Archive for the ‘Wedding Party’ Category

Bewitched, Bothered and Beholden

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

If you ask me Ella Fitzgerald is the bees knees.  She sings about being Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by love so today I thought I ‘d throw out a few B-word definitions for brides in honor of Lady Ella and the fabulous new wedding line by Anthropologie that was unveiled on Valentine’s Day!  If you haven’t seen the bhldn site {pronounced beholden} you simply must check it out dahhhrrling.

Five B-Words for Brides

Bewitch {To affect by witchcraft or magic; cast a spell}

Bothered {Annoyed; pestered; worried}

Bewildered {Completely confused, puzzled or perplexed}

Bespoke {Made to individual order; (older usage) engaged to be married; spoken for}

Beholden {Anthropologie’s new wedding collection which you can explore at bhldn.com}  Check it out and find something fabulous and vintage-inspired to add to your wedding attire.

Here are a few of my favorite looks…just in case you have clicked through to their shop yet!

This first look is my faaavorite.  I just love it.  The shoes, the headpiece, I want it all.

This next dress is super adorable and affordable.  I love the dress and adore those golden yellow shoes, but I’d like to see the headpiece I selected below instead of the bow on the model.  You could even add this bolero and the whole look is under $1,300.

Yes, they have boleros.  End of sentence.  I want to wear that pink petally one every day as I sit at my desk.  I uber love the pewter-grey attendant’s dress and think the blue bolero would be fabulous with it!…it would also be a great something new and something blue, too!  Plus, having your shoulders covered during the ceremony is classy…just sayin’. 

Have you been to the bhldn.com yet??  Go, look, shop, enjoy!  You lucky bride you.

What’s your favorite look?

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Selecting Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

I have talked with several brides who are still deciding what color their bridesmaids should wear for their 2011 weddings.  J. Crew has earned a reputation for having colorful & classy bridesmaids dresses (like this super sweet Abigail dress) and they also make some beautiful dresses for brides  (I like this one here), but I think Ann Taylor has a wonderful selection of wedding attire for bridesmaids that deserve a closer look.  Check out their selection of dresses online and keep an eye out for some of the special pricing that is currently on the site.  I see several dresses that can truly be worn again and again.  This is one of my favorites.  (I also think this one would be a lovely bride’s dress for a more casual summery wedding or for a wintery/almost-spring-time wedding worn with a faux fur cape and a birdcage veil.  The right veil and shoes can transform the simplest dress into a customized wedding garb.

Keep in mind the price point of the dresses you are considering and don’t overlook the idea of having the girls wear different colors.  Not everyone has to match.  And not everyone is thrilled to spend upwards of $200 on a dress you picked out.  That plum, burgundy, sage green, grass green, butter yellow, mango-tangerine or baby pink tone that matches your palette perfectly will probably retire to the closet after it debuts on your wedding day.  I think black, grey and possibly navy and brown dresses have the best chance of actually being worn again and I’m a big fan of different styles or colors on each girl.  If you manage to choose something that everyone likes (and looks good in!) you will be a wedding day hero.  Oh, and please remember that your table linens should not be the same color as the girls’ dresses.  That’s just mean.

What color do you think is most complimentary for a bridesmaid to wear?  Did you wear a color recently that you hated…or felt great in?

This is one of my favorite color palettes for a summer wedding with a bright, fun feeling.

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Tips for the Mother of the bride

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Mothers of the bride (or MOB’s as we wedding folks say) are an important part of the wedding day.  Whether you are a close mother-daughter team or tend to have, let’s say, a failure to communicate, it’s important to know your place.  Typically, MOB’s get a reputation for being too involved, but over the past few years I have noticed more moms (of both the bride and the groom) playing a bigger role in the overall planning process.  For destination weddings, whether moms are local or out-of-town, they are taking over for busy, professional brides and grooms who need a little wedding assist.

The “rules” for the mother-of-the-bride have changed over the years.  Some moms wear blue on their daughter’s wedding day, some walk the bride down the aisle, some host a day-after brunch, some are there only to give support and advice when it’s needed, and then others plan the entire wedding.  Every bride and MOB is unique. 

