ST YLE GUIDE | DRESS TRENDS
SAYING YES
TO BRIDAL STYLE
Reality television star Monte Durham on what to wear
(and what to avoid!) on your big day.
by Erica Moody
of you and evaluate each one; consider if
it fits with the theme.
H
e’s entertained and educated
you on all things bridal for nine
years and soon-to-be 11 seasons
of “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta.” Who
better to ask about bridal style than the
show’s style director, Monte Durham?
We sat down with the Jackie-O-obsessed
Southern gentleman to chat destination
wedding tips and style trends.
You’ve worked on weddings for more
than 30 years. What has changed the
most in that time? The biggest change
is the diversity within the wedding
industry now. It used to be that couples
were having religious ceremonies or
getting married in religious venues,
so there was a criteria for how they
dressed. Now you have weddings by
beaches, lakes, out in fields. And the
selection of gowns is unlimited. Before,
it was pretty much a few designers, and
then Vera Wang hit the market in the
’80s and changed all that.
What’s the biggest mistake you
see brides make when planning a
wedding? The No. 1 mistake brides make
is listening to other people. Stay true
to who you are. Write three points on
a card of what you want your wedding
to be and really stick with those. For
example, I want my wedding to be
elegant, understated, sophisticated.
When you look at cakes, invitations,
flowers, etc., set the card down in front
What advice do you have for brides
who are selecting a dress for a
destination wedding? Beach weddings
are interesting because you want to
make sure that everything is ready to
go. When you land on the ground, you
want that checklist and you want it
checked off. You want to make sure you
always have your dress or suit with you.
Make sure it’s in your hand in a little
carry-on. You want to think about the
fabric. Lace travels beautifully. You can
fold it and then just hang it up and it will
fall right into place without pressing.
If you have a satin gown or an organza
gown, which are beautiful on the beach
because they flutter, they’re going to
need to be steamed and tulle is going to
need to be straightened.
Any style tips for bridal parties for
a destination wedding? I always say
for bridesmaids, it’s easier to do a long
dress because then you don’t have to
worry about pedicures. You don’t have
to worry about somebody nicking their
leg shaving. You don’t have to worry
about the shoes. And chances are, with a
destination, you’re going to be near sand
or on sand. So you want to make sure
that when those dresses are hemmed,
they’re hemmed to the shoe height
because most groups will kick the shoes
off to walk on sand. And when they come
back from the beach, you might want to
have a towel attendant so that everyone
can dip their feet in a tub of water, dry
them, and then put their shoes back on
for dancing in the ballroom.
What do you think about veils for
destination weddings? Veils are
beautiful; the longer the better. When
you’re outside, when it flips around,
it just looks so pretty in the wind. You
might want to keep your hair pulled back
when you’re getting married outside
because there’s nothing worse when
you’re saying your vows than to have to
pull the hair out of the corner of your
mouth because the winds can blow it
over you.
What are the biggest trends you’re
seeing in weddings right now? For
gowns, people are liking coverage more
than non-coverage. People are liking
beading and embellishment as opposed
to heavy bling. People are liking soft
skirting and soft movement in their
dresses when they walk and move as
opposed to mermaids and tight fits.
Buttons and bows are big. Brides want
huge bows in the back. They are also
looking for interesting lace, it’s almost
like a revisit of the ’70s.
Weddings are becoming a little more
formal, while still being relaxed
and comfortable. Attention is going
now to linens, tablescapes, flowers,
entertainment. Whereas before there
was a time we were out in the barns
with Mason jars having our drinks, that
has shifted. Burlap is going away and
damask is coming back. Hair will be a
little more soft, a little more like the
bride did it herself. Makeup is going
the same way, with the concentration
on lips or eyes, but normally not both.
With cakes, fondant seems to be on the
downturn and buttercream icing on
the rise.
Any recent celebrity bridal looks you
loved? I thought Meghan Markle and
Princess Charlene of Monaco looked
beautiful.