Let personalities shine through with unique bridal attire
By Jenn Hall
Paige Kleinlein loves everything gold. The ways to incorporate gold into a wedding day may be obvious with ribbon, jewelry, furniture pieces and table chargers but Kleinlein wanted to kick it up a notch.
“I wanted a timeless color scheme,” said the St. Joseph woman. “So we decided on warm, Earth tones, including gold, for our wedding party.”
The 27-year-old sat down her attendants, told them of her plan and let them run with it. The only rules were that they needed to be long dresses and nothing too risqué. Other than that, she wanted them each to find their perfect dress … in gold.
The seven women started a group text so that they could send pics of dresses they were looking at. One of the bride’s maids, Kiley Berg, said this was to ensure no one bought the same dress.
“It was so much fun to see everyone’s personalities shine through (in their dress selections),” she said. “One of our girls is a total diva so, of course, she picked out a gold sequin dress. Another girl is very classy so she bought a lace dress.”
Despite each dress being as unique as the woman wearing it, the gold shades complimented each other. From satin finishes to different textures, the array made for a gorgeous collection on the big day.
Kleinlein wanted to continue the Earth-tone colors to the men as well. Her and her fiancé, Brad Shadrack, thought it would be nice if the guys could reuse their suits after the wedding day.
“Most of my friends and family wear suits to work so we thought it would be nice for them to just have another one in their closets,” Shadrack said.
Shadrack, like many other grooms, are getting involved in planning their big day. He said most of the weddings he has been to in recent years, the groom has planned out their own details for the big day.
“A lot of guys enjoy getting dressed up,” he said. “I think we’re moving past the days men just show up the day of the wedding and grumble. My best friend got married two years ago and he went all out. They had a destination wedding so he wore white dress pants, navy blue blazer, a hat and boat shoes.”
Kleinlein and Shadrack’s wedding is a bit different than their friends’ nautical-themed wedding.
To compliment the girls’ dresses, grooms’ men picked out light tan suits with brown shoes and ties. And instead of a pocket square, Kleinlein’s mom has created a fun boutonniere for them that replaces the traditional accessory.
“I can’t take the credit, I saw it on Pinterest,” said Kathy Kleinlein, the bride’s mother. “But I thought it was a unique way to add that pop of color in the pocket.”
Kathy Kleinlein and her sister-in-law are in charge of the flowers. Instead of pinning flowers on the lapel, near the pocket square, they are placing the boutonnieres in a plastic name badge holder that slides easily into the men’s pockets.
