ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID,
NOW YOU’RE THE BRIDE

Choosing a bridesmaid’s dress is one element of wedding planning that truly affects other people — namely, the four, eight, dozen or more of your closest friends you choose to stand beside you as you say your vows. While one of the vows brides often make is to select a dress that her bridesmaids will wear again, that’s often a vow that’s quickly broken.

Here, Betsy Crozier, manager of Bella Bridesmaids, a La Jolla boutique that specializes in bridesmaid attire, offers the latest trends in bridesmaid fashion to help you keep your promise of choosing a dress your party won’t be petrified of wearing again — or at least keep hanging in her closet.

"Here in San Diego, we’re specifically seeing the two ends of the spectrum: more formal, floor-length Vera Wang gowns or more fun Melissa Sweet crinkle-chiffon short dresses," Crozier says.

With production timelines as far out as six months, Crozier is currently seeing brides choosing dresses for spring weddings in colors that suit the season.

"With the Melissa Sweet collection, we’re seeing crinkle chiffon or satin, flowy and light in fun colors like ocean, which is a teal blue, a light green tea or yellow buttercup," she adds.

"With the long Vera Wang dresses, a lot of brides are choosing a really elegant darker plum shade," she continues. "We have one specific dress that everyone calls the Kate Hudson dress because it looks just like the yellow dress the actress wears in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Everyone does that in a dark color because they think it looks gorgeous."

While brides are still set on choosing the color of their bridesmaid dresses, many are throwing tradition to the wind and letting their girls make the selection from there.

"Girls are getting more lenient, saying, ‘My color is red,’ and then allowing their bridesmaids to do different shades, designers and fabrics," Crozier adds. "They’re really taking into account the girls’ different body types."

Bella Bridesmaids also carries a dress by twobirds bridesmaids. Designed to fit and flatter bridesmaids of all shapes and sizes, the jersey spandex and nylon dress comes in 10 colors and two lengths and can be wrapped into 10 different styles.

Bella Bridesmaids is open by appointment only, Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 858-485-0102 or visit www.bellabridesmaid.com.

    
 
 
   
   


ARRIVE IN STYLE

With all the alternative modes of transport around these days — stretch Hummer, anyone? — leaving the church in a limousine is so last year. Just ask the folks behind Arrive Like Royalty, a new luxury transportation service that launched in San Diego in June. Founder Barry Robbins gives passengers — including brides and grooms — the red-carpet treatment in a selection of high-end automobiles. The company’s "crown jewel" is a $400,000 Maybach 57S, available with white-gloved chauffeur service for $250 an hour.

"No tired Town Cars or limos here," Robbins says. "Arrive Like Royalty is first-class. Our guests are driven in one of five luxury cars from my private car collection. Guests definitely ‘feel the wow’ when they ride with us and arrive at their destinations in unparalleled style."

For more information, call 866-305-6500 or visit www.arrivelikeroyalty.com.

    
     
   


FINISHING TOUCHES:
SOMETHING BORROWED

Technology meets the tradition of "something borrowed, something blue" online at Bag Borrow or Steal, a Web site for "handbag and jewelry enthusiasts" looking for the perfect accessory for a special event. Catering to clients who want to dress like celebrities on a non-celebrity budget, Bag Borrow or Steal offers the ability to borrow the latest couture accessories — think Leiber evening bags and Charriol necklaces — without the hefty price tag.

For more information, visit www.bagborroworsteal.com.