Archives for June 2021

Beyond the White Gown

Just because Queen Victoria wore white on her wedding day doesn’t mean you have to. White wedding gowns and long dresses are the more traditional choice for brides-to-be, but don’t be afraid to go against the grain. It feels natural to follow along with tradition, but you might just fall in love with the most unorthodox dress. If you do, GO. FOR. IT!

There are many new and old trends popping up that are defying tradition. We love the uniqueness of these trends and the way it breathes new life into this very special day. That being said, we also adore traditional white wedding gowns too. It is just refreshing to start to see more variation in the direction brides choose to go.

Here are some recent trends and ideas for brides hoping to take a new route for their dress:

  • Jumpsuits! – This is such a fun trend that we have been seeing more and more of lately. There are more designers beginning to design jumpsuits specifically for weddings. Such a bold and brave outfit on your wedding day. We LOVE it!
  • Colors! – Think reds, emerald greens, fiery oranges, blues, and more. Adding a colorful gown creates a more playful and free-spirited vibe to your day. Plus, if you know what YOUR color is, then you will truly be shining! 
  • Patterns! – Go wild with your patterns. Your dress does not need to be a solid color. Find a pattern that speaks to who you are and wear it loudly!
  • Tulle Skirts + Dresses! – A really beautiful trend we have been seeing, simple dresses made out of tulle, and occasionally these dresses have hand-crafted embroidery across the bodice. These dresses are gorgeous! 
  • Mini Dresses! – Your wedding dress does not need to be long. There is a whole world out there of short bridal dresses with a wide assortment of designs and styles. Have a look at these! So unique and flattering!

Whatever wedding dress route you choose, just make sure you feel comfortable! This is truly the most important thing. And for some brides, feeling comfortable is wearing that jumpsuit, or the bright red dress, or the mini dress. Finding what works for your personality and aesthetics will be different for all. Follow your gut, and don’t let tradition stop you from wearing what makes you feel best!

4 Tips For Choosing The Bridesmaids Dresses

Muir Adams Photography

In the whirlwind of wedding planning, there are so many details to consider and choices to make. It’s not easy to make quick decisions when you’re planning a dreamy wedding. One of the best things you can do is remember that everything does not have to be perfect and actually the most unplanned things usually have a way of becoming the highlights. So in an effort to ease some decision making, here are some of our tips for choosing your bridesmaids dresses:

  • Let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. You can give some guidelines about length, style, and color, or have them check in with you to make sure the dress aligns with your aesthetic and vision. Having varying bridesmaid dresses is a nice way to empower your dear friends by allowing them to find a dress that makes them feel beautiful. Going the mismatch route also creates a more organic feel.
  • Delegate! There is no shame in delegating tasks during the wedding planning process. Ask your maid of honor or bridesmaids to find 3-5 dresses that they like. Then, making the final decision on which dress to go with becomes much easier with just a few options to choose from, plus your bridesmaids will be happy to have a say in the choice too.
  • Don’t be afraid to have varying shades of color. Again, going the mismatch route, having a spectrum of one color can be a subtle way to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Especially if your wedding palette has more neutral tones, this is a nice way to give some accents of color to your wedding day.
  • Be open to varied patterns + fabrics. This is a great way to give some more texture to your bridesmaids dresses and an opportunity to give some freedom to choose. Mixing patterns with solid color dresses looks beautiful together. And playing with different fabrics, can create a satisfying compilation of dresses when done right. Also, if you are stuck on a decision on which color, pattern, or fabric to go with, you can just choose 2-4 options that create a nice palette together and each bridesmaid can choose the dress they prefer. 

Ultimately, the most important thing to consider is how your bridesmaids will feel in the dresses. You want them to feel just as confident as you on the wedding day. Giving some freedom to either choose or have a say in which dress they prefer will make your friends feel valued and appreciated. And if you are short on time, definitely try to delegate this task to a friend you trust. Lastly, have fun choosing these dresses! It is like painting a picture of your big day. The bridesmaids add a dash of color so don’t be afraid to be playful with your choices.

The Next Steps AFTER You’ve Found The Perfect Dress

Once you’ve found the perfect wedding dress, it feels as if you can check ‘wedding dress’ off your to-do list. However, there is still a creative process that rests ahead. Be prepared so you can continue your wedding preparation with plenty of time and ease. Here are some tips and recommendations for AFTER you’ve found your gown:

  • Find a professional atelier with skilled alteration specialists to assist you with your bridal fittings and alterations.  At our atelier, we have an amazing creative team to help you. Book an appointment at least 8 weeks in advance of your wedding date.  Depending on how complex your alterations are, we may need more time to work on your dress. There can be many fittings in this process, so you want to make sure you have enough time in between fittings, too. 
  • If possible, decide on your shoes, undergarments, and accessories prior to going into your first fitting. These will all affect the alterations on your gown. We want to be sure  everything fits perfectly, so have on exactly what you will be wearing on your wedding day.
  • Bring one honest and direct friend or family member to give you a second eye during your fittings. This is always useful and will help you confidently make decisions on any additional alterations. 
  • If your dress has a long train you will need a bustle created. We have so many ideas for bustles and will help you find the most flattering bustle to compliment your dress. 
  • During your final fittings, be sure to have the exact shoes, garments, and accessories you will be wearing on your wedding day. This is your last chance to make the finishing touches to your gown. Make sure you feel comfortable, and if anything at all feels awkward, be sure to bring it up in the fitting.
  • Finally, if your gown has a bustle, bring your Maid of Honor or a bridesmaid with you so they can learn how to bustle your gown.  If they are not available, we will take a video in the studio showing exactly how to do it.

After finding your perfect gown there are plenty of steps you need to take before you can check it off your wedding to-do list. Make sure you allocate plenty of time for the wedding dress process as it doesn’t end after finding your dress. Any brides-to-be in need of an Alteration Specialist for their newly discovered wedding gown please get in touch with us at love@jenniferoberg.com. We would love to assist you in finalizing your wedding gown process!

How To Be Bold With Your Style

In a previous blog post, we talked about ways to discover your personal style, you can read about it here! Today, we wanted to talk more about finding ways to be bold with your style. Once you begin finding your style and aesthetics, your choices become much more intuitive and organic. You find a rhythm and tune to your daily outfits, but to continue to let your style flourish and stretch in all directions, you need to occasionally take risks with your outfits!

Maybe it is something you wouldn’t usually wear, makes you feel slightly uncomfortable, or is a pairing of garments you never considered before. This is brilliant! This threshold of uncertainty and anticipation is where your true artistry will begin to emerge and shape. Creatives are meant to challenge the norm and take risks. Give yourself permission to find the micro-risks in your personal style regularly. 

Try to start out with a bold outfit once or twice a month. Something beyond your comfort zone. Let yourself get creative with what you already have or pop into your local thrift store for some hidden gems to spice up an outfit. Then, as you get a bit more comfortable with this, challenge yourself to have a bold outfit once a week. When you get to this point, you will begin to notice your daily outfits changing too. Congratulations at this point you have just pushed your personal style to a new place! Try to keep track of your outfits with some pictures on your phone, it is exciting to look back on how your style has morphed through the weeks and months of this task.

It isn’t always easy to take risks, but there was a quote I once heard in a film where they said “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.” Take those 20 seconds of courage to put on that bold new outfit and walk out your door. You won’t regret it!