Pick of the best high street wedding dresses

from top left:

 Biba Chloe one shoulder beaded maxi bridal gown £695 House of Fraser, 

 Agnola Dress £225 Monsoon, Phase Eight Elizabeth wedding dress £375 Debenhams,  

Biba Alexa bell sleeve bridal gown £695 House of Fraser, 

 Pegasus lace dress £150 Monsoon, Ted Baker beaded scallop dress £179 Asos

There's a lot to be said for splashing out on the most expensive wedding dress you can afford but for some brides Vera Wang just ain't an option.

Thankfully the high street has some affordable and rather gorgeous wedding dresses on offer, as this little selection proves. 

Which one's your favourite? It's not actually a wedding dress, but I think the scallop edge Ted Baker dress is my favourite. Perfect for a chic city summer wedding accompanied with some killer heels and a delectable cocktail in hand, no? 

Black wedding dresses

I salute anybody brave enough to rock a black wedding dress. In fact I wish more brides wore black at their wedding, it's so dramatic and glam.

Crystal Clear Imagery via Style Me Pretty

Technically this is an engagement shoot, but it's pretty enough to be a wedding dress so I'm including it.

 Sarah Yates Photography

Vera Wang shot by Jose Villa via Once Wed

When I looked into it though, it seems it's pretty tricky to find black wedding dresses that aren't gothic. Surely there's a market for them? I know Vera Wang does a splendid black wedding dress but unless you're got that kind of budget there doesn't seem to be a lot out there. Certainly not in the UK. 

So designers are you listening? We need some classy, elegant, fun, sexy, whatever, black wedding dresses. As much variety as with the white dresses please.

Thoughts? Am I alone in this? Is this why there don't appear to be many decent black wedding dresses out there? 

If a fairy got married...

... She would surely wear one of these ridiculously ethereal perfections...

 

 Elie Saab Autumn/Winter 2011 from In Style via This is Glamorous

I could cry these are so beautiful. Or stamp my feet because I'll never get to wear one.

The man behind these creations is designer Elie Saab. If you happen to read my blog Mr Saab, and want to loan me a dress if I ever get married, I'll be a happy girl indeed.

Original 1950s wedding dresses

Be warned, when you check out this Etsy shop, you are going to want to buy everything in it. Timeless Vixen  is based in Beverly Hills (but ships internationally), and 'offers the best in femme fetale fashion from the 1870s to 1970s'. I'll say.

I discovered these affordable, unique vintage wedding dresses through Katie Antoniou on Twitter, (of London Plinth). Thank you Twitter. Despite my grumblings about you of late, you do sometimes deliver a gem.

I know when I get married, I'm going to want to wear a unique dress. And vintage is a pretty good way to do that.

The 1950s style is grabbing me lately, maybe because it promises to give hips to those not naturally blessed with them so these dresses stood out in particular.

There's some pretty gorgeous 1930s dresses available too for those after something a little more slinky.

1950s vintage lace dress

1950s vintage bow dress

1950s vintage lace and yellow taffeta wedding dress

Timeless Vixen

And with prices starting at $325 they don't even have the hefty price tag you get with some vintage items.

What do you think? It's a good style this 1950s prom dress, flattering for lots of body shapes don't you think?

Etsy wedding dress

I've waxed lyrical about my love for Etsy many times on this blog. I just think it's such a good resource for anybody looking for unique and individual pieces. Sure, you often have to search to find the diamonds in the rough but it definitely rewards the patient browser.

Also a good option if you're looking for an original wedding dress. Look at these beauties I found recently...


from Lightwitch $395.00


from Ouma $480.00

This dress I've seen around before (and maybe even blogged) but seriously, look at it. It is insanely awesome. And only $840. Bargain eh.


also Ouma $840.00

What do you think? Would you buy your wedding dress from Etsy?

Serious wedding dress envy

Most of the time I am more than happy to be a wedding planner but when I see dresses like this all I want is to be a bride. Just look at them. I'd wear every single one at my wedding if I could, I mean how could you possibly choose?

Although if I had to, it'd be this first one I think...



Although this one makes my heart sigh a little too...



The bow. The detailing...



The colour. Oh and the texture...







The bow. Need I say more...



All images from here

This divine collection BHLDN meaning Beholden is from the genius brand behind Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters and launches this Valentine's day. Rumour has it is is only available in the States for now *sob* but hopefully this won't be the case for long.

These beauties aren't even super expensive. All dresses range from $1000 to $4000 AND there's a bridesmaid collection too.

Phew. All too exciting. All I know is, if I were a bride-to-be I'd be jumping on a plane across the sea to get my hands on one of these bad boys!

Wedding inspiration for 2011

Well happy 2011 lovelies! I hope this new year brings you whatever it is you're looking for.

Savoir Weddings has had a rather splendid start to the year. I have been a little remiss on blogging because it has been MENTAL. Aside from eating Christmas dinner I have been a very busy wedding planning bee. Which is all rather exciting and fills me with anticipation for 2011.

And here is the first Monday Medley (okay Tuesday) of the year.

the ceremony



I LOVE this idea. Partly because I'm working with a couple who want to use a projector and this is great inspiration and partly because it's just awesome.


the designer

You simply must head over to London Bride to check out Charley's post on French designer Delphine Manivet. These dresses actually make me salivate a little bit.






the hair

This year I would quite like to dye my hair lavender. For no particular reason other than it looks interesting.




the dress



I don't think I've seen a dress this divine in a while. The colour is magnificient.

Of course this dress is another one of my faves.


the 'maids



It's all about the colours and the shawls I think.


the decor



I'm not sure why but I have a bit of a thing for stags and deers at the moment. These prints would look good framed as wedding decor I think. And you can buy here.

