This fabulous clip is from Sweet Grass Mill, and I found it on Etsy.  It’s gorgeous and a great price!

Sweet Grass Mill hair clip

Are you looking for something instead of the typical “behind the ear” feather?  This piece from NY Jolie Jewellery is so classy and beautiful!

NY Jole Jewellery

For a more dramatic option you should look at the Alanna Bridal Peacock Feathers.

Alanna Bridal Peacock Feather

Once you get outfitted with your feathers, it’s time to shop for the rest of your wedding party.  I love this cute option for your flower girl!  It is from The Headband Shoppe, and the photo is by ambphotocompany.com.

The Headband Shoppe

After you select your accessories send us some photos.  I love to see what you are interested in!

(All photos taken from Etsy, or the designer’s website)

I am loving each of these looks from various independent designers. Having the bridesmaids next to you in something bold yet completely complimenting to your look is the way to go!

Bridesmaids originated from the Roman law that required ten witnesses at weddings in order to fool evil spirits.  The bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed identical to the bride and groom, confusing evil spirits and keeping them from  haunting the happy couple.  That tradition is now gone, and instead of dressing like the bride, the bride chooses bridesmaid dresses based on her preferences for style and color.

I recently entered into the realm of bridesmaid dresses, trying to appreciate different fabrics, slightly varied shades of color, and the numerous designers out there.  Every designer and dress teasing me with the promise of being a dress I can wear again

So far we have been to one store to try on dresses.  I was shocked to find out that the “cheap” dresses were $180, with prices increasing to nearly $500.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my friend and am happy to take part in her wedding, but what really is an appropriate price for a dress?  According to etiquette expert Judith Martin in her book Miss Manners on Weddings, “Contrary to rumor, bridesmaids are not obliged to entertain in honor of the bride, nor to wear dresses they cannot afford.”

I was also surprised by the lack of samples to try.  The dresses all came in only one size (4, 8, or 10) and one color.  I consider myself to be an average sized woman, and had trouble fitting in at least half of the samples.  Does this seem reasonable?  Shouldn’t dresses come in a variety of sizes and colors so you can really tell what you’re paying a few hundred dollars for?

I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions!

With one proclamation, I was back to square one in the wedding dress search. I was in Alla Prima on Hayes Street, being advised by Maggie, the owner, and by many accounts, the lingerie queen of San Francisco.

A couple of months ago, the nice and knowledgeable gals at Alla Prima had given me a proper bra fitting. Turns out Victoria’s Secret is wildly misguided and woefully understocked. I’d been wearing a 36D my whole life, and walked out of there as a 34F.

So when my first round of dress shopping produced a backless sheath dress as the winner, I wanted to make sure that everything would look great.  And I knew exactly who to ask.

Apparently, for those of us who are well-endowed, there is no “foundation garment” that will support the girls but allow for a low-backed or backless dress. It just doesn’t exist.

“I have so many brides in here crying their eyes out two weeks before the wedding because the foundation garment is the last thing they think of,” says Maggie. “Sometimes they’ve even had their final fitting – how could someone possibly do a fitting on them without knowing what bra they’ll be wearing under the dress?” She went on to point out that if a bride is a B or A cup, she can certainly get away with the NuBra or some other such contraption. (I know, I know, the grass is always greener.) And I know from my own shopping experience at several Bay Area bridal stores that most bridal dresses are cut for a woman with a B cup.

So consider this post part public service announcement, part call to arms. Shouldn’t there be more options for the many, many women who’ve got their junk in the front? Ideally, there would be a foundation garment specialist working with every wedding dress shop. “There is a huge market out there that has been completely ignored,” Maggie pointed out. “They’re just waiting with baited breath…” Myself included. And please, ladies, no matter your bra size, think about the undergarments before you buy the dress. No bride should be in tears over a bra.