Posted on September 27th, 2008 by Kori Ellis in Wedding Attire
If you are looking for the perfect wedding jewelry, check out Noaki. Noaki Jewelry is a new line that resurrects the Great Gatsby glamour of the early 20’s. Each one-of-a-kind piece includes resurrected antique items, including shoe clips, broaches and dress pins, predominantly from the early 20th century art deco period.
Here are a few of my favorites. You can find out more about Noaki Jewelry and designer Noaki Schwartz at NoakiJewelry.com and shop for the jewelry at her Etsy site.
Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Kori Ellis in Wedding Attire
As I am sure you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Brides magazine gathered together 21 of the world’s top dress designers and asked each to create a pink wedding wedding gown.
These bridal gowns will be in bridal shops and other stores across the country during the month October, with a portion of sales going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
On October 14th, Brides magazine’s “Something Pink” issue hits the stands. Inside the magazine, they reveal the pink wedding dresses along with a series of dedicated features to the fight against the disease.
The participating dress designers include Alfred Angelo, Amsale, Anjolique, Anne Barge, Atelier Aimee, Badgley Mischka Bride, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Claire Pettibone, David’s Bridal, Eve of Milady, Kenneth Pool, Mon Cheri Bridals, Monique Lhuillier, Mori Lee, Romona Keveza, Reem Acra, Sophia Tolli, Vera Wang, Vineyard Collection and Watters Brides.
Here are just a few of the bridal gowns.
Watters Brides Pink Gown, photo by Heidi Niemala
Romona Keveza gown, photo by Heidi Niemala
(L-R) Kenneth Pool gown, Badgley Mischka Bride gown, photo by Heidi Niemala
Posted on September 12th, 2008 by Kori Ellis in Wedding Attire
Have you heard about the new contest that David’s Bridal launched called “The One”? They want to hear stories about that incredible moment when you knew your guy was “The One”. Whether you’ve got the date set or you’re just dreaming about it they want to hear your stories. You can find the contest here at davidsbridal.com.
The winning prize package is worth $5,270 that includes a $1,500 gift certificate towards their honeymoon, their choice of the following: one wedding gown, up to four bridesmaid dresses, one bridal accessory, up to four bridal shower favors, up to five tuxedo rental packages and their choice of his and her wedding bands from Ice.com.
All you need to do is head to the David’s Bridal webstie, upload a picture of you and your fiance and tell your story!
Garden weddings have become more and more popular in recent years. For couples who love the outdoors, it is simply the perfect opportunity to add a memorable backdrop to your wedding.
When planning a garden wedding, you should incorporate the garden theme into all aspects of the wedding from the decorations to the menu. What you want to have in mind is a classic garden picnic – but on a larger scale.
For tables, consider using large round tables that seat up to ten people. Each table should have an umbrella. The umbrellas should be light in color for fresh and lively appeal. For centerpieces, you can make a decoration that includes both flowers and fruits. To carry the flowers and fruits, consider using something you might find in a garden like a fruit basket or a straw hat. Look for locally grown fruits and flowers.
The food at a garden wedding should be light. Sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, pasta salads and fruit salads work well with a garden wedding. A wedding cake topped with strawberries will match the scenery. In terms of drinks, you should consider having fresh squeezed lemonade, sweet tea and exotic fruit juices to go along with alcohol beverages such as wine spritzers and raspberry martinis.
For music, you should keep it light and bubbly. A single harpist would be appropriate during the ceremony. For the reception, find a DJ or band that has an expertise with light jazz music that will blend into the background.
Throughout your wedding, don’t be afraid to add as many plants and flowers as you wish. If there are trees to work with at your location, use the trees as natural shade for your wedding party. Trees can also double as built in decorations. If you are using many potted plants and other floral arrangements, after the wedding is over you can donate them to a local retirement home, hospital patients or another organization.
The best wedding favors are seeds or bulbs. Truly Wedding Favors offers these plantable wildflower hearts that are just perfect. These heart shaped, plantable seed packets are available in a choice of pink, lavender, sage green, blue and white. You can slip in a handwritten note to each guest inside the envelope for a personal touch.
When selecting attire for a garden wedding, the bride should wear a more simple wedding gown than for a church wedding. Some brides are even wearing short wedding dresses for outdoor weddings these days.
The groom and his groomsmen should wear light colored suits in linen, beige, grey or green. The bridesmaids should dress accordingly - shorter bridesmaids dresses in light airy fabrics.
For all the women, including the bride, skip the stilettos which can easily sink into the ground. Instead wear ballet flats or chunky heels.
The most important aspect is to have fun with your wedding and enjoy the beauty of our green earth.
If you register on the Alfred Angelo website, you will be entered into a monthly drawing for a free wedding gown or four free bridesmaid dresses.
Additionally by signing up, you also get on their list for exclusive events, special offers and the Alfred Angelo email newsletter. Check out AlfredAngelo.com for more details.
I love Alfred Angelo bridesmaid gowns because your bridesmaids will be able to wear them long after your wedding day. These dresses can be worn to a work party, graduation dinner or a special date.
One of my favorites is the gown pictured here. This satin cocktail length dress is available in 55 fabulous colors in sizes 2 to 28. And this dress is priced nicely at under $150.
Check out the Alfred Angelo full collection of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dress, flower girl dresses and more.
On your wedding day, you will be on your feet for a long, long time. Wedding day activities usually start very early in the morning and last well into the night. You don’t want your feet to ache all day, therefore it’s imperative to have a great pair of bridal shoes.
Consider the location of your wedding. For garden and beach weddings, stilettos probably are the best idea. Choose chunkier heels or flats.
You don’t need to stick to white. Metallic sandals are a trendy option. You can also select bridal shoes that are trimmed with rhinestones, gemstones and embellishments.
Here are some top choices in bridal shoes in various price ranges.
Filippa Scott Helena Bridal Shoes
These beautiful designer bridal shoes come with a big price tag - over $300. The white silk satin pump is dyeable, so you can probably change the color and wear them after your wedding day. However, as with any high dollar shoe purchase, make sure you are going to wear them more than once before buying.
Nina Cason Simple sandal with crystal square
If you really want to wear a high heel, these bridal shoes are a great choice. These silver shoes feature a simple silhouette that is accented with glitzy crystals and a thin ankle strap. At $79.95, they are very reasonable priced.
Coloriffics Ballet Flats
These ballet flats are all about comfort. They feature a very simple design, a flat heel and a sueded sole. These shoes are only $25.20, so you really can’t go wrong.
Do you want to add some red carpet glamour to your wedding day? Shannon Nelson at Pierce Mattie Public Relations says that many brides are extending the definition of “something borrowed.”
From Shannon: “Renting a tux is no longer the only thing that is being borrowed for the big day; brides are also taking part in this wedding tradition, but in a whole new way. Just as celebrities don borrowed jewelry and other items for their walk down the red carpet, brides are seeking out retailers who also have a rental option available for their accessory needs. Bag Borrow or Steal is one such retailer that allows jewelry rental from such names as Vera Wang, Miriam Haskell and Chanel to handbags from Rafe New York and Badgley Mischka for as little as $10 a week.”
When wearing glitzy jewelry, it’s essential to wear your hair in an equally glamorous up do. In this video, Joe Carol’s Tolga Ackay creates a gorgeous up do with lots of height and style. He places rose petals into the hair and adds a wonderful tiara.
This spring, David’s Bridal is offering fresh, modern colors and silhouettes in three distinct themes - Garden Delights; Destination: Romance; and Black & White.
Back in January, we told you more about the Destination: Romance theme. Now, here’s the scoop on Garden Delights, straight from David’s Bridal.
Silhouettes: Inspired by an elegant wedding set in a formal topiary garden, this trend encompasses a variety of gowns featuring tailored designs and structured silhouettes. Shapes range from traditional ball gowns to fit-and-flare styles that capture the glamour and elegance of the red carpet. A whimsical strapless trumpet gown in Swiss-dot tulle with lace appliqués and a satin empire band (Style T9359, $699) perfectly illustrates this theme. Brides can even choose from a variety of sleeve options that can be easily added to strapless gowns, creating a unique style that is all their own, without the custom price tag. Key looks for bridesmaids include streamlined designs with long tapered skirts, such as a satin A-line gown with an embellished V-neckline and empire banded waist (Style 82900; $155).
Colors: This season, must-have colors range from pale and soft to rich and dark. New mid-tone shades, including a warm Terracotta, make their way from the runway to the bridal aisle. For a fresh splash of color, brides can accent their gowns with an Apple or Marine sash, or choose classic shades like Cabernet, Champagne, Latte, or Peridot. The new trend in colors makes it easy to coordinate the entire wedding day, starting with the bridal party. To create a look that flatters both their personality and figure, bridesmaids can select from a diverse range of fashionable dresses, such as a sleeveless satin trumpet gown with beaded empire waist and straps (Style F12910; $170), or choose stylish mix and match separates from the Make A Match Collection.
Fabrics: Consistent with the latest ready-to-wear trends, these designs are created with high quality fabrics chosen for their unique structural properties. Contemporary satin faille and lush taffeta provide the basis for beautifully constructed gowns and flattering silhouettes.
Accessories: Geometric shapes offer a new alternative to traditional floral details. Crystal, pearl and rhinestone necklaces take on new proportions with larger, stand-out jewelry taking center stage to complement the clean, structured dresses. Bridal shoes are adorned with bold crystal accents, which also influence handbag designs. Veils are voluminous, featuring multiple layers, and hair jewelry is sculptured and embellished, intended to be worn in sleek and sophisticated hairstyles.
Catering to brides of all shapes and sizes, David’s Bridal recently introduced two special sizing options. For the first time, David’s introduces the Galina Woman Collection, boasting soft, flowing gowns, available up to size 26W, with added support and control for full-figured brides. Petite brides now have more options than ever, with an expanded assortment of petite gowns (Sizes 0P–16P) designed specially to fit the proportions of a petite shape.
David’s Bridal also recently unveiled the db Online Collection, an impressive collection of 15 beautiful new bridal styles, available at www.davidsbridal.com. Dresses start at $99 and are available in both missy sizes (2–16) and David’s Bridal Woman sizes (14W–26W).
With more than 50 years of bridal experience, David’s Bridal features more than 280 locations nationwide. David’s Bridal continues to expand its retail store locations, while maintaining its philosophy of superior quality, value and service. To locate a store nearby, consumers can call 1-877-693-BRIDE or visit www.davidsbridal.com.
The dress pictured is the Swiss-dot tulle trumpet gown (Style T9359) discussed above. The gown comes in ivory or white. It is priced at $699 and features a chapel train.
In the current issue of OK! Magazine, you can find the top ten most beautiful celebrity wedding gowns. From Tori Spelling’s Dolce & Gabbana gown at #10 to Katherine Heigl’s Oscar de la Renta dress at #6, all the way to Vanessa Williams’ beautiful corseted Vera Wang gown at #3, these dresses are all amazing.
But it was Katie Holmes’ silk Armani gown that topped the list at #1.
Also on this video is just a quick glimpse at the Filene’s Basement “Running of the Brides.” This annual sale is held at select Filene’s Basement stores once a year (twice in Boston). During the sale, brides can get designer gowns that are worth up to $10,000 for just $249, $499 and $699.
The brides line up very, very early and when the doors open, they run toward the racks … like the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. In less than a minute the racks are emptied as brides are all over the store in various stages of undress, trying on the gowns.
What mayhem! Looks like fun!
Learn more about the Filene’s Basement “Running of the Brides” at filenesbasement.com.
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 by Kori Ellis in Wedding Attire
In recent months, I have seen more and more brides wearing silver wedding shoes. I love the trend because metallic silver shoes are not only popular for weddings, but also for evening shoes. Therefore, you should pick a great pair of silver bridal shoes that you can also wear to other events long after your wedding.
Here are a couple of my favorite choices in silver shoes.
Charles David Starbright Silver Sandals
Add a little glitz to your feet on your wedding day with these elegant T-strap sandals. These shoes feature gorgeous stone embellishments and a sexy 3 1/2-inch stiletto heel. You can get them at Zappos.com for $173.95.
rsvp Malina Silver Bridal Shoes
If you are looking for a lower heel, these shoes are a wonderful choice. The crystal covered knot gives these shoes with a lot of shine and the slip-on style makes them easy to wear. These are also available at Zappos for $69.95.
French Sole Dream Ballet Flats
Do you love the comfort of ballerina flats? These shiny silver ballet flats are ideal for your big day. These shoes are great because you can wear them with just about everything in your wardrobe. At just $109 at Saks Fifth Avenue, you can’t beat the price on these designer flats.
Throughout your wedding, don’t be afraid to add as many plants and flowers as you wish. If there are trees to work with at your location, use the trees as natural shade for your wedding party. Trees can also double as built in decorations. If you are using many potted plants and other floral arrangements, after the wedding is over you can donate them to a local retirement home, hospital patients or another organization.
If you register on the 
On your wedding day, you will be on your feet for a long, long time. Wedding day activities usually start very early in the morning and last well into the night. You don’t want your feet to ache all day, therefore it’s imperative to have a great pair of bridal shoes. 
This spring, David’s Bridal is offering fresh, modern colors and silhouettes in three distinct themes - Garden Delights; Destination: Romance; and Black & White. 
In recent months, I have seen more and more brides wearing silver wedding shoes. I love the trend because metallic silver shoes are not only popular for weddings, but also for evening shoes. Therefore, you should pick a great pair of silver bridal shoes that you can also wear to other events long after your wedding.