Wedding Wish Wednesday: Melinda from Lion in the Sun

I've always wondered just how designers pick the perfect fonts to create the right tone for your wedding invitations. Luckily for me and you lovely readers, Melinda from Lion in the Sun has just the answer

This well loved Brooklyn based company keeps elegance in mind for your everyday moments as well as life's most memorable occasions.

Here's what Melinda had to say about fonts:

What does your invitation font say about you? Whether your wedding vision is contemporary, traditional or vintage, there’s a font that can say it for you! The most important design element of the invitation is the font. While graphic elements set a tone, your words and how they are presented make the biggest statement of all.

To help brides and grooms navigate the vast array of font choices each day, here are a few suggestions:

Mixed (Most Popular) – Combine a print and script font for a vintage or playful feel. Serif is more formal, while san serif tends to be more contemporary. Be sure to choose two fonts that are very different from each other and no more than three.

Big & Bold – Using fonts as your graphical element will give you a contemporary feel and make a big statement. It’s a clean look and frees you from committing to a graphical theme.

Handwritten – Actual hand written text can be converted to artwork on your invitation and presents a formal, elegant or colonial feel. You could also use a font that looks like handwriting or written with a quill pen complete with splatter. For an extra splurge – Hand calligraphy truly creates a one of a kind unique handmade invitation.

Thank you Melinda!


Images via Lion in the Sun.

Little Bow Peeps

Chiffon bows and peep toe pumps. Match made in shoe heaven.

Image via the cinderella project.

Fab Frocks Friday: Summer, Sequins, and Sample Sales

Breezy, casual Southern California bridal style. Flip flops optional.

For the weekend read . . .

• Thoughts on being yourself.
• Fabulous ideas for all you DIY-ers.
• Who's ready for a picnic?
• Get out the vote here and here {and special thanks if you vote for lil' ol' me}!

And don't forget the Monique Lhuillier Sample Sale!

Image of Amber Heard by Guy Aroch for French Revue de Modes Spring 2010 via Fashion Gone Rogue.

Inspiration: A Beach Life

I stumbled upon this charming collection of photographs from the lovely home blog A Beach Cottage and knew these were the perfect things to share with all of you. Notice the lovely use of all those dreamy whites and accents of bright, festive colors. Beach casual and shabby chic, chandeliers and mason jars, it's a charming mix of different styles.

Adore!

Images via A Beach Cottage.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Christina from Taylor Creative Inc.

This week's Wedding Wish Wednesday comes to us from none other than Christina from Taylor Creative Inc.

Taylor Creative's exclusive rental collection of modern furniture is perfect for brides looking to add a distinctive touch to their wedding day. Whether your wedding is at a posh hotel, city loft, garden or beach, Taylor Creative works with brides and their event planners to create elegant environment for every occasion. Drawing from over twenty years in the fashion and lifestyle industry, Taylor Creative provides cutting-edge visual solutions that excite the senses and infuse environments with modern aesthetics and bold color.

Here's what Christina had to say about current trends in weddings:

We have seen a huge increase in the bridal market in recent years, beginning with a shift away from the standard ball-cane chair and into the more modern lucite Ghost chairs (comparable in price to a standard Chiavari chair and cushion at only $15 each). Lately the majority of our brides have trended toward updating traditional ballroom weddings by incorporating lounge pieces around dance floors, giving the room more of a night nightclub feel. Others have dressed up their tents with our gorgeous colored or crystal chandeliers, or hanging glo balls to give a touch of indoor ambiance to an outdoor wedding.

The latest trend we are moving into is the groom’s lounge – right now we are loving mixing in the masculine textures and dark colors into what is usually an all-white world. We know that a lot of weddings have been seeing more cigar-lounges for the groomsmen and we’ve been developing a gentlemen’s club aesthetic for the boys to relax in – our leather club chairs (the Morgan, Jackson, and Walker chairs), wood tables (the Wyeth and Oka) and our very favorite conversation pieces – the Horse and the Pig.

