Lovelies in my Life : Bridal Inspiration {in collaboration with Carbon Copy Studios}

I recently worked on a fun little collab with my friend Eric of Carbon Copy Studios. Eric is an outstanding wedding photographer here in Green Bay and I have such respect for his art and awe for the images he captures through film. We wanted to create something romantic and dreamy for you, dear readers, keeping all the wonderful brides to be in mind. Wedding season is on the horizon now that spring has arrived and many brides are elbow deep in magazines (and inundated with Pins!), searching for color schemes they can't live without, floral bouquets that set their hearts a-flutter, and twinkling table settings that leave them enchanted. Being in that wedding/styling industry, we're feeling the same excitement!

I wanted to style a look that might help a touch when you're considering your bridesmaids. Not only something pretty, romantic and elegant, but an affordable look. This is something that your bridesmaids will not have to give up 6 month's worth of Starbucks for! And we think they'll love you for it. :)

I selected a dress in a soft pink pastel, using the frozen bay as my inspiration. The beauty of this look is that it's as perfect for a spring wedding as it is on the ice for an ethereal winter's end. A dramatic floor sweeping skirt feels formal but the low cut back adds a relaxed effortlessness that could even work for "I do's" on the beach.

A silver sequined capelet adds more detailing and a beautiful shimmer to an otherwise simple dress. One thing I love about the addition of a sparkling capelet (whether simple embroidery or intricate beadwork, there are many options out there now), is that it can be removed for the reception afterwards. Taking a bridal look from more formal to a little more relaxed for the dinner and dancing that follows.

A simple beaded necklace in silver carries the color through this look, touches of that same metallic hue throughout. Keeping accessories simple is key when you're wearing a dress that makes such a statement and following a pattern of color can be really beautiful when you're dressing for a more formal event. Remember though, it doesn't have to be loud or match-matchy necessarily. Keeping tones the same can also be subtle and understated, which is often what you're going for when it comes to bridal style.

I chose these simple off-white roses to be carried alongside the blush and silver. I think the hushed pastel tones are perfect with ethereal whites.

Finally, the hair and makeup! I am still loving romantic braids for this season with a crown braid being my absolute favorite. I have not yet had luck managing a braid like this myself, so I enlisted the help of my favorite hair and makeup stylist, Victoria Stencil at Salon 54 in Green Bay. She starts by creating tights curls in my hair to give it volume and texture and then she creates this braid which wraps around the crown starting at the top left side and circling to meet again around the back. She pulls out a few wisps here and there and pulls gently at each little braided curve to give it volume and a more undone quality about it.

Victoria kept my makeup natural and glossy, with light coral pink for the cheeks and the lips and everything else fairly sheer. She placed all the focus on the big lashes which I love for a fancy occasion. Thank you Victoria!