Wedding Inspiration

by Lisa Beth Miller Wedding invitations should always include a hint as to how formal the event will be. As a bride, groom, or guest, you need to actually understand this terminology in order to appropriately select what you and your guests will wear. Here are some helpful guidelines: Semiformal daytime- This level of formality indicates that men will wear suits, usually in a color such as charcoal or navy if the weather is cooler, or in shades of white or khaki if the weather is warm. Four-in-hand ties are also traditionally worn (this means long ties, not bow ties). Women would usually wear daytime-appropriate dresses or suits for a semiformal daytime wedding. Semiformal evening- At this type of wedding, men may wear dark suits or tuxedos with ties and vests. Women would wear cocktail style dresses. Everyone would look a bit more dressed up …

by Lisa Beth Miller This week, I was approached with a question that I thought was important enough to be addressed: What exactly should a dad wear to the wedding of his son or daughter? Seems simple enough to tell dads to dress up, but should they match the actual wedding party? No! Dads are not to be dressed exactly like the groomsmen, as they are not technically members of the wedding party. The key here is to dress dads in keeping with the appropriate level of formality for the event. So if the groomsmen are in black tuxedos with green accessories, dads should wear tuxedos, but not the same one and not with the exact same accessories as the groomsmen. The dads are also not required to match each other. So using the previous scenario (black tuxes and green vests and ties for the groomsmen), perhaps the …

by Lisa Beth Miller The adorable little flower girl! Who could possibly be cuter? This special little girl plays an important role in the wedding day and deserves to be dressed like the princess that she really is! How does the bride go about deciding how to dress the flower girl? Well, there are two schools of thought on this issue. One trend suggests that the flower girl should be dressed in a child-sized (and child appropriate) version of the bridesmaids’ dress. The bride can either ask if the bridesmaid dress designer also makes a child’s version, or simply obtain color swatches of the bridesmaids’ dress and shop with a designer who makes children’s dresses exclusively. The second possibility is to take the approach of dressing the flower girl as a mini-bride, in a white or ivory dress that coordinates more …

Saying ‘Yes to the Dress’ is the highlight of wedding planning for most brides. It also sets the mood for the entire wedding after you have selected your venue! Here is are the best bridal boutiques and dress shops in Northern Virginia. Amy’s Bridal Boutique “Why should I consider Amy’s Bridal?” you may ask. Well, for starters, it’s been a staple in the community since August 2008 and has developed into a one-stop boutique for all your wedding needs. Amy Domenech, the owner, has thought of everything and eliminated a lot of unnecessary steps in the process. Amy’s Bridal Boutique has the resources and capabilities to take care of you, the groom and the bridal party. “My boutique has all sorts of things to offer,” Amy says. “I love many aspects of weddings and we are ever changing. Wedding gowns are my specialty. However, we also offer bridesmaids dresses, tuxedo rentals, gown preservation, accessories, …

Majestic architecture, manicured landscaping, sparkling waters and elite service are some of our favorite aspects of a country club wedding. From the traditional bride to the modern bride, or even the rustic bride, these Northern Virginia country club destinations offer breathtaking beauty that will suit any theme. Read on to discover the magic each venue has to offer! Chantilly National Golf Club Northern Virginia brides have a plethora of beautiful wedding locations to choose from, but if you love golf, the Chantilly National Golf and Country Club is a perfect choice. Located in Centreville, it features a gorgeous Ed Ault-designed golf course with a traditional par-72 layout as well as a fun practice facility which includes a chipping green, putting green, bunker area, and even a 275-yard driving range. If golf isn’t your wedding theme or favorite activity, you can …

By Lisa Beth Miller So, you are engaged and ready to shop for the perfect wedding gown. You arrive at your very first appointment at a bridal boutique, and the consultant suggests that you try on all six of the classic wedding gown silhouettes. I know…you are thinking “Ugh. I already know what I want! Look, I have a huge pile of pictures of my favorite dresses!” Your best bet in this situation is to trust your bridal consultant! She knows exactly what she is talking about and will show you options that may not have occurred to you. Since most women do NOT try on formal wedding gowns throughout their lives, most do not actually know what gowns will work with their body type. As you look through your huge pile of pictures of gowns that appeal to you, …

By Delia Engstrom | Photos by Roman Grinev Photography Brides have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to wedding planning-such as picking a venue, deciding on flowers, or choosing a photographer. For Emily Murrell, an Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) volunteer, there was one decision that was especially ruff. Murrell knew she wanted to add a personal touch to her wedding and it only made sense that it would involve some furry special guests. She and her now-husband Brent serve as fosters for Operation Paws for Homes, a non-profit organization that rescues dogs from rural high-kill shelters and places them with loving volunteers, like Emily and Brent, until they can find a forever home. “We have two dogs of our own- a yellow lab named Midas and Brynn, a Catahoula leopard dog,” states Emily, “but we’ve also fostered …