Richmond, Minn., store shares wedding decorating tips to match the couple’s vision – West Central Tribune

Richmond – While white remains the most popular color for wedding dresses, when one turns to the shelves of bridesmaid dresses, there is a rainbow of colors, a variety of textures, and a variety of styles to choose from.

All the needs of the newlyweds and their party is a vision and an open mind to all the possibilities available.

Pretty much everything is going right now,” said Jennifer Morrison, who co-owns the Wedding & Tuxedo Connection in Richmond with Sue Spanier. “There really is no rule.”

For bridesmaid dresses, gone are the days of a row of identical dresses that may or may not fit all women the same way. Alternatively, couples may just have the color theme and fabric choice in mind, allowing each bridesmaid to find a dress style to their liking.

“Whatever suits their body types, which I really like,” Morrison said.

The styles of bridesmaid dresses are as varied as the women who wear them. There are short dresses, long dresses, dresses with lace, and dresses with sequins. There are dresses that would be perfect on the beach, in a barn, or in the middle of a big city. It all depends only on what kind of wedding the newlyweds will go to.

Current trends have seen the return of both the maxi dress and gowns in a more bohemian style. And while chiffon is still a very popular choice for fabrics, other types of fabrics are making a comeback as well.

“Satin is starting to come back — and velvet,” Spanier said.

Colors is also a category where couples can show their style. They might go in different shades of one color—or focus on a color family or theme, such as fall shades. Recently popular colors have been muted color schemes rather than bright shades, although it all depends on the wedding vision.

“They (couples) go with every color,” Spanier said.

Bridesmaids are one part of the overall wedding party, which Morrison said is back on the bigger side. It is now common for couples to have six to eight bridesmaids and the same number of groomsmen.

For groomsmen, the suit or tuxedo is still dominant, but there are ways to show off the styles of the couple and groomsmen. Items like laces or pocket squares are a great way to add a pop of color or style.

“Lots of blue options” are popular, Morrison said. “Everything is ready.”

Although the bridesmaids – and even the groomsmen – may have a greater say in the style of the dress they are wearing, it is still necessary for the couple to give some kind of guidance, to make sure that all the final choices look good together.

“Talk to them during the process,” Morrison said. “How do you want your photos to look?”

When it comes to the mothers of the bride or groom, they can have as many options available to them as the bridesmaid. Some mothers actually choose to wear a bridesmaid dress, although there are still styles of dresses made with the mother in mind.

“We have a good selection” of styles, Morrison said, ranging from simple to elaborately embellished with beads and sequins. It all depends only on the person’s style, budget and comfort.

“They don’t want to look like the bride’s grandmother,” Morrison said.

Then you can not forget about the flower girls and ring bearers.

For those important members of the party, the clothes are moving again toward comfort rather than just being child-sized versions of clothing worn by adults. Children’s clothing at a wedding is also a place many couples decide to try to be more budget conscious.

No matter what style of dress or suit is chosen, there are some tips that Morrison and Spanier give to all couples who are planning their wedding. The first is to have an open mind to all possibilities. Staying within budget is also important.

“Everything is going up in prices,” Spanier said, though wedding budgets have not been hit so far even though the health of the economy is a bit uncertain.

But it is also important not to leave the choice and order of clothes for the wedding too late. Just as with a wedding dress, it can take months for the bridesmaid’s dresses, groomsmen’s suits, and other costumes for the party members to attend.

“They take three to four months to get in,” Morrison said, so it’s important to start making decisions at least six months before the wedding. This way, there is enough time to deal with potential issues with lag or delays in rendering.

The newlyweds’ outfit and bridal party aren’t the only part of the wedding that Spanier and Morrison can help with.

Wedding & Tuxedo Connection is a one-stop shop for weddings, offering not only clothing, but flower and décor services as well. The store has been open for 11 years, and by early September, it will have started a whole new chapter. The store has moved into a larger building directly across the street from its original location on Main Street in downtown Richmond.

Regardless of the couple’s vision, budget, or wedding schedule, Spanier and Morrison are on hand to help make the wedding great and try to relieve some of the stress from what can be an overwhelming time.

“It can work,” Spanier said. “We’ll make it work.”