Dressing for Wedding Season

J.Crew dress, Tiffany pearl necklace, Ann Taylor pearl earrings, J.Crew shoes, JL Designs flowers (photographed by Jessica Claire)

As you might have guessed from last Friday’s post, it’s time for wedding season! As much as I love celebrating the marriages of my friends, going to weddings can get a little expensive. Even more expensive if I was asked to be a bridesmaid. A recent survey by weddingchannel.com found that the cost of being a bridesmaid is about $1,695 when you factor in the dress, accessories, travel expenses, wedding gifts, and more. The estimate was based on a 2010 Real Weddings study that surveyed more than 20,000 brides nationwide (via CNN article). Yikes!!!

So what to do with all the dresses, shoes, and accessories? It’s time to remix and figure out a way to re-wear them. And no, it’s not as rare as a double rainbow. I did it last year and I plan on doing it again at some of the weddings I attend this summer.

The trick is switching out accessories and fixing your hair differently. Save the updo’s, pearls, and bouquets for being a bridesmaid. Wear your hair down, add funky jewelry, maybe a belt, and grab a fun clutch. You could also dye your dress like Shelly from Young House Love. Here’s another example of how you might be able to re-wear the bridesmaid dress shown above:

Double Happiness ring and earrings, J.Crew dress, Ann Taylor shoes, Kate Spade pineapple clutch

I plan on wearing the pink bridesmaid dress again this summer with either shoes from a different wedding or my own wedding.

How have you creatively remixed wedding attire?