summer ’17 wedding guest lookbook

this past weekend i attended my cousin’s wedding in brielle, nj. before i headed south, i stopped by mb45 studio for my second collaboration with this beautiful tribeca blow out & styling bar. in this entry, i’m showing off my entire ensemble from this day, and talking about why i think it’s the perfect look for a summer ’17 wedding!

call me a traditionalist, but i firmly believe that the only person wearing white at a wedding should be the bride. in fact, i even take things a step further — it doesn’t matter how “in” blush tones, metallics, rose gold, & flesh tones are… they don’t belong at a wedding. it’s just too close, too easy & too risky. especially nowadays, where brides will walk down the aisle in a neutral shade. sure – no one’s going to mistake you for the bride – but it’s a respectful gesture to allow the star of the show to stand out from her crowd through and through.

on the flip side, i’m also not the kind of person who rocks a LBD to every single wedding, either. i get bored easily, and especially in the summer, i refuse to pass up on an opportunity to rock bold hues for a night out. that’s exactly why this bcbg pleated maxi gown is hands down my favorite wedding season essential. i wore it last year to one of my best friends’ weddings, again to my birthday dinner while on my honeymoon, and this past weekend was my third time wearing it – which i actually consider to be great use out of such a stand-out piece.

in this case, i wore my bella fiore statement necklace by chloe + isabel with it’s matching bracelet and earrings. since chloe + isabel isn’t a registered rewardstyle merchandiser,  i considered linking you guys to some similar pieces – but honestly this set is so unique and beautiful that it’s worth every penny without comparison. when i arrived at mb45 studio, johanna washed my hair, gave me a fresh blowout, and then double-braided the top for a sleek and chic down-do that looked edgy and modern, just the way i like it. as i mentioned before, this was my second collaboration with mb45 studio and once again i cannot say enough good things about this hole-in-the-wall gem! there was a massive street fair and bike tour that morning. every street in lower manhattan was closed. my uber would have taken 15 minutes, and wound up taking 45 because of the traffic and closures. i wound up having to call the salon twice to apologize profusely — because i am the most punctual person on the planet, and being late irks me beyond comprehension. my 11:30 appointment didn’t start until 12:15, and i didn’t leave mb45 until 1:15. since i had to be in new jersey by 2 o’clock, out the window were my chances of shooting my look head to toe before i left for the wedding. lucky for me, we were blessed with minimal traffic and i wound up getting down to the venue a full hour early — so i shot my gown (and my down-do) by the water. it wound up working out for the best, and i made it there in one piece!

my gown was flowy, comfortable, and stood out from the crowd without taking away from the bride. it’s simple enough to add statement jewelry to the mix, and the sheer panels on the sides are just the hint of sexy i’d want to give off at a family wedding. i have felt amazing in this dress every time i’ve worn it. congratulations to my cousin brielle and her new husband adam on their nuptials! check out my instagram to stay in the loop, and be sure to shop these similar gowns linked below. you’ll be glad you did!