Info, advice, and inspiration for your affordable, inclusive, and beautiful wedding
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
I can’t believe I’m writing an Under the Radar post about Bibiluxe, but I’m writing an Under the Radar post about Bibiluxe.
Why? For one, I’ve seen their beautiful, recognizable-on-sight dresses and robes all over the internet. Mega babe influencer’s influencer Officially Quigley has modeled one of their pieces. And although they’ve got over 4000 sales on Etsy, they only have a few more Instagram followers than sales—which makes me feel like their customers *love* them, but they don’t have nearly enough other admirers for how amazing their pieces are. (Especially considering that all of their pieces can be custom made to your size—plus size brides rejoice! And a lot of plus size brides are featured on their IG feed, so make sure to check it out.)
Let’s drool together over some of these dresses:
This is under $400. Under $400.
Um, HELLO. Fringe sleeves and on the dress body both makes this so…luxe ;););) sorry couldn’t help myself
And this ~sheer~ delight (full of wordplay today, forgive me):
So let’s review: beautiful dresses (and kaftans and robes)? Check. Affordable? Check. Size inclusive? You betcha.
Babes, I want Bibiluxe to have the thousands more followers and the blue check they deserve. And I want plus size brides especially to know there’s an affordable option out there for stunning boho dresses made with care.
Did you already know about Bibiluxe? Love their pieces? Let me know in comments!
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
It’s November and if you’re anything like me, you’re already excited about the holidays. Garlands and string lights, reindeer pulling sleighs on neighborhood lawns and rooftops, the first whirls of snow in the air–the whimsy of it all is irresistible. Given the rich color palettes, cozy vibes, *and* off season discounts on venues that come with winter, it’s no wonder the winter wedding is only getting more popular!
If you’re considering or planning a winter wedding, tapping into holiday traditions can add memorable warmth to your ceremony and reception. And it’ll be a lot of fun for both you and your guests! Here are five winter wedding ideas that will make your day filled with holiday magic:
1. Incorporate winter greenery and blooms into your florals.
There is *so* much creative potential here. You can incorporate poinsettias or holly berries into your bouquet for touches of winter warmth, decorate the aisles of your ceremony space with mini Christmas trees, hang pine garlands in your reception space–the options are endless! Maybe even one of these winter crowns for you or your wedding party.
2. Add the sound of holiday cheer to your processional.
Having a flower girl, ring bearer, or any pups in your ceremony? Give them jingle bells for a sprinkle of winter music as they go down the aisle! You can attach to a flower girl’s basket, a ring bearer’s pillow, incorporate into a boutonniere or wrist corsage, or attach to a collar. Melt everyone’s hearts by incorporating jingle bells into this winter wedding dog collar for an absolutely adorable wedding party pup!
3. Have a wassail toast.
Wassail, or warm spiced apple cider, is a delicious alternative to toasting with champagne during your reception. It can be made with or without alcohol–spiced rum is *so good* in wassail. Copper mugs are a beautiful option for serving wassail, but any heat-safe mug will do. (There are so many cute mug options out there it’s hard to go wrong.)
4. Gingerbread cookie decorating station.
An interactive winter wedding dessert option that’s fun for kids and grownups alike! The setup for this can range from simple to elaborate depending on how many cookie shape varieties and toppings you want to offer. You can really go all out with sprinkles, candies, beverages like egg nog and milk, and tons of winter holiday shapes! But even just your classic gingerbread man cookies and red, green, and white icing options is enough for a table everyone will enjoy.
5. Rent reindeer.
Yep, you read that right! Of course, whether there are reindeer to rent in *your* area is a case-by-case basis sorta thing, but there are businesses across the US that rent reindeer by the hour or day. Petting and hanging out with cute reindeer on your wedding day and have them in your photos sounds utterly magical.
But one thing to keep in mind: unlike many other wedding services that tend to be less in demand during the winter, reindeer rentals will be in demand for other holiday-themed events and parties. So, if this is something you want to budget for and commit to for your winter wedding, you’ll want to book a rental well in advance.
