Bridal Blunders and Wardrobe Wins: A Wedding Stylist’s Guide to a Seamless Big Day
Save The Day Stories: The Hannah and Jake Edition
As a wedding stylist, I’ve seen it all—unexpected wardrobe malfunctions, fabric disasters, and last-minute red wine spills. Hannah and Jake's wedding was no exception. Here’s a recap of how I tackled the challenges and some practical advice for engaged couples (and their bridal parties!) to keep their big day running smoothly.
The Day Before: Dress Drama
The chaos began the day before when I got a message from Hannah. One of her bridesmaids' dresses had a broken strap. While steaming dresses for another bride client, I raced to Hannah’s Airbnb, grabbed the dress, and rushed it to my go-to express tailor. Thankfully, they reinforced both straps to avoid further issues.
Lesson: Always check, try on, and do a little dance in all wedding attire well before the wedding day. Inspect straps, zippers, and hems for weaknesses, and have a seamstress or tailor on standby.
The Morning Of: Wrinkle Wars
On the wedding day, I picked up all the bridesmaids' dresses, freshly steamed and pressed at a reputable cleaner. A pro tip: using professional cleaners ensures uniformity and reduces the risk of stubborn wrinkles.
When setting up the dresses at the estate Airbnb, I realized my rolling rack wasn’t tall enough for the 60-inch gowns. Improvising, we hung the dresses in the primary closet—keeping them clean and wrinkle-free until the last minute.
Lesson: Use a professional-grade steamer (I recommend the Jiffy Steamer) or outsource steaming to cleaners. Invest in adjustable rolling racks for long gowns. Always have wrinkle release spray on hand for last minute touch ups. Take a look at your venue when you tour- where can you safely hang dresses?
Spills, Stains, and Silk Troubles
Silk and satin dresses are unforgiving, especially in light colors. Throughout the day, I had to address stains caused by water, espresso martinis, and even oils from body lotion. My best fix was using a deodorant sponge to gently buff out surface stains. I warned the bridal party that treating stains with water on delicate fabrics often leaves rings.
Lesson: Educate your bridesmaids on fabric care. Avoid greasy lotions or oils before getting dressed, and opt for products that don’t transfer.
For watermarks, I discovered a handy tip: gently scrape the stain with the edge of your fingernail to lift it. It works wonders for watermarks but isn’t effective for oil-based stains. Another trick is to use an alcohol pad for removing oil based stains on delicate fabrics. The alcohol helps break the stain down, and dries quickly, reducing the risk of water stains.
Grooming Groomsmen
The groomsmen didn’t try on their tuxedos until the day of the wedding—a recipe for disaster! I had to safety pin loose pant adjusters, cinch oversized pants, and tape down a hemline with double-stick tape.
Lesson: Groomsmen should have their suits or tuxedos fitted weeks in advance. Include a checklist of essentials like properly adjusted ties and shoes.
Must-Haves from My Kit
Here’s what saved the day for Hannah and Jake:
- Deodorant sponge for stains
- Pre-threaded sewing kit for emergency stitching
- Double-stick tape for quick fixes
- Blotting papers for shiny skin
- Bobby pins and a hair touch-up kit for the bride
- Scissors to trim loose threads
Kit Unboxing Moment
One of my favorite moments was watching the bridal party unpack The Bride Kit. Their excitement reminded me why I do what I do. From anti-chafe solutions to a towel to dab the bouquet, the kit provided peace of mind during a hectic day.
Final Takeaway: Wedding emergencies happen, but preparation and the right tools make all the difference. If you’re a bride-to-be, consider investing in a professional wedding stylist or a well-stocked fashion emergency kit. It’s your day—let us handle the hiccups.
Here’s to stress-free weddings and seamless celebrations!
xo
risa + jess
