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Wedding After 50? 3 Things You Need to Know
By Lois Joy Johnson, May 16, 2013 02:50 PM
Here's your to-do list. #1: Go see The Big Wedding with Diane Keaton and Susan Sarandon and get in the mood. #2: Get a thumbs up from your friends, family, therapist, private investigator (only half kidding ) and a solid signed pre-nup.
Whether this is your first, second or third marriage after 50 do it your way. I've been married three times to date. Eight years ago this month a sequin pencil skirt and a white cashmere top was my "wedding dress" at the local justice of the peace - big change from that first fairytale gown and huge tented affair in 1971. I've learned a lot since then, so here are a few things grownup brides need to know:
SKIP THE FRILLS AND FROU-FROU. You don't want to go the big-deal tulle and lace princess route. Keep it simple, keep it "you" and accent one best body feature like great legs, toned arms, sexy shoulders or a perfect sun-damage free decolletage. For example when Jersey trucking heiress Nancy Shevell married Paul McCartney in 2011, she was 51, he was 69 (it was her second, his third). She wore a tailored long sleeve body-skimming dress that highlighted her trim long legs and tiny waist. Barbra Streisand (who married James Brolin when she was 56) strategically played up cleavage. Ellen DeGeneres (at 55) stuck to her signature boyishly trim look in dress pants, a silky shirt and tailored vest when she married Portia de Rossi in 2008. All three got it right and kept to their style.
WEAR WHITE. I know you're tempted to show your confidence and spirit in shocking pink or red but do yourself a favor. White will make you look rested, healthy and radiant in person ... and in all those photos and videos. You'll thank me for this later. Then follow two other crucial but confidence boosting tips. Swipe on a fast-dry quick-color self-tanner like Sonia Kashuk Face & Body Golden Tanning Towelettes ($10.49,target.com). Go head-to-toe to bump up the glow and hide all brown spots, veins and sun-damage. Then boost your hair quality with a sprinkle of matched-color protein powder called Toppik Hair Building Fibers ($21.95, www.toppik.com). It fills in sparse or 
thinning hair, clings till you shampoo out and is sweat proof. They're the secret source for many mature on-camera celebs of both sexes so why not make it work for you?
UNDER $200 TO FABULOUS. Splurge on the honeymoon not the outfit. You can look like a celeb bride without spending big bucks on custom couture. Check out this Lauren Ralph Lauren Cap-Sleeve Cowl-Neck gown ($150, macys.com) or Maggy London's Tailored Sleeveless Cut-Out Cocktail dress ($138, macys.com). Both have a body-skimming fit, a contemporary look and balance camouflaging details with highlighting ones. Add a no-jiggles shaper like Assets by Sara Blakely Chic Peek Midthigh ($34-36, target.com) and you're good-to-throw ... the bouquet that is.
For more beauty & style tips check my book The Wardrobe Wakeup, Your Guide to Looking Fabulous at Any Age by Lois Joy Johnson ( $13.64, amazon.com)
Photo credits: Diane Keaton in The Big Wedding, Barbra Streisand marries James Brolin, Lauren by Ralph Lauren wedding gown.
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