Posts Tagged: triangle wedding ideas

Bridesmaids dresses are not what they used to be! Even over the past several years, they have really evolved into a variety of dresses, from funky to formal, that can be worn far beyond the wedding date. While at New York Bridal Market last week, Cynthia of Cyn Kain Photography and I made sure to peek at some of the new looks for your ‘maids in addition to all of the new wedding collections we saw!

Ivy & Aster not only has a lovely bridal collection, but also a fun and fresh collection just for your bridesmaids. Our local Bella Bridesmaid in Cary, NC, carries Ivy & Aster, so we wanted to be sure to check out some of their new looks!

The first is called “Open Arms” — this gown features a twist sweetheart bodice with lace shoulder sleeves and a mini skirt. Your bridesmaids would appreciate a dress like this, as it’s a style they’ll definitely get the chance to wear again and again!

Shown below at left is “All I Want,” a one shoulder gown with a goddess drape bodice and tiered knee skirt, in an almond color. (Ok, ok, so…the gown below at right is actually part of the bridal collection, but it’s just so fun that I had to show it here!) For the right wedding, this could make a fabulous bridesmaids gown or a rehearsal dinner look. It’s called “Still in Love,” and has a black starburst sweetheart bodice atop an ivory colored skirt of chiffon and tulle, all topped with feathers!

Sitting in on the in-booth runway show at Watters, we saw a few other bridesmaids styles we’d like to share, as they represent some of the trends we saw in bridal and bridesmaid fashion throughout the weekend.

The three dresses below are very different styles from the Fall 2013 collection, and each reflects the trend of lace over the decolletage area. The first is the most formal, and could be used for a bridesmaids gown or the mother of the bride. It features an illusion neckline and three-quarter length sleeves. Next, “Ash,” in a lovely charcoal color, features a flattering a-line skirt. Finally, “Hawthorne,” is a similar look with an interesting twist, making it more Jackie O!

Another formal look for the fall, seen below, is “Oak,” in Marine Blue. This gown is in a luminescent taffeta, which has a satin-like feel. The sweetheart bodice has nice, textured detailing, keeping with today’s trends!

A Special, Behind-the-Scenes Morning
One of the most unique parts of our experience at bridal market was being invited to tag along with several owners from Bella Bridesmaid stores all over the country to their appointment with Amsale. These two companies have a very close relationship, and in the meeting, the Amsale rep went over everything from sales reports to the top-selling lines that they recommend each Bella Bridesmaid store owner to keep in stock this season. The ladies even had the opportunity to converse with the rep in a very open and friendly setting — asking for advice on pairings, and even providing honest feedback.

I was so excited to meet Erin Casey Wolf. Erin (like me!) is part of a mother-daughter team; she and her mother, Kathleen Casey, opened the Chicago store in September of 2007 and a Milwaukee store in 2008, and are now the franchisors of the company! SB&G loves a fellow mother-daughter team!! Erin was as sweet as she could be, and it was fascinating to see this side of the business.

Be sure to visit our local Bella Bridesmaid salon in Cary for your favorite designs from Amsale, Ivy & Aster, and others like Dessy, Jim Hjelm, Two Birds, Alvina Valenta and more!