Tuesday, April 30, 2013

NAUTICALLY NICE

We're into May now, the perfect time to climb onboard!  Living in the San Francisco Bay Area I've seen just about every kind of wedding celebration that involves boats. Whether onboard the QE II or a four-seater pontoon, you and your guy can say 'I do' in style. When you think boats and wedding, beach-chic is probably the first style to come to mind and that's fine. But it's not your only option. Boats cruise lakes, rivers and swamps as well as oceans. Nautical can also mean a land-ho wedding inside a yacht or beach club, some with lavish reception rooms.
  Did you  know just about any style dress can be worked into a beach or water wedding providing you add or even subtract the right touches that give it that sea chic look? Above and below are some real gems by one of my fave designers perfect for the destination/beach wedding.  
Header Photo: Dress by Augusta Jones/Knots via tumblr/Bouquet via Northland Special Events
Photo 4: Dress by Sharon Cunningham/Photo 5: Dress by Amanda Wakeley 
Photos 5,6 and 7: Table Setting via SBT Blog/Nautical Cake via And Everything Sweet Blog/Lifesaver via The Diary of Dave's Wife

Monday, April 29, 2013

PRINT CHIC


A few years back my husband who is a minister officiated at a wedding where the bride wore brown and white polka dots.  At the time everyone thought this was pretty radical. Now?  Have you taken a look at some of the prints out there on the runways?  Yes, believe it or not prints and brides wearing them pair up rather nicely.  That would include those pretty damasks and embossed fabrics as well as florals.  Add geometrics, polka dots and animal prints to the mix (yes, you heard right) and we have a perfect match for the bride who loves them.  Above and below are a few that had me at hello . . . .
Lily Donaldson via Pinterest

Friday, April 26, 2013

THE LIVING ACCESSORY: PAIRING UP A BOUQUET WITH YOUR DRESS

I'm over the top delighted today to welcome as well as introduce you all to Bride Chic's Friday guest blogger, Caitlin Boshnack of Bridal Mentor.  As you've probably guessed, Caitlin is a wedding planner and coordinator extraordinaire who has spent the last five years helping clients visualize and plan their dream wedding.  When we chatted about what might be a great topic, after seeing a great post on her blog about bouquets it got me thinking  what flowers would pair up best with some of my gowns.  Here's what she came up with:

While some people are interested in pairing food with fine wine, we in the wedding industry know the importance of pairing your wedding dress with your bouquet. The facet of wedding planning that brides are most excited for is the search for her perfect wedding dress. I recommend that brides wait till they have found their dream dress and have selected their bridesmaids’ dresses before meeting with their florist. When you arrive at the floral appointment, make sure to have pictures of the dresses so that your florist can see the style. For the retro-modern bride looking at the original gowns of Amy-Jo Tatum, here are some floral pairings for your style.
This gown is in the style of one of the hottest wedding trends, 1920’s and The Great Gatsby. The beautiful lace bodice with the sheer and lace tiered overlay is perfect for an outdoor garden wedding. Here is the bouquet designed by Haute Flower Boutique that would flatter this design.
The Bianca gown is classic and sophisticated. What makes this dress special is the subtle ruched (gathered) detail on the scalloped lace overlay. I would recommend pairing a simple but elegant bouquet with this style dress.

                                                                           (Source)
This gown reminds me of Juliet with the empire waist and a slight hint of a capped sleeve. The bouquet that I would pair with this gown would be soft and romantic (like Juliet).

Pairing the right bouquet to your dress isn’t difficult. Take the lead of the dress and let the flowers in the bouquet compliment the style. If you are unsure about what the style of your dress then ask your florist to make recommendations. As long as you stay consistent with your design, then you can’t go wrong! Happy planning!!!


Headshot
I am Caitlin Boshnack, wedding planner and owner of Bridal Mentor, an online wedding community. I teach modern brides how to navigate the wedding planning process so it doesn’t become their full time job. If you liked today’s article, you’ll love BridalMentor.com. Check it out, and while you're there, don’t miss my free report “How to REALLY Use Pinterest to Plan Your Wedding.”

Thursday, April 25, 2013

SHIRR GORGEOUSNESS!

 
 I'm wowed by anything shirred.  in case you're wondering shirring is an application made up of  pleats or gathers running either horizontally or vertical. Lately we're seeing shirring mostly on bodices.  This shirring over lace is hot right now in bridal and evening wear, especially with tulle, chiffon or any transparent fabric forming soft folds.
   
Dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum
Header Photo by Bryan John Hendon/Gold Dress by Divine Elegance
Photo 3 by Bride Chic

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

HOW TO BE A BEST DRESSED GUEST


Wedding season is here!  I've seen invited guests stress like a bride when they have no idea what to wear. Whether you're attending your cousin’s holiday nuptials or a wedding this Spring, do check out all your dress options. Unless the invite specifies casual, semi-formal or formal you’ll have to either ask or figure it out on your own. Venue and the bride’s gown are big rule of thumb factors. If you know the bride is going to be in a Reem Acra ball gown, walking down the aisle of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral with a reception at the Waldorf, you’re going full-fig formal as in the header photo. Where I live (San Francisco Bay Area) sometimes guests show up dressed 'California Casual' no matter the season, venue or what the invite specifies; whereas when I was in New York everyone went a little more cosmopolitan and dressed according to season. While we're all connected to a particular region with a friend and family network, most
differ so here are a few guidelines:
SPRING/SUMMER BEACH OR DESTINATION WEDDING
If you go comfortable, cotton and casual you're not going to miss. Linen and hemp are favorites too for beach scene weddings.
SPRING GARDEN WEDDING
This one is dedicated to the Great Mademoiselle. A light and airy version of the Chanel look is ideal if you're a guest at a garden or tea-time wedding with a vintage feel. Great look for bridesmaids too. 
THE SPRING AFTERNOON WEDDING
These short and sweet dresses say Spring all over. And yes, you can do chiffon in the daytime! Indulge . . .
SUMMER FORMAL OR EVENING WEDDING
These  tones of Spring move easily into evening dressing with satins, golds and metallics
SUMMER AFTERNOON WEDDING
This look is part 50s, part 60s  accessorized with the peep-toe shoes.
SUMMER RESORT WEDDING
There are so many of these weddings come summertime along the coasts. Cotton and warm weather are buddies once you're in this great dress.
AUTUMN GARDEN OR RESORT WEDDING
Autumn varys in different places; Here in the wine country, October is hot. This dress is a natural for any vineyard or botanical garden wedding. In a place like Florida, great on the beach. 


