Winter weddings: Fashion trends, from sleeves and lace to metallic-hued bridesmaid dresses

Baby, it’s cold outside, and there is nothing more amorous than a pristine blanket of white snow as your wedding backdrop. The snow is a blank canvas for a flawless winter wedding, and creating wedded bliss begins with finding the right dress to complement your snowy ceremony. Winter wedding dress trends are authentic, time-honored and brilliant. Whether you want to sparkle in snowflake white or add a wintery touch with a fur-trimmed cloak, winter 2015-16 wedding dresses are whimsical, elegant and dazzling.

The dress

As winter weddings will have it, the temps are chilly, and a blushing bride should never have chattering teeth during the ceremony. The clear choice would be to put a ski jacket over your nuptial whites to keep warm, but that isn’t the picture-perfect ensemble for your big day.

Sleeves, whether cap or three-quarter length, will take the edge off any cold wedding day without abandoning style. The wedding experts from The Bridal Collection in Centennial say long-sleeve sheath gowns complement all winter dress trends and can be embellished, tying into embroidery or beading at the waistline or throughout the dress.

In addition to sleeved dresses, The Bridal Collection is anticipating trends for beaded bodices with fuller skirts and vintage-inspired dresses with stunning details on the back. Lace is always popular for weddings, as are ethereal fabrics such as tulle, and accents such as crystal beading and fur shrugs are au courant for winter ceremonies.

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Chelsea Dillon and Kate Ryan, of Gold Leaf Event Design & Production, a wedding and event-planning firm in Aspen (www.goldleafevent.com) are also seeing the sleeve trend this winter.

“Long-sleeved lace sleeves with an open back are great options and can be found at all of the local Denver bridal boutiques, such as Anna Be, Emma & Grace Bridal Studio and Little White Dress Bridal Shop 3,” Dillon said. “A separate long-sleeved top that matches the dress and can be taken off for the reception, as well.

“Other trends this year include wearing a wedding dress that has a hint of color to stand out in the white snow-filled background. Many wedding dresses can be ordered in a blush color as well as white, and blush is lovely in the winter.”

The Bridal Collection services local and out-of-town brides and has many dress options for them to choose from.

“We have the largest selection of wedding gowns in Colorado, so we carry quite a few designers. Some of our most popular designers are Justin Alexander, Martina Liana, Lazaro, Sottero and Midgley, Pronovias and Madison James,” said Jordan Ensminger, buyer and master stylist for The Bridal Collection. “We also have Willowby, WToo, Stella York, Simone Carvalli, Victor Harper, Atelier Pronovias, Casablanca, Enzoani, Badgley Mischka, Allure Couture and two private labels.”

Accessories

Once your dream dress has been picked, it is time to choose the finishing touches that will truly make your entrance pop.

Theknot.com’s rules for accessorizing are tried and true and will ensure that your wedding photos don’t include any glaring fashion faux pas. The website emphasizes that less is always more and that brides don’t need to go over the top and get bedazzled from head to toe. A necklace and earrings or tiara are perfect for a more simple dress, while very little jewelry is needed when your dress has unique and beautiful detailing and embellishments.

Classic gold accessories are on trend for winter weddings, as are veils that give your wintery union that certain Narnia je ne sais quoi.

“For jewelry and hairpieces, brides are liking gold and rose gold accessories that will sparkle in the natural light, as well as halo headbands,” Ensminger said.

Ensminger said long veils are also very popular in the winter, as well as fresh flowers in deep burgundy or winter whites against the snowy backdrop.

“As for shoes, you can find a Colorado bride in anything from a peep-toe Badgley Mischka pump to Sorels,” she said.

Another way to accessorize for your outdoor photos is to embrace the alpine environment. One of Dillon’s brides incorporated the woodsy-chic look into her wedding dress ensemble and wore a J. Crew buffalo plaid jacket for outside photos.

Bridesmaids

Don’t let the cliche “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” bum out your ladies in waiting. Gone are the days of uncomfortable gold lame dresses that will never be repurposed for anything other than a Halloween costume party. The bridesmaid dress trend of mismatched lengths or styles will allow you to help your bridesmaids choose dress options that fit your color scheme, while at the same time complementing everyone’s shapes and sizes.

“Many brides choose a color and let each woman pick her own dress style or they choose a color family where all of the dresses are different colors, like jewel tones, pastels or earth tones,” Ensminger said.

She said the trend for this year is different full-length gowns in the same color and incorporating a winter theme with fur wraps or pashmina to stay warm. In addition, sequined gowns in gold, champagne and rose gold are also a popular choice for bridesmaids, which not only makes the bride stand out in her white gown but also adds a bit of vintage glamour and sparkle to the snow-white surroundings.