The next couple of months don’t feature as many trunk shows as we’ve seen over the last couple of months, but there’s tremendous talent coming to town. See for yourself!

As always, remember that most of the events listed below are by appointment only, and many of them will fill up early. So, when possible, call well in advance to reserve your appointment.

Now head out there and find the gown of your dreams. Happy shopping!

maggie sottero trunk show
may 2 – 4
p. lawrence bridal, gaithersburg, md

pronovias trunk show
may 3 & 4
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

modern trousseau trunk show
may 3 & 4
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

victor harper trunk show
may 3 – 5
jeanette’s bride ‘n boutique, manassas, va

kevan hall white label trunk show
may 3 – 5
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

mother of the bride sample sale
may 9 & 10
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

david tutera for mon cheri trunk show
may 10 & 11
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

heidi elnora trunk show
may 17 & 19
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

wedding gown sample sale
may 22 & 23
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

bliss by monique lhuillier trunk show
may 24 & 25
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

allure trunk show
may 31 & june 1
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

essense of australia trunk show
may 31 – june 2
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

sorella vita bridesmaids trunk show
may 31 – june 2
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

thomas knoell trunk show
may 31 – june 2
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

enzoani trunk show
may 31 – june 8
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

eugenia couture trunk show
june 7 – 9
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

styling saturday
june 8
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

accessory trunk show
june 10 – 14
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

blue by enzoani trunk show
june 12 – 21
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

simone carvalli trunk show
june 14 – 16
jeanette’s bride ‘n boutique, manassas, va

celia grace trunk show
june 14 – 16
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

3 day sample sale
june 18 – 20
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

allure trunk show
june 21 & 22
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

Spring is finally here — we hope! — and it’s bringing with it lots of wonderful bridal couture events around the DC area. April and May feature not only bridal trunk shows and sample sales, but also some events focusing on cocktail, bridesmaid, and mother-of-the-bride dresses.

As always, remember that most of the events listed below are by appointment only, and many of them will fill up early. So, when possible, call well in advance to reserve your appointment.

Enjoy the next couple of months — spring in Washington is so beautiful! — and happy shopping!

april sample sale
april 1 – 30
love couture, potomac, md

paula varsalona red carpet trunk show
april 5 & 6
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

theia trunk show
april 5 & 6
garnish boutique, baltimore, md

reem acra trunk show
april 5 – 7
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

sarah seven trunk show
april 5 – 7,br>
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

casablanca plus size trunk show
april 5 – 8
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

cb couture trunk show
april 12 & 13
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

ivonne d by mon cheri trunk show
april 12 & 13
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

montage by mon cheri trunk show
april 12 & 13
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

social occasions trunk show
april 12 & 13
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

la sposa trunk show
april 12 – 14
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

romona keveza couture trunk show
april 12 – 14
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

legends by romona keveza trunk show
april 12 – 14
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

sassi holford trunk show
april 12 – 14
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

watters bridal trunk show
april 12 – 14
ann’s boutique, burke, va

watters maids trunk show
april 12 – 14
ann’s boutique, burke, va

bridal blow out sale
april 14
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

mikaella sample sale
april 14
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

paloma blanca sample sale
april 14
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

veils & accessories sale
april 14
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

alfred angelo bridal trunk show
april 15 – 21
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

jim hjelm trunk show
april 19 & 20
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

veil trends trunk show
april 20 & 21
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

styling saturday at soliloquy
april 20
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

styling night at hitched
april 25
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

lulakate trunk show
april 26 & 27
garnish boutique, baltimore, md

sophia tolli trunk show
april 26 & 27
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

allure classic trunk show
april 26 – 28
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

thomas knoell trunk show
april 26 – 28
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

watters & wtoo brides trunk show
april 26 – 28
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

watters & wtoo maids trunk show
april 26 – 28
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

spring cleaning sale
april 27
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

maggie sottero trunk show
may 2 – 4
p. lawrence, gaithersburg, md

pronovias trunk show
may 3 & 4
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

kevan hall white label trunk show
may 3 – 5
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

victor harper trunk show
may 3 – 5
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

david tutera for mon cheri trunk show
may 10 & 11
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

heidi elnora trunk show
may 17 – 19
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

bliss by monique lhuillier trunk show
may 24 & 25
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

allure trunk show
may 31 & june 1
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

enzoani trunk show
may 31 – june 8
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

Judging from this month’s list of bridal couture events, it’s wedding gown shopping heaven, too. March and April of this year offer trunk shows galore, plenty of sample sales, and even a fashion show!

