It’s no wonder why summer is the most popular season to get married- you get to have your wedding ceremony and reception at the best outdoor locations! Here’s our roundup of the best summer wedding locations:

Romantic and Carefree

When I think of beach weddings Mexico, Hawaii and Australia immediately run through my mind. The warm sand and crystal clear waters. The carefree ambiance that takes over you. And the sounds of waves crashing on the shore. What better place to say “I do”? But if you can’t get to Mexico, Hawaii or Australia the nearest beach will also work! 

Swanky and Stylish

Having a rooftop location will automatically transform your wedding into a swanky and stylish celebration. When it comes to rooftop weddings my heart melts just thinking about being surrounded by skyscrapers and clear blue skies during the day and bright stars during the night. And don’t forget that at night the lights from the nearby buildings will illuminate  and provide a warm glow on your rooftop.

Chic and Charming 

A garden wedding will easily become an elegant affair. Imagine your guests dressed in tea length wedding dresses and fitted suits while sipping on champagne on your wedding day. The best thing about garden weddings is that the lush greenery and natural flowers provide just the right amount decoration for you to create a chic and charming wedding. Which leaves you to focus on simple centerpieces and lighting. 

Fun and Quirky

Country weddings aren’t completely out of trend but wedstocks are totally in! Make your wedding reception a true weekend celebration by having a wedstock. Just like a summer music festival a wedstock is an amazing weekend where you are surrounded by family, friends, music, and food. Make it as fun and quirky as you like.

Leave a comment and let us know which summer wedding location is your favorite!

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We suggest you stay away from synthetics and opt for natural fabrics since these will the the most breathable, comfortable and won’t stick to your body. And don't forget about short wedding dresses, they're always a fun option! Keep these tips in mind when choosing bridesmaids dresses as well.

Take a look at our gallery and choose your favorite summer wedding gowns from our collections.

You can get wrapped up in these ideal locations for a summer wedding but make sure to prepare for the not-so glamorous things that come along with summer weddings. If you’re planning a summer wedding make sure to read our list of summer wedding do’s and don’ts:

Do’s

Chill Out

If you’re having an outdoor wedding help keep your guests cool and provide them with shade and refreshments. Keep your guests happy, comfortable and refreshed with parasols, cocktails, and sunblock. Whether your wedding is out in a field or under a tent, you should consider renting AC units or fans if you’re expecting your wedding day to be scorching hot. An easier alternative is to give your guests handheld battery fans.

Powder Room

Help your guests feel gorgeous despite of the humidity or heat. Leave Evian spray bottles, hairspray, mosquito repellant, and blotting papers in the restroom so they can freshen up.

Everyone loves Summer

Have your guests fall in love with that summery feeling and use everything that’s in season. Incorporate those expected summer details (fresh fruit and flowers) into the decor and food.

Don’ts

Dress code

You can’t expect the men to show up in a 3 piece suit if it’s 80+ degrees. Be  

mindful of the weather when setting up a dress code.

Timing Is Everything

The sun is the strongest during 10am-3pm so do your guests a favor and don’t have an outdoors ceremony at that time (unless you provide them with shade)!

Temperamental Weather

Just because it’s summer don’t think that it’ll be a gorgeous day out. Hope for the best but set a plan just in case it rains or it gets too windy.

Suzanne is from Hawaii and her shop is based on the "Aloha" spirit and the concept of o'hana (family). Her bridal consultants are her extended family and they treat their brides just as part of that extended family. Suzanne says, “My consultants are knowledgeable, kind and fun! There are no strangers here, everyone is welcome and we strive to make them feel at home.”

It’s no wonder that with such a strong alterations background Suzanne’s Bridal Boutique offers an onsite alterations department. They make sure that their brides’ wedding dresses fit like a glove.

Suzanne wants to remind brides that this is your wedding. Allow close family and friends to be part of your wedding planning process but remember that all decisions should ultimately be made by you. Don’t feel pressured to listen to others’ suggestions.

She also advises brides to take their time to research wedding shops in order to choose one that makes caring for brides their main goal.

