Finds for the Bride

A few people have recently asked me about tips and finds I came across during my wedding planning so I figured I'd write a post to share. Part of the excitement in planning was looking at all the little details. Here are a few for the bride!

THE WEDDING DRESS

There are so many ways and places you can get a wedding dress. It really depends what you're looking for. I went into a few boutiques and browsed online as well. I'd recommend starting with identifying your body shape and looking at the recommended silhouttes. Here's a good reference link.

For the bride on a budget, it's often still a good idea to go in stores to try on different styles. One thing I learned is that a dress looks very different on a rack vs. on you. It's also a quick way to find out what styles you like and don't like. Bridal sizing is a little different from normal clothing and can vary by designer.

Some of my favorites were this and this from Mywony Bridal.

For brides, I'd plan on making an appointment early to make any adjustments to the dress. They can take some time to get right! When you're trying on dresses and getting fitted, make sure you're wearing your intended undergarments and heel height!

engagement

For anyone debating about taking engagement photos, I'd highly recommend it! It's a special time in your lives with previous moments to capture. Here are some recommendations for attire.

Morning Lavender
For beautiful engagement dresses that don't break the bank, check out Morning Lavender. Be sure to check sizing though as most pieces run large. They have long flowy skirts that billow in the wind and pretty lace pieces as well.
Anthropologie
You can't really go wrong with Anthropologie. Our photographer recommended solids over patterns to keep it simple.
Here are a few others: Revolve, Asos, Lulus. This pink maxi dress from Lulus is so pretty.

accessories

In case you want to add a little more detail, here are some suggestions for accessories. There are some amazing veils out there, but if you're looking for something simple, it's significantly cheaper to head to your local fabric store and make your own.

Girl and A Serious Dream
For those beautiful underthings (but oh so pricey) and wraps, check out this store online. They also sell robes, veils, and other accessories. Etsy has a few comparable options as well.
Frou Frou Chic
They sell hand-dyed silk ribbons. It's pricey, but if you're looking for something special, they have bouquet collections and separate ribbons in lovely color palettes.

invitations & Stationary

For those wedding invites, place cards, signs and more, here are a few finds you might find helpful.

Calligraphy
Calligraphy services can be quite expensive, but it's also easy to learn if you're interested. Check out my post here. You can find scripting templates on Etsy to purchase and download if there's a particular style you like.
Feathers and Stone NZ
I bought some deckled paper for making place cards here, but Feathers and Stone NZ also sells some beautiful hand-dyed ribbons. Service and communication were great. They had some of the best quality paper for calligraphy as well.
Smiling Tag
SmilingTag sells personalized tags on Etsy. If you're looking for tags to attach to wedding favors, they have some really cute options.
Gilded Paper Co
During my wedding planning days, I came across this site with some beautiful gold table numbers. I thought about making or buying table number stands for a while, but figured I wouldn't know what to do with them after! Instead, I rented a few for our wedding day along with some of our furniture rentals.
Paper and Pine Co
If you're looking to buy some large signs in wood or acrylic, Paper and Pine Co have a good selection. If you have access to a plotter, vinyl tape and ability to cut/buy acrylic or wood though, it's a lot cheaper to make yourself. You can also buy metallic tinted materials to cut yourself.