As always, remember that most of these events are by appointment only, so plan accordingly and call to reserve your space for any events that interest you.

Happy shopping! We hope you find your perfect dress for your perfect day.

austin scarlett trunk show
march 1 – 2
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

nicole miller trunk show
march 1 – 2
garnish boutique, baltimore, md

claire pettibone trunk show
march 1 – 3
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

essense of australia trunk show
march 1 – 3
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

monique lhuillier trunk show
march 1 – 3
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

sara gabriel trunk show
march 1 – 3
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

thomas knoell jewelry trunk show
march 1 – 3
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

paloma blanca trunk show
march 2 – 3
love couture bridal boutique, potomac, md

styling saturday
march 2
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

ines di santo trunk show
march 7 – 9
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

liancarlo trunk show
march 7 – 9
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

romona keveza trunk show
march 7 – 10
rizik’s, washington, dc

judd waddell trunk show
march 8 – 9
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

lazaro trunk show
march 8 – 10
love couture bridal boutique, potomac, md

simone carvalli trunk show
march 8 – 10
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

victoria nicole trunk show
march 8 – 10
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

stella york trunk show
march 9 – 11
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

punk rock bride trunk show
march 12 – 24
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

rivini trunk show
march 14 – 16
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

justin alexander trunk show
march 15 – 16
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

meg jewelry trunk show
march 15 – 16
curvygirls bridal, fairfax, va

david tutera for mon cheri trunk show
march 15 – 17
ann’s boutique, burke, va

essense of australia trunk show
march 15 – 17
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

sorella vita bridesmaids trunk show
march 15 – 17
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

sottero and midgley trunk show
march 15 – 17
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

some enchanted evening fashion show
march 15
ava laurénne bride, fredericksburg, va

st. pucchi trunk show
march 16 – 18
le star, alexandria, va

jim hjelm trunk show
march 21 – 24
rizik’s, washington, dc

elizabeth bower styling night
march 21
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

lela rose trunk show
march 22 – 23
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

spring sample sale
march 22 – 25
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

upstairs/downstairs sample sale
march 28
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

allure classic trunk show
march 29 – 31
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

wtoo bridal trunk show
march 29 – 31
ann’s boutique, burke, va

sarah seven trunk show
april 5 – 7
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

casablanca plus size trunk show
march 5 – 8
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

romona keveza couture trunk show
april 12 – 14
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

romona keveza legends trunk show
april 12 – 14
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

sassi holford trunk show
april 12 – 14
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

watters bridal trunk show
april 12 – 14
ann’s boutique, burke, va

watters maids trunk show
april 12 – 14
ann’s boutique, burke, va

jim hjelm trunk show
april 19 – 20
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

veil trends trunk show
april 20 – 21
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

alvina valenta trunk show
april 20 – 22
katherine’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

styling saturday
april 20
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

styling night
april 25
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

allure classic trunk show
april 26 – 28
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

The beginning of February means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, complete with champagne and chocolate and, hopefully, whatever makes your romantic heart sing. And of course, it also means that it’s time for us to share our listing of bridal couture trunk shows and sample sales going on around the Washington, D.C., area during February and March!

We have a lot to share this month (yay!), so you’re sure to find at least a couple of events you’ll want to attend. And when you do, remember that appointments are generally required and often book up quickly, so go ahead and get in touch with the salons hosting the events to ensure that you get a reservation.

Happy shopping! We hope you find a dress that’s even better than all the champagne and chocolate in D.C.!

