites. Nordstrom Wedding Stylists will work with your girls to take their measurements and then follow up with each one to make sure they get their dresses, so you don’t have to worry! Whew, one less thing to think about.

Making an appointment is easy: just call 1.888.300.1295 or book online.

Shop other bridesmaid dresses online.

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May 7, 2013

Keira Knightley Got Married! Get Her Look

One of our favorite British babes tied the knot over the weekend, and we’re loving her laid-back wedding style. Keira Knightley and James Righton were married in a small ceremony in France, and Keira rocked a sweet (and supposedly not new) little white dress, flats, sweater and sunglasses.

Here’s our take on her casual, comfortable look for the big day. Just add a handsome groom, a smile and a little skip in your step!

Jill Stuart Ruffled Chiffon Fit & Flare Dress | Tildon Beaded Bomber Sweater | Menbur Bridal Flat | Ray-Ban Classic Wayfarer Sunglasses

Don’t miss our little white dress lookbook with more short dress options!

Image courtesy of Daily Mail

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May 1, 2013

Pinning with The Perfect Palette

We all know Pinterest is a bride-to-be’s best friend. (Let’s be honest, the same goes for a pre-bride-to-be—hello, secret wedding boards!) With thousands of beautiful, inspirational images of everything from gowns to flowers to food, we can’t get enough either!

One of our favorite pinning pastimes is finding inspiring color suggestions and images, and we know brides agree. So we’re thrilled to be partnering with The Perfect Palette on our Nordstrom Weddings Pinterest boards, to bring you ideas in every shade of the rainbow.

The Perfect Palette is THE source of color inspiration for parties, fashion, and of course, weddings. There are 54 shades to choose from on the Search by Color function, and more palette board ideas than we can count. The pairings are fresh and unique, and the color names (“cerulean”, “fig”, “latte”) take us back to our Crayola days.

Look for our shared Pinterest boards where we’re always pinning bouquets, table decor, bridesmaid dresses, bridal accessories and shoes…really, we’re as addicted as you are! We grouped colors in these categories so you can get mix-and-match inspiration.

BOLD BRIGHTS: think electric blue, hot pink, sunny yellow, grass green

Hero

SPARKLE & SHINE: think silver, gold, copper, pewter, bronze

PERFECT PASTELS: think peach, blush, mint, lavender, lemon

BLACK & WHITE: think, well, black and white (but oh, the combinations!)

Follow us and tell us what you like in your comments and repins!

We also have a NEW Shop by Color function for bridesmaid dresses on our site. Check it out!

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April 30, 2013

One Dress, Three Ways: ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids

Brides, if you haven’t seen this dress yet, you’ll want to check it out for your girls! This strapless cationic chiffon dress by ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids is a customer favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The ruched sheath silhouette is flattering on different body types, it comes in an array of gorgeous shades and it’s simple enough to be styled in many different ways. (Wondering what ‘cationic’ means? It’s the type of chiffon fabric, which has a subtle shimmer and deep color.)

Here we styled the gunmetal color in three different ways. Which do you like best?

Alexis Bittar Miss Havisham Cuff | Tasha Hexagonal Clutch | Nina ‘Mariana’ Sandal

Majorica Pearl Illusion Necklace | Sondra Roberts Crystal Mesh Clutch | DAVID TUTERA ‘Joy’ Sandal

heroGivenchy Aurelia Necklace | Tasha Flower Box Clutch | Miu Miu Glitter Sole Pointy Toe Pump

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April 19, 2013

Brideology: Flower Power

Call me crazy, but I decided I’m going to do all my wedding flowers on my own. Stressful? Maybe. Fun? Yes, I think so!

At one point, I considered using a professional florist or getting premade bouquets from a farmer’s market, but I’ve also been trying to find ways to cut costs. After a little research, it was clear that buying fresh-cut flowers in bulk is much cheaper, and arranging bouquets can be pretty simple.

A local flower guide snapped from a Seattle magazine inspired me to make my own arrangements.

I don’t have specific color preferences; I want all kinds of bright, summery flowers, like dahlias, anemones, gladiolas and zinnias. I found out that there’s a farm right next to our wedding venue that sells bulk blooms all summer, so I’m working with them on what will be available at the time of our wedding.

Pretty dahlias in bulk from a local farm, via Pacific Horticulture.

Then I thought, if I’m going DIY, I might as well REALLY go for it and grow some flowers myself! So I bought a few bags of bulbs at Costco and planted them last weekend in containers on our deck. Hopefully, they’ll add some color to our house, and then we can harvest in time for the wedding. (P.S. If you go to Costco, I dare you to not spend an hour looking at all the pretty color combos and flower choices! I had to be dragged away.)

Nothing says SPRING like planting flowers in the sun!

There are great resources online for how to create bouquets and other decorative arrangements. My favorite is the Cali-based duo Wedding Chicks. The whole wedding site is gorgeous and addictive! In one section, they share “Bouquet Recipes,” with beautiful images, names of every flower used (so helpful!), and easy-to-follow instructions.

