Miss Shortcake, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: August 7, 2007
Wedding Date: October 2008
Blogging Since:
Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club
About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
Pink Ruffles and Sparkle = A Recipe For Success
April 2nd, 2008 @ 6:04 pm by Miss Shortcake
Like Miss Robin, I am planning to wear a cardigan over my wedding gown during the reception, as it’s being held outdoors (though under a heated tent) in October, in Canada, and my circulation is below par at the best of times.
A cardigan is cozy, cuddly, warm, and just a touch “retroriffic” - perfect for dancing (it won’t slip down like a shawl), and perfect for me. I picked up a couple of the new GAP cardigans for spring, and on my latest trip to Stella’s Bridal Galleria, I tried them on with the sample of my wedding gown.
OPTION A:
I love this periwinkle blue/“dark wisteria” cardigan-but periwinkle is not one of the wedding colours. Dun dun dunnnnnn.
Reeeeeee-jected!
OPTION B:
This magenta/“pink” cardigan is very cute, and would look smashing if I replaced the buttons with sparkly vintage ones - but magenta makes me look green. Dun dun dunnnnnnn.
Dissssss-qualified!
OPTION C:
I completely heart this ballet pink/ “rose pink ” ruffle crop cardigan. It’s super soft, it has ruffles a la Darcy Miller (who I also heart),
and with the addition of this vintage brooch I picked up from ebay,
I think it’s scrum-diddly-ump-tious!
The cropped length is the perfect length as well - any longer and it would look sloppy, I think.
Anybody else wearing a cardigan?
45 Responses to “Pink Ruffles and Sparkle = A Recipe For Success”
Summer wedding in late June here, so no cardigan. I just wanted to say that you have a very pretty dress! I also love the addition of the broach:)
I just bought those gap cashmere cardigans for my BM’s in pale pink! Ironically they actually came in the mail today and are beautiful, soft and cozy! I think they will look great over their cranberry dresses (late October wedding). I haven’t decided what I will wear yet. Love the broach idea! 
Great idea! I never thought of a cardigan! As a Destination Wedding planner, I always encourage even my Caribean wedding clients to bring a sheer shawl, or some extra layer. In the Caribbean, after a long day in the sun it feel a bit chilly at night…
love the ballet pink sweater!
Yes! I am getting married in the mountains in September, and I think a cardigan will be perfect with my slim-fitting, but still a bit vintage-looking dress. Unexpected, but cute.
I love Option C! I’ve been eyeing it, and now I want it more than ever.
i am november at the NC coast and praying for a balmy miracle like last year. (you can’t count on anything in NC weather!)
Tough I love, love, love the cardigans, may I suggest a vintage cardigan? In the 50’s they were made short in the body, usually w/ three quarter length sleeves (I noticed you pushed up the sleeves, which looks great), and often had beading around the collar. Try some local vintage shops or online. Otherwise, go w/ the pale pink one!
Though I love, love, love the cardigans, may I suggest a vintage cardigan instead? In the 50’s they were made short in the body, usually w/ three quarter length sleeves (I noticed you pushed up the sleeves, which looks great), and often had beading around the collar. Try some local vintage shops or online–they are everywhere. Otherwise, go w/ the pale pink one!
Now I just might. I think you inspired me!
I’m going to have dissent here:
I really like the pale pink color with your dress, but I have to be honest, I’m not feeling these cardigans with your dress. They don’t have the right cut and the sweater looks really sloppy.
If you had a tee-length or more flirty gown, then they would work. But your gown has a more deco style (from the pictures at least)
If you are trying to bring in something more ‘vintage’ looking may I suggest a cashmere shrug or bolero. It will keep you warm and its weightless so you can move and dance, but the style will compliment your dress much more. Clasp it with a big beautiful sparkly broach and you are good to go.
I realized i didn’t post a link. this is shorter sleeved and not exactly what i was thinking but you get the idea.
http://www.freewebs.com/gypsyloot/f21%20shrug%20full2.jpg
I love those cardigans, especially the third, but I have to second glittergirl and Ms. Frou. Your dress looks very formal and elegant- the ruffle and color of the third cardigan are really pretty, but the back is so basic “cardigan” (especially the band hem finish) that it might look like grabbed the cardigan as a bit of an afterthought…
Don’t let us rain on your parade though- make yourself happy!
I completely agree with glittergrl. I’m not a fan of the cardigans. Definitely takes your dress down a notch in elegance. I also agree that a bolero or shrug would be a much better match with your dress. especially with the length of the bolero since they usually hit mid back which by the looks of your dress would be perfect. Maybe something such as this, but not lace
http://www.bbride.com/acatalog/Product_Range_Naomi__bolero__224.html
I love that pale pink cardigan! I think it goes great with the vintage theme nd I love the sillouette it gives, especially with that shot of the back of your gown.
Thanks for the suggestions and links girls! - glittergirl, that bolero is super sweet!
I already considered a bolero (and am still considering lace boleros for the bridesmaids), but i really feel that anything short sleeved just won’t do - I have Reynaud’s syndrome, and literally freeze within seconds of being somewhere chilly - no way to spend an evening
Mrs Frou, I’m definitely going to do some ebay hunting, thanks for the suggestion!
And the cropped ruffle cardigan is much more fitted when it’s buttoned up a bit - I had it loose and sloppy because it was warm in the salon.
Thanks again ! =D
Honestly, I think it looks out of wack with the dress. Ornate beading and a cardigan? What about a caplet or shrug or something a bit more formal
I love the idea, and the front look, but like the others, the back photo shows the draping of the sweater and really hides how pretty the gown is.
I’d suggest a shrug, or even better… an elegant capelet!
Here’s a silk georgette shrug from Bloomie’s that might work:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=80677&PseudoMasterProdID=109946&PseudoCat=b.comSearch&PageID=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch%2Ebloomingdales%2Ecom%2Fexec%2F%3Fu1%3Dq%26pdp%5Fnav%3D1%26q%3Dshrug%26cm%5Fmmc%3DPMD%5FSE%2D%5F%2DGoogleSales%2D%5F%2DF4H%2D%5F%2DShrug%26n%3D7#
I’m not sure if anyone currently has capelets for sale commercially (since it’s summer and they were in vogue a few seasons ago), but something like this:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1707/542/320/Anthropologie%20Capelet%20002.1.jpg
ooh! Mrs Lemon, I love that capelet! Does anybody have any links for a pink one?
I’m afraid of returning this cardigan only to be left with no subsitute 
shrug & capelet are the same thing but shrugs tend to have longer sleeves.
keep the pink one! its gorgeous and will look great with a cool swingy dress….or thrown over a sharp pencil skirt. heck, toss it on with jeans and a great cami!
That cardigan is very cute.
but i must agree with the others that it just doesnt seem elegant for this shortcake and her gorgeous dress!
i love the first option Mrs.Lemon linked. not sure if its fitted enough…buuuut…..there is still time! do you by any chance have a relationship with a great seamstress?
she could custom make an awesome vintagey caplet/ shrug like option that would look as if it were ordered with your dress!
personally, i’m going for a pashmina bc i’ll only need it for our pictures which will be outside. November in the South is really tricky. it could be 80 or it could be 50…..*shrugs shoulders*
Hmm..what about this
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10126604
You could easily pin your brooch right in the center, not sure if it will cover too much of the front of your dress though.
Or maybe try seeing if someone on Etsy would custom knit you a shrug/capelet/bolero.
I think shrugs are like “mini jackets” or boleros and capelets are more like “mini capes” (hence, capelet)… Capelets tend not to have sleeves.
@glittergrl: Oh… I always was under the impression that shrugs had sleeves, and capelets were without them… hence little cape.
Oh, another one…
I think you are tiny enough for it, it also says the butterfly is removable
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=253727
yep, the light pink one that you have chosen is BY FAR the best! you will look so cute!!
ooh, mmouse that pink one (with the butterfly) is very cute!
Problem with capelets (the ones without sleeves, like mini capes), is that they make my shoulders look HUGE. SERIOUSLY HUGE. I have really, really defined shoulders (hoodies look like 1980s power suit jackets on me), and shawls/capelets/fur wraps really accentuate that unfortunately.
I think a bolero would work though, with the little sleeves, it just has to be warm enough and not tight enough that dancing in it will make me sweaty :p
I love where you decided to place the brooch. Definitely unexpected.
how about heatlamps and no cardigan! then you won’t be cold!
So so cute. Please tell me you’re doing the white dinner jackets, too? They’d look redonk cute together.
I like the cardigan for the reception because it’s a little less formal, but I like a sort of laid-back feel for a reception. The shrugs are beautiful too, though. I’m sure you’ll look great in whatever you decide on!
love the pink sweater & brooch!! i think it captures the theme of your wedding…50’s chic!
I would probably say none. But if I had to pick one it would be option C
I just bookmarked that pink ruffle cardigan today! It’s really cute. The blue one looks really nice too.
My reception will be inside in the afternoon in September in California, so I won’t need a sweater, but If I did I love the cardigan idea. I love cardigans in general.
love love love the cardigan. I too am a cardigan type of girl. I too have been stalking the gap and I picked up their pale pink cashmere cropped cardigan to go with my dress! (when it went on sale :))
I hope you don’t let the naysayers discourage you from wearing the pink cardigan, if that’s what you want to do. I think it looks lovely and while I don’t have raynaud, I have poor circulation and am always cold, so I know a capelet or bolero just wouldn’t cut it.
I love, love, LOVE the cardigan. I think it gives the dress something unexpected and a slightly less formal, down-to-earth-i-ness. But then again I might be biased since I wore one for ours. It turned out wonderfully and looked SO beautiful in the pictures. And it kept me warm, warm, warm for our March reception. In fact I had to take it off a few times. I also had taken it to a monograming place and had our married monogram put on it. It was so nice to have something for the reception that already had our monogram on it. Plus now I have something from the wedding that I can wear.
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg113/jeremyandbonnie/?action=view¤t=328899492605_0_ALB.jpg
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg113/jeremyandbonnie/?action=view¤t=momentalone.jpg
http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg113/jeremyandbonnie/?action=view¤t=DSC_2157.jpg
Do whatever makes you feel comfortable!
I got a quilted white cotton jacket from Target for $15, more or less as a joke: it was cut–and zipped–like a motorcycle jacket. It ended up being perfect for the post-reception bonfire, and it’s something I can wear again. The wear-again factor is a big, big selling point for cardigans.
Agree with mmouse - get over to Etsy and check out their “alchemy” page - http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/ - you can post a request for anything, with picture, description etc, and people compete to win the contract. I posted a request for custom made earrings to match my wedding necklace and had literally 20 offers within an hour!! it’s seriously awesome.
I really love the light pink one… very cute… and you can wear it again!
I’m crocheting mine in a beautiful lace pattern. Try finding someone to do it for you! They can often make it to fit just perfectly! I have no idea if I’ll actually get it done in the next 2 weeks…EEP! But I’ll attempt for sure. I haven’t touched it for weeks, but that’s only because it’s for me and not anyone else! Many people could easily crochet or knit a capelet! Etsy is a good place to look or if you can get into ravelry.com to find a local crocheter/knitter to help!
Sorry. Another naysayer here. Unless you go with something more elegant/beaded. It really takes away from your dress to have a cardigan over it.
Also, while I like ‘zilla’s option for a shrug/capelet/bolero, I think something knit or crochet is WAY to informal for your dress.
Sorry, but I agree the cardigan is not structured looking enough to go with your elegant dress…I think b/c those cardigans are meant to be buttoned up so when it’s not they look a little sloppy.
Here are some ideas for cardigan/shrugs that button at the top (kind of like a capelet, but with sleeves)…so maybe you can put your BEAUTIFUL broach at the top.
I agree with Kelly that you should look for something more elegant, but it’s so difficult to find! GOOD LUCK…YOU LOOK GORGEOUS IN YOUR DRESS! Hope these help!
ditch the brooch placement. you don’t really want people looking at your shoulder? maybe replace the buttons with pearled ones. but there’s enough detail on your dress, so keep the cardi plain.
[…] ceremony and during pictures would be absolutely incredible, and would remove the need to wear a cardigan if I got chilly during the evening […]
