We are incredibly excited today to feature a Bridesmaid Fashion Shoot inspired by upcoming Fall 2012 wedding styles from our beloved intern and photographer at Kate Ann Photography, Kate Morris! A true Bayside Bride collaboration, the fabulous gown boutique Garnish in Baltimore with makeup by Dainty Artistry and hair by Julie Flury of Jewel Hair Design helped to make this shoot a reality.

We are absolutely in love and inspired by this shoot! Enjoy!

Every bride dreams of their perfect day from their dress, flowers, and venue, but there is a group of women she should not forget to pamper⎯the ones that have stood by you through the entire wedding planning process, your best friends⎯the bridesmaids.

It has been a tradition to give your bridesmaids gifts as a token of appreciation. “Go with something that will make your girls happy. They have done so much for you, and this is about saying thank you. It doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot, just make sure you make the gifts about the girls and not about you,” said newlywed, Jenna Wray of Laurel, Md. However, you should not be confined to get traditional gifts, make it personal!

Whatever your budget may be, we have a few bridesmaid gift ideas that will spark inspiration into any bride-to-be. Your ladies will not be disappointed; that’s a fact.

Under $50

We absolutely love these bags from the Wedding Chicks! They can customize any tote bag to meet your personalized needs. You can choose from pages of designs and colors. These little tote bags have lots of room for all your ladies’ favorite treats to keep them going on your wedding day. They will “la la la love” them.

As one of our “Fleet Crew Vendors”, Stella and Dot offers unique, versatile jewelry that you will find absolutely irresistible.  These custom-designed Soiree Studs and Valentina Chandelier Earrings are at the top our list for an inexpensive and beautiful bridesmaid gift.  These will not only be something that your bridesmaids can wear at the wedding but also on a girl’s night out long after your wedding.

Bayside Bride loves all things nautical, and these handmade and crafted Turks Head Sailor Bracelets from Kiel James Patrick are a perfect accessory touch for any waterfront wedding.  Remember a knot symbolizes memory, and this is a day you and your bridesmaids certainly do not want to forget!

Under $100

Another one of our “Fleet Crew Vendors,” 2hands Studios, offers elegant, vintage designs from jewelry to bouquets to décor, but their clutches catch our eye the most.  This cream satin bridal clutch with a champagne flower and chain strap can hold all your bridesmaids wedding or date night essentials.  This one of a kind clutch also can come in different colors. Give your bridesmaids their favorite color or write a message to go inside it to make it even more personal!

One of the newest trends for bridesmaid gifts instead of monogrammed robes are monogrammed men’s oxford shirts.  For all you brides-to-be, who want to do some “risky business” with your ladies before you walk down the aisle, put on these shirts, some socks, and dance the nerves away to “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. These ladies were photographed by Mi Amor Foto as well as featured on stylemepretty.com. You can search for any personalized monogrammed gift shop on etsy.com to have these shirts made.

Everyone wants to add a little “something blue” to their wedding attire.  These bracelets from Stella and Dot are the perfect accessories for your bridesmaids. Add some color with the Sunset Bangle or match your Soiree Studs with the Soiree Pearl Pave Bracelet.

Under $200

This beautiful patterned robe captured by Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography is from Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie.  Give your bridesmaids each a cotton or silk robe that suits their style. There are plenty of assorted colors and patterns to choose from. They even offer robes sets for brides to buy, which makes it cheaper than buying one separately for each bridesmaid.  Don’t go for the traditional white monogrammed robes; this unique little number will be worth the investment.

Being a bridesmaid can get expensive from the dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and nails.  As part of your gift, offer to pay for their hair or makeup to be done the day of the wedding.  Let them feel pampered just like you are! Our very own “Fleet Crew Vendor,” Carly Fuller Photography, took this picture of makeup artist, Amie Decker, owner and lead makeup artist of Amie Decker Beauty styling makeup for this bridesmaid. The ladies at Amie Decker Beauty strive to make everyone look beautiful, natural, and comfortable in their own skin and offer specific packages the fit your budget needs. Another fun idea to do for your bridesmaids is to offer to buy their shoes.  On the bottom of each pair of shoes, write a personal message to show them how much you care.

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*Several of today’s wedding professionals are members of our Fleet Crew and Preferred Vendors in the Bayside Bride Vendor Guide! For more information on how to become a member of our Vendor Guide, submit an Application!

Polka dots, floral patterns, crochet… who doesn’t love the fun, quirky look of printed bridesmaid dresses incorporated into a bridal party? Recently, we’ve been seeing these funky patterns pop up in weddings across the country, and they’re definitely a trend worth checking out. Though some prints can be way too busy and muck up the appearance of your bridal party, these three looks are versatile, flattering, and unique!

When incorporating prints into bridesmaids’ looks, be extremely careful when it comes to color. Sticking with dark or pale neutrals will be guaranteed to make a statement without detracting from the bride’s look. This is definitely something to keep in the back of your mind when experimenting with prints; cohesiveness is key, and thinking about the big picture is very important. How will it look altogether? Is the bride going to be able to stand out amidst all these prints?

For those who are looking for a way to add some sass and spunk to their bridal party, or even those who are just looking for a little inspiration, check out these three printed perfect looks!

Dress One – If you’re looking for a longer silhouette, this floral maxi dress provides a stunning column look. When dabbling with maxis, the key is to go for either very dark or very muted colors; the dress naturally has a larger volume of fabric, and bright colors or a busy pattern can be very distracting. This pretty, neutral pink is reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice: flowy, feminine and effervescent. The pleats provide a much-needed formality on this printed dress, and will look stunning with flat, woven sandals and a linen clutch.

Dress Two – Okay, so crochet technically isn’t considered a print. But the pattern is so intricate and beautiful, it’s a must for incorporating into natural-chic weddings! This particular piece from Anthropologie is the perfect flattering color and cut; the light taupe color gives the skin a tan, healthy glow, and the deep V-neck is flattering no matter the cup size. Visualize your gorgeous bridesmaids in this exquisite dress with peep toe pumps and a vintage-inspired necklace, and they’ll be guaranteed to look picture perfect!

Dress Three -This dark navy polka dot dress is absolutely perfect for those who want to add just a little touch of whimsy to their bridal party. The adorable bow in the front adds a feminine twist, and the naturally cinched waist is bound to be flattering on any body shape. The dots are also small and subtle enough to not be overwhelming when the dresses are seen side by side. Worn with silver heels and earrings, this dress is perfect for a vintage wedding, or can also be worn with red pumps for a more patriotic look.