Amy, one of the chicks, said, “We decided to create Bouquet Recipes as a segment to help brides identify the flowers that they love. It’s also meant to inspire brides for their own bouquets, whether they hire a professional or choose DIY.” She also made a great point to me about DIY: “We would suggest testing your skills a few times before the big day to make sure you can achieve the desired result and look!”

Peach bouquet via Wedding Chicks with amaryllises, peonies and much more.

Fortunately, I won’t truly be doing it on my own. I’ll be recruiting my mom, mother-in-law, sister and bridesmaids to help. I actually can’t think of anything more fun than sitting in the sun with my girls, sipping sangria and arranging bouquets!

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April 16, 2013

A Wedding Day Gift Idea We Love

Is it necessary to exchange gifts as a couple the day of the wedding? We hear this question a lot. You already have some gorgeous bling on your finger, and you may be spending plenty of your hard-earned money on the wedding itself, so it’s natural that you might wonder what’s appropriate for gift-giving on the big day. Although we’ve heard of some truly amazing big gifts, we think the idea of a small, sweet gesture sounds perfect, like this idea from one of the recent brides on our team!

Getting inspiration from Pinterest (a bride’s BFF, right?), our bride put together this “survival kit” for her groom. It was an easy, personal and inexpensive way to let him know she was thinking of him and help him out through the day. (We especially love the “Lifesavers” line!) The couple also wrote each other sincere notes to commemorate the day, which they will always treasure.

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April 11, 2013

Bridesmaid Look We Love: Jenny Yoo ‘Aiden’

It’s no secret that one of our favorite bridesmaid dresses is Jenny Yoo’s ‘Aiden’: it’s feminine, romantic, and ultra-flattering. With two long chiffon panels, it can be wrapped and tied over the bodice to create different styles for each bridesmaid, or for each time you wear it!

Right now we’re LOVING this color, called Turkish blue. It’s not quite blue, green or gray, but a soft mix of all three. Here, we’ve paired it with a gold shoe and clutch, plus a light-turquoise-and-gold kate spade new york necklace that pulls it all together. It’s a stunning look for bridesmaids, but we think it also works for a wedding guest, a dinner date or even a dressed-up night with girlfriends! What do you think?


Jenny Yoo ‘Aiden’ Convertible Dress | kate spade new york Collar Necklace | Sondra Roberts Beaded Wave Clutch | Adrianna Papell ‘Michele’ Sandal

P.S. For a shorter, more casual alternative, check out out Aiden’s sister style ‘Kiera‘!

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April 9, 2013

Brideology: More Mix, Less Match

As I’ve been lightly browsing (okay, let’s be honest: obsessively searching) through Pinterest, wedding blogs and magazines, one wedding trend that keeps grabbing my attention is “mix and match.” I love the look of multiple colors, textures and patterns paired together, in that perfectly imperfect way. Not only is it interesting and fun, it also seems easier to me than having to decide on just two colors or pick one type of pattern!

I especially love the mix-and-match trend for bridesmaids. I think it’s very important for my ’maids to feel comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing, so they should play up their personal styles! Hopefully, this means they’ll wear their dresses many times after being a bridesmaid, too. Here are a few real weddings I got inspiration from:

via 100 Layer Cake

via Amsale Bridesmaids

via 100 Layer Cake

Below are a few groups of styles I put together as potential combinations for my bridesmaids. (Hey, girls, what do you think?!) This coral palette is bright and summery, and I think it complements many other color combinations. The textures of each dress are so unique. I also like the idea of my maid of honor (my sister!) wearing a printed dress that has a little pizzazz, just to set her apart.

Donna Ricco | Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique | BB Dakota | Donna Morgan | Kathy Hilton

This below set feels very of-the-moment, with lace and off-white being big trends right now. I don’t mind having my girls wearing white (I’m pretty sure people will know I’m the bride!), and even though the shades are different, it still feels cohesive. To bring it together more, each dress could have a narrow belt like two of them do here.

Alice + Olivia | Taylor Dresses | Eliza J | BCBGMAXAZRIA | Eliza J

As I’ve been thinking about how to combine different dresses, I’ve collected some ways to make the mismatching look intentional, not messy. Here are my tips:

1. Keep with a similar base color. For example, floral prints are everywhere right now, and while they can be mixed, I think it requires the same background color like white or cream. Same with other prints—using at least two or three shared colors works best.

2. Choose patterns of approximately the same size. Huge designs paired with tiny ones can look unbalanced and random. All small or all medium patterns work well for most body types, too.

3. Look for similarities in silhouettes. One reason the coral collection works is because all the dresses are fit-and-flare, and they share the same waistline and approximate length. Same with the lace dresses: they all have higher necklines and hit above the knee with a natural waist.

4. Think monochromatic. Especially if you’re nervous about mixing! Choosing 4–5 colors within the same palette is an easy way to start. You can represent all shades in an ombre effect or use just a few shades (for example, maroon with rose and red is gorgeous).

5. Keep the rest simple. Depending on how far you go with mixed dresses, you may want to match shoes, accessories and bouquets. Even matching just the same color of shoe (nude and gold are great) or bouquet help pull the look together.

And my last tip is just to have fun with it! Get your girls together, have a few mimosas, go shopping and make a fun day out of searching for the perfect dress for each girl. Then come back and comment with your story of what you found!