What other ideas do you have for your winter wedding? Drop in the comments!
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
Fly By Night Wedding was always my labor of love. You might know that I ran this blog for a year before telling anyone about it. In stolen moments I would build, tinker, write, list post ideas in my Notes app.
I didn’t tell anyone Fly By Night Wedding existed until I was getting hundreds of page views a day. If I couldn’t make that happen, I felt like what I was doing was embarrassing. Shameful. Something to laugh at. My worst fear was that people, especially people I knew, would talk behind my back about how delusional I was. Have you seen her ~little wedding blog~? What’s even going on there?
Hitting a certain number of page views and making (very modest) money from Fly By Night Wedding made this feel *legitimate.* Not big time by any means. But like to some degree, I was figuring this out. Kinda getting the hang of things, even.
Then came March 2020.
Trying to talk about this time, and the months after, is hard for all the reasons you would already expect. It’s also hard for reasons that are often too painful for me to speak about in therapy. For most of it, like so many of us, I was barely surviving.
And then, the question of what to do with my wedding blog, of all things? What did I–or any of us–know in spring of 2020? I saw other blogs posting about “safe weddings” and “safe honeymoons” before there was well-researched, evidence-based info about how COVID-19 did and did not spread. How could I lie and say I knew *anything* about what a safe wedding looked like while medical infrastructures across the globe were crushed trying to treat those who caught it?
In the midst of knowing what I didn’t know and struggling to get out of bed every day, Fly By Night Wedding just…fell off.
Even once 2020 was done, once wounds inflicted in that year began their very long healing paths, once we knew more, once I was fully vaccinated…I still felt sick thinking about touching this blog again.
Why? Because I was ashamed that I couldn’t keep it going during the worst year of my life.
I felt like I didn’t “deserve” to pick this up again. That I had failed, that was it, and I should move on quietly. Like the care and effort I put into making this happen didn’t matter.
But to be honest, I’ve missed this. I have a lot of fun writing Fly By Night Wedding. And I’ve been getting nudges from various facets of my life pointing to how I allow myself so much less kindness and understanding than I give. How often feel I have to make penance for my perfectly human imperfection.
So I want to pick this back up. I am truly sorry to those of you who wrote me during 2020 that never got a response. Today I read your emails and wish I could have been present for you. I hope you can understand.
But I want to have fun with this again. I’m excited to write and dig into all the things that made me want to start Fly By Night Wedding in the first place. If you’re still reading, thanks for sticking around. I’m glad to be back.
If you’ve read FBNW for a while, you know I *adore* Reclamation Design Company! Designer Trista’s gowns are breathtaking, one of a kind, size flexible works of magic. I feel so lucky that I wore one of her gowns down the aisle for my wedding in September. (You can read about it in my previous post!)
My gown gives the reclaimed vintage lace it’s made of new life. I don’t want it to gather dust again now that my wedding has come and gone.
So today, I’m announcing Fly By Night Rental!
If you have an upcoming maternity, family, or engagement shoot and want to bring out your inner goddess–or you’re a photographer who wants to give clients something beautiful and unique to wear for a session or styled shoot–this dress is *it.* It fits sizes small through XXL, including moms-to-be.
In fact, my dress’ first shoot post-wedding was for my dear friend Blake at eight months pregnant with her beautiful baby boy! She kindly let me do her makeup, put on my dress, and modeled to utter perfection:
And PS: if you live in the Austin area, not only can I deliver the dress right to your house, but you can also rent *this:*
This is no zip tie crown! Each one of those wooden spikes are hand-drilled into the headband and further secured by the wrapped gold fabric. This is a legit crown from Batcakes Couture and it’s one of the most sturdy-yet-flexible and comfortable accessories I’ve ever owned. (You can see me wearing it in my previous post.)
So if you wanna rent this dress and/or crown for an upcoming personal or creative/professional photoshoot, hit me up! Can’t wait to hear from you. 🙂
*deep breaths*
Ok, here goes.
When I started Fly By Night Wedding in January 2019, I stayed anonymous on purpose. And not just online! I told no one, fiancx and therapist included, that I created a wedding blog.