monique lhuillier bliss trunk show
january 31 – february 2
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

anna elyse bridesmaids trunk show
february 1 – 2
garnish boutique, baltimore, md

blue by enzoani trunk show
february 1 – 2
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

modern trousseau trunk show
february 1 – 2
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

james clifford trunk show
february 1 – 3
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

yumi katsura trunk show
february 1 – 3
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

enchanted atelier trunk show
february 2 – 3
love couture bridal, potomac, md

sareh nouri trunk show
february 2 – 3
love couture bridal, potomac, md

wedding shopping 101
february 2
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

oscar de la renta trunk show
february 7
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

amsale trunk show
february 8 – 9
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

jim hjelm trunk show
february 8 – 9
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

alyne trunk show
february 8 – 10
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

siri trunk show
february 8 – 10
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

sottero and midgley trunk show
february 8 – 10
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

thomas knoell trunk show
f
february 8 – 10
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

victor harper trunk show
february 8 – 10
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

accessory trunk show
february 11 – 15
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

styling night featuring justine m
february 13
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

rivini trunk show
february 14 – 16
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

allure trunk show
february 15 – 17
mary’s bridal, annapolis, md

augusta jones trunk show
february 15 – 17
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

casablanca trunk show
february 15 – 17
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

marisa trunk show
february 15 – 17
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

love by enzoani trunk show
february 15 – 23
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

james clifford trunk show
february 15 – 26
ann’s boutique, burke, va

carolina herrera trunk show
february 21 – 23
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

jenny packham trunk show
february 21 – 24
rizik’s, washington, dc

jim hjelm trunk show
february 21 – 24
rizik’s, washington, dc

kenneth pool trunk show
february 21
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

anna maier trunk show
february 22 – 23
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

paula varsalona trunk show
february 22 – 23
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

elizabeth st. john trunk show
february 22 – 24
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va
\

victor harper trunk show
february 22 – 24
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

nicole miller trunk show
march 1 – 2
garnish boutique, baltimore, md

claire pettibone trunk show
march 1 – 3
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

essense of australia trunk show
march 1 – 3
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

sara gabriel trunk show
march 1 – 3
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

styling saturday
march 2
soliloquy bridal couture, herndon, va

ines di santo trunk show
march 7 – 9
hannelore’s, alexandria, va

liancarlo trunk show
march 7 – 9
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

romona keveza trunk show
march 7 – 10
rizik’s, washington, dc

simone carvalli trunk show
march 8 – 10
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

stella york trunk show
march 8 – 10
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

rivini trunk show
march 14 – 16
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

meg jewelry trunk show
march 15 – 16
curvygirls bridal, fairfax, va

david tutera for mon cheri trunk show
march 15 – 17
ann’s boutique, burke, va

st. pucchi trunk show
march 16 – 18
le star bridal, alexandria, va

spring sample sale
march 21 – 24
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

upstairs/downstairs sample sale
march 28
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

allure classic trunk show
march 29 – 31
the bridal boutique, columbia, md>

wtoo bridal trunk show
march 29 – 31
ann’s boutique, burke, va

In general, we like DIY projects that can be completed in advance, showcase talents you already know you have, and won’t break your budget. We don’t like DIY projects that must be completed at the last minute, require you to learn a whole new skill, and wind up costing you a lot of money. Probably the same criteria you have, right?

Each of these projects meets our criteria for Good Wedding DIY, and maybe one of them will strike your fancy!

cupcake liner pompom garland

This cheery garland, featured on Hello Lucky, is made from cupcake liners, so there’s no cutting paper into circles for you and the pleated texture comes ready-made. Don’t let the prefab raw materials fool you, though; this is still a pretty time-intensive project. The good news is that it’s not a project that’ll require a ton of concentration. It’s more the kind of thing that’ll keep your hands busy while you’re watching TV. Plus, of course, it looks like a million bucks when it’s done. Looking for fun cupcake papers to use? Amazon.com has a ton, as does Sur La Table.

yarn wrapped vases

I’ll have to confess: I’m not a big fan of all the painted-jar-and-bottle images that have been flying around on Pinterest lately. To me, they look like… well… leftover bottles that someone painted. These yarn-wrapped versions, though? Yum! There’s not actually a tutorial for these at weddingchicks.com, but I think the process is pretty self-explanatory from the images. (Plus, the wedding in which these were featured is gorgeous! You should head over there for the eye candy alone.) Anyway, buy yarn in your wedding colors, use a dab of hot glue to attach the beginning of the yarn to the bottle, then wrap like crazy! You’ll probably want another dab of hot glue to secure the other end of the yarn so the whole thing doesn’t unexpectedly unwind on you. Yarn crafts always take more yarn than I’m expecting, so don’t be surprised if you wind up using a lot. But you can use the cheap stuff for this, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

matches in jars

I actually really like matches as wedding favors. They’re cute, they’re useful, you can be pretty sure they’ll be taken home and used up and people will probably even think of you when they strike them. The custom-printed matchboxes though? Meh. Not so exciting. I do love these little jars, featured on My Chic Life, though! And this project is so easy: Buy the number of jars you need, cut out and glue a circle of sandpaper to each jar lid (to use for striking the matches), decorate the jars as desired, and fill with matches. You’ll find sources for all the materials in the tutorial at My Chic Life.