However the majority of the decisions are still made by the brides and it is for them that we are creating our new bridal collection. This very tailored collection will be made up of all of our favorite and most popular pieces. We realize that for people who aren’t in the industry, our vast collection of products can be slightly overwhelming. While our new wedding website, has helped our brides to visualize the possibilities that these pieces represent, we really want to present them with a set of options that are tailored for their needs.

The pieces in this collection will be available in all three locations (New York, Las Vegas, and Palm Beach) and will include lounge pieces, chandeliers, tables, chairs, chandeliers and lighting options, bars and some of our favorite accessories. Of course, our other products will be available as well for any brides that want to mix in additional elements but this will be a mainstay of our collection which we can offer to our bridal clients.

Thank you Christina!


Images via Taylor Creative Inc.

Thread Social + Priscilla of Boston Trunk Show

Flowers from Portugal

A few flowers to brighten up your morning! These darling buds are courtesy of the dynamic duo Sofia and André of Brancoprata. Brancoprata is one of these rising stars in the wedding industry, being featured on some of the most popular wedding blogs such as The Wedding Chicks, Dog 'N' Bird Artful Wedding, and yours truly. Check out these gorgeous, dreamy, luscious florals that only Sofia and Andre could capture in their magical way.

Looks like Portugal's best kept wedding secret is out! Now my only question is, when do you come over state-side?


Images via Brancoprata.

A DIY Photo Booth for All Occassions

When I attended a dear friend's wedding, one of the best details she included was a photo booth for her guests to go wild with. We guests, plus the bride and groom, crowded into the small booth for posed shots, silly shots, and everything in between. At the end of the day we were left with a wonderful momento, plus great memories of such a happy day.

Now, photo booths are not a new trend in wedding and have been incorporated into engagement shots and weddings. However, today's bride may think a tall metal booth can be somewhat cumbersome to integrate seamlessly into your day's decor.

With that in mind, may I introduce to you the photo booth for today's style savvy bride?

Not a photo booth at all, but rather a blank wall with different messages of love you can personalize. Such a versatile idea, you can create a relaxed, vintage mood with designs as the ones seen here, or make it a more elegant affair with formal fonts and crystals.

All you need are white walls, paints, a steady hand, and a romantic spirit. Same great idea, but with a fresh new look.

So get ready to smile and strike your best pose!

Image via J.Crew.

Fab Frocks Friday: The Details at Elie Saab

Divine details from Elie Saab Spring 2010 Couture Collection.

And lovely links to tide you over 'til next week . . .

• A stunning wedding by international star Brancoprata.
• Cute as a button!
• Don't let life just flutter you by.
• It's all about the collaboration!

Image via Style.com.

Sara's Gracious Goodies

Wedding Welcome Bags for out of town guests are a final detail usually passed onto someone in the family or wedding party and let's face it - haven't they already done enough? Researching, purchasing, packing and wrapping all just days before the wedding... what's a fabulous bride to do? They find Sara's Gracious Goodies!

This gem of a company specializes in Welcome Packages combining some of the best local goodies NY has to offer. Sara herself has cleverly hand-picked a range of premium products, bringing a little more of a high end quality & representation to the classic hotel guest bag. You can pick from several different packages or Sara will work with you directly to customize your own. Packaging options range for beautiful gift wrapped boxes, to Map inspired Tote Bags, or Green minded reusable nylon bags in nearly any shade.

Best part - they provide Local Hand Delivery to each hotel - saving you precious time on the days leading up to the big event. What better way to welcome your guests in style without having to step foot out the door.

Check them out here for all the details, and trust me it's a good thing!

Images via Sara's Gracious Goodies.

Wedding Wish Wednesday: Mark Ingram from The Bridal Atelier

Having spent a lovely weekend looking at wedding gowns with a dear friend, this week's Wedding Wish Wednesday couldn't be more appropriate. I am so excited to tell you this week's expert is none other than Mark Ingram - yes, the Mark Ingram.