Also feeling this idea today..



I'm not sure how you'd do it, presumably just slighlty curl the photo and slide in? You could fill with photos of you as a couple, as children, with family and friends and make a nice feature of it at your reception.

That's it! This week I will be bringing you a guest book idea from a wedding I'm styling and will be bringing back my mixtape masters contributions.

Things that have caught my eye of late...

Good morning my lovelies, this is the calm before the storm of a super busy week for me. Why is this time of year always so crazy eh. I imagine your lives are equally as jam packed!

I thought this was a nice way to start this week's Monday Medley...


the thought




the dress

Azzoro (uber chic French fashion house) launches a bridal collection Azurro Mariée. Okay now this definitely won't be for the brides on a budget but a girl can dream right?

There's going to be 30 dresses featuring both short and long styles and a variety of delicious fabrics.

The totally decadent and divine part is that each dress comes with a personalised label with the bride's name and wedding date AND an illustration of the dress as a souvenir.

All very VIP so far and the treatment you get promised at the London, Paris or Barcelona boutiques sounds wondrous. I wonder if they'll make me a dress in the name of research?




the eyelashes

I have decided after reading this post over at OMG I'M Getting Married that I am going to go and get me some false eyelashes. Quite frankly I am fed up of my pathetic spiky spider legs eyelashes and want some glamour. How amazing would it be to wake up all fluttery eyed and girly!


the bride

This bride's amazing eclectic style is captured rather beautifully by Chloe Browne aka Caught The Light

Just check out the venue, the bridesmaids and the styling. It is epic I tell you.





the photos

I discovered these beauties over at Style Me Pretty. I really like the-looking-into-the-sun effect.








the jewellery

These pieces are just presented so well. Found over at tales of a jUnkaholic, they are part of the new collection by blog owner and all round cool lady Artemis.







That's it! Enjoy your Monday.

A few of my favourite things

Welcome to a brand new week people. I hope your weekend was relaxing and fun. I've had a relatively quiet one which was definitely needed!

Here's my Monday Medley of things I've found interesting and/ or pretty...

read...

this article in The Guardian by journalist and bride to be Jude Rogers about bridezillas and the royal wedding. Is an interesting read and gives Rock n Roll Bride a mention. Let me know what you think.

the dress

I think I'd go so far as to say this is one of the finest wedding dresses I have ever seen. It's irridescent, sparkly, floaty and just damn gorgeous.

click on the images to see more






wedding hair inspiration

I've got a bit of a thing for plaits although now I have a fringe they don't look so good. They're perfect wedding hair however, unfussy yet keep crazy wayward hair like mine in check so they're perfect for brides that don't want to worry about their hair all day long.

These styles are fairly mental - I'd love to see a bride wear her hair like this...



or like this, although you might have to use fake flowers as real ones might look a bit wilted by the evening...



Who says your wedding hair style has to be predictable eh?

cheap and cosy lighting

This time last year I blogged about this rather awesome fairy lights in bottle idea. I love cheap and inventive ideas like this. Must get round to trying to make these this year.




interior design

Oh how I would love a bookcase like this...




xmas card

And finally, I'm not really a sending cards kind of gal but if I was, I would send this little bad boy out.

Monday Medley - Wedding inspiration from the world wide web

Good morning! And Happy Monday! It is a decidedly unpleasant day here, with bitter rain, my least favourite weather. So I bring you some general wedding inspiration to brighten up your (and my) day.

☂ First up, a little guest post I did for the super nice Claire over at English Wedding. I wanted to write something about the whole point of a wedding in the first place - the love - so check it out and let me know what you think!

☂ Next is this rather splendid 80s inspired wedding seen over at Love My Dress. I'm a big fan of couples doing their wedding their way and this is a pretty good example of that. Plus that yellow dress is the perfect antidote to a wet Monday morning.



☂ Found over at Julia's blog - check out this tree house wedding! Apparently it's the only tree house in the world that you can get married in. Not sure I've come across a more romantic and quirky wedding venue in a long time. Julia is the art director for Wedding Magazine and is a wedding photographer herself. Now I'm pretty busy but I honestly don't know where she finds the time. I helped her style her wedding party ( yep this lovely lady had two weddings) back in the summer and we are meeting for a long overdue coffee today where I am going to have to find out more about this tree house.

Just look at that view...



☂ I heart these shoes.



The wedding shoes of Wellies and Vogue and the best quote from the bride herself:

'I think the photos say it all.. so much fun.. love my friends and family and weirdly never felt nervous.. just floating.'

☂And The Luxury Wedding Show is here. According to their creative director:

“Luxury doesn’t have to mean expensive; what we have sought to do is to identify those organisations that provide the very best in luxury goods and services and have made them accessible and obtainable for those seeking either a traditional, modern or vintage wedding ceremony.”

Sounds good right? I'm not convinced about wedding fairs in general but am always willing to have my mind changed. Head over to I am Staggered for more info on how to get discounted tickets. For some reason I find that quite amusing. That you can get discounted tickets to a luxury wedding show!

I am a little more excited about The Vintage Wedding Fair for three main reasons. I do massively enjoy planning and styling vintage weddings so I'm excited for that obvious reason. It's a great opportunity to meet up with like minded suppliers; and on their website the organisers state they have been 'researching and planning this new concept in wedding fairs'.

Fabulous. Count me in. Anyone else planning on going? Do let me know and we can have tea and cake together!

Tulle party dress... works as wedding dress

Whilst joyfully looking through Etsy (yes it's work related, but so much fun) I discovered this beauty.

For $112 (roughly £70 maybe for UK girls) you could bag yourself a rather awesome wedding dress.

Who says weddings need to be expensive eh?