Our Recent Faves!

It seems that a lot of very talented and creative folks out there are hard at work inventing the 'next best thing' for engaged couples. Here are some of our favorite new things in the gorgeous world of weddings...

{ Weddington Way }

If you've ever shopped with a group of girls and tried to reach some kind of consensus on a dress, you'll likely agree that it can be a daunting process. Brides can surely commiserate on the stressful task of finding the right bridesmaid dress that all of their bridesmaids would love, then coordinating to make sure everyone understands the ordering and fitting process, while trusting their best girlfriends who are scattered in different parts of the world to actually remember to do everything in a timely manner. Weddington Way is a brilliant solution to help brides master this ever-intimidating task by providing an easy to use platform for the girls to shop, share, and bond over the experience. Heavenly, right? We think so.

{ Loverly }

Exactly how are you suppose to keep track of all those eye candy that sweeps you off your feet in the blogosphere? Loverly wants to be your solution. A "visual search engine and cloud scrapbook, they help brides and their friends search, save, and share wedding inspiration from the best sites online." We think they're going to rock the wedding world!

{ Kate Spade Wedding Belles }

With newcomers to the bridal market such as J Crew and Anthropology, it leaves us anticipating which of the next big brands will announce a new bridal line. Kate Spade, however, chose to focus instead on the occasions surrounding the wedding day. Their stylish line of little white dresses are remarkable choices for the rehearsal dinner, welcome cocktail party, or other pre and post wedding events.

{ Foodie Registry }

If you're looking to have an unconventional registry for your wedding, the Foodie Registry may just suit your palette. Started by several Chicago foodies, this registry will allow guests to gift you dining experiences at your favorite restaurants. If you are big foodies, or if you simply love dining out, you'll find this registry so much more practical than an extra pot or pan around the house!

Men: Be Well-Groomed

In order to stay "in the know" for my clients, I spend quite a bit of time each week perusing through the wedding blogosphere. I would hardly call that "work" though. Once I start on my blog roll, I am happily sucked into the beautiful world of weddings for hours! There is so much eye candy out there to keep us inspired, from ombre dresses to castle cakes and everything in between. I am still discovering new blogs everyday to add to my blog roll, and one of my recent favorite is the Well-Groomed blog by Darren, targeted specifically to men to help them be stylish gentlemen on the wedding day.

I love the Q & A sessions that Darren conducts on his blog, providing really valuable and practical tips for grooms. Not sure what color loafers to match a navy suit? What about finding that perfect tie to go with your vest-less tux? Keep up with Darren's stylish tips to help you become a well-groomed man on the most important day of your life.

Images above obtained from the Well-Groomed Blog.

Who's That Model?

One of the more popular segments of The Wedding University was the Beauty + Attire session, which not only included the class itself, but also the styling of several models with very distinctive looks. Gabrielle of Gabrielle's Bridal Boutique provided the beautiful gowns, Eli Thomas dressed the men in sophisticated tuxes and suits, and Armando of Get Your Do Up was the master of all stylists on that day!!

Thank you to Geoff White Photography for the extraordinary photographs!

Eye Candy

I am so in love with the Vera Wang gown that Jennifer chose for her wedding. It's my new favorite! It has a very vintage look to it, and accessorized perfectly with the floral tulle belt at the waist. Just look at the amazing details on this dress! Lace is so trendy right now, bringing a 'traditional' touch back with a modern twist. Chantilly lace is sooooo delicate and beautiful! Cap sleeves are very popular these days too. Jennifer looked STUNNING in this dress, with her tall and slender figure. I just had to share these photos on my blog, taken by the dynamic duo Gertrude and Mabel of Gertrude and Mabel Photography!

Skip the Black Tux

Traditions, traditions, traditions..... I see so many couples feeling pressured to stay within traditions for their wedding. Many of my clients would ask me hesitantly, "Um, is that okay to do? Is that going against tradition?" My answer? DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO YOU!

Yes, there are certain traditions and etiquettes that I still like to follow, such as not posting registry information on your invitation. But for the most part, I think you should follow your heart when you're planning your wedding. It really should reflect who you are. Don't be afraid to be creative, and to think outside the box.

My cute, cute Stanford couple Sarah and Nico (picture shown here on top) decided to skip the black tux. It was too formal and stuffy for their fun outdoor wedding at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga. They chose gray suits from Banana Republic for all the guys, and it looked perfect with the sage green ties!

My adorable Hollywood couple Katie and Eric could not stand the thought of having the guys wear shiny black loafers with their suits. Instead, they got everyone black converse--comfortable, stylish and different! What did Katie wear? A pair of sexy red stilettos with her vintage-style gown!




Bottom two photos by Angie Silvy www.angiesilvy.com