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Detailed photo fo wedding dress and bouquet

Eloping:  What To Wear

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Now that you're finally ready to walk down the aisle, you're not quite sure what type of look you'd like to choose. Should you go with a traditional look? A modern one? Or are you more of a bohemian? And what about your mate? Is your mate more comfortable in a dress or linen pants and a blazer? Whether you choose a formal candlelit ceremony, a spiritual setting, or a laid-back island style, here are a few tips for dressing for the occasion.

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Find Your Inner Bride | Groom

Before you start shopping for your dream wedding gown | suite | tuxedo, take a minute to close your eyes and envision yourself as a bride | groom. What do you see?  Write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel on your wedding day, such as summery, traditional, princess, sexy, sophisticated, over-the-top. Then have your fiance do the same and compare notes. If you're thinking full royal regalia and your mate is thinking beach wedding and bermudas, You may have your work cut out for you. Try using a religious custom, an aspect of the way you met, or something near and dear to your hearts -- swing dancing, horseback riding, the '20s -- to set the mood instead.

The Setting

Another thing to consider: the formality of your ceremony and the features of the site. While every couple should feel free to choose the wedding style of their dreams, their attire should also reflect the time and place of their nuptials. A formal candlelit ceremony is not the time for a bride to be sporting a short sundress or a morning coat and ascot. Nor is an afternoon garden party the place to break out the cathedral-length veil, top hat, and tails. If your wedding is outdoors in a breathtaking locale, choose an equally romantic look for your ceremony. Likewise, if your party is planned in a proper reception hall, consider more classic to-be-wed ensembles that mimic the mood, or celebrate your inner cool. Go for drama in a theater environment with a vintage look and over-the-top attire and embrace the setting at a beach wedding.

All About The Details

That said, there are ways to incorporate your personal sense of style into any ceremony -- no matter what the location. It's all in the details. Whether your motivation comes from the "something old, something new..." tradition, or the "I'm-going-to-do-this-MY-way" credo, accessories are the easiest way to add a few unexpected touches of personal style to your setting. If you're a classic country bride|groom, why not slip into a pair of cowboy boots and a lariat? If you're Scottish, don a kilt. Are you athletes? Change into running shoes for the ceremony. If you're the starving artist types, make it Birkenstocks. Even if you decide to go the straight up, by-the-book traditional route, you're still communicating your own personal sense of style. How? The ageless gown with a string of pearls, a classic tux, the perfect pair of gold cufflinks... all timelessly elegant. Just like you.

Beach Weddings

Just because you chose to "Elope' does not mean you can't celebrate your union with family and friends.  The celebration can be as simple as a cake & champagne gathering, small dinner party, a large wedding reception or even a  picnic immediately upon your return.  You can also choose to celebrate your union  by hosting an extravagant anniversary party after your first year of marriage. 

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Alternative Elopement Attire

If you're more into alternative style wedding attire, take a look at the following ideas on Pinterest,

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NOTE:  DETAILS FROM THIS PAGE IS CREDITED TO AN ARTICLE ON THE THE KNOT ENTITLED "CHOOSING A WEDDING DRESS STYLE" AND WAS WRITTEN BY HOLLEE ACTMAN BECKER 

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