Totally Tropical Boho Bridesmaid Dresses

Random fact of the day - I'm planning a tropical themed New Year's Eve party {long story}. As part of my research for fun ideas, and what to wear, I stumbled upon the most incredible bridesmaid dress company E-V-E-R. If you're a boho bride, or fun-spirited, or just love a good print, you're going to fall head-over-heels for this brilliant brand called Show Me Your Mumu. Created by two fabulous girls who live in New York, their website is stuffed to the rafters with fantastic gowns, playsuits and getting ready robes. Be warned - you'll come away wanting an Hawaiian themed big day!

Here are just a few of my favourite gowns.....

{Sources} Top picture from Green Wedding Shoes Blog, all other shots from Show Me Your Mumu

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Brilliant Bride & Bridesmaid Presents

Every year, I allow myself the luxury of a smart Smythson diary. As a stationery lover, the gilt-edged, pale blue, featherweight paper, teamed with soft lambskin makes my heart melt. But this year, my husband's grumbling at the cost {£180!} encouraged me to look further afield. Surely there must be something suitably decadent available, but without the hefty price tag? Well I'm thrilled to say I found the answer! Sloane Stationery offers beautiful handcrafted notebooks in a variety of sizes and colours, and I am over the moon with my 2015 diary in aqua blue. All their products can be personalised, and they're the perfect birthday present or hostess gift. Take a look a this stunning I Do Notebook for Brides, which you can personalise with your name, or why not order a few for your bridesmaids' presents. They also make matching photo albums for your wedding pictures. Sloane Stationery - elegant yet fun, and crazily reasonable. Check them out, you won't disappointed… I’ve certainly been converted!

Written by guest contributor Lou Marmabachi

{I want this!}  I Do Personalised Notebook for Brides from Sloane Stationery, £49

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Pretty Rainbow Wedding Journals

Planning your wedding? These pretty leather-bound journals from Jackdaw Bindery are the perfect way to record your creative musings and inspirational wedding ideas. I love the rainbow pages, but you could choose your signature wedding colour instead, and add a monogram or motif. I'm ordering one for a friend to use as a pregnancy diary, and they'd make lovely presents for your bridesmaids. Each journal is handmade in Chichester by Louise Knight-Richardson, who's a professional book-binder by trade - I love how romantic and Victorian that sounds!

{I want this!} Leather-bound journals, from £19 by Jackdaw Bindery

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Brilliant Bridesmaid {Dressing} Gowns

Did you know about the tradition to give your bridesmaids a present on your wedding day? I completely failed!! I had an idea to give them all a pair of espadrille slippers, but never actually got round to buying them. So I wish I'd discovered these heavenly robes by Girl with a Serious Dream before now. Their signature Samantha silk robe has an easy, draped fit, and comes in a range of divine colours. I love the kimono style of the sleeves, and the luxury feel. Choose a selection in your wedding colours, and they'll make your getting ready photographs look fab! P.S. Buy this one for yourself - it's a honeymoon must-have!!

{I want this!} Samantha silk robe, £102 by Girl with a Serious Dream

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Just the Cutest Flower Crown in the World

There must be something in the air post-Glastonbury, because I've seen more girls wearing flower crowns than ever before! I have to admit, I'm a massive fan - there's something delightfully boho about wearing flowers in your hair, and if I had my time again, I'd dress all my bridesmaids in them. My latest discovery is this pretty from Mari Style Couture, who's based in Belarus! Each flower is carefully hand sculpted from air dry clay, which is non-toxic, soft and flexible. You can request whatever design you want, so your crown can exactly match your wedding flowers. Personally I'm in love with the peonies, but if you wanted a more subtle look, you could always go with the rose hair clip.

{I want this!} Bridal Flower Crown, £96 | 2. Rose Hair Clip, £24 , both by Mari Style Couture

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Truly Wearable Silky Wrap Bridesmaids Dresses

If I had a £ for every real wedding I'd featured that included Dessy bridesmaids dresses, I'd be a very rich wedding blogger indeed! There's no doubt their gowns are gorgeous, and super-wearable, but I'd like to break their hold on their wedding world, and recommend a new, boutique designer. Hiding behind these life-rings is the 'Octopus Infinity Wrap Dress', designed by Coralie Beatrix! It's a special gown that converts into several different styles - depending on your bridesmaids' style. The gowns come in a massive array of colours, and in multiple sizes - from child-size, to maternity and plus size. I love the luxurious silky jersey satin fabric, and the fact you can pimp your gown with a mermaid train! P.S. Another recommendation from Before the Big Day Real Brides is House of Brides for bridesmaids gowns.

