In the thick of wedding season, and with a few special events on the books, I recently found myself at a loss for a go-to source for what to wear to all of these upcoming occasions. And as someone who loves a good excuse to dress up, anything short of extraordinary would never do. With visions of flowy gowns, fluted hems and beaded detailing, I swear I think the wardrobe gods must have heard me when wondering what to wear to a summer wedding. My prayers were answered as the BHLDN team reached out about their new collection, giving me beautiful inspiration for my social calendar.
As you may know, since its launch in 2011, BHLDN has offered more than bridal gowns; the brand has an assortment of dresses perfect for bridesmaids, wedding guests and special occasions. And just last spring, the brand expanded their wedding guest and event collection even further, which now includes top names such as Jenny Yoo, Needle & Threat, Nicole Miller and Watters, as well as a a few pieces that are entirely BHLDN-exclusive.
So with an upcoming beach wedding in mind, I scheduled a private appointment at our Atlanta boutique, where I received a full 60-minutes with a dedicated stylist that helped me with sizing advice and recommendations on styles and accessories. You don’t typically need to make an appointment to try on bridesmaids or event dresses, but you absolutely can if you’re looking for additional guidance on look you’re going for.
The styling appointment was truly a refreshing run to the dressing room; I received personalized attention and tips that gave me options I never would have imagined on my own. While I chose the stunning Inesse Dress as shown above, I was especially smitten with the detailing on the Marina Dress and the Anessa Dress—how amazing would these be at a garden wedding?—and the Nevena Dress for a black-tie affair.
I shared my favorite picks via Instagram Stories and was blown away by everyone’s helpful comments and engagement! I received a lot of comments from you all about not wearing white or neutrals to a wedding in risk of offending the bride, and I must say I’ve always agreed with that stance. While the dress I chose at the end of the day, pictured above, shows more white than it is, I was confident in the fact that it’s a truly floral dress. I wasn’t worried about offending the bride, as I know her well. I think everyone should take that into consideration when they’re selecting a dress that could be seen as similar to a wedding gown; know the bride and if she wouldn’t be comfortable with it, then don’t wear it!
While you can see the one I decided on, I’m sharing the rest of my top picks below, along with tips for specific weddings they’d be perfect for. And I must say: the little white number was a HUGE hit with all of you, and again I must clarify that this would be best for the bride at the rehearsal dinner or even an elopement! It was the #1 choice from everyone via IG Stories; it got the most votes but caused the most controversy. I actually almost bought this for date night; it’s just so good on other levels!
Dreaming of a donning a BHLDN dress for a wedding or event this summer? I’d love to know which styles you’re eyeing! Truly, MKR
P.S. Booking an appointment with a stylist is easy for whatever you’re dressing for, and it’s even possible to have all of your maids try on at the same time, too. Simply go to the STORES pages on bhldn.com and select your location, clicking either “Bridal Appointments” or “Bridesmaid Appointments.”
