i tip my hat

Finding a suitable dress for the mother of the bride or mother of the groom can be a daunting task. The MOB and MOG should look sophisticated and age-appropriate, but still chic and glamourous. Unfortunately, most boutiques out there don't offer anything interesting. The dresses are either tacky and overdone (too many pleats, too many ruffles, too many rhinestones) or simply boring and matronly (just because she's your mom, doesn't necessarily mean that she wants to look like one. there is a fine line between being age-appropriate and being granny pants). So what's a mom to do?

Well, thankfully, this MOG is here to show us all how it's done.

BAM.

How amazing does she look?

This woman OWNS it.

She's chic. She's sophisticated. She's sassy. She's flirty.

Not only is this a gorgeous color on her, but the cut is flattering and interesting. And I absolutely love that it's short!

And what about the hat. Oh, the hat.

I seriously LIVE for this hat. I mean, this woman is ready for tea with the Queen! It's so dramatic and adds so much flair, but somehow isn't over the top ridiculous.

Perfection.

MOBs and MOGs, take note. And grab a hat! A headpiece! Anything with a feather!

And don't be afraid of adding a little sass to your look.

Some take the High Road

while we take the low road, and we'll be in Scotland before them ...

I just googled "Scottish folk music" and stumbled upon a list of great classics, not any of which tells a happy tale of long-lived, felicitous love. Why so glum, sugar plums? Do all your bonnie lasses really leave you for their gypsy rovers? Hardly likely. More plausible: none of you insular bards ever came across this unlikely source of inspirational wedding-ceremony bliss:

and that's just the beginning.

So, this wedding is perfect, we decided. But for the sake of the argument, we'll throw in a formal evaluation. What's more: we'll do it à la TLC's "Four Weddings" (because, let's be honest, who are we if not judges and TLC whores?).

The show rates weddings based on the following four categories:

1) dress

2) venue

3) food

4) overall experience

We might have to substitute "food" with "miscellanea" because although our senses are acute, they're not so sharp that we can pronounce judgment on things they've never experienced.

Humour us.

And let's begin:

1) dress

I dare any of you to find me a single flaw with this dress. One. Single. Flaw. Just one. The fit: impeccable. Design: not so ornate that it induces epileptic seizure, but not so boring that it inspires sleep. The detailing is tasteful, the cut complimentary, the overall look divine. And while we're at it, let's talk about the bouquet. Didn't we tell you long ago that we loved an orchid variant on the single-stem arrangement? Yes. Yes we did. Sometimes, readers, you make us so proud, our eyes hurt with love. They HURT with pure, unadulterated love.

10 (+2 point bonus for feathered headpiece)

2) venue

See above, really, x2. I'm not sure this couple could have managed to find a more genuinely - and not cheesily - picturesque location for their wedding. Nor do I think they could have managed to make a small ceremony in something that doesn't look like a church so becoming. These chairs are a nice alternative to pews. This space - from the stone to the wood panelling - is understated but stately. There is so much class in this place that I may never teach again.

10

3) miscellanea

I'm not quite sure where to begin, but let's start with the groom. Let's talk about how dashing he looks in his kilt. Let's discuss the tears he is openly and unapologetically wiping away. Let's talk about his matching ring bearer.

Let's all agree that without knowing him, we would probably marry this groom in a heartbeat if he weren't already taken.

Let's talk, next, about this bride's ring. We've more than once lamented the fall of the conventional look to this streamlined "minimalism" we occasionally hate. And if this bride weren't so distinctly and obviously athletic, if her nails were not so naturally manicured, and if she didn't strike us as such a sophisticated, 30-something composition of grace and style, we would probably hate her ring. But we don't. We love it. We want it.

We also want our bridesmaids to look this cute drinking from their groomsmen's flasks on our wedding days. We want them to wear dresses that, because tailored to their bodies but still uniform to our scheme, look good on them. We want them to be just as pretty as we are (okay, maybe not JUST as pretty, but close) on our big day. We want everyone to be fortunately accessoried and coiffed. We do. We look forward to it.

10

4) overall experience

I mean, in case it wasn't clear, we give this wedding 100%. Even the photographers' introductory blurb to their festivities spoke of a down-to-earth sincerity and natural comfort to this production that not only set everyone at ease, but insured every guest's enjoyment from start to finish.

Well-done, couple. You can take 100% from WB to the bank -- readers may never see one again.

Pop Quiz, Hotshot

Dear WB,

I have been a faithful reader for months, so when it came time for me to plan my special day, you, most naturally, were my very first point of reference. I thought I might submit some pictures to you for some feedback on how I did at following "the rules" (but not in a "What not to Wear" kind of way). Would you mind having a look and getting back to me?

Many thanks,
Hellenic Bride

------------------------------------

Dear Hellenic Bride,

Many thanks for your faithful readership! celia and I are most glad to critique (constructively) your look. Here goes ...


We see a number of things here. First, an asymetric cut to your gown, a lightly feathered strap with matching rhinestone work in the bodice, and a neutral bouquet - all things we have advocated in recent months. Good work on picking up on these neo-basics and making them yours. We don't know you at all, so we can't say what kind of person you are, but we would have liked to see you go a little bigger with these decisions - a *little* more drama in the strap, for example, would have done the trick.

Permit us to ask: who tailored your gown? We hope you didn't pay them terribly much.

Also, although we commend your decision to stick to a white bouquet, we wonder if you are actually holding asparagus. Is your bouquet made of asparagus? That's kind of what it looks like. I mean, kudos if you were going for originality - edible arrangements are all the rage these days. But, seriously? Asparagus? If you must incorporate it at all, save it for the centerpiece, girl.


A feathered headpiece? NOW we're talking! We love its strategic placement and its coordination (without being matchy-matchy) with the feathered strap. Well-done!


We also appreciate what you've done with your hair. We love a classic side-sweep that does not throw us back to 1994. (Well, to be honest, we love it even then).

In general, Hellenic Bride, it looks like you have opted for the nebulous middle-ground between strictly traditional and flashily contemporary. We think you've done well overall: 85%

Looking forward to friendly referrals,
WB

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Yes yes, ok, fine. You've seen a lot of "feathery business" on here lately, and maybe you're annoyed. Well guess what? Our celebrity guest contributor, Jen Watson, is NOT. In fact, she's sent in a whole gaggle (by google) of images from a recent wedding that employed the feather-flower 1-2 punch to maximum effect. Have a gander:


This, dear readers, is a real-life example of what we have referred to (just in our last post) as a "fearless bride." Texture. Pattern. Variety - a mixed media bouquet, all within classic, earthy tones. Let's have a closer look:


What more could you possibly ask for, you ask?

The same thing applied to the bridal party.

But wait, it doesn't stop there. This bride brought her floral theme full-circle by applying it to the groom. Why leave your man out while you have all the fun? Every bird does, after all, have not one but two wings.

We love it. Many thanks to Jen for this exceptional find, and well-done, bride!

These are a Few of my Favourite Things

Feathers. And flowers. Together? As long as we're on a bouquet kick, we thought we'd ask.



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