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Chic Separates for Summer Wedding Page Boys

Are you having pageboys at your wedding? I was supposed to have my nephew, but it didn't quite work out. The plan was for him to walk down the aisle ahead of me, with a sign saying 'Here Comes the Bride', but unfortunately he fell asleep just before his big moment! To be fair, he was only one, and now I've got my own little son, I realise how impossible they are to manage. I also had no idea what I wanted my nephew to wear. In the end, my mum picked him up this outfit from M&S, and he looked super cute. {See pictures of my wedding}.  If you fancied going for something a little more bespoke, on of my real brides discovered Little Linens, and I've since become a huge fan of their chic separates. They're great for flowers girls and bridesmaids dresses as well {although for me Monsoon has cornered that market}, but their real strength is their pageboy range. Take a look! Now all you've got to do is keep them clean until the group photographs.....

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Pastel Bridesmaid Inspiration for Spring

After the weather forecast promised sunshine, only for it to rain, I've decided I'm done with winter, and started looking ahead to spring! First up for my spring-clean are bridesmaids dresses. I love these bright pastel gowns, and wedding accessories from BHLDN. Their bright tones are bang on trend for 2013, and your girls would be sure to wear them again and again. Last year was all about muted shades, but I'm predicting a big colour flush for this year - you heard it here first, look out for the brights!

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Tie the Knot Wedding Rings

Spotted! This gorgeous ring from fabulous Etsy-seller Sparklethots.  Each ring is individually handcrafted and made to measure - perfect for a promise ring, if you're planning to pick out your engagement ring together. Or they'd made fantastic bridesmaid's presents - a lasting momento of the day they watched you tie the knot!

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Do or Don't? Gifts For Your Bridesmaids

Are you planning to give your bridesmaids a wedding day present? I can still remember the gold necklace my cousin gave me on her wedding day - my sister and I were her flower girls. It was stunning, a simple delicate chain, and I wore it for years. It was an amazing momento of one of the best days of my childhood. If you're keen to buy your bridesmaids a present, but your budget doesn't stretch to gold jewellery, how about a personalised gift? Printed photo books for bridesmaids are a fantastic idea; include all your favourite pictures from the years you've known each other. Similarly, photo books from Blurb make for great post-hen night presents - full of pictures from the bride's last night of freedom. Alternatively there are tonnes of original ideas on the handmade shopping site Etsy, from personalised totes and kimonos, to sewing kits, posters and stationery sets. Here are a just a few of my latest must-haves.

{Product Credits} Clockwise from top left, 1. Personalised Stationery Sets, 2. Personalised Name Poster, 3. Bridesmaid Kimono, 4. Bridesmaid Tote, 5. Monogram Star Necklace, 6, Monogram Stitched Lavender Sachet, 7. Monogram Mini Sewing Kit.

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Wedding Accessory High Street Finds

The first port of call for brides on a budget should always be the High Street. There's a great British tradition of providing stylish fashion at budget prices - something other countries are desperate to imitate. Whether you actually stomp the streets is an entirely different question, as every website worth its salt now has a fantastic online option. This season, I'm particularly impressed by the selection of earrings at Anthropologie. They're perfect for your 'something blue', or as bridesmaids gifts. Also, don't miss Jenny Packham's diffusion line, I've fallen for her fluffy feather stole and White Swan-style headband.

{Product Credits} 1. Precious Cluster Earrings {£98},  2. Cynosure Mobile Earrings {£28} 3. Concert Hall Drops {£28} all Anthropologie

{Product Credits} 1. Ivory Feather Stole {£100}, 2. Ivory Jewelled Headband {£48} 3. Grey Halo Feather Headband {£35} all No.1 Jenny Packham for Debenhams

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Autumnal Bridesmaid Dresses Inspiration

With autumn fast upon us, and the leaves changing, I'm finding wedding inspiration in seasonal colours and vegetables {think pumpkins and squash, rather than turnip}. Just take a look at the divine colour of this bridesmaid dress by Coralie Beatrix. It's called Moroccan Blood Orange, which is almost as good as the names Farrow & Ball give to their paints. This so-called Octopus wrap dress is completely convertible, with a million different styles, so your bridesmaids can wear the gown according to their personal style. At just over £50, they're a steal, leaving you plenty of extra cash to buy an incredible flower crown.

♥ Want more bridesmaid ideas? ♥ Or how about more autumn wedding ideas? ♥

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How To Make a Wedding Flower Crown

One wedding trend that looks set to run and run is the boho look. With Kate Moss setting the tone with her festival themed wedding, and teepee weddings huge for summer 2012, I'm betting 2013 will be the year of the boho bride. For a fun and easy way to create the boho look, dress your bridesmaids in flower crowns. Inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, these versatile accessories can look as glamorous, or as country-chic as you like. An added plus is their super easy to DIY - partly thanks to this brilliant tutorial by Brittany Watson Jepsen via Etsy Weddings. Brittany is easily one of my favourite DIY bloggers - she lives in Denmark, and writes a fabulous blog called The House That Lars Built, with tonnes of DIY wedding ideas and inspiration.

{Photo Credit} Photography by Brittany Watson Jepsen and Amanda Thomsen.

