Bridal Fashion 2011: Understated Wedding Gowns

No flowers, bows, or ruffles. No crystals, sequins, embroidery, or lace. Whether your style is simple and elegant or modern and edgy, it’s your wedding and that’s the way it’s going to be. Luckily for you there are plenty of lovely wedding gowns for your taste, amid this season’s dizzying array of florals, flounces, beads and bows! The drape of the fabric and your own poise will speak for themselves. Here are some absolutely lovely, understated wedding gowns for 2011.

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All photos from Martha Stewart Weddings

Jewel by Priscilla of Boston, Spring 2011, priscillaofboston.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

J. Crew. Spring 2011, jcrew.com

Anne Bowen, Spring 2011, annebowen.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Monique Lhuillier, Spring 2011, moniquelhuillier.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

J. Crew, Spring 2011, jcrew.com

Douglas Hannant, Spring 2011, douglashannant.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Amsale, Spring 2011, 800-765-0170, amsale.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

J. Crew, Spring 2011, jcrew.com

Jenny Lee, Spring 2011, jennyleebridal.com, Photograph by firstVIEW.

Ines di Santo, Spring 2011, 866-899-INES, inesdisanto.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Oscar de la Renta, Spring 2011, oscardelarenta.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Anne Bowen, Spring 2011, annebowen.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Angel Sanchez, Spring 2011, 212-921-9827, angelsanchezusa.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Anne Barge, Spring 2011, 404-873-8070, annebarge.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Anne Barge, Spring 2011, 404-873-8070, annebarge.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Douglas Hannant, Spring 2011, douglashannant.com. Photograph by firstVIEW.

Dress for Wedding

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was making a dress to wear to a "formal event." Well, here it is!
 

And the formal event? It was my cousin's wedding. This dress lasted me the whole wedding and the whole evening and it was still comfortable to wear!

The dress was made out of light blue charmeuse. It is asymetrical and full length. It was also made with Simplicity 2692.

Here are some close-ups of the bodice. The bodice is gathered in the front and is connected to an ungathered "midsection", which is also connected to the gathered skirt. For the wedding ceremony, since it was in church, I wore a shawl since the dress had no sleeves. It worked out pretty well!