Maggie Sottero

Maggie Sottero (my personal favorite wedding dress designer!) has now posted their Spring 2010 dress collection! The website can be accessed at: maggiesottero.com
The collection is full of beautiful and unique dresses. Shiny satin seems to be popular this season, which emphasizes the cascading lines of the dress. "Denise" shows off the elegance of this fabric with the gathered fabric and the drape of the top skirt. If you prefer a simpler look, their Destinations collection dresses have simpler lines. Each of them boasts a significant train however, which I would think would get in the way in certain outdoor settings (like the rocky shore where the models are posing). Straps of various configurations are also more prevalent this season, which is good for those who prefer that look. Of this seasons dresses,

**NEWSFLASH**

This just in from information headquarters!!! My brother, who is very manly and never looks at frilly things, has just sat patiently through all four hundred Maggie dresses and decided that his top five dresses, in order of preference are:

Winona
Sonya
Sara
Jorie Ann
Myra

Winona and Sonya were a close tie, with Sonya initially being ranked #1, but the decision was reviewed and overturned in favor of Winona. He describes Winona as "southern" and though he dislikes the sparkle of the straps, he does admit that the bow in the back is "alright".

Thank you to our guest contributor, my brother!

Daisy's date: June 4, 2011

So in the hurry to call all my relatives and let them know I was engaged, I mentioned to my grandmother, "Your anniversary is June 4, right? Well, it falls on a Saturday in 2011...would you mind if we used it?"
And Grammy started crying and said she would love that. So I came home and told my parents (who had gotten a call from Grammy as soon as I hung up with her), and they said, "Well, we'd better get that date!"

I realize that this leaves a whole 18 months until the wedding, and I probably didn't have to book the date at the church so soon, but who am I to put off any bit of wedding planning? Plus, June is a popular month, and I'd gotten my grandmother's hopes up.

This morningI went to the Catholic Church where I grew up, told them I was engaged, and asked if I could book June 4, 2011. The lady in the parish office looked at me and said "I don't even have a 2011 calendar yet!" Once I explained the whole grandmother story, though, she was very understanding and called our pastor's office, and they let me book it.

!!!!

Hi Everyone!!
Thank you, Lily, for your wonderful words. So here's how it happened, the story isn't that complicated:
Last night, Derek said we should go ice skating (I didn't really want to, I thought it would be too cold, but Derek promised we wouldn't have to stay long). So we went to a little outdoor rink in downtown Elkhart, IN (Derek's hometwon). It was all lit up for Christmas and very pretty. I think Lily mentioned that I used to ice skate when I was a little girl, so I like to do some spins or jumps just to see if I still can. I stopped spinning, and Derek skated up to me and said "Hey, would you like to do a lap with me as my fiance?" And he pulled out the ring!


The ring is a cushion cut diamond, which is a sort of rounded square. The setting is a cathedral setting with sort of trellis design--or a truss from a bridge (Derek thought it was appropriate because my college major was civil enginering). I love how it is so simple, but still kind of different.

As Lily mentioned, Derek and I started dating our sophomore year in college--we were both in the Notre Dame marching band together. He played baritone, I played mellophone. Our mutual friends decided we should go to the band formal together, and we just clicked. I knew he was The One when he accompanied me to see High School Musical On Ice, with only a few complaints.

And of course, I will be sharing all of my wedding plans on this blog! I can't wait to get started. Merry Christmas everyone!

Dear Friends,

It has been a long time since I last wrote, but I am now happy to post some joyful news! Daisy is engaged! I have known Daisy since freshman year of college, and her fiance since our sophomore year (right, Daisy?). They are an adorable couple - they compliment each other perfectly and are very much in love! I wish them all the best as they prepare for their life together!
I only got a brief synopsis, but I hear the proposal happened on ice (Daisy loves ice-skating). No doubt she will be posting soon with the full story, plus details about the wedding planning as it progresses.
Congratulations to Daisy and Dinkle!

Lily

Another Engagement!

Congratulations to my college friend Jesse, who is now engaged to his girlfriend of five and a half years! They are looking at a wedding either August or fall 2010. Their home state is Nebraska, so I assume that would be the location.

