three wedding outfit problems
nobody warns you about
Your wedding outfit should look incredible, feel like you and, ideally, not cause you a load of unnecessary faff on the day! From rebellious boutonnieres to itchy lace and those little details that just don’t feel personal enough, there are some wedding outfit problems you might not even think about until they happen. Artist and fashion designer Kendra W. Houston from The Casual Reply, who is also one of our awesome Unconventionals, shared with us three clever, creative ways to avoid them, using hand-painted details to make your wedding look more practical, personal and completely unique…
Friends of mine recently got married and were sharing their wedding photos with me. When we got to the posed groom + groomsmen pictures, the mood shifted. “Oh yeah,” the husband remembered with visible deflation, “these took SO LONG to do because the boutonnieres kept falling off. We kept having to reset, the energy was off, and some of our best shots didn’t work out!”
Unfortunately, I hear this complaint fairly often from couples. Over the years, I’ve encountered a lot of unique situations working with people on their custom hand-painted wedding wear. At the time, many of these projects felt like they were fixing small, somewhat insignificant issues, but I’ve now come to realize how universally impactful and beneficial they can be for any couple. A clever use of paint can give a traditional wedding look an upgrade that’s both super helpful and more suited to you as an individual. Here are three favorite hand-painted “hacks” of mine.
small outfit details can make or break a moment
Suit accessories going rogue
Swap out your unwieldy boutonniere or pocket square for a personalized detail that’s hand-painted directly onto your suit.
The benefits:
Worry free: your painted element won’t take forever to arrange just right on the big day, won’t fall off during photos, and stays perky & unbothered all night as you hit the dance floor.
Paint doesn’t weigh anything, so you can go big. This is an opportunity for an expansive, maximalist design if that’s your style!
Paint doesn’t fade or get removed when the night is over. For the same cost as flowers or a luxury pocket square, a professional can give your suit flair that’s permanent. It’s a special detail that gets to be enjoyed forever. (Yes, the paint I use is washable!)
You’re not limited by what can be achieved with flowers, fabric, or what’s available when you’re planning. A painted design can be of literally anything! Lots of people choose something meaningful to them or specific to their event.
We love the look of lace… don’t love its fragility, feel, or high maintenance.
Rather than real lace, have custom “faux lace” hand-painted onto your outfit.
The benefits:
A super durable, lasting alternative. Real lace runs a high risk of tears, snags, and degradation or fading over time.
Flexible and soft, not itchy and stiff. Especially helpful for individuals with special sensory preferences.
Endlessly customizable, which is harder to get with fabric. Your hand-painted lace can feature anything you want (Flamingos? Teapots? Books?), and be placed anywhere on the outfit.
There are a ton of luxe fabric paint options that can give unique dimension to your faux lace, including metallic, pearlescent, and colors that shimmer almost like magic!
I’m struggling to make our ceremony feel more “us”
Include a custom hand-painted ceremony detail or accessory.
The benefits:
Adds a pop of personality or personal meaning to your moment, wherever you feel like it’s needed. This is when it matters the most!
On smaller items close at hand, it’s the perfect opportunity to sneak in something secretly sentimental (or humorous) for just the two of you.
Contributes to a setting that has a little more imagination and customization. It’s a way to branch out beyond traditional classics like flowers.
Instead of being taken down and only remembered in pictures, this goes home with you as a keepsake work of art to display. If it’s something where you have a lot made, they can double as guest favors.
Your own unconventional wedding accessory
A custom hand-painted accessory might be the exact special touch your day has been waiting for, and it very well could save you from one of these disappointments!
When it comes to weddings, it really does change the game to have one-of-a-kind details created just for you and your unique story; it’s those extra intentional decisions that make your event feel like it couldn’t be anyone else’s.
If you’re intrigued by these ideas, let’s get in touch! I’d love to chat or help you out with your own dream wedding.
