MA Beauty Insider: Wedding Guest Chic

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Donna Macdonald, GoLocalWorcester Beauty Expert

The Royals are regular guests on the society wedding circuit and set the sartorial bar high with their formal suits and flamboyant millinery. We could learn something from them even if we are a bit more relaxed here in the states. We still want to show respect for the nuptials and look put-together - but without a goofy hat. Read on:

Country club setting

This wedding is made for a lovely cocktail dress. Colored lace is a big trend right now and looks beautiful in a shift with demure short sleeves. Lacey sherbet colors coordinated with a neat clutch bag and neutral heels is an elegant modern take for a traditional wedding. This time of year the stores are loaded with sophisticated dresses. Try Macy’s, Nordstrom.

City hotel

Urbane settings can handle a bit of refined edginess. Digital graphic prints can be posh but only in simply shaped dresses. An outside zipper is also on-trend and looks youthful and up-to-date. Accessories should be minimal so as not to clash with the striking motifs. A local boutique is where you’ll find these unusual frocks. Also, on-line sources like Bloomingdales and Saks.

Seaside

Summer is perfect for the long bohemian maxi skirt and if the beach wedding is easy-going, this is the place to trot one out. They look great with flat sandals but to dress them up, try a stone or crystal statement necklace peeking out from a white shirt. It’s casual chic at its best but only if the wedding is truly laid-back. Add some arm candy with scads of shiny bangles. TJ Maxx has the maxi skirt in a plethora of prints and colors.

Woodland Inn

Pretty inns are dreamy settings that inspire romantic feminine expressions. Be pretty as a picture in swishy silk or floaty chiffon. Look for dresses that have delicate embroidery or go for a bold floral in a 50’s style full skirt. If you have the confidence, add some vintage white gloves for ultimate charm. Resale and vintage shops may have this look or if you’re lucky, Grandma’s closet.

Today’s weddings are happy affairs that remove us from the mundane and the ordinary. Allow yourself to dress with flair but still be mindful of the setting and venue. There are so many ways to express yourself but unlike the Royals, you don’t need a silly bird cage on your head to do it!

Related Slideshow: Spring Flower Shows, Gardens, and Art

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Bay State African Violet Show

Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Boylston, MA
April 26, 2014 to April 26, 2014

The Bay State African Violet Society puts on another spectacular show featuring America’s favorite houseplant, the African Violet. All are welcome to enter their own plants and floral designs for judging to win ribbons and prizes. Participate in workshops on African Violet care. Start your own collection at the sale, where commercially grown plants and supplies are sold, along with plants grown by members.

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Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Bristol, Rhode Island.

Nothing says spring like tens of thousands of brilliant yellow daffodils blooming at Blithewold. The sight of blooming flowers and budding trees help us forget a dreary winter and look forward to summer’s sun. Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate with grand views of Narragansett Bay. The property features a 45-room mansion filled with family heirlooms framed by a series of lovely gardens. On May 4, there is a Spring Flowering Tree Walk.

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Spring Primrose Show

Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Boylston, MA
May 3, 2014 to May 4, 2014

The New England Chapter of the American Primrose Society presents dozens of varieties of primroses! Browse all the varieties and learn how to grow these colorful plants. Lectures will include “How to Grow Primroses from Seed”.

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The 79th Annual Dogwood Festival

Greenfield Hill Congregational Church
May 2–4, 2014

For 79 years now, Greenfield Hill Church has welcomed the community to share in the beauty of spring at its annual Dogwood Festival. Enjoy music, antiques, kids activities and art and crafts amidst the beauty of the pink, white, and purple blooms.

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Lilac Sunday

Arnold Arboretum
Boston, MA
May 11, 2014 to May 11, 2014

Every spring the Arnold Arboretum singles out the lilac to be honored with a daylong celebration. With more than 370 lilac plants of 176 kinds, the Arboretum holds one of the premier lilac collections in North America. The day includes tours of the lilacs, family activities, food vendors, and picnicking (on this special day only). The Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk.

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Art in the Garden Festival

Cape Cod Art Association
Hyannis, MA
May 17, 2014 to May 18, 2014

Come and celebrate art in the outdoors at Aselton Park. Cape Cod Art Association presents its first annual spring fundraiser, “Art in the Garden” sponsored by Hyannis Country Garden. Join a weekend of celebrating art in the outdoors including food vendors, music, children’s entertainment, and plein air painters. Hyannis Country Garden will be selling plants and offering demonstrations for incorporating garden art into your landscaping.

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