stencilled placecard napkins

These hand-stencilled napkins, featured on Intimate Weddings, will add personality to your reception tables while cleverly directing guests to their assigned seats. You can customize the font to fit your event’s style, of course, so your tables can look as elegant or edgy as you want! This is a project that will take a bit of time for each napkin, so we recommend getting started on these as soon as you can to avoid a time crunch: Stencil each guest’s napkin as soon as you know that he or she will be attending the wedding. Also, since you’ll be substituting these for napkins provided by your caterer, you’ll need to provide a detailed seating chart to your caterer in advance of the wedding day. You’ll still want to rent matching or coordinating napkins for your caterer to have on hand (or buy plenty of extras to leave blank), as it’s common for guests to require a replacement sometime during the celebration.

mr. and mrs. chair banner

I adore this glittery chair banner, featured on ellinée.com. I think it’s a perfect bridge between the rustic wedding style that’s been so popular for the past couple of years (and continues to be popular), and the more glitzy and glamourous events that are coming into fashion now. Plus, it still manages to be a bit whimsical, and fun things are always appropriate at fun parties, in my opinion. This project is easily completed in a day, and of course you can change up the colors to work with your wedding palette. The tutorial even includes a printable template so you can use exactly the font featured in the image above, although you could also easily print your own to match your wedding stationery suite, or to say “mr. & mr.” or “mrs. & mrs.” if you’re a same-sex couple. The only change I’d make is in placing the banner at the wedding reception: This obviously is meant to hang from the newlyweds’ chairs, but there’s so much getting up and sitting back down when you’re the focus of the party that I think it would be a little annoying to have my chair tied to someone else’s — even if that someone else were my beloved new spouse. Besides, this is so pretty that you’ll want it placed where everyone can see it! So I think it would be even more special hung on the front of the sweetheart table.

So, do you see anything here that looks just right for whiling away a chilly winter’s afternoon? I’m thinking I might have to make some yarn-wrapped vases just to use as a centerpiece on our breakfast table.

Which projects are your faves?

Pantone, the recognized authority on all things color, has released its 2013 color of the year: Emerald!

It’s a really gorgeous green. Deep and rich, somehow simultaneously warm and cool, and it plays nicely with lots of other colors. So many possibilities! Here are some color palettes featuring emerald. See how many directions you can potentially go here?

Multiple shades of green:

Emerald and blue:

Emerald and coral or Emerald and violet:

Emerald and ginger:

I’ll have to admit that when I first saw the color unveiled, I was a little disappointed. I’m was — and still am — seriously in love with the 2012 Color of the Year, Tangerine Tango, and I think my brain just wasn’t quite ready to go in a different direction yet. But after sitting down and playing with Emerald and some other colors for a couple of hours, I’ve changed my tune. This is a gorgeous color that, like Tangerine Tango, will transition beautifully through different moods and seasons. It can stay subdued as a foundation color for your event, or it can be the colorful pop that makes your wedding unique.

As always, we’ll be featuring Emerald and other related colors in inspiration boards throughout the year, so we’ll be exploring the possibilities further in each of those posts.

How about you? What would you do with this color? Do you already have big plans for it? And what do you think about Emerald as the 2013 Color of the Year?

I hope you all had a great time ringing in 2013, whether that meant a quiet evening at home or a blowout gala on the town. And now that January’s arrived, it’s time for our monthly rundown of DC-area bridal couture events! Can you believe how much is going on over the next couple of months?