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Cute Homespun Bespoke Bridesmaid Presents

Traditionally the groom gives all the bridesmaids a present on your wedding day, to thank them for helping out. We'd run out of money to be able to give our ladies anything truly valuable, so I wish I'd discovered these pretty homespun necklaces before our wedding day. Each one is hand-embroidered, reflecting the make-do-and-mend mood in weddings this season. You could wrap one around each of their bouquets, and pick a colour that suits their style. Only £25 from Etsy shop The Merriweather Council, who also make darling samplers and signs.

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Flowers Girls & Page Boys - Before or After?

How many bridesmaids are you going to have? I had five adult bridesmaids and my nephew as a page boy, but he misses his moment and fell asleep! Ideally I would have loved to have a gaggle of flower girls as well, but there aren't any little girls in our close family. I considered borrowing a few, but only for a few minutes! My bridesmaids walked down the aisle ahead of me, American-style, but traditionally in the UK, bridesmaids follow the bride. If you think of Kate Middleton's Royal wedding, the lovely Pippa followed behind her, surrounded by flower girls. So which are you going to choose? Bridesmaids first, or bride first? More bridesmaid ideas on my Pinterest page.

{Picture Credit} Mario Testino

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How To Dress Your Bridesmaids

Matching, colour-toned, or deliberately clashing - have you decided how to dress your bridesmaids at your wedding? I asked all my girls to wear dove grey, in any style they wanted. The only problem is they all had different doves in mind, so the colours didn't really match! If I had my time again, I'd dress them in Maids to Measure bridesmaid dresses in the same fabric and colour, but different styles according to their figures. Another super-stylish look for vintage-loving brides, are floral tea dresses, teamed with Mary-Jane shoes. Here are a few of my favourite bridesmaid looks - take a peek at my Pinterest board for more ideas!

{Photo Credit} Vintage bridesmaids dresses by SohoMode

{Photo Credit} Jessica Monnich Photography via Style Me Pretty

{Photo Credit} Heather Hester Photography via Snippet & Ink

{Photo Credit} Ameris via Green Wedding Shoes

{Photo Credit} Brandon Kidd via Green Wedding Shoes

{Photo Credit} 1. Unknown, 2. Jose Villa

{Photo Credit} Jodi Miller Photography via Ruffled Blog

{Photo Credit} Still Music Photography via 100 Layer Cake

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Would You Rent Your Wedding Dress?

Would you ever rent your wedding dress? One of my friends is having two weddings, one secret and civil, and the other in a field on her parents' farm. She can't afford two wedding gowns, so she's planning to borrow her civil ceremony dress from Wish Want Wear. I've recently tried their service out, and it's amazing! You can borrow wedding dresses worth over £2000 for a tenth of the price, which leaves plenty of pennies left over for your wedding reception, or perhaps a change of outfit half-way through the reception {double-wedding-dress-oh-yes!}. It would work for bridesmaids dresses as well, because you can search by colour, and pick and mix outfits that best suit your maids and your wedding theme. See what you think of the dresses below, but it's worth checking out the Wish Want Wear website as well.

{Product Credit} 1. Temperley London mini wedding dress, £115 to rent 2. Temperley London wedding gown, £265 to rent, 3 Erin Featherston lace dress, £55 to rent

{Product Credit} 1. Ruth Tarvydas sparkly wedding gown, £110 to rent, 2. Jovani mini Prom-dress, £65 to rent, 3. Badgley Mischka wedding gown, £115 to rent

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DIY Wedding Shoe Glamorisers

Wedding shoes can be a minefield. Traditionally brides wear white, but when will you ever wear a pair of white stilettos again? There's just too many connotations! Instead brides are opting for brights and metallics, often with red sole, which hikes the cost up a good £200 {thank you Mr Louboutin}. If you're not looking to break the bank with your wedding shoe budget {no judgement!}, then try a quick DIY shoe glamoriser with these fabulous shoe clips. They'll fasten on in a jiffy, and turn your simple slides into Carrie-standard beauties. Buy several pairs and coordinate your bridesmaids for a fraction of what you'd shell out for new shoes. Hot foot it over to Chloe and Maddie for all their styles.

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Simple but Sweet Bridesmaid Gift

Your bridesmaids will deserve a little something as a present on your wedding day. They'll have supported you through the most emotional hours of your life, armed with tissues, paracetamol, plasters and, hopefully, champagne. My girls were the best, and I couldn't have done without them! Why not thank them with these simple sterling silver heart earrings from UK Etsy seller Solo Jewellery. So cute and only £16!

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Bespoke Bow Bridemaid Clutches

Give your bridesmaid a treat with these pretty bow bridesmaid clutches from Eclu. Customise them to according to your wedding theme, by choosing the interior and exterior fabrics, and then add an accessory. Eclu creates bows, ruffles or peonies, and colour coordinates sashes for your bridesmaids or flower girls. You can even include a personal inscription sewn inside. Handmade in Boston, they're about £35 each, and Eclu offers 10% off for orders of 5 or more. They even package them in their own individual muslin dust cover {love it!}.

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