F*ck accessories. You're wearing a VERA WANG

Hey ESB,

I’m a wedding blog obsessed soon to be bride, and yours is among my very favorites. I love how practical down to earth your posts are, it leaves me feeling like it's possible to have the wedding of my dreams without breaking the bank. I don’t have any sort of huge moral dilemma. We aren’t doing the bridal party, I’m going for easy peasy, low drama, fabulous modern, somewhat reasonably priced affair.

So far,  the moms have been super super good to me. My mama was kind enough to foot the bill for this amazing dress, in ivory (I wasn’t crazy about the peach in person).

And my fiance’s mom bought me these incredible shoes.

So, obviously I'm delighted about all that. I knew exactly what I wanted, and I was fortunate enough to get exactly that. 

Now I’m really really struggling to decide how to accessorize this glorious dress/shoe combo. Future mother in law offered up these very simple fresh water pearl earring to borrow, and fiance’s sister's veil. I think it would be very special to wear something from their family, I adore them, but aesthetically not so sure. I’m just feeling wishy washy and non-committal about how to accessorize. I'm hoping for some ideas, advice, thoughts, whatever from you and your lovely readers. 

Also, I’m probably on my own for accessories, so I’d like to keep everything under $200. I’ve attached a “mini mood board” so you can kind of get a feel for what I’m going for.

Thanks so much for your help!
Keep on rocking with your hilarious, blunt, GOOD advice.

Unaccessorized Bride

*****

here's a KAZZILLION DOLLAR DRESS and some KAMILLION DOLLAR SHOES! now go shop etsy for the accessories?

i'm sorry but no.

also: NO NO ONE THOUSAND TIMES NO on freshwater pearls. (did I mention: NO?)

throw your $200 at hair and makeup -- i'm loving the ballerina beehive situation our model has going on, actually -- and ROCK. THAT. DRESS.
______________________________

*"Lil" is apparently my word of the week? No idea.

What sort of veil goes with a VERA WANG?

Dear ESB,

Here it is - I'm quite nervous showing it to you! I think of it as my modern Henry James number. I'd love if your readers could help me with veil ideas - the asymmetrical bustline (I needed a little weird in my dress) is sort of throwing me off. I potentially do want a veil that covers my face, as I am shy and am scared about walking down the aisle. I think a little cocoon will help soothe my nerves. I think that the veil should match the color of the dress, but I'm open. My seamstress can make a veil, so long as I provide fabric and photos, or I can go elsewhere. The color is slightly more saturated than the runway photos, and my hair is black so the effect isn't so monochromatic, though I am as pale as it gets. Here's a link to another lady wearing it.

Eek- so excited to see what everyone comes up with! I'm designing my invitations this week, and we just booked our honeymoon- April in Paris. We're getting married at the Metropolitan Building, which is a venue I can best describe as falling down the rabbit hole.

*****

I can't believe I'm saying this. But.






I'm feeling a birdcage. A wisp of a thing, like this one by Twigs & Honey. (I bet you can find tulle in blush pink for your seamstress.)

A long veil, I fear, would diminish the impact of the dress.

Ladies? Thoughts? She actually didn't ask for my opinion.

Rocking the mother-in-law's pearls

Dear ESB,

Here's my dilemma: my future mother in law has asked me to wear a pearl necklace to my wedding that has sentimental value to her. Here is a link to the David's Bridal dress I'll be wearing. On my curvy figure the dress comes across as a little more sexy than it does on the model in the picture. The pearls are small, single strand and fall just below the collar bone. I think the necklace and dress look perfectly fine together and I want to wear it since it seems to mean a lot to her. But the look is very simple and classic and doesn't really feel like my style. I've been thinking about layering a few necklaces together, but I'm worried that it might offend her if I wear more than one necklace. Also I'm wearing my hair down and I wonder if a bunch of necklaces, plus lots of hair, plus a sparkly dress is going to be too much? I actually don't usually wear much jewelry.

I've known her five years now and we are fairly close. I could talk to her about it but I feel like she's the type of person who would say it was ok when she was actually upset about it (or completely misunderstand my intent), so I'd like to have a better idea of what I want to do before I bring it up. If I do decide to wear more than one necklace when is the right time to tell her? I might feel kind of funny just showing up to the wedding like that without mentioning it first.

*****

According to the Allure I picked up at the salon the other day, "A single strand of pearls is dated; a bold necklace of imperfectly knotted ones is strong and stunning."

But you knew that already.

Just tell your FMIL that you've decided to go a little nuts with the necklaces. This is your big day to be sparkly! Surely she won't begrudge you that.

p.s. Will someone please get married in this Vera Wang bustier?