AUTUMN AFTERNOON WEDDING
I can actually see this dress in almost any venue, formal or semi-formal. Versatile, it would be welcome in a church ceremony, hotel or even garden wedding. 

AUTUMN FORMAL AND EVENING WEDDING
This dress and whole look brings Paris to mind. Imagine this stunner with a black lace wrap.


WINTER FORMAL AND EVENING WEDDING
 Winter whites add sparkle and warmth to the low light situation. Accessorized with a gold turtleneck this look is really elegant.
All photos and dresses via Ruche

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

THE HAT BRIDE

Once upon a time not too long ago, a hat perched atop a bride's head instead of a long flowing veil was society's code for second time around brides or a woman over forty tying the knot.  Fast forward a few years and the bridal hat has a whole new identity. Today, wearing one on your wedding day has more to do with creating a style savvy statement that defines you. If you're considering opting for a hat to top off your wedding day look, you have a whole array of choices out there from wide-brimmed picture hats to small fascinators  titled on the side of the head with wisps of netting.  Here are a few of my faves . . .
Cocktail Hats-Include toques, pancakes and beanies to name just a few.  Small and brimless, these hats sit tilted or perched atop the head, usually accented with flowers or a spray of long feathers; a cover of net or nose veil typically wraps all or part of the face.   All cocktail hats look great with upswept hair and most silhouettes.  These above by Batcakes Couture  add a touch of whimsy with marabou and ostrich feathers
 
Fascinators-A sort of hybrid between head band and cocktail hat, a fascinator is a hair decoration fastened to a band or comb with accents of either feathers, beads, crystals or florals.  The ones pictured above are by Batcakes Couture

Photos by Stephanie Williams Photography

Dresses by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride
First photo of picture Hat by Amy-Jo Tatum Bride

Monday, April 22, 2013

TAKE A POWDER

 
 


Powder blue has to be one of my all time favorite colors especially for anything wedding related.  I'm finding a lot of  spring and summer weddings  have at least some hue of blue thrown in for good measure.  Psychologists and color experts will tell you blue is just about the most soothing if not healing color there is. You can incorporate powder blue into a scheme or feature an entire theme around it from your gowns and accessories to flowers and food . .  

PHOTO CREDITS
Header Photo: Via Pinterest
Photos 2 and 3: Blue barn photo by Andi Mans via Southern Wedding Magazine/Bouquet Photo by Alea Lovely via Burnett's Boards 
Photo 4: Roses and Hydrangeas via Tumblr
Photos 5 and 6: Lanterns via Tumblr/Luly Yang dress in window via Pinterest
Photo 7: Photo by Arthur Elgort via Tumblr
Photos 8 and 9: Via Tumblr/Bows via Pinterest
Photo 10: Elie Saab Couture via Tumblr
Photos 11 and 12: Powder Blue Dress via Pinterest/Shabby Vintage via Tumblr
Photo 13: Christian Dior via Tumblr
Photos 14 and 15: Dress by Pikene Bak Slotett via/Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio Eau de Toilette via Bergdorf Goodman
Photo 16: Cake Photo by Ryan Ray Photography via Wedding Chicks

Friday, April 19, 2013

ELOPEMENT AT NYMAN GARDENS

I just adore a sweet story and Geoff and Becky Dennison who photographed this wedding not only show but tell it best: "Running away and saying ‘I do’ with just the two of you seems like a fairytale way to tie the knot. So when Jinglin first contacted us to say that she was looking for a wedding photographer for her elopement who could create “natural images, filled with color and playful of light and shade”, we were over the moon.
"It turned out that, not only does she have a lovely turn of phrase, Jinglin- and her husband, Zhiru- are two of the sweetest people we have ever met. Both are originally from China, and with no family in the UK, they decided on a wedding which would be an intimate, loving, relaxed affair, with nobody there but them (and us)."Their ceremony, at Crawley Register Office, was short, simple, and incredibly sweet. Afterwards, they opted to spend some time together amongst the romantic landscapes of Nymans- a National Trust garden in West Sussex. Nymans is one of our favorite places to visit, and capturing images of Jinglin & Zhiru there, during their very first moments as man and wife was a truly wonderful experience. As they wandered happily through the gardens, Jinglin- in her exquisite gown- and Zhiru- in his sharp black suit- brought a delighted smile to so many faces.
"These images will allow Jinglin and Zhiru’s family and friends to share in their love even though they weren’t there on the actual day. Which makes us feel really rather good… and a bit weepy, actually. We hope you love them, too."

 





CREDITS
Photographer:  Dennison Studios Photography//Wedding Ceremony Site--Crawley Registrar Office//Bride's Gown--Mia Sposa// Photography Backdrop--Nymans
Submitted via Two Bright Lights