By Gail Oliver & Gisele Sullivan
You can save your bridesmaids a lot of money and despair by giving them a designer looking dress for a fraction of the price. First, start with a plain solid color dress and then try some of the following suggestions:
1.
See if a print shop will embroider silk flowers down one side of the dress. Not as expensive as it may seem. Probably a one-time setup fee of $50 to $75 but then only a few dollars per dress depending on the number of stitches. If you know of someone who owns a sewing machine that also does embroidery, even better. Think of ivory and light pink flowers on a chocolate brown dress.
2.
Embellish the neckline of a black dress with ostrich feathers for an elegant nighttime wedding.
3.
Place a simple, large colorful flower at the opening of a V-neck dress, like actress Jennifer Connelly did for the 2002 Academy Awards.
4.
Take embroidered floral silk trim, usually $5 to $10 a yard, and use it to create a stylish waistband on the dress. Perfect for an empire waist dress.
5.
Buy a beautiful 1 ˝” satin ribbon and tie it in a bow around the waist, with the bow either in the back or at the side, cascading down a few feet. This would work well on an A-line dress.
6.
Create an “apron” of chiffon in a coordinating color to the dress. Tie the “apron” around the waist of the dress for extra embellishment. Works best with a gown that gathers at the waist. The apron should be the same length as the dress with the bow in front.
7.
Take pearl or beaded trim, anywhere from $12 to $30 a yard, and line the bottom of the sleeves and neckline of the dress. Great to use pearl trim on a pastel colored satin dress.
8.
An extravagant but inexpensive large costume brooch would also dress up a gown if placed at the bottom of a V-neck.
9.
Take a backless dress and have three strings of costume pearl necklaces, about 18”, 24” and 30” long, fall down the back of the dress (wear them backwards).
10.
Long silk gloves, wraps, even a faux fur shrug with a satin tie are other ways to inexpensively take the attention away from a plain dress.
Find great ideas for all aspects of your wedding in our e-book, Weddings with Style. For more information & ideas, see www.dcpublishing.com.
Copyright © 2007 Gail Oliver and Gisele Sullivan. All rights reserved.
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