feeling lost amidst tulle, chiffon, taffeta and organza? here’s a little guide on the silhouettes typically applied to gowns and formal dresses.

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as jill looked up wedding songs and discussed wedding themes, i can’t help but imagine what songs and what theme i would have selected if my husband and i had a traditional wedding ourselves.

my husband and i both love music. and love it a lot. while we may not entirely agree on many songs, there is one genre and era that brings us together: motown.

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ok, i used to like vera wang, now i positively adore her. she was in last night’s idol studio audience. she happened to outfit michelle delamor for that episode.

in a white top that looks like a miniature version of vera’s opulent wedding gowns, cropped motorcyle jacket, cutaway gloves, black tights and leather boots, michelle took on a biker bride ensemble and was obviously the night’s best dressed contestant. i wonder, will vera wang come out with a line of ready-to-wear like this? i sure hope so.

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when jill posted an entry about restoring her mother’s wedding dress for her to wear on her own wedding day, i was reminded that, as a child, i wanted to wear a vintage gown on my special day too. of course, two decades later, that did not happen. my mother would have loved for me to wear her 1970′s gown (which i love; it looks like jenny’s wedding dress in forrest gump), but fitting into her former 23-inch waistline was an impossible feat. nevertheless, my fascination for vintage dresses has never waned one bit.

i am an avid ukay shopper. i thoroughly scour racks and bravely dig into crates for rare finds. i have been rewarded many many times for my patience and persistence, and i have to say i am quite proud of myself for being such a cheapskate sometimes. here in fiji, we are as big an ukay culture as the philippines, if not bigger. in all the second-hand outlets i’ve been to, there were evening dresses and prom gowns and formal wear on top of the usual casual and day wear, something i didn’t see quite often back home. two of these outlets even had wedding gowns. well now.

as the turn of events revived my fervent interest in vintage pieces and my ardent love for discovering beautiful pre-loved things burning as always, i went to my favorite vintage shop online, posh girl vintage, to look around and sigh at the dreamy wedding dresses. i may have exhausted my opportunity to wear these wonderful items, but there might be some of you out there who may like the dresses i found:

1950s organza tea length wedding dress

1950s designer wedding gown

1950s marilyn monroe halter dress

1960s empire flowy wedding dress

1950s white silk and lace tea length dress

1940s ivory beaded wedding dress

1950s white tea length wedding dress

1950s white strapless chiffon long gown

1950s tea length lace wedding dress

1950s perfect white tea length dress

1970s long hippie angel dress

and my favorite:

1950s pink and white princess gown

*sigh*

continuation to this.

placecard holders: miniature-ized well-loved trimmings

white snowflakes look great with iridescent table confetti. gold wire christmas pines are classic.

small poinsettia and christmas balls add whimsy and would make great conversation pieces.

from bridal people.

centerpiece: gather the tree trimmings and put the lights on

one of the easiest things to do is make centerpieces during the christmas season, with the abundance of decorating items. you can gather balls into a bowl or candles on a plate and voila!

from superweddings.

the wedding cake: ribbons, poinsettia and edible winter

adorn your cake with a silver or gold ribbon; instead of the usual roses, how about fondant poinsettia instead?

check this out, sprays of snowflakes as if they burst off the cake!

from wedding flowers and reception ideas and perfect wedding day.

wedding favors: christmas decorations

decorations like this snowflake candle holder and this crystal tree trimming make the best favors. your guests can put them up in their homes and be reminded of you every christmas season!

you can even put the favors in gift boxes! how about a personalized christmas ball?

from bridal people, cool party favors and stylehive.

the reception area: lots of lights and all things that glitter

like i said, i love holiday weddings because you get the opportunity to go crazy with the lights!

from wedding53.

set the atmosphere with a string quartet that plays christmas carols.

set up a space like this where you and your guests can pose for photos. this one sure beats the hell out of a printed tarp background.

from venus ensembles.

continuation to this entry.

the bouquet: berries and crystals

deep colored blooms like red roses and burgundy lilies add to the richness of the season's theme. adorned with berries, they give you the idea of a mistletoe.

from kaboodle and wedding flowers and reception ideas.

i am very partial towards crystals in just about anything, so i'm all for bridal flowers bedazzled with swarovski crystals. especially during christmas!

from pink frosting and silk wedding designs.

bind the stem with luxurious fabrics or ribbons in christmas colors; if it's a winter wedding, instead of a traditional bouquet, warm your hands in a muff of flowers!

from wedding flowers and reception ideas.

ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket: lots of bows and twigs with moss or pine needles

overload the pillow and basket with satin and gossamer ribbons. they will take on the appearance of christmas presents.

from eliza fig.

not precisely what i imagined, but very good representations of what i had in mind nonetheless: twigs and moss or pine needles with mistletoe, berries, pinecones and flowers to make the pillow look like a wreath and the basket look like a goodie stash.

from etsy and inspired occasions.

candles: bright and cheery candle holders

bright and shiny colors lend a festive feel to these otherwise austere decors, and the rustic pinecone candle holders add flair.

from bridal people.

sendoff from church: snowflakes, stars and sleigh-bells

instead of rice, have the guests toss snowflakes and star confetti at the bride and groom.

from chico party.

let the guests jingle gold and silver sleigh bells as they toss confetti to the newlyweds. and these double as wedding favors too!

from bisman weddings and eliza fig.

why get married during the christmas season?