Justin Alexander Style 9700 is Suzanne’s favorite gown from our collection. “I love the lace over lace effect and the beaded belt embellishment gives the already vintage look a royal feel.  It is an exquisite work of art!”

Make sure to follow Suzanne’s bridal Boutique on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to get the latest wedding trends.

If you’re in Arizona call and schedule an appointment to try on their amazing wedding dress selection.

645 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85234

(480) 926-9106

After a few name changes and refocusing their product line to include wedding gowns, special occasion and accessories- Jay West Bridal will be celebrating 45 years in the bridal industry this summer. With almost half a century of helping brides find their dream dress they have served three generations and as many as five brides from one family!

Brides keep coming back to Jay West Bridal because of the knowledgeable and friendly staff that makes each bride feel like they are part of their family as soon as they step in the store. The staff believe it’s an honor to help their brides find a gown for the most important day of their life. And being a full service salon is not something they take lightly. The staff at Jay West Bridal help brides with every single detail from start to finish. They offer gown cleaning and preservation services in order for brides to keep their gown in the same condition as the day they wore it down the aisle.

A majority of their brides end up choosing a gown that they thought they would never wear. This is why Jay West Bridal encourages brides to enter their store with an open mind and heart in order to help them express their personality and help them find their dream dress. The staff at Jay West Bridal reminds brides that friends and family are there to celebrate you and will love you regardless of what dress you choose. Remember to be yourself and enjoy the planning process!

A Justin Alexander favorite from the Jay West staff is Style 9720. “We love this gown. The unique lace paired with an elegant fit and flare shape, topped off with exquisite beading on the bust and waistline. This dress never stays in the window long. It always brings in brides right off the street that just need to see it up close and try it on!  It’s truly a classic gown that can stand the test of time and flatter many figures.”

Brides if you’re in the New Jersey area make sure to follow Jay West Bridal on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for the latest bridal trends!  

151 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, New Jersey

The Cannes Film Festival ended this weekend and I can finally give you a roundup of all of the trends I loved on the red carpet. From lace gowns to long sleeves and tea length dresses- I cover it all! The best part is that you can wear these same trends on your big day with Justin Alexander wedding gowns. 

Lovely Lace

Lace was seen everywhere on the red carpet in Cannes. From Cheryl Cole to Nicole Kidman. Lace will forever be a sign of femininity and elegance whether you’re walking down the aisle or the red carpet. Get the look with Styles 9721, 9710, and 9706.

Tea Time

The popular 1950’s silhouette is back and everyone from Dita Von Teese to Naomi Watts was rocking this trend down the red carpet. Tea length gowns are a great choice to add some spunk to your bridal look and show off your gorgeous heels. You can get the look with Styles 8650, 8632, and 8465. 

Cover Girl

Sometimes covering up is sexier than showing it all off. And these red carpet babes covered their sexy arms in gorgeous sleeves. Even bombshell Eva Longoria covered them up! You can also get this look with Style 8695, 8684, and 8666.

Everyone loves a little metal

Make their jaws drop in a metallic design like Naomie Harris. Metallic fabric packs a punch that will take your look from gorgeous to a total show stopper. You can get this look with Style 9708, 9705, and 9690. 

Leave a comment and let us know which one of these red carpet looks were your favorite!

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By now you’ve already exhausted every search term to get Great Gatsby wedding inspiration. But I bet you haven’t tried searching for emerald green wedding inspiration. Emerald is the color of the year and it’s the color that will turn your vintage inspired wedding into an all out roaring 20’s extravaganza.

I love emerald because it’s a very versatile color- it’s playful but still elegant. Emerald is a color that says, “Yes, I’m expensive and sophisticated but can still have fun!”

You can add emerald in traditional ways like in your wedding invitations, table runners, and desserts. You can pair it with metallics, white, or black. But if you want to push the decorative envelope then try pairing it with pinks and peaches. Try this with prints and your floral arrangements.

Browse through our gallery and through our Pinterest board for more art deco inspiration

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After browsing hours upon hours through magazines, Pinterest, and wedding blogs you finally did it-  you’ve found your dream dress! And now you’re full of questions. Will this silhouette look good on me? Can I afford this dress? Where can I find it?

