An Elegant Evening Wedding Dress

An evening wedding is not the same as an afternoon wedding, only held a few hours later. The nighttime hours hold a sense of drama and sophistication that set them apart from the tamer daylight hours. The whole feel and style of an evening wedding is more upscale, more chic, and above all more elegant. Everything from the attire to the décor to the food should reflect this shift in attitude as day becomes night.

As everyone knows, the bride is the focal point at a wedding, and it is really her gown that sets the tone for the entire affair. The first thing to decide is how formal you would like your wedding to be. If it will begin at 6pm or later, you can opt for a black tie wedding, which is the height of graciousness and style. If black tie feels a bit too stuffy for you, opt for a chic and elegant tone instead, with the men wearing modern cut suits and ties.

For a black tie wedding, the bride should choose a gown with a strong presence and a lot of impact. There is almost nothing that will feel too dressy. Feel free to experiment with details such as long trains, heavily embellished bodices, and tons of dazzling crystals and beads. The bride at a black tie wedding can also get away with a fairly ornate set of bridal jewelry, including everything from bold necklaces to dramatic drop earrings to sparkling crystal wedding bracelets. If you have decided against black tie for your evening wedding, go for a really striking and glamorous gown, such as a slinky silk sheath adorned with long drop earrings and several crystal wedding bracelets stacked together for more impact.

The décor at your wedding will definitely create the ambiance, and for an evening wedding, the must-have element is an abundance of candlelight. Imagine a dimly lit room set aglow with the flicker of hundreds of candles. The mood will be one of pure romance (not to mention, nothing is more flattering than candlelight). Choose elegant and sophisticated flowers for your centerpieces, like orchids or lilies. The floral displays should lean towards the dramatic for an evening affair. You may also want to rent some glittering crystal chandeliers to integrate into your tablescapes for the most elegance.

Evening weddings also call for food that is geared towards a sophisticated palette. Think about serving appetizers in high fashion ways, such as shots of soup or little bites served on porcelain spoons. For the main course, nothing is more chic than lobster or fresh seafood. You also cannot go wrong with the combination of caviar and an ice cold vodka fountain. This is a wonderful addition to an adults-only evening reception.

Nighttime weddings are a lot of fun, and planning them can be really enjoyable. Think about the special and unique details that you can include to make your wedding the height of elegance and style. The sophistication of an evening wedding makes for a memorable evening that your guests will not soon forget.

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Pretty Pattern Bridesmaid Dress

Your bridesmaid dresses will be a big part of the look of your wedding. Although solid colors have always been the most popular choice, there is nothing to say that you have to play it safe when it comes to the dresses that your attendants will wear. These are some ideas on pretty patterned bridesmaid dresses that are perfect for any wedding style.

It might seem like a print would only work on bridesmaid dresses for an informal wedding, but this is definitely not the case. For a black tie wedding, a stunning look for your bridesmaids would be a floor length gown in a pewter color with a black brocade design. To make it even more luxurious, look for a dress that is created with the design in cut velvet or devoré - yum! Add bridesmaid jewelry sets created from jet black crystals or lustrous pewter colored pearls for the perfect finishing touch.

Prints for daytime weddings can really run the gamut from sophisticated to playful to country. On the more elegant side would be a toile done in a limited color palette. This is a classic print that works best on simple cuts, like strapless A-line gowns. You can use a toile bridesmaid dress in almost any setting, indoors or outdoors. It is even possible to order toile that is designed in themes that fit in with your wedding (such as scenes of Nantucket). Sets of pearl bridesmaid jewelry will top off this timeless dress beautifully.

Of course, floral prints are always lovely, and you will have many great options for your attendants' dresses. One of the most original is to choose simple dresses made from Liberty print fabric. This iconic small floral is printed on a soft cotton fabric that would be wonderful for an informal wedding in a garden. Wedge espadrilles would look fantastic for the bridesmaids' shoes with a Liberty print dress.

If you prefer a more bold floral print, check out some of the large scale graphic florals that are in style this season. They are often done in a high contrast palette, such as cream and black. This design looks particularly great when it "grows" up from the hem of the dress and gets more sparse at the top. Not only will the dresses have great visual interest, but they will not be too bold by your bridesmaids' faces.

Stripes are a fresh idea for bridesmaid dresses at any time of the year. They can be done in so many ways. A crisp blue and white stripe looks nautical and classic, perfect for a wedding by the ocean. Add some flair with shoes or jewelry in a bright color like lemon or cherry red. If you are looking ahead to a winter wedding, stripes can be rich and elegant when done in deeper tones such as aubergine and chocolate in a full length gown.

When you are thinking about patterned bridesmaid dresses, one other design to consider is plaid. Plaid can be used for an entire dress, or as a sash on a solid color. You can use a red tartan for a Christmas wedding, a bright madras for a summer afternoon, or even a menswear inspired houndstooth print for something totally unexpected.

Be open to interesting prints and designs when you start shopping for your bridesmaid dresses. The right pattern can make their dresses so much livelier than a basic solid color. And if you choose well, your bridesmaids may even be able to wear their pretty patterned dresses again in the future.

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Cream and Black Wedding Invitations

Most people don't think of black when they think about weddings, but black is one of the main colors this year. Especially popular is the combination of "butter and black" better known as cream and black. For evening or formal weddings, nothing is more elegant than simple black invitations especially when they are embellished or ribboned to match your colors. From the moment they arrive, these invitations set the tone and help you create the feel you want. Here are a few design suggestions to consider when choosing your invitation.

1. Printable Black Pocket Folders: When choosing printable pocket folders you accomplish two goals in one, you can choose the style of invitation you want and save almost 50% of the cost by printing them yourselves. Most internet sites allow you to choose from a variety of ribbon colors to accent your pocket folder and here is where you can be very creative. You can go with a cream and black motif so that the pocket folder is black and the card stock, RSVP cards and ribbons are cream, or you can vary the ribbon color to burnt sienna, purple, gold, silver, or any other color that reflects your style and imagination.

2. Printable Black Layered Invitations: If you are on a limited budget or want a simpler invitation, or are using this for the many other wedding related events that require invitations, the layered style is for you. Here the background is a black card and the cream invitation card is attached to it giving a "layered" look. There are many designs to choose from here, you can have the invitation card attached by a colored ribbon of your choice or you can "sash' the invitation card around the middle with a ribbon of your choice or you can embellish the ribbon with beads or jewels. And as these are print it yourself kits, you again can save 50% or more. You can also use this style of invitations to compliment the pocket folder. So, for example, you may use the pocket folders for your wedding invitations and the layered invitations for the Bride and Groom Shower, or Rehearsal Dinner invites.

3. Printable Black Bordered Invitations: Let's say you only want a hint of black, then the bordered invitation is the one to look for. Here you can choose from a simple white or cream card with a black border, or a layered invitation where the invitation card is large enough that only a small border of the black background card is showing. These can serve equally well as the main wedding invitation or as rehearsal dinner or shower invites. And they also give you the same great savings.

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