If you’ve been invited to shop for the bridal dress or go along for the floral consultation do your best to listen to what the bride is thinking and do what you can to make that vision come true.  If you’re not asked to come to the vendor meetings, tastings and shopping outings, don’t be offended.  Today’s brides are very independent–hey, you made them that way!–and sometimes like to handle as many details as they can on their own, but they are likely to need your help or opinion so just hang tight!

Avoiding conflict with the bride should be a priority when planning a wedding.  In terms of budget it is essential to be clear so there aren’t any false expectations about the scope of the wedding.  It is not uncommon for brides and grooms as well as the grooms’ parents to contribute to hosting the wedding and rehearsal dinner.  Everyone should be prepared to compromise when it comes to the guest list based on the budget.

The most important thing is that you enjoy the wedding day!  Find yourself a nice dress that makes you feel great, have a good time, be proud of your daughter and the role you played in helping make this dream come true–it’s a big day for you, too!

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Bridesmaids dresses

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Vera Wang knows dresses.  Period.  Beautiful bridesmaids start with beautiful dresses and if you check out her website you will find cuts and colors to suit any style.  The blues, browns and the classic ebony are a great starting point for your palette.  Here are a few of my faves…       

The first dress, Victoria in Tissue Organza, is sweet, sophisticated and will be worn again! 

The deep V-neckline with the flower make Dee in Silk Twill and Satin a winner in my book.

Betsy in Lame is ethereal and young.  A great look for a summer or fall event.

 For a clean, simple, elegant dress that is perfect for day or evening, Breanne in Chiffon is it.

Happy attendants start with dresses that they feel beautiful in.  Whether Vera’s style suits your taste or you prefer a J. Crew cut, if you select something your bridesmaids love it will show!  By the way are you loving the shoes on the third model as much as I do?!

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Great dresses for your girls

Friday, December 11th, 2009

In a perfect world each of your attendants would have a dress that she is happy with.  Some of my favorite colors for bridesmaids include:

Plum, espresso, green (sage, celery or emerald), navy, fuchsia & black.  Add pops of color with shoes, sashes, pashminas, flowers and jewelry.

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Attendants’ attire & etiquette

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Six Wedding Party Tips for 2010  Unlike the days when puffy sleeves and pastels were all the rage, it is totally fashionable to have a fabulous wedding party! 

1.  Consider having your girls wear different colors or styles of dresses (just in case everyone doesn’t feel she can pull off the color and strapless cut you may have in mind).

2.  Coordinate the girls’ look with matching shoes & handbags.

3.  Use bold, beaded jewelry to finish the look no matter what your style.  Necklaces, bracelets and earrings all work to accomplish a matched style. 

4.  Perfectly match pashminas to your palette or add another pop of color to pull the look together.  By the way, any of the aforementioned items would be thoughtful gift ideas from you to your maids!

5.  Picture your groomsmen in matching suits (instead of tuxedos–particularly for mid-day ceremonies) with coordinating shirts & ties in your chosen palette.

6. Bridesmaids & groomsmen prefer to be seated with their dates instead of being separated by head table status.  Everyone will love you for this one!

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5 Bouquet Tips

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Here are 5 quick day-of tips for fresh bouquets:

  1. Leave bouquets in water (in the florist’s box) when you are not using them for photographs prior to the ceremony.  Most flowers will last reliably for about 2 hours out of water.
  2. An attendant should blot the stems with a towel before handing bouquet to the bride to avoid getting water drops on your dress.
  3. Carry your bouquet down by your hips/belly button.  If you carry it much higher you start to almost hide behind the flowers.  This will also be the best angle for you bouquet to be photographed!
  4. Display the bridal and attendants’ bouquets on your head table or sweetheart table in addition to (or instead of) a centerpiece.
  5. Incorporate ”something old” into your bouquet by pinning a broach to the ribbon.  This is a great way to include your grandmother’s cameo or simply add a little sparkle. 

Your bouquets will be the most photographed flowers on your wedding day so you want to keep them looking their best!

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