Wedding Planning:: Bridal Gowns:: Article 1

Hello! Happy Wednesday! Ok, so I've had in mind for a while that I want my blog to be informative for my readers and help them with some of their planning. My hope is to regularly post good ideas that will be helpful in the wedding planning process.

What better place to start, I thought, than with bridal gowns. I think this is probably the most exciting part for every bride. The idea of looking most beautiful and oh so glamorous. So I started out looking for the type of gown I would look for if I were picking. I love my wedding gown, it was beautiful but my tastes have changed since I first picked it out 10 years ago so I thought it would be fun to look as though I were picking now. I've had in mind, after seeing a couple "inspiration dresses", one of which was not even a wedding dress, of what I would want a dress to look like now.

So let me begin by posting a couple pics of the "inspiration dresses" and describing just what I was looking for. In the process of coming into photography over the past few years I have discovered the style of photography that most inspires me and as a result of pinpointing my photography tastes that same style has spilled over into the rest of my life. That style is a vintage, heirloom style that I just get tickled pink over. In searching for "just the right dress" I came across another "looker's" post asking where to find Audrey Hepburn style wedding dresses. I absolutely love that description and so I sought out "that look". So here are my "inspiration dresses".


These are images taken by excellent husband/wife photography team Justin & Mary Marantz. I just thought this first dress was so pretty and I love the detail pic.




These next two pictures were taken by Justin and Mary but the subjects are themselves an awesome husband/wife photography team - Zach and Jody Gray. As soon as I saw these pictures I fell in love with Jody's dress.




Again, just love the detail.




Here is the first of my many finds. I could have spent a lot longer looking but I've got to sleep sometime. These are all dresses from bridal gown designer, Lazaro. There will be more from other designers in future posts.




Can you tell I'm into the layers? Never thought I would have but I am loving them.




Similar but I like the above best.



I love the top of this dress, similar to Jody's above.



The belted look has really grown on me too and I have seen this quite a bit. I also love the silhouette of this dress. Of course, the silhouette might not be quite the same if the dress was on me but hey, a girl can dream right?!?!


This one doesn't fully fall into the vintage look category but there's still something "Audrey Hepburn" about it to me.


Absolutely loving this one!! It has such a Victorian vibe I think.




This is the above dress. I thought the back was pretty.




Here's the belted look again and I've seen a lot of colored belts or sashes to match the wedding colors.



This next one is very pretty. I just love the detail of it which can be seen in the second picture.





When I first saw this one I wasn't sure if I liked it or not but it has grown on me. The little "jacket" and the silhouette also make me think of that classic movie star style.



Well there you have it for the first "collection". Now I know that not everyone can afford designer prices and that is by no means what I am suggesting here. I know I couldn't. But these are just design ideas. I came across a post that suggested to one bride to find a dress with the "bones" that you like and then have it altered and/or customized with your own special detailing to get just the look you're going for without spending the arm and leg price of a "designer" dress. Besides, who better to "design" your dress than you? Make it a "one of a kind". Make it your own!

Happy Bridal Gown searching and don't forget to invite me along for that final fitting so I can document that special time with you and your girls.