Until next time,
Cara

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April 3, 2013

Real Wedding: Olivia & Jared

Olivia shares the details of her sunny, sandy Mexican beach wedding. Trust us, you’ll swoon!

The Proposal: Jared proposed to me in June of 2012. We were on a scavenger hunt in West Seattle, and Jared had the organizer add special clues just for me. He proposed in front of all our competitors!

I knew I would marry this man, so I had already purchased shoes that I’d been looking at for some time. They are beautiful electric-blue Badgley Mischka pumps, from Nordstrom, of course! Then the rest of the wedding planning began…



My Wedding Stylist: Heather Rose, Downtown Seattle Wedding Suite

The following Monday I went to the Wedding Suite to look at a dress I had seen online. The dress was beautiful, but I had to try on a few others while I was there. Heather found me a Theia couture gown to try just for fun, but I didn’t think it would be ‘the one’ as it was completely different from what I had in mind. My exact blue shoes were there in the Wedding Suite, so we got to see the entire look as I envisioned, with a long cathedral veil. To my surprise, I fell in love with the dress right away! I could see it in my mom’s and sister’s eyes too: it just fit. I bought the dress then and there.


Working with Heather was always an enjoyable experience when I went back for my fittings. She also helped find dresses for my bridesmaids and my mother. My mother wore an Adrianna Papell dress, while my bridesmaids wore Donna Morgan ‘Donna’ belted chiffon dresses.

All but one of us in my wedding party has at one time or another worked in Nordstrom cosmetics, so we did our own hair and makeup! I wore NARS bronzer in Laguna and highlighter in Albatross, Double Wear foundation from Estée Lauder, YSL mascara and YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch (a take-anywhere pen-brush for adding a touch of light). Laura Mercier was used for the rest of the look: blush, eyeshadow, concealer and brow filler. Nordstrom made it all very easy for us to prepare for our special day!


The Scene: October 29, 2012, at Casa Salinas II in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at sunset

We wanted a beautiful beach wedding with us barefoot in the sand with our family and closest friends. Not seeing the venue beforehand meant no specific expectations and limited décor. All we needed was the ocean in the background, the sand at our feet and blue sky. Our theme was all white/light attire, guests included. My sister, Lacey Silbaugh, is a very talented florist. She knew we wanted bright, colorful flowers and she took care of them. They turned out beautifully.



That day ended up being the hottest of all the days we were there, and it was gorgeous! Most of our friends and family were staying at the villa, so we started out with a wonderful traditional Mexican breakfast, after which I ran off to get ready with my girls. This getting-ready time with my bridesmaids was one of my favorite moments. After the wedding I would be off to Vancouver, BC, to live with my handsome Canadian husband, so the girl time was essential!

Our photographer, Cozbi Hultz, was with us the entire day, giving helpful tips and making us laugh. The villa was the most beautiful place I have ever stayed, so we had many naturally pretty settings for our photos.


The guests started to arrive around 6pm to find cocktails waiting for them, then headed down the steps to the setting on the beach. The ceremony started with my twin three-year-old nieces handing out flowers and dropping petals in the sand, followed by my two nephew ring bearers. The music began to play as the bridesmaids followed the candlelit stairway to the beach, where their groomsmen waited to greet them.


I followed shortly after, meeting my father at the bottom of the steps. The aisle was distinguished by pebbles from the ocean, the setting was lined with tiki torches and the sun was beginning to set. My father walked me down the aisle, handed me over to Jared and walked up to the front to give a very memorable wedding talk. Jared’s father finished with a beautiful prayer.

The reception followed immediately after the ceremony. We had a delicious dinner with a salsa band playing in the background.


Our Special Moments: Our first dance was memorable of course, but the second was my favorite. Spontaneously we decided to dance in the shallow area of our pool to a song titled “Something Like Olivia.” It was so romantic!

There was plenty of dancing and, yes, many ended up in the pool by the end of the night. This was not on the agenda, but Jared and I were happy to have a fun event for us and our guests to enjoy and remember forever. We wouldn’t change a thing about our special day and we hope to revisit the wonderful Casa Salinas.


Photography by Cozbi Jean Photography. See more of Olivia and Jared’s wedding photos here!

Did you find your wedding gown at Nordstrom? We love a good wedding story! E-mail Nordstrom Wedding Stories for details about getting your wedding featured on our blog. And for more inspiration, make a complimentary appointment with a wedding stylist or browse our Wedding Suite.

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March 20, 2013

Guest Post: REVEL’s Garden Party

Saukok Tiampo, guest contributor of REVEL, dreams up a garden party affair in this week’s inspirational collage. 

Some days, I fantasize about having my own secret garden. I’d throw lovely garden parties there, with vintage details, pastels, ruffles and lace, just like the one below! The pretty florals and decorative details are complemented by garden party-perfect pieces from the Wedding Suite.

Ted Baker London Dress | kate spade new york Pump | Amsale One Shoulder Dress | MARC BY MARC JACOBS Earrings

For details on how to create this party—or for more pastel inspiration—head over to REVEL!

‘Til next time,
Saukok

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