Cascade Mountains: Wedding Dresses from Oregon, Washington and B.C and Northern California

I don’t know about you, but the combination of mountains and ocean always takes my breath away. From the sea to sky highway in B.C. to the laid back mountain vibe in California, the Cascade mountains are gorgeous and definitely a place to spend more time!

As a bonus, when it comes to weddings in the Cascades, the combination of water and mountains lets you show off almost any style. Our friends over at SmartBrideBoutique.com have chosen some of their favourite wedding dresses from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. So whether you’re looking for a glamorous ball gown style, you love the luxury of lace or want a timeless, classic option, you’ve got options. (more…)

Priscilla of Boston has many destination wedding dresses perfectly suitable to a mountain wedding–which is great because mountain brides are a varied lot. Some of us plan a fairy-tale wedding in a castle or an estate, while others of us opt for the non-traditional fete such as a picnic wedding or a casual affair in the woods. Some of us are nature lovers, others dream of luxurious vacations in a cozy ski lodge. Which ever mountain bride you are, here are some of my top picks for mountain brides across the nation:

Grand Lodge Wedding in the Rocky Mountains

Think of a grand lodge with high ceilings, big timber beams, and cozy mountain decor. It's at once both rustic and elegant. A Grand Lodge wedding in the West is one part grand estate wedding and one part down-home fete. Look for classic western elements like lace, belts, and floral details combined with more formal silhouettes like a ball gown or A-line. 

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To be beholden, means to owe thanks. These gowns are so gorgeous, I own a whole big bunch of thanks the the newest bridal line by Anthropologie–BHLDN (which is pronounced "beholden").

What Kind of Bride Are You?

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When I  first called my girlfriends announcing my engagement and asking them to stand up for me at my wedding, I was determined not to be a bridezilla. For me that meant finding bridesmaids dresses they could wear again and that cost under $100. Didn't happen. I wasn't into David's Bridal's bridesmaid dresses. I found them to be too conventional and bridesmaidsy. Like really, who out there has ever worn their David's Bridal bridesmaid dress again? My maids eneded up just wearing what they felt comfortable in, which was fine. But I'm secreting obsessed with the idea of fully coordinating my a wedding party without being a total control-freaky, money-sucking bitch about it.

Rent the Runway, has an elegant solution. They have expanded their marketing scope to include weddings. Or rather, I suspect more likely Rent the Runway has responded to market demand by adding a wedding section to their website. Basically your 'maids can rent designer dresses for as little as $50. And they can pick from hundreds of styles. As a member of Rent the Runway, I received an announcement two days ago. Rent the Runway really plays into the emotional fears of brides, namely that the bridesmaids dresses wee will pick will be tacky, ugly, expensive, and elicit responses like, "YIKES!" While I'm not too keen on the emotional manipulation, I can relate to not wanting to embarrass my girls, or otherwise look back at my photos and thing, "YIKES!" Shallow, maybe, but it was a very real concern of mine while planning our wedding. No use denying it.

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The Dress

I am head over heels for this dress by Amstale! And it's named after the Sierra. Gush! I love all of the texture and whimsy. It's equally at home in a more formal ballroom setting or a more casual historic house wedding, or even a farmhouse, or lodge wedding. I love the juxtaposition between the horizontal ruching of the bodice and the vertical pleating of the skirt. And the oversized applique flowers remind me of the sweetness of springtime in the mountains. Amstale was right to name this beauty after a mountain range.

Image via Amstale

The Honor

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