If FBNW failed but no one in my life knew about it, I thought, then I wouldn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. Because if the blog failed then *I* failed, and I definitely didn’t want anyone to know that. Also, what if people thought it was vapid? Or ridiculous? More reason to hide! (See why I’ve got a therapist?)
But as a bride to be, some things felt glaringly absent from online wedding spaces:
Where to find plus size dresses outside the few well-known labels where trendy, unique dresses under $2,000 don’t exist. Dresses people on a shoestring budget can actually afford. Literally anything acknowledging that queer people get married, attend, *and* are in wedding parties, and often butt up against cisheteronormative erasure and violence in the process no matter their role in a wedding.
Navigating these things, I felt like I was making it up as I went along–and I knew I couldn’t be the only one with Bridal Imposter Syndrome. So I decided to share what I was learning and Fly By Night Wedding was born.
So now: who am I?
I’m Layne, the one in the dress, and I got married to my fiancx Mark on September 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas where we live. I moved to Austin in 2013 to get my masters in creative writing. But after a dark, difficult time in grad school (TW: intimate partner violence), the thought of writing left me sad and sickened.
Fly By Night Wedding made me excited to write again.
It’s funny–a lot of what makes me anxious about sharing FBNW with people in my life is what makes it fun to write. It’s (mostly) straightforward, quippy, and *cute.* And coming from my particular writing background, my self-consciousness about writing something “fluffy” about ~weddings of all things~ is through the roof.
But I’ve written FBNW for a *year* and before now, only told Mark and my therapist. And I don’t want to keep my little labor of love a secret anymore.
So hi, I’m Layne and I’m behind Fly By Night Wedding!
And since I started FBNW as a bride-to-be planning a wedding, here’s a bit about the big day!
- We asked two dear friends (who are married to each other) to be in our wedding parties–and instead of a ring bearer or flower girl, their angelic dog Zooey walked down the aisle!
- Instead of religious texts, two beautiful poet friends read poems during the ceremony.
- My brother played the ceremony music. The processional was “Table For Glasses” and recessional “For Me This Is Heaven,” both by Jimmy Eat World, because I’m a sentimental emo kid. (I got lyrics from Table For Glasses tattooed on my ribs the first time M visited me from 700 miles away and we made it official!)
- Tame longhorn cattle live on the venue grounds and they are so PRECIOUS
- I bought my original wedding dress from BHLDN for less than $200 and had it customized with armbands, a front slit, and pockets! But six months of aerials training later, my shoulders didn’t fit the dress and alterations weren’t realistic. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Reclamation Design Company and ended up with a dreamy custom made vintage lace gown! (Got my reception dress from Two Sisters the Label and it is utterly perfect/could be a wedding dress in and of itself.)
- Mark *insisted* we have a mac’n’cheese station because I love it so much. <3
- We changed our first dance song at the last minute. Daniel Johnston died three days before the wedding and we watched The Devil and Daniel Johnston together. After talking about his music’s presence in our lives, without having to ask each other, we decided to change our first dance to Johnston’s “True Love Will Find You in the End.”
And now pics!
(All photos by Donny Tidmore Photography)
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
Happy holidays, everybody! Not only does this time of year come with hot cocoa, cozy sweaters, and (hopefully!) time to relax indoors away from the cold, but also ~really, really good~ wedding dress deals. This post includes normal price affordable dresses *and* some sweet sale items that won’t be around long, so make note of your favorites ASAP!
So let’s dig in!
1. ASOS – Open Back + Floral Embroidery Wedding Dress
Honestly, just click the link and watch the dress video on ASOS, because it moves *so* beautifully! And does not look like a dress that only costs $285. Like, really.
2. ASOS – Jarlo Petite Allover Lace Maxi
Allover lace plus a bustier bodice equals a sexy-yet-refined bridal look that’s a touch boho, a hint of pinup, and overall flirty and modern. This dress is only $261!
