AN AWESOME READ!

No, I don't expect you to sew your own gown after reading this awesome how-to book by Susan Khalje but promise some revealing insights about what goes into making your gown. Bridal Couture has been a staple and research guide in my library since it was launched back in 1997. Yes, the cover gown seems a bit outdated today and so do a few of the other styles you'll find inside. The material in this book however is classic and Khalje uses beautiful photography to familiarize you with the many different laces and fabrics in her glossaries. You'll also get to see what a dress or gown looks like in all its muslin stages, built from the ground up.
I highly recommend this book to any bride, especially one who is contemplating custom design. Check it out on Amazon and happy reading . . .

CALLING ALL VINTAGEHOLICS!

I’m the classic vintageaholic and for all of you dreaming of retro chic jewelry to pair with the gown, meet Glittery Blue. This Etsy store has a selection of glass, sterling and brass designs to die for. . . . 'Such Grace', 'Just Like Mama' and 'Nesting', each piece of jewelry has a name that sounds more like a Pulitzer prize winning poem than catalog number. Real creativity sure goes past the visual and touches all our senses . . . . Visit Glittery Blue



Below: 'Give Me a Moment' At Left: 'Muse'



'Sky'




'Fall is Near'








'In a Dream'


'One I Love'

gown friday!

i cannot believe that it's basically september already...this summer has just flown by! i hope you enjoy your friday and holiday weekend! here is christos spring 2009 collection. his use of fabrics and old world lace is absolutely stunning!



























{photo credits}

NECKLINES

Sabrina Neckline

The neckline frames your face and is probably the feature you'll most concentrate on when choosing your gown. It’s the part of your gown that's going to give your face some wow! FYI: Front and back bodices are not always identical. For instance, the front could have a Sabrina neckline, the back a deep V; whereas another gown could have a scoop in front as well as back.

STYLES

Turtleneck-Once a classic, the high neck or turtleneck can be a plain band of dress fabric or lace. Especially popular in the Edwardian gown craze of the 70s when cotton ‘granny gowns’ reappeared.
Mandarin-Like the high neck collar only it’s notched in front

Cowl-Pictured below, the cowl is draped either as an attached piece or integrated into the pattern. Lots of retro styles of the 1930s use this effect.



Ron Greystar Photography


Jewel-Aka crew neck, round and higher neckline. Not seen too much these days except in an over bodice of all-over lace.
Boat or Sabrina-Straight across the neckline
Scoop-Pictured directly above, the scoop is a low rounded neckline.
V or U-Pictured below, the U or V point down just like the letters they are named after.






Off-the-Shoulder-Neckline extends horizontally across and sits below the shoulders.


Portrait-Wide band that extends from shoulder to shoulder



Ron Greystar Photography

Square-Pictured below, the square is one of my personal favorites, conveying a real open look, square necks look great on long and A-line silhouettes.




Ron Greystar Photography


Halter-Pictured below, straps either wrap around the neck or neckline is high with deep armholes.

Strap-Usually holds up a strapless bodice.

Asymmetrical-Neckline falls diagonally-one side strapless the other either with sleeve or sleeveless.



ejones photography

Queen Ann-High neckline curving into a sweetheart around the decolletage area

Sweetheart-Plunges into an open heart shape.

Keyhole-Open tear-drop.

Strapless-Pictured below, the strapless is typically cut straight across or sweetheart shaped, the strapless is held up by boning inside the bodice.




Ron Greystar Photography

Marit Hanson Weddings

today i would like to "officially" introduce you to marit hanson weddings. i have eyed her work long ago and featured her designs for some unique save the date ideas, but thankfully yesterday i got in contact with her and have some more to share!!


my personal favorite are these first two; they are actually two options of a single design she created for a client. the bride and groom were married at a country club, and without going "cheesy matchy" marit decided to incorporate the "polka dots" on the golf ball for in the invitation. i love it! wonderfully simple, but as always with style and creativity.

GOING GREEN AFTER YOUR WEDDING: THE ART OF DONATING YOUR DRESS

There’s plenty out there about going green for your wedding but what about after? Whether you’ve had your gown custom designed out of green fibers or special ordered it through a salon, now what? Some brides are going to be sentimental and preserve the gown for generations. That’s okay. This posting though is for all those wanting to pass on what they wore to someone else and help make our world a better place through recycling. I found the following blurb on the I Do Foundation’s website and couldn’t agree more, “If storing your dress in a box under your bed, or in a hanging bag in your closet is not your idea of a good cause, then keep the pictures, but put the dress to good use and help support the I Do Foundation.”
Your gown is a very special and powerful piece of clothing. With it comes (or goes) a certain psychic energy that carries your joy and promise to the next wearer.

PLACES TO DONATE YOUR DRESS AFTER THE WEDDING

BRIDAL CONSIGNMENT- More of these places are cropping up for two reasons: Brides-to-be who won’t spend over 2000k on a designer gown, and former brides who don’t mind parting with their gown. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s little difference between second-time-around bridal consignment and the higher end salons. Owners are persnickety about what they take in and nothing goes on display unless it’s in top condition, cleaned and pressed like new. These shops have standards they follow too. They won’t take any Four Weddings and a Funeral style cast-offs, over altered or trashed gowns.
DONATE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY SHOP-Donating to a bridal consignment will earn you a share of your gown’s percentage. Donate to a shop like The Bridal Garden in New York City and fees will benefit NYC school children. Now wouldn't that make you feel great? Few charities have a whole store exclusively devoted to bridal like the Bridal Garden though. Most will have a section for gowns and formal wear.