Old Fashioned Christmas Wedding

As promised, here is my Christmas-themed inspiration board. When I think "old-fashioned Christmas," I think red, green and gold, and long, furry white capes. Candles are a must, and centerpieces are easy with either poinsettias or a garland wreath. An easy favor? Custom ornaments!


Top Row:
Bridesmaid dress from Alfred Angelo, style 7050 in color Hunter;
Custom Christmas ornament from Howe House Limited Editions;
Martha Stewart Festive Red Poinsettia from 1800flowers.com.
Middle:
Bridal cape from Princess Bride Tiaras.
Bottom:
Holiday Red Bride's Bouquet from marthastewart.com;
Gold Candle Wreath from Janet's Boutique;
Holiday Wedding Cake by Jane Garcia.

True Fanatics

I guess I'm not the only one who thinks football and weddings go together like cake and ice cream.

Reception Halls

Who says October weddings aren't popular? For Andrea's date, Oct. 16th, all but two of the reception halls she called in the Hartford, CT area were already booked, 11 months in advance!
Fortunately, one of the places she did find happens to be where her fiance's parents had their reception, a generation ago.

Also, I want to comment that I have been reading the book Bridal Bargains--what a fantastic read! (Thanks to Theresa, whose wedding I was in earlier this year, you may remember). I know you shouldn't believe everything you hear/read, but, even if this stuff isn't true, it's like a gossip magazine--a down-and-dirty expose on the bridal industry. Really interesting stuff.

Please accept Lily's and my apologies for the slow down in posts...like everyone, we are particularly busy this time of year.

New Poll: The best flower for late fall/winter bouquets:

I'm sitting in evidence class and I think we need a new poll. Winter is coming, but what flowers are in season? I did a search and found the following bouquet flowers are available in December:
1.) Cymbidium Orchids
2.) Roses
3.) Chrysanthemums
4.) Lilies

Leave comments with other suggestions!

This and other winter bouquets from Martha Stewart's website are available here.

Official Date

Andrea's wedding is officially set for October, 16, 2010. Major planning is expected to take place when I get to see her and the other bridesmaids on Nov. 21. I am probably too excited for my own good.

Autumn Inspiration Board

I was riding the train through Connecticut and Rhode Island this week, and it was incredibly beautiful looking out the window at the spectrum of colors in the changing leaves. The New England scenery, and a little friendly prompting from Daisy, inspired me to come up with this collage of wedding images.

Photo credits (left to right, top to bottom):

After Six Bridesmaid, style 6540 in butterscotch - http://www.dessy.com/

Barn image from mixmingleglow.com

Twenty-Three's Gallery of Wedding Cakes - http://www.savor23.com/

Labels Buy Design, Maple Breeze Invitation - http://www.labelsbuydesign.com/

From the Wedding Bouquet Gallery of Your Wedding Company - http://www.yourweddingcompany.com/

Easy and Elegant Thanksgiving Centerpieces from Good Housekeeping - http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

Homemade Autumn Centerpieces from Brides.com - image found at http://www.superweddings.com/

Autumn church photograph credited to Aldo - posted on http://www.photoforum.ru/

Green Lake Jewelry - custom inspiration piece BND_O_21123 - http://www.greenlakejewelry.com/

Blaire by Maggie Sottero - http://www.maggiesottero.com/

Red and orange for the fall

When Andrea started planning her wedding (which may or may not have been before she was engaged, but who am I to talk?), she mentioned red and orange, for a fall wedding in Connecticut, to go with that famous New England foliage.

I wasn't convinced. I just couldn't see it together, the red and orange. It reminded me of road signs. But Andrea sent me this picture, from Martha Stewart's website, and I got it.


But maybe I'm just a sucker for a rose bouquet.

Another Poll

What should be the theme of our next inspiration board?

1.) Peter Pan (think a starry night with a dream-like landscape)
2.) San Francisco (because Paris has been done before)
3.) Old fashioned Christmas (horse drawn carriages, white snowy capes)
4.) Something else (if you choose this one, please make a comment including a suggestion!)

Announcement!