3. Lulus – Glam Cream Beaded Fringe Maxi Dress
Got a New Year’s elopement and looking for just the right outfit? Beaded cape fringe makes this flapper dress feel current, fun, and offbeat without getting costume-y. This dress is $238.
4. Lulus – Medusa White Lace Strapless Maxi Dress
This gown includes an on trend tulle maxi overskirt for an easy ceremony to reception transition. That’s two wedding looks for only $371!
5. BHLDN – Adelaide Gown
ALERT: big BHLDN markdown! This bell-sleeved beauty is now only $499–a big drop from $1,395. Currently all sizes from 00-16 are available, but with BHLDN’s current sale I doubt that will last for long!
6. BHLDN – Marston Gown
ALERT AGAIN: another big BHLDN markdown! This gorgeous high neck, allover lace gown was originally $1,695 and is now only $499! Most sizes between 00-18 are still available, but if you’re crushing on this dress I’d buy it ASAP.
7. Dame and Maiden – Vintage Lace Halter Wedding Dress
A vintage lace, made-to-order in your size wedding dress for only $485? You’re not dreaming. (Dame and Maiden has a lot of other stunning vintage lace dresses to drool over, too.)
8. BHLDN – Sinclair Dress
I love the whimsical beaded sleeves of this dress! This elegant boho gown is only $350.
9. BlushFashion – Three-Quarter Lace Sleeve Plus Size Wedding Dress
This dress can be made up to a size 4XL and is only $250! BlushFashion gets rave reviews for how comfortable, high quality, and well-fitting their dresses are, so this price tag seems like a steal.
10. BHLDN – Carmen Dress
This flowy yet structured gown looks like what an ancient Greek goddess would wear for her modern wedding! Available in every size from 0-18 and only $325.
11. BlushFashion – Flutter Sleeve Lace Wedding Dress
This delicate, ethereal dress is available in an XS-XL for $330, and for $379 can be custom made in any size. I *adore* the short flutter sleeve accent on the fitted long sleeve!
12. BHLDN – Montreal Dress
This ultra sleek, modern halter gown is only $220 and currently available in every size from 0-16.
13. BHLDN – Andres Gown
ALERT: this BHLDN markdown is a total steal at only $499–down from an original price of $1500! Sizes left are limited, so snap this up quick if it’s on your radar.
14. Saldana Vintage – Festival Fringe Gown
Edgy, rock’n’roll gowns are some of my absolute favorites! But with their intricate design elements–fringe, tassels, carefully placed intricate laces, etc.–they often carry a heavy price tag. This free-spirited dress can be made in US size 2-16, or custom-sized, for only $350!
Are there other wedding dress steals happening right now people should know about? Spill in the comments! Plus, if you’re looking for accessories to finish your look check out FBNW’s list of boho headpieces and hair accessories!
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thank you!
This edition of Under the Radar features maybe the first wedding dress designer I ever swooned over: Fable Dresses!
Fable Dresses’ Etsy says they’ve only been operating since 2017. But I swear I remember seeing owner and designer Jada’s dresses floating around the internet years before that and was in *love.*
I mean, just look at the incredible embroidery on this wedding dress bodice:
UGH. So delicate and pretty! All of Fable’s creations are hand embroidered and handmade from recycled materials. I just want to flit through the forest talking to birds and squirrels a la Snow White in one of these gowns. (A girl can dream, right?)
Fable Dresses offers affordable and eco friendly options for brides who want color and whimsy in their wedding outfit without spending a fortune. All of their dress options are less than $1,000. And this dress (with hand-embroidered butterflies on the shoulders!) is only $250!
Plus, you can get an embroidered ring pillow to match your look for an all-around magical ceremony:
Fable also offers belts with crystals, beads, and other glimmery baubles to accessorize their magical dresses! Which are also versatile enough to match your own mystical outfits. Personally, I think they’d make great festival wear!
So get over to Fable’s Etsy now, because all pieces are one of a kind! You don’t want to miss out on something magical.
Do you know a designer I should feature in an Under the Radar post? Let me know in the comments! (And if you want to see more magical dresses, check out these glittery, shimmery wedding gowns.)