As you know Mark Ingram is the gown guru and the personality behind the most chic bridal salon in Manhattan. The Bridal Atelier is home to some of the most sought after names in bridal like Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Marchesa, Monique Lhuillier, Jenny Packham, Angel Sanchez, and Lela Rose, just to name a few.

Here are his tips on the process of shopping for a gown:

When to start: Although it is understandable to want to start shopping right away for your gown, it is imperative to finalize a date and a venue for your wedding before you begin shopping. The time of year and location truly dictate the theme and style of your overall event and your gown. A gown for a morning garden wedding and a gown for a formal evening ballroom affair are very, very different! Also, do your research before you begin by collecting tearsheets from bridal magazines and websites of styles you like.

Where to shop: You should begin your shopping process at a reputable bridal salon that carries gowns that are in your budget. Make sure you ask about their price range, fitting costs and selection while making your appointment. Asks your friends and family, where they shopped and where they had the best experience. You are not making a one time purchase at a salon, but may be going back for fittings and accessory appointments. You want to make sure you feel comfortable and enjoy the atmosphere of where you will be spending so much time during your engagement.

Who to shop with: In general limit your shopping companions to one or two people you trust and whose opinions matter most to you. Too many opinions may confuse you. If you feel you need to include all of your bridesmaids, you can always bring some of them back for a fitting or two.

Selecting the gown: Don’t reinvent yourself on your wedding day. Be true to your own style. Make the process, not just the day, memorable and enjoyable.

Thank you so much Mark! To book your appointment at the Atelier, please contact them below:

110 East 55th Street, 8th Floor
New York City, New York
212.319.6778

Image via New York Magazine.

Mr. Porter, I Presume?

Ladies get ready to rejoice! After ten years of bringing celebrated women's fashions to closets and wedding days around the world, the Net-a-Porter group is thrilled to announce the launch of their men's wear site, Mr. Porter.

Mr. Porter will launch for the Spring/Summer 2011 season in January 2011 and will offer an edited product selection of the best in men’s style, from global designer labels to niche specialist brands alongside original editorial and style advice.

Designers like Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, YSL, Margiela, Balmain, Dunhill, Margaret Howell, Rick Owens, John Lobb and MR by the designer Roland Mouret will be the first to rescue your gent from any fashion disasters. The unique product offer will feature approximately 60 of the best men’s wear brands with a balance of global must have brands together with local specialists and discoveries from around the world.

And with the site powered, curated, edited and served by an independent world class team who will benefit from the global infrastructure of the Net-a-Porter group, rest assured that your man is in good hands.


Image via Net-a-Porter.

An Afternoon at The Plaza: Part II

Hello lovelies! I'm still on cloud nine from my wonderful trip to New York City filled with wedding festivities. Seriously, how could any gal not be completely over the moon with an afternoon at The Plaza?

In addition to the unparalleled decor was the haute cuisine prepared for us by Chef Marc Spooner. We wedding bloggers feasted on amazingly prepared delicious tapas style eats. Check out the following pics below that will have you salivating at your computer . . .

In addition, here's some tips Chef Marc had for the big day:

• The idea with the small plate stations is to create a breezy, lighter feel to receptions where guests have much more interaction with one another and are not limited to their assigned table. And yet, they still leave full having eaten delicious food.
  
• The dishes selected were all seasonal using fresh spring ingredients. Brides, having your caterer prepare your dishes with local, fresh ingredients is not only delicious, but also helpful for the local economy.
  
• Chef Marc also made an effort to include vegetarian (and even vegan) options along with meat and fish. Specially prepared cuisines are great for those guest's dietary needs because no one wants to eat the bland pasta dish for lack of knowing. This small attention to detail will have your guests feeling extra special and welcome on your big day.
• Think outside the box. For dessert Chef Marc served fresh fruit pops and liquid caramel corn. Both desserts were a pleasant surprise!
  

Images via Johannes Courtens.