Sunday, October 6, 2013

WW#6- Casual Beachy Style

Last week I took a reader poll to decide what theme to use next and it was a tie between a beach theme and a hot pink theme. I've been in a beachy mood since it still feels like summer in my part of the country, so I decided to use the beach theme with a casual twist.  I don't think a formal beach wedding is appropriate because my mental image of a beach is fun and casual, plus you have to worry about all the sand so a big formal wedding on the beach just seems silly.

Casual Chiffon Dress
I thought a light and flowing, shorter length dress with no train would be the best option for a beach bride so she doesn't have to worry about her dress dragging in the sand and can stay relatively cool if the weather is hot. I really like the look of this knee length dress* to fit the casual style I was going for, but a breezy chiffon dress with an asymmetrical/high-low hemline would be equally lovely.   I would keep the bride's accessories minimal and fun; maybe some chunky costume jewelry and a large flower clip for her hair.  For her hairstyle I would continue the casual look with either a messy low updo, or just keep her hair down and wavy.  Of course the bride's shoes would be white flip flops because trying to walk on the beach in high heels sounds dangerous, not to mention unfitting for the casual look of this wedding.  I want to keep the bouquet simple, so a medium sized cluster of purple and white flowers completes the bride's look.


Strappy Chiffon Bridesmaid
The color scheme for this wedding is inspired by the natural colors of the beach.  To add a bit of a unique touch, I chose the main color to be a light purple lilac or lavender color instead of the usual baby blue or coral.  The accent colors would be sandy neutrals and creams.  This breezy chiffon bridesmaid dress from David's Bridal is absolutely perfect and looks like it would be comfortable too! I would style the bridesmaids similarly to the bride with a casually messy hairstyle, simple jewelry, and non-heeled sandals, as well as small bouquets.


I want to keep the wedding decor clean and natural looking.  A gigantic, elaborate cake and centerpieces would not fit the style at all.  This clean white cake from Lisa's Cakes in Lebanon, OH is absolutely beautiful (and probably delicious, too! Lisa made my wedding cake and it was A-MAZ-ING).  Another good cake option would be a long and low rectangular tiered cake with a simple white buttercream frosting design.  To decorate the reception tables, I would just use small clusters of candles and then spread rose petals around that.  Recorded classical music would add just a touch of elegance while still maintaining a casual tone.

*This wedding dress is from another online store and is provided only as inspiration for the style I wanted to showcase. As always, I do not recommend buying a gown online, especially when it is made and shipped from overseas and you have no way to see it in person or try it on before purchase. Any links provided in the text of this post are also provided solely for your information and are not part of any affiliate program.
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