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
If you read this blog for more than two seconds, it’s clear that I *love* wedding dresses and outfits! How creativity and ritual come together in a wedding dress makes my heart flutter. But one aspect of planning my wedding that didn’t meet the fairy tale ideal was wedding dress shopping.
It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t 100% the magical experience I dreamt of. I’m on the edge of plus size, so I’d often have to try on too small sample size dresses and grimace in the mirror. More than one salesperson said something like, “Oh don’t worry about how it fits, that’s just the sample size.”
Don’t worry about how it fits. While wedding dress shopping.
Between comments like that, not carrying the sample sizes needed to fit the average American woman who wears a larger size than I do, and dress prices passed to you face down like they’re NSFW, the shopping process often felt impersonal, inconsiderate, and outdated.
Lyra Vega Bridal was founded in 2016 to counter traditional dress shopping and is dedicated to creating a more personalized, positive experience for today’s brides.
LVB’s dresses combine boho, modern, and romantic elements into versatile dresses with wide appeal. I love how the Deb dress above combines boho bell sleeves and classic lace with a breathtaking off-the-shoulder mermaid gown!
LVB offers transparent, affordable pricing on made-to-measure gowns you can order online. Their highest price point is $995!
Plus, there are no hidden fees and you get free shipping for all gowns!
Shop Lyra Vega Bridal here! And top off your beautiful Lyra Vega dress with a statement piece from FBNW’s list of unconventional boho headpieces and hair accessories!
My posts may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a cent more but but FBNW will get a small commission, which helps keep us running. Thanks!
Sparkly wedding dresses are having a big moment! Shimmery, magical boho dresses are popping up everywhere and I love it.
My (totally unscientific) theory is that a Chosen By One Day’s iconic Nala gown, featured in styled shoots that have blown up Instagram and Pinterest, started the trend. I *drooled* the first time I saw Nala–then I saw the $7,000 price tag.
Other designers have taken note, however, and now there are *so many* more affordable sparkly dresses on the market–including some beautiful emulations of Chosen’s sought after sparkly gowns. Here are some of the best sparkly dresses I’ve come across–all with a much less painful price tag than Nala!
1. BHLDN – Artemia Gown
Obsessed with Chosen’s Nala but don’t have seven thousand dollars lying around to spend on a wedding dress? Artemia to the rescue! Artemia’s all over sparkle, nude slip, delicate sleeves, and open back have the same ethereal beauty as Nala–but at $1,995 a much less intimidating price tag.
2. Willowby – Lunella
Almost a dead ringer for the Artemia from sister brand Willowby by Watters, the Lunella has a deeper, more daring V-neck and is available with ivory and champagne slips. Lunella’s price range is $1,970-$2,378 and is available up to a size 24.
3. Willowby – Mercury
Lunella’s pearlescent counterpart! The Mercury is available up to a size 24 and its price range is $1,950-$2,338.
4. Reclamation Design Company – She Walks in Beauty Dress
Live your dream of being a golden goddess on your wedding day in this incredible dress, which is made to order in every size. Reclamation’s dresses are known for their impeccable design and adjustable, comfy fit–which I know from experience, wink wink–and at $955.26, is a steal.
5. Orion Gown – BHLDN
Wear the romance of a night sky in the Orion, a jaw-droppingly beautiful option for brides who want to radiate celestial magic. The Orion is $1,995.
6. ASOS – Needle & Thread Bridal Lace Dress
The gentle contrast of ivory sequin florals on this dress’ white lace makes for a look that romantic, whimsical, and sophisticated all at once. For a standout couture bridal look, the $583 price tag is ~not bad~.
7. BHLDN – Lorimer Dress
A romantic yet glam gown with flutter sleeves, a plunging backline, and all over sequin glitter, the Lorimer is $675.
8. Morning Lavender – Valentina Low Back Sequin Gown
More and more brides are killing it in colorful dresses on their wedding day, and all over sequins will turn everyone’s heads! This dress, available in deep red and deep green, is only $118.99.
