Lady In Red: Yay or Nay?

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Although there are very few rules left for wedding guests, the cardinal rule is to not steal the bride/couple's thunder on her/their big day.  Following that principle, I find it inappropriate to wear red to a wedding, as it is such an attention-grabbing color.  I recently went to a wedding where FOUR guests (all female) were wearing bright red dresses.  It made me wonder if guests believe there really are no rules for wedding attire.  I have noticed at client weddings that while the majority of guests are dressing appropriately, there have been a few instances of too short, too tight, too flashy, etc.  As often as women's fashion changes, maybe guests are taking on new rules for wedding attire too.  It used to be that black was too somber to wear to a wedding but now that is a top choice.  My main question is how are women deciding which, if any, rules to follow?  Is appropriate based on your color choice or dress style/length? your geographic region (west coast, midwest, east coast, deep south, etc.)? formality of the wedding? time of year? location of wedding?  

Thinking about all of this, of course yesterday I saw The Duchess of Cambridge wearing a red dress (with a red hat!) going a wedding this past weekend.  My head exploded with even more questions.  Does she get to where whatever she wants anywhere she goes because she is royalty now?  Do British people just wear crazier wedding attire (I'm looking at you, Princess Beatrice) all the time?  I know this a not a typical post wherein I discuss a topic with a definite guidelines.  Please leave your comments on this post to let me know what you think & have a great day!

Would You Wed Like Kate? (part 1)

The royal wedding was three weeks ago today and by all accounts, we have all eased back into normal life.  But there were some really amazing details that will certainly be inspiring brides for years to come.  I wanted to take a closer look to see which aspects of the wedding that the world watched would be trending this wedding season.

#1. Colored Engagement Ring
Not that the bride has much choice typically, but this sapphire stunner made headlines around the world for its beauty, its history and the fact that it is not your standard engagement rock.  The main reason for the popularity colorless diamonds is that they are not only classic but they go with anything you could ever wear.  I wrote a post about the popularity of colored engagement rings catching on with celebrities, it might just catch on with the rest of us soon.

#2. Kate Did Her Own Makeup
So many people, myself included, were surprised to learn that Kate decided to do her own makeup for the most watched wedding this century.  She did take lessons from a makeup artist but chose to apply by herself.  For most brides, makeup and hair stylists are necessary vendors for a few reasons- to cut down on the anxiety of perfecting the wedding day look, having access to a professional and lastly because for most brides these services are a rare luxury.  Celebrities get their hair & makeup done on a weekly basis, so are they 'over' this luxury?  It was speculated that Kate made specific choices with her wedding to represent herself as "one of the people" and this was a very good example. 

 

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#3. Her Maid of Honor, Sister Pippa, Wore White

Today's bridesmaids dresses are always well thought out- coordinating color themes, wedding formality, season, etc.  White is traditionally a color only worn by the bride at the wedding but the trend of white bridesmaids dresses was gaining speed even before the royal wedding.  Not only have I seen this on wedding blogs, but Felicity C Weddings had a client in September 2010 who had two bridesmaids, both in knee length white dresses.  Kate's sister Pippa looked amazing, although a bit orange for my tastes, and may give more steam to this growing trend.

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Royal Wedding Watch- The Creative Ways The World Is Celebrating

So it has been awhile since any huge royal wedding news broke.  With the BIG day only weeks away, American companies are jumping into the excitement as Dunkin Donuts announced last week that they are going to have a special "Royal Wedding Donut" on sale April 24- April 29th nationwide.  At 89 cents, this is one way we all can share in the William & Kate's joy without jumping across the pond.  If donuts are not your cup of tea (insert British joke here), Baskin-Robbins, is introducing a commemorative Royal Wedding ice cream cake topped with white and blue roses. The cake is styled after "an English Garden."

Is this tacky?  Not as horrible as some of the actual products that have come out, you can be the judge of the weirdest one.  Top contenders being the engagement picture covered refridgerator.  Yes, you read that right.  And the Will & Kate nail decals, in case you want ten images of the royal couple staring back at you as you go through your day.  Or the royal wedding throw up bag, in case weddings really aren't your thing at all.  So now the donuts and ice cream cake don't seem so weird, huh?  So when you get overwhelmed with your wedding, just be glad that your face isn't on a throw up bag being sold internationally.  Perspective can be a great gift, thanks royals!