DONATE TO A FOUNDATION-Believe it or not there are several foundations set up just for donating bridal wear (including bridesmaids gowns). Great! Gowns are such a big biz that whole organizations distribute them to others. Here are a few to check out:

Brides Against Breast Cancer: Donate your gown here and you’ll be giving a bride-to-be a great chance to get a discounted gown while helping grant the wish of someone with breast cancer. http://www.makingmemories.org/

I Do Foundation-Through I Do you can donate to the charity of your choice. http://www.idofoundation.org/

Heavenly Angels in Need-This one makes me well up with tears. Once your gown is donated, seamstresses use the fabric to make children’s burial garments. Having a SIDs baby in our family I understand the needs of grieving families and just how much a little satin and lace can make. http://www.heavenlyangelsinneed.com/

Wedding Dress Ministry-Christian women leaders rent wedding gowns to women in Kenya who are not able to afford gowns to marry in. Profits collected from rents are used in the women’s ministry outreach. www.icmusa.org/donate.php


Don’t forget your bridesmaids. There are foundations like the Princess Project that have a selection of prom and bridesmaid dresses that help young women get out to that big night in style.

http://www.donatemydress.org/
http://www.princessproject.org/
http://www.glassslipperproject.org/

DO YOUR BRIDESMAIDS A FAVOR

Ever wondered what happens to all those bridesmaid dresses once the wedding is over? I was in my neighborhood charity shop yesterday when I spotted one: the proverbial shiny triple tiered pink that looked as if all the air had been let out of the ruffles. This, like countless other once-worn pastels hang in many a thrift shop or stuffed away in the back of a closet. More resourceful bridesmaids have been known to make pillows and patchwork throws out of them.

Do your bridesmaids a favor. Consider whether she’ll actually be able to wear her dress after the wedding, especially if she’s shelling out the $250-300 going rate
Kathlin Argiro has put out a line of bridesmaid dresses I’d get into in a minute if I were going someplace special. Here you’ll find designs you can customize that will work for all your bridesmaids. She has a three step process: 1. Choose a silhouette. 2. Select a fabric. 3. Pick a treatment (i.e. bows and belts). I particularly like this designer because she offers cotton and cotton in almost any style is something a woman can actually wear again. In addition, her styles lean toward the Audrey Hepburnesque with refined and classic lines. You can see and put it all together yourself at her websitte http://www.kathlinargiro.com/
Enjoy!

sweet flowers

it is always an interesting endeavor when you have little ones leading the way for the bride, but is also always one of the sweetest parts of your wedding. and perhaps to add to the sweetness factor of your flower girls check out these flower handbags from the other sister on etsy. all perfectly hand created and fashioned, and can be custom ordered to perfectly match your bouquets and flower arrangements. so great!

WEEKDAY WEDDINGS: A New Look at the Civil Ceremony.

The brief city hall ceremony is every bit as significant as the wedding planned months ahead. No longer considered the spontaneous events they once were, civil ceremonies are going through new approval and popularity. Some couples prefer the ease of this short celebration and how they share in it with friends and family. Read more . . . .

chic bridesmaids

check these fabulous dresses out from net-a-porter! such chic bridesmaid dress and perfect for the fall season coming up--love them!








{marchesa}



{vera wang}



{diane von furstenberg}




{miu miu}








{bamford}








{lela rose}

SMALL VEILS FOR FASHIONISTAS

Smoot Photo
Hair by Gayle Parker




Short Petal Veil /Henley Photography








There’s no rule anymore about pairing short veils exclusively with street length dresses. Whatever guidelines exist these days have more to do with following your proportions and sense of style. The shorter ‘fashionista' veil is gaining in popularity. Why? Short veils are out of the ordinary –very outside the traditional bridal box right now. There's something chic, even edgy about a bride sporting one. As early as the 1990s, Vera Wang reinvented pairing short, pouf veils with very formal gowns. Whether she wanted to show off the extraordinary back details of her gowns or usher in a new look, I don’t know; I only know the juxtaposition this duo created worked.
Brides say the best thing about wearing a shorter veil is, they don’t have to do any adjusting in that switch from the solemnity of ceremony to big time partying hearty. Short veils are easy to maneuver around in and stay put whether you’re exchanging vowels, cutting cake or dancing,
Typically they are made out of either tulle, the standard light weight bridal veiling, or, netting—wider and crisper, offering a more structured and chic look













STYLES


Bird Cage or Net Pouf-Made of either netting or tulle, this veil falls above the shoulder line. Since it’s a shorter style, it tends to look structured, more hybrid of headpiece and veil. Great for fashionistas.







Net Pouf below and opposite
Photo by Ron Greystar





















Blusher or Flyaway-Typically the length veil worn over the face during the ceremony. Can also be worn shoulder length in layers. Although considered informal, this is the choice of some chic, formal-gowned brides.
The Petal Veil-Pictured right is above the shoulders and the front curves something like flower petals opening.


ejones photography

Scarf-Great option for the bride going informal. Some scarves though would pop and rock with the right formal gown as well.
Nose Veil-Typically worn over the face and attached to a headpiece or hat like the one pictured below.

Henley Photography Hair by Kathie Rothkop Make-up by Rob Ward