garden of glam

My life has completely been taken over by weddings!  By the end of September I will pretty much be able to add professional wedding guest/bridal party member to my resume.  Weddings are the ultimate party and the most special of celebrations.  Everyone is happy, ready to have a good time and you can feel the love in the air.  Weddings are also so wonderful because they provide the perfect opportunity to dress up, which if you are a follower of the blog you know I love to do.  Dressing fabulously and flawlessly for weddings can be tricky  at times and because of this I decided to put together a weeklong Spring/Summer Wedding Guest Dress for Success Guide.

To put this post together I turned to some of D.C.’s glamour staples.  Carine’s Bridal Atelier provided the gorgeous dresses.  I also sat down with Carine and chatted with her about wedding trends, bridal market, her beautiful boutique and so much more.  For the video of this interview head over to Carine’s blog & Facebook page.  For the baubles I, of course, turned to Charm Georgetown & Fornash.  As you know accessories provide the perfect finishing touch to each look and must be given as much attention as the clothes themselves.  Special thank you to Jackie from Charm for graciously opening up her store to me and helping me complete each ensemble.  Also, in case you missed it check out my exclusive (vintage) interview with Jackie here.  For the hair I turned to none other than Drybar.  This was my first Drybar experience and it was absolutely amazing!  The staff was super friendly and knowledgable, the atmosphere was absolute perfection and of course the blow out was impeccable.  My stylist even instructed me on how to secure an easy and fabulous up do.  I could not recommend Drybar more highly!

And now for today’s wedding look feature….the black tie wedding.  Black tie is less common, but with that said it is virtually impossible to make it through wedding season without being invited to one black tie wedding.  I love long dresses so I jump at the opportunity to wear a long gown.  Floor length gowns are also the most appropriate for a black tie wedding or function, but a shorter dress can work, but really go long, when else will you be able to!  Long gowns are also flattering for all body types and just truly stunning.

Gown: Nicole Miller c/o Carine’s Bridal, Jewelry: Charm Georgetown, Blowout & Up do tips: Drybar

The draping of the dress is incredible, but also calls for an up do. Always make sure your hair complements the gown.

The back is just EVERYTHING!

If you choose a more subdued color, vamp up your look with a bright lip or dramatic eye.

One of the most magical things about this gown is that the bottom is sequins with a chiffon overlay, which gives the gown a subdued sparkle.

When going long remember the hemmed length is crucial.

Seeking shade and showing off the gorgeous jewels.

Whatever you wear, make sure you have fun in it!