1. appropriate decors and trimmings are easier to find and are more reasonably priced this time of the year.
2. hotels, restaurants and halls are lavishly decorated already, minimizing reception costs.
3. christmas carols can form part of your wedding songs.
4. many family and friends from overseas are home for the holidays; all of you can reunite on the wedding day (not to mention, you don’t have to spend for their airfare at all!)
5. numerous additional design ideas like snowflakes, poinsettia, mistletoe, wreaths and berries can be included in the theme.
6. there’s magic in the air!
7. and, my personal favorite, you have the right to go crazy with sparkly things like lights, crystals, candles and glitter!

the wedding dress

for winter: faux fur and stylish jackets

if christmas happens during winter in your country, take warmth into consideration. remember, bundling up doesn’t mean looking frumpy and shapeless. you can keep the cut of your dream gown using warm fabrics like brocade or faux fur. you can even use a stylish coat or jacket.

fur, either trim or a full-on coat, adds the perfect charm to a winter wedding dress.

from bride and wed-shopping.

i have always loved the sight of a slim jacket over a bouffant skirt, like this cardigan (left) or this structured overcoat (right).

from fashionbride.

for the maximalist: gold and platinum with lots of embellishment

what is christmas decorating if not shiny? radiate the season in shades of the most precious metals in materials that sparkle and extra-elaborate details that will give the june bride a run for her money. this is december, this is the holiday, this is your chance to live out your most opulent fantasies.

yards and yards of material in gold or platinum in keeping with the traditional christmas scheme. you have the right to remain shiny!

from wedding ideas magazine.

pearls, crystals, lace, tulle... embellish to your heart's content!

dress at left from elie saab.

for the sweet and stylish: red and green bows

like christmas presents that come with a bow, an elegant dress with a sash tied into a nifty ribbon will evoke wonderful memories of the season.

whether on an art deco-inspired design (left) or a jane austen-esque cut (right) a sash pulls the dress together.

from bridalwave.

although a simple sash without the bow is also very attractive, the idea is to create a parallel to gifts. and they usually come with a bow.

from onewed.

for the bold: red and green dresses

red and green may not make a traditional wedding dress, but everybody knows they are traditional christmas shades. if you are courageous enough, why not take the plunge? reds in ruby or burgundy; greens in emerald or forest hues.

if you can handle it, go all out and wear the season's shades.

from red hot brides and bridalwave.

not that bold? then put the red and green in the details.

from house of brides.

and, finally, my favorite:

from okbbaru.

a long lean trench that drags down to the floor in a flowy train with fur trim and crystals around the waist. over a slinky gown. and those gloves, that purse, that little tiara! stuff sleigh-ride-in-the-snow dreams are made of!

to continue my coverage of june as wedding month, i’d like to share little historical facts about my favorite things. shoes.

fact: around approximately 1000 a.d., a father of a saxon bride presents the groom with one of the bride’s shoes as a symbol of transferring authority. and get this: instead of the bouquet, the bride’s shoe is thrown to the bridesmaids. the one who catches it is next to marry. how hysterical would that be?

if this tradition still holds true today, i wish brides toss these:

christian louboutin white chiffon and satin (stella luna carries a similar style at a fraction of the price)

forever 21 peep toe pumps with ankle strap and flower detail (you can get any pair of peep toe pumps and embellish them with a flower brooch)

charlotte bridal boots from elegantsteps.co.uk

embellished strappy shoes from pakistan

bridal shoes with embellished straps and heels by badgley mischka

cerise bridal shoe by aruna seth

if brides throw these shoes to the bridesmaids, i’ll grab these beauties and run off lickety-split.

it’s june, the wedding month. why is it traditionally the wedding month in our climate anyway?

it’s not unusual for brides to dislike being upstaged by the bridesmaids, but do they say anything about the flower girls stealing their thunder?

i like flower girl dresses and the creative license behind designing them. unlike a bridesmaid dress, you can make a flower girl dress as princess-y and as poufy as you want and the wearer would love you for it. you can even let her wear a tiara and that wouldn’t look ridiculous. heck, a foliage headdress is a given for some. plus they get to carry a basket!

champagne colored dress with embroidery details and scallop edges. let's see the bridesmaid get away with something like this...

black dots on white with black sash and red flower brooch. i hate polka dots on grown women, but i adore them on little girls.

green organza, embroidered and embellished dress with adjustable waist.

striped, halter style with sash. perfect combination of traditional and modern elements.

ivory dress with pick-up skirt and brown sash. super cute if the bride has a similar skirt design. like a mini-me of sorts.

i have to say, though, that i like the simplicity of this one best. she can wear it with pearls, a pair of gloves and stockings.

let the little girls shine too! being a flower girl is one of the most remarkable childhood memories any girl can ever have. i know it’s one of mine.

photos from www.mygirldress.com