Drumroll... this is THE Royal Wedding Donut

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The 411: Colored Engagement Rings

Most girls have an idea of what their dream engagement ring will look like by their early to mid twenties.  You have seen friends get engaged and checked out what they are rocking on their ring fingers, having picked apart what you like and what you don't.  Are you a classic solitaire kind of girl or are you open to more unique rings?  As we tend to do, let's take a look at celebrities colored engagement rings and maybe that will give you a better idea of what you like. 

The most memorable colored ring for me is that of Jennifer Lopez during her short engagement to Ben Affleck in 2002.  The 6 carat pink diamond was breathtaking, not only because of its size (it was reportedly worth $1.2 million) but it broke the classic engagement ring style yet seemed to fit her perfectly.  The most notable colored ring as of late is that of princess-to-be Kate Middleton.  Her sapphire stunner was the engagement ring of Prince William's mother, Princess Diana, which shows that colored rings have been in style for at least 30 years.  Jodi Sweetin of Full House fame recently got engaged and is rocking a sapphire ring as well.  Jessica Simpson's December engagement brought her a ruby ring complete with two white side diamonds.  Kristen Bell's fiancé certainly wanted her engagement ring to stand out, it is a yellow colored stone surrounded by white diamonds.  And sometimes it is nice to have a truly unique engagement ring paired with a classic wedding band, like Milla Jovovich has on her ring finger.

But colored stones aren't just for engagement rings, Zooey Deschanel has rubies alternating with diamonds on her wedding band.  Obviously celebrities have a much larger bank account with which to purchase these engagement rings.  But if you really like a certain gemstone, maybe your birth stone, don't be afraid to incorporate in the most important piece of jewelry you will ever own.  Enjoy!

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Source: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters/Landov; A.G. Carrick/Camera Press/Getty

Source: Michael Bezjian/WireImage; Inset: Elisabeth Fried

Source: Courtesy Neil Lane; Inset: Chance Yeh/Sipa

 

Source: Courtesy Neil Lane; Lester Cohen/WireImage

 

Source: Courtesy Neil Lane, inset: Britney Joe/Startraks

 

Source: Startraks; Neil Lane(2)

Respected Holiday or Royal Hoopla?

It should come as no surprise that this royal wedding is becoming a news spectacle since the announcement was made less than a month ago. I heard on the news this week that there is speculation that Americans are actually more interested/ excited for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton than the British people are- which sounds kind of absurd.  I know I will either be getting up or DVR-ing the roal wedding on April 29, 2011.  However, I was surprised to hear that some brides are planning to wed on the same date intending to set up video screens so their guests can watch the royal wedding in the middle of their own receptions.  The wedding date has even been declared a holiday in England.  Talk about pressure.  At least the Prince will be able to remember his anniversary since it will be on every calendar from 2012 forward.

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I was equal parts shocked & in awe when I first saw this which is the British Historical Society's Royal Heirloom Ring, a replica of Princess Diana's engagement ring which her son Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with earlier this year.  I must admit that the majority of the items I have seen on tv (Elvis collectors plates, Superbowl/ World Series/ NBA Championship dvds, etc) that are obviously just companies trying to make a dime on people's sentiments have rubbed me the wrong way.  But, I almost teared up watching the video from The Royal Ring ad about how that ring was one of the few personal items that Prince William kept close to him after his mother passed away and now he has trusted this special ring to his future wife.  I honestly contemplated wanting one of my own but as of press time, my credit card is still safely in my wallet.  But I can't make any promises for what will happen after Christmas.  

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So let's all agree that this hoopla is definitely not normal.  Prince William has allegedly Snoop Dogg booked for his bachelor party and this past week Snoop released a song now referred to as the "anthem" for the occasion.  Snoop says, "when I heard the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William's marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something," (though there is no official word on the validity of his requested performance). "'Wet' is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin'."   

 

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All of this leaves me thinking as a planner and being concerned about the couple.  I hope that the Prince and his future wife are able to enjoy the planning and stay excited without letting all the pressure get to them.  Would you want the whole world trying to find out every detail and capitalizing on your big day?  Or does it come with the territory being part of one of the oldest and most well known monarchies in the world?