David's Bridal

Karen Bussen, Celebrity Wedding Planner and Author

If you’re celebrating your wedding in a beautiful outdoor garden, chances are you’ve imagined your guests mingling among flowering blossoms surrounded by lush greenery and softly shining sun.

But like any outdoor celebration, a garden wedding requires some extra care and planning to make sure it grows into the big day of your dreams. Here are a few of my favorite tips and ideas:

Blossoming Bridesmaids. Dress your bridesmaids in a sophisticated natural hue that will complement your surroundings. I am in love with this Clover green David’s Bridal frock. Green is everywhere in nature and works well with any color of bouquet flowers.

Flower Girl Power! Choose dresses and accessories with a chic floral motif for the little ladies in your bridal party. Consider this satin ball gown with laser-cut floral appliques or this glamorous budding basket.

Pick pretty floral details to accent the party. Serve a signature cocktail infused with lavender or verbena. Ask your caterer to sprinkle edible flowers atop a salad or on your wedding cake. Adorn your aisle with a personalized floral runner, like this one with a bright late-summer cosmo motif. I love the border of petals too!

Plan for weather, just in case. Of course it will be beautiful on your wedding day—but you still need to think about what happens if a quick shower passes through. The biggest concern is rain (which, by the way, is good luck on your wedding day!), so ask your venue representative what has worked best in terms of moving folks inside, and walk through the space with an eye to how you’d like buffets and décor to be repositioned if it must be moved. But beyond rain, think about sun and wind. If the sun will be hot during your ceremony or cocktail hour, perhaps you’ll want to provide some paper parasols for the ladies, or put out a great basket of funky sunglasses. For wind concerns, consider decorating with candle lanterns that are deep or have a door to protect flames from blowing out, or just opt for one of the new great LED pillar candles, which are powered by batteries and will last through the whole party.

Now that you have the tools you need to create the garden wedding of your dreams, here’s my most important piece of advice for making it all perfect. As the old saying goes, “Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!” On your big day, take time to notice all the beautiful details and be mindful of the great love that has blossomed in your heart.

As the Royal Wedding Collection recently became available, Examiner noted how affordable and gorgeous these gowns are! See the dresses here for yourself!

Have you seen the classy bridesmaids dresses from the White by Vera Wang line for David’s Bridal? The Fall 2011 line recently debuted with new bridal gowns, dresses, shoes, sashes and headbands! Check out Wedding Obsession’s favorite bridesmaids dresses here, or to view the full line, click here!

The FashionList was one of the few lucky bloggers to get an up close and personal preview of the new White by Vera Wang Collection in New York City on Wednesday. Check out their photos and feedback of bridesmaids dresses, bridal gowns, shoes, accessories and sashes here!

Check out the Huffington Post’s story on White by Vera Wang’s new dress line! Chic and flattering styles for many body types, these dresses are not your typical bridesmaids dress!! See the story here!

The White by Vera Wang Fall Collection launched today, and Sarah D. blogged about the new styles! Check out her favorite fall styles, or click here to view the full collection of bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, shoes and accessories exclusively at David’s Bridal!

Dan Rentillo, David’s Bridal Design Director
As the mother of the bride or groom, the outfit selection for your son or daughter’s nuptials is important. Over the past few years, mother of the bride and groom dress designers have embraced new fashion trends to offer even more options for the big day.

When selecting your dress, it’s important to choose a color that complements the bridal party. No matter what color scheme your daughter or future daughter has chosen for her bridesmaids, there are a variety of options that will coordinate beautifully with the rest of the bridal party.

Whether the wedding is casual or formal, modern or traditional, David’s Bridal offers styles and silhouettes for everyone.

For a formal or black-tie affair, a floor length dress is the most appropriate style. This iridescent taffeta ball gown with beautiful beaded detailing along the sweetheart neckline is a stunning and sophisticated option. The coordinating wrap is perfect for the ceremony and for those who want more coverage throughout the whole event.

For a more semi-formal evening or afternoon event, most styles and silhouettes will work well. This one shoulder 3D floral detail is an on-trend option perfect for any type of affair. The flowing chiffon fabric creates a chic and slimming silhouette while the berry color surely makes for a dramatic entrance!

For a more informal event or an outdoor wedding, choose a knee length dress made from comfortable fabrics that breathe well. Shorter silhouettes have become the new trend and can take you from day to evening in style.

This stylish and chic short chiffon tiered dress is perfect for an event like this and has plenty of wear-again potential. The tiered skirt and flattering V-neck bodice creates a slimming effect while the flutter sleeves give this dress a romantic and feminine feel.

And remember: accessories can make an outfit. A fabulous pair of heels and a great evening bag are “must-haves” to finish off your look.

Regardless of what you wear, the most important thing is to find a style makes you feel confident and beautiful.

Congratulations and Happy Dress Shopping!

It’s summertime and weddings are in season! Are you looking for bridesmaids dresses that are comfortable and fashionable? If so, African American Brides has got you covered with 5 gorgeous dresses from David’s Bridal. Check them out here!