I may have another bridesmaid gig (not officially yet, though)! One of my best friends Andrea FINALLY got engaged to her boyfriend of almost FIVE years (they have been dating since our freshman year in college).
Andrea's talking about an October, 2010 wedding in Hartford, Connecticut. More details to follow.

Fall colors poll!

At long last, a new poll is finally up! The question is, what are the best colors for a fall wedding? I'll admit I've gotten stuck on the reds and oranges of the foliage, so I'm definitely up for suggestions in your comments. Here are the options I thought of:
--red and brown, like apples and cider
--gold and burgundy
--pumpkin orange, and pie to go with it
--the colors of my alma mater, because I'm still stuck on the idea of a tailgate wedding

University venues

In keeping with the idea of the "tailgate wedding" I have compiled a list of what I think are pretty, scholastic venues for a couple wishing to say their vows at a university with significance to them.

1.) The University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!)
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame is beautiful, century-old church located in the middle of campus. You may celebrate your wedding at the Basilica if you are a current Notre Dame student, an ND alumnus/alumnae, a current member of the faculty or administrator at the University, or a member of the Sacred Heart Parish.

2.) Michigan State University
With its roots as an agricultural college, MSU has several gardens available to host weddings.

3.) Harvard University
This big name school's Harvard Faculty Club provides a reception site.

4.) The University of Michigan
While I dislike the football team, the Matthaei Botanical Gardens sounds like a beautiful conservatory to get married and celebrate. Indoor and outdoor facilities are available.

5.) Georgetown University
I do love Washington, DC. This school allows for Roman Catholic weddings to be held in several campus chapels, available to those connected to the university.

6.) Santa Clara University
I have a thing for Old Mexican-style churches. While SCU is a Catholic university, non-Catholics can get married at their Mission Church as well.

7.) United States Air Force Academy
Talk about the ultimate military style wedding, right? There is not a lot of information on the website for the Cadet Chapel, but a Google search tells me that weddings there are absolutely beautiful. See this blog for an example with several helpful suggestions.

Obviously, this is by no means an exhaustive list. All schools host events, it is just a matter of asking around. Check out your alma maters website and do a search for "weddings," or call up the school yourself. Keep in mind that religious institutions (particularly Catholic ones) may have special rules about who can get married there and what kind of ceremony the couple can have.

Polls

Lily and I have added a new feature to our blog! From time to time, we'll put up a new poll, and it will show up to the right of the most recent entry. But since I would like to see comments on it, we'll post the poll as a blog entry as well. Here's our first one:

Where would you have your destination wedding?
--A castle in Ireland
--An old Spanish church in the Carribbean
--A scenic National Park, with a lake and mountains in the background
--At my alma mater, where my fiance and I met

Please comment with additional suggestions and ideas!

Untraditional

Contrary to what Lily would have you believe, a religious pastor does not have to preside over your wedding. The second wedding I attended this summer, performed in front of a waterfall at an Indiana county park (shown above), was conducted by the bride's congressman! She had worked for him while she was in college. Instead of biblical readings, before the vows were read, members of the party came up and read appropriate pieces of romantic poetry.
Here is a photo of the bride's bouquet, which I loved from the moment I set eyes on it:

On another note, I was talking with my boyfriend about weddings (he's so tolerant, I'm so lucky to have this guy). I asked him about a fall wedding, what you would do if your football team was playing. I figured he'd say that you just don't have a wedding in the fall for that very reason, but instead, he said, "Easy. Breakfast wedding, tailgate reception. You're out by game time."

Comments? Additions? Suggestions? Seems to me that if you had your heart set on a fall wedding but your fiance's team plays every week, the solution, then, is a Friday night wedding. And if your alma mater is important to you as a couple, have the wedding in your college town, and you and your classmates can head to the game the next day for a fun little reunion.

The wedding which I attended this summer took place in the context of a Tridentine Latin Mass. This made it a new and slightly intimidating experience, especially for those of us who were not familiar with this tradition. The bride and groom understood this and helpfully included the entire Wedding Rite and Mass in the program with a side-by-side English translation. What I found interesting was the fact that the vows were still professed in English. If I remember correctly (I was quite sleep deprived, so my memory of this is a little fuzzy), it was explained to me that the vows are said in the vernacular language of the couple to ensure that they fully comprehend the commitment which they are making. There was a choir to sing the responses and the hymns, which also helped out those of us less proficient in ecclesiastical Latin.







The liturgical setting affected other aspects of the wedding, including the bridesmaids' outfits. Modest dress was expected of all those in attendence, so we bridesmaids covered our shoulders with elegant matching wraps. The bridesmaids also wore simple veils of white tulle edged with coordinating green ribbon, in keeping with the custom of women covering their heads in church. The locatino was also selected because of its suitability for celebrating such a service, as well as its significance to the bride. The interior of the church was Gothic in style with a stone altar rail, beautiful stained glass, and many statues of the saints.

Overall, situating the wedding in the context of a Tridentine Mass gave the service a very solemn and reverent atmosphere. It reflected the liturgical tradition of the happy couple and their families, and introduced the rest of us to a beautiful Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.

Fairy flower girls

Theresa's always been my most whimsical friend. So as a personal touch to her wedding, she had her two little flower girls, her nieces, wear costume fairy wings down the aisle! It's a cute idea for a personal touch, and something I think the toddlers enjoyed.

The above shown costume wings can be purchased from kidboxes.com.

Hello friends! Since Daisy posted a photo of her hairstyle, I thought I would put up a picture of mine as well. Although it wasn't quite what I had in mind going into the appointment, I really liked the elegant way in which the lady ended up arranging it. Having our hair done up was the bride's gift to her bridesmaids. This gift both contributed to the elegance of the ceremony and let the women of the bridal party enjoy a fun outing on the morning of the wedding. The only downside is, of course, that this sort of gift is transient, but often spending time with your friends and family can be the best gift! I know we now have several priceless photos of the happy bride making silly faces at us from under the hair dryer!





Hairstyle by Katia at
Aspen Beauty Academy
3535 Fort Meade Road
Laurel, MD 20724
(301) 490-8580

Great idea

The wedding I was in last weekend was my good friend Theresa's, in case you haven't been following along. Her wedding was at St. Mary's College, her alma mater, in South Bend, Indiana. The college is across the street from the well-known University of Notre Dame, from which her new husband graduated. As I've previously written, we'll cover more details about the wedding in the coming weeks, but because I want to give as much detail and attention as possible, our coverage will be split up in to separate postings.

The cleverest thing Theresa did, I think, was in her transportation from the church on campus to the reception hall in downtown South Bend. She looked at limos and horse-drawn carriages, but if you are familiar with the South Bend area, you know that it is home to the National Studebaker Museum and used to manufacture the classic vehicles. Theresa called up the local Studebaker Drivers' Club and asked if anyone would be willing to drive them from the church to the reception hall in one of their classic Studebakers. The owners discussed at their meeting and were happy to show off their vehicles. Theresa and John ended up driving in a 1962 white convertible Studebaker, capturing local color and at the same time saving the cash she would have spent on a limosine.

The chapter of the Studebaker Drivers' Club that Theresa contacted can be located here.
If you are from another area and would like to find your local Studebaker Drivers' Club, click here.
And obviously this idea is not limited to Studebakers. Imagine the possibilities for a wedding in Detroit!

**Picture coming as soon as I can get one**

It's Wedding Season!

In case you can't tell, Lily and I have been busy this past month--we just got back from two separate weddings, one at a college town in Indiana, and another at a barn Maryland. Bear with us while we figure out exactly how to report our findings, but as a taster, here is my hair style from the wedding I stood up in this weekend:


I thought the braids would be different, and I think it turned out well, don't you?

We'll have our thoughts and reports on these weddings in the coming weeks, detailing all the activities and anything we found different and interesting. In the meantime, congratulations to our newly married friends, and to all couples getting married this summer!

**Hair by**
Salon Fusion
409 N Hickory Rd
South Bend, IN 46615-3562

(574) 288-5166‎

Joe's Invitations

The second wedding I'm attending this summer is markedly less formal than Theresa's. Here is the invitation I received, and you can notice the humorous tone in the wording about the reception and in the RSVP.

Cupcakes!

Cupcakes are an option that not a lot of people think about for weddings, but the idea is definitely gaining steam. Bakeries devoted to cupcakes are cropping up all over (my favorite is the Cupcake Station in downtown Birmingham, Michigan--see the picture at the left--, but definitely on the list to try is the Cupcake Kitchen in Clinton Twp., Michigan).

It's true that on the surface, they seem less formal than your four tiered masterpiece, and it's obviously not for everyone, but the benefits are definitely there. My favorite thing is that everyone gets their own. Say kids are coming to the wedding. Maybe the kids don't like the carrot cake you have your heart set on. So you buy a dozen of the cupcakes with traditional vanilla cake and frosting.
Or what if you can't decide on a flavor? Get half the cupcakes with strawberry cake and half with raspberry.

Of course, some wedding cake traditions are made a little more difficult with cupcakes, but you can still feed your new spouse cake. If you like the tradition of cutting the cake together, but also like this cupcake idea, consider getting a small or miniature cake for just you two and the bridal party, and put it on the top tier of the cupcake display. That way you have something on which to put that antique topper your grandmother saved.

(Picture at the right taken from mrandmrssweets.com)

Ann Taylor Tulip Jacquard Dress http://www.anntaylor.com/

The other day, I tried on my bridesmaid dress for an August wedding and was pleasantly surprised to find that although the dress had been tailored for someone else, it fit me perfectly! Before the wedding some minor modifications will need to be made, such as removing some cream accents added to it by its owner, so that it will match the other bridesmaids' dresses. A wrap of sorts is in order, and right now we are planning to make them out of light green shimmer organza. The stiffness of the new fabric is giving us a little trouble right now, since it resists draping softly around the shoulders and instead stands up high at the neck. Perhaps washing it will help, and if not, we may decide to tailor the wraps to a more fitted shape. The bridesmaids will also be wearing simple veils of white tulle edged in green satin ribbon. We have decided to add a sash to define the waistline of the dress a bit more, most likely in a coordinating shade of green, either of satin ribbon to match the edging of the veil or organza to match the wrap. White shoes will finish off the bridesmaid's outfit. Since the wedding colors are green, white, and yellow, the bride has been thinking about having her maids carry small bouquets of daisies. These dresses will look perfectly elegant for my friend's summer wedding!

Sunflower wedding inspiration board

An elegant black-and-white wedding gets a pop of sunshine from a favorite summer bloom:

Top row:
Sunflower invitation from Acorn Designs
Bouquet from For the Love of Floral Design
Cake from Josef's Vienna Bakery, titled "Meghan's Cake"

Center:
Satin pick-up ballgown from David's Bridal, style BR1010

Bottom row:
Dress from David's Bridal, style 81371
Table setting by Exquisite Events
Lemonade from MarthaStewart.com (see link for a collection of Martha Stewart lemonade recipes)

Theresa's Invitations

Ah! I know, it's been forever. Let's just say that May turned out to be an extremely busy month for Lily and me.
But that's all over and it is time to enjoy the summer! So I want to share with you all the invitation I received from Theresa, the lovely and resourceful lady whose wedding I am in on August 1st.
Theresa balked at spending hundreds of dollars on expensive, professional-made invitations, so she decided to make her own!


Theresa fell in love with the "pocket" style of invitation when her sister was getting married a few years ago, so she incorporated that and filled the pocket with tiered information cards. I think the postcard RSVPs make a lot of sense, too--not only do you save money on postage, you save paper, they take up less space, and there's nothing for you to spend time opening upon their return.

Theresa bought the basic brown invitation/pocket holder and cut out the different-sized cards that have information on the rehearsal dinner, accommodations, directions and an RSVP. She made her own templates on Microsoft Office and printed them on a new printer she bought from Apple.

The best part is not only that Theresa saved money, but that she got exactly what she wanted. While she had to spend a considerable amount of time doing this, the end product was definitely worth it--these are beautiful!

Tropical Wedding Idea

This tropical wedding design combines the sophistication of creamy orchids and frangipani blossoms with a splash of hot pink. Light blue accents both colors and reflects the sea-side setting.

Top row (L to R): Tropical Coconut Pavlova cake by marthastewart.com

Dress from Alfred Angelo's Destiny Collection at alfredangelo.com

Candles with lilies and Candles with frangipani from the wedding bouquet gallery at yourweddingcompany.com

Bottom row (L to R): Beach church in Anguilla by StockTrek, Getty Images found at concierge.com

Runched Satin Dress in strawberry from nordstrom.com

Rings from the Organic Collection at greenlakejewelry.com

It fits!

I picked up my dress from David's Bridal last week, on schedule (about 6 weeks after I dropped it off)--it fits perfectly! Theresa's wedding is August 1st--two and a half months away.

Strawberries and Daisies

Summer is almost here, and the prospect of sunshine and warm weather has me distracted and thinking about two of the sweetest parts of early summer: A whole bunch of red, a dash of white and a tiny accent of yellow.

Top row: Dress by The Cotton Bride (picture found on brides.com)
Strawberries from burpee.com
Shasta daisy bouquet from dotflowers.com

Middle: Calico print cake from marthastewart.com

Bottom row: Bridesmaid dress from alfredangelo.com, shown in color cherry
Make-your-own jam favors from brides.com

Domestic Honeymoons

A lot of romantic brides fall in love with the idea of a European honeymoon in Paris or a little Italian villa. The fact is, however, that such vacations are expensive, and there's a lot to be said for exploring your own country. The United States has a lot to offer in the way of honeymoon spots, and if you are really looking to save, a location in drivable distance is the way to go.

I recently had the chance to visit Philadelphia, which, being in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard, is close to almost anywhere on the east coast. The city is full of places to go and see. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed) are must-see artifacts of American history. Admission to either is free.

Dining options are almost limitless in Philly. A delicious Philadelphia classic is the cheesesteak. Lots of locations claim to have the best version, but if you head into South Philly you'll find two right across from each other: Pat's and Geno's. Buy one from each place, try both and make your own judgment!
Another type of restaurant popular in Philly is the BYOB restaurant (try Figs, a Moroccan restaurant on Meridith Street near Fairmount and Pennsylvania Aves). Reading Terminal Market also has a lot of great food options.

As far as entertainment goes, Philadelphia has an extensive arts district, called Avenue of the Arts. The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra offers community rush tickets at only $10--they go on sale at 5:30pm the same day of an 8:00 and a great bargain for a spectacular performance. Another inexpensive option is a mural tour. Philadelphia has literally thousands of murals painted on the sides of the buildings and there are both guided tours available or maps so that you and your spouse can explore for yourselves.

If you want to get out of the city for a little bit, Longwood Gardens is only an hour away. This garden conservatory hosts brilliant botanical displays year-round, indoors and outside.

These are only a small, small portion of things to do in the Philadelphia area. For more Philladelphia ideas, click here.

Your honeymoon should be a place both you and your fiance are excited about. Other domestic ideas to think about are:
--Northern Michigan (think waterfront historic towns like Mackinac Island)
--The Great Smokey Mountains National Park (great for hikers and naturists), or renting a cabin/camping in any National Park for that matter, for a peaceful, relaxing getaway for less money
--Bar Harbor, Maine (lobsters, blueberries and rugged coastline, anyone?)
--Chicago (pizza, shows and shopping). There's a lot to explore in this big city that most people only get to visit on business trips and flights are pretty cheap if you aren't close enough to drive.

Additionally, an excellent one-stop web source for travel information is WikiTravel.

Veils

While Daisy has been thinking about pants, I have been thinking about veils. If a bride has a dress without a train, but is having a formal wedding, should her veil extend past the edge of the dress or should it be elbow length? I have done a little shopping with one of my friends and I am coming to the conclusion that for a formal wedding it is acceptable for the veil to extend past the end of the train.

This image from http://www.visionveils.com/images/cathedral.jpg gives the general idea. Thank you Vision Veils! I like the way it adds the feel of a train to the gown without having the extra fabric. If the veil has a pattern on the edge which echoes the embellishments on the dress, this illusion of a train is even more present. The bride then does not need to worry about bustling the gown for the reception - she can simply remove the veil. Additionally, a cathedral length veil gives the bride height, rather than interrupting the line of her dress at the hips or mid-arm. I would conclude that the combination of a gown without a train with a long veil gives the bride the elegance of a full train without the added cost and hassle.

Pants!

Years ago, back in college, a question stumped me. I sat down in class and asked my girlfriends, "If the bride wears pants to her wedding, well then what do her bridesmaids wear?"
My girlfriends were immediately flabbergasted. "Brides can't wear pants!" one said. Another reasoned, "It's your one day to be a fabulous princess; why waste it on pants?"
Of course neither of them answered my question. However, brides in pants are becoming more common, especially for second-time brides. Some ladies just feel more comfortable in them, and others appreciate standing out among other brides. Another benefit is that the price tends to be lower than for a dress. I imagined a bridal ensemble involving pants and came up with the doodle on the left.

Sadly, most designers don't seem to offer these kind of ensembles. The way to go seems to be looking for white pantsuits. Here is a cute one from Neiman Marcus.

If you want a look that is less suit-like but still involves pants, a great option is to look for mother-of-the-bride ensembles that come in different colors, and order it in white or ivory, such as this one from Alfred Angelo (style 6576 in ivory shown on right).

Unfortunately, no one has ever really answered the original question: what do the bridesmaids wear? My best answer is this: either 1.) being a wedding where the bride is wearing pants, the atmosphere is going to be informal enough that bridesmaids are not really needed, or 2.) whatever the bride wants: it's her day!

First off, Happy Easter, to all those to whom this greeting applies!

I was thinking about wedding rings the other day. Many elements shape this tradition and should be considered. Beyond whether or not to wear a ring at all, the spouses have to decide on which hand to wear their rings. Although the left hand is typical in many western cultures - arising out of the Roman association of the left hand with a direct connection to the heart - this is certainly not universal. The composition of the ring is another question. Should it be perfectly plain to symbolize unbroken and eternal unity? Or should it bear more personal elements, such as words of blessing or a pattern which represents the couple? Finally, the style of the engagement ring (if there is one - but that's a whole other issue!) may affect the choice of wedding ring.

For me, the wedding rings can be expressive of the uniqueness of the couple while also preserving the traditional symbolism. In this way, the spouses evoke both the individual and timeless characteristics of their love.

Daisy's Day at David's Bridal Alterations

One of the reasons Lily and I thought we'd start this blog is because we are just at that age where all our friends are starting to get married. Our first wave of weddings starts this summer, and dutiful girlfriends that we are, we've been called up on to be bridesmaids, so we think we have a unique insight into wedding planning, and an up-close opportunity to compare and contrast what like about what we see.

This August, I'm in my good friend Theresa's wedding, and I'm wearing style 81509 from David's Bridal, in the color Lapis (shown on the right). It definitely complements Theresa's gown, style CRL277, but I'll confess I was nervous when I saw what she had chosen. I have not had a lot of luck with empire waist dresses, because I am what they call "top heavy." I went to the shop last October to get fitted and order the dress, and let me first note that one of the key advantages to DB is that they have stores everywhere. Theresa's registered in Toledo, but we tried on dresses while we were both in Indiana, and I ordered the dress in Okemos, Michigan, near where I live.

Unfortunately, neither the Indiana store nor the Michigan store carried that specific style in my size, size 12! I was very upset, because I was very if-fy on this style of dress, and no one wants to spend $130 blindly. I tried on a 14 and it hung on me, but the 10 was just a little too tight. So I had to order the size 12 without trying it on, something I really wish I didn't have to do.

The dress came in in December, and this week I went in for my alterations, because, while the dress fits the top half of me well, the skirt of the dress is this sort of mermaid-trumpet style. It's supposed to hug the hips, but my hips just don't fill it out. But once Patty, the alterations specialist at the shop pinned the dress to the right size for me, boy, did I feel better! It looked great! I can't wait to see how it turns out: I'm scheduled to pick it up May 6th.

All in all, the dress was $135, but I got $20 off because Theresa bought her gown at David's Bridal too. The alterations cost a total of $65, and that was to 1.) tighten the spaghetti straps, 2.) take in the skirt and 3.) hem the skirt.

A note on the hem: this dress has a train, which I didn't find out until I went in for the alterations fitting. Patty asked whether the bride wanted me to leave the train when I got the dress hemmed, and I couldn't get a hold of Theresa right then. So Patty pinned the dress as if we were taking the train off, and told me to call her within a few days once I got a hold of Theresa. We ended up leaving the train, figuring that not all the bridesmaids would need a hem anyway, so why make them pay more when they didn't have to. So I want to thank David's Bridal in Okemos, Michigan, and Patty, for their flexibility in this; it really made my life a lot easier. Additionally, hemming the skirt and leaving the train cost the same as hemming the skirt and cutting the train off.

This article by the San Francisco Chronicle was refreshing to see:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/18/CMG06IV4391.DTL

It is interesting that this point of view is expressed here as an emerging trend for bridal fashion! Only last year, if I remember correctly, David's Bridal has introduced "sleeve options" which allows brides to add sheer cap, short, mid, or long sleeves to their sleeveless dress styles.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StyleGuideSleeveOptionsView?subCategory=StyleFashionGuide%7CSleeveOptions&contentName=styleguide_sleeve_options

For other designers, however, straps and sleeves still seem to be the exception. Short sleeves are readily available from designers creating dresses with LDS weddings in mind. Long sleeves often appear on dresses stylized as medieval, elven, or Celtic.

I would agree with the Chronicle's article, that strapless dresses are not for all figures. Having a dress which covers the shoulders often makes the bride appear taller and slimmer since it draws the eye upward. It would be exciting to see wedding dresses available in options other than strapless from the larger bridal companies in coming seasons. In the mean time, brides have the opportunity to be creative in adapting the strapless dress to suit their silhouette and personal preference.

Cinderella Inspiration Board

I love Disney. I was so excited when Kirstie Kelly came out with her new line of gowns "inspired by" Disney princesses. And I love that you can take something so fun and make it elegant and classy. So here is my attempt at a more-elegant-less-cutesy Cinderella wedding.
The "traditional" Disney Cinderella colors, are of course, pale blue and pink, but the gold seems to make it more grown-up. The white pumpkin candles I saw at Pottery Barn really inspired this: imagine them as table centerpieces on a gold or ivory tablecloth. The Waterford Ballet fine china has been a favorite of mine for a while now, too.

Top Row:
Cinderella cake topper from www.lenox.com
Gown by Kirstie Kelly from www.disneybridal.com
Gold shoe by Claudia Ciuti ("Ivy") from www.nordstrom.com
Orchid bouquet from www.marthastewart.com

Second Row:
Bridesmaid dress by Alfred Angelo (Style 6581 in Harvest Gold) from www.alfredangelo.com
White pumpkin candles by Pottery Barn from www.potterybarn.com
Cinderella invitations ("Fairy Tale Love") from invitationconsultants.com

Bottom Row:
Fine China by Waterford (Ballet Ribbon Gold) from www.waterford.com
Cake and lumineres from www.marthastewart.com

Hello friends,

Yes, this all started in college when we should have been doing legitimate work. Personally, I never really thought about weddings until Daisy started sending me links to her favorite bridal gown websites. If I remember correctly, it all started with an interest in the new line of Alfred Angelo's "Dream in Color" dresses. Life hasn't changed all that much since then: we both still procrastinate by dreaming up new designs and wedding plans. Now you can follow our random musings on all things satin and lace!

Lily

Lourdes

Lily and Daisy's New Blog

Lily and I like weddings. For me, it probably all started when I was the flower girl in my Aunt Karen's extra-poofy 1990 wedding. I remember getting my hair done at the salon in what they told me was a Princess Anne braid. When Lily became my college roommate, all control went out the window and I spent far too many hours avoiding solid mechanics homework by clicking through the Maggie Sottero website and emailing Lily what I thought. Lily encouraged this misbehavior by replying when she should have been writing theology papers.
Since college, Lily and I have not gotten any better. We started creating "inspiration boards," doodling wedding dress designs, emailing each other any bit of wedding planning news we heard, whether it was from internet news or from our newly-engaged friends. Some of our ideas, we think, are pretty good, and so we created this blog. Here we will share our "inspiration boards" for all styles of weddings and comment our thoughts on anything wedding related. Enjoy!