Remember that you’ll need to RSVP for most of these events, so make note of the shows and sales that interest you, then call soon for your reservation.

maggie sottero trunk show
january 4 – 6
mary’s bridal, annapolis, md

maggie sottero trunk show
january 4 – 6
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

paloma blanca trunk show
january 4 – 6
love couture, potomac, md

peter langner trunk show
january 10
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

enzoani trunk show
january 11 – 12
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

winter trunk show
january 11 – 13
mary’s bridal, annapolis, md

styling night featuring desla
january 17
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

pronovias trunk show
january 18 – 19
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

tara la tour trunk show
january 18 – 19
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

casablanca best sellers trunk show
january 18 – 20
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

toni federici headpieces trunk show
january 18 – 20
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

simone carvalli trunk show
january 18 – 20
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

thomas knoell trunk show
january 18 – 20
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

watters & w-too trunk show
january 18 – 20
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

justin alexander trunk show
january 18
ellie’s bridal boutique, alexandria, va

monique lhuillier trunk show
january 24 – 26
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

vera wang trunk show
january 24
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

christos trunk show
january 25 – 26
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

allure trunk show
january 25 – 27
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

justin alexander trunk show
january 25 – 27
blush bridal boutique, gainesville, va

marisa trunk show
january 25 – 27
betsy robinson’s bridal, baltimore, md

matthew christopher trunk show
january 26 – 27
love couture, potomac, md

blue by enzoani trunk show
february 1 – 2
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

yumi katsura trunk show
february 1 – 3
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

enchanted atelier trunk show
february 2 – 3
love couture, potomac, md

sareh nouri trunk show
february 2 – 3
love couture, potomac, md

oscar de la renta trunk show
february 7
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

jim hjelm trunk show
february 8 – 9
francesca’s bridal, baltimore, md

alyne trunk show
february 8 – 10
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

sottero and midgley trunk show
february 8 – 10
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

styling night featuring justine m
february 13
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

james clifford trunk show
february 14 – 26
ann’s boutique, burke, va

allure trunk show
february 15 – 17
mary’s bridal, annapolis, md

casablanca trunk show
february 15 – 17
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

marisa trunk show
february 15 – 17
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

kenneth pool trunk show
february 21
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

victor harper trunk show
february 22 – 24
jeanette’s bride ‘n’ tux, manassas, va

At any rate, if you’re planning to have a flower girl in your wedding, then this is a great time to start shopping for her dress! Not only are the gorgeous little Easter dresses hitting the racks; the remaining holiday stock is going on deep sale. It’s a win either way!

There’s nothing wrong with buying an expensive custom-made flower girl dress if that’s something that’s important to you. As a mom of small kids, though, I can tell you that little ones grow so quickly that your sweet little flower girl will be able to wear that luxurious bespoke dress for approximately half a minute, plus her mom will be a lot more relaxed watching her drop wedding cake on a $25 dress than on a $250 dress. The flower girl dress is actually a really sensible place to save some money in your budget.

Happily, “budget” doesn’t have to mean “cheap-looking” in this case. Just look at these darling dresses that are either newly available or newly discounted this week:

American Princess Lattice Dress (Kohl’s)
currently $37.20
The quintessential twirly-skirt dress with gorgeous ribbon detailing, a crinoline underskirt, and a sash that ties in the back.

Bonnie Jean Floral Taffeta Dress (Kohl’s)
currently $30.00
Sweet A-line dress with a textured floral skirt and a sash that ties in the back.

Cherokee® Infant Toddler Girls’ Tulle Dress (Target)
currently $18.00
Tiered ombre dress in an orange that’s very close to last year’s Pantone color of the year, Tangerine Tango, which promises to remain popular for spring and summer weddings in 2013.

Sleeveless Crushed Taffeta Dress with Floral Waist (Target)
currently $34.99
How perfect for a spring flower girl is this, with its band of pretty petals at the waist?

Pinky Sleeveless Lace Dress (JCPenney)
currently $28.00
This A-line dress picks up on this year’s hot lace trend, with a yellow lining and sash and a yellow-and-pink flower at the waist.

Rosenau Girls’ Holiday Embroidery Dress (Target)
currently $27.99
This dress will be perfect for weddings featuring this year’s Pantone color of the year, Emerald.

Rosenau Girls’ Holiday Embroidery Dress (Target)
currently $34.99
This blue dress (Target actually calls it teal) features an embellished bodice, a sheer overskirt, and a sash that ties in the back.

Rosette Tulle Dress (Gap)
currently $49.99
This gorgeous little coral dress is covered neck-to-hem in tulle rosettes and has a removable satin ribbon sash.