Here are the 3 most important things to do after you’ve found the wedding dress of your dreams:

1. Save it

Pin, it, Like it, Tweet it, email it, print it or do whatever you need in order for you to find it later. You don’t want to have to do a Google search later in an effort to find the dress all over again, right? Just save it now and have it ready.

2. Find the nearest store to you

The only way you can purchase an authentic Justin Alexander gown is through one of our authorized retailers. We don’t sell our gowns online and you can’t purchase them directly from us. We do this to combat online scams and to give you, our lovely bride, an unforgettable experience when choosing your wedding gown from one of our authorized retailers.  You can find a bridal store near you by using our store locator.

Once you find a bridal store you can schedule an appointment to try on your dream gown. During your consultation is where you will be able to get all of your questions answered. From “Should I wear a veil?” to “How much is this gown?”. We’re proud to say that all of our bridal retailers are amazing at what they do, you’ll be in good hands.

3. Attend our trunk shows

First let me explain what a trunk show actually is. Our authorized retailers don’t stock every single piece from our collection but during our trunk shows we will send them the full collection! This is an amazing opportunity for brides because this means you can literally try on ALL of the Justin Alexander gowns. Sign up for our newsletter now and you’ll receive invitations to these special trunk shows.

My wedding gown is Style 8616 and I love the fun skirt, the top fits me perfectly and I like how the back of the gown comes to a V.  

My question is: How do I accessorize the gown?  I never really thought of myself as a big veil girl, nor do I think it really goes with the gown. I think a large hair accessory, birdcage veil, or even a flower wreath are more my style. What do you think looks good with my dress? Also, what type of necklace would you pair with this dress, if any?  I think a fun funky necklace for reception and pictures would be nice.

A: Let’s tackle one thing at a time:

1. Congratulations for choosing such a gorgeous gown! The ruffled skirt and beading are a fabulous combination. And I’m sure your fiance will love it.

2. I love to see a bride walk down the aisle in a veil. The volume and details on this bridal gown doesn’t make it an exception. The longest veil length that should go with this style is finger length. And if you really want to push the envelope you should try a veil with a thin beaded edge. 

Now, just because I like veils it doesn’t mean you have to wear one. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a veil then opt for another hair accessory. Don’t feel pressured to follow the advice of a family member, friend or magazine. It’s your special day and trust me when I say that it will still be special whether you wear a veil or not!

Antalaya is a Justin Alexander bride who wore Style 8616 and added a veil with a thin trim to complement the ruffled skirt. Ayodele also wore Style 8616 and she ditched the veil completely and went with beautiful crystal hair pins instead. You can browse through our Justin Alexander Brides album on Facebook and see how other brides with full skirts have styled their wedding gowns. 

3. Necklaces can be tempting but make sure to not force this accessory into your bridal look. If you are a petite bride then I say stay away from necklaces. Adding a necklace can interfere with the proportions of your small frame and will make you look shorter.

If you are a tall bride you can definitely add some flair with a necklace for your reception. Browse through our gallery to see some of the gorgeous examples I found for you:

And if you have any questions make sure to send them to live@justinalexander.co

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A: Boleros are a great way to add a bit of coverage for your wedding ceremony if you want a more demure look. It’s also a great excuse to showcase two looks on your big day! When it comes to Style 8558 I would suggest pairing it with our bolero A031. This bolero has embroidered and beaded cap sleeves that will match the beading on your belt (A015).

I’ve said it before- I love a bride in a veil! Veils are the cherry on top of the wedding dress delicacy. It really just completes the whole bridal look. If you haven’t tried on veils make an appointment this weekend so you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. I would suggest you wear a one layer veil so that it doesn’t compete with the gorgeous lace on Style 8558. And when it comes to the veil length make sure to choose one you’re comfortable with.

Take a look at our Justin Alexander Brides album on Facebook where you can see how other brides have styled their Justin Alexander lace wedding dresses.  

Jodi is a Justin Alexander bride who also wore Style 8558 and decided to go with a caged veil to add some flair to her bridal look. And Kristen opted for a veil with a thin trimming.   

If you have any other questions about your wedding dress send them to live@justinalexander.co

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