Ardent Designs Bridal Jewelry

Celebrating one's nuptials by the sea provides ample opportunity to choose from an array of effortlessly chic bridal gowns. Luckily, there are nearly as many alternatives to the traditional ball gown as there are grains of sands on the beach. More casual beach wedding dresses make use of sheer panels, openwork lace and ruffles. Simple beach wedding dresses include those with midi lengths that feel easygoing, yet sophisticated. Boho wedding dresses are another choice: romantic and dreamy like a tropical island. Meanwhile, short beach wedding dresses feel cheerily free-spirited while providing wedding-friendly frills.

Look for lightweight materials for your beachfront or destination wedding dress. Silk, cotton blends, crochet, chiffon and lace make for breezy beach dresses. While not explicitly bridal, many white or ivory cocktail dresses will work wonders in a beach wedding, plus they can be worn afterward on the honeymoon. Below, check out 15 alternatives to the heavily embellished wedding gown that instead are easy, breezy and downright gorgeous. Post-wedding, you can relax poolside, confident you were a thoroughly beachy bride.

Once you've found your dream wedding dress, the search is on to find the perfect shapewear to go underneath it. We're not just talking about undergarments that suck you in, either — bridal shapewear is so much more than that. Wedding dresses come in all sorts of fabrics and colors (white being the most popular, of course) that show every dimple and crease, so a supportive foundation garment is key. Whether you're rocking a wedding dress with a plunging neckline, a low-back number or a strapless ball gown, Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday sales present the perfect opportunity to scoop up bridshapewear on the cheap. Not sure what type of smoother or shaper works best with your wedding dress? Ahead, check out our handy bridal shapewear cheat sheet, where you'll find all the bodysuits, slips, bras and bustiers you should be watching on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.