It’s been a minute since I’ve shared wedding content, so herrre we go again!

I wanted to talk dresses with you because I feel like the dress is one of the most important aspects of a wedding. I mean…I could have worn several different dresses if I had the time to change my look and the budget. For my wedding in Kauai, I knew I wanted something modern, classic, and a little sexy. Not too try-hard bride. Ya know what I mean? I knew which dress I wanted before I even tried it on. It was a one and done type of deal. HOWEVER, even after I bought my dress, I still longingly looked at these gorgeous lacy, sparkly gowns. I don’t regret my decision AT ALL, but I just appreciate a lot of other looks. I was lucky enough to have found my dress on a second-hand site and I had a seamless experience, but I normally probably would not recommend that route because I’ve heard some horror stories.

And that’s where Kinsley James Bridal comes in. If you haven’t heard of Kinsley James and you’re a bride in California, you MUST pay them a visit.

As experienced wedding coordinators in the Bay Area and recently married themselves, the owners Dawn and Amber saw the need for a couture bridal salon in the East Bay Area.  During their engagement and specifically their search for their wedding dresses, they had to travel to San Francisco, down south and even to other states to try on some of their favorite designers.  So they opened up Kinsley James to serve brides in Walnut Creek, CA and in Los Angeles, CA. Their goal is to bring you the couture and style a bride needs.  They travel to bridal fashion week in New York twice a year to hand select well known, unique designers and dresses to represent Kinsley James.  They have personal working relationships with their designers and they partner with them to find the perfect dress for you!  

Their shops are just so chic and the KJ Girls just GET IT. So I am SO excited to have partnered with Kinsley James to bring you this blog post on how to choose your wedding dress.

Let’s get into it…

But first, know that there are no rules. These are just things that helped me decide on my dress.

1.} Don’t go with the trends

And by this, I mean don’t just wear a wedding dress because everyone else is. Do you. If you’re loving a mermaid moment, wear a fitted gown that flares out, for example. Who cares what is ‘in’?! Going this route probably means that you will be satisfied with your choice years after your wedding.

This is the Gala gown by Galia Lahav. It’s a mermaid dress with a deep plunging v-neckline made of fully embroidered lace.

2.} Consider your venue

First things first, if you want to wear a ballgown to your beach wedding, DO IT. There’s nothing worse than following rules when it comes to dressing for your wedding. But do consider the location and decide what you think would look best given the setting and the vibe. Whether it’s being a princess on the beach with an all-out glam dress and decor to match or a classic and simple dress to your ballroom wedding, do what makes you feel like your best self. It’s so fun to tie your dress in to the whole vibe and theme of your wedding, so if it’s a juxtaposition like a ball gown on the beach, maybe incorporate glam details here and there into your decor. Get what I mean?

This is the Gia gown by Galia Lahav. It’s a sheer strapless corset dress in shades of nude and blush, with a pleated silk tulle skirt adorned by beaded and crystal encrusted dramatic appliques.

3.} Let your body shape lead the way

If you don’t know where to start, I would start here and just begin trying on all kinds of different styles and shapes. You’ll know pretty quickly what you think looks best. If you’re looking to flaunt the girls, try a low-cut dress, maybe with a plunging neckline, if you want to show off your ass, a mermaid style dress is the perfect option. If you want to just enjoy food and let things hang, try an A-line dress. There are SO many options.

This is the Phillips gown by Tara LaTour.

If you have the chance to visit Kinsley James, you will be amazed at their talents. When I went in to pick out a few dresses to photograph, Alexia at KJ Walnut Creek got my style instantly. She pulled a bunch of dresses and I liked them ALL. It was a hard choice to even pick 3 that were the winners.

If you’re a current or past bride, what style are you wearing/did you wear?

xo,

Lynn

This post is in partnership with Kinsley James Bridal. All opinions are my own.