9. Morning Lavender – Celia Silver Sequin Maxi
Another sequined stunner from Morning Lavender with a tassel tie waist for a glam look with a touch of boho! At only $88.99, this dress is great for brides on a budget who want to glitter their way down the aisle.
10. Boom Blush – Counting Stars Dress
White beads and silver sequins give this starry dress its night sky glitter. The Counting Stars Dress can be ordered with ivory, light beige, dark beige or blush lining and is $1,990.
11. E & W Couture – Orion
Yet another beautiful celestial gown with nude tulle and *glittery winged unicorns*–yep, no joke–for brides who want to feel like the ultimate fairy tale princess! E&W doesn’t list prices for individual gowns on their website, but their FAQ notes most of their dresses range between £1,500-£2,000 or approximately $1,666-$2,222.
12. BHLDN – Jenny Yoo Halsey Dress
Silver sequins + open back + flutter sleeves = simple, sophisticated glam! The Halsey Dress is $375.
13. ASOS – Sequin Cami Wedding Dress
A simple silhouette with all over sequins, this dress is for the classic bride who wants an unexpected touch of modern glitz! At only $285, this dress is easy on the budget–but ASOS’ website notes that it’s selling quickly, so jump on it if this is the dress for you!
14. My Eden Bespoke – Gold Sequin Dress
A cross hatch pattern adds complexity to this sleek, simple yet impactful gold sequin dress. This dress is £950.00 or approximately $1,055.
15. Anthropologie – Vicky Metallic Maxi Dress
This gold shimmer dress is for the glam rock brides! Studded white block heel boots, a painted black leather jacket with fringe, a bouquet with bold red and coral tones, and this dress would make the *perfect* rocker bride look. Throw a “‘Til Death” neon sign on the wall behind your sweetheart table and you’re set! The best news? The Vicky is available up to a size 26 and is only $198!
16. Boom Blush – Galaxy Dress
The flowing lines of silver sequins on Boom Blush’s Galaxy dress are romantic, glam, and boho all at once! The Galaxy Dress is $1,590.
17. BHLDN – Brenda Dress
Style this shimmery dress with a star tiara and dried bouquet to look like an ethereal celestial princess! The Brenda Dress is $325.
18. ASOS – Pleated Plunge Wrap Wedding Dress in Sequin
This dress offers modern sophistication and bold sparkle! At $308, it’s affordable for the vast majority of brides but like the previous ASOS dress, it’s selling quickly–so snag it while you can!
16. BHLDN – Orva Dress
BHLDN categorizes this gold sequined dress as mother of the bride/special occasion, but it has untapped bridal potential! Style with a crown of large red peonies and a pampas grass-accented bouquet and you’ve got a magazine-worthy wedding look. (Plus, it’s only $360.)
Are there any swoon-worthy sparkly dresses I’m missing? Let me know in the comments! And top off your scintillating wedding look with a statement piece from FBNW’s list of unconventional boho headpieces and hair accessories!
Hi there! I’m starting a new FBNW post category called Under the Radar. In these posts, I’ll highlight designers and other wedding creatives doing *amazing* work that don’t have super wide visibility or follower counts (yet!)
So without further ado: our first Under the Radar is Halseene!
Halseene is a women-owned wedding wear company currently creating exclusively plus size bridal wear, with a mission “to empower all women to feel like they have the options needed in order to be their bold + badass self on their wedding day.” Pretty cool, right?
Halseene creates clean, modern boho gowns with occasional bold touches–like the Paloma’s incredible sequin skirt!
You can shop all of Halseene’s designs online. If you want to try on dresses IRL, they’re currently only available in Vancouver and Calgary flagship stores. But their website notes they’ll be available in a small handful US and UK stores soon.
Halseene’s gowns range from $2,400 – $2,700 and are made to order in size range 14-40. Their website notes they want to eventually include smaller sizes, but are “currently focusing on the segment of the market that is grossly underrepresented in our industry.” To which I say, rock on.
Who else in the wedding world deserves a shout out in Under the Radar? Let me know in the comments!