mermaid wedding dress with lace sleeves KissProm Ivory Long Sleeve Cape Appliques, White-Nude / 20 white lace over champagne (light nude) shade tulle to add more contrast and dimension Luxury Mermaid Lace Sweetheart Long

Expanding the top of the dress by filling my lungs with air made it much easier to get the dress on and off

Blake Floral Chiffon Maxi Dress in Black Our beautiful Blake Floral Chiffon Maxi Dress is the perfect choice for your next special occasion or date night

(To be fair, the photography is better too, but you get the gist.) The best part is we were able to make it happen on a small budget using decor and paint from Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart

Spices The ground cumin in this southwest dressing gives it that classic Mexican flavor that ties everything together

Shop the Look Edward Berthelot / Getty Images Avoid Being Too on the Nose I love a throwback-inspired ensemble just as much as the next fashionista, but some pairings are best kept in the past