Now, a perfectly legitimate question you may have is how to know what size dress to buy for a growing little girl several months in advance of your wedding day. It’s a question you’ll have to answer if you order a custom-made dress as well. My best advice is to talk with your flower girl’s parents (which of course you’ll do anyway) and get their size recommendation. And when in doubt, buy a little larger rather than a little smaller. A good seamstress or tailor can probably take in a dress that’s slightly too large when wedding time rolls around, but a dress that’s too small may not have sufficient allowances in the seams to allow it to be let out.

So, do you see any dresses here that look just right for your little flower girls? If not, there are hundreds more online and in stores with more hitting the racks every day, so get out there and see what you can find! Especially if you can bring along the cutie who’ll be wearing it. Finding her the perfect flower girl dress is almost as fun as finding yourself the perfect wedding gown!

Check out the sample sales and trunk shows coming up around the DC area over the next couple of months:

allure bridal preview sale
november 24 – december 8
i do i do wedding gowns, gaithersburg, md

marisa trunk show
november 30 – december 9
love couture bridal boutique, potomac, md

james clifford trunk show
december 5 – 18
ann’s boutique, burke, va

sample sale
december 5
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

hitched styling night
december 6
hitched bridal couture, washington, dc

alvina valenta trunk show
december 7 – 9
ann’s boutique, burke, va

accessory trunk show
december 10 – 14
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

winter wonderland open house
december 16
simply modern bridal, fredericksburg, va

holiday sale
december 17
the bridal boutique, columbia, md

after christmas sample sale
december 27 & 28
love couture bridal boutique, potomac, md

peter langner trunk show
january 10
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

simone carvalli trunk show
january 18 – 20
jeanette’s bride & tux, manassas, va

monique lhuillier trunk show
january 24 – 26
carine’s bridal atelier, washington, dc

vera wang trunk show
january 24
saks jandel, chevy chase, md

bliss by monique lhuillier trunk show
january 25 – 27
bella rosa bridal, richmond, va

Most of these events are by appointment only, so remember to call ahead for those to reserve your shopping time. And happy shopping! I hope you find the perfect gown for your perfect day.

As always, we have a great deal to be thankful for in our family this year: Good health (not counting a few trips to the ER with our little boys for various boyhood-related bumps and cuts), love in our family, a safe and happy home, clients and projects we genuinely enjoy, and of course let’s not forget the baby we’re expecting early in 2013!

Ordinarily I’d probably be more into decorating and running to get things ready for Thanksgiving with extended family, but it’s been a busy autumn, and at seven months pregnant I’m giving myself permission this year to take it easy. We’re going to enjoy the day as-is with just our little family. We’re not going anywhere and we’re not having guests; instead, we’re going to spend the day at home watching parades, snacking, cooking, eating, and snoozing in front of football games on TV. Well, we may do the snacking and eating thing more than once. And we might even stay in our jammies all day!

What a boring post this would be without something fun and pretty in it, though, right? And I have been hoarding away a few craft ideas for Thanksgiving. They may not be gracing our home this year, but hey, if you’re still looking for a last-minute way to snazz up your day, one of these could be just what you’re looking for:

Candles and gourds decorated with dried lentils. Quick, easy, warm, and pretty. Perfect! Via hgtv.com.

This lovely little bowl is made from craft leaves using basically the same technique you used to make papier maché bowls in elementary school. In fact, it would be a fun project to do with kids, and they’d be super-proud of the end result. Via the always wonderful hellolucky.com.

Cranberries are, of course, perfect for Thanksgiving, and here they’re used as vase filler to hide the stems in these simple little flower arrangements. These look a little Christmasy to me, so I’d probably go with orange and ivory flowers and lose the holly and pine greenery — unless I were making them for Christmas. Via shelterness.com.

Can you believe these beautiful flowers are made from autumn leaves? Think origami but with fallen leaves instead of paper. There’s no text at this link, but the photo sequence should be enough to guide you through creating this centerpiece. It’s pretty and it’s a guaranteed conversation starter! Via duitang.com.

Jill over at Baby Rabies has the best wreath ideas, and next year I plan to have this baby turkey on our front door. True story: I first “met” Jill when we were both brides planning our weddings in Austin, Texas, and we posted on the same wedding message board. It’s been lots of fun watching her blog grow, and I’m always impressed with her creativity.

How about you? What are you thankful for this year? How will you be spending your Thanksgiving Day?

Whatever the answers, we hope your day is filled with love and fun and whatever you most enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving!