Three Common Wedding Outfit Woes No One Talks About (And How to Fix Them Before They Happen)
- Kendra W. Houston
- Jan 13
- 4 min read
Written by Kendra W. Houston | Artist & Fashion Designer
Kendra specializes in creating one-of-a-kind clothing items by hand-painting custom designs on them. She works with clients looking for something truly unique to wear for their weddings, charity galas, and other special occasions.
Some friends were showing me their recent wedding photos...
"Oh yeah," one of them said as we got to the posed Groom + Groomsmen pictures, "doing these took FOREVER because our boutonnieres kept falling off. Ruined some otherwise great shots and we kept having to reset. Such a pain!"
This isn't the first time I've heard this complaint, either. In fact, it's up there on my "things people say bothered them at their wedding (but didn't know to think about when planning)" list. Things that I've found solutions for!
Here's the scoop:
In my years of custom hand-painting items for people's big events, I've had a number of wedding projects that (at the time) felt like solutions for small pains, but turned out to be big-impact "hacks" with universal appeal.
These clever uses of paint create the same effect as their more traditional alternatives, but with some helpful and beautiful benefits you might not have thought of. Here are three of my favorites...
Get a custom hand-painted wedding accessory of your own
If you’d like to make your wedding outfit even better with a custom hand-painted piece, I can help! Let’s create something that's 100% you.
The pain: Relationship with my suit accessory? "It's complicated."
The hack: a hand-painted suit detail, instead of a boutonniere or pocket square.
The benefits:
Stress-free: nothing to fall off or get damaged on the big day (or take time putting on just right).
You can go as large and elaborate as you want without adding weight.
Anything special can be painted--you don't need to be limited to flowers or patterns!
A cute way to include your favorite animal or pet?
The pain: Lace is pretty, but... has its issues
The hack: hand-painted faux lace instead of real lace
The benefits:
Won't snag, tear, or degrade with time. SO MUCH more durable and lasting overall.
Not itchy--perfect for individuals who love the look of lace but want a better sensory experience.
Shimmers in a way that gives the design unique dimension. Looks magical!
The most popular is pearlescent silver on white, but faux lace can be in any color or sheen you want.
A beautiful way to include your flowers or theme in your wedding outfit
Unlike with fabric choices, custom hand-painted means anything is possible. Have a very specific combination of flowers? Is there a special animal, place, or even words you'd love to see incorporated? This is where we can make it happen!
The pain: Flowers are beautiful, but... there's nothing really unique at my ceremony
The hack: a hand-painted ceremony accessory
Think a hand-painted ring-bearer pillow, bouquet ribbon, aisle runner, backdrop, hand-fasting cloth...
The benefits:
Add personality or meaning to your moment, wherever you feel like it's needed.
On small items, it's the perfect opportunity to sneak in something sentimental for just the two of you.
Many are easy to frame or otherwise use/display as a keepsake work of art after the big day
Your Own Unconventional Wedding Accessory
It's hard to beat wearing an actual one-of-a-kind artwork on your wedding day, especially if it's created just for you and your unique story. Getting a custom hand-painted accessory might be the special touch your outfit has been waiting for. The sooner you reach out the better (items take months of designing and painting to complete), so let's start the conversation today!
Want more tips for your wedding (and other) outfits?
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About Kendra
Kendra W. Houston is a visual artist and fashion designer who specializes in customizing clothing items by painting one-of-a-kind designs on them by hand.
She is based out of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and appreciates contributing to the slow fashion movement in one of the birthplaces of American industrial textile mills. She works out of a cozy home studio, assisted by her pet rabbit Tiverton.
Kendra's designs are detailed and immersive, often reflecting things that hold special significance to the wearer. The name of her brand, The Casual Reply, comes from a line in a John Denver song: “talk to God and listen to the casual reply.”
Each one of her items is a handcrafted work of fine art that is nonetheless intended to be used and worn as an entirely functional clothing item. Continuing and meaningfully adding to the story of a garment using unconventional, personal themes and designs is a source of true joy for Kendra in pursuing this calling.
She regularly participates as a featured designer in charity fashion shows as well as juried art events throughout New England.
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