The Non-Wedding-Weddings

      For all of you non-traditional types of brides out there… you aren’t alone.  There are actually a growing number of brides migrating towards the more non-traditional, more personal type of weddings. And it only seems fitting that, if this pattern continues, we will also see more and more non-traditional wedding dresses (or should we say non-wedding-wedding dresses?) beginning to crop up.  Now, we love a great wedding dress as much as the next person, but in our opinion the emergence of the non-wedding-weddings and the non-wedding-wedding-dresses, would be a welcomed thing.  You are starting to see more couples opting to have their weddings in smaller, more intimate, more family oriented settings such as downtown lofts, City Halls, and quaint restaurants.  Afterwards, some form of a fun, just-their-closets-friends-and-family bash takes place in celebration of their union.  This is something you simply cannot do in BIG production weddings. Just because it’s smaller and different than what we’re used to seeing doesn’t mean that it can’t still be very special and wonderfully thought out. They don’t have to be rinky-dink and depressing.  On the contrary, they can still be very chic and forward.  They can still be nostalgic, sentimental, and special, not only to you but, to all of your friends and family who are privileged to be a part of it.   We feel that the most important aspect of a wedding is that ultimately, it’s special.  And special looks different for everybody… but to some, big budgets, big weddings and big crowds just don't constitute for their definition of special.

     In regards to the non-wedding-wedding dress, the mass majority of girls simply won’t be able to shake the idea of wearing something other than the formal wedding gown, and that’s okay.  It’s just not what they envisioned growing up and anything short of that just feels wrong.  But for others, and you know who you are, to slip on that formal wedding gown would feel more like putting on a costume than it would the fulfillment of your childhood dreams.  Wearing it would be more for the sake of your family members than anything else.  After all, that’s just how it is when you get married.  It doesn’t matter whether a formal wedding dress fits your personality or not, you have to wear it or else your marriage isn’t legitimate!  Besides, you wouldn’t want your grandmother to faint when you walk down the “aisle” because you broke the rules! 

     

The truth is however, that not every bride fits the mold of the long white (and sometimes puffy) wedding gown. We love the idea of having a more un-conventional dress that's accessorized to the tee.

Again, we know that this isn’t for everybody, but for those of you whom this speaks to, this shoot was for you!  We hope it encourages you to embrace the idea (rather than run from it because you think something must be wrong with you) of the more non-traditional wedding and dress.  We hope this helps to assure you that you can still look absolutely stunning, whether you do or don’t walk the “aisle” (or wherever you are non-traditionally coming from) in The White Gown.  So with this shoot we wanted to highlight a few different looks that could easily fit into this category of the smaller, non-traditional, weddings.  We’d love to hear your responses.  What type of category would you fit in to... non-traditional or traditional? If you are married but had it to do to do over again, what would you do differently?  Could you see yourself in a non-wedding-wedding dress or would that make the marriage feel like a sham?

 We’d like to say a special thanks to our makeup artist, Chelsea Morris.  This was her first shoot to come on board with us, and what a flawless job she did!  She will be back at the next shoot.  We are making her come back… at gunpoint if necessary. 

Also, a special thanks to Ludi our fantastic model, to Alishia Salmon of Happily Ever Flowers for providing us with wonderful bouquets, and to Melody Ginn of Emma’s Bridal Boutique for providing us with these Hat Veils from her amazing line!

Flowers: Happily Ever Flowers- www.happilyeverflowers.com

Hat Veils: Emma's Bridal Boutique-  www.emmasbridalboutique.com 

Dress #1(pink-long sleeves): Lilli London- http://www.lillilondon.com/

Makeup: Chelsea Morris-  817.629.6474 

Hair: Katie Anderson-Moore- www.matthewmoorephotography.com

Photography: Matthew Moore- www.matthewmoorephotography.com