It’s an interesting balance to strike when looking for a dress to go to the wedding. On the one hand, the desire to look beautiful and stand out from the other guests. On the other, the need to let the bride shine and not overshadow her. Here’s my stylist’s advice on how to get through this challenge with your head held high and enjoy your search.
Show your elegance and sobriety to leave the beautiful role to the bride
The bride must remain the center of attention throughout the day, but with the trend towards bohemian dresses, many bridal gowns are turning increasingly classic. This makes it all the more important, when in doubt, to choose a design that “doesn’t look like a bride”. Exit pale yellow, cream or beige dresses, and even more so if they’re long, even a beige suit is not welcome. Instead, opt for pastel colors (purple is very much in vogue, as discussed here) or classic navy blue.
Patterns are interesting because they allow you to wear a light-colored dress without running the risk of being mistaken for the bride. A dress is not at all compulsory: if it suits your style better, a pantsuit can be an excellent choice, as long as you don’t choose gray or black. Stick to a classy cut and avoid overly sexy styles that don’t fit your role on the day.
Furthermore, as you’re very close to the bride, you’re well aware of the style of the wedding, the tones of the decorations… It would certainly be appreciated if you respected the general aesthetic of the wedding. If it’s very formal, a hat and a very classic dress will be more appropriate, whereas if the style is bohemian, the fascinator will seem a little extravagant and a long floral dress will be more appropriate.
Stand out from bridesmaids and other wedding guests
If there are bridesmaids, you may want to consider matching their outfits, while standing out from the rest. You could, for example, choose an outfit in the same tones but with patterns, while theirs are plain, or a long version in the same color as their short dress, or the same hue but a little brighter (pale pink for them, raspberry for you).
And yet you’re not just another guest. The bride has chosen you from among all her nearest and dearest to accompany her on this important day. So you’ll have to make a special effort to dress for the occasion. A new outfit is often in order, and your attire should be particularly elegant. Your dress should be of good quality, and you should think about the rest of your look accordingly. Since you’ll be visible in the majority of photos – of both the ceremony and the group – you can’t just throw on the cardigan lying around in your car if you’re cold. Make sure you have a nice jacket and a little scarf so you’re not caught unprepared. Shoes should also be elegant and in harmony with your outfit, so take a pair of sandals with you for the evening so you don’t end up barefoot.
My advice to make sure you make the right choice and treat yourself at the same time: work with a made-to-measure dress designer.
Choosing a made-to-measure wedding witness gown
The choice of quality and craftsmanship
The role of wedding witness offers you a wonderful opportunity to really treat yourself in a sublime, high-quality gown. It’s not every day you get the chance to wear gorgeous dresses, and a wedding is an occasion not to be missed. It’s also a mark of respect for the bride and groom to be impeccably dressed, proof that this event is important to you. By making this choice, you’re also promoting short circuits, the use of noble materials and supporting local craftsmanship.
A moment to pamper yourself
The discovery appointment at Atelier Luje is free and without obligation. Simply come and discuss your wishes, and dream up your ideal dress, which I’ll sketch out in front of you, and which we can modify to your liking so that it’s exactly what you want. We take all the time we need. I make suggestions that I think will match your body type and what you tell me you like or dislike, but everything is flexible and you always have the final say on the aesthetic choices for your made-to-measure dress.
The fitting part is just as pleasant and represents a break in your week. You can come alone or accompanied by someone you trust, whose opinion you know to be sincere and respectful, perhaps the bride herself or someone close to you. You’ll try on an outfit that you think you’ll look lovely in, since it’s been entirely designed to show you off to best advantage, and which can still be completely transformed to match what you’ve imagined.
During this first fitting, we’ll also choose the fabrics that best suit your made-to-measure dress. My pre-selection is made beforehand, but if you wish, you can accompany me to a fabric boutique to touch the different materials that will make up your precious outfit.
An outfit you can wear again
A dress so perfectly tailored to your figure in top-quality materials is a precious part of your wardrobe. It’s a garment you’ll keep for a long time, and one you’ll be able to wear again and again. At other weddings, of course, by accessorizing it differently, but also for your birthday, an evening out, or even at work.
We can think of its various uses upstream, when we design the dress, for example by preferring a two-piece ensemble or imagining removable sleeves. But it can also happen at a later stage, after the event, when you come back to me with your dress and I adapt it to your new needs. Let’s say you want a more glamorous look to wear to your birthday party. In this case, I can rework the outfit by creating a two-piece set: on one side the skirt, which we can endow with a large slit, and on the other a beautifully low-cut crop top to create an outfit very different from the initial model.
A particularly elegant outfit, but far removed from the bridal aesthetic, is the main thing to bear in mind when you’re the best man at a wedding. As for the rest, treat yourself and choose a design that reflects your personality, without detracting from the wedding aesthetic! For those who want to take the opportunity to treat themselves to a gift, the role of maid of honor will be the perfect excuse to go